Make Noise SOUNDHACK MORPHAGENE User manual

v2.4

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Morphagene
FCC------------------------------------------------------------------3
Limited Warranty-------------------------------------------------4
Installation----------------------------------------------------------5
Morphagene Overview--------------------------------------6
Setting up for Recording-----------------------------------------7
Button Combinations------------------------------------------8
Panel Controls---------------------------------------------------9
Signal To Be Captured!----------------------------------------------11
Time Scales of the Morphagene:
Introduction---------------------------12
Reels---------------------------------------------------------13
Splices-----------------------------------------------------14
Shift-------------------------------------------------------15
Gene-Size and Slide---------------------------------16
Morph---------------------------------------------------17
Types of Recording-----------------------------------------------18
Sound DNA-----------------------------------------------------20
Sound On Sound and Vari-Speed------------------21
Stopping Playback and Microsound----------------------22
Synchronizing the Morphagene---------------------------------23
Time Stretch----------------------------------------------------24
Gene Shift------------------------------------------------------------25
Non Real-Time Functions:
Deleting Splice Markers and Splice Audio-----------26
Deleting All Splice Markers and Clearing the Reel----27
Reels and File Naming Convention------------------28
Editing Reels and Splices with Reaper-----------29
Tips and Tricks----------------------------------------------------------32
MG137 Changelog-----------------------------------------------------------33
Table of Contents:

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This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
to operate the equipment.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
makenoisemusic.com
Make Noise Co., 414 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806
FCC

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Limited Warranty
About This Manual:
Written by Tony Rolando and Walker Farrell
Illustrated by W.Lee Coleman
Make Noise warrants this product to be free of defects in materials or construction for a period of one year
from the date of purchase (proof of purchase/invoice required).
Malfunction resulting from wrong power supply voltages, backwards or reversed eurorack bus board cable
connection, abuse of the product, removing knobs, changing face plates, or any other causes determined by
Make Noise to be the fault of the user are not covered by this warranty, and normal service rates will apply.
During the warranty period, any defective products will be repaired or replaced, at the option of Make Noise,
on a return-to-Make Noise basis with the customer paying the transit cost to Make Noise.
Make Noise implies and accepts no responsibility for harm to person or apparatus caused through operation
of this product.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions, Return To Manufacturer Authorization,
or any needs & comments.
http://www.makenoisemusic.com
Development: Tom Erbe, Walker Farrell, Tony Rolando, and Matthew Sherwood
Hardware Design: Tony Rolando
DSP: Tom Erbe
Special Thanks to the Beta Testers!

Always turn the Eurorack case o and unplug the power cord before plugging or unplugging any Eurorack
bus board connection cable cable. Do not touch any electrical terminals when attaching any Eurorack bus
board cable.
The Make Noise Morphagene is an electronic music module requiring 165 mA of +12VDC and 20 mA of
-12VDC regulated voltage and a properly formatted distribution receptacle to operate. It is designed to be
used within the Eurorack format modular synthesizer system. Go to
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/systems.shtml for examples of Eurorack Systems and Cases.
To install, nd necessary space in your Eurorack synthesizer case, conrm proper installation of included
eurorack bus board connector cable on backside of module (see picture below), plug the bus board
connector cable into the Eurorack style bus board, minding the polarity so that the RED stripe on the cable is
oriented to the NEGATIVE 12 Volt line on both the module and the bus board. On the Make Noise 6U or 3U
Busboard, the NEGATIVE 12 Volt line is indicated by the white stripe.
5
-12V
Electrocution hazard!
Please refer to your case manufacturers’ specications for location of the Negative supply.
Installation

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Morphagene Overview
The Morphagene is a next generation Tape and Microsound music module that uses Reels, Splices, and Genes to create new
sounds from those that already exist. It is informed by the worlds of Musique Concrète, where speed and direction variation were
combined with creative tape splicing to pioneer new sounds, and Microsound, where computers allow for sound to be divided
into pieces smaller than 1/10 of a second and manipulated like sub-atomic particles.
Having voltage control over every parameter, the Morphagene is most dynamic as a digital audio buer for the modular
synthesist. The Morphagene is comprised of a pair of tool-sets, which work well together: Tape Music Tools allow for sounds to be
recorded on the y, layered using the internal Sound On Sound (S.O.S) function, manually cut into pieces using the Splice
function, and re-organized with the Organize control. Once it is spliced up, it is possible to create nearly innite variations of the
original loop by modulating the Organize parameter. Vari-Speed allows for the speed and direction of playback to be controlled
continuously with one control signal.
Gene-Size and Slide make up the Microsound Tools. Gene-Size shrinks the Splice’s “playback window” into gradually smaller
pieces called Genes (aka particles, grains, granules). A control signal, such as the Wogglebug Smooth CV applied to Slide, moves
through those pieces in a nonlinear fashion. Using Slide, random access of the audio buer is possible. Morph allows additional
textural control via the staggering or layering of successive Genes and, at extreme settings, randomized pitch up and panning.
This yeilds interesting sonic results, particularly when combined with Functions such as Vari-Speed and Organize. It is possible to
record Tape and Microsound manipulations into brand new Splices as if using two independent machines: one for playback and
one to record. The Morphagene also allows for the storage and recall of multiple sound buers in the form of Reels, stored as .wav
les on a microSD card. Each Reel can be up to 2.9 minutes long and may consist of up to 300 Splices. The end result is a sampler/
looper/audio buer that is able to exist within a modular synthesizer system, and oer a vast amount of Real-Time sound
manipulation in a fast and tactile way.
Perspective
Early pioneers of electronic music did not have access to specialized gear with which to implement their ideas. Instead, they had
to modify existing devices or create new devices in order to take steps forward into new musical possibilities. In many cases, this
novelty extended beyond the instruments used, leading to the creation of new musical form and content that had not been
previously imagined.
In the decades since, many new forms of music have been created, consumed, and eventually codied. Countless new
instruments have been designed around these forms, so many that it is frequently possible to nd and purchase a tool that is
ready-made for any given goal in the known taxonomy of musical forms. Today, all you have to do is pick the characteristics you
want in an instrument from a list, go to the nearest internet device and nd the ideal instrument in a database. Consequently,
many designers are now making instruments which are fool-proof, and which guarantee some specic musical result, thus making
it easy to create the same music over and over again.
The Morphagene does not use this approach. It is a powerful and open-ended set of tools for the advanced creative synthesist,
and is not oriented around easing the creation of any particular type of music. The Morphagene gives you the power and the
responsibility to build the musical form of your choosing, or better yet, your creation from the ground up.

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The Morphagene comes with a blank microSD card for storing sounds. No sounds are included with this card. You don’t need
somebody telling you what sounds are approved for use. The world of sound is larger than we could possibly imply with presets.
But this does mean you will need to take some action to get your Morphagene to start doing something. This diagram shows the
ideal “initialization”settings for the Morphagene, which results in any recording playing back as it was recorded.
The Morphagene is always modulating the sound based on the settings of the Panel Controls and any CV being applied. After
recording modulations into a new Splice, refer to these “initialization” settings to set up the Morphagene for unmodulated 1/1
looping playback of your new recording.
Auto Leveling:
Once you have patched the sound source of your choice to the L and/or R Input(s), adjust the S.O.S. control to full
counterclockwise to hear only the incoming audio. Hold the REC Button and press the Shift Button to perform Auto-Leveling,
which analyzes the sound and adjusts its gain to the correct amplitude for use in the modular system. Holding this button
combination for a few seconds produces a good snapshot of the signal dynamics and ideal level settings.
To Record into a new Splice, hold the REC Button and press the Splice Button. The REC Button lights to indicate Recording is
happening. Press the REC Button again to stop.
After recording (or deleting), the microSD Card is busy writing, as indicated by the ashing Shift Button. All parameters are active
and ready for use except Reel Mode and the Delete routines, which could be delayed. Do not remove microSD Card while it is
busy, as indicated by the Shift Button Flashing.
Now, turn the S.O.S. panel control full Clockwise to hear the playback of what you have recorded. NOTE: Morphagene is always
storing your latest recordings and splices to the microSD Card. If you do not want to write over a card, remove it once you
have loaded the desired Reel. If there is already a recording present, you can clear all the audio from the Reel by holding
the Shift Button, then holding the REC Button for 3 seconds.
Synchronizing Recording:
Patching a Clock source to the Clock INput performs several tasks which are in some cases dependent upon other settings on the
Morphagene. During the Recording process, a Clock patched to the CLK IN synchronizes the REC Button, allowing for Recording
Start and Stop times to be synchronized with an External Clock. The REC Button strobes after it is pressed in order to indicate that
the Morphagene is waiting for the next Clock cycle to start Recording. On the next Clock pulse received, the the procedure is
completed, the REC Button lights in order to indicate recording has started. After the REC Button is pressed again, it waits for a
Clock Pulse, and turns o to indicate recording has stopped.
Setting up for Recording
Sound Source: Output:
Initialization Settings for 1/1 Playback

Button Combinations 8
Below is a list of all the real-time procedures performed using button press combinations on the Morphagene.
Note that single presses of the REC, Splice, and Shift buttons are all that is needed for a great deal of performative
functionality. Additional “combos” allow much more detailed editing, recall, etc. but are not necessary for the practical use of the
module.
Note: Single button press actions take place upon release of the button except for Record Stop. For example, Record Into Same
Splice begins when the REC Button is released, not the moment it is pressed. This allows for multi-button combinations to work
without accidentally initiating the single-button action.
Function / / Button Combination:
Auto Leveling: Hold REC Button, Press Shift Button. Enables Auto Leveling. Measures incoming signal and sets gain to Normalize
while Recording. Option: Continue to hold the REC Button for a “Rolling Listen.”
Mount microSD Card: Press Shift Button. Loads inserted microSD when unmounted.
Enter Reel Mode: Hold Splice Button, Press REC Button: Enters Reel Mode (microSD must be mounted)
Organize Panel Control and CV: Selects Reel. The last Reel (Pink/White pulsing) creates a
new Reel upon exiting Reel mode
Hold Splice Button, Press REC Button: Exits Reel mode
Hold Shift, Press REC Button: Deletes current Reel including all Splices and audio.
Deleting last Reel exits Reel Mode and creates new Reel.
Removing microSD: Exits Reel Mode
Record into Current Splice: Press REC Button. Records into current Splice. If no Splices are present, records into a new Splice.
During recording, Press REC Button again to stop active recording. Note: if the total Reel length of 2.9 minutes is reached,
recording stops automatically.
Record into New Splice: Hold REC Button, Press Splice Button. Records into new Splice at end of Reel.
Create New Splice Marker: Press Splice Button. Creates new Splice Marker at current playback location.
Increment Splice: Press Shift Button. Increments to next Splice.
Delete Splice Marker: Hold Shift Button, Press Splice Button. Deletes Splice Marker, joining current Splice with next Splice.
Delete All Splice Markers: Hold Shift Button, Press+Hold Splice Button for 3 seconds. Deletes all Splice Markers, leaving entire
Reel loaded in a single Splice.
Delete Splice Audio: Hold Shift Button, Press REC Button. Deletes Splice Audio.
Clear Reel: Hold Shift Button, Press+Hold REC Button for 3 seconds. Deletes all Splice Markers, clears all Splice audio, empties
current Reel.
Note: With a Clock patched to the Play Input, cannot Delete Splice Marker, Splice Audio, All Splice Markers, or All Splice
Audio. With a Clock patched to Shift Input, it is dicult to reliably Record. When alternately recording and deleting
audio, it is a good idea to wait for the Shift Button to stop ashing before proceeding.

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Panel Controls
Morphagene Panel Controls
1 + 2 : Audio In A & B: Line Level to Modular level signal. AC coupled. No analog input gain/ attenuation control. Signals may be
leveled using Automatic Leveling (see Page 7).
3. Sound On Sound CV IN: Uni-polar control input for the Sound On Sound (S.O.S.) parameter. Range 0V to 8V, linear response.
Normalized to +8V.
4 : Sound On Sound (S.O.S.) Combo Pot: Sets mix of previously recorded Loop with Live Signal input allowing for Sound on
Sound. With nothing patched to S.O.S. CV IN, works as standard panel control for S.O.S. parameter. With Signal patched to S.O.S.
CV IN, works as attenuator for that signal.
5 + 6 : Audio Out A & B: Typically 10Vpp; AC coupled.
7. Gene-Size Panel Control: Manual unipolar control which nondestructively changes the“playback window” from the full Splice
when full counter clockwise, to extremely short (potentially inaudible) at full clockwise (see Page 23).
8. Gene-Size CV IN: Bi-polar control input which sets Gene-Size. Range 0V to +8V.
9. Gene-Size CV IN Attenuator: Bi-polar attenuator for Gene-Size.
10. Vari-Speed Bipolar Panel Control: Manual bipolar speed and direction control. When set to 12:00, playback is stopped.
Turning clockwise from 12:00 increases playback speed in forward direction. Turning counter clockwise from 12:00 increases
playback speed in reverse direction.
11. Var-Speed Activity Windows: Indicates Speed, Direction, and Morph settings (see Page 17).
12. Vari-Speed CV Input: Bipolar speed and direction control input. Range +/-4V.
13. Vari-Speed CV Input Attenuvertor: Bipolar attenuator for Vari-Speed CV IN.
14. Morph Panel Control: Manual unipolar control which allows Genes to be staggered, stacked, and layered (see Page 17).
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Panel Controls (Cont’d)
15. Morph CV Input: Unity level, uni-polar CV input which sets Morph level. Range 0V to +5V.
16. CLK Input: Synchronizes REC, Gene-Size, and Morph (see Page 23). Expects Clock or Gate of at least 2.5V in amplitude.
17. CV Output Activity Window: Visual indication of the CV OUT signal.
18. CV Output: Control signal representing the average energy of the signals at the Audio Outs (see Page 23). Range 0V to +8V
DC.
19. Play Gate Input: Gate HIGH triggers or re-triggers playback from start of currently selected Splice. If held HIGH, Splice Loops.
If held LOW, playback stops at End of Splice. This input is normalled High, so with nothing patched to Play, the Splice loops. Slide
osets the Play Reset/ Start point.
20. REC Gate Input: Clock or gate input for Record. Toggles Record ON/OFF. Expects Clock or Gate of at least 2.5V.
21. REC Button w/ Illumination: Starts and stops recording. Lights to indicate that recording is happening. Press to Record into
same Splice or to initiate Time Lag Accumulation. The process starts upon the release of the REC Button. Hold REC Button and
Press Splice Button to Record into New Splice. While recording, press the REC Button to stop the Recording process. Also used for
Button Combinations (see Page 8).
22. Splice Button w/ Illumination: Press to drop Splice marker on captured sound. Lights to indicate End of Splice/Gene. Also
used for Button Combinations (see Page 8).
23. Splice Gate Input: Places Splice marker on captured sound based on incoming Gate HIGH. Expects Clock or Gate signal of at
least 2.5V.
24. Reel Activity Window: Visual indication of currently selected Reel. Flashes to indicate signal at CLK IN and while in Reel Select
Mode. Strobes at High Gene-Size and Morph values to indicate excitement.
25. End of Gene/ Splice Gate Output: Outputs Gate at the end of each Splice and/or Gene. 0 to 10Vpp (see Page 23).
26. Splice Activity Window: Visual indication of currently selected Splice. Flashes to indicate Erase Splice, Erase Splice Audio,
Erase All Splices, and Erase All Audio.
27. microSD Card Slot: For use of FAT32 formatted microSD cards only. If inserted, microSD Card is mounted as soon as it is
recognized or when you press Shift Button. The Splice Button lights on to indicate the microSD card is mounted. Do not remove
microSD Card while it is busy, as indicated by the Shift Button Flashing.
28. Shift Button w/ illumination: Increments Splice selection. Lights on to indicate microSD Card is mounted. If SD Card is not
mounted on insertion, press Shift Button to mount inserted SD Card. Flashes to indicate “SD CARD BUSY!” Also used for Button
Combinations (see Page 8). Do not remove microSD Card while it is busy, as indicated by the Shift Button Flashing.
29. Shift Gate Input: Input to increment Splice selection. Expects clock or Gate of at least 2.5V in amplitude.
30. Organize Panel Control: Manual unipolar control that selects next Splice to be played. The currently selected Splice or Gene
plays to the end before the next Splice is selected. In Reel Mode, used to select the Reel.
31. Organize CV Input: Uni-polar control signal input for Organize. Range 0V to +5V. Unpatch when in Reel Mode to select Reel.
32. Slide Panel Control: Manual control for traveling through the captured sound. Allows for scrubbing of the recorded material
and osetting the Play Reset/Start point. This parameter is aected by the Gene-Size setting.
33. Slide CV Input: Uni-polar control input for Slide. Range 0V to +8V.
34. Slide CV Input Attenuvertor: Bipolar attenuator for Slide.