Q130 Rectifier/Clipper
Aug 2014
Usage and Patch Tips
The clipper section can be used to limit the amplitude of a signal and to create
unusual sounds by adding harmonic content through changing of the wave-
form. Clipping levels can be controlled with an oscillator or envelope generator
to create interesting effects.
It’s important to remember that the clip level control and the clip input jacks are
mixed together to create a clipping voltage. The ‘amount’ control attenuates
the clip level input voltage from its full level down to zero depending on the
knob’s position. Viewing the results with an oscilloscope will help you under-
stand the function and interaction of these controls.
The rectifier has the effect of taking the bottom of the waveform (the part below
0 volts) and flipping it to the top. When a sawtooth or ramp wave is used as an
input, the output will become a triangle wave at 1/2 the frequency which is level
shifted. When a triangle waveform is used as the input, the output will be trian-
gle at twice the frequency. When a sine waveform is used as the input, the
output will be a waveform with unusual harmonic content at twice the fre-
quency. When a square or pulse waveform is used as the input, the output will
be only be a small spike which has minimal usage.
Patching the output of the clipper into the input of the rectifier can create a
whole new group of waveforms in which every other cycle is clipped.
Waveforms
