Bastl Instruments bitRanger Manual 

XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV 2 3 4 7 8 8 8 6 5 5 1 POWER jack and switch. A battery or wall power supply may be used to power the bitRanger. Plugging the supply into the power jack will disconnect the battery. Battery: Install a 9volt battery into the open battery compartment on the bottom of the unit. Power supply: Use a 9 or 12VDC 100mA (or more) negative ring supply. 2.1mm pin - 5.5mm barrel. 2 AUDIO Onboard speaker and stereo head- phone output. Plugging a cable into the headphone output will disconnect the speaker. 3 VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) knob. Audio tone generator. Turn the knob to change the pitch 9 VDC ON/OFF H E A D P H O N E O U T CASPER ELECTRONICS x BASTL INSTRUMENTS + _ 1 2

oscillator) knob. Master sync oscillator. Turn the knob to set master pitch. The VCO will sync to this pitch creating harmonic steps and wave shaping efects when adjusted. 5 MODE switches. Change the oscillator wave shape by setting both mode switches. AI. = simple tone BI. = complex tone AII. = noisy tone BII. = digital noise Each mode reacts diferently to the master sync oscillator and the data modulation setting. 6 DATA MODULATION switch. Apply the LFO to a wave shape processor. Speed of modulation is set with the LFO and CLK OUT switch (On right side panel). The efect difers in each mode. AI. = pitch modulation BI. = wave shape inversion AII. = slight wave shape randomization BII. = noise randomization 7 LFO (low frequency oscillator) knob. Controls the rate of sound modulation when the data mod switch is on (and more...discussed later). The LFO range is set with the LFO RATE switch. 8 BEND sockets [input/output]. Plug light sensors (included) into any of the bend sockets to control each oscillator with light. Plug in other stuf. See what happens. TECH NOTE Each oscillator is based on a common schmitt trigger (inverter), resistor, capacitor architecture. The bend socket is connected to the input and output of the schmitt trigger. Connecting resistors(like the LDR) to these points will change the pitch of the oscillators. Lots of other efects can be achieved by connecting other components and signals to these sockets. bend socket I / 0 resistor schmitt trig. capacitor

XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV 3 3 2 1 Patch outlined sockets into non-outlined sockets to create sequences and other audio hijinks. o ����� � � o ��� �� � o o �� �� �� � � �� �� d �� �d � � � � � � � ��� o o ����� 1 DIVIDER BITS [outputs] T � d� �d � �o et � o �� ��� 1  �o � of diferent speeds which are subdivisions of the LFO. These outputs can be patched to any of the input sockets to create sequenced patterns. LFO /2 /4 reset position /8 /16 etc BIT PATCHING

experience. • Play with the oscillator pitch and range settings. • Plug multiple divisions into the same input socket. • If nothing crazy is happening, plug in more cables. • Keep plugging in cables! &TRICKS • Build the example patch on the left and patch a bit from the adventure bits section into the center VCO CV input socket. 2 RESET button Resets all of the divider output clocks. 3 MUX1&2 (multiplexer) [inputs] Wave shape and pitch modulation. Each Mux has 4 inputs: A, B, C and INH (inhibit=mute). Patching a square wave (divider bit outputs etc) to any of these inputs will create changes to the wave shape of the audio oscillator and sends two diferent versions of that signal to the left and right outputs of the headphone jack. The efect varies from subtle to extreme depending on the MODE setting. MUX2 (right) MUX1 (left)

XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV 2 1 1 1 Use the bits as voltage sources to control the frequency of the three voltage controlled oscillators. 1 CV (control voltage) [inputs] The inputs in each of these sockets are “weighted” from left to right, meaning that the left most input (per socket) has the weakest efect while the rightmost has the strongest. LFO: Change the rate of the LFO. Higher voltage = higher rate. Works best with low frequency signals (such as /64 and up from the divider bit section). VCO: Change the pitch of the VCO. Higher voltage = higher pitch. This is a slewed input meaning that changes to the pitch will be gradual. CV PATCHING cv input pitch change

Higher voltage = lower pitch. The depth of pitch modulation depends partly on the initial setting of the HFO pitch knob. For instance the depth will be much greater when the knob is in the middle than it is when all the way up or down. 2 BYTE sockets [inputs] and switch Plug multiple bits into the BYTE sockets to create stepped voltages that can then be applied to the VCO (via the BYTE switch)and/or the CV output jack (right side panel) to control external equipment. The BYTE switch turns BYTE CV modulation of the VCO on(up) and of(down). TIPS • Try the example patch pictured to the left. Insert jumpers one at a time to get an idea how they work. • Use the longer divisions (/128 and up) to create patterns that change over long periods of time. • Patch the 4 cables (as shown) into the BYTE socket to get a ramped arpeggio like the one shown in the drawing below. Switch the bits around to get diferent patterns. • The BYTE input jacks can also work as outputs when you have several TECH NOTE The byte section is a standard R2R digital to analog converter. When multiple bits are fed into the R2R you get a stepped voltage at the output. bits connected. Patch a cable into any available spot in the BYTE section and connect to the diferent oscillator CV input sockets or the BEND sockets. • The left terminal of each BEND socket functions as a crude pitch CV input. The results are unpredictable but can be very efective in diferent scenarios. &TRICKS • Patch /32 to MUX1 INH and /4 to MUX2 INH. • Connect the MUX1&MUX2 output sockets from the adventure bits section into the VCO CV and LFO CV inputs. • Patch more cables from the divider bits to the MUX and CV inputs and observe the changes in the sound and behavior. /2 to “E” input /4 to “T” input /8 to “Y” input Output voltage

XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV 2 1 Patching techniques for the adventurous user. These features are most efective when integrated into complex patches that incorporate the MUX1&2 sections and CV sockets. LFO SYNC sockets [inputs] LFO Hard sync resets the LFO cycle when it receives a positive signal. This works well with the DATA output (2) and ADVENTURE BITS (3). Read section 3 below before using the adventure bits. LFO Freeze holds the LFO low when it receives a positive signal. This is intended primarily for use with external signals. Because the signal causes the LFO to freeze it is very likely that patching a signal from within the bitRanger will cause the whole circuit to freeze and make no sound. 2 DATA socket [output] This socket outputs a combination of the two MUX outputs as a stepped voltage which is fed to the data input of a shift register which is then processed through MUX 1&2. This can be used as a CV source for external equipment or as a complex modulation source when patched into the oscillator CV and SYNC inputs. 3 4 5 ADV. PATCHING

sockets [outputs] The adventure bits section outputs irregular patterns of bits. These serve as a source of irregularity in contrast to the regular divisions from the divider bits section. The bit patterns are “programmed” by patching bits (from the divider section or external equipment) into the MUX1&2 section input sockets. Therefore its necessary to patch bits into the MUX ins to create useful patterns at the outputs. The two LEDs (below MUX1&2) indicate the outputs of MUX1&2 adventure bits. 4 LEFT RIGHT OVERRIDE sockets [inputs] Bits patched to these sockets will override the internal routing of MUX1to the left headphone output and MUX2 to the right. 5 XOR GATE socket [input and output] The XOR gate can be used as a binary bufer or an inverter with bit controlled inversion. This can be useful for utility purposes as well as experimental patches. The XOR gate has 3 terminals: +(non inverting),- (inverting)and O(out). Bits patched to the + terminal will appear at the O terminal unchanged. TIPS • The impact of patching the DATA and ADVENTURE BITS will change depending on the MODE switch settings. Make sure to try other modes. • Plug multiple outputs into the same input as shown in the patch to the left. This will create irregular bitn patterns. • Irregular and noisy sequences can be created by patching bits into the LFO SYNC and CV sockets. TECH NOTE The byte section is a standard R2R digital to analog converter. When multiple bits are fed into the R2R you get a stepped voltage at the output. original + + + 0 0 0 inverted switching †

MODULAR SYNTHESIZER Patch any of the outputs of the bitRanger to a modular synthesizer or anything else that receives voltages... analog keyboards, home made synthesizers, arduinos etc. DIVIDER BITS DATA MUX1 MUX2 CLK A A B B INH INH C C CONN 1 RESET CLK OUT O XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VCO RATE ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN VCO CV BYTE CV OUT CONN2 CLK OUT /32 /2 1 2 1 2 1 CLK OUT (clock out) jack & switch   jack outputs a 5 volt square wave controlled by the LFO. Use the CLK OUT switch to determine if the output is the LFO divided by 2 or divided by 32. The CLK OUT OVERRIDE input socket can be used to override the switch and send alternate signals to the output. 2 CONN2 /BYTE CV OUT jack, switch and socket The CONN2/BYTE CV OUT switch sets the functionality of the 3.5mm jack. BYTE CV OUT mode = BYTE voltage routed to jack. Bits patched to the BYTE section will be converted to stepped voltages which can be used to modulate voltage controlled parameters. CONN 2 mode = jack is connected to the zener diode protected CONN 2 socket. In this mode the CONN 2 jack can function as an input OR output. Incoming signals above 5volts will clip at 5volts. Below 0volts will clip at 0volts. CONN 2 mode = jack is connected to the zener diode protected CONN 2 socket.

CV mode. • Patch multiple bits from the divider section to the BYTE sockets. • Patch the BYTE CV OUT jack to the CV input of a module. Works especially well as control voltage for a VCF. Swing Beat Generator and Rate Multiplier: • Plug external clock into the CLK IN jack. • Plug CLK OUT jack into the trigger or gate input of a module. • Set the LFO rate switch low and adjust the LFO knob. Patching CVs and Gates Out of the BitRanger: • Set the CONN switches to CONN mode. Either will work but lets use CONN1. • Patch any of the bitRanger output sockets to the CONN1 socket. • Plug a cable from the CONN1 jack to an input jack on your modular synth Use the output bits (divider, adventure, data) to send trigger events such as clocking a sequencer. Use CV outputs like the BYTE section or input sockets with multiple outputs connected to them to control variable parameters like ilter cut or oscillator pitch. IN TO BIT R. MODULAR SYNTHESIZER Safely patch signals from a modular synth into the bitRanger via the diode pro- tected CV input and CONN jacks. Any signal above 5 volts will clip at 5 and below 0 volts will clip at 0. DIVIDER BITS DATA MUX1 MUX2 CLK A A B B INH INH C C CONN 1 RESET CLK OUT O XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VCO RATE ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN VCO CV Syncing to an External VCO: • Set CONN1 to CONN mode. • Plug the output of a VCO into the CONN1 jack • Patch a jumper from the CONN1 socket to the VCO sync input socket. • Try syncing the HFO and LFO as well. Set the LFO rate switch low when syncing to an LFO and high when syncing to an audio range oscillator. Patching Cvs and Gates into the BitRanger: • Set the CONN 1 switch to CONN mode. • Plug the desired signals (CV, audio, gate, trigger) into the CONN1 jack • Patch a jumper from the CONN sockets to an input socket on the bitRanger. If the external signal is an audio or CV signal try connecting to any of the CV input sockets. If the external signal is a gate try connecting it to the MUX inputs or any other input. It will work with CV inputs as well. Patching External Clocks into the LFO Freeze Socket: • Patch divider bits into the MUX and/ or BYTE sections to make a sequence. • Plug a low frequency square wave from the modular synth into the CLK jack on the bitRanger. • Patch a jumper from the CLK IN socket to the LFO FREEZE socket. • The sequence will freeze (hold) every time the incoming square wave goes high. VCO CV IN CONN1 CLK IN 1 2 2 1 CLK IN (clock in) jack Use an external signal to reset the LFO. Interesting sync efects including swing and rate multiplication can be achieved by adjusting the LFO knob. 2 CONN1/VCO CV IN jack, switch and socket The CONN1/VCO CV IN switch sets the functionality of the 3.5mm jack. VCO CV IN mode = voltage plugged to the jack is applied to the CV input of the bitRanger VCO. CONN 1 mode = jack is connected to the zener diode protected CONN 1 socket. In this mode the CONN 1 jack can function as an input OR output. Incoming signals above 5volts will clip at 5volts. Below 0volts will clip at 0volts. EXAMPLES CV Pitch Control: • Set CONN1/VCO CV IN switch to VCO CV IN mode. • Plug the CV output of any module into the VCO CV IN jack. The external voltage will control the pitch of the VCO.

Sync the LFO with an external clock. 2 LFO knob and switch. An external clock plugged into the CLK IN jack will reset the LFO cycle BIT R. AS SLAVE DRUM MACHINE with every clock pulse. This allows interesting clock syncing efects to be achieved like clock rate multiplication and swing. Set the LFO rate low and turn the LFO knob to explore these efects. clk in clk in clk in LFO LFO LFO synced LFO synced LFO synced LFO VCO CV IN CONN1 CLK IN DIVIDER BITS DATA MUX1 MUX2 CLK A A B B INH INH C C CONN 1 RESET CLK OUT O XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VCO RATE ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN VCO CV 4 MULTIPLICATION SYNC SWING 3 RES [inp Press ther is con the lef sequenc the do sequenc 4 CLK [outp This soc signal p This allo other de TIPS • T the LF mach trigge range Bas • P FREEZ F signal can be swit • A sy a and ra But 2 1 3

RESET button and socket nput] ess this button to reset the divider and erefore any sequence that the divider controlling (like in the patch shown to e left). This is useful for reseting your quence if it falls out of phase with e down beat of the drum machine quence. CLK IN (clock in) socket utput] is socket simply passes along the nal plugged into the CLK IN jack. is allows you to send this clock to her destinations. IPS for SLAVE Try using irregular clocks to sync the LFO. This is possible with drum machines that allow single drum triggers to be output or with a wide range of trigger sequencers like the Bastl KnitRider. Patch the CLK IN socket to the LFO FREEZE socket. Whenever the FREEZE socket receives a positive signal it will hold the LFO low. This can be especially intersting if you switch the LFO rate HIGH. Adjusting the LFO rate (when synced to an external clock) will allow you to tune into various swing and rate multiplication efects. But in doing so it is common that the sequence controlled by the divider bits (which are clocked by the LFO) will go out of phase with the down beat of the drum machine sequence. Use the reset button to bump your sequence back into phase. 1 CLK OUT (clock out) jack and switch Connect the CLK OUT jack to the clock input of any drum machine with a clock input such as the Korg VolcaBeats or Teenage Engineering PO12. The LFO sets the clock speed. The CLK OUT switch sets if the clock is divided by 2 or 32. 2 CLK OUT OVERRIDE socket [input] Bits patched to this socket override the setting of the CLK OUT switch and are routed directly to the CLK OUT jack. This is useful if you wish to clock external devices with a division other than /2 or /32. TIPS for MASTER • Plug several bits from the divider section into the clk out override socket to get uneven clock patterns. • You will often get the best results if the CLK OUT switch is set to /2 when the LFO rate is LOW and /64 when the LFO rate is HIGH. DIVIDER BITS DATA MUX1 MUX2 CLK A A B B INH INH C C CONN 1 RESET CLK OUT O XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VCO RATE ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN VCO CV 2 BYTE CV OUT CONN2 CLK OUT /32 /2 1 DRUMZZZ machine clock/sync out clock/sync in

/CONN2 VCO CV IN /CONN1 B Y T E VCO CV HFO CV SYNC FREEZE

amp headphone out LEFT RIGHT DATA out DATA mod /2 /32 CLK OUT MODE A B I II MUX 1 MUX 2 MUX1 MUX2 clk in clk in data in BIT 3 OVERRIDE /2 /4 /8 /16 /32 /64 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 RESET reset button ancient data cave ADVENTURE BITS DIVIDER BITS OVERRIDE VOLUME inh a b c inh a b c BIT 5

XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV DIVIDER BITS DATA MUX1 MUX2 CLK A A B B INH INH C C CONN 1 RESET CLK OUT O XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV PATCH

XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV DIVIDER BITS DATA MUX1 MUX2 CLK A A B B INH INH C C CONN 1 RESET CLK OUT O XOR CONN 2 o + – LFO LFO CV I II A B HFO MODE UTILITY BELT VOLUME VCO RATE LEFT RIGHT ADVENTURE BITS MUX1 BIT8 BIT3 MUX2 /64 /32 /16 /8 /4 /2 /128 /256 /512 /1024 /2048 /4096 FREEZE BEND BEND BEND HARD VCO HFO HFO CV VERRIDE B E Y T SYNC SYNC IN OVERRIDE INSTRMNTS CASPER ELECTRONICS VCO CV TEMPLATES

modulation • VCO oscillator is synced to the HFO oscillator • 4 modes of operation selectable by 2 switches • built in speaker with volume control • 9V DC center positive power supply input • 9V battery compartment from the bottom • <20mA power draw on headphones, <60mA with speaker (minimum 20 hours on battery) • On /Of switch • expansion connector • package includes 3 photo resistors – make your oscillators respond to light by plugging these into the Bend socket PATCHBAY • 118 jumper cable patch points • each oscillator has 3 diferently slewed CV inputs, sync inputs, rate knob and bend points • Divider Bits section – use clocks at diferent speed to create patterns • Adventure Bits section adds irregular rhythmical elements • MUX 1 and MUX 2 input sections to modulate data loops and waveforms • stereophonic output from MUX 1 and MUX2 sections • BYTE CV section is R2R DAC converter which takes bits and converts them to CV • DATA modulation section witch a switch adds more lavor • Utility Belt section adds advanced features • Left and Right audio override section EXTERNAL CONNECTIVITY • 3.5mm stereophonic headphone output • Clock Input to sync the LFO oscillator • Clock Output with selectable LFO division (2 or 32) • CV Output from the BYTE DAC section • CV Input for the VCO • CV In and CV Out connectors can be routed to dedicated patch points on the patchbay ABOUT RANGER

a patchable analog logic computer which sculpts sonic worlds ranging from data noise to melodic arpeggios. Extensive connectivity makes it so lexible that it can connect to almost anything: CV control its unique sound, sync it with drum machines and sequencers or use it as an algorithmic CV/GATE pattern generator. THE BITRANGER