Bastl Instruments SoftPop, User Manual

Page: 5 / 27

PATTERN GENERATOR
The pattern generator creates looping
sequences by recording the behavior
of VCO0. These sequences control the
pitch of VCO0 and are also available
as a voltage source via the pattern
generator OUT jack in the patchbay.
This signal can be used to modulate
various parameters of softPop or even
external
equipment via the A, B, C jack adapters
*See the “Patchbay” section for more info
Rec button.
Press and hold to record
a new pattern.
P1 button.
Selects pattern 1. Tap once
to activate pattern playback. Tap again
to deactivate.
P1 led.
Indicates that pattern location
1 is selected and in playback mode.
P2 button.
Select pattern 2. Tap once
to active pattern playback. Tap again to
deactivate.
P2 led.
Indicates that pattern location
2 is selected and in playback mode.
Out socket.
Outputs pattern playback
as a stepped voltage.
SELECTING A PATTERN
• Tap pattern button P1 or P2 to select
a pattern.
• Playback will be activated and the
selected pattern LED will turn on.
• Tap the button again to stop playback.
• The light will turn off but the pattern
will still be selected in the background.
RECORDING A PATTERN
(diagram on page3)
• Set the rate of VCO1 to a relatively low
speed
(see diagram)
.
Record and playback are clocked by
VCO1.
• Press and hold the RECORD button
to activate recording.
• Move the pitch fader up and down.
The pattern generator is recording the
behavior of VCO0, so make sure it’s doing
something.
• Release the RECORD button to stop
recording and activate playback of the
pattern.
• Pattern lengths are quantized to 2, 4, 8,
16, 32, 64 or 128 steps.
• Press RECORD to erase the pattern
and create a new one.
• The recorded patterns will be stored in
the memory even after softPop is turned
OFF and ON again.
!Bonus!
Try patching pattern OUT to VCF
MOD. Try patching it to VCO1 CV. Try
both at the same time.
*Tech notes*
• The pattern generator works by reading
the pitch of VCO0 and storing the
readings as values in a multi-stepped
sequence.
• Pulses from VCO1 trigger the readings
and advance the pattern to the next step.
If the rate of VCO1 is very high it will
trigger several readings and steps in
a short time. If it is very low it will
trigger very few. Therefore the length of
a pattern depends on how long you hold
the RECORD button and the rate of VCO1.
• This method gives users an imprecise
but extremely fast and flexible way to
generate looping patterns. With some
practice, it’s easy to create deliberate
1. Set faders as shown above. 2. Press and hold RECORD button. 3. Slide VCO0 pitch
fader up and down. 4. Release RECORD button
LET’S RECORD A PATTERN
P2
P1
LE
T
’S RE
CORD A P
A
TTERN