A-143-6 (?) Synchronized VC LFOs
product idea

So far this is only a collection of thoughts for a new module ! No guarantee that this module will ever be manufactured !

An outline of the main points:

  • A module that contains two (maybe more) voltage controlled low frequency oscillators with the frequencies derived from a common source

  • Triangle, rising and falling sawtooth, and rectangle outputs for each LFO (maybe some waveforms will be omitted or replaced by others)

  • One common control and CV input for basic frequency for both LFOs

  • Single controls and CV inputs that are used to set the dividing factor (e.g. 1...16) of the corresponding LFO in relation to the basic frequency. Example: Set to 1 -> LFO has the max. frequency defined by the common control, set to 2 -> half the master frequency, set to 3 -> third of the master frequency and so on).

  • Master Reset input: resets all LFOs

  • Single reset input for each LFO: resets only the LFO in question

  • Expected master frequency range about 0.1 Hz .... 50Hz, expected max. dividing factor: 16 (without obligation, will depend upon our first experiments)

  • The frequency relation between each LFO and the master frequency is always integer (1, 2, 3, ....). Consequently all LFOs are in sync. Example: LFOs has the frequency dividing factor 1, LFO2 = 8, one period of LFO2 corresponds exactly to 8 periods of LFO1, can be used e.g. for synced modulations, rectangle output of LFO1 can e.g. be used to trigger an ADSR so that e.g. 8 ADSR envelopes fit exactly into one triangle or saw period of LFO2). The single reset inputs can be used to "phase shift" the LFOs against each other. The common reset input can be used to restart all LFOs at the same position.  

  • additional ideas: CV inputs for "phase shift" of each LFO instead of single reset inputs, CV input for waveshape (falling saw - triangle - rising saw) instead of triangle and falling/rising saw outputs (simultaneously PWM of rectangle output), different waveform outputs for different LFOs (e.g. all waveforms only for LFO1, reduced number of waveforms for LFO2 and maybe LFO3, LFO4). We are not sure which of these ideas/functions can be realized and which make sense after all ! 

  • Because of the complexity of the functions the module will be digital (8 bit ADCs for the CV inputs - microcontroller - 8 bit DACs for the outputs). A pure analog solution of all these functions - especiall the exact sync and phase shift features - seems to be impossible (at least at a reasonable price)

The sketches below show different behaviours of 2 LFOs with frequency relation 1:2 and master resp. single reset.


Two LFOs with frequency relation 1:2 and Master Reset function


Two LFOs with frequency relation 1:2 and Single Resets for LFO1 and LFO2


Breite/Width: ?TE / ?HP, Strombedarf/Current: ? mA

Preis: Euro ?.00 mit roten LEDs (Standardversion), Euro ?.00 mit blauen LEDs (Sonderversion, der Aufpreis pro blauer LED beträgt 2.00 Euro)
leferbar ca. ? 
Price: Euro ?.00 with
red LEDs (standard version), i.e. about US$ ?.00, resp. Euro ?.00 with blue LEDs (special version), i.e. about US$ ?.00, (2.00 Euro additional price for each blue LED)
The price in US$ depends upon the exchange rate between Euro and US$ at the payment day)
available about ?