©2015 - Compiled by Robert Anselmi
for full manual
Synthesizer Module
The tELHARMONIC is a multi-voice, multi-algorithm synthesizer module named for the music hall considered by some to be the location of the first electronic
music concerts. It was coded by Tom Erbe, with the goal of presenting three historically important pioneering electronic tone generation techniques less often
implemented within the modular synthesizer.
The tELHARMONIC’s roots go back further than the advent of electronic music, as it also takes a new approach to handling music theory in the modular
context. TONIC, INTERVAL, DEGREE and D-GATE, allow for patch-programming of complex chord progressions, scales, melodies and playing styles. This
voltage-controlled music theory guides the algorithms in a unified way, whereas CENTROID, FLUX and H-LOCK sculpt the timbre of each algorithm uniquely,
allowing for complex sounds to be created around a unified melodic structure and pattern.
GATE OUT:
Outputs a gate
signal at each
change in
Degree
.
DC-coupled. 10V
gate. The associ-
ated LED provides
visual indication of
activity.
N OUT:
Output for the
single-voice noise al-
gorithm. Pitch is set by
the
Tonic
and
Degree
.
Bandwidth is set by
Flux
. Does not respond
to
Interval
,
Centroid
, or
H-Lock
. AC-coupled.
8Vpp signal.
FM IN:
Input for linear
frequency modulation
of the tELHARMONIC
core. Modulates all
3 algorithms (
N Out
,
H Out
, and
P Out
).
AC-coupled. Expects
maximum signal level
of 15Vpp.
H OUT:
Output for the 3 voices
of the harmonic algorithm. Core
frequency is set by
Tonic
and
De-
gree
. The pitch spacing (harmonic
relationship of the 3 voices to one
another) is set by
Interval
and
Degree
. Timbre of this output is
controlled by
Flux
,
Centroid
, and
H-Lock
. AC-coupled. 10Vpp signal.
P OUT:
Output for the 3 voices of the phase
mod algorithm. Core frequency is set by
Tonic
and
Degree
. The pitch spacing (harmonic
relationship of the 3 voices to one another)
is set by
Interval
and
Degree
. Timbre of this
output is controlled by
Flux
and
Centroid
.
Response to Flux is the inverse of that of the
N
Out
and
H Out
. Does not respond to
H-Lock
.
AC-coupled. 10Vpp signal.
TONIC ROTARY:
Adjusts the pitch of all 3
Voices across 6 octaves.
TONIC CV IN:
Unity, unquantized 1V/
octave pitch control input. Range: 0-6V.
INTERVAL ROTARY:
Sets the pitch
spacing of the 3 harmonic and phase mod
voices to form triads (with 2 inversions),
fifths, unison, or octave relationships.
Continuously variable, aside from the 2
inversions for triads.
INTERVAL CV ATTENUATOR:
Bi-polar
attenuator for
Intrvl
CV input.
INTERVAL CV IN:
CV input for
Interval
.
Range: 0-5V.
COLOR STAFF:
Visual indicator that
changes color to display the state of
Inter-
val
and
Degree
. Pulse indicates frequency
of the
Tonic
.
DEGREE CV ATTENUATOR:
Bi-polar
attenuator for
Degree
CV input.
DEGREE CV IN:
Quantized CV input for
Degree
. Range: +/- 2V.
D-Gate IN:
Gate input for activation of the
Degree
parameter. Normalled high, so with
nothing patched,
Degree
is always active.
Requires a clock/gate signal of at least 5V.
and width of at least 10ms.
DEGREE ROTARY:
Quantized note
selection, relative to the pitch as defined by
Tonic
. Also determines sonority of the triad,
where applicable.
CENTROID ROTARY:
This rotary has a dif-
ferent effect on the output:
H Out-
modulates
or selects harmonics for emphasis by
Flux
and
H-Lock
parameters.
P Out-
sets the phase
modulation ratio.
N Out-
No effect.
CENTROID CV IN:
CV input for
Centroid
.
Range: 0-8V.
CENTROID CV ATTENUATOR:
Bi-polar
attenuator for
Centroid
CV input.
H-LOCK BUTTON/LED:
With
Flux
greater than 10%, this sets the harmonic selected by the
Cen-
troid
parameter to be locked on. Multiple harmonics may be locked on. LED brightness indicates the
number of harmonics locked on. To un-lock Harmonics, set
Flux
to 0% or press and hold the
H-Lock
Button
for one second, until the
H-Lock
LED
fades off. This parameter only affects the harmonic algorithm.
Press and hold for 5 seconds to enter the
Spiratone
mode. Press without holding to return to
Harmonic
mode.
H-LOCK IN:
Gate input for setting harmonics to
be locked ON. Requires a clock/gate signal ampli
-
tude of at least 5V and a width of at least 10ms.
FLUX COMBO POT:
Unipolar combo ro
-
tary. With nothing patched to
Flux CV in
, this
functions as a standard panel control. When a
control signal is patched to the
Flux CV in
, it
functions as an attenuator for that signal, as it
is applied to the
Flux
paramater.
Flux
has a different effect on the 3 outs:
N
Out-
increasing
Flux
focuses the noise around
the fundamental, as set by
Tonic
and
Degree
.
H Out-
At 0V (
Flux
fully CCW), all harmon-
ics are equally emphasized. Increasing
Flux
de-emphasizes all harmonics surrounding the
Centroid, with the exception of those that are
currently locked by
H-Lock
. This de-emphasis
has the effect of emphasizing the
Centroid
.
P
Out-
Flux
sets the index of phase modulation
— the ratio is set by
Centroid
. The response
is inverse to that of the
H Out
and
N Out
. At
0V (
Flux
fully CCW), maximum phase modula-
tion is achieved. Gradually increasing this
parameter decreases the index of the phase
modulation.
FLUX CV IN:
Unipolar CV input for Flux.
Range: 0 to +8V.
Composing with tELHARMONIC 101
●
The left side of the module allows for patch programming chord progressions, scales, and melodies. It consists of the TONIC, INTERVAL, DEGREE
and D-GATE parameters and the visual indication of the Color Staff. Although you will find great detail below about the inner workings in the next sec
-
tion, no knowledge of music theory is required. These parameters respond to cv, just like anything else in your system. Here are some quick pointers:
● Think of Tonic as the main pitch/frequency control, similar to the grey knob on a DPO or STO. It is continuous (not quantized) and responds 1V/Oct.
● Interval sets the spread of the pitch/frequency between voices in the H Out and P Out. There are 3 voices that can be set to triad, fifth, unison, octaves
and anywhere in-between. Whatever Interval is selected will be maintained when TONIC is manipulated. Unison (about 3 o’clock) has all 3 voices set
to the same note for behavior typical of a VCO.
● Degree adds or subtract up to two octaves from the base frequency set by Tonic. It has a Quantized response and also tracks 1v/Oct. when the DE
-
GREE CV Attenuator is set Full CW. Because DEGREE is a quantized parameter, it has a “musically valid” response to any cv used.
●
Whenever Degree changes values, a gate is generated and available for use at the Gate Out.
●
The D-Gate Input operates as a Track & Hold for the DEGREE parameter. With nothing patched, D-Gate is held high and DEGREE will always be
actively tracking the signal patched to the DEGREE CV IN. With a clock, gate, pulse or trigger patched to D-Gate, the DEGREE parameter will only
track the signal patched to DEGREE CV IN while the D-Gate is held high.
