#186

I just bought a second Three Sisters… Thinking I might replace my Random Source NTO with it, since the Sine out is my favorite part of the NTO anyway. Looking forward to playing around with 2 anyway.

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#187

Hi!

I think I might have just received a faulty Three Sisters. It’s on the left in the following video. Being as the module is fairly new to me (the other one is on loan from a friend), I figured I’d ask for advice – it’s not supposed to do that, is it?

Video

#188

No, that’s not supposed to happen :slight_smile: Contact service@whimsicalraps.com

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#189

Thanks for the support – it’s just that over the years, I’ve read so many threads about the distortion (probably mostly to do with the ALL output)… This helps :slight_smile:

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#190

I can’t believe it took me so long to realize that you can use 3S as a stereo lowpass or highpass! Just by using the trick of mixing an inverted highpass output with your dry signal to create a lowpass or vice versa. It sounds great and the span control can add some cool panning filter behavior. And since it seems 3S’s highpass already inverts the signal, you don’t even have to use an inverter–just a normal mixer will do. It doesn’t completely filter the signal, there is still a faint trace of the dry sound when totally closed, but it works well enough and adds a bit of interest to the resulting stereo image.

Here’s a field recording through it. Left channel is filtered by the highpass mixed with dry signal, and the right channel just goes through the lowpass.

EDIT:

Here’s an example turning it into a variable width stereo bandpass. Right signal is filtered straight through the center channel. Left signal gets multed to both hi and lo channels which are then mixed back in with the dry. This does really cool stuff with the stereo image.

46 Likes
#191

Hi all, just wanted to check the behavior of my Three Sisters with other owners;

Sending a constant sine (or other waveform) from e352 and using the ALL input in FORMANT mode with QUALITY + SPAN @ 12 O’clock i’m getting noise and volume spiking across the FREQ knob (just before 100 and then again at 600)

If QUALITY is at 12 and SPAN at 3 O’clock im getting it at 16 and then back again on the line between 600 and 3k

if i use different inputs (ie not ALL), and when monitoring different outputs i’m getting this noise/dist spike in different locations around the FREQ knob. I’ve ruled out a scratchy pot because of this movement - is this just a quirk of the module or does it seem like i might have a problem?

#192

Are you monitoring from the ALL output, or using a mixer or passive mult to combine the individual outs?

#193

No mults just monitoring from the All output (usually ALL output into Intellijel Quad VCA)

#194

It’s by design to overdrive.

From the technicalmap:

The ALL(OUT) mix can distort when three very loud input signals are used or when all three filters are in self-oscillation. To avoid this, you can passively mix these signals by directly connecting the three output jacks using stackable cables, or a passive mult. Many manufacturers discourage this output-to-output connection, but we’ve extensively tested it with Mannequins modules with no issues, and officially support the practice. This technique is also useful If you only wish to combine two of the three outputs (e.g. connecting LOW(OUT) and HIGH(OUT) with a stackable) while using the third output independently. This will reduce the level of the signal as more outputs are connected together.

6 Likes
#195

I’m not using 3 loud signals and also none of the filters are in self oscillation. As above its happening with 1 signal (regardless of which input).

I’m not getting a ‘overdriven’ output its a noisy spike which happens in 1 to 2 different locations of the FREQ knob depending on which input I’m using and the QUALITY and SPAN knob positions.

#196

I get something similar (not sitting next to the modular to test if it’s exactly the same). I was initially worried - thinking it surely must be a fault - but after reading the comments in the manual and other comments online I figured it’s a “feature” of the module that it clips rather easily. I don’t much like the clipping (I think it’s a little over-flattering to call it overdrive to be honest) but I have heard it used creatively too. What convinced me that it wasn’t a big problem was that I could get rid of it by attenuating the input signals sufficiently. You should be able to get a clipping-free signal by putting an attenuator (i.e. a mixer or VCA) between your signal source and the input, and in addition watching out for self-oscillation. As the manual points out, you do get more sensitivity to clipping if you use the ALL output because it’s simply summing the signals of the three different filters. So, in addition to attenuating the input, you can try passively mixing the three separate filter outputs and avoid using the ALL one as suggested in the manual.

With these steps I’ve managed to tame the clipping almost entirely and have learned to love this filter and it’s quirky ways!

2 Likes
#197

Here’s a reminder that passively mixing the outputs of Tres Hermanas works great to avoid distortion. I suggest one of those $1.50 ninja star splitters from eBay.

Edit: beat to the punch!

2 Likes
#198

Simon thank you man you’ve put me at ease.

My Three Sisters is currently back at Signal Sounds who have run it against their own 3 Sisters and haven’t really found anything conclusive. That being said they have still (very kindly) offered an exchange for something else if i wish. Nobody has Three Sisters in stock and i don’t really want to swap it out and then struggle to get one again in the future (especially if there is nothing wrong with it). I really appreciate your reply and i think i’ll get the module back in my case and try attenuating the input as suggested.

Thanks again man!

1 Like
#199

cool - fingers crossed you’ll be like me and end up loving it. it’s so full of character when you’re gentle with it! (i also strongly recommend buying one of those star-shaped headphone splitters to passively mix the low, mid, and hi outputs to make a calmer version of the all output).

#200

A stackable cable works great for this, too.

#201

embrace the noise? :om: :laughing: :v:

2 Likes
#202

Also wanted to chime in and say that of the two 3 Sisters I’ve owned, both had frequency dependent clipping with high amplitude input signals. Generous gain staging can result in cleaner sounds, but either way I hope you enjoy it :+1:

1 Like
#203

Somewhere in this thread there is a mention of using three sisters as a stereo lowpass filter. I never tried it but yesterday i needed a second lowpass filter on something and then this module patch came up in my mind. I basically used three sisters as 2 “independent” lowpass filters which are linked and can be offset by span.

Love this module :slight_smile:

For anybody who doesn’'t know yet:
Split audio to mixer and sisters highpass input.
Splitted audio and highpass out into mixer. The highpass signal will cancel out the originals audio high frequencies because it has a inverted phase.

13 Likes
#204

anyone out there indulge in 9 sisters? i have 2 x 3S’s atm and the feedback capabilities are pretty incredible. would like to keep the two for that purpose and have a 3rd as an all encompassing filter to ping and swing

any particular methods to note that ppl are exploring with this trio?

*aside from the ones mentioned above

7 Likes
Mannequins Technical Maps: Three Sisters
#205

I’ve been using my Three Sisters mostly as a since oscillator (with additional waveshaping by Cold Mac). While experimenting with some drones in just intonation, I realized that Three Sisters’ frequency is constantly drifting upward.

I’ve been measuring the low output for about 90 minutes now and so far it went up by almost 15 hz. My 0-Coast, just as a reference, only drifted by 0.5 hz in the same time.

Did anyone else around here experience similar problems? Or is this the normal behaviour of the module?

The V/oct tracking also seems to be quite off, so I guess I will have to calibrate the module. But this shouldn’t be related to the pitch drifting, right?

1 Like