Rare Waves Grendel Drone Commander Operating instructions

HOW TO USE and ENJOY YOUR NEW...
Austin, Texas, USA
GDC Operator Instructions v2 © 2012
Made by
Rare Waves LLC
DRONE
COMMANDER
With a total of 9 knobs, the Drone Commander offers two manually-
tuned oscillators and two LFOs, plus an unusually colorful and nasty
filter.
Six of the Drone Commander’s nine knobs double as push-pull
switches to control signal routing and waveform selection.
LFO1 is an analog variable-shape oscillator, and LFO2 is a pulse
waveform that auto-synchronizes to LFO1 at a ratio of 2x, 4x, 8x, or
16x.
Both LFOs can be routed to the filter for rhythmic patterns. A line-level
output jack is provided for connection to amplifiers or effects.
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS
Let the DRONE COMMANDER provide a backing chord for your musical
improvisations.
Blast the atmosphere with penetrating BASS FREQUENCIES.
Connect EFFECT PEDALS such as Phaser, Delay, and Chorus to deepen the
drone effect.
Relax with HARMONIOUS DRONES and BUBBLING SOUNDSCAPES.
ANALOG DRONE SYNTH

BATTERY COMPARTMENT AC ADAPTER INPUT
MAIN OUTPUT
POWER SWITCH
9VDC TIP (+)
Use a 1/4” audio cable such as a guitar lead to connect
the main output of the Drone Commander to an
amplifier.
Effect pedals or other audio processing can be
connected between the Drone Commander and the
amplifier.
Alternatively, connect the Drone Commander’s main
output to an input channel on a mixer or computer’s
sound card.
REMOVING THE LID
Unclasp the lid and swing it out to fully open position.
Grab the lid with your left hand, and the body of the
instrument with your right hand.
Pull the lid towards you, and push the other half away
from you. The hinges in the lid will slide apart.
APPLYING POWER
The Drone Commander operates on 9VDC from either a
standard 9V battery or AC adapter.
The included AC adapter provides 9VDC, center
positive 2.1mm connection. Protection against
reverse-polarity is built-in.
When battery is installed, unit will automatically
change over to AC power when adapter is connected.
TO CONNECT
questions?

The Drone Commander’s oscillators are tuneable up to
~370 Hz, corresponding to F# above middle C.
Turn OSC 1 (or OSC 2) clockwise to increase the pitch.
Each oscillator offers the choice of square or triangle
waveform. Pull up the OSC 1 (or OSC 2) knob to select
the triangle wave, which has a more mellow tone.
OSC 1 and OSC 2
The MIX knob blends the output of OSC 1 and OSC 2 like
a crossfader. Turn the MIX knob counterclockwise to
hear more of OSC 1.
Pull up on the MIX knob to mute the oscillators. Even
with the oscillators muted, the LFO, Pulse, and Filter
are still audible and can be used for sound effects.
MIX
The main LFO (low-frequency oscillator) adds
movement to the Filter. It creates a sawtooth
waveform that affects the Filter’s center frequency,
sweeping it upward or downward. This motion reveals
the harmonic overtones from OSC 1 and OSC 2.
Turn the LFO knob clockwise for slowest motion.
Pull up the LFO knob to cancel he connection from LFO
to Filter. This produces a more consistent sound level
with less rhythmic information.
LFO
SOUND PARAMETERS
The SHAPE knob controls the influence of the LFO on
the Filter.
With SHAPE turned counterclockwise, the LFO sends a
minimal ‘blip’ to the Filter with each cycle. As SHAPE is
turned clockwise, the sawtooth shape of the LFO
waveform becomes more prominent.
Pull up on the SHAPE knob to reverse the direction of
the LFO.
SHAPE
This rotary switch controls the Drone Commander’s
second low frequency oscillator. It tracks the main LFO
and generates square wave modulations. Its output is
routed to the Filter via the PULSE knob.
2-4-8-16 selects the frequency of the PULSE. A phase-
locked loop is employed to multiply the main LFO’s
frequency by a constant. Selecting “2” for example will
cause the PULSE to seek a frequency twice that of the
main LFO.
2-4-8-16
The PULSE knob controls the depth of square wave
modulation to the Filter.
The LED blinks in time with the Drone Commander’s
pulse.
The PULSE knob is the only knob in the top row that
does not have a push-pull switch.
PULSE
The Drone Commander’s Filter is a bandpass (BPF) type
filter. It modifies the tone of OSC 1 and OSC 2 after
they have been blended with the MIX control.
Pull up on the FILTER knob to access a higher frequency
range.
With the knob in the down-position, the FILTER begins
to self-oscillate as it is turned counterclockwise past
12-o’clock. This can create unexpected volume jumps
and strong bass tones.
FILTER

Q. Is it OK to bring the Drone Commander aboard
an airplane?
A. Since it is nothing more than a music
instrument, there should be no problem. However
we recommend packing the Drone Commander in
your checked baggage with the lid detached.
We've never heard any reports of hassles from
airport security due to the Drone Commander. If
you need to demonstrate that it is a music
instrument, carry a set of headphones with 1/4”
connection. The headphones can be plugged in to
the line output jack.
The manufacturer is not liable for any issues
relating to misunderstanding of this item's nature
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Can I control the Drone Commander with MIDI?
A. No, there is no MIDI input or output.
Q. Can I synchronize the Drone Commander with a
computer ?
A. No, not in real time. There is no MIDI input, Sync
input, or Clock input.
As an option, you could record samples of the
Drone Commander and use your audio software's
editing functions to fit it to your song's tempo.
Q. Is it possible to control the oscillators with CV?
A. No. The only way to set the pitch of the
oscillators is by turning the knobs on the panel.
Q. Can I send external audio into the filter?
A. No, no connection is provided internally or
externally for direct input to the filter.
FILTER CV INPUT
What can I connect to the Filter CV input?
If you have a modular synthesizer, try connecting an LFO or envelope
generator to the Filter CV input. This will affect the center frequency of the
filter. It is not calibrated to 1 volt/octave (or volt/Hz) so precise pitch
control is not possible. The LFO knob must be pulled up to hear the effect.
What can I connect to the Clock output?
The Clock Output sends out a square wave signal with the same pattern as
the blinking LED on the control panel. The waveform swings from 0V to
+9V, exact value depends on the battery condition. Try connecting it to any
instrument that has a Clock Input (an uncommon feature). We've heard it
works with the DSI Evolver and Roland CR-78, to name a few.
CLOCK OUTPUT
CLOCK
FILTER CV
Note:
These features are
provided for
experimentation
and are not
necessary to enjoy
the full possiblities
of the Drone
Commander.