Joranalogue Audio Design

Notes: Bucket brigade delay gets pushed into exciting creative territory with this beauty from Joranalogue. Precise analogue delay with loads of character, capable of simple chorus and flanger or more exotic Karplus-Strong synthesis and comb filtering.

Supplier's Notes:
While digital audio processors are often plagued by latency issues, analogue circuits are known for their instant response. But what if you want to delay a signal on purpose, without the use of tape or digital memory? Enter the bucket brigade delay (BBD) line: a series of capacitor 'buckets', which pass the incoming signal along at a high rate in order to delay it.

Delay 1 is a fully analogue BBD-based delay module with a multitude of features geared towards modern musical use. An integrated temperature-compensated, high-frequency voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) provides the 'clock' signal necessary to drive the delay line within 1 to 50 ms.

By increasing the drive frequency to over 20 kHz, the classic 'BBD clock whine' problem is solved, while still providing a wide range in delay time. Classic chorus, flanger and echo effects are easily achieved using the dry/wet blend, feedback and damping parameters.

To greatly reduce distortion and noise, Delay 1 includes a newly developed control circuit. The improved fidelity is maintained at a multitude of signal levels by an integrated high-performance compander, while maintaining signal dynamics.

The module's 'split phase' topology provides two different dry/wet mixes, which may be used to convert mono signals to stereo, for complementary comb filtering and more.

Delay 1 also allows you to experiment with Karplus-Strong synthesis, an exciting technique to create string and percussion type sounds. This is made easy by an integrated noise transient generator, driven by the 'pluck' input, and by the clock VCO's 1 volt per octave response.

By re-engineering the classic analogue delay line, Delay 1 brings the unique magic of BBDs into the contemporary electronic musician's arsenal.

Analogue bucket brigade delay line.
Integrated temperature-stable high-frequency BBD clock VCO with fine and coarse tuning.
Split-phase topology with additive and subtractive dry/wet blend outputs.
Blend, feedback and damping (feedback filter) parameters. Positive or negative feedback with low or high pass filtering.
High-performance BBD drive circuitry and transparent compander chain ensure optimal signal fidelity.
Dedicated pluck trigger input for Karplus-Strong synthesis.
High-frequency BBD clock input and output to synchronise multiple delay lines.
Impedance-compensated outputs with dual-colour LEDs.
Trim potentiometer accessible from the front panel.
Premium mounting hardware: black screws, black nylon washers and matching hex key.
High-quality components and assembly; designed and made in Belgium.

12 HP | +12: 125 mA, -12: 95 mA

Notes: Any signal can be expressed in terms of a few parameters: frequency, phase, amplitude and timbre. It is through modulation of these aspects that synthesists create electronic sound. With Generate 3, it is now possible to create a signal and control all its parameters by through-zero modulation within a single 12 HP wide module.

Everything starts with the exceptionally precise triangle-core voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) at the module’s heart. Through-zero linear frequency modulation (FM) enables rich yet pitch-stable FM sounds, by allowing the oscillator to run backwards into ‘negative frequencies’.

The resultant triangle wave is then processed by the through-zero phase modulator, providing a total phase shift range of 900°. Phase modulation offers an interesting alternative for FM, as it enables deep FM-type tones without actually changing the oscillation frequency.

The timbre of a signal is determined by its harmonic content. This full set of harmonics can be grouped into three main parts: the fundamental, even and odd harmonics. Generate 3’s harmonics generator separates out these three timbral ‘channels’. By adjusting their relative amplitudes, a vast array of different waveforms can be created, including but not limited to the classic sine, saw and square waves.

While the amplitudes can be adjusted manually, each timbral channel supports through-zero amplitude modulation, also known as balanced or ring modulation. When audio-frequency modulation signals are applied, the harmonics become ‘split’, enriching the spectrum.

In addition to all the usual analogue synthesis techniques, the extensive set of modulation options makes Generate 3 especially suited for exploring multiphonic synthesis: a monophonic source creating a complex timbre, much like throat singing, yet by electronic means.