SSF 80255212 Ultra Random Redux User Guide
- June 1, 2024
- SSF
Table of Contents
SSF 80255212 Ultra Random Redux
Specifications
- Width: 10hp
- Depth: 23mm
- Power Consumption: +100mA, -57mA (maximum)
- Reverse power protected
Product Usage Instructions
Attaching Power Cable
Attach the power cable to the header by aligning the RED STRIPE with the
BLACK LINE and -12V text on the PCB. This header is reverse power protected.
Random Pulse
R-PULSE can be used as a noise source with varying degrees of randomness.
The output signal becomes more pseudo-random as increased divisions are
selected.
Note : Output may result in a very fast trigger not always shown by the LED indicator.
Linear Slew
Slew time range is from about 40us to 40s and is controlled via LINEAR SLEW
DELTA control and SLW CV input.
Random Sampling
The RANDOM SAMPLING section controls three S&H outputs: A, B, and TOGGLE.
Apply an external source to one of the TRIG inputs to trigger a sample.
Output Levels
- RANDOM PULSE : 0-10V (FREE MODE)
- LINEAR SLEW: Follows input signal level
- RANDOM SAMPLING: 14Vpp maximum
- TOGGLE: Follows S&H A and B
- RANDOM FLUX: 11Vpp maximum
CV Input Range
- RANDOM PULSE DENSITY: 0-10V
- LINEAR SLEW DELTA: 0-10V
- ALL TRIGGER INPUTS: Minimum of 2V amplitude trigger
- TOGGLE TRIGGER: Follows S&H B
- RANDOM FLUX DELTA: 0-10V
- FLX PRB: +/-5V maximum input range
INSTRUCTION
The Ultra-Random Redux is a new and revised version of the original Ultra- Random Analog. Additional features and improvements have been applied to the major functions; including more accurate sampling of external signals and greatly enhanced sample holding time. Three different output modes are now available in the sample and hold section as well, providing the traditional bipolar output as well as full and wave-rectified outputs. Rectification may also be applied to external sampled signals. The Random Pulse section now features a rotary switch to select pulse division and a newly added G-SYNC (gated sync) function for randomized pulse bursts that will be synced to the A or B trigger input signals. The Integrator has been replaced with a wide-range linear slew for processing external and internal signals. The Random Pulse output is normalized to the Linear Slew input jack as in the original URA. Finally, the Random Flux section has been updated with a dedicated Flux Trigger input and manual time constant control in addition to CV modulation inputs. Flux out can also now function as a fourth-stepped random voltage output.
Please take to time to read through the quick-start guide. I have kept it short and to the point for you to get patching quickly. The different sections of the URR can be used independently or inter-patched for separate and correlated random voltage patching. The design offers use as a multi-noise source and voltage processor for non-random applications in addition to being a workhorse for providing up to 6 random voltages in a compact 10hp.
Attached is the power cable to the header by aligning the RED STRIPE with the BLACK LINE and -12V text on the PCB. This header is also reverse power protected and no damage will occur if power is improperly connected.
RANDOM PULSE
The RANDOM PULSE section provides a randomized gate signal for triggering external modules as well as random and pseudo-random digitized noise. The frequency of the output is controlled via the DENSITY potentiometer and CV modulation input. The DIVISOR rotary switch selects the divided state of the output frequency. The output becomes less random as you increase the divisor. For the most random output, you can select ‘1’ as the divisor. The output probability of this state varies from rarely occurring to a fully dense state well into the upper audio range. The R-PULSE output may also be used as a clock source for the A & B sample and holds, or FLUX. The ‘128’ divisor state is great for providing a semi-stable clock source that varies from a very low frequency to about 70Hz via the DENSITY control.
As mentioned, R-PULSE can also be used as a noise source with varying degrees
of randomness. The output signal becomes more pseudo-random as increased
divisions are selected. The audible result is a sound that is less noisy and
more tonal as you divide further down.
The G-SYNC (gated sync) switch is used to select FREE cycling operation or can
be slaved to the external clock/trigger signals that you apply to the A or B
trigger inputs of the Random Sampling section. When synced to A or B, the
R-PULSE output will only fire when synced to one of these triggers. Since
R-PULSE will vary in both an on/off state, and duration of that state – the
synced signal will result in random-gated pulse trains of the applied
triggers. Changing the DENSITY control value will alter whether these synced
pulse trains will occur, and how long they will occur for, including the off
state. The spread of the DENSI-
TY control is by in large dependent on the frequency of the applied trigger signal – and so, you may want to experiment with different divisor settings and well and using the DENSITY control. You can grasp the effect by experimenting with an audio rate signal and listening to the output while synced. This also makes for an interesting morse-code type of sound effect. Please note that while the output generally follows the duration of the synced trigger – the output can also result in a very fast trigger that will not always be shown by the LED indicator, but will still register as a trigger when controlling other modules and the URR itself.
LINEAR SLEW
The LINEAR SLEW section provides an independent voltage-controlled linear
slew generator for manipulating external signals as well as self-patching from
the other outputs of the URR. For instance, you might patch one of the samples
and hold outputs into SLW IN for the voltage-controlled glide of the sampled
output. By default, the R-PULSE output is normalized into the LINEAR SLEW’s
input. Patching in an external source breaks this normalization. With the
normalized R-PULSE as the input signal, the SLEW output offers a
triangular/trapezoidal envelope for smoothly modulating external modules – or
can be self-patched into one of the URR’s CV or S&H inputs. The slew time
range is from about 40us to 40s and is controlled via the associated LINEAR
SLEW DELTA control as well as via the SLW CV input.
RANDOM SAMPLING
The RANDOM SAMPLING section controls three S&H outputs; A, B, and TOGGLE. S&H
A and B are independent samples and holds that feature their analog noise
sample sources. These noise sources are normalised to the respective A/B-SMPL
inputs and can of course be interrupted by an external signal that you want to
sample, by patching into these inputs.
An external source (clock/trigger/gate/LFO) must be applied to one of the respective TRIG inputs to trigger a sample. A cascaded normalization scheme is utilized, whereas a trigger applied to A-TRIG is normalized down to the B-TRIG input, which is then normalized to the FLX-TRIG input. This allows all to be controlled together, independently, or in groups.
TOGGLE follows the triggering of the B-TRIG input signal. TOGL OUT switches
between the A and B S&H outputs every time a new trigger is applied. The B
output is selected via TOGGLE when the input trigger is high – this will also
illuminate the
TOG LED indicator in the RANDOM SAMPLING section of the URR. The effect of
toggle is to essentially splice the A/B S&H outputs together, producing an
interrelated S&H output based on the two. This can make for creating more
complex signals when sampling external VCO waveforms in discrete-time sample
rate reduction patches, where you can splice two wave shapes together.
The A/B S&H can both function in three modes via the switches in the RANDOM SAMPLING section of the URR panel. BIPOLAR outputs positive and negative random stepped voltage and will follow bipolar waveforms when patched into the SMPL inputs. This mode is indicated by the UP/DOWN arrows. FULL WAVE RECTIFICATION will flip all negative signals into the positive region and only output positive voltage signals. Externally sampled signals will also be rectified in this mode. You may use this feature as a general full-wave rectifier as long as the trigger frequency is sufficiency high enough to perform this function. This mode is indicated by the UP/UP arrows. HALF WAVE RECTIFICATION will only pass positive signals; cutting off the negative half. When sampling the internal noise, this has the effect of producing a baseline output of OV and a probabilistic behavior of the output producing a random voltage that is not OV. Externally sampled signals will also be half-wave rectified. This mode is indicated by the UP/? arrow.
The Sample and Hold performance is significantly improved over the original URA in both sampling accuracy and droop rate. The sampling window is optimized for discrete-time sample rate reduction applications with the ability to sample at a rate above 170kHz. The sample window is also sufficient for other sampling applications such as V/OCT sampling. However, trigger timing and inconsistencies during sample acquisition can always affect the accuracy of precise samples and therefore will not always be perfect. Some improvement can be attained by adjusting the sample window. The sample window may be increased by applying a slight slew to the clock/trigger.
This can be through an external module or via the LINEAR SLEW circuitry on the URR. You may also try an external fast envelope. The max slew limit that will register on the URR trigger inputs is about 15ms of linear rise time. This may be increased when using an exponential rising signal. This technique may also improve situations where some sequencers or other modules have timing delays in their trigger/gate outputs. Please realize that while this technique can be very helpful in some situations, it will not always cure all issues due to the inherent possibility of sampling errors found in analog samples and holds.
The Sample and Hold outputs make for excellent noise sources as well. Triggering at high frequencies will allow the normalized noise sources to pass on to the output. Performing sample rate reduction (reducing the trigger frequency) serves to digitize the noise into discrete steps. At audio rates, this sound is a very familiar 8-bit style noise reminiscent of 80’s computer games. Changing the SAMPLE MODE will also affect the tonality of this technique. You may also try patching the noise into the LINEAR SLEW for Low- Pass Filtering the noise.
RANDOM FLUX
Owners of the URA will be familiar with the RANDOM FLUX section of the URR.
This feature has been improved with the addition of a dedicated FLX TRIG input
and dedicated manual FLUX DELTA control for changing the slew rate. The DELTA
control now allows for scaling the smoothness of the fluctuating voltages
manually as well as via the FLX CV input. The minimum DELTA will allow for
FLUX out to operate as a fourth S&H output with a slew. Some slewing of about
a few milliseconds will still be applied to the output when DELTA is fully
CCW. As DELTA is increased CW, the output is smoothed into a fluctuating DC
voltage. Trigger timing determines when a new FLUX sample is taken and should
be considered when adjusting the DELTA to achieve the desired behaviour.
Generally, you will want the timing of each sample to allow for a full swing
(+/-5V) of the output but this is not always necessary. If the DELTA is much
longer than the trigger frequency, this will attenuate the output similar to a
low-pass filter.
FLX PRB (Flux Probability) is used to push the FLUX output into the region of the applied voltage. This has the effect of increasing the probability that the FLUX output will be in that voltage region. One simple way to alter this probability density would be to patch a DC voltage into FLX PRB. This can be useful if you want to focus on small variations of a modulateable parameter. You can apply heavy DELTA smoothing to attenuate the span of the FLUX and then a DC signal into FLX PRB to focus on the region of voltages you would like to modulate with.
You can also use other signals from LFOs and Envelopes into FLX PRB to push the output signal around or apply some randomness to those signals. The FLUX DELTA will also affect the slew time of the signals patched into FLX PRB and this should be taken into account when using this input to randomize external signals. Trigger timing also plays an important role when randomizing. For instance, say you would like to add some random fluctuations to an LFO. Patch the LFO into FLX PRB and patch a somewhat similarly timed trigger into FLX- TRIG. With DELTA set at minimum, you should notice some heavy stepping in the output waveform. You should increase DELTA until you achieve a smoother result. Experiment with different trigger timings and adjust parameters to taste.
OUTPUT LEVELS:
- RANDOM PULSE : 0-10V (FREE MODE), follows trigger level in G-SYNC
- LINEAR SLEW: Follows input signal level
- RANDOM SAMPLING: 14Vpp maximum, follows external sample input level
- TOGGLE: Follows S&H A and B
- RANDOM FLUX: 11Vpp maximum.
CV INPUT RANGE:
-
RANDOM PULSE DENSITY: 0-10V, control behaves as a positive offset for Bipolar CV signals
-
LINEAR SLEW DELTA: 0-10V, control behaves as a positive offset for Bipolar CV signals
-
ALL TRIGGER INPUTS: Minimum of 2V amplitude trigger.
TOGGLE TRIGGER Follows S&H B -
RANDOM FLUX DELTA: 0-10V, control behaves as a positive offset for Bipolar CV signals
-
FLX PRB: +/-5V maximum input range.
TECHNICAL
- 10hp width, 23mm depth +100mA, -57mA maximum power consumption
- Reverse power protected
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How do I trigger a sample in the Random Sampling section?
- A: Apply an external source (clock/trigger/gate/LFO) to one of the TRIG inputs to trigger a sample in the Random Sampling section.
- Q: What is the power consumption of the product?
- A: The product has a maximum power consumption of +100mA and -57mA.
- Q: How do I adjust the randomness level in the Random Pulse section?
- A: Adjust the randomness level by selecting different divisions in the Random Pulse section.