#37

So I woke up at 3am and was thinking about LFOs (I’m not the only one who does this, right?) and I think I had a realization. Maybe. Haven’t finished coffee yet.

Am I correct in thinking that Batumi’s sync is fixed at a 1:1 ratio, i.e. one cycle per clock pulse? I watched a video where it looked like the sliders don’t do anything when in free run mode while synced.

#38

Yes afaik you are correct, and sliders don’t do anything while in sync.

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#39

Thanks @kveye

I think this realization solves half of my problem right there. The main issue with the Modbox I have now is that I have to rely on its clock divider/multiplier to get different synced rates for each of its LFOs which it ends up latching to the “wrong” beat.

But with Batumi, I think the solution is for me to simply use multiple external clock sources at precisely whatever division is needed. I feel silly for not thinking of this sooner :man_facepalming:

There’s still the issue of the LFOs taking time to re-sync when I first start the clock again but I’m not quite so concerned about that. If it’s ever a problem I’ll just record an extra 4 bars at the beginning of a track to give everything time to warm up :wink:

Thanks again for the info, all. I’m gonna pull the trigger on Batumi!

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#40

Quick FYI and a followup question.

Re: phase syncing issues when stopping and starting an external clock, I made a little Max for Live device that provides a continuously-running lock that I can sync Batumi to. The clever (well, I think so) feature is that when I want to start or stop Live’s transport, I can just toggle a Sync button on the device and it will wait until the clock cycles through to the first beat to start Live’s transport. Seems to work okay despite me being a complete hack at M4L so maybe I’ll put out a more polished version if there is any interest.

Sync

OK, back to Batumi… I was a little mystified by the LEDs on the sliders at first, but I think I understand that they are tied to the Sine output? I tend to use a lot of downward ramp shapes and it’s really throwing me for a loop that the cycle and the LEDs are sort of offset 180°. Probably a long-shot but is anyone aware of a way to change the behavior e.g. with one of the alternative firmware modes?

Since each LFO can output different waveforms, I realize that some compromise is necessary, but it seems odd to pick the sine wave instead of trying to give some general indication of where a phase starts/stops on a module that relies so heavily on triggers and syncing. Seems like the ideal behavior would be to give an indicator of where the phase start is (e.g. downward ramping LED intensity that reset at 0°).

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#42

Alright alright alriiiiiiiight. Let’s pretend that I want to install the expert mode firmware but don’t know how to do that. Who’s got a link for me?

#43

Hmm…it used to be linked on the XAOC page for the Batumi but isn’t anymore.

Looks like it’s available here though: https://github.com/xaocdevices/batumi/releases

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#44

Thanks! Now bonus points for a tutorial link (I found one earlier, but I haven’t done this yet, so I’d love one that’s community-approved)

EDIT: nvm, there’s a readme!

EDIT 2: Whoa Nelly! This is awesome!

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#45

Is the read me in the zip file?

Also how easy is it to get back to the original firmware?

And does the alt firmware make use of Poti?

Thanks!

#46

Funny to see this thread popping up now, I’ve been seriously considering a batumi for the last weeks to add some easy to control free running modulation to my small rack. Really like that it has sine outs (there are quiet a lot of modules that don’t have that for some reason) and that it has multiple outs in general. Also really like that you have to option to attennuate within the module itself, although I’m not sure I’ll use that much since I’m not a fan of overloaded/multi-mode user interfaces.
I guess the main downside I see is that despite it being pretty small for four LFO’s it’s still 10hp which is quiet big compared to the case (62hp) and that it doesn’t really go into audio range. Or does it with external voltage inputs? Need to check the manual.

Is there anyone who doesn’t like their batumi or has any things about it they don’t like?
If not batumi which alternative module would people suggest?

#47

It does go into audio range, if that’s what you’re asking and it’s pretty nice. Plug a v/8 into the freq input.
I never really loved mine but I think that’s because I don’t use a lot of straight LFO modulation (preferring random or more variable waveshapes (and I found the advanced user modes more to remember than I wanted to have to remember). I really enjoy tides (and JF) for Batumi-ish needs. I enjoyed the way these modules interrelate the outputs more.

Batumi does exactly what it says it does though and felt nice to touch! I actually liked it most when I at least used part of it as a clock (using square outputs).

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#48

you would just reinstall the factory fw the same way. but re: the wavebank selections, its just a matter of a long press of the button to swap between random bank and the stock one

it does - you would then use poti to swap between the different flavors of random available to you at the ASGN output instead of the usual waveform selection

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#49

You can not attenuate in the module with stock firmware.

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#50

I always self-patch Batumi. I bought an Ochd a while ago for a mini-rig and after using it for a few months I can say I’d rather be able to independently modulate LFOs with other LFOs—and sacrifice some outputs—than have eight free-running outputs and only one global CV input. :man_shrugging:t2:

When I have the space, one of my favourite pairings for Batumi is Blinds. LFOs modulating LFOs through a bipolar VCA is 100% more fun than just LFOs modulating LFOs. :nerd_face:

All that to say some of the shapes you can get out of just Batumi are not “boring” in the least.

6 Likes
#51

I also always self patch Batumi. doing so results in interesting shapes without needing alternate firmwares. I personally avoided any other firmwares since Batumi’s simplicity is one of its strengths. you get what you see on the panel (granted, there’s zoom, but I avoid that as well).

you can get audio rate and it will sorta kinda track for ~2 octaves, but it’s perfect as an LFO specialist.

bonus: upgrading the sliders with improved caps can be fun.

IMG_7748
IMG_77484032×3024 2.42 MB

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#52

My understanding is Xaoc got tired of answering support questions about the expert firmware, which they never officially supported.

It’s been linked up-thread, but I think it’s worth looking at the individual wavebank firmware: http://voltexture.net/batumi-individual-wavebank-firmware-v1-0-released/

It extends the functionality of the expert firmware a fair bit. I preferred the original firmware myself, but if you’re looking at the expert firmware the individual wavebank is basically more functionality without too much more cognitive load.

OT

In a side note, I’m always glad when a module I’ve sold gets a new home and gets used. Makes me happy :slight_smile:

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#53

Tomorrow ill get my first xaoc modules, batumi and zadar :slight_smile:

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#54

Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but here goes…

I have and like a Batumi but I am still unsure as to which modules have unipolar inputs and which have bipolar, recognizing that some modules have both.

Is anyone aware of a master list somewhere that would indicate such things?

Thanks!

#55

I recently picked up a Batumi and decided to return it. One of the factors that bothered me (and I know this will sound silly) is that it didn’t give me good visual feedback about what was happening with each output. The output LEDs are, I believe, tied to the sine wave whereas I mostly used it for square and saw and it was really throwing me for a loop to have the visual and actual output be decoupled.

I also wasn’t wild about how it handling phase syncing when stopping and starting the clock. I was able to work around this when working from my DAW but now that I’m using Pamela’s New Workout as a master clock, it was a little irritating.

Since then, I started looking at Intellijel’s Quadrax as a possible replacement and I think it has a lot going for it. The catch is that it does not yet have great LFO syncing with respect to phase resetting. I reached out to one of Intellijel’s R&D folks on the MW thread and suggested adopting the MI Tides logic for handling phase reset and clock start/stop. The R&D person suggested that they were into this idea and would take a look at it once some other priorities were handled first.

So if you aren’t in a hurry, Quadrax could one day become a great alternative to Batumi that also provides some more advanced features (envelopes and chaining of segments) that justify the larger footprint. You’ll lose the multiple waveform outputs per channel, but it seems like an okay trade-off for me.

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#56

Thanks for the info!
AFAIK it only goes up to 500Hz, right? And that’s only with external voltage input.

What I’ve seen from Tides it seems like a very nice module and I really like my JF but I simply don’t have enough space for them in this tiny case :slight_smile: In a similar vain I think 4 outputs/LFO’s is probably a better amount than 6 for this tiny a case (although in this case more is always better I guess :stuck_out_tongue: )

Thanks for this, very good point, didn’t think about it. It might’ve made more sense to add LEDs to all outputs, although I can also imaging that might be a bit of sensory overload.

Can you explain this a bit more? What didn’t work exactly?

I looked at Quadrax in the past but went for the “old” but much more hands-on Quadra instead because overloaded/multi-mode user interfaces without a screen don’t really work for me, especially for settings like these which I’d probably rarely change.

#57

What’s the focus of your little set-up? What are you hoping to modulate and what are your priorities in terms of versatility, hands-on/tactile, Screens/no screens and total number of related outputs? You might get far with a Ochd or a mini ornament and crime in Quadraturia mode - or that might sound horrible to you. If you are looking for general versatility, a stages might give you enough lfos and also a ton of other options?

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