*3 day lead time

MODULATED DRONE WITH INPUT CHANNEL

An inspiration box.  Languishing machines, beat-like rhythms, a chorus of demented bagpipes, otherworldly squeals- these are just the beginning of what transience can produce.  Plug any instrument into the input channel and depart on a surreal audio voyage.

• 3 droning oscillators

• starve and modulation control of drones

• independent input channel with gain stage

SOUND: Drones can be combined across a wide frequency range to create ambient passages that waver and beat against each other.  Starving the oscillators results in altered sonic textures that can be controlled to rise and fall at different rates using the modulation feature.  Turning off power to oscillators forces them to compete for the waning supply.  Their electronic sorrow can be heard as fading, pitch-shifting drones and sputters.

The input channel enables mixing other instruments via a separate gain stage that also acts as a signal booster with the drone power removed.  Transience will produce sound with or without additional inputs.

CIRCUIT & CONTROLS:

 

The core of transience is built around 3 droning oscillators and 1 modulating oscillator, made possible via CMOS technology.  The output is buffered and combined with an independent input gain stage.

Controls are interactive and fine adjustments can result in drastic sonic changes.

OSC 1, 2, 3.  Frequency increases from left to right.  Fully to the right will cut sound almost completely, though dog whistle frequencies will be present. 

STARVE.  Controls power supply to the oscillators.  Power is lowered by turning this knob to the left.

MOD.  A low frequency oscillator that is more pronounced with starving power.  Rate of modulation increases to the right.

DRONE.  Volume of drones.

INPUT.  Volume of external instruments added via input jack.

DRONE POWER.  Toggles power to oscillators on/off.

Initial settings:

• start with STARVE all the way up, MOD near noon and explore the base tones of the oscillators

• slowly back off the STARVE knob to hear subtle rhythmic fluctuations and use the MOD knob the vary the rate

• continue to lower the STARVE knob to achieve various interactions between drones

• engage toggle up and down to hear the oscillators compete for draining power

IDEAS!

• effects after transience that enhance the experience include delay, phaser and other modulation

• place before volume pedal to create synthy swells

• dial-in an interesting pattern, then play along with guitar or other instruments

• flip the drone power toggles on & off to make rhythms or leave it off for a preamp/booster via the input channel

DESIGN

Sounds are inspired by handheld synthesizers, drone boxes, and random modulation patterns.

Graphics are inspired by 50s-60s jazz album artwork, black & white photos with a single color wash.  

The stag in a once operational mall atrium represents impermanence, nature reclaiming the land.  Even the animal's powerful horns will drop, yet start anew.  

TECH

• 9V center negative power supply, no battery

• Current draw: 32mA

• Dimensions including jacks & knobs:  1590BBS enclosure, 4.6 x 3.8 x 2.4 in