DRUM/Percussion_

The DRUM/Percussion is a drum module based on the architecture of a rhythm synthesizer released in 1999. This module makes it possible to create your own unique drum sounds ranging from kick, toms, snares, claps, rim shots, tambourine, conga, timbale, clicks, pops, zaps to any other sound you can come up with. DRUM/Percussion especially excells in genres such as acid, techno, tekno or elektro.

This module is intended to be used standalone or together with all other drum modules available in Voltage Modular such as Electro Drums or Digidrums. The module can be sequenced by planet.6:SEQ/Steps or any other module that outputs triggers, such as Misfit's Audio Drum Trigger Sequencer or Euclidean Duel, or simply trigger DRUM/Percussion with a clock sequencer.

The design might feel overwhelming at first, but in fact it's rather straight forward: just three steps to get your percussion sounds going:

1. select your main oscillator waveform;
2. select the (pitch) modulation source;
3. select the frequencies and you are set to go.

Signal routing: waveform + frequency modulation = audio signal > amplifier envelope > equalizer > drive > level = output.

The controls and their functions: from top to bottom:

• Wave: With this knob you select the main oscillator waveform. You can morph seamlessly between a sine (all the way left) to a triangle (all the way right). A sine wave produces a mild (colorless) sound. A triangle wave is slightly brighter than a sine wave.

• Left frequency knob: With this knob you set the frequency (20 HZ to 20.000 HZ) for the main oscillator. Use low values for drums/toms/kicks and higher values form more metallic percussion sounds or rim shots.

• Mode: This knob sets the modulation mode. You can chose sine FM, triangle FM, saw FM, square FM, pitch sample & hold, pitch envelope and pitch envelope + noise. The modulation is sent to the frequency of the main oscillator.

• Right frequency knob: With this knob you set the frequency (50 hZ to 5.000 hZ) of the modulation source. When having any of the first 5 modes selected you set the speed or frequency of the modulation source. At low frequencies this is basically a pitch lfo.

• The first 5 modes (sine to sample & hold) sets the speed of the modulation waveform, which are basically lfo's. In the envelope modes this knobt sets the amount of milliseconds of the decay of the modulation source. Use the lfo modes for percussive sounds and the envelope modes to design kicks and/or snares.

• Big Green: The big green knob sets the depth and direction of frequency modulation of the modulation source (mode) applied to the frequency of the main oscillator. In the middle position no modulation is applied.

• Attenuverters: Sets the amount of cv modulation send to the destinations waveform-frequency, modulation amount and modulation-mode-source frequency.

• Freq., Amt. and Freq. These are the three jacks that can be used to apply cv modulation to the frequency of the main oscillator (wave) form, the amount of modulation to Big Green and the frequency of the modulation source.

• Curve: curve sets the decay curve on the main amplifier envelope after the audio is processed by frequency modulation.

(!) The envelopes in the modulation sources apply a envelope to the pitch signal only and do not affect the amplifier envelope.

• Decay: sets the decay time of the amplifier envelope (20ms to 2.000 ms).

• EQ: With this knob you can boost either low or high frequencies giving more harmonics in 300 hZ or 8000 hZ range. Boosting the lows works great on kicks whereas boosting the highs shines on snares and hihats.

• Drive: At 0% no drive is applied to the audio signal. The led situated above the output is green. When drive is applied the led turns blue so you can easily see drive is applied to the audio signal.

• Accent: sets the accent level for the accented triggers.

• Level: Sets the over-all amplitude/volume of the output signal after the drive stage. At the end of the signal chain a hard clipper takes care of limiting the output to 5V. And if pushed this adds even more saturation to your percussion.