Prophet 10 desktop with Low Frequency Expander

video by Steve Hunt

"Just got the P10 today and thought I'd have a play with the LFE's arpeggiator and with sending clock synced LFOs to control filter envelope decay, Poly Mod depth, filter envelope amount and filter envelope attack. Just having a play with what's possible - not trying to be even remotely musical!
The pattern is the arpeggiator in Played Order mode.
The LFE display's left column shows the clock sync division, e.g. 8 is one cycle per 8th note and 2b is one cycle per 2 bars."

Low Frequency Expander using MPE to control OB-6's pitch, sync and filter, changing clock divisions

video by Steve Hunt

"Demo 4 of the LFE using Midi Polyphonic Expression (MPE) to modulate each of the synth's 6 voices independently. This also works for the Prophet 6.
LFO1 square wave controlling pitch of VCO1 and 2 stepping an octave.
LFO2 square wave controlling filter cutoff running at a faster clock multiple.
LFO3 ramp up/tri/ramp down controlling VCO1 frequency, sync making the classic sync sound.
Each LFO is sync'd to the synth's clock and has its own clock divisor so they can make crazy synchronised patterns.
Later I turn on the synth's delay and play with its clock divisor, also sync'd to the same clock.
MPE allows each of these 3 LFOs to run a separate LFO for each of the synth's 6 voices, so that's 3 x 6 = 18 LFOs running together. There's actually an extra set of 3 global LFOs and 7 envelopes that I'm not using in this demo."

OB-6 controlled by POLYPHONIC LFE using MPE part 2: sequencer, spread and PWM

video by Steve Hunt

"This demonstrates the Yorick Tech Low Frequency Expander using MPE to control each of the synth's six voices independently. First using six 16-step sequencers to control each voice's filter cutoff separately. Second showing 6 LFOs controlling the filters but also showing the use of the MPE spread parameter to give each of the LFOs a slightly different frequency. Third, showing 6 LFOs this time modulating the pulse width of the synth's voices, again with and without the spread applied. Incredibly rich PWM from 6 LFOs, each with a different rate."

Part 1 here

OB-6 controlled by POLYPHONIC LFE using MPE

video by Steve Hunt

"I'm working on implementing MPE in the Yorick Tech Low Frequency Expander. Normally the LFE's modulations are Global (monophonic), but MPE allows them to be truly polyphonic with 6 independent additional envelopes.

The demo shows the LFE's 6-stage envelopes controlling the OB6's filter cutoff polyphonically. This frees up the synth's ADSR to do something completely different. After a few seconds, I turn up the X-mod so that the synth's ADSR starts controlling VCO1's frequency. The OB6 now has three independent polyphonic envelope generators!

There's still a lot of work for me to do to be able to release this to LFE customers so this is just a taster of things to come for the LFE! Three Polyphonic LFOs next..."

The Beast Synthesizer from Yorick Tech

Steve Hunt

"I own Yorick Tech Ltd, maker of the Low Frequency Expander (LFE) for OB-6 and Prophet 6. [see here] This is a prototype / test bed for a mono synth project which will be a cut-down version of this, using the best bits. Possible poly version too....

Mostly my own design, including clones or designs inspired by various vintage synths, including 3 Oakley filters.

2 x CEM 3340 VCOs, one with supersaw and one with double-wavefolder. Each has its own PWM LFO and pitch ADSR and sub oscillator.

LFO3 is from the LFE and contains a hidden LFO, sampling the main LFO but with clever synchronisation so that patterns repeat in a musical way.

Ring modulator.

6 ADSRs (2 miniMoog clones, 2 digital and 2 CEM) and 7 LFOs, many VCAs including 2 mixers and stereo panning for each mixer.

4 filters:
Oberheim SEM doubled to give 12 or 24dB slope.
Roland SH-1 based filter, again with 12 or 24dB.
904a Moog Modular clone
miniKorg Traveller-based design

Filters can be set in series, parallel and are fed from the 2 mixers as 2 pairs.

Spring reverb.

4x5 mod matrix.

Midi or CV in"

Low Frequency Expander showing patch names and categories for Prophet 6 and OB-6

Published on Feb 18, 2020 Steve Hunt

"The LFE now stores patch names and categories. Each time a patch is selected on the synth, the LFE will display the name and category.

You can also step through all the patches in a particular category e.g. Lead so you can find a patch easily without having to memorise all 1000 patch names and categories.

Yorick Tech Ltd
contact yoricktechltd@gmail.com"

ob-6 low frequency expander

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Designed by Steve Hunt.

You can find some demos here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Low Frequency Expander - Demo of first 10 OB-6 factory patches with and without LFE

Published on Sep 8, 2019 Steve Hunt

"Low Frequency Expander - Demo of first 10 OB-6 factory patches with and without LFE"

OB-6 Low Frequency Expander

Published on Jul 29, 2019 Joseph McGinty

"Just received the Low Frequency Expander for the OB-6 (and Prophet 6) and doing some experimentation. Here, LFO 1 controls filter frequency, LFO 2 controls resonance and LFO 3 controls distortion amount. The envelope adds a subtle scoop in pitch to Osc 2. This module adds an incredible amount of flexibility to the OB-6. Thanks, Steve Hunt!"

Yorick Tech LOW FREQUENCY EXPANDER for OB-6 or Prophet 6 Manual

Click the images to view or print. See this post for some demos.

Text follows:

"LOW FREQUENCY EXPANDER For OB-6 or Prophet 6 By Yorick Tech

Introduction

Thanks for buying this Low Frequency Expander (LFE). I bought my OB-6 in February 2019 and loved the sound and build quality but quickly found it really lacked modulation possibilities. It’s got just one LFO, which is global (affects all 6 voices together), and lets you share the filter envelope to modulate a limited number of destinations. You can also use VCO 2 as a polyphonic (per-voice) LFO, but you lose a precious VCO by doing this. What I needed was a way of adding a number of extra modulators and to be able to route them to a lot more destinations. So I developed the Low Frequency Expander!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Costs & Timeframe for the Low Frequency Expander for the OB-6 & Prophet-6

If you are interested in Steve Hunt's Low Frequency Expander for the OB-6 & Prophet-6, he has provided some costs and a timeframe for development. You can find it in the second update of this post (scroll down to Update2 in red when you get there). There are also two new demo videos in the playlist at the top of the post.

Low Frequency Expander for OB-6. Demo of LFO 2.

Published on Apr 14, 2019 Steve Hunt

"Demo of LFO2. LFO1 is identical. SHIFT button lets me change the waveshape. For Tri and Sin, it changes the symmetry so it moves from saw up through tri (or sin) to saw down. With the ramp up and down, it changes the shape from exponential up, through linear to exponential down. For square it changes the pulse width. For the Step waveform, SHIFT determines how many steps there are. (Using a negative Amount will make the steps go down rather than up). For Random it changes the timebase, so the pulses occur more randomly as well as having random levels. For slew, it changes the slew rate between steps. For Walk, it changes the walking step size."

Low Frequency Expander for the OB6 & Prophet-6

Published on Apr 11, 2019 Steve Hunt

Playlist:
Low Frequency Expander for OB-6. Overview.
Low Frequency Expander for OB-6. No talking.
Low Frequency Expander for OB-6. Demo of LFO 2.
Low Frequency Expander for OB-6. Demo of LFO 3.

Update: you can reach out to Steve Hunt on YouTube if you are interested in one.

"My Low Frequency Expander for the OB6. Also will work with Prophet 6."

I reached out to Steve Hunt asking if this was a one off or if it will be made available for others. He replied: "Almost ready to make a few. Just a few software tweaks then another look at costs. Might make a batch of 10 if there's enough interest." If you are interested you can reach him on YouTube.

Here's some additional info on the features:

Envelope with 8 knobs: A1, L1, A2, D1, L2, D2, S, R. Plus amount.

So that's 6 stages. Loopable start to end of R or from start to end of D2.

Syncable to midi clock.

Alternate mode is 8-step control sequencer using the 8 knobs as levels.

Thinking about using a shift key to add 8 more steps LFO1 sync, wave, frequency, amount.

LFO2 sync, wave, frequency, amount.

LFO3, sync, frequency.

sampling frequency, wave shape (continuous from ramp through triangle to saw), pattern, amount.

Generates smooth waveforms or sample/held steps depending on sample frequency knob.

All four modulators can be multiplied by a source including velocity, AT, mod wheel, the other modulators etc and can all be sent to any of the synth's CC destinations.

So for example, the Envelope can be multiplied by the output of LFO 3 and sent to Resonance and LFO 1 can be multiplied by aftertouch and sent to PWM1...

Dedicated distortion knob.

'Engage' button to enable/disable all outputs.

'Write' button.

'Shift' button. eg shift-write makes init patch. shift-wave decrements the wave selection.

1000 patch storage locations synced to the synth's patch numbers.

Large 20x4 red OLED. Midi in, out and thru.

Update2: via Steve Hunt on YouTube

"Costs and timescales.

I've done a lot of work on reducing cost. I've removed a PCB so there's only one, removed an IC and about 25 smaller components and found a cheaper supplier of the aluminium front panel. All totaling a saving of £90 , in 10 off quantity.

The front panel has a lead time of 3-4 weeks and I've not used the supplier before so I want to buy one for myself to check it out before I buy a batch. That means the first deliveries can be about 7-8 weeks from now.

So if I can get 10 deposits from you of £100 each, I can order the long lead-time components and ask you for the balance before shipping out. If you want to take part in this first batch of 10 then email me to discuss paying the deposit etc.
stevehunt99@gmail.com

I'm offering three options:

Standard: Metal box with aluminium front panel. £440. plus postage.
Deluxe: As above but with walnut end pieces. £480 plus postage.
Bones: for those that want to make/source their own box and panel, just assembled electronics and knobs. As above but no panel or box. £345 plus postage.

Or I could put it through a platform like eBay or Kickstarter and add 10% to cover their fees.

No VAT to add as I'm not VAT registered but I expect some countries will want to add taxes or duty to what you pay, but I think you pay them when importing.

Unless Behringer or someone else with a Chinese factory buy the design off me or rip it off, that's as far as I can go on price, unless volumes really take off, but I'm taking it one (small) step at a time.

I will also offer an analog I/O option for all of the above but I haven't costed this yet. It will add one CV in and one CV out. There aren't any long lead-time items in it and it can be added to your order a lot later."