CV Shaper
- Effect Selector Choose between one of 6 different CV effects in three categories.
- Amount Knob Sets the effect depth.
- Range Selector Sets CV signal range—bipolar (-5V to +5V) or unipolar (0V to 10V).
- Input CV input, with input trim knob and level meter.
- Output CV output, with output trim knob and level meter.
Overview ⚓︎
The CV Shaper provides 6 different waveshaping effects taken from the Saturator, Wavefolder and Wavewrapper modules that were adapted and calibrated for CV signals.
The CV shaping effects are:
- Soft Clip: Soft clipping saturation
- Hard Clip: Hard clipping saturation
- Tri Fold: Triangular (non-smoothed) wavefolder
- Sine Fold: Sinusoidal (fully smoothed) wavefolder
- Half Wrap: Wavewrapper that wraps the signal to mid-point
- Full Wrap: Wavewrapper that wraps the signal to opposite
Each effect has two variants: one for bipolar and one for unipolar CV signals. In Bipolar mode, the effects work between -5V and +5V. In Unipolar mode, they work between 0V and +10V.
The effects of the CV Shaper only work on signals that have slopes. Don’t use this module to process gates, clocks or rectangular LFOs, unless you smooth them out first with a Slew Limiter.
Usage ⚓︎
Connect a CV signal to the input. For a bipolar CV signal (like a LFO), set the Range mode to Bipolar. For a unipolar that is never negative (like an envelope), set the range mode to Unipolar.
Choose an effect with the topmost knob, and adjust its depth with the Amount knob.
If the input level is too low or too high, adjust it with the input trim knob. If you need to adjust the input level, you may want to do the opposite adjustment to the output level with the output trim knob. The input and output jacks have small level meters to help you see if the signal is in the expected range.
The CV Shaper module is optimized to work on CV-rate signals. It can work on audio-rate signals, but we strongly recommend using the Saturator, Wavefolder or Wavewrapper modules instead. They have a high quality mode and other features that are better suited for audio signals.
To see the CV Shaper in action with an oscilloscope, choose All Patches in the Patches Library and open the Basics—Demo: CV Shapers patch.
In Depth ⚓︎
Soft Clip ⚓︎
This is saturation that emulates analog soft clipping. It will smooth-out the edges of the input signal as it approaches the limits of the input range.
In bipolar mode, the saturation is symmetrical:
In unipolar mode, only the top of the signal is saturated:
Hard Clip ⚓︎
This is saturation that emulates diode hard clipping. Any signal outside of the input range will be flattened out.
Tri Fold ⚓︎
This is a standard wavefolder, similar to the Digital mode of the Wavefolder module with no smoothing.
When the signal crosses the limits of the input range, it folds back onto itself. Turning the Amount knob clockwise will increase the number of folds.
In unipolar mode, the negative part of the input signal is clipped to 0V, so only the positive part of the signal can fold.
Sine Fold ⚓︎
This is a smooth wavefolder using a sinusoidal transfer function, similar to the Digital mode of the Wavefolder module with full smoothing.
In unipolar mode, the negative part of the input signal is clipped to 0V, so only the positive part of the signal can fold.
Half Wrap ⚓︎
This is an effect that creates a discontinuity in the input signal as it crosses the limits of the input range by making it jump to the mid-point: 0V for bipolar signals, and 5V for unipolar signals. This effect is similar to the Wavewrapper module in Half mode.
In unipolar mode, the negative part of the input signal is clipped to 0V, so only the positive part of the signal can warp.
Full Wrap ⚓︎
This is an effect that creates a discontinuity in the input signal as it crosses the limits of the input range by making it jump to the opposite side of the range. For bipolar signals, crossing 5V on a rising slope will make the signal jump to -5V and crossing -5V on a descending slope will make it jump to 5V. For unipolar signals, crossing 10V will jump to 0V. This effect is similar to the Wavewrapper module in Full mode.
