Blip!

Waveshaper for “Pulse Forming Process”

Inspired by the constant-breadth pulses that vibrating lips or reeds make: such as double reed (oboe, cor anglais, bassoon), free-air reed (harmonic, harmonium) and brass (trumpet, trombone) instruments. These produce “cyclical spectra” that emphasize fixed frequency bands: these spectra can also be found in instruments with multiple pickups (clavinet and electric guitar) and fretted stringed instruments when playing on a single string at a constant pick position (accoustic guitars)! And even Sax notes, though there is a lot else going on…

Allows CV modulation of pulse breadth. Lots of space between the fundamental and harmonics above 1kHz (variable).
Plus variable bass boost. Plus variable “sharkstooth” output for more triangular blips.

Basic Patch
What is special for Wind Players? The Blip! module gives you, in effect, three registers like a Sax or Clarinet:
  • the upper register which is largely dictated by the input (square, typically: direct and pure),
  • the middle register which has the constant width wave (though putting the breath modulation in can square it: the behaviour of single reeds when blown hard), and
  • the lower register, where the now-very-thin constant width wave is augmented in the low harmonics with the Bass knob.

Waveshapes:

A pulse out
Longer period, but same pulse
A very narrow pulse (click)
Sharkstooth: Shape=0%
Sharkstooth: Shape = 50%
Sharkstooth: Shape = 100%

Spectrum:

An real spectrum of a Blip! pulse wavedform @ 55 Hz
Note the first dozen harmonics are weak.
Same output, in a linear view.
Check out the characteristic “cyclical spectrum” of a pulse

If any fixed breadth setting, the same high gaps and troughs will be present at the same frequencies, regardless of the note being played. This makes the constant width waveshaper very consistent for sitting in a mix.

Audio Examples:

(Note: Some of these examples may require you to log into the website to play.)

Above: Complex patch! Double sharksteeth from two Blip! modules driven anti-phase.
Shows varying note, phase, mix, Blip! breadth, Blip! shape. Recorded with phone mic.
(Mainly chosen for the video: the high note does not reveal too much sonic variation.)
Above: same patch of double sharksteeth from two Blip! modules driven anti-phase, with LFO PWM on VCO.
Recorded with phone mic.
(Mainly chosen for audio: PWM causing thicker sound and lower notes show harmonic richness.
Graphics are no representative: faulty CRO channel gave dodgy shape and offsets.)
Jeff Hopkins built a Blip! and likes it so much he made this video.
Daniel Riera built a Blip and it sounds great! Thanks Daniel for putting this up!
Here are his build comments (Note: fricko didn’t provide the wrongly-labelled resistors, in case that is not clear),
and Daniel takes you through the module, shows a patch he uses it with, and plays a great demo improvisation in a looper.

Technical: Pulses variable from less than .1 ms to 5 ms. Modulation input allows breadth-variation

Physical: 4HP or 6HP wide, 50 mm deep, 16 pin power socket (10 pin can be used).

Power (Current): estimates +12V: < 10mA, -12V: <10mA, +5V NA

Status: RELEASED – IN STOCK
EU and UK customers: ROHS PCBs available

More Info:

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