Baloran Introduces TheBumBleBee (aka The 3B)

video upload by Laurent Baloran

"A zen moment at the helm of The 3B.
more informations on https://baloran.com/store/index.php?r..."



Available in desktop and eurorack formats.

Google translated:

The 3B is delivered assembled in its external case: 2mm folded aluminum, 4mm machined aluminum front, epoxy paint, DC/DC converters and Meanwell power supply, the whole demonstrates a hardware quality that lives up to the pleasure that The 3B brings.

On the left (yellow adjustable support) is a 3D Laser/IR, without any danger for fingers and eyes, it is a specific technology called TOF (Time Of Flight). This sensor transmits an image of your hand or any other object that enters its cone of vision, as well as the precise distance between the object and the sensor. The image allows, by analysis, to determine the X and Y position of the hand or the object. The Z height is transmitted directly by the sensor with millimeter precision.

A second identical sensor, placed on the right (blue swivel support), transmits the X2, Y2, Z2 coordinates as well as a GATE G2, allowing completely independent two-handed play.

In the center, two buttons A and B are very sensitive pressure sensors. They transform pressure into voltage available on the A/X2 and B/Y2 sockets. They can operate as two independent sources or as a single source controlled by the two buttons: in this case, button A decrements the value, B increments it and both can act simultaneously to allow excellent control finesse.


Management of height information (Z1 and Z2)

The height of the hand, another part of the body, or an object in relation to the sensor is fundamental playing information and The 3B offers you several ways to manage it.


LIKE THEREMIN mode

When the hand enters the cone of visibility of the sensor, the GATE is activated. The voltage available on Z will correspond to the height of your hand. By default, The3B offers 120mm per octave. With its sensitivity, in broad daylight and without gloves, you cover three octaves minimum. You can change this 120mm reference per octave (possible values ​​72, 96, 120, 180, 240 and 360 mm)


SELECTED SEMITONE mode

Each 10 mm of movement (with 120 mm/octave setting) corresponds to a semitone. The GATE in this mode is generated for each note played. You can activate/deactivate certain semitones to limit the range to a specific key or notes.

RANGE NOTE mode

It's up to you to define how to manage the pitch. Define the number of intervals per octave and assign a note to each interval. Example: divide the 120mm into four 30mm zones and assign the notes C-1, C, G-1, G+1 to each interval. In the first 120mm, it will play C1, C2, G1, G3, in the following 120mm C2, C3, G2, G4 and so on.


MICROTONAL Mode

The 3B reads SCALA files. It comes with some files on its microSD by default. Select a microtonal scale, The 3B will adapt the tensions to match the pitches of the tones defined in the SCALA file. You will be able to play baroque with 12-tone scales but also in more exotic scales from 2 to 24 tones.


MULTI SEQ Mode

This is a bit like RANGE NOTE mode. Define the number of intervals per octave but instead of assigning a note to a position, you will assign a sequence of 2 to 24 steps to each interval. This allows you to prepare arpeggios in the key of your choice, each pitch will play the sequence adapted to the key thus avoiding the simple transposition of a classic sequence.


EXPR. ENV mode

In this mode, the sensor acts as an expression pedal. Above 200mm nothing happens. Below, bringing your hand close to the sensor acts as if you were pressing a volume pedal, the voltage emitted on Z will increase. The X and Y information are transmitted normally.


MORPH LFO mode

Each sensor manages an LFO. The LFO signal is found on the Z jack. You can define two waveforms and indicate which information allows you to switch from one waveform to the other. The height of your hand will define the amplitude of the modulation, X and Y can be assigned or not to the morphing of the wave and/or the modulation speed. This module handles classic waveforms as well as custom waveforms that you can edit with the WaveEdit application.


Integrated Audio Generators

For each sensor, The 3B integrates a high-quality 16-bit 96K digital audio generator. The oscillators offer classic, fixed and variable waves, as well as wavetables. A multimode filter (Moog 24dB or OTA 12dB/octave, LP, BP, HP) as well as an ADSR envelope complete each generator.


The Z pitch transmitted by the sensor changes the pitch of the sound. Morphing between two waves from the same table or from several tables, the frequency and amplitude of each generator can be modulated by the