Bastl Instruments SoftPop User manual

SoftPop SoftPop SoftP
Bastl Instruments x Casper Electronics

SoftPop is  modul nlog noise
cetue.
It is plyful, stubbon, owdy nd mybe
even  little bit wise. The het of softPop
is  wild tngle of feedbck, chos nd
n oddly fmili ognic pesonlity.
Thee is  get mount of complexity in
its simplicity nd the open chitectue
enbles you to exploe ll the distnt
plces of its chotic glxy. One thing
to keep in mind while exploing is tht
eveything ects eveything nd
djusting cetin contols my hve
 moe f eching impct thn you would
expect. The ptch by nd  *secet*
hcking chmbe in the bck cn be used
to chnge the behvio but on its own
it’s  vey sensitive system. I’ve povided
 bunch of exmples in this mnul tht
cn help you s points of deptue. Then
it is up to you to tek into the sunset of
sonic myhem.
SoftPop’s metl constuction, bttey
powe, built-in speke, nd fully modul
ptchby mke it  tuly potble,
expeimentl sound lb. Tke it to the
bech o  picnic, let you fiends, kids
o cts ply with it. Connect it to the
outside wold vi the built-in ptchby.
She clocks with you dum mchine o
let it intuitively sync to whteve signl you
feed into its input. Send nd eceive CVs
with you modul synth nd congue
czy new sound systems. Pocess
extenl udio though the nlog lte
which is full of innite chcte. O use
it completely on its own nd get to know
softPop’s unique voice.
Wht is it tying to sy?
How e nd 1 elted? Ae they lone
in the vst blckness of spce o will
they nd  shed pupose in the innite
unknown? Will this bing nswes o even
moe questions?
Mybe you just hve to listen… nd then
exploe, connect, unplug nd hve fun!
Thanks to the Bastl community for the endless support and constant inspiration through our shared love of synths and music and fun.
High ves to Václav Peloušek for adding the digital brain to softPop and for meeting my impossible feature requests in style.
INTRO
INTRO SoftPop INTRO So
<3, Pete

POWER
There are three ways to power softPop:
Wall adapter jack. 7–9 VDC
Plugging in acable will automatically
disconnect the battery power.
Micro USB jack. Power from your
computer, power bank or any other
USB-format power supply.
Battery compartment (on the
back). Takes 4 AA batteries. 10–20 hours
run time. Rechargeable batteries are
highly recommended.
2
POWER SWITCH
Switches between wall adapter jack or
battery and USB power. If one of these
sources is not connected (no USB power
for instance), then the switch will act
asamaster power ON/OFF switch.
If both are connected, then power will
have to be turned o by removing one.
OUT JACK
Dual-mono stereo signal suitable
fordriving headphones or for connecting
toexternal processors, amps, etc.
Plugging acable into the OUT jack
disconnects the speaker.
Output comes directly from the Band
Pass out of VCF and is mixed with
the AUX socket and external input jack
signal via the MIX switch.
See #13 ROUTING section for more info.
OUT VOLUME
Adjusts the volume of the speaker
andOUT jack.
EXT
External audio input jack.
Processes external audio signals
through VCF . The external signal
isalso analyzed by the envelope follower
(EF) circuit – which intuitively syncs
theVCO1.
*See preset “psychic psync” for more details.
EXT VOLUME
Adjusts the volume of an incoming signal
connected to the EXT jack. The level can
be adjusted from silence up to 50x gain
(34 dB) for amplifying low-level signals
(line, piezo, etc.)
VOLTAGE CONTROLLED
OSCILLATOR (VCO )
VCO0 has three controls:
Pitch fader. Adjusts the pitch from
LFO to audio ranges.
Modulation fader. Applies
modulation to the pitch of VCO.
Thesource of modulation is normalized
(internally connected) to the output
of the Track&Hold. This signal can be
partially overridden by patching asignal
into the VCO MOD socket in the
patchbay.
Fine tune thumbwheel. Adjusts
the pitch of VCO up and down approx.
5semitones.
*See the Patchbay section for more info on
connecting signals in and out of VCOθ.
VOLTAGE CONTROLLED
FILTER (VCF )
VCF has 3 controls:
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION SoftPop
9
6
4
7
10
11
1
2
5
13
12
3
8

Cuto level fader. Adjusts the
toneof the lter from high to low.
Modulation fader. Applies
modulation to the cuto of VCF.
The source of modulation is normalized
(internally connected) from amix of
VCO + VCO1 . This signal can be
partially overridden by patching asignal
into the MOD socket in the patchbay.
Feedback thumbwheel. Use this
to increase the “sharpness” of the lter
and introduce self-oscillation. Increasing
feedback (also known as resonance
or regeneration) of the lter will also
increase signal distortion at certain
cuto levels.
*See the “Patchbay” section for more info on
connecting signals in and out of VCF.
VOLTAGE CONTROLLED
OSCILLATOR 1 (VCO1)
VCO1 has 4 controls:
Pitch fader. Adjusts the pitch
fromLFO to audio ranges.
Modulation fader. Applies
modulation to the pitch of VCO1.
Modulation will aect pitch and wave
shape. The source of modulation
isnormalized (internally connected)
toamix of VCO + VCO1 inverted
and the EXT (external input) jack
and socket. This signal can be partially
overridden by patching asignal into
theVCO1 MOD socket in the patchbay.
Mode switch and button.
Switches the running mode of VCO1 from
arepeating oscillation to aone-shot
envelope. The envelope can be triggered
with the mode button as well as the
VCO1 SYNC input socket.
*See the “Patchbay” section for more info on
connecting signals in and out of VCO1.
PATTERN GENERATOR
and QUANTIZER
See “Let’s make a pattern” section for more info.
PATCHBAY
(outline = output; no outline = input)
Cross-patch the guts of softPop or
connect to external gear to make
something crazy happen.
*See the “Patchbay” section for more info
on using the patchbay.
SOCKET TO JACK
ADAPTERS. (A, B, C)
Allows any socket in the patchbay to
beconnected to external equipment.
*See the “Patchbay” section for more info
on using the patchbay.
ROUTING SWITCHES
Led switch. Turns the little magic
color orb on or o.
-(0+1) switch. In the down position,
it will disconnect VCO and VCO1 from
the input of VCF . This is useful if
using softPop only as alter for external
audio signals. VCO and VCO1 will still be
available as modulation signals but will
not enter the audio path of VCF unless
manually patched into the VCF EXT
input socket.
Mix switch. In the up position, it
routes some of the dry signal from the
EXT input jack directly to the nal mix.
This gives you amix of the ltered and
unltered signals.
CYCLE
freeze VCO
ENVELOPE
trigger envelope
VCO1/ MOD triangle out square out
Introduction
B

PATTERN GENERATOR
The pttern genertor cretes looping
sequences by recording the behvior
of VCO. These sequences control the
pitch of VCO nd re lso vilble
s voltge source vi the pttern
genertor OUT jck in the ptchby.
This signl cn be used to modulte
vrious prmeters of softPop or even
externl
equipment vi the A, B, C jck dpters
*See the “Patchbay” section for more info
Rec button. Press nd hold to record
new pttern.
P1 button. Selects pttern 1. Tp once
to ctivte pttern plybck. Tp gin
todectivte.
P1 led. Indictes tht pttern loction
1is selected nd in plybck mode.
P2 button. Select pttern 2. Tp once
to ctive pttern plybck. Tp gin to
dectivte.
P2 led. Indictes tht pttern loction
2isselected nd in plybck mode.
Out socket. Outputs pttern plybck
sstepped voltge.
SELECTING A PATTERN
 Tp pttern button P1 or P2 to select
pttern.
 Plybck will be ctivted nd the
selected pttern LED will turn on.
 Tp the button gin to stop plybck.
 The light will turn off but the pttern
will still be selected in the bckground.
RECORDING A PATTERN
(diagram on page3)
 Set the rte of VCO1 to reltively low
speed (see diagram).
Record nd plybck re clocked by
VCO1.
 Press nd hold the RECORD button
toctivte recording.
 Move the pitch fder up nd down.
The pttern genertor is recording the
behvior of VCO, so mke sure it’sdoing
something.
 Relese the RECORD button to stop
recording nd ctivte plybck of the
pttern.
 Pttern lengths re quntized to 2, 4, 8,
16, 32, 64 or 128 steps.
 Press RECORD to erse the pttern
ndcrete new one.
 The recorded ptterns will be stored in
the memory even fter softPop is turned
OFF nd ON gin.
!Bonus!
Try ptching pttern OUT to VCF
MOD. Try ptching it to VCO1 CV. Try
botht the sme time.
*Tech notes*
 The pttern genertor works by reding
the pitch of VCO nd storing the
redings s vlues in multi-stepped
sequence.
Pulses from VCO1 trigger the redings
nd dvnce the pttern to the next step.
If the rte of VCO1 is very high it will
trigger severl redings nd steps in
short time. If it is very low it will
trigger very few. Therefore the length of
pttern depends on how long you hold
the RECORD button nd the rte of VCO1.
 This method gives users n imprecise
but extremely fst nd exible wy to
generte looping ptterns. With some
prctice, it’sesy to crete deliberte
1. Set faders as shown above. 2. Press and hold RECORD button. 3. Slide VCO0 pitch
fader up and down. 4. Release RECORD button
LET’S RECORD A PATTERN
P2
P1
LET’S RECORD A PATTERN

ptterns, but for the most prt, it
functions best s rndom looping
pttern source.
QUANTIZER
The quntizer converts the continuously
vrible pitch rnge of VCO to stepped
scle of chromticlly tuned notes.
Quntize button - Tp to ctivte
ordectivte the quntizer.
Quntize led - Indictes if the
quntizer is on or o.
*Tech notes*
 The quntizer uses pitch correction
method to keep VCO in tune. It does
this by “listening” to the pitch of VCO
nd bumping it with smll CV signls
tothe closest preset note.
 This method tmes the best (VCO)
but without removing its nlog quirks
nd sssy style.
 The quntizer must listen to VCO
before determining if the pitch should
be ltered. This introduces dely to the
quntizing opertion nd mens it will
hve little eect when the pitch of VCO
is very low or rpidly modulting.
The Quantizer

PATCHBAY SoftPop PATCHB
SOCKET TO JACK
ADAPTERS (A, B, C)
Converts socket connections in
the ptchby to 3.5 mm jcks for
connecting with the outside world. Use
to shre udio signls, control voltges,
nd clocks with your modulr synths,
drum mchine nd beyond. They cn
lso be used to tke multiple sounds
from the ptchby nd output them s
seprte signls to be independently
processed.
Ech dpter hs two sockets which
correspond to the right nd left
chnnels of the corresponding stereo
jck (A, B or C) locted on the bck
of softPop. This mens it is possible to
ptch up to six signls in nd out of the
ptchby.
In MOST cses you will only use the
“left” socket (mono cbles only use the
left chnnel).
*Tech notes*
 When using mono cbles only the “left”
socket will pss signl nd the “right”
socket will be connected to ground.
When nothing is plugged into the jck,
the “right” socket will be normlized to
ground. This cn be useful for ptchby
congurtions tht rely on ground
connection, such s connecting cpcitors
from voltge outputs to ground, which
will introduce slew tothesignl.
!!Keep in mind tht ny sockets
connected to ny of the “right” sockets
will be grounded when the cble is
unplugged from the corresponding jck!!
VCO – Voltge Contolled
Oscillto
MOD (input) -
Modultion – pitch
control input. Atten-
ute input signl with
the modultion slider.
Normlized from the
Trck&Hold output.
Connect nother
signl to the socket to
prtilly override the
normliztion.
CV (input) - Control Voltge – direct
pitch control input (no ttenutor).
1 volt per octve scling over 2–3
octves.
SYNC (input) - Connect n externl
signl to reset theoscilltor wveform.
(output) - Squre wve output.
(output) - Tringle wve output.
VCF – Voltge
Contolled Filte
MOD (input) -
Modultion – cuto
control input.
Attenute input
signl with the
modultion slider.
Normlized from
mix of VCO +
VCO1. Connect
nother signl
to thesocket to
prtilly override the normliztion.
CV (input) - Control Voltge – direct
cuto control input.
EXT (input) - Externl signl – input
tothe lter. Cn be udio or DC signls.
PATCHBAY
A B C A B C
OUTPUTINPUT

LP (output) - Low Pss – lter output.
BP (output) - Bnd Pss – lter output.
HP (output) - High Pss – lter output.
VCO1 – Voltge Contolled
Oscillto 1
MOD (input) -
Modultion – pitch
control input. Attenute
input signl with the
modultion slider.
Normlized to the VCO
+ VCO1 + externl signl
mix. Connect nother
signl to the socket to
prtilly override the
normliztion.
CV (input) - Control Voltge – direct
pitch control input (no ttenutor).
SYNC (input) - Connect n externl
signl wve toreset the oscilltor wveform.
(output) - Squre wve output.
(output) - Tringle wve output.
OUT - Outputs looping sequences of
stepped voltges.
See pages “Let’s record a pattern” for more info
on recording and using patterns.
EXT (output) - Externl signl. Mix
ofthe externl udio input jck nd EXT
(input) socket.
EF (output) - Envelope Follower.
Envelope signl derived from the EXT
(output) signl – control voltge
tht represents the loudness of the
incoming signl.
Cn be used s modultion source.
Use the EXT (input) in the lter section
of the EXT (input) jck s input for
the EF.
+ EXT (output) - Amix of VCO
, VCO1 nd the EXT input signls.
(output) - Amix of VCO +
VCO1 wves. Especilly useful for
lter modultion.
AUX (input) - Ptch signls
directly to the nl output mix
(post lter).
T&H Tck nd Hold
Trck&Hold is circuit tht wtches
modulting voltge (CV or udio),
then either psses tht signl directly
to the output (trcks – GATE HIGH)
or holds the voltge t stedy level
(holds – GATE LOW). It is primrily used
s pseudo-rndom stepped voltge
source.
IN - Normlized from the bnd pss
lter output. Connect signl to override
normliztion
GATE (input) - Normlized to VCO1
squre wve output. Connect signl
tooverride normliztion.
OUT - Modulting voltge output.
See diagram below.
*Tech notes*
By defult, the T&H is gted by VCO1.
Adjusting the VCO1 modultion slider
will chnge the shpe (pulse width) of
VCO1 nd drmticlly impct the T&H
behvior.
Slide the VCO1 modultion fder
ll the wy up to chieve clssic
Smple&Hold eect.
Slide the fder down to introduce
unstble sttes, ndfeedbck.
Try ptching T&H OUT to VCF MOD.
THE SECRET CHAMBER
This section is locted on the bck of the
housing nd is for dvnced users who
wnt to recongure the functionlity
of their softPop. If you re new here,
then leve this section lone nd
enjoy the deep weirdness of softPop
s it is. Withthe help of the secret
chmber, softPop cn be turned from
semi-modulr into fully modulr
synth – where ptch cbles re required
toproduce sound.
NORMALISATION
SWITCHES
At its core, softPop is fully modulr
synthesizer. Severl connections hve
been mde throughout the system to
give it specic personlity, but if these
connections re broken, then the system
cn be recongured ny wy the user
likes. Ihppen to like the wy the system
is congured;) but for those who know
wht’sup, here re some switches tht
you cn use to mke or brek the pre-set
normliztions.
VCO <- TRACK&HOLD.
VCO1 <- VCO + VCO1 inverted +
EXT jck nd socket.
VCF <- VCO + VCO1 .
T&H SIG <- VCF BP.
T&H GATE <- VCO1.
PATTERN -> VCO CV (input).
ATTINY85 (ptten
geneto nd quntize)
The ATTINY85 is little microcontroller
tht nlyzes VCO nd VCO1 nd
outputs two vrible voltges. One goes
directly to the pitch CV input of VCO
nd the other is vilble in the ptchby.
The connectivity is reltively simple
nd the code is open-source. If you re
interested in writing your own, you cn
nd digrms nd code online t bstl-
instruments. “github”
Patchbay Patchbay
GATE
IN
HIGH =
TRACK
OUT
LOW =
HOLD

BLOCK DIAGRAM SoftPop
EXT
OUTPUT
VOLUME
OUT
L/RL/RL/R
SIG IN
CUTOFF CV
SIG IN
Track&Hold
GATE
OUT
SIG IN
Envelope Follower
OUT
PITCH/FREQ CV
SYNC IN
PITCH/FREQ CV
SYNC IN
MODE
RED
GREEN
BLUE
X50
HP
BP
LP
VCO
VCO1
VCF BP
VCO
VCO1
QUANTIZE
ON/OFF
P1 P2
BANK SELECT
REC
OUT SYNC
CV
FINE
TUNE
PITCH
MODULATION
MODULATION
CV
PITCH
IN OUT
GATE
LIGHT
HP BP LP
CV
MODULATION
CUTOFF
+EXT
-(0+1)
CYCLE
SYNC
EF
OFF/ON
OFF/ON
OFF/ON
OFF/ON
OFF/ON
OFF/ON
MIX
FEEDBACK
AUX
INPUT VOLUME
EXT
(external input)
ENV
A B C
QUANTIZER
PATTERN
GENERATOR
EF
VCO
1
VCO
T&H
MIX
MIX
VCF
RGB
LED
dive
= input
= secret chamber
switch
= routing switch
= push button
= LED
= 3.5mm jack
= thumbwheel
potentiometer
= output
SoftPop
Legend

• fully nlog coe nd signl pth
• 6 fdes fo contolling two VCOs nd VCF nd thei coss modultions
• two wide nge tingle-coe VCOs & 1
• quntize fo VCO (uto-tune)
• VCO 1 hs vible wveshpe vi the modultion setting
• esonnt stte vible VCF (bndpss, lowpss, highpss)
• extenl input with gin nd envelope followe fo intuitive sync of VCO 1
• tck & hold cicuit fo stepped modultions
• looping ptten geneto with two pttens P1 nd P2
• RGB led fo psychedelic expeience
• 25-point ptchby
• secet hck chmbe t the bck fo dventues
• built-in speke
• size 15 × 11 × 5 cm
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
• softPop
• Mnul
• Ptchcbles set
• Poste
• Sticke
FEATURES
FEATURES PAGE SoftPop
B

PRESE
FIRS
ENCOUNTER
PRESETS:
FIRST
ENCOUNTER

PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS
SOFT POPS
*Carefully adujst the feedback knob to the point just before the lter starts to oscillate. DRONE SHOWERS * Turn VCO0 ne tune to dive into the drone.
*Adjust to make the drone more intense.

BABY STEPS
* Set the rate with 1 . * Adjust 1 to decide if baby walks forward or backward.
*Press button to make baby stand still and adjust to talk.
*Conquer your fears!
*Use VCO1 and VCO1 to navigate the maze.
FEAR OF THE MAZE
PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS

PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS
MEMORY GUN
PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
DOOM
*Set and leave until the batteries die * Don’t touch * Nothing matters

PRESE
PATCHB
EXPLOR
PRESETS:
TCHBAY
XPLORATION

PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS
HELLO COMPUTER
* Adjust to increase data funkiness.
PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
BURGER TIME
* It’s burger time.

PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS
CRITTER PUSH CRITTER PULL
*Let the critters do their work **Turn off the PATTERN switch in the SECRET CHAMBER**
*Press and hold REC *Slide VCO0 up and down then release REC. *Record a pattern in both pattern
locations. *Activate quantizer. *Play with P1 and P2 buttons and FINE control

PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS
DRUNK DATA
... KRISS KROSS
*Play with VCO0 and VCO1 faders to make it jump

PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS
TAP OUT
* Tap it! FORMULA ONE

PRESETS SoftPop PRESE
PRESETS SoftPop PRESETS
*Switch VCO1 mode to ENVELOPE.
* Tap VCO1 mode button to send a message.
SPACE EXCHANGE SINK
*Slide VCO1 up and down to create different syncing sounds.
*Adjust VCO1 for more chaos.