Random*Source GTO SERGE User manual

SERGE
DUAL GTO
NOISE
USER MANUAL
V1.0
RANDOM*SOURCE
COUPLER
HOLD
RUN
VC
RATE OUT
CYCLEVC
IN
CYCLE
1V/O
1V/O
SMPL
SMPL
OUT
INRATE
DUAL GTO
INV
COUPLER HOLD
RUN
VC
RATEOUT
CYCLE VC
IN
CYCLE
1V/O
1V/O
SMPL
OUT
IN RATE
INV
MIX

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DUAL GTO
Installation ........................................................ 3
Overview ......................................................... 3
What’s new? What’s different? ......................................... 3
Dual GTO - Basic Operation ........................................... 4
Top section(s) /// SMOOTH mode....................................... 4
Bottom sections /// STEPPED mode (and more)............................ 5
1V/Oct Input (#8) ................................................... 8
Sync Input (#9) ..................................................... 8
GTO - First Steps ................................................... 9
Serge Noise Source ................................................ 10
Random Voltage Generator (RVG) Patch ................................ 10
Utility Mixer....................................................... 10
Serge GTO - Patch Ideas ............................................ 11
DUAL GTO Patches ................................................ 13

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DUAL GTO
Installation
Always turn the eurorack case off and unplug the power cord before plugging or unplugging any eurorack power
cable. Do not touch any electrical terminals when attaching any eurorack power (bus board) cables.
The Serge Dual GTO is an electronic music module requiring 50mA of +12VDC and 50 mA of -12VDC regulated
voltages and an appropriate power connector to operate.
POWER YOUR SYSTEM OFF before installing the module. Please use the power cable provided to connect the
small end of the power cable to the module. Carefully install and secure the module in your boat. Power on, and
ip the CYCLE switches to the DOWN position, SMPL to the CENTER position. You should see an LED ashing
for each channel. If either side seems constantly ON or OFF, turn the RATE knob to the center position or slightly
below to see each side cycling. Your module should be ready to go now :-)
Please beware: Powering the module on anything more (or less) than +/-12V is not recommended and may
damage the module. Feeding any of the inputs (or outputs) with voltages outside a +/-12V range may damage the
module. This type of damage is not covered under warranty.
Overview
The Serge GTO is an evolution of the famous Serge Smooth & Stepped Generator. As its predecessor, it has two
sides, that are not identical, but differ in some aspects. The top section was traditionally the “Smooth Side” while
the bottom section was the “Stepped Side”. In the GTO, however, the bottom section can to some extent - in
particular when the SMPL switch (14) is in CENTER position - behave like a “smooth” side.
The GTO is a dual “lag and hold” device that can be quite a few things, depending on how you use it. It can be
patched as a slew, portamento, oscillator, LFO, metallizer, triggered staircase generator, subharmonic generator/
divider, VCA, lowpass-gate, sample and hold, track and hold, set of comparators, trigger delay, one-shot, envelope
follower, quadrature function generator, “bit-crusher” and much more.
What’s new? What’s different?
The Dual GTO comprises 2 identical GTOs plus a Serge Noise and a Mixer that provides the sum of the two top
sections and of the two bottom sections. The Serge GTO is not just an improved SSG, but almost a complete
redesign with the focus on stability, precision and speed. Each GTO section has a temperature-compensated
1V/Oct input for use as an oscillator with a frequency range of up to 20kHz (top) and 8kHz (bottom). Each
section tracks over 5 or 6 octaves. The lower sides offer 3 different Sample modes plus a RUN input that vastly
extend the track-and-hold possibilities of the classic SSG.

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Dual GTO - Basic Operation
COUPLER
HOLD
RUN
VC
RATE OUT
CYCLEVC
IN
CYCLE
1V/O
1V/O
SMPL
SMPL
OUT
INRATE
DUAL GTO
INV
COUPLER HOLD
RUN
VC
RATEOUT
CYCLE VC
IN
CYCLE
1V/O
1V/O
SMPL
OUT
IN RATE
INV
MIX
1
INPUT
2
CYCLE OUT
2
CYCLE OUT
3
MAIN OUT
3
MAIN OUT
1
INPUT
11
COUPLER OUT
4
HOLD IN
4
HOLD IN
12
HOT COUPLER
5
RATE
5
RATE
6
CV IN
6
CV IN
15
RUN IN
15
RUN IN
8
1V/OCT IN
8
1V/OCT IN
8
1V/OCT IN
8
1V/OCT IN
14
SAMPLE SW
14
SAMPLE SW
13
SAMPLE IN
13
SAMPLE IN
9
SYNC IN
9
SYNC IN
7
CV ATTENUV.
7
CV ATTENUV.
7
CV ATTENUV.
7
CV ATTENUV.
6
CV IN
6
CV IN
5
RATE
5
RATE
Top section(s) /// SMOOTH mode
In CYCLE mode (CYCLE OUT connected to IN), the OUT produces a nice triangle wave. The RATE knob controls
an enormous frequency range of appr. 26s/CYCLE to appr. 20(!) kHz.
In INPUT mode (CYCLE mode is off), the OUT follows the IN as quickly as the RATE parameter allows. A high at
the HOLD input will freeze the OUTPUT.

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Bottom sections /// STEPPED mode (and more)
The bottom sections also have a CYCLE mode (CYCLE OUT connected to IN). However, the OUT depends on
the Sample (SMPL) input and the corresponding MODE switch as well as on the RUN input:
• Smooth Mode: Set the SMPL switch to center to let the bottom section run freely - both the SMPL input
and the RUN input are ignored. The Stepped side now pretends to be “smooth”, producing a triangle
wave at the OUT. The RATE knob controls a frequency range of >1min/CYCLE to 8 kHz.
A PULSE wave (orange) into SMPL or RUN does not affect the Cycle.
• Sample Mode: When the SMPL switch is up, the GTO moves (cycles) only for a very short period of time
when a pulse wave triggers the SMPL input - irrespective of the pulse length:
A PULSE wave (orange) into SMPL allows the GTO to run for a moment before being frozen again.
If the RATE is very fast, the few full cycles can occur before being frozen again.
The moment in which the waveform can run freely is xed in length (about 0.5ms) - this limits the maxi-
mum speed the SMPL input can digest - if the clock signal is faster that about 2.2kHz, no more
triggering occurs and the waveform goes at (i.e. the CYCLE dies).

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• INV Mode: When the SMPL switch is down, the SMPL input works exactly the other way around: the
GTO is free except for that small moment when the trigger occurs:
The CYCLE is held for a brief moment.
• RUN Mode: If all of this is not exible enough for you, the RUN input comes into play. Here, the GTO
runs freely while the signal is high and is held when the signal is low, i.e. the duty cycle of the pulse signal
determines the ratio of running to stopping. The RUN mode gives you essentially a SMOOTH mode with
HOLD:
The CYCLE is running as long as RUN is low.
In INPUT mode (CYCLE mode is off), the OUT of the bottom section of the GTO tries to follow the IN as quickly
as the RATE parameter allows, with the restraints set by the SMPL mode.
• If the SMPL switch is in center position, SMPLE in and RUN are ignored, the bottom section is in
SMOOTH MODE (without a HOLD).
• Sample Mode: When the SMPL switch is up, the GTO moves only for a very short period of time when a
pulse wave triggers the SMPL input - irrespective of the pulse length.
High clock rate into SMPL (green) and a fast RATE creates quantizing / aliasing / bitcrushing (yellow) of the input signal (orange).

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• INV Mode: When the SMPL switch is down, OUT is almost like in SMOOTH MODE, but the SMPL input
halts the signal for a very short moment:
Note the tiny step in the OUT (yellow) whenever SMPL IN goes high (orange). Green is the IN signal.
• RUN Mode: Here again the signal is frozen as long as the RUN input is high - the GTO acts like the top
section (SMOOTH MODE with HOLD):
GTO (yellow) acts as in SMOOTH mode, RUN (orange) acts like HOLD.
Please note that RUN and SMPLE IN can be combined for even more complex waveforms and modulations:
GTO output (yellow) as affected by RUN (green) and SMPL (orange).

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COUPLER
HOLD
RUN
VC
RATE OUT
CYCLEVC
IN
CYCLE
1V/O
1V/O
SMPL
SMPL
OUT
INRATE
DUAL GTO
INV
COUPLER HOLD
RUN
VC
RATEOUT
CYCLE VC
IN
CYCLE
1V/O
1V/O
SMPL
OUT
IN RATE
INV
MIX
1
INPUT
2
CYCLE OUT
2
CYCLE OUT
3
MAIN OUT
3
MAIN OUT
1
INPUT
11
COUPLER OUT
4
HOLD IN
4
HOLD IN
12
HOT COUPLER
5
RATE
5
RATE
6
CV IN
6
CV IN
15
RUN IN
15
RUN IN
8
1V/OCT IN
8
1V/OCT IN
8
1V/OCT IN
8
1V/OCT IN
14
SAMPLE SW
14
SAMPLE SW
13
SAMPLE IN
13
SAMPLE IN
9
SYNC IN
9
SYNC IN
7
CV ATTENUV.
7
CV ATTENUV.
7
CV ATTENUV.
7
CV ATTENUV.
6
CV IN
6
CV IN
5
RATE
5
RATE
1V/Oct Input (#8)
Each side of the GTO can be used as an audio source/oscillator (in SMOOTH MODE) and has an additional CV
input that has been calibrated to follow the 1V/Oct standard. Both sides are temperature compensated and
track 5 octaves or more (up to 2 kHz or above).
Sync Input (#9)
As you’d expect, the SYNC input causes the waveform (CYCLE) to restart. In the audio range, this gives you a
typical Sync effect, however, the SYNC also works far below audio in the CV range and allows you to reset the
GTO as an LFO.

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The Coupler (#11, #12)
The COUPLER is an internal comparator comparing the outputs of both side.
Whenever the bottom section is HIGHER in voltage than the top section, the output of the COUPLER goes HI.
Otherwise the output is LO. The COUPLER has two outputs, one of which switches between 0V and +12V, the
other switching between -12V and +12V. This is useful for generating complex control voltages and for patching
a random voltage generator. In fact, the Random Voltage Generator module is a Smooth & Stepped Generator
internally patched to function exclusively as such. Note that a Noise Source is needed for use of the GTO as a
random voltage generator. The red COUPLER OUT (11) is 0 to 5V, the black (“hot”, 12) one goes rail to rail (roughly
-12V to +12V i.e. 24V pp). Please be careful when using the black Coupler, e.g. when routing to a ADC
converter or similar.
GTO - First Steps
The GTO is a complex, highly versatile module which allows for a wide range of uses and abuses both in the
audio and CV range, so it may require some time and experimenting to familiarize oneself with it - don’t expect
the module to reveal its secrets and power in a few minutes after you rst power it up. Here are some very basic
ideas to start with:
1. Patch the Smooth side of the GTO to cycle by connecting the Cycle jack into the Input. The Smooth side
then produces a triangle wave from about 0V to 5 V (amplitude slightly depends on frequency), the LED
should indicate that. The Rate pot determines the frequency of the cycle / output - the range is very wide,
going from below 1 Hz to appr. 4 kHz. The Cycle jack provides a corresponding Pulse wave output.
2. Set the Stepped side to cycle as well by patching Cycle to IN (or turning on the Cycle switch in the
eurorack module). Unlike the Smooth side, the Stepped side will not generate an output in Cycle mode
(=LED stays dark or seems frozen) unless a Puls wave is fed into the Sample jack. Patch a pulse wave
- e.g. the Cycle output of the Smooth side - into the Sample jack to bring the stepped side to life. The
stepped side is essentially a sample-and-hold circuit, the Rate knob determines how long each step is at
the Stepped output. Changing the frequency of the pulse going into the Sample input and/or changing
the Rate affects the output.
3. The Smooth Side can be used as a Lowpass lter. Feed an audio signal (e.g. a saw or pulse wave from
an oscillator) into the In jack (Cycle switch turned off) and listen to the signal coming from the Smooth
out while you turn the Rate knob. At maximum position (full CW) the signal should sound pretty much
unltered, turning the Rate down (counterclockwise) the harmonics get ltered / smoothed out, at mini-
mum position the signal will disappear altogether.
Using the VC input jack in the same setup as before, this lter effect can be used to achieve the effect of a
Lowpass Gate / VCA. Send an CV envelope (e.g. from a DUSG or an Extended ADSR module) into the VC
jack and turn the VC knob sufciently high. Tune the Rate pot to a position so that the output is silent when no
CV is applied but clearly audible when the envelope is high. This causes a VCA effect, but the envelope not only
determines the amplitude, but also the amount of ltering applied (like a lowpass gate).
4. Try whatever you can think of and try not to distinguish between CV and audio - while originally the SSG
was primarily for control voltages, very interesting results can be found by going into audio range.

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Serge Noise Source
The Noise Source generates both white and pink noise waveforms.
The S/H Source output produces the necessary input for a sample and hold function to produce equi-probable
random voltages, similar to a 1/F distribution function. This signal is requred to patch the GTO as a Random
Voltage Generator (RVG):
Random Voltage Generator (RVG) Patch
The Random Voltage Generator is the patched version of the generator in the classic Random Source module.
The GTO needs a special random signal to make that work: the S/H SOURCE. Simply patch:
• S/H SOURCE STEPPED IN
• COUPLER (hot) SAMPLE (STEPPED)
• COUPLER (hot) SMOOTH IN
The Smooth random voltages are available at SMOOTH OUT, the stepped ones are at STEPPED OUT, and
random pulses are available at the COUPLER.
With the Stepped (bottom) RATE knob at maximum, varying the RATE knob of the Smooth section changes the
rate of BOTH the Smooth and Stepped random voltages. Varying the RATE of the Stepped side changes the
amplitude of your Smooth and Stepped random voltages ... so turning the Stepped RATE knob down reduces
the amplitude of the signal at the OUT jacks.
Of course, the Smooth RATE and the Stepped RATE can be voltage-controlled, too.
Please note that the RVG was meant as a CV generator, working at sub-autio frequencies. When you turn the (top)
RATE up, you can reach (low) audo rates, too (up to about 300-400Hz), however, the signal will then max out and
turn into a (clean) triangle wave - and should go back to random when you turn the rate down again.
Utility Mixer
The Dual GTO also contains a small mixer section in the middle. The top MIX OUT provides the SUM of the two
top main OUTs. Similarly, the bottom MIX OUT adds the two bottom (stepped) OUTs. As the Dual GTO can be
used as 4 oscillators, these 2 Mix outputs can be used as funnel the signals into two busses for further processing.