Aristotle

Nonlinear 2 Channel Counterpoint Voltage Sequencer

Aristotle is an additive two channel control voltage sequencer. It takes up to 4 trigger patterns in and if those patterns are repeating, it outputs 2 different repeating patterns of related stepped control voltage. Each of the two channels has four stages (1-4) which can only be energized on one channel at a time, (so for instance A 1 is on then B1 is off and when you send a trigger into trigger input 1, B1 goes on and A1 goes off).

Voltages per stage are set with the associated slider. The total voltage at each output is the sum of the voltages added by each stage of a channel, (so A's output is equal to A1 + A2 + A3 + A4, but only the stages that are energized are added). The voltage range per stage is selectable via jumpers on the back. You can have each slider add a voltage between 0-1.25V or 0-2V (5V or 8V total range). 1.25 is usually the easiest to use for melody, but 8 V is more useful for modulation purposes.

Because there are 4 stages there are 16 combinations of on and off states available, giving us 16 voltage levels to work with, and since each stage can only contribute to 1 channel at a time, as either channel increases in voltage the other decreases, and thus if channel 1 is at it's maximum, channel 2 is at it's minimum (0V). This allows for the creation of some very pleasant counterpoint melodies.

Trigger inputs are normalled so that if you patch a clock into any channel the next channel to the right will be clocked once every two clock pulses (like a clock divider). This allows you to get access to all 16 voltages with a single clock source (makes it into a linear 16 step sequencer). Resets will make it go back to the beginning of the pattern, so this can be used to very useful effect.

A reset signal to either input will instantaneously reset the associate channel to it's 0V (all stages off) state. This can be useful for making your melodies repeat, since a pattern will produce the same output every time if it starts from the same known state and receives the same trigger patterns in, however this can also be used to create infinite reproduceable variations from 1 pattern! By sending the reset mid pattern you create a new starting state, and the melody will be different. It's really fun to run a melody and set probability based triggers on the reset, so that sometimes it diverges and sometimes it doesn't. Setting a reset at the end will always return Aristotle to it's known beginning (all off) state ensuring that you get back to the original melody.

Since the module works at audio rates it is also a very capable waveshaper/ suboctave generator, just send an oscillator into one or more of the trigger inputs and treat the CV outs as audio outputs.

When the module is fed random triggers it becomes a very useful semi-random cv source with control over the range of potential voltages.

The module doesn't have internal quantization, but pairs well with quantizer modules.

A video overview can be found on my YouTube channel via the following link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1184484396/aristotle-nonlinear-2-channel