Instruō - arbhar V2.0 Firmware Overview

video upload by Instruō

"Note: WATCHING THIS ENTIRE VIDEO IS NOT NECESSARY!
I've curated it with chapter markings to encourage hopping around to specific features/examples. I hope this will work as a video reverence in conjunction with the full written manual.

A dedicated tutorial on how to upgrade your arbhar can be found here:"

arbhar - Firmware update tutorial


The arbhar V2.0 firmware update is here!
In 2019 the launch of the arbhar heralded a new generation of granular processing in Eurorack. Sampled audio can be chopped into tiny grains, scattered, shaped, re-pitched, reversed, and layered for an endless range of audio manipulation from seamless frozen tones to mutated acousmatic madness. Each grain sounds with its defined specifications. When modulation is used, the "per-grain parameter" definition allows for true polyphonic layering.
With the introduction of firmware version 2 (2023) comes a complete rewrite of the entire codebase to implement both technical and conceptual improvements that will enhance the entire user experience of the arbhar. We have ensured that the overall feel of the module has been preserved as much as possible. Advances in efficiency and expanded features will allow the arbhar to explore many more sonic and musical spaces.
Meet the Lexer Method 2.0.

• Up to 88 stereo grains between two granular engines, allowing for polyphonic layering
• Mono and stereo input configurations
• Six 10 second individual audio buffers
• 1 volt per octave pitch tracking
• On-board random pitch deviation and grain direction probability
• Scan mode, Follow mode, and Wavetable mode
• Stereo pan, feedback delay, and reverb configurations
• Built-in condenser microphone
• Analogue input pre-amplifier and limiter
• Audio analysis with onset detection for automatic audio capturing
• Includes 2 HP passive CV Expansion module and 4GB USB flash drive
• User-definable configuration for complete instrument customisation
• Save, Load and Clone audio between layers
• Curate/recall entire performance configurations with up to 42 Scenes.
• USB import and export functionality

Instruōduction
00:00:00 Instruōduction
00:04:43 What's new with arbhar 2??
00:04:59 [What's new:] Grain count doubled
00:07:35 [What's new:] New sample management
00:08:49 [What's new:] Layer clone/Library load
00:09:26 [What's new:] Sample Library/Expansion pack
00:10:13 [What's new:] Accumulative Recording
00:10:40 [What's new:] Additional ONSET detection modes
00:11:01 [What's new:] STEREO!!
00:12:46 [What's new:] Expanded FOLLOW MODE capabilities
PRESET 1
00:14:14 PRESET 1
00:14:57 Initialisation, Factory reset
00:16:57 Audio Input/Output
00:18:50 Parameters: LAYER | SCAN - Transport controls
00:20:16 CAPTURE, Recording audio
00:23:03 Parameters: INTENSITY | LENGTH - Grain playback
00:26:59 Grain distribution, OUTPUTS
00:28:33 Parameters: WINDOWING | DIRECTION - Grain playback
00:32:28 Parameters: SPRAY - Grain sourcing
00:36:46 PATCH EXAMPLE: CV SPRAY
00:39:31 arbhar V2 audio engine tech spec - Pushing granular limits
00:50:09 arbhar V2 Wavetable engine
00:54:08 PITCH - knob
00:57:09 PITCH - 1V/OCT
00:59:05 Pitch shifting - vari-speed
01:02:14 PITCH - DEVIATION (random)
01:10:23 PITCH - DEVIATION (quantised)
01:13:40 STRIKE - Second grain engine
01:20:28 Audio input - Microphone
01:26:21 Parameters: UNDO/CLEAR/DUB
01:31:09 PATCH EXAMPLE: "kindling"
01:33:56 Parameters: ONSET | CAPTURE
01:43:15 Targeted Capturing CAPTURE | LAYER
01:49:41 Ω OMEGA | LAYER
01:52:09 ONSET (alpha)
01:53:58 ONSET modes selection
01:54:12 ONSET (beta)
01:54:55 ONSET (gamma)
01:56:16 ONSET (delta)
01:57:16 ONSET (epsilon)
01:57:51 ONSET (zeta)
01:58:09 FOLLOW MODE (ONSET zeta)
01:59:20 Parameter TRACK & HOLD
02:01:57 MOD CV: Reverb
CHANGING PRESETS
02:07:16 CHANGING PRESETS
PRESET 2
02:14:14 PRESET 2 - Delay Mode
LAYER CLONE / AUDIO LIBRARY LOAD
02:19:26 LAYER CLONE / AUDIO LIBRARY LOAD
PRESET 3
02:27:21 PRESET 3 - STEREO
PRESET 4
02:36:57 PRESET 4 - FOLLOW MODE
02:40:25 Parameter - PHASE SWITCH
02:41:47 Granular delay (FOLLOW MODE)
PRESET 5
02:48:30 PRESET 5 - PANNING (MOD CV)
PRESET 6
02:54:04 PRESET 6
02:54:31 Accumulative Recording
02:59:04 Accumulative - Capture Reset
03:00:10 Capturing a collage
03:05:08 Accumulative - Targeted Recording
03:06:13 Accumulative - Engage/Disengate
03:12:34 Accumulative MOD CV (Reverb)

Update:

4 Ways to Creatively Process Drums with Granular Synthesis // Instruo Arbhar v2

video upload by DivKid

"This was lots of fun! Processing acoustic drum beats, recorded at Instruo HQ, processed creatively through the Instruo Abhar v2.

The four drum loops were recorded simply playing around in Jason’s studio at Instruo HQ back on my trip a short while back (video link below). These are just phone recordings, but loud drums in a studio with phone compression works quiet well and with a little massaging of the raw recordings that’s what I’m using for processing.

The video goes through creative ways to use granular synthesis to capture, process, smear and scatter drum breaks into new sonic territories."

TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS

00:00 Hello & patch previews

00:47 What are we doing in this video?

01:20 GRAIN SIDECHAIN // wonky beat ducked grain intensity

04:03 CREATING WAVETABLE VOICES FROM BEATS // drums turned into wavetables

06:54 CAPTURING SOUNDS & MANUALLY PLAYING THEM // layering new percussion sounds over beats

09:03 LIVE INPUT GRANULAR DELAY FX // follow mode with an open buffer, like a granular delay unit.

See DivKid's INSTRUO HQ TOUR here.