làrachd Input Utility User Manual
Contents 3 Description / Features 4 Installation / Specifications 5 Overview 6 Level Conversion & Audio Enhancement 8 Envelope Following 10 Pedal Interfacing 12 Patch Examples - Distorted Guitar Amp - Guitar Controlled Synth Voice - Hands Free Recording 2
Description The Instruō làrachd is a fully analogue multifunction utility module that provides various methods of interfacing external signals and interactions into musically useful control voltage signals. It features a stereo line level to dual mono modular level converter, condenser microphone, audio enhancer, envelope follower, threshold comparator, and dual footswitch interface (footswitch included), làrachd is a true “Swiss Army knife” that finds a purpose in every patch.
Installation 1. Confirm that the Eurorack synthesizer system is powered off. 2. Locate 8 HP of space in your Eurorack synthesizer case. 3. Connect the 10 pin side of the IDC power cable to the 2x5 pin header on the back of the module, confirming that the red stripe on the power cable is connected to -12V. 4. Connect the 16 pin side of the IDC power cable to the 2x8 pin header on your Eurorack power supply, confirming that the red stripe on the power cable is connected to -12V. 5.
làrachd | La:rəxg | noun (vestige) a range of operation, a marked effect, impression, or impact Front LINE IN RIGHT GAIN 3 1 2 STEREO 6 4 MIC LEFT 7 8 OUT IN ENHANCE 11 12 14 THRESHOLD 13 ATTACK 17 18 GATE 22 Footswitch 10 9 FOLLOW 24 5 OUT PEDAL 26 23 25 DURATION 19 21 15 ENVELOPE 16 TRIG 20 RELEASE GATE 28 27 làrachd Key 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Level Conversion & Audio Enhancement Stereo Line Input: Stereo input for line level to modular level conversion. • • • The signal present at the Stereo Line Input (TRS 3.5mm) will be split and output from the Left (TS 3.5mm) and Right (TS 3.5mm) Outputs. If the Right Output is unpatched then its signal will sum with the Left Output as a mono source.
• • • If the toggle is in the up position, a mono sum of the stereo signal present at the Stereo Line Input is the normalled input source of the Enhance Input and the Envelope Follower Input. If the toggle is in the centre position, input source normalling to the Enhance Input and Envelope Follower Input is muted. If the toggle is in the down position, the Microphone is the normalled input source of the Enhance Input and Envelope Follower Input. Microphone: On-board condenser microphone.
Envelope Following Envelope Follower Input: A signal present at the Envelope Follower Input will generate an envelope signal at the Positive and Negative Envelope Outputs. • • If no signal is present at the Envelope Follower Input, either a mono sum of the signal present at the Stereo Line Input or the Microphone can be chosen as the normalled input source. If a normalled input source is active, patching a connection to the Envelope Follower Input will break the normal.
Attack: Manual attack time control for the generated envelope signal. • • Changes to this parameter are additive to the generated envelope signal. Maximum slew rate is approximately 1V/second. Release: Manual decay time control for the generated envelope signal. • • Changes to this parameter are additive to the generated envelope signal. Maximum slew rate is approximately 1V/second. Positive Envelope Output: Unipolar positive envelope output.
Pedal Interfacing Dual Footswitch Input: ¼” (6.35mm) input for the included Dual Footswitch or other compatible footswitch controllers. A - Button: If the A - Button (left) of the Dual Footswitch is pressed, a trigger signal is generated at the A - Button Trigger Output. A - Button Trigger Duration: Manual duration control of the trigger signal generated at the A - Button Trigger Output when the A - Button of the Dual Footswitch is pressed. • Trigger duration range is 5ms to 500ms.
Latching Gate Button: Button that, when pressed, will generate a latching gate signal at the B - Button Gate Output. • If a gate signal is already held HIGH at the B - Button Gate Output due to the pressing of the B - Button on the Dual Footswitch, pressing the Latching Gate Button will flip the state of the B - Button Gate Output, forcing the gate signal to pull LOW.
Patch Examples Distorted Guitar Amp: Summary: When the electric guitar signal is connected to làrachd, làrachd acts as a preamplifier while tanh[3] acts as a distortion. Electric Guitar Output Audio Path: • • • • • • • Connect an electric guitar to the Stereo Line Input of làrachd. Set the Stereo Level knob to 4:00. Set the Source Toggle to its up position, allowing the Stereo Line Input signal to normal to the Enhance Input. Set the Enhance Level knob to its maximum position.
Guitar Controlled Synth Voice: Summary: The electric guitar signal gets amplified and sent to the envelope follower. The generated envelope signal then modulates a low-pass filter and a VCA. Electric Guitar Output Audio Path: • • • • • • • Connect a desired waveform of an oscillator to the audio input of a low-pass filter. Connect the audio output of the filter to the audio input of a VCA. Monitor the audio output of the VCA. Set the fundamental frequency of the oscillator to a desired position.
Control Path: • • • • • • • • Connect an electric guitar to the Stereo Line Input of làrachd. Set the Stereo Level knob to 4:00. Set the Source Toggle to its up position, allowing the Stereo Line Input signal to normal to the Envelope Follower Input. Connect the Envelope Follower Output to a multiple. Connect one copy of the Envelope Follower Output signal to the FM input of the filter and set the corresponding CV attenuator to a desired position.
Hands Free Recording: Summary: The Dual Footswitch controls either both Record functions on Lúbadh or the Capture and Strike functions of arbhar. Output Footswitch Lúbadh Control Path: • • • Connect the Dual Footswitch to the Dual Footswitch Input of làrachd. Connect the A - Button Gate Output to the left Record Gate Input of Lúbadh.
Output Footswitch arbhar Control Path: • • • Connect the Dual Footswitch to the Dual Footswitch Input of làrachd. Connect the A - Button Gate Output to the Capture Input of arbhar. Connect the B - Button Gate Output to the Strike Input of arbhar. Manual Author: Collin Russell Manual Design: Dominic D’Sylva This device meets the requirements of the following standards: EN55032, EN55103-2, EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3, EN62311.
