Wiardgroup

Moving right along,

Gary Chang has been bending my ear with talk of a 
multi-channel surround panner. I started thinking hard about the 
control functions needed to make such a beast.

We would need 4 corner functions that go to +10 volt when the 
Joystick is at each corner. We also need 4 more center channel 
functions which go to 10 volts when the Joystick is between 
corners.

It would also be nice to have a "dome" or apex function that goes 
to 10 volts when the Joystick is centered, this could control 
volume for a "fly over". An inverse dome function would also be 
nice to bring up the reverb at the edges of our surround panning 
field. I uploaded plots of the functions to the "photos" section.

You asked for it, I figured it out. 12 complex outputs from two 
variables using 12 op-amps and 24 diodes. Bob Pease couldn't 
do a more efficient implementation.

But wait, there's more. I uploaded historical pictures of two nice 
Joystick controllers made by EML and Octave-Plateau. The 
"Catstick" is pretty famous, I always wanted one. But what is it?

Well, it's our 4 corner functions controlling 4 VCAs modulating 
the amplitude of 4 LFOs. By making the functions available, you 
can use your modular to patch up any variation of the Catstick 
patch.

How about an 8 channel Joystick controlled mixer, crossfading 
from one channel to the next. Just add 8 VCAs, or 8 Vactrols.

So the 1211 takes 2 zero to 10 volt inputs and produces 12 
ouputs switchable between Unipolar (0 to 10 volts) and Bipolar 
(-10 to +10 volts). It's designed to work with the 1209B Joystick, 
but can process envelopes (AD and AR) or LFOs. Bandwidth 
extends to the audio range. For possible waveshaping or ?

A 3" Frac-Rac panel with 14 jacks and 1 knob (for dome 
amplitude to match the power level of a single channel) and 1 
switch. But this is still being tweaked and may change. Priced 
under $200.

Now this is FUN!

> So the 1211 takes 2 zero to 10 volt inputs and produces 12 
> ouputs switchable between Unipolar (0 to 10 volts) and Bipolar 
> (-10 to +10 volts). It's designed to work with the 1209B Joystick, 
> but can process envelopes (AD and AR) or LFOs. Bandwidth 
> extends to the audio range. For possible waveshaping or ?
> 
<snip>
> Now this is FUN!

Very fun indeed.  I was just watching an eBay auction on a CatStick 
this week, in fact.  It looked very cool indeed, but this takes that 
idea to the next level.  When you say waveshaping I'm guessing that 
you're hinting at Vector Sequencing, which is something I've always 
wondered wasn't implemented in modular synths sooner (Modcan have a 
module for this as well, IIRC, but it just came out).  The 
combination of the digital waveshapers such as the MiniWave and 
WCity and the 1211 and 1209 could make for a really sweet vector 
monosynth.  

The 300 may be passing into history, but the 1200 should be making 
quite the impression with things like this and the Noise Ring.  
Sweet!

(I really did want that Catstick, though--a Bulldogge with Cat...:)

J.R. "Bulldogge" Ross
& Snuffy, too:)

grantrichter2001 (11:53 AM 12/4/2002) wrote:

 >A 3" Frac-Rac panel with 14 jacks and 1 knob (for dome
 >amplitude to match the power level of a single channel) and 1
 >switch. But this is still being tweaked and may change. Priced
 >under $200.
 >
 >Now this is FUN!

Damn straight.


do it. Do It. DO IT!

Mark