Discontinued
Mutable Instruments Edges (EOL)
Mutable Instruments Edges (EOL)
Quad chiptune audio generator
Enough with the analog, warm and organic.
Edges is a module strictly focused on the straight lines, sharp edges, and clinical harsh modulations of digital logic. Its architecture is loosely based on classic 8-bit console soundchips, providing 4 simple voltage-controlled voices. Each voice consists of a digital oscillator with two pitch CV inputs and a coarse pitch knob, with a gate input allowing the voice to be turned on/off without the need for an external VCA. The 4 channels are sent to an onboard mixer – making Edges easy to use for chord generation or heavy drone synthesis applications.
The first 3 channels are square/pulse digital oscillators, generated by subdivisions of a 4 MHz clock. 5 preset duty cycles settings are available from 50% to 95%. In addition, channel 4′s CV input can be used as a PWM CV for channels 1 to 3, with a 120° dephasing between each channel.
Channel 2 can be hardsynced to channel 1. Channel 2 and 3 are also equipped with a XOR ring-modulator, blending their harmonics with those of Channel 1.
The fourth channel uses a 12-bit DAC without oversampling/reconstruction filter to generate low-fi waveforms at a 48kHz sample rate. The available waveforms are sine, triangle, NES triangle, and various flavors of pitched LSFR noise.
Specifications
Overview
The first 3 channels are square/pulse digital oscillators, generated by subdivisions of a 4 MHz clock. 5 preset duty cycles settings are available from 50% to 95%. In addition, channel 4′s CV input can be used as a PWM CV for channels 1 to 3, with a 120° dephasing between each channel.
Channel 2 can be hardsynced to channel 1. Channel 2 and 3 are also equipped with a XOR ring-modulator, blending their harmonics with those of Channel 1.
The fourth channel uses a 12-bit DAC without oversampling/reconstruction filter to generate low-fi waveforms at a 48kHz sample rate. The available waveforms are sine, triangle, NES triangle, and various flavors of pitched LSFR noise.
Advanced features
- Optional semitone quantizer on the pitch CV input.
- Per-channel mini step sequencer (8 steps) – perfect for creating rapid fire arpeggios. When the sequencer is active, the GATE input works instead as a CLOCK input.
- Auto-calibrate feature digitally scaling the 1 V/Oct CV input to compensate for inaccuracies in CV converters… or to be used creatively to achieve other tunings than 1 V/Oct.
Technical characteristics
- 5V voltage source needed (for example Mutable Instruments Volts).
- All inputs: 100k impedance, DC to 2 kHz.
- Channel 1 to 3: 4MHz, 1-bit.
- Channel 4: 48kHz, 12-bit.
- Open-source hardware and firmware.
- 20-HP.
- Current consumption: +12V: 25mA ; -12V: 20mA ; +5V: 45mA.
DIY and mods options
DIY expander PCB.
- MIDI input; with MIDI mode switch (multitimbral: 1 channel per voice ; or polyphonic: 1 single channel with notes dispatched to the 4 voices) and MIDI channel learn switch.
- Sub-oscillator for channel 1 with NES-style stepped triangle waveform.