Muff's Modules & More

Christopher Winkels

Here are some short clips of my "m4Dd tYt3 cH0pz, y0!" as I play a new mystery module sent to me to test out.

Yes, it's an oscillator. And yes... it sounds fan-tas-tic.

One with PWM only (sent through an STG PLLP Filter and into a MegaOhm VCA; no other sound shaping):

One with PWM and hard sync. As above, but with this oscillator slaved to a Q106. The Q106 doesn't provide any audio, only a master reset signal to the slave oscillator:

More to come. I'm definitely quite taken with this thing. thumbs up

syzygywell · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:00 am Post subject:

nlaudadio · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:01 am Post subject:

Mysterious!

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:09 am Post subject:

Here's another:

I just want to reiterate that this audio is coming from only one oscillator. The beating effects are just some slow PWM.

And for something a little more "out there", here's an Oakley VRG doing a bit of FM on the mystery VCO. The VRG's rate is modulated by keyboard CV.

bwhittington · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:26 am Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:28 am Post subject:

At first I was all "The Robots Of Death", but then I went all like "Destiny Of The Daleks"....

Dalek

mecanikill · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:31 am Post subject:

Those demos sound great! I hope its the new ssl vco!

CF3 · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:17 pm Post subject:

You're such a tease hihi

SDC · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:24 pm Post subject:

A bit off topic, but scored one DW-8000 yesterday for 60€. It's an amazing synth, great surprise.

Watching your videos (they are great btw), give me the idea of trying to control my modular with it. I'm pretty sure it never comes to mind if i didnt watch those videos, so thanks for that smile

komyta · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the videos, Mr Winkels ! applause

What is it ? What is it ? What is it ? hyper

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject:

Should we tell them, Chris?

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:05 pm Post subject:

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:09 pm Post subject:

Well, I guess in keeping with the favorite MuffWiggler mascot, "the cat's out of the bag"!

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:14 pm Post subject:

I thought I'd be able to get people to think it's a Trouby. lol

whitewulfe · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:18 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, sounds deliciously mysterious, and definitely like "wallet empty but plenty of smiles on my face".

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject:

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject:

Just curious... What gave it away ?

diophantine · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:30 pm Post subject:

Bob Borries · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject: Me wants 2 know

Triangle or Sawtooth Core?

fac · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject:

I just noticed in the SSL website, the VCO says "Expected Mid April 2012".

bwhittington · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:34 pm Post subject:

Elementary, my dear Slocum. I merely deduced which manufacturer would be silly enough to let Winkels demo their product.

theinnerpalm · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:40 pm Post subject:

The website also says coming in mid april haha. What's the price going to be?? At work but looking forward to having a listen

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject:

Jsantos360 · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:40 pm Post subject:

Perfect! I have just 1U left open in the voice section of my system!

Please fill my slot Doug love

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject:

The Hamburglar · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject:

Prototype pic please!

kindredlost · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:37 pm Post subject:

No tweed? These demos suck!

hihi

Seriously nice sounding VCO. I gotta get one.

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:37 pm Post subject:

Ockeghem · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:38 pm Post subject:

I miss my tweedy grey deerstalker hat. Winkels must have bought them all up; I haven't seen a decent one in years.

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:41 pm Post subject:

FWIW - It's NOT an easy module to make and tune. Looking like about $250 each.

dslocum · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject:

whitewulfe · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:41 pm Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:07 pm Post subject:

mecanikill · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:12 pm Post subject:

Can't wait to get one!

tonnu · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:18 am Post subject:

The knobs seem a bit limited. The SVCO which is also 1u has octave, cv in, waveshape, and waveshape CV on the front!

komyta · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:42 am Post subject:

I love it ! love

Maybe the "CV Amount" knob could be replaced by a continuous PW one.
Then all attenuation would be taken care of with other modules, just like the PWM level... seriously, i just don't get it

Other than that, it's perfect for my needs.

bwhittington · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:38 am Post subject:

wsy · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 8:32 am Post subject: Quit your day job...

Doug:

You really need to just become independently wealthy, quit your day job,
and make modules for the world.

- Bill

dslocum · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Quit your day job...

dslocum · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 8:51 am Post subject: Re: Me wants 2 know

fac · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Quit your day job...

whitewulfe · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:26 am Post subject:

After watching Chris' TTLFO demo... I'm pretty certain I'll probably want two eventually ^_^

Plus the digital delay, the steiner (when it's re-released), the quad LFO, etc etc...

Popski · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Me wants 2 know

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject:

Here's just some basic waveform switching with a simple sequence.

Of additional note, I found that pitch tracking is as good as the Dotcom Q106 with CRS. You can get 5 or 6 good octaves in the bottom of the range, slightly fewer in ultra-high registers. thumbs up

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:42 am Post subject:

And a little bit of FM combined with hard sync...

whitewulfe · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:02 am Post subject:

Quit posting lovely sounding demos chris! razz

I've got enough of a lust for more modules!!! lol

dslocum · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:06 am Post subject:

WHAT HAVE I DONE!?! I've unleashed a monster! It's peanut butter jelly time!

whitewulfe · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:46 am Post subject:

Popski · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:05 pm Post subject:

ok.. soooo.. when?

I think I'll start my 5U adventure with a few SSL modules, including this VCO
and a tap tempo LFO

dslocum · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:50 am Post subject:

Jsantos360 · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:03 am Post subject:

bwhittington · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:13 pm Post subject:

I've hope I've done my part to sell Doug's creation. I'm really quite taken with it.

diophantine · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:38 pm Post subject:

Great!

Doug, is the driver module still planned that will drive a trio of these?

whitewulfe · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject:

atvaries · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the demos.

For two months I've been checking the ssl site for any update on these.

Sooo ready to grab one if not two.

Any pre order info?

SDC · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 7:02 am Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 4:31 pm Post subject:

It's just a Kenton Pro-Solo II.

The onboard LFO's output is summed with the main voltage for note at the Kenton's pitch CV output. It's slick, simple, and it works really well if you like to impart a traditional vibrato on a synth line.

Ockeghem · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:06 pm Post subject:

dslocum · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:01 pm Post subject:

The first few SSL 1200 VCO's have (finally) rolled off the kitchen table and they look and work great - IMHO.

I'll be updating my website and Ebay store a bit later today.

A long time in the making, but I hope you guys like them. Woo hoo!

nanners

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:03 pm Post subject:

dslocum · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:13 pm Post subject:

Too late! (It's already yours!) Guinness ftw!

Popski · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:53 pm Post subject:

dibs on duecey!!

VinceL · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject:

Doug,

Quite a while ago when you first mentioned doing a VCO, you talked about this single-space VCO and also having a driver module to control multiple VCO's a la Moog 921A/B.

Are you still planning to do the driver module?

atvaries · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:15 pm Post subject:

Just keep hitting refresh on that eBay page

wsy · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 6:25 pm Post subject: Dibs on 007!

I call dibs on 007 !

Maybe on 008 too . :-)

(and nothing on the Ebay page as of 19:30 EDT on Sunday June 10)

- Bill

mecanikill · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject:

This will sit nice next to my DDVCO!

dslocum · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Dibs on 007!

dslocum · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:05 pm Post subject:

Ebay updated!

dslocum · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject:

wsy · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject: Ebay paid!

Ebay paid!

(includes a note for unit 007 if possible, otherwise don't worry)

atvaries · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:51 pm Post subject:

Ebay paid! got 2 coming my way. Stoked.

SlayerBadger!

theinnerpalm · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:09 pm Post subject:

Keep them rolling off that table doug! I'm a bit tapped out on money right now but will be purchasing one this summer for sure. Keep up the excellent work. Single MU VCO is a thing of beauty.

kindredlost · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:31 pm Post subject:

Got one!

Hey Doug I forgot to add my Wigglin' Name to the order. It will be from "nu2scosplitter".

Seems like I forgot to do this when I bought the Segwencer a week ago. hmmm.....

Old age I guess.

You are just in time with these. I just ran out of vco's. I built a nice dual Analog Shift register and it is a vco-eatin' machine. I'll need a bank of these at some point. Keep them coming.

Great job! I can't wait to use this. The layout and compactness is killer. Even has a Sync and Sine. It's peanut butter jelly time!

Backroads · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:38 pm Post subject:

I was just thinking about this module today. Will probably sell a Q107 and fill the space with with and a 1U filter. Alien

kindredlost · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:42 pm Post subject:

whitewulfe · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:45 pm Post subject:

I'll definitely be keeping this in mind for my next set of purchases!

Backroads · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:41 pm Post subject:

diophantine · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject:

Hey Doug, count me in as someone interested in the Driver module! I am definitely interested in these (and plan to pick a couple up - though likely not until after the summer), but my biggest point of interest here is in having 3 VCOs with a driver. So, if there is a sign-up list, put me on it!

Minimoog56 · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:49 am Post subject:

Would it be possible to make her compatible with existing moogie osc frivers from cotk or mos lab?

atvaries · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:00 pm Post subject:

Got mine in the mail today. Lightning speed. They look great. Thanks Doug!

Backroads · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:50 pm Post subject:

Doug, do you expect to make more of these soon? Money is tight for another month or so, but I'd love to get one of these in the near future.

dslocum · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:25 am Post subject:

EMwhite · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:24 am Post subject:

(how to make them fly off the shelves)

For me and perhaps others, something that differentiated your slim VCO from others (such as the Oakley, MOTM, etc).

I really really W A N T the MOS-LAB 921* set and then something exotic such as the KOBOL. I don't have the money for either and the fact that it's only available direct from Europe means delays, big time shipping costs, potentially additional taxes (as we all have read).

Frankly, I can't tell the diff between the many Slim VCO options that are out there. A face-off/showdown style YouTube won't do it either unless it's done by somebody that really compared the features and extensibility of each.

So I'm still sitting on the fence. Not wanting to buy the 'standard' .com VCO, even though it really really seems like a great value.

Some of you guys must have a number of the slim variety and can maybe put a table together of features (waves supported, PCM, what other tweaking can be done either directly, in some strange combination of settings, or via connectors on the board between modules from the same maker).

We live in the world of 5U and really get a great benefit out of having the additional real estate over Euro, but we also have x # of spaces so a few slims may be just enough to get a basic modular off the ground, vs. tying up 8 spaces for 3 2-space modules and a helper or two.

Please. (begging)

fac · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:20 pm Post subject:

Speaking as someone who has six dotcom VCO's..... I think these slim VCO's are a great value and if I were starting again, I would get four of them and keep only two Q106s because features like soft-sync, octave switching, and wide frequency range are hard to miss, but definitely not necessary in every VCO.

In fact, I had two spaces reserved for a couple of SSL VCOs but in the end I decided to buy a second TTLFO instead, which for me is much more fun. Now my cabinets are already full and I really don't have space for another cab, so I might eventually (in a year or two) sell some of my Q106s and replace them with the SSL VCO to gain a few spaces - there's so many cool modules being released these days.

kindredlost · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:56 am Post subject:

I need single width vco's because of space and I want more oscillators for an Analog Shift Register. The 1200 is pretty neat and contained.

Here is a video with the one I have along with the Q106, an Oakley4 and DDVCO through the Segwencer IV.

Orbless · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:24 pm Post subject:

The big difference for me is the fact that the SSL (as well as the slim CS80 VCO) have SINE output and the Oaklaey and MOTM slim do not. That is a dealbreaker for me.

kindredlost · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject:

I like the sine output on the 1200 too but with every single space module there are tradeoff's. The Oakley has the octave switching which I find to be helpful as well. I think a rack of both vco's would be the nicest solution.

MindMachine · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 11:36 pm Post subject:

Kindred Lost - that was a really nice atmosphere. thumbs up

dslocum · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:40 pm Post subject:

dslocum · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:47 pm Post subject:

darwingrosse · Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:52 pm Post subject:

Got my 1200 yesterday, and having a blast. Getting it made me realize how badly I wanted a switchless coarse tuning oscillator, and all mine (106's and Oakley/Krisp Slims) were, um, switchful. There's nothing more satisfying than grabbing the frequency knob and giving it a rip!

Excellent build, beautiful sound. My third SSL module, and a third winner!

beyourdog · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:45 pm Post subject:

oblis · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:25 am Post subject: