I have been Jonesing for an Arc module since I started even considering getting into the Eurorack stuff. More recently I decided this could be the first project to try to take on once I pick up a Due. I think I just might have enough circuit knowledge to be able to put together what I’m thinking about (but then I could be wrong). I’d more than welcome the opportunity to team up. I however have an Arc4, and would want to design a module that could accommodate it. I have an idea for one that could use either, but it wouldn’t make sense to describe how without first discussing what the module would do.
I want to create basically a combo of plates (with fixed waveforms maybe) and edw - for each knob on the arc there’s a wave, square, and trigger out. Basically each arc knob controls the frequency of an oscillator that extends through LFO range, and which sends a trigger out whenever it hits say 12 o’clock. Whether the wave out would be a more simply varied waveform or come from a wavetable would depend on if you could figure out how to input values (maybe ‘live record’ using the arc after say pushing a button on the module). Maybe you could have an in to write the wavetable also.
I’d want to be able to set the range for each encoder (would include being able to set all positive vs. pos/neg), the sensitivity of the arc encoders, and the ‘friction’ of each encoder. I’d also want to be able to set the square wave pulse width, which if the module doesn’t use a writable wavetable could also be the setting to vary from reverse to forward saw wave, with an even triangle and 50% pulse width occupying the center setting. Then maybe a setting to vary between triangle and sine shape so you wouldn’t need separate outs for each.
Early in the design thought process I realized it would be redundant and inefficient to have any encoders on the module itself, since the arc’s are available for encoder input. The answer I came up with was push buttons for each of the above parameters that are either hold-to-set or toggle-to-set using the arc encoders and display (or maybe led indicators for which is selected next to the push buttons). Hadn’t really thought much about whether I’d want CV ins for any of the above parameters - could be fun…or too complicated for a first effort.
Anyway I’ll stop - obviously this is all just mental exercise for the moment. Oh, as for the Arc2s, you could have 2 usb ins on the module: connect arc4 to 1 to control all four or connect an arc2 to 1 to control the first and to 2 to control the second two (or 2 arc2s to control all four).
I’d love to hear other ideas, or problems people see with this one. @Pauk - love the M4L devices.
