Bastl Instruments bitRanger User manual

GETTING STARTED
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
YT
SYNCSYNC
IN
OVERRIDE
INSTRMNTS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
VCO CV
2
3
47
8 8
8
6
5 5
1 POWER
jck nd switch.
A bttery or wll power supply my be
used to power the bitRnger. Plugging
the supply into the power jck will
disconnect the bttery. Bttery: Instll
 9volt bttery into the open bttery
comprtment on the bottom of the
unit. Power supply: Use  9 or 12VDC
100mA (or more) negtive ring supply.
2.1mm pin - 5.5mm brrel.
2 AUDIO
Onbord speker nd stereo hed-
phone output. Plugging  cble into
thehedphone output will disconnect
the speker.
3 VCO (voltge contolled
oscillto) knob.
Audio tone genertor.
Turn the knob to chnge 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

4 HFO (high fequency
oscillto) knob.
Mster sync oscilltor. Turn the knob
toset mster pitch. The VCO will sync to
this pitch creting hrmonic steps nd
wve shping eects when djusted.
5 MODE switches.
Chnge the oscilltor wve shpe
bysetting both mode switches.
AI. = simple tone
BI. = complex tone
AII. = noisy tone
BII. = digitl noise
Ech mode rects dierently to the
mster sync oscilltor nd the dt
modultion setting.
6 DATA MODULATION
switch.
Apply the LFO to  wve shpe
processor. Speed of modultion is set
with the LFO ndCLK OUT switch
(On right side pnel). The eect diers
in ech mode.
AI. = pitch modultion
BI. = wve shpe inversion
AII. = slight wve shpe rndomiztion
BII. = noise rndomiztion
7 LFO (low fequency
oscillto) knob.
Controls the rte of sound modultion
when the dt mod switch is on
(ndmore...discussed lter). The LFO
rnge isset with the LFO RATE switch.
8 BEND sockets
[input/output].
Plug light sensors (included) into ny
of the bend sockets to control ech
oscilltor with light. Plug in other stu.
See wht hppens.
TECH NOTE Ech oscilltor is bsed on  common schmitt trigger (inverter), resistor, cpcitor
rchitecture. The bend socket is connected to the input nd output of the schmitt trigger.
Connecting resistors(like the LDR) to these points will chnge the pitch of the oscilltors.
Lots of other eects cn be chieved by connecting other components nd signls to these sockets.
bend socket
I / 0
resistor
schmitt trig.
capacitor

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
YT
SYNCSYNC
IN
OVERRIDE
INSTRMNTS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
VCO CV
33
2
1
Patch outlined sockets
into non-outlined
sockets to create
sequences and other
audio hijinks.
outline = output
no outline = input
dashed line = input or output
1 DIVIDER BITS [outputs]
The divider sockets output 12 clocks of
dierent speeds which re subdivisions
ofthe LFO.
These outputs cn be ptched to ny of
the input sockets to crete sequenced
ptterns.
LFO
/2
/4
reset position
/8
/16
etc
BIT PATCHING

TIPS
• Wer hedphones (!) for  stereo
experience.
• Ply with the oscilltor pitch nd rnge
settings.
• Plug multiple divisions into the sme
input socket.
• If nothing crzy is hppening, plug in
more cbles.
• Keep plugging in cbles!
&TRICKS
• Build the exmple ptch on the left
nd ptch  bit from the dventure
bits section into the center VCO CV
input socket.
2 RESET button
Resets ll of the divider output clocks.
3 MUX1&2 (multiplexe)
[inputs]
Wve shpe nd pitch modultion.
Ech Mux hs 4 inputs: A, B, C nd INH
(inhibit=mute).
Ptching  squre wve (divider bit
outputs etc) to ny of these inputs will
crete chnges to the wve shpe of the
udio oscilltor nd sends two dierent
versions of tht signl to the left nd
right outputs of the hedphone jck.
The eect vries from subtle to extreme
depending on the MODE setting.
MUX2
(right)
MUX1
(left)

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
YT
SYNCSYNC
IN
OVERRIDE
INSTRMNTS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
VCO CV
2
1 1 1
Use the bits s voltge
souces to contol the
fequency of the thee
voltge contolled
oscilltos.
1 CV
(contol voltge) [inputs]
The inputs in ech of these sockets re
“weighted” from left to right, mening
tht the left most input (per socket) hs
the wekest eect while the rightmost
hsthestrongest.
LFO: Chnge the rte of the LFO.
Higher voltge = higher rte.
Works best with low frequency signls
(such s/64 nd up from the divider bit
section).
VCO: Chnge the pitch of the VCO.
Higher voltge = higher pitch.
This is  slewed input mening tht
chnges to the pitch will be grdul.
CV PATCHING
cv input
pitch change

HFO: Chnge the pitch of the HFO.
Higher voltge = lower pitch. The depth
of pitch modultion depends prtly
on the initil setting of the HFO pitch
knob. For instnce the depth will be
much greter when the knob is in the
middle thn it is when ll the wy up
or down.
2 BYTE
sockets [inputs]
nd switch
Plug multiple bits into the BYTE
sockets tocrete stepped voltges
tht cn then be pplied to the VCO
(vi the BYTE switch)nd/or the
CV output jck (right side pnel)
tocontrol externl equipment.
The BYTE switch turns BYTE CV
modultion of the VCO on(up)
ndo(down).
TIPS
• Try the exmple ptch pictured
to the left. Insert jumpers one t
time to get n ide how they work.
• Use the longer divisions (/128 nd up)
to crete ptterns tht chnge over
long periods of time.
• Ptch the 4 cbles (s shown) into
the BYTE socket to get  rmped
rpeggio like the one shown in the
drwing below.
Switch the bits round to get
dierent ptterns.
• The BYTE input jcks cn lso work
s outputs when you hve severl
TECH NOTE The byte section is  stndrd R2R
digitl to nlog converter. When multiple bits
re fed into the R2R you get stepped voltge
t the output.
bits connected. Ptch  cble into
ny vilble spot in the BYTE section
ndconnect to the dierent oscilltor
CV input sockets or the BEND sockets.
• The left terminl of ech BEND
socket functions s  crude pitch CV
input. The results re unpredictble
but cn be very eective in dierent
scenrios.
&TRICKS
• Ptch /32 to MUX1 INH nd /4
to MUX2 INH.
• Connect the MUX1&MUX2 output
sockets from the dventure bits
section into the VCO CV nd LFO CV
inputs.
• Ptch more cbles from the divider
bits to the MUX nd CV inputs nd
observe the chnges in the sound
nd behvior.
/2 to “E” input
/4 to “T” input
/8 to “Y” input
Output voltage

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
YT
SYNCSYNC
IN
OVERRIDE
INSTRMNTS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
VCO CV
2
1
Ptching techniques fo
the dventuous use.
These fetues e most
eective when integted
into complex ptches tht
incopote the MUX1&2
sections nd CV sockets.
LFO SYNC
sockets [inputs]
LFO Hd sync resets the LFO
cyclewhen itreceives  positive signl.
This works well with the DATA output
(2) nd ADVENTURE BITS (3). Red
section 3 below before using the
dventure bits.
LFO Feeze holds the LFO low
when it receives  positive signl. This is
intended primrily for use with externl
signls. Becuse the signl cuses the
LFO to freeze it is very likely tht ptching
 signl from within the bitRnger will
cuse the whole circuit to freeze nd
mke no sound.
2 DATA
socket [output]
This socket outputs  combintion
ofthe two MUX outputs s  stepped
voltge which is fed to the dt
input of shift register which is then
processed through MUX 1&2. This cn
be used s  CV source for externl
equipment or s  complex modultion
source when ptched into the oscilltor
CV nd SYNC inputs.
3
4
5
ADV. PATCHING

DRUM MACHINE
BIT R. AS MASTER
1 CLK OUT
(clock out) jck nd switch
Connect the CLK OUT jck to the clock
input of ny drum mchine with  clock
input such s the Korg VolcBets or
Teenge 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 ptched to this socket override the
setting of the CLK OUT switch nd re
routed directly to the CLK OUT jck.
This is useful if you wish to clock
externl devices with  division other
thn/2 or /32.
TIPS fo MASTER
• Plug severl bits from the divider
section into the clk out override
socket to get uneven clock ptterns.
• You will often get the best results if
the CLK OUT switch is set to/2 when
the LFO rte is LOW nd/64 when
the LFO rte 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
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
YT
SYNCSYNC
IN
OVERRIDE
INSTRMNTS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
VCO CV
2
BYTE CV OUTCONN2
CLK OUT
/32 /2
1

BLOCK DIAGRAM
CLOCK DIVIDER
LFO
VCO
HFO
MAGIC DATA PROCESSOR
RATE
PITCH
SYNC
SYNC
SYNC
OUT
OUT
OUT
PITCH
PITCH
PITCH
R AT E
BEND
BEND
BEND
HIGH
LOW
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
VCO SYNC
HFO SYNC
HARD
CLK IN
LFO CV
CONN2
CONN1
BYTE CV OUT
/CONN2
VCO CV IN
/CONN1
B Y T E
VCO CV
HFO CV
/2/4/8/16/32/64
/128
/256
/512
/1024
/2048
/4096
RESET
reset
button
ancient data cave
ADVENTURE BITS
DIVIDER BITS
SYNC
OVERRIDE
VOLUME
FREEZE
inh a b c inh a b c
BIT 5

CLOCK DIVIDER
LFO
VCO
HFO
MAGIC DATA PROCESSOR
RATE
PITCH
SYNC
SYNC
SYNC
OUT
OUT
OUT
PITCH
PITCH
PITCH
R AT E
BEND
BEND
BEND
HIGH
LOW
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
VCO SYNC
HFO SYNC
HARD
CLK IN
LFO CV
CONN2
CONN1
BYTE CV OUT
/CONN2
VCO CV IN
/CONN1
B Y T E
VCO CV
HFO CV
/2/4/8/16/32/64
/128
/256
/512
/1024
/2048
/4096
RESET
reset
button
ancient data cave
ADVENTURE BITS
DIVIDER BITS
SYNC
OVERRIDE
VOLUME
FREEZE
inh a b c inh a b c
BIT 5

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
YTSYNCSYNC
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
YTSYNCSYNC
IN
OVERRIDE
INSTRMNTS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
VCO CV
PAT C H

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
YTSYNCSYNC
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
YTSYNCSYNC
IN
OVERRIDE
INSTRMNTS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
VCO CV
TEMPLATES

10’S SOUND ALCHEMY
SYNAPSIS
CASPER ELECTRONICS
BASTL INSTRUMENTS

FEATURES
• LFO clock oscilltor for rhythmicl
modultion
• VCO oscilltoris synced to the HFO
oscilltor
• 4 modes of opertionselectble
by 2 switches
• built in speker with volume control
• 9V DC center positive power supply
input
• 9V btterycomprtment from the
bottom
• <20mA power drwon hedphones,
<60mA with speker
(minimum 20 hours on bttery)
• On/O switch
• expnsion connector
• pckge includes 3 photo resistors –
mkeyour oscilltorsrespond to light
byplugging these into the Bend socket
PATCHBAY
• 118 jumper cble ptch points
• ech oscilltor hs 3 dierently slewed
CV inputs, sync inputs, rte knob nd
bend points
• Divider Bitssection – use clocks t
dierent speed to crete ptterns
• Adventure Bits section dds irregulr
rhythmicl elements
• MUX 1 nd MUX 2 input sections to
modulte dt loops nd wveforms
• stereophonic output from MUX 1 nd
MUX2 sections
• BYTE CV section is R2R DAC converter
which tkes bits nd converts them
to CV
• DATA modultion section switch dds
more vor
• Utility Belt section dds dvnced
fetures
• Left nd Right udio override section
EXTERNAL
CONNECTIVITY
• 3.5mm stereophonic hedphone
output
• Clock Input to sync the LFO oscilltor
• Clock Output with selectble LFO
division (2 or 32)
• CV Output from the BYTE DAC section
• CV Input for the VCO
• CV In nd CV Out connectors cn be
routedto dedicted ptch points on
the ptchby
ABOUT
RANGER

The bitRanger is
a patchable analog
logic computer which
sculpts sonic worlds
ranging from data noise
to melodic arpeggios.
Extensive connectivity
makes it so exible 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