Installation
Always turn your eurorack case off before plugging or unplugging a module.
Do not touch any electrical terminals when attaching any Eurorack bus board cable.
Ritual Electronics Répression requires:
- 53mA on +12V
- 26mA on -12V
- 0mA on +5V
You will need 12HP of free space in your Eurorack case to install Répression. The module is 35mm deep.
Connect the included ribbon cable to the module. Connect the other end of the cable to the bus board connector of your case.
Répression is a 1U module, you will need a 1U rack space – Intellijel format.
Overview
Répression is a feature packed CV controllable comparator.
Répression compares two signals. One at the Input. The other defined by the threshold pot and the CV Thrsh which is added to the pot. It outputs 4 signals based on the result of the operation.
Above is high if the Input is above the threshold.
Below is high if the Input is below the threshold.
Equal outputs a trigger when the input and threshold values are the same.
Bipolar is a +/-5V version of the Above output. Very useful when using the comparator for audio duties. I.e. PWM generator, complex oscillator…
The Threshold knob has a +/- 8.1V range.
Controls
- Threshold knob (bipolar: -/+ 8.1V) – acting as an offset to the comparator’s negative terminal)
Technical characteristics
- Entirely new design
- Above output
- Below output
- Equal output (trigger)
- Bipolar output (bipolar Above)
Dimensions
- 35 mm deep
- 12HP wide
- 1U
Controls
A – Input
Input goes to the + terminal of the comparator.
B – Threshold CV
The Threshold CV is summed with the Threshold potentiometer. The sum goes to the – terminal of the comparator.
C – Threshold potentiometer
Sets the threshold from -8.1V to +8.1V.
No center detent for more precision around the 0V area (noon).
D – Above Output
Sends a gate when the input is above the threshold.
E – Bipolar Output
+/- 5V (10Vpp) version of the Above output.
F – Equal Output
Sends a trigger when Input = Threshold.
G – Below Output
Sends a gate when the input is below the threshold.
Operations
Fixed threshold
Here we have a steady threshold defined by the Threshold potentiometer and a triangle signal plugged into Répression’s Input.
Répression’s outputs will change state according to the comparison of the input against the threshold voltage.
CV controlled threshold
Once a fixed threshold has been defined with the potentiometer a good way to introduce some jitter is to have an attenuated CV in the Thrsh CV input to have the Threshold “dance around” the potentiometer offset.
This is only one way to think about CV controlled Threshold. Try using stepped sequences in the Thrsh CV.
Comparing two signals
If you set the threshold potentiometer to 0V (12 o’clock) the Thrsh CV inputs will be passed directly to the second input of the comparator with no offset.
This is useful to compare two signals against each other.
Topology
The controls on Répression have names like “in”, “threshold” or “above” which make them easy to understand. But a comparator can do more than just comparing let’s take a look at the guts of the module.
The input is connected to the + terminal of an opamp.
The CV Thrsh is going to the – terminal of the op amp.
The threshold pot is summed to the CV Thrsh and goes to the – terminal too.
Patch Ideas
Patch #1 – Fuzz Amp
First easy unconventional use of the comparator would be a fuzz amp. If you set the threshold to 0V even the tiniest signal crossing 0V will be turned into a 10Vpp square output at the Bipolar jack.
Bonus: the Equal output fires twice per cycle. Meaning you have an octave up there. Just mix it the Bipolar signal for gorgeous lead tones.
Patch notes
Instrument ———— Répression, In
Répression, Bipolar out ———— Mixer, In
Répression, Equal out ———— Mixer, In
Patch #2 – Fireplace and Random Gates
Use a noise output and process it with Répression.
Start with a high threshold and back it down slowly to hear the first crackles of the fire. This technic can work for audio or to generate random gates.
Use an LFO or enveloppe to change the density of the gates or the blaze size
Patch notes
Krach, Noise out ———— Répression, In
Répression, Bipolar out ———— Audio / Gates
LFO, out ———— Comparator, CV
Patch #3 – Oscillator
Turn your comparator into an interesting oscillator by patching it to a filter. No need for resonance here, the feedback patching is doing the trick. Adjust the feedback until you get to a good sound.
Try an other oscillator modulating the In (+) input for sync-like sounds. You may need to run the modulation through an attenuator/offset to get the range needed for the task.
Patch notes
Filter, Out ———— Répression, CV Thrsh
Répression, Bipolar out ———— Filter, In
Oscillator, Out ———— Attenuator, In
Attenuator, Out ———— Répression, In
Warranty
Thank you for purchasing Ritual Electronics Répression.
Your module has been assembled with care in our studio in Marseille, France.
You can find your module on Modulargrid:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/ritual-electronics-repression
For any remarks and informations, contact us at:
contact@ritualelectronics.com
For video demos and patch ideas check:
https://www.instagram.com/ritualelectronics/ https://www.youtube.com/c/ritualelectronics
Limited Warranty
Ritual Electronics warrants this product to be free of defects in materials or construction for a period of one year from the date of purchase.
Malfunction resulting from wrong power supply voltages, backwards or reversed eurorack bus board cable connection, abuse of the product or any other causes determined by Ritual Electronics 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 Ritual Electronics, on a return-to-Ritual Electronics basis with the customer paying the transit cost to Ritual Electronics. The return of your module is on us.
Ritual Electronics implies and accepts no responsibility for harm to person or apparatus caused through operation of this product.