Make Noise Maths

Make Noise Maths is a Control Voltage Generator and Processor indebted to the classic designs of Don Buchla in his Model 257 and Model 281 function generators. The design of Buchla's envelopes allowed them to easily switch between cycling and triggered envelopes, providing LFOs as well, and at high enough speeds, Oscillators. This design was then appropriated for the Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator, which is an apt name as it can basically create any kind of rising and falling voltage. Maths continues in this great tradition of versatile and function-packed modules.

Maths can be used for VC Envelope Generators, VC LFOs, VC Slew Generators, a strange type of filter/VCA, a polarizer/attenuator, a VC clock divider, and a VCO. It can easily translate digital information (clocks and triggers) into analog information (sloped waveforms and continous shifting voltages), and vice versa (with trigger "End" outs for both function generators). The wave shapes can be changed from Logarithmic to Linear to Exponential with a control knob, which also affects their frequency range and timbre. Two cycle buttons easily convert the functions from triggered or gated envelopes to looping LFOs.

Two utility polarizers are also present to process CV and/or Audio. When nothing is patched into the Polarizer input, it outputs a static voltage based on the level of the knob. 12 O'clock would be 0V, and would increase or decrease depending on which way the knob is turned. When something is patched in, the polarizers work as attenuverters. This means it will turn down bi-polar signals until they invert, or it turns down a unipolar signal until it crosses the X axis and goes negative.

A synthesizer that consists exclusively of Make Noise Maths would technically be a fully functional synthesizer, complete with oscillators, envelopes, esoteric VCA's and filters, LFOs with Audio mixing capabilities. The Maths is an essential synthesizer module for any style of synthesis.

Make Noise Maths Features

Analog Computer Module Designed for Musical Control Voltage Manipulation and Generation

Voltage Controlled Envelope or LFO as slow as 25 minutes and as fast as 1khz

Apply Lag, Slew or Portamento to control voltages

Change the depth of modulation and modulate backwards

Combine up to 4 control signals to create more complex modulations

Musical Events such as Ramping up or Down in Tempo, on command

Initiating Musical events upon sensing motion in the system

Musical note division and/or Flam

Perfect for modulating the DPO and just about anything else

Downloads: Make Noise Maths Manual

Make Noise Maths Videos

These videos are inspired by the absolutely essential Maths Illustrated Patching Manual, created by Demonam.

Maths as a Clock Divider

This patch utilizes the MakeNoise Maths slew capabilities in a rhythmic and helpful way. The Maths on the right is just providing clocks which are patched into the Trigger inputs of Channel 1 and 4 of the Maths on the left. If the Rise amount makes the envelope longer than the next Trigger, it won't retrigger until the next gate, allowing one to use it as an analog clock divider. Both channels of Maths are being clocked at the same rate, and as the Rise value changes, the clock division is decided, showing some rhythmic ratios such as 1:2, 2:3, 2:4, and 3:4. The End of Cycle and End of Rise clock outputs are then sent to strike an Optomix for a quick percussive envelope.

Maths as a (waveshaping) VCA

This patch is similar to the Clock Divider patch, but instead of sending Triggers and using the slewed envelope to offset the Trigger outputs, this patch uses the Gate input for Audio, and slews it completely until no sound is outputted. The output of an oscillator is sent into the Gate input on Maths. As one moves the Rise and Fall knobs, one can hear the timbre shifting slightly, with some locations cutting out the sound completely. If the output of Channel 4 is patched into the Rise CV, it can modulate the Rise control to cut out the sound. In order to get the correct ranges, the output on Channel 4 may have to be fully negative (by use of the polarizer knob). Great as a VCA in a pinch!

Maths as a Quadrature LFO

In this patch, Maths is organized to have the second envelope be Triggered with the End of Rise output on the first envelope. If the first envelope is set to linear slope, with its rise and fall amounts set to similar ranges, then the second envelope will begin halfway, or 90 degrees, through the first one. The End of Cycle output of channel two is then fed back into the trigger of channel one, which creates a loop of re-triggering. When this patch is created, one will need to turn cycling on for just a moment to get the triggers to start. The envelope outputs are controlling the volume levels of the Audio and Sub-Audio outputs on the STO via the Optomix.