Vermona fourMulator Manuel utilisateur
User Guide
fourMulator
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Introduction
Do you really need four LFO units in a single module? Let’s “fourMulate” it like this: You cannot really have
enough LFOs, can you? Even a classic synthesizer easily offers four targets for LFO modulations. To name a
few: vibrato, pulse width, the filter’s cutoff frequency and tremolo. In a modular synthesizer there are even
significantly more options. Now add the options deriving from a combination of multiple LFOs to create
interaction between the units to make these applications more thrilling.
We could have simply named this module Quad-LFO. However, this felt too boring on the one hand and it
wouldn’t describe the fourMulator’s full feature-set on the other. Its four sync-able, phase-variable and CV-
controllable LFOs are able to create trigger-sequences that can be varied in real time thanks to a comfortable
user interface. fourMulator acts as a modulation- as well as clock-central and is capable of being your new clock-
reference for your modular synthesizer.
Your VERMONA crew from the
Elektroakustischen Manufaktur, Erlbach
User Guide fourMulator2
Getting Started
To ensure op quality we carefully checked the module before packaging. Nevertheless, we cannot fully exclude
damage during transportation. Therefore, we kindly ask you to inspect the fourMulator by yourself, once you
receive the module. In case there is anything unusual about the unit or its packaging, do not hesitate to contact
us, so we can take care of the problem.
You should find the following items in the box:
- the fourMulator module
- a ribbon-cable (10-pole to 16-pole)
- four screws 3 x 6 mm with matching plastic washers
- two VERMONA PatchMate 30 cables
- this user guide
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Setup
The fourMulator was designed to work in modular synthesizer systems using the common eurorack format. Its
power supply, connectors and dimensions match the typical specifications (VERMONA Modular Case, Doepfer
A-100 and compatible systems). Installation is carried out just like for any module:
1. Switch off the power supply! For safety reasons, also remove the detachable power cable from your frame
before mounting the module!
2. Connect the supplied ribbon-cable with its 10-pole connector to the corresponding multi-pin connector on
the fourMulator's rear. (see "Figure 1: fourMulator rear with connector" on page 4)
AThe corresponding plug socket is protected against reverse polarity. Therefore, the 10-
pole connector will only fit in one direction into the module. The supplied ribbon-cable is
color-coded at the -12 volts position. Note, that this may differ from other manufacturers.
Therefore, only use the supplied ribbon-cable to connect the fourMulator to your frame's
system bus!
3. Connect the ribbon-cable's 16-pole connector to an empty plug-socket of your frame's system bus. Make
sure the color-coded side of the cable points towards -12 volts!
AConnecting the ribbon-cable with reverse polarity can lead to damage of the fourMulator or
other modules when powering the system! Double check the connections before continuing
- safe is safe!
User Guide fourMulator4
4. Mount the fourMulator to your modular frame using the supplied screws. To protect the unit's surface from
scratches, use the supplied flat plastic washers.
5. Reconnect the power cable to your frame and switch on the power-supply. The fourMulator is now ready to
operate.
fourMulator
ribbon cable
system bus
-12 V
Figure 1: fourMulator rear with connector
In the following chapters we'll explain how to use the module's different connectors and how to use these in a
modular system.
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fourMulator - overview and functions
Simply described, the fourMulator is a quadruple LFO, with all LFO units (herein after referred to as Modulators)
being able to run freely or synchronized to each other. All four Modulators are equipped equally with one
exception: Modulator qcan only act as sync reference to the other three Modulators, while these may act as sync
reference or being synced to their left counterparts.
In addition, fourMulator offers a clock/trigger section. Using this, the unit can be synced to other clock sources,
e.g. our qMI 2 - quad MIDI interface's clock outputs, or may act as a sync reference. Furthermore, the unit’s user
definable and editable trigger-sequence is a perfect partner to a variety of gate dependent modules.
The fourMulator has been designed to work with almost any available module. It outputs CV-voltages with a
range between +5 and -5 volts, a total range of 10 volts. Note that some modules are not designed to handle
negative voltages. In this case, only the positive voltage will affect the controlled function. There are also
CV-inputs, e.g. for cutoff control of certain filters, that work within a range of 0 to 10 volts. Although the total
range is identical, the fourMulator’s Modulators cannot sweep the full range. In these cases modules with the
possibility of generating offset such as our Dual Buffered Multipe/Inverter or twinVCAmp will help.
Triggers and clock impulses are output with 12 volts with positive slope and 10 ms duration. This specification is
accepted by almost all available modules that accept trigger or gate signals, e.g. envelopes, switches, reset-inputs
for LFOs, start/stop inputs for sequencers etc.
The reset and clock inputs accept signals ranging between +3.5 and +12 volts.
User Guide fourMulator6
Connections and Controls
Figure 2: Controls and Connectors of the fourMulator
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The Modulators’ control elements
The four Modulators are built identically, so we will describe identical functions just once, while we will describe
the differences in synchronization and phase shift separately.
WAVE selector q
The six-stage WAVE knob qselects the desired wave form. Available are ascending saw tooth (S), descending
saw tooth (s), square (r), triangle (t), sine (i) and random (z= sample & hold).
SPEED- and SPEED/PHASE controls w
The SPEED control wadjusts the Modulators’ frequency. SPEED wcovers a range from 0.05 Hz to 100 Hz.
Therefore, modulations with audible frequencies are only possible within limits. The fourMulator’s focus within
the sub audio range is intended because higher frequencies would not make sense for use of the unit as clock-/
trigger-generator or for reciprocal modulations.
For Modulator q, the SPEED control wis limited to this function. For Modulators w, eand r, this control can
also shift the phase of the selected wave form when being synchronized to the left neighboring unit (SYNC
switch eset to left position, see "SYNC switch" on page 9). Here, the Modulator being synchronized runs
with the same speed as the reference Modulator. Use SPEED/PHASE wto adjust the phase of the wave for the
synchronized Modulator between 0° and 180°, shifting the wave form’s start-point
User Guide fourMulator8
Modulator 1
Modulator 2
180°
Figure 3: Phase Shift
SPEED and SPEED/PHASE woffer a third control function. With SYNC eset to the CLK position (Clock), the
controls set the clock division in respect to the incoming clock signal. Find more details in the next section.
The tempo is displayed using the corresponding LEDs for every SPEED control w. With every commencing new
wave-form-cycle, the LED will be lit. For Modulators being synchronized and being shifted in phase, the LEDs
flash with the same tempo but with a corresponding delay.
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SYNC switch e
The SYNC switch eoffers three positions: OFF, SYNC and CLK.
HModulator qonly offers OFF and CLK positions since it can only be used as a sync reference
but cannot be synchronized itself.
OFF: The Modulator runs at the speed set with the corresponding SPEED wcontrol.
SYNC (indicated by the numbers q, wand e): The Modulator is synchronized to its left counterpart. It follows
the clock-reference’s speed. By this, multiple Modulators can be varied in frequency at once using the SPEED
control wof the Modulator acting as clock-reference. In sync-mode, SPEED wcontrols the phase of the
synchronized Modulator (see "Figure 3: Phase Shift" on page 8).
HIt is possible, to synchronize two or even three Modulators with Modulator qby setting the
adjacent sections to sync (left position). Also, Modulators qand was well as Modulators e
and rcan be used as independent synced pairs.
CLK: The Modulator is either synchronized to an internal or external clock signal (see "Clock input (CLK IN)"
on page 12). Use SPEED- or SPEED/PHASE wto select one of eight available clock division settings - the
Modulators’ speed will only move within a clock related grid.
Neither the internal clock nor an external signal is predefined. A clock can work with any resolution, e.g. with 4,
16 or 96 impulses per bar. Therefore, the clock division needs to be regarded relatively to this base.
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