House Party Drum Station Drum Synthesizer. Audio Demo's. All sequencing was done using the onboard Grids section. A small amount of echo was added to increase the stereo field. More info to come.
Module library
Percussion
Drum and percussion modules, with audio demos and manuals.
BLM CMOS Fx Processor MK2
Width: 16hp
Current: +35mA,-34mA
PCB Stack: 1 level. Skiff compatible.
What does this do?
This module has all the internal circuits to complete a voice: sound generation + envelope generation + amplifier control.
The sound generation is interesting. The core is using 3 CMOS based oscillators that are performing exclusive 'or' logic.
This is known as 'XOR' ring modulation. This entire circuit is being voltage starved, a technique common among the advanced circuit bending hobby.
For example, portable vintage toys that use batteries sound different as there batteries loose voltage. I designed a CV controllable
circuit that simulates the 'dying batteries' scenario.
This is where the product's name comes from: CMOS FX Processor. Incoming audio is internally conditioned
to be those dying batteries. To my knowledge I don't think there is any other euro format product that uses this technique.
-CMOS FX INPUT jack has a capacitor on it's signal path, making this an AC input.
-MOD INPUT jack is a DC signal path.
-FM INPUT jack is also a DC signal path, but with level control (attenuator).
Envelope Generator
This is a digital based 1 shot circuit, that has 8 wave forms. The decay knob controls the tail of the envelope. There is no parameter for attack.
Some of the wave forms have set attack times if you require some 'fading' in on the control.
-Regeneration 'REGEN' parameter is a feedback. This controls the looping of your envelope.
-Delay parameter controls the time until the next 1 shot of your loop.
-Decay knob needs to be adjusted as you experiment using Regen and Delay parameters. Shorter decay times work best and make the looping faster.
-Envelope Output is 0-10V.
Amplifier Control
The internal circuit is an OTA based '13700' vca design.
-Accent input jack is a POSITIVE only conditioner. For example if you patch a -5/+5v signal, only the +5v portion reaches the VCA control.
This is good for making the audio louder at given intervals, but not making the audio 'mute'.
-VCA CV input jack is a direct DC coupled input. This will make the audio fade in and out of volume. Both positive and negative values make it to the VCA control.
How to use this module.
For best results you will need a sequencer or sample and hold from a digital fancy module. You can practice first by patching this to the 'FM' input and find your sweet spot with its level.
You will need to patch a 'tempo' to the trigger or you can use the W Pulse clock to trigger this product.
Once you got the hang of the module, make a sequenced based patch with your other modules. Use the CMOS FX Processor at the end of the audio signal path chain to 'Process' your audio.
Your going to here some bizarre techno. If you have a scope, the wave forms on the output are really crazy to see.
BLM Accented Asteroid Bass Drum
Width: 6hp
Current: +13mA,-11mA
What does this do?
This product is used to produce drum and percussion sounds. You can make 808 style long kick drums, or shorter Tom and drum sounds. The toggle switch is switching between internal capacitors in order to affect the internal oscillator timing. This new updated design has an onboard trigger button, jacks on top, and a slim foot print on the back for the power cable. All capacitors for the circuit are using 5% mylar type.
The small trimmer adjusts the decay length.
The accented feature on this product allows for dynamic, 'volume' changes of the bass drum.
The onboard booster will distort the sine wave into a square-ish wave.
Price: $140.00
BLM Arcade Kick
Width: 10hp
Current: +30mA,-24mA
What does this do?
This product is used to produce drum and percussion sounds. You can make 909 type of kick drums. The toggle switch on the left chooses between long and short vca decay. The toggle switch on the left chooses long and short pitch envelope decay. Smack knob control lefts you mix in a noise 'paper' sound for the drum.
-There is onboard distortion to get techno type of kick drums.
-This internal oscillator is triangular core, with internal reset.
-The internal trigger conditioner can take audio rate frequencies.
-There is a manual push button.
Why is there two trigger inputs?
You can mix in two trigger sources to create complex percussion patterns. The internal circuit is using logic 'OR' triggering.
This product was refined for optimum sound and response from the controls. Part values were changed from the original 909 design. This is not a clone.
Price: $165.00
BLM Assist Percussion Utility Module MK2
Width: 12hp
Depth: 1.5", 1 PCB Stack, Skiff Compatible
Current: Current: +18mA, -18mA
Decay Envelope Generator, HI-FI v2164 VCA, and Booster circuit.
What does this do?
This module gives you all the tools needed to make kick drums or percussive sounds using your own vco modules that you have lying around. There is only 3 patch points required to connect this to your VCO module. You connect (2) patch cables to your vco cv inputs, and connect the vco wave output into the ASSIST jack audio in.
Think of this as a drum maker module for dummies. It makes it idiot proof for you to get 909-ish kick drums easily.
The PIEZO jack input allows you to connect drum pads. The ROLAND V_DRUM pad is recommended.
Buy One Now
BLM Grids MK2
Width: 12hp
Depth: 1.5", 1 PCB Stack, Skiff Compatible
Current: Current: +25mA, -1mA
Percussion Sequencer, Euclidean Sequencer
What does this do?
This module gives you all the patterns needed to make percussive on the fly sequences. It is very simple to use. You just patch the trigger outputs to your external modules. There is an internal clock source.
This product is a Gate Sequencer that uses Grids Firmware written by E. Olivier.
CC-BY-SA-3.0 Project. Files for this can be found on my Survival Page and below. PUBLIC-GRIDS-MK2-V1.2F 2021.zip
The PDF file below is the manual for this product.
In the store: BLM Grids MK2 Fully Built Module. Plug and Play.
BLM SYNCUSSION PLUS SYNTH
WIDTH: 27hp
CURRENT:+96mA,-86mA
What does this do?
This module is a complete synthesizer mono voice, adjusted for percussion
sounds. There are 3 sections on the mixer: Dual VCO, Shimmer Generator, and White Noise.
There are two trigger circuit inputs on this product: original syncussion trigger conditioner, and
the blue lantern 'Piezo' high sensitivity trigger conditioner. Both trigger inputs can be used simultaneous.
You can use a drum pad on the trigger inputs, or a gate/trigger signal.
-original syncussion trigger conditioner: the sensitivity is close tot he original product. Sticks or hard hits are required on a drum pad.
-piezo trigger input conditioner: the sensitivity is much higher, you can finger tap your drum pad. The sensitivity is so high a 'hanging' patch
cable on this input will trigger infinitely.
-VCO's are triangle based. VCO 1 has a Square wave selected by switch.
-VCO Spread knob separates both vco's pitches from each other to quickly create chord like sound.
-VCO's will respond to 1v/octave input patching.
-There is an FM VCO input for both vco's.
-LFO Section: analog circuit, triangle and square waves selected by switch.
-Has an FM CV input.
-Shimmer Generator: Square wave based XOR ring modded sound generation.
-Has a Linear CV input. The LFO Square wave is switch jack internally connected to this jack.
-VCA circuit is OTA LM13700 based. There is a manual open the vca knob and VCA CV input.
-AM Ring is an internal patch from the LFO to the VCA.
-Sample and Hold. This circuit is using a modern IC LF398 for the S&H.
-The sample is from the White Noise, the trigger input is the clock. This creates a random CV signal for every trigger hit.
The internal Envelope Generators are close to the original syncussion circuit. They react to the trigger signal sensitivity knob, and inputs.
$395.00
- blm-sy-plus.zip ZIP
BLM DUAL DECAY
WIDTH 8HP
CURRENT: +28mA -28mA
What does this module replace that you already have?
Simple Envelope Generator, Audio VCA.
Why would I need this product?
You can easily turn noise, or any signal, into percussive musical tones for your production. You get (2) mono channels.
If you spend more time finishing music, and sequencing, than this product is perfect for you. Super easy audio in, audio out.
What does this module do?
This modules lets you stop the continuous audio of any module you have. This is a quick way of creating a voice.
This specific module excels at percussion sounds. The decaying envelope is very quick and snappy. The curve is exponential
and at longer decay setting, the tail goes for a while.
There are two channels. Channel 2 has a choke feature. The choke was adjusted for musical, percussive, transients.
The choke is an inverted input internally patched to the internal VCA. It is normal behavior for the choke not to fully close. There
are small 'ghost' notes with a +5V choke input. You can make it fully close with 10V or close to 'Rail' level voltages.
There is no need to have the choke fully close, it sounded much better with a small ghost note during designing.
The dual decay circuits have CV inputs, with attenuation. There are 5.1V Zener Limters on the output stage. This gives the a woody
tone to the output.
$115
- blm-ddk.pdf PDF
GIMME SOME WAVE TABLE
WIDTH: 18HP
CURRENT: +93mA,-45mA
Type of sounds possible: kick drum, snare drum, toms.
Type of utility possible: used as a wave table vco, lfo. Used as a percussion voice.
What does this do?
This is a complete synthesizer used to produce electronic percussion sounds. The core sound generator is digital, running Sheep Firmware. The sound generator is wave table based. This is very easy to use.
No menu diving.
The envelopes and output vca stage are analog.
You can connect an external electronic drum pad to trigger this module. You can also just use your modular system's trigger or gate signals. There is a handy manual trigger button also.
-middle key button selects among 3 wave table banks
-far right button selects: slow lfo mode, sub harmonic vco mode, or normal vco speed mode.
-far left button is a manual trigger.
The key cap mechanical buttons are better than my competitors illuminated travel buttons.
-two envelope decay generators. One for amplification, and one for pitch.
-two wave table scan parameter knobs
-toggle switch modulation selector, to send decay generators to 'drive' parameter. This creates a 'paper' sound. Similar to a snare drum head.