#622

What’s the small module next to morphagene? Looks like some kind of switched mult?

#623

That looks like an Acid Rain Technology Switchblade, which seems to be a very useful module. Any comments on this ?

1 Like
#624

That’s exactly what it is. There’s one on the left next to the Tempi too. It’s a great module! It’s so simple but so useful. I use them to give variation in live performance, like rerouting different voices into effects, having different sequences to switch between, and changing between fast envelopes to slow on the fly. Recommended.

3 Likes
#625

So have I got this right - pressing the button switches between the bottom two inputs, or you hold it down and it will latch into a ‘mix both’ mode? What’s the jack to the right of each output for then?

#626

Yep that’s right, and the other input is to send a trigger/gate to switch between the two inputs, or to mute/unmute the two mixed sources.

#627

Nice, thanks. Seems very flexible.

And is the switching just immediate? Wondering if you would hear clicks on sound that was inherently not very noisy eg low pitch sine waves?

#628

EDIT:

@_mark @oscillateur

Read from Acid Rain on Muff Wigglers:

It will pop when switching audio.

Some of my earlier prototypes had a “softer” turn-on/turn-off of the JFETs to prevent this, but since it means it basically just fades in and out over some number of milliseconds it made switching trigger streams feel “sloppy” and a little out of time. Plus audio rate switching of CV signals doesn’t work well since it never has enough time to fade one signal in and the other one out.

If the module ends up being popular I have some ideas for how to handle switching audio signals better in the future. Maybe something as simple as some jumpers on the back or a toggle on the front to adjust how quickly the JFETs turn on and off, or perhaps some kind of fancy zero crossing detection for audio rate signals. But TL;DR - the switchblade hardware we have available now is simpler and focused on trigger and CV switching, so unless you have a filter or something after it you’ll hear pops and clicks when switching audio.

If you’re handy with a soldering iron there are some capacitors you can switch out on the back to make the JFET action slower. On the off chance anyone with the module wants to know how to make that modification let me know. I plan on releasing the code and schematics at some point too but I’ve been too busy focusing on new modules and the day job!

Funny, I didn’t have any popping issues when I was testing it (though I am primarily using it for CV and gates/triggers anyway).

2 Likes
#629

Thanks for taking the time to update.

I’m fairly new to eurorack so wasn’t sure of what normal switching behavior is.

That makes sense though - so different use cases.

Clicks can also be desirable too!

#630

There is no real normal behavior in euro thanks to a total lack of standards between manufacturers!

I spent some time today with my Switchblade using audio. It really isn’t suited, with some noise issues and strange glitchy behavior. Having two I could potentially mod one for use with audio (or get a third), but I’m happy just using them for gates and CV variation.

Still a highly recommend module.

1 Like
#631

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Just added the Vector Space to my control skiff, thanks to @Tyresta. Next step will probably be either filling some remaining skiff space with a Brains / Pressure Points combo or possibly replacing my 84HP 6U case with a 7U Steel CV Bus Case.

6 Likes
#632

my system has been fast-approaching something like this, essentially a make noise/mannequins shared system sequenced by monome. black and gold DPO available for swappage with 2x mangrove/coldmac for a different flavor when desired. just need that darn QMMG!

I started my modular journey via the “eurorack ambient” craze a year or so ago and feel like maybe I’ve “grown” out of that, so to speak- or at least my interests have evolved into something driven by more focus, intention, sound design, rhythm, performance, west-coast synthesis, and less on super spaced out “pretty” generative smears of sound that I’ve just become a bit tired of both as a listener and a creator. still searching for the role of the modular in my work as it was used VERY sparingly on my recent album. this almost-finished planned setup is designed to be a played/performed instrument as opposed to a generative music box, and I’m hoping that will integrate it better with the other stuff I use, namely piano, juno-6, tape loops.

17 Likes
#633

What’s that little piece between the Ansible and the Mangrove?

#634

It’s the Switchblade:

1 Like
#635

This module is definitely intriguing… I want some kind of manual mute, but I don’t think this one would do that…

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#636

The SSF Muton that just came out looks great. 8 channel manual clickless mute / VCA for audio and CV. I have one in the mail :sweat_smile:

1 Like
#637

After reading the specs it looks like if you switch change it to mix mode, manual switch will act as mute.

In mix mode the button mutes and unmutes the mix output

Also curious about this module.

#639

Probably a dumb question but how does a vca work without any knobs? Mine all have knobs! I assume that you need to inject some cv to raise and lower the level… that adds more hp and $$…

#640

They work the same as any other VCA except there’s not a knob to manually set the output level. The CV inputs will output no signal at 0V and unity for the input signal at an arbitrary CV input level, let’s say 5V. As with all VCAs, some may amplify above this, others may not.

Depending on your music making needs you might need to be a bit careful matching the CV that you put into the VCA. For example an ADSR envelope which goes up to 10V before decaying to/sustaining at 7V isn’t going to sound quite right if the maximum input level the VCA is expecting is 5V.

Historically, they were good for space reasons. Especially if you already have the necessary ancillary modules to offset and/or scale the CV going into them when required. They were also be a bit cheaper than VCAs with CV attenuation and manual level setting built in. Although I think the modern Eurorack era of 2hp modules etc has largely negated the need for them these days.

6 Likes
#641

love the manuals thumbtacked to the wall :slight_smile:

5 Likes
#642

Nice to see the MIDI2CV in its new home :slight_smile:

1 Like