Intellijel Rubicon2 Manuel utilisateur
Rubicon2 Manual
Rubicon2
Thru-Zero Discrete Triangle Core VCO
Manual Revision: 2018.05.20
Rubicon
2
Manual
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Overview
Installation
Before Your Start
Installing Your Module
Front Panel
Panel Overview
Pitch Controls
Wave Type Switches
FM Index Controls
Symmetry Controls
Miscellaneous Controls
Pulse Width Controls
WARP Controls
Inputs
Outputs
Rubicon2 School
Understanding FM
Exponential vs. Linear FM
Thru-Zero FM (TZFM)
TZFM Symmetry
Why Does Pitch/Tracking change with the Symmetry setting?
Understanding the Tri State Pulse
Understanding Warp
Understanding Sync
Technical Specifications
Page 1
Rubicon
2
Manual
Overview
Rubicon2 is the second generation of the classic Rubicon triangle core analog VCO, designed in
collaboration with David G. Dixon.
It features nine simultaneously available waveshape outputs; two sub-oscillators; three
variations of a sine wave; a new Tri-State pulse circuit; exponential Frequency Modulation (FM);
linear FM; hard and soft (flip) sync; pulse width modulation; CV control of FM index; a new
foldable Warp circuit; and the ability to perform perfectly-symmetrical Thru-zero FM with
absolutely no change in pitch or tracking accuracy.
This is not a ‘set it and forget it’ oscillator. It’s an oscillator that demands to be tweaked,
modulated and explored. It’s an oscillator that’s proudly analog and eschews all shortcuts. As
such, it’s an oscillator that rewards its owner with sounds as boundless as their creative limits
allow.
For these reasons, we strongly encourage you to do the unthinkable and actually read this
manual. It’s divided into two major sections: A detailed exploration of its numerous knobs,
switches and jacks; and a reference section that explores in detail some of the concepts and
methodologies behind the Rubicon2. The more you understand the Rubicon2, the more you’ll
unlock its multifaceted capabilities, and the more you’ll be tempted to explore its depths.
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Rubicon
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Manual
Installation
Intellijel Eurorack modules are designed to be used with a Eurorack-compatible case and power
supply.
Before Your Start
Before installing a new module in your case you must ensure your case’s power supply has
sufficient available capacity to power the module:
● Sum up the specified +12V current draw for all modules, including the new one. Do the
same for the -12 V and +5V current draw. The current draw will be specified in the
manufacturer's technical specifications for each module.
● Compare each of the sums to specifications for your case’s power supply.
● Only proceed with installation if none of the values exceeds the power supply’s
specifications. Otherwise you must remove modules to free up capacity or upgrade your
power supply.
You will also need to ensure you have enough free space (hp) as well as free power headers in
your case to fit the new module.
You can use a tool like ModularGrid to assist in your planning. Failure to adequately power your
modules may result in damage to your modules or power supply. If you are unsure, please
contact us before proceeding.
Installing Your Module
When installing or removing a module from
your case always turn off the power to the case
and disconnect the power cable. Failure to do
so may result in serious injury or equipment
damage.
Ensure the 10-pin connector on the power
cable is connected correctly to the module
before proceeding. The red stripe on the cable
must line up with the -12V pins on the module’s
power connector. The pins are indicated with
the label -12V, a white stripe next to the
connector, the words “red stripe”, or some
combination of those indicators.
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Rubicon
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Manual
Most modules will come with the cable already
connected but it’s a good idea to double check the
orientation before proceeding. Be aware that
some modules may have headers that serve other
purposes so ensure the cable is connected to the
right one.
The other end of the cable, with a 16-pin
connector, connects to the power bus board of
your Eurorack case. Ensure the red stripe on the
cable lines up with the -12V pins on the bus
board. On Intellijel power supplies the pins are
labelled with the words “-12V” and a thick white
stripe, as shown in the the photo to the upper
right.
If you are using another manufacturer’s power supply, check their documentation for
instructions.
Once connected, the cabling between
a module and power supply should
resemble the photo shown to the lower
right.
Before reconnecting power and turning
on your modular system, double check
that the ribbon cable is fully seated on
both ends and that all the pins are
correctly aligned. If the pins are
misaligned in any direction or the
ribbon is backwards you can cause
damage to your module, power supply,
or other modules.
After you have confirmed all the connections, you can reconnect the power cable and turn on
your modular system. You should immediately check that all your modules have powered on
and are functioning correctly. If you notice any anomalies, turn your system off right away and
check your cabling again for mistakes.
Page 4
Rubicon
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Manual
Front Panel
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Rubicon
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Panel Overview
Rubicon2 is a deep and flexible analog oscillator, with numerous controls and jacks working in
tandem to alter the pitch, waveform and harmonic spectrum in many unique ways. To
understand all its features and how they affect the sound, it might be easiest to divide the
various controls into sub-sections, and discuss them accordingly.
As you can see from the previous illustration, we have subdivided Rubicon2’s front panel into
nine different sections, which are:
1. Pitch Controls - Included in these controls are a VCO/LFO switch for switching between
audio and LFO rates; an Octave Select switch; a PITCH knob (for fine tuning); an
OFFSET trimpot (for adjusting the oscillator’s base frequency), and a pair of waveform
polarity LEDs.
2. Wave Type Switches - These three switches modify waveforms in one way or another.
The SINE TYPE switch on the left changes the shape and octave of the sine wave; the
SUB switch in the middle selects whether the sub oscillator operates one or two octaves
below the main VCO; and the PULSE TYPE switch on the right changes the trigger point
and octave of both the pulse and tri-state pulse waves.
3. FM Index Controls - This knob and its corresponding attenuator alter the FM INDEX (i.e
the depth of Frequency Modulation) for the TZFM input.
4. Symmetry Controls - These controls set the direction and magnitude of the waveform
through the linear FM circuit.
5. Misc Controls - This section offers more timbral manipulation in the form of two
additional circuits: one for exponential FM and another for oscillator sync.
6. Pulse Width Modulation Controls - This knob and its corresponding attenuverter alter
the width of any pulse waves generated by the Rubicon2.
7. Warp Controls - Controls the amount and direction by which the sub oscillator (or any
other signal plugged into the XIN jack) is warped by the tri-state pulse. An additional
SQUISH circuit limits and folds the output waveform — the sonic characteristics of which
are set with a rear-panel trimpot.
8. Input Jacks - This row of input jacks is for connecting audio sources and/or control
voltages into the Rubicon2.
9. Output Jacks - This row of output jacks allows you to access all the various waveform
types generated by the Rubicon2.
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Manual
Pitch Controls
A. VCO/LFO switch - This switch changes whether the Rubicon2 operates as a low
frequency oscillator (LFO) or as an audio oscillator (VCO). In VCO mode the oscillator
runs at audio rates with frequencies between 8 Hz and 20 kHz (depending on the
position of the OCTAVE knob, SYMMETRY, and CV inputs). In LFO mode, the Rubicon2
oscillates at 1/100 the frequency of VCO mode, allowing for cycles as slow as 12+
seconds.
B. OCTAVE knob - This eight-position knob sets the coarse tuning of the oscillator. Each
position shifts the tuning by one octave. Use the corresponding PITCH knob to make
fine tuning adjustments within the selected octave.
C. PITCH knob - Allows finer frequency adjustment over a range of +/- six semitones.
D. PITCH OFFSET trimpot - Adjusts the oscillator’s base frequency, which in turn defines
the actual frequency range produced by each OCTAVE knob setting and by the PITCH
knob.
For example, if you want the Rubicon2 to produce a C note when the pitch knob is at
noon, simply set the PITCH knob to noon, patch the sine wave output into a tuner, and
adjust the trim pot slightly until the tuner reads “C.” Or maybe you’re the type who thinks
in “A”, and you want the oscillator to output an A note when the PITCH knob is at noon.
Small tweaks of this trimpot will allow this.
E. WAVEFORM POLARITY LEDS - These two LEDs show the polarity of the triangle core
waveform. They’re particularly useful when Rubicon2 operates as an LFO, since they
provide a visual indication of the rate.
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Rubicon
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Wave Type Switches
A. SINE TYPE switch - Sets the shape of the waveform appearing at the SINE OUT jack. If
set to the left, the output is a pure SINE wave. If set to the middle, the output is a
SIGMOID. If set to the right, the output is a DOUBLE SIGMOID, which has the effect of
doubling the base frequency at the SINE OUT jack.
TECH NOTE: The output of Rubicon2’s sine shaper circuit is what actually appears at the
SINE OUT jack. With this switch in the left position, Rubicon2 feeds a triangle wave into
that circuit, resulting in a sine wave. With the switch in either the middle or right
positions, Rubicon2 feeds a sawtooth wave into that circuit, resulting in a sigmoid wave.
Sigmoids sound similar to sawtooth waves, only “warmer,” and are great for creating
metallic sounds.
B. PULSE TYPE switch - This switch sets whether Rubicon2 pulse waves are
edge-triggered or center-triggered. Specifically, with the switch in the left position, the
PULSE and TRI STATE PULSE waves are center-triggered. With the switch in the
middle position, these pulse waves are edge-triggered. With the switch to the right, the
pulse waves are edge-triggered, but at double the frequency. Note that PULSETYPE
does not affect the SUBoscillator (which is always a square wave), but it does affect the
WARP waveform, since the TRI STATE PULSE is a component of the WARP circuit.
Center-triggering results when you send a triangle wave to the pulse comparator, and
edge-triggered pulses result from sending a sawtooth wave to the pulse comparator. The
two waveforms are essentially the same, but have different phase relationships, so they
sound different when blended or synchronized with other waveforms. In general, edge
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Manual
pulses are better for syncing, but center pulses are perhaps more sonically ‘pleasing.’
Ultimately, let your ears be the judge.
The following illustration is indicative of how the PULSE TYPE switch affects a narrow
TRI STATE PULSE.
C. SUB TYPE - Selects the frequency of the Rubicon2 SUB Oscillator. SUB1 produces a
square wave one octave below the primary oscillator’s frequency. SUB2 produces a
square wave two octaves below the primary oscillator.
Page 9
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