Pitch makers

[mosc]

Once we have little cheap digital oscillators we need to make some pitch patterns.

One of the easiest to use is the modulo-n counter. You can get a 4018 chip that does this function. I don't do building any more so I leave it as an excersize for someone to post the way to set the pinouts. Here's a link to the data sheet: http://www.st.com/stonline/books/pdf/docs/2032.pdf

The idea is that you plug in your OSC, or any other signal that is square (digital) into the input and the output is divided by the binary number applied to the 4 control inputs.

There is no need to do anything but wire up the 4018 to the banana jacks.

1 input
4 control inputs
1 output.

That's it. You have a little mellody generator.

What do you do for the inputs. Well that's where a lot of fun comes from. You can plug anything you want into the control inputs. Lets say you have 4 oscillators - plug one into each input.

Or, if you have a binary counter IC, use that to divide down a single oscillator to make a pattern. It's best to use a binary up/down counter.

Here are a couple of G2 patches that work with the free G2 demo program. I made the modulo-n counter using flip-flops and logic gates since the G2 doesn't have a modulo-n counter module. All of the red stuff is the modulo-n counter. In the Lunetta, use the 4018 chip - much easier. Anyhow, the G2 patches are there just to give you an idea what this will sound like. Real Lunettas sound like this though - pretty much.

Using the OSC demo, be sure you change the frequencies of the oscillators so you get a feel as to what is happening. In the binary counter demo, be sure to try repatching the order of the connections from the binary counter. You'll get different patterns.

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Mod-n w counter.pch2
Description:	A demo of the modulo-n counter (converter/divider) being controlled by a binary counter. This is something similar to the 4018 chip for use in a Lunetta.	Download
Filename:	Mod-n w counter.pch2
Filesize:	1.14 KB
Downloaded:	295 Time(s)

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Mod-n w oscs.pch2
Description:	A demo of the modulo-n counter (converter/divider) being controlled by 4 OSCS. This is something similar to the 4018 chip for use in a Lunetta.	Download
Filename:	Mod-n w oscs.pch2
Filesize:	1.32 KB
Downloaded:	281 Time(s)

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[bugbrand]

Interesting!

Division is generally much easier than multiplication --- but, I've been reading a bit about using a 4046 PLL and a 4017 divider to multiply signals - haven't tried this properly yet, but.....

Here's the schem::::
(I think its from a book by Marston)

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Marston_4046Multiplier.jpg
Description:	4046 / 4017 frequency multiplier
Filesize:	27.35 KB
Viewed:	1644 Time(s)

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[Uncle Krunkus]

This is exactly the circuit I was looking for, for something else.
This Lunetta forum is bringing out some great ideas!

[mosc]

That freq multiplier looks cool, but a little complicated...

Still, it's in the Lunetta spirit. I'd suggest building the divider first. Once one gets into these things, it turns out that you can really enjoy the simplest circuits.

[loss1234]

bugs

did you ever build that multiplier? i have been doing a ton of stuff with the 4046 lately but i myself have been using it with a 4024 between pins 3 and 4.

one of the things i am doing a lot now is converting an audio signal to square, uping its frequency with a 4046 and then spitting the divided outs to the control ins of other counters.
i was wondering if there is any significant difference with a 4017 but i guess i can just try it.

[jnuaury]

[loss1234]

wow

i need to try that!!

[Uncle Krunkus]

Yeah, this is related to the other question you posted Loss1234 hey?
I knew I'd seen something else which was a lot more immediate than the description I quoted.
If you used a 4046 with a 4017 in the feedback path you could take an input up in frequency by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, etc. which would equal some octaves, but also the 3,5,7,9 are not octaves. Then you could divide back down by 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 etc. using another 4017. This way you could get heaps more intervals/ratios.
Don't forget that 4017s can be cascaded with the addition of an AND gate, which would mean more ratios again. For example, you could multiply by 13 and then divide by 12. Would that be 1 semitone up? Maybe not, but you get the idea. Man I wish I had the time to start on my own Lunetta!

BTW The cascading of 4017s can be seen at the bottom of it's datasheet.

[loss1234]

wow

thats the ticket!!!

now i have so many ideas!

cant wait to get to the bench tonight.

thanks

[ericcoleridge]