Qu-Bit Electronix CASCADE User manual

WITH CASCADE
GETTING STARTED
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CONTENTS
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Ratcheting AD
AD
ASR
ADSR
Envelope Follower
Compressor
Edit Functions
Description
Sound Sources
First Patch
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Gate Behavior
Gravity
Skip Ahead
Patch Examples
Bouncy Ball
Trap Hi-Hats
Ocean Waves
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12
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DESCRIPTION
With Cascade’s onboard Analog VCA, shaping your sound is as quick as sending your sound through Cascade via the
VCA In and Out, and a Gate into the Trigger Input. Below is an
example patch using Ratcheting AD Mode to achieve a simple
staccato sequence.
*note: similar results are achievable with alternate modules alongside Cascade.
Cascade is a ratcheting envelope generator, VCA, and sound source all within a compact form factor. The unique interactions of its feature set open up new worlds of
rhythmic patching and modulation. Easily create ratcheting sequences, bouncy-ball modu-
lation, and pumping compression, all within a single module.
At its core is a powerful envelope generator, which is normaled to a high fidelity 2164
based VCA. You can patch in external audio to the VCA, or take advantage of 4 internal
audio algorithms: white noise, 808 drums, and sine tones. Cascade will open up your
system in ways that make you wonder how you ever lived without it.
FIRST PATCH
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To install, locate 10HP of space in your Eurorack case and confirm the positive 12 volts and negative 12 volts sides of the power distribution lines. Plug the connector into the
power distribution board of your case, keeping in mind that the red band corresponds to
negative 12 volts. In most systems, the negative 12 volt supply line is at the bottom. The
power cable should be connected to the module with the red band facing the bottom of
the module
Installation

RATCHETING AD
Attack time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Adjusts curve from
logarithmic to linear
to exponential
Controls # of repeats
and clock multipliers:
1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 6x, 8x,
12x, 16x
Release time from
.5ms to 10 seconds
Triggers envelope/sets
repeat tempo
Flips the envelope in
place, maintaining
same voltage range
set by offset and level.
(Green LED)
Adjusts the output
level of the envelope
signal
Controls an offset volt-
age to the envelope
Range: 0V to 10V
Envelope Output
VCA Output: Sends
out signal (external
or internal) which
is shaped by the
envelope every trigger
Gate Output: sends
out a configurable
gate signal every
trigger (see Edit
Functions for more)
Attack / Decay Envelope with Ratchetable Repeats
4

AD ENVELOPE
Attack time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Adjusts curve from
logarithmic to linear
to exponential
Adjusts envelope
repeats from 1 to 16,
infinite looping at
knob end
Flips the envelope in
place, maintaining
same voltage range
set by offset and level.
(Green LED)
Adjusts the output
level of the envelope
signal
Controls an offset volt-
age to the envelope
Range: 0V to 10V
Release time from
.5ms to 10 seconds
Envelope Output
VCA Output: Sends
out signal (external
or internal) which
is shaped by the
envelope every trigger
Gate Output: sends
out a configurable
gate signal every
trigger (see Edit
Functions for more)
Triggers envelope/sets
repeat tempo
Attack / Decay
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ASR ENVELOPE
Attack time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Adjusts curve from
logarithmic to linear
to exponential
Adjusts envelope
repeats from 1 to 16,
infinite looping at
knob end.
Release time from
.5ms to 10 seconds
Triggers envelope/
gate length sets
sustain
Flips the envelope in
place, maintaining
same voltage range
set by offset and level.
(Green LED)
Adjusts the output
level of the envelope
signal
Controls an offset volt-
age to the envelope
Range: 0V to 10V
Envelope Output
VCA Output: Sends
out signal (external
or internal) which
is shaped by the
envelope every trigger
Gate Output: sends
out a configurable
gate signal every
trigger (see Edit
Functions for more)
Attack / Decay Envelope with Gate Configured Sustain
6

ADSR ENVELOPE
Attack time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Sustain Level set from
0V to value set by
Level
Release time from
.5ms to 5 seconds
Decay time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Triggers envelope
Flips the envelope in
place, maintaining
same voltage range
set by offset and level.
(Green LED)
Adjusts the output
level of the envelope
signal
Controls an offset volt-
age to the envelope
Range: 0V to 10V
Envelope Output
VCA Output: Sends
out signal (external
or internal) which
is shaped by the
envelope every trigger
Gate Output: sends
out a configurable
gate signal every
trigger (see Edit
Functions for more)
Attack / Decay / Sustain / Release Envelope
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ENVELOPE FOLLOWER
Attack time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Adjusts the response
curve/sensitivity to the
follower
Controls the threshold
for the detection
Decay time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Flips the envelope in
place, maintaining
same voltage range
set by offset and level.
(Green LED)
Adjusts the output
level of the envelope
signal
Controls an offset volt-
age to the envelope
Range: 0V to 10V
Envelope Output
VCA Output: Sends
out signal (external
or internal) which
is shaped by the
Follower
Gate Output: Gate
goes HIGH when the
signal is above the
threshold, and LOW
when it is below
Audio Input
Triggers a virtual
sound source injected
into the follower
detection.
Envelope Generator with Audio Detection
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COMPRESSOR
Attack time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Compression ratio
adjustment
Controls the
compression threshold
Decay time from .5ms
to 5 seconds
Flips the envelope in
place, maintaining
same voltage range
set by offset and level.
(Green LED)
Adjusts the output
level of the envelope
signal
Controls an offset volt-
age to the envelope
Range: 0V to 10V
Envelope Output
VCA Output: Sends
out signal (external
or internal) which is
compressed
Gate Output: Gate
goes HIGH when
the compressor is
engaged, and gain
control is in effect
Audio Input
Triggers a virtual
sound source injected
into the compressor
Compressor with Virtual Sidechain
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SOUND SOURCES
& EDIT FUNCTIONS
Hold Shift to enter
Edit Functions
White Noise
Hi-Hat
Kick
HiFreq Sine
Sound Source
normals out
to VCA output
when there is
no connection
to VCA input
Sound Sources
No Gravity
Amplitude Gravity
Amplitude and Time Gravity
Gravity Modes
Gate Output Modes
6ms Trigger at start of
every envelope
EOD Mode: Gate is
HIGH when envelope
is not in decay stage
EOA Mode: Gate is
HIGH when envelope
is not in attack stage
For a more detailed look at Cascade,
additional example patches, and more,
head over to the product page and
manual here:
www.qubitelectronix.com/shop/cascade
Input for external sound sources.
Used for Envelope Follower,
Compressor, and VCA
Overrides Env
Out for direct
control over VCA
10

BOUNCY BALL
Emulate the effect of a bouncing ball by adjusting Gravity and Repeats in AD mode.
Modules: Cascade, Sound Source (Chord)
Cascade Settings:
- Mode: AD (Green LED)
- Edit Functions: Apmlitude and Time Gravity (Gold Trig LED)
- Attack: 0%
- Decay: ~45%
- Curve: ~70%
- Repeats: x16
- Level: 100%
- Offset: 0%
Don’t want to use a sound source? Send out Cascade’s VCA which normals to 1 of
4 sound sources you can choose by using the SHIFT MODE command. Cascade will
shape the sound to the bounciness amount you desire.
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TRAP HI-HATS
Create bangin trap hats with Cascade’s onboard Hi-Hat sound source and the Ratch-
eting AD Envelope.
Modules: Cascade, Gate and CV source (Bloom)
- Mode: Ratcheting AD (Blue LED)
- Edit Functions: Hi-Hat Sound Source (SHIFT MODE to Green LED)
- Attack: 0%
- Decay: ~45%
- Curve: ~70%
- Repeats: 0%
- Level: 100%
- Offset: 0%
Send Gate signal to the Trig input on Cascade. CV is sent to Repeats to increase/de-
crease the number of ratchets. TO get a consistent ratcheting experience, send a clock
signal into the Trig input. For more experimental trap hats, send a gated sequence
into Trig. Cascade’s ratchet algorithm will adjust the repeats speed based on the dis-
tance between the triggers, creating an “auto ratchet” effect without modulating the
repeats via the knob or CV. Add a random voltage source like Chance to Repeats and
Decay, and your hats can be as tamed or wild as you see fit!
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OCEAN WAVES
Sound Baths await with this serene ocean waves patch using Cascade’s White Noise
and sweeping envelopes.
Modules: Cascade, Gate and CV source (Chance), Effects processing (Data Bender,
Prism)
- Mode: Ratcheting AD (Blue LED)
- Edit Functions: White Noise Sound Source (SHIFT MODE to Blue LED)
- Attack: ~75%
- Decay: ~75%
- Curve: ~40%
- Repeats: 0%
- Level: 50%
- Offset: 10%
Cascade is set to White Noise and using a slow attack and decay to simulate the
rolling waves crashing onto the shore. The sound is then sent out to Data Bender for
textural layering in Micro Mode, while adding a lower register pitch to echo distant
waves. Prism follows Data Bender for additional filtering, allowing to to float above
the sea, or duck dive into the abyss. Gate and CV is sent out from Chance to emulate
the rolling tides, and varying intensities of wave crashes by modulating Cascade’s
Attack.
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