Radical Frequencies Dual Precision Oscillator (LMS EE)

Published on Dec 20, 2017 Learning Modular

Playlist:

1.Radical Frequencies DPVCO 1/4: overview (LMS Eurorack Expansion Project)

The Radical Frequencies Dual Precision VCO features a pair of oscillator with excellent tracking (6 octaves is the claim) that go from slow LFOs up into very high frequencies. It offers both linear and exponential FM, pulse width modulation up into the audible range, and soft sync. The advantage of having two oscillators behind one panel is that it features a lot of intelligent normalization, as well as jacks with attenuators to plug in external signals. This first movie features a demo arpeggio showing off the major features, and then demonstrates each of its waveforms and major sections:

0:00 demo
2:51 specs & background
4:07 tuning range
5:13 pulse width modulation
5:58 square wave
7:06 sawtooth
7:45 triangle
8:35 sine
9:17 (repatching & retuning)
10:00 soft sync
11:06 preview of next two movies

For more details about using the Dual Precision VCO (as well as other modules I’ve made videos for), I encourage you to join the Learning Modular Patreon Tribe: https://www.patreon.com/LearningModular. For more on the Learning Modular Synthesis Eurorack Expansion Project for those exploring what module to add to their system next, visit http://learningmodular.com/eurorack-e...

2. Radical Frequencies DPVCO 2/4: static FM (LMS Eurorack Expansion Project)

In this second movie on the Radical Frequencies Dual Precision VCO, I focus on dialing in frequency modulation using the front panel controls, without any external envelopes or VCAs. If you’d like a demo of the differences between linear and exponential FM – and what things like waveshape and offset mean to the resulting tuning – this movie is for you. Near the end, I also demonstrate pulse width modulation, including the great sound you get when you modulate it with an audio oscillator as well. Here is a breakdown of what’s covered when in this movie:

0:00 overview
0:46 triangle versus sine for carrier
1:04 entrainment
1:50 linear FM
6:49 exponential FM
12:11 pulse width modulation
13:18 combining techniques
13:51 cross-modulation

3. Radical Frequencies DPVCO 3/4: dynamic FM (LMS Eurorack Expansion Project)

In this third movie on the Radical Frequencies Dual Precision VCO, I focus on dynamic frequency modulation where I use an external envelope and VCA to dynamically change the FM depth for each note played. I compare linear versus exponential FM, showing where linear is good for tonal and sustained sounds while exponential is good at percussion as well as adding pluck or strike to the start of each note. Here is a breakdown of what’s covered when in this movie:

0:00 overview
0:38 the basic patch
1:20 dialing in enveloped linear FM
3:45 enveloping exponential FM
4:54 FM percussion sounds
5:47 adding an FM strike or pluck
7:49 layering techniques

4. Radical Frequencies DPVCO 4/4: soft sync (LMS Eurorack Expansion Project)

In this fourth and final movie on the Radical Frequencies Dual Precision VCO, I focus on its soft sync function. I explain how sync works, compare soft and hard sync, and play around with creating alternate timbres and glitchy enveloped sounds using soft sync. Here is a breakdown of the final movie:

0:00 an overview of sync
2:28 tuning the master lower than the slave
3:26 tuning the master higher than the slave
5:01 soft sync variations
6:54 enveloping the slave’s pitch (including hard sync comparison)
9:18 layering techniques

Radical Frequencies Modular

"Happy New Year my modular friends with a Radical Frequencies modular 132bpm Psychedelic Techno jam! Patch: The Fm lead is a pulse wave from a RF dpvco with internal pwm and linear fm going into RF Scota vcf (alpha filter only) using band pass output and voltage controlled by RF vc adsr and lucky voltages randomizes the decay times . The Bass is another dpvco with 2 detuned saw waves into RF 12db multi vcf. The Drums are from iPad Launchpad . All sequences are trigged by Beatstep Pro that takes clock from iPad . All sounds are multi recorded into daw though apogee and mytek converters and the lead is mixed with reverb & delay. https://www.radicalfrequencies.com/in..."

Note the player above is a playlist of all videos by Radical Frequencies Modular starting with the New Years jam.

Spotted on discchord

RF Modular Psytrance fm lead recording jam

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"My best wishes for all synth modular tweakers out there ! Here is a Radical Frequencies modular Psytrance fm lead recording jam.

Patch: DPVCO in exponential fm mode and synced sends both saws into RF Mixer and after into SCOTA Vcf bandpass input. The alpha section of Scota Vcf is used as bandpass filter and beta filter as lfo modulator to alpha filter reaching audio range fm capabilities ! The filter is also modulated by lucky Voltages which is in sync with our daw. The final RF Vca is voltage controlled by RF VC ADSR Generator which is modulated in decay and release stages. All other sounds ( drums and bass ) are in the box."

RF Modular 146 Psy Trance analog jam

video by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Live Jam 146bpm Psychedelic with Radical Frequencies modular.
All sounds are analog here!
Kick is from DPVCO the beta vco with an adsr in exp fm and using the sine wave out going into a vca with an adsr.
Hats are the 3rd noise from RF Lucky Voltages into the RF 12dbmultivcf and a vca with adsr.
Bass is from my 5U modular (Oakley VCO into Diode Ladder)
Snare is a 808 clone snare module.
FM Lead is from my new module AD Multi VCO and I use the main out (that can change the waveforms with cv! ) direct into a vca with no filter in between !
The saw wave of alpha dpvco goes into the linear fm of ADMVCO and I’m also syncing it, The exponential fm is connected to a dual looping envelope , the ACV and DCV (both are like pulse width modulations) are controlled by a Befaco sequencer and the Wave CV is connected with Lucky voltages random gates for changing the waveforms which is in clock with the VC ADSR of the final vca that has the decay and release modulated by S&H of Luvky voltages, Beatstep pro is in sync too and triggers the kick - hats and snare and bass . All sounds are multi recorded into daw and the fm lead is mixed with a bit of reverb delay.
https://www.radicalfrequencies.com​"

Radical Frequencies 120bpm electro psychedelic jam

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies 120bpm electro psychedelic jam .
Here I use all Radical Frequencies filters : RF SH Vcf for the bass with Dual Precision Vco (saw+pulse from both vcos) through RF transistor mixer ,
The other sound is from 12db multi vcf in low pass mode
Fnally the Scota Vcf with ad Multi Vco making this alien {r2d2) fm lead sound using the internal cross modulation .
Drums are analog as always passing through a hardware compressor dbx .
Sequencers are the muxlicer , korg sq1 , ornament & crime .
Main clock is from RF vc adsr generator , and all the random cv from lucky voltages ."

RF Modular Dub psychedelic jam

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies modular psychedelic dub jam !
All sounds are analog :
The Scota vcf is used as oscillator here using also the internal Fm for making this bleeping leads that also pass through an analog delay. Dual precision vco and AD Multi Vco are used for the bassline by sending 3 Vcos mixed through SH Vcf . Kick and snare are analog 808 clones.
Sequencer is the Befaco Muxlicer that is randomized by Lucky Voltages for changing the steps and the amount of retriggers .
All envelopes are the RF vc adsr generators and Lucky Voltages modulates the decay amount of the bass .
https://www.radicalfrequencies.com"

RF modular 135bpm oldschool style psychedelic goa

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies modular dawless jam 135bpm oldschool style psychedelic goa ! The Diode dream vcf is used for the melody and the SH Vcf for the bass. I use a volca sample and a modified rd6 for the drums. Sequencer : beatstep pro. All sounds mixed into RF mixer and directly recorded to daw ."

124bpm melodic track with RF modular system

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"This is a video of making music with Radical Frequencies modular system!
There are 3 different synth sounds :
Bass: pwm bass with dpvco through sh vcf
Lead : saw from ad multi vco mixed together with noise from lucky voltages into audio cv mixer using the transistor out and then goes to 12 db multi vcf in low pass mode .
Fm rhythmic sequence from dpvco into scota vcf .
The drums are samples , all synth sounds recorded and mixed in cubase.
https://www.radicalfrequencies.com"

Radical Frequencies modular downtempo analog jam

video upload by Radical Frequencies

"Radical Frequencies downtempo analog jam ! Listen to your speakers of possible :)
Bass from AD multi Vco (saw & square) into sh Vcf.
Lead from dpvco sine wave into waveshaper and after into 12db multi vcf bandpass .
Drums from a modified RD 606 through RF mixer transistor circuit.
Sequencers are Korg SQ1 and Befaco muxlicer."

Radical Frequencies self generated patch

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"This is why we love modular synthesis… let the system do the alien sounds you wouldn’t imagine ;)
#Radicalfrequencies #analog #eurorack #modular #synthesizer #modularsynth #dpvco #transistormixer #audiocvmixer #12dbmultivcf #dualprecisionvco #loopingenvelope #vcadsr #random #complexvco #selfgeneratedpatch #luckyvoltages #aliensounds"

RF Psy Tech analog jam 120bpm

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies psy tech analog jam :
the bass is a Dpvco saw and a sub oscillator waveform passing through the SH Vcf .
And the Scota Vcf in self oscillation mode and cross fm through the RF mixer makes those fm bleeps . The kick is an analog 808 clone
https://www.radicalfrequencies.com"

RF Modular self generated krell 2 voice


"RF Modular self generated krell patch with 2 voices .
One sound is from waveshaper and the other from 12db Multi Vcf in band pass mode ."

Radical Frequencies 148bpm Psytrance with analog bass and fm lead

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"The bass is punchy and clean but warm as I use the new RF Dual Vca in logarithmic scale in combination with the new RF ADSR which is snappy as hell ! The filter is the SH vcf using the 24db out and the vco is a saw wave from admulti vco . The Lead is made with 4 different modulations : frequency modulation at Dpvco and pulse width modulation, then goes to Diode Dream Vcf that has its internal fm from vco and amplitude modulation from the looping ADSR in high rate frequencies. The drums are in the box."

Radical Frequencies Introduces Diode Dream VCF

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Audio path : Dpvco into mixer and then into Diode Dream Vcf .
The oscillator wave at first it’s saw and later in video becomes square. The sequence is in 303 acid style using a lot of RF modules like VCAs - mixers and vc envelopes for making the 303 accent function. A modified RD6 is used as drum machine."

"5 Pole diode ladder filter with multistage variable out of low pass and band pass

Diode Dream VCF is a 5 Pole diode ladder filter but instead of diodes, the circuit in the filter core section, uses transistors in diode configuration.

The filter has a switch selecting between 5 or 4 STAGES of filtering.

You can access the low pass output via the LP out jack.

There is also a VARIABLE out with a dedicated knob. That knob is a mixer of the different pole outputs that are opposite in phase and in the middle, it gives a band pass [BP] out. When in BP the gain is lower in volume which is completely normal.

VARIABLE mixing knob can be altered from less poles to more poles, more specific, VARIABLE out sends 1 or 2 stages at left side and 4 or 5 stages in the right side. That depends from the position switch of STAGES, so if the switch is in 4 position the VARIABLE out sends 1 (full CCW) and 4 (full CW) stages. If the switch is in 5 position, the VARIABLE out sends 2 (full CCW) and 5 (full CW) stages.

This arrangement also affects the Band Pass slope.

The CV-FM input has a dedicated pot for cv amount that is normaled to the audio input of the filter.

This allows for instant fm tones as the audio input becomes a modulator for the filter frequency.

If there is a jack inserted this connection is broken and you can use this knob as cv amount of an envelope or lfo.

There is one audio INPUT with amount pot and a 2nd CV input jack [CV2].

This CV input can be used as volt per octave input control. When the filter is in full resonance the module can be used as sine wave oscillator with good tuning of 2 octaves.

There is a resonance BOOST switch in order to achieve self oscillation. If the RES knob is fully closed and the BOOST is on, then the filter has still some feedback that would be very useful to emphasise the highs and lessen the low frequencies. When BOOST is off and the RES knob is fully closed and the INPUT level fully open the sound will be a bit oversaturated, so you can try turning down the INPUT level knob at 2-3 o’clock .

The filter has discrete through hole components with low noise transistors that are hand selected one by one with very high hfe values and are also matched in pairs for the buffer differential amplifiers and the input output stages of the ladder. An IC opamp is used for resonance gain compensation.

In the original design when the resonance is turned up the gain of the filter decreases drastically. The filter now has resonance gain compensation and while it still loses some gain when in resonance, the gain difference, is now is acceptable and the sound of the filter is pure and warm without losing the character. The resonance compensation is achieved by increasing the input gain while the resonance opens, so this gives a special character.

Because of the filter design the input signal does not clip instantly but instead it saturates the sound musically and the more you push it the richer the output in harmonics and natural and musical compression.

When the resonance is in self oscillation and the audio input is pushed, the sound gets glassy and squelchy. This filter gets acidic but it maintains the clarity of the high end, yet sounds warm and very rubbery. Detailed bass, creamy mids and crispy smooth highs.

Many different tones are waiting to be discovered by the user dealing in different combinations of the input gain, the resonance, the frequency FREQ knob and the VARIABLE shape of the filter."

RF Modular fat analog patch sequence

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies simple voice patch sequence :
Listen to the fatness of that sound as the 2 Dpvco saw waveforms passing through the RF Mixer using the transistor output while after goes through SH Vcf - RF Vca and then again to another RF Mixer using the opamp for final output.

The sound is directly recorded dry with no effects !
Check my mixer if you want this warm fat sound in your system https://www.radicalfrequencies.com/in..."

RF Modular Alien forest sounds patch !

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies self generated random patch using all the modules available plus some other random modules and a beatsteppro. Feels like walking into a dark forest music…"

RF Modular 144 bpm jam psytrance

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies 144bpm Goa Psytrance jam : AD multi Vco saw wave into RF SH Vcf for the bassline. Fm lead is from dpvco into 12db multi vcf in band pass mode."

RF Scota fm modulations

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies electronic dark sequencing :the Dpvco pwm wave goes into Scota Vcf with overdrive of just pushing a bit the level of the low pass input.
The scota Vcf can be used as filter and lfo modulator at the same time !"

Radical Frequencies melodic sequence 70 bpm

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"The source of sound is the Dual Precision Vco (4 different waveforms saw and sine of alpha plus triangle and pulse of beta ) through RF mixer transistor circuit and then into Scota Vcf used as mono in bandpass mode and using the internal cross modulation across with random modulations and lfos. Sequencers are beatstep pro and Befaco muxlicer."

Radical Frequencies techno house jam 123bpm

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Bass : Saw wave into SH Vcf and the into RF logarithmic Vca. Lead: Dpvco pulse wave in exp fm mode goes in Diode Dream Vcf. Using muxlicer to sequence the melody and beatstep to sequence the bass . Drums are mostly samples ."

RF analog dawless downtempo

video upload by Radical Frequencies Modular

"Radical Frequencies analog dawless jam downtempo . The bass melody sequence is from dpvco ( square and saw waves ) through the SH Vcf. lucky voltages sends a noise source into RF 12db multi Vcf and then into VCAs with envelopes for making the hi hats ! Kick and snare are diy 808 modules . The final summing is from RF Audio cv mixer using the transistor out . The master clock is from the RF vc adsr generator. Using muxlicer , O&C and chaos for sequencing and triggering."