This is an expansion of Primal Hyperchaos, based on the description in a
paper by C Li, et al. The internal signum switch has been brought out
to the panel. It can be used as a stand-alone switch (don’t expect it to
be clean and nice) or it can be used to inject signals into the
hyperchaos circuit or control the switching of the hyperchaos. Some
actions will make the oscillations stop; others will make them go nuts;
experiment!
It can be built to run at different speeds simply by installing
different capacitors. Very easy build, no special components needed.
There are 5 different CV outputs and 1 gate output. The CV IN is
associated with the CLIMAX pot which determines how high the peaks go.
The module can be greatly influenced by the CV in signal and can exhibit
some fairly nutty responses at times.
IN1 and IN2 are the inputs for the Signum switch, they are also
connected via their switching pins to the internal workings of the
hyperchaos circuit. SW2 is also the internal switch for the hyperchaos
circuit so if you use this input you will find that switching only
occurs with an external signal. Use SW1 if you want to control the
switching of the hyperchaos with an external signal.
As ‘signum’ implies, the switching signal is +1 or -1. This means you
need a signal crossing 0 to make switching occur. A regular gate may or
may not work, depending whatever else is going on at the time.
The signum output is also the W output, as indicated on the panel.
This module is made of 3 neuron circuits and a difference rectifier. The
neuron outputs are fed to the switching pins of the next neuron’s
attenuated input; 1>2, 2>3, 3>1. This means the circuit will
work with a single input signal, delivering all kinds of mayhem at the
outputs.
There are also 4 shared inputs so that the same signals can be fed to
neurons 1&2 and neurons 2&3.
The Difference Rectifier compares the outputs of neurons 1&3 to the
output of neuron 2.
If you want to use the neurons individually then turn down the input
pots or use the upper neuron specific inputs to disconnect the signals
coming from its neighbour.
Just like a set of synaptically connected neurons, this module is noisy
and unruly. It is never going to learn anything it lives in and for the
moment.
It can be used to process audio, CV or audio and CV……do whatever you
like to it.
The name is from the computer described in the 1964 Keith Laumer novel –
The Great Time Machine Hoax, although this module differs in ability
(can’t time travel or get married ….. afaik), the name is quite
suitable. PCB = USD20 Panel = USD22 assembled = USD200
This module takes the classic
Sprott jerk circuit and replaces all the resistors with LDRs.....a 7 way
vactrol. This means the brightness of the LED in the giant vactrol controls the
frequency of the circuit. It is a very easy build and will
give you a very flexible chaotic circuit. The CV inject jack allows you to
control the chaos with gates and CV, some signals will cause it to pause or
stall, others will make it glitch & freak out. CV freq controls the LED
which, in turn, controls the resistance in the LDRs. It is a very flexible build; you
can use any LDRs you like, so long as they are the same. You can also use any
capacitors you like for CAP, so long as they are the same. Of course, the LDRs and
capacitors you choose will affect the behaviour & frequency range of the
circuit. GL5516 LDRs go to 500kΩ off resistance whereas GL5549 go to 10MΩ+
(anywhere from 10MΩ to 20MΩ), so will be a lot slower but will give a much
wider frequency range and some very unpredictable outputs. Similarly with
capacitors 10uF will be a lot slower than 10nF. If going for the more extremely
slow values, GL5549 LDRs and 10uF caps, the module will stall at minimum pot
settings and generally needs a CV on the CV freq input to make it operate. This
is actually a good thing as you can turn the signals on and off with CV or
gates.
This module is based on ideas presented in a 1969 IEEE paper titled - Hybrid Implementation for Sampled-data controllers. The paper presents the canonical form of a generalised digital filter made using analogue elements.....yes this is an analogue circuit; all CMOS and op amps. I played around with various versions for a few years and, as usual, settled on the simplest and cheapest version. Incoming audio signals (or CV if you want to use it as a pattern generator) are fed to a 4 bit A/D stage, these 4 bits then go thru a 4 stage delay (shift registers). Each delayed bit is re-united with its siblings via four D/A stages and the stepped signals are then fed back to the input via an attenuator/inverter stage and are fed to the summed output, again via an attenuator/inverter stage. The circuit is controlled by the clock input that ticks over the shift registers. CV controlling the VCO that supplies the clock signal will in turn control the filter. The Range pot needs to be set to a suitable level, I like it when the peak LED is flickering. Range can also be controlled by CV which will allow you to shift from a 1 bit signal to a 4 bit or overdrive the crap out of it and lock everything up. It is interesting to supply clock signals that are multiples or divisions of the audio signal, but like all NLC modules, feel free to do whatever you like. As mentioned, supplied with a gate and a CV it will perform as a complex pattern generator as well. I will get a demo up soon, but will promise this doesn't sound like a filter......it is very noisy and splatty. PCB set = USD22 Panel = USD22 Assembled = USD220
