RAGNARÖK Manual Page 3
Introduction
RAGNARÖK... what it is, and what it isn't
RAGNARÖK is a software reincarnation for Microsoft Windows (VST) and A le macOS
(VST/AU) of an existing, custom-built (and therefore one of a kind) hardware analog
synthesizer.
RAGNARÖK is NOT the next big thing in digital synthesis, nor is it a faithfully
modeledequivalent of a real hardware analog synthesizer. The RAGNARÖK-synthesizer
is basically a standard architecture VA-synthesizer, consisting of an oscillator section
running into a dynamically controlled filter that is followed by an envelo e-controlled
am lifier or out ut section. It has some additional sound-sha ing o tions by means of
an overdrive on the filter out ut and an additional 7-band static filter (also known as a
Gra hic EQ).
Where RAGNARÖK shines is in it's combination of 3 stacked and (slightly) detuned
oscillators with a divide-down array that re licates these 3 oscillators over four
octaves. This means it can do 3 (slightly) detuned oscillators AND 4 octave-tuned
oscillators AT THE SAME TIME, the equivalent of 12 oscillators on one voice. The
oscillators offer square and ulse waves simultaneously, so even those can be mixed
u . In addition to this there is yet another array of square wave oscillators available
that are tuned to an interval (default set at a fifth).
Although the original RAGNARÖK was urely mono honic, modern software
technology has made it ossible to have a oly honic version now. This adds
tremendously to the usefulness of the instrument.
History
The hardware version of RAGNARÖK was build in the early eighties (by Hans Peter),
and solely aimed at using on stage. Hence the ' erformance/lead' designation on the
lugin instrument. In those days, Moog-sounds where still in high demand, and the
more oscillators you could stack for a solo-sound, the better it was. A DIY synthesizer
kit, called the Chorosynth, layed into this idea by delivering the combined stacked
and octaved oscillators into a retty chea ackage. However, to kee the rice low,
there was only an am litude envelo e and no filters whatsoever. It also had no real
keyboard but used a stylus on an etched circuit board. The first incarnation of the
RAGNARÖK synth was merely the Chorosynth with a bolt-on real keyboard.
After about two years use on stage, the first version was rebuild into a new case, and
augmented with several modules from the Elektor Formant Modular synthesizer. It got
a very com lete multi- ole filter section, real envelo e-generators and several other
goodies that where available as DIY-kits. Although the Formant Modular was, well…
modular, in the RAGNARÖK synthesizer everything was hard-wired for stage use.
After several years the synthesizer was decommissioned and re laced with a Teisco
110F (another beautiful instrument). The hardware RAGNARÖK is still in Hans Peter's
ossession, but (sadly) no longer in working order.
