neutral labs PIP v1.1 User manual

PIP v1.1
by neutral labs
Manual
Hello, owner.
PIP is a dual clocked CV generator and recorder/complex LFO that lets
you morph between predefined CV waveforms and even morph your recorded
CV.

Specifications
●Width: 8 HP
●Supply voltage: +12V/-12V (Eurorack 10-pin header)
●Current draw:
○+12V: 60 mA
○-12V: 30 mA
○5V: unused, 0 mA
●CV inputs: 4x 0V to 5V usable, -12V to 12V absolute
Connecting PIP to Eurorack power
Connect a 10 pin Eurorack power cable to the 2x5 power header on the
back of the module. There is an arrow indicator next to the word
STRIPE on the circuit board. Unsurprisingly, the red stripe side of
the cable goes on the side that says STRIPE. The module (and your
power supply) is protected in case you should ever connect it the
wrong way around, but it won’t turn on if you do.
Module Function
PIP simultaneously generates two CV waveforms, one per channel.
Channel B is the master channel and it is synced to an internal or
external clock. The clock of channel A depends on that of channel B:
You can either set a fixed clock division, a free (arbitrary) ratio or
you can adjust the phase relationship between channel B and channel A.
The waveforms are arranged into rows and pages (PG). Each channel has
16 wavetable pages with 3 waveforms per page that can be morphed into
each other using the MORPH knobs. In addition, each channel has a
special random (sample&hold/sample&glide) page. It is possible to
record incoming CV or knob movements onto each channel. The recorded
waveform replaces the middle waveform of the current page and can then
be morphed as well.
The next page shows an overview of PIP’s main functions that could be
printed out for reference. For a more in-depth view, refer to the
detailed description further below.

Control Voltage (CV) Outputs
There are 4 outputs, 2 per channel. The upper output is unipolar, it
outputs a waveform ranging from 0V to +5V, while the lower one is
bipolar and outputs the same waveform scaled to a range of roughly -5V
to +5V.
Both waveforms are output simultaneously, which makes it possible to
drive multiple modulation destinations without having to split the
signal using a buffered multiple or stacked cables. You could e.g.
modulate channel B’s CV input from the unipolar (upper) channel A
output, while also modulating another module’s CV input from the
bipolar (lower) channel A output.
Controls
Control
Function
MORPH A/B
These knobs morph the output signal (for channel A or B
respectively) between waveforms. Each page (selectable with the
PGAand PG B buttons) has 3 waveforms. One corresponds to the
counterclockwise knob setting, one to the middle setting and one
to the clockwise setting. The waveforms can be viewed in the
appendix of this manual.
If any CV recordings have been made on either the A or B
channel, the middle waveform of the channel’s current page will
be replaced by the CV recording, so you can morph your recorded
CV by turning the knob to either side.
DIV
In normal mode, this sets the clock division between channels A
and B. The fractures printed on the front panel correspond to
the A/B ratio, e.g. 1/4 means that the waveform on channel A
will be replayed 4 times during 1 cycle on channel B. Channel B
is the master and always synced to the clock, so changing the
setting of this knob affects channel A only.
In free mode (see PG A), channel A’s tempo can be adjusted
independently of the predetermined clock division ratios. At the
counterclockwise setting, its tempo will still roughly
correspond to 1/4 of channel B’s tempo and with the clockwise
setting to roughly 2/1 (or 2 times) channel B’s tempo. The

ratios printed in between are no longer accurate, as the
progression indicated on the front panel is not linear. They’re
close enough for orientation though. In this mode, if the
internal clock changes (by tapping the SYNC button or changing
the incoming sync signal), the currently set ratio between
channel A and B will remain, meaning both channels will still
speed up or slow down simultaneously.
In phase mode (see PG B), this knob determines the phase
relationship between channel A and B. The clock division ratio
is now fixed at 1/1, but instead you can shift channel A’s
output in time against that of channel B. With the fully
counterclockwise setting, both channels are in phase. Channel A
begins to move forward in time while turning the knob clockwise,
until they are in phase again at the fully clockwise setting.
PG A
This button selects the wavetable page for channel A. Press the
button and release it quickly to cycle through the available
pages. Page 0 (selected at startup) is a special random page:
Move the MORPH A knob counterclockwise for sample&glide and
clockwise for sample&hold, with the amplitude increasing the
further you turn the knob. This can also be used to easily find
page 0 when cycling through pages: Set the MORPH A knob to the
middle position and repeatedly press the PG A button until the
LED indicates a constant voltage.
Press the button for approximately 1 second in order to switch
to free mode (see DIV). A long press will not change the current
wavetable page and will switch into free mode if the module is
currently in normal or phase adjustment mode. It will switch
into normal mode if the module is currently in free mode.
PG B
This button selects the wavetable page for channel B. Press the
button and release it quickly to cycle through the available
pages. Page 0 (selected at startup) is a special random page:
Move the MORPH B knob clockwise for sample&hold, with the
amplitude increasing the further you turn the knob. This is
especially useful in order to modulate channel A from channel B:
You will get a slightly (or radically) different waveform on
channel A with each cycle, with the maximum deviation determined
by the MORPH B knob setting. This can also be used to easily
find page 0 when cycling through pages: Set the MORPH B knob to
the counterclockwise position and repeatedly press the PG A
button until the LED indicates a constant voltage.
It is not possible to record CV onto channel B’s random page.

Press the button for approximately 1 second in order to switch
to phase mode (see DIV). A long press will not change the
current wavetable page and will switch into phase mode if the
module is currently in normal or free mode. It will switch into
normal mode if the module is currently in phase mode.
SYNC
This button is used in order to tap in the clock tempo. Tap the
button at least twice at your desired clock rate. The master
tempo will be adjusted accordingly and the sync LED will display
short light pulses at the current tempo.
The minimum clock rate is approximately 10 Hz (100 ms period)
and the maximum clock rate is approximately 0.0083 Hz (2 minute
period).
The master clock is always set for channel B. Channel A’s tempo
depends on channel B according to the current mode (normal
synced mode, free mode or phase adjustment mode, see DIV).
REC
When the button is held down during the SYNC LED flash, a CV
recording will be initiated for the duration of the cycle that
starts with said SYNC LED flash. Both channels can record CV.
The recording will always be initiated on the channel that had
its page last changed by the respective PG button. At module
startup, channel A is selected. Channel B cannot be recorded on
while the Sample&Hold page (page 0) is selected.
As indicated, the button may be kept pressed for longer than one
cycle, in which case the previous recording gets overwritten.
Recording will stop at the end of that cycle during which the
REC button is released and looped playback of the CV recording
will start immediately.
The CV recording will be stored as the middle waveform of the
channel’s current page, so you can morph your recorded CV by
turning the knob to either side. Remember to set the knob to the
middle position (or send ca. 2.5V as CV if a jack is inserted
into the corresponding CV input) if you want to play back your
CV recording unaltered.

Attention! The SYNC LED indicates the cycle boundaries for the
master channel (B). While on a DIV ratio other than 1/1, or in
phase or free mode, these boundaries may differ from those of
channel A. Recording for channel A will be stopped/started on
the actual channel A boundaries, so if in doubt, record to
channel A in normal mode with the DIV ratio set to 1/1.
The module will record CV between 0 and +5 V, with a resolution
of 128 steps per cycle, for one cycle. Very fast moving CV at
low clock rates may thus be distorted. Record fast moving CV at
high clock rates to prevent this.
If no jack is connected to the selected CV input, the movement
of the MORPH button will be recorded instead. During recording,
the incoming CV or movement of the knob will be sent to the
channel output in order to be monitored. It is not possible to
change the current wavetable page, clock tempo or DIV ratio
while a CV recording is in progress.
To stop playback of the recorded waveform, there are 2 options:
Either press the channel’s PG button in order to move on to the
next wavetable page (this will erase the current CV recording –
it won’t be available after you cycled through all pages to the
same page again), or start a new recording on the same channel
with the REC button (which overwrites the current CV recording).
Control Voltage (CV) Inputs
Input
Function
CV A
Any input voltage corresponds to a setting on the MORPH A
button: 0V corresponds to the fully counterclockwise
setting, and +5V corresponds to the clockwise setting,
values in between are interpreted accordingly. Voltages
below 0V or above +5V are limited to stay within this range.
Applying voltages outside the range will not harm the
module.
The MORPH A knob is without function as long as a jack is
inserted into the CV A socket.
CV B
This has identical functionality to CV A, only for the B
channel.

SYNC
A positive voltage pulse on this input has the same function
as a press of the SYNC button. The input is usually not used
as a tap tempo input though, but a continuous sync signal
input from e.g. a sequencer. A pulse may be arbitrarily long
in duration and the rising edge may not be steep, so input
from an LFO is also possible. Negative voltages are ignored,
but any voltage between -12V and +12V is safe and will not
harm the module.
The SYNC button is without function as long as a jack is
inserted into the SYNC socket.
REC
A persistent voltage above +1.5V on this input has the same
function as a press of the REC button. Negative voltages are
ignored, but any voltage between -12V and +12V is safe and
will not harm the module.
Use this to automate CV recordings. During a live session,
you could e.g. leave a recording of incoming CV running by
keeping this input high (the incoming CV will be passed
through), and set the input low in case you want to repeat a
CV sequence for a couple of cycles.
The REC button is without function as long as a jack is
inserted into the REC socket.
LEDs
LED
Function
A/B
These bicolor LEDs indicate the current CV output level at the
respective bipolar output: Green is for positive voltages, red
is for negative voltages. The LED brightness corresponds to the
(absolute) amplitude. The unipolar output follows the bipolar
output, but is scaled to a range from 0V to +5V.
SYNC
The white LED with a clock icon flashes briefly at each internal
clock pulse for the master channel B, or external clock pulse if
a SYNC cable is connected. Channel A’s clock pulses are not
indicated. They are identical to channel B’s in normal mode
while the clock division is set to 1/1.
REC
The orange LED will light up as long as the REC button is
pressed or a positive voltage is applied to the REC input. (The

random sample&hold page on channel B does not permit recording,
but the LED will light up nevertheless, as it is triggered
directly from the button or input.)
Appendix: Wavetable pages
The following table lists the waveforms for all the available
wavetable pages (CW – clockwise, MID – middle position, CCW –
counterclockwise). At startup, both channels have page 0 selected.
Page
Waveforms
0 (channel A)
Sample&glide counterclockwise, sample&hold
clockwise. The middle position outputs a constant
value. When using this page to record CV onto the
middle position waveform, turning the MORPH A
knob clockwise or counterclockwise will alter the
recorded waveform with increasing randomness.
0 (channel B)
Constant value counterclockwise, sample&hold
clockwise. This page is ideal for randomly
modulating the waveform of channel A: Insert a
cable from the upper output socket for channel B
to the CV input for channel A. The MORPH B knob
setting then sets the level of randomness.
It is not possible to record CV onto this page.
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