Flight of Harmony Infernal Noise Machine - Manual (Page 3)

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IMP output o
Variable Center Frequency (f •
c
)
CV input: ±12V o
CV attenuator o
Variable Gain •
Q varied with Gain o
Dual Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (VCA), each channel:
Variable level •
CV input: ±12V o
CV attenuator o
V •
out
max. = ±5V (10V
p-p
)
What is it?
THIS IS NOT A MUSIC SYNTHESIZER
Get that out of your head right now.
The Infernal Noise Machine was designed towards the creation of
noise, sound effects, and for the general field of sound design. Having said
that, the INM can create “musical” tones and sound – and quite a few of
them – but that was not the goal. It is semi-modular, which means part of the
signal path is hard-wired and cannot be changed, but it does allows some
variation and external control. It can be used completely independently,
but is intended for use with external control voltage (CV) sources to affect
or modulate various parameters, which is where the INM truly comes alive
(you will see what I mean).
So what can you do with it? Incidental sounds and ambiences, unholy
caterwauling, soundscapes from melancholy to manic, even percussion and
other traditional musical sounds. The Infernal Noise Machine is particularly
effective for making drones that evolve with time as well, with no external
sources required. The internal architecture allows for a wide range of self-
evolving, beat-frequency style tonal variations over an infinite range of rates.
There is really no simple way to describe what the INM can do – you have
to find out for yourself. This is a unique device. It requires a bit of time and
patience to get a feel for how it works, but it is worth the effort.
The INM does not operate the same way as a traditional synth.
The traditional signal path in a synthesizer can be generalized as the
following:
oscillator  filter/effects/mixing  output
The oscillator is the “heart”, so to speak, and everything else comes
further down the line. External modulation sources are used to vary different
aspects of the components of the chain, e.g.: oscillator frequency, filter
cutoff frequency and resonance, output level, and so on.