Make Noise Echophon - Manual (Page 7)

Getting Started:
Patch the signal to be processed into the SIGNAL IN (1A). The associated Level Control (2A)
accommodates modular synthesizer signals of 10Vpp for the first 70% of its rotation. Beyond 70% on the
Level Control, there will be clipping followed by digital overloading. Take your output from the MIX OUT (6A)
and patch to your final mixer/ monitoring system. Set the MIX Panel Control (5A) to about 50% for the typical
patch.
The DEPTH control (4C) acts to set the index or range of the PITCH Shifting. It could be thought of as a
Digital VCA for the control voltages patched to PITCH 1 (8C) and PITCH 2 (9C) as well as the PITCH Panel
Control (2C). At DEPTH 0% there is no Pitch Shifting. Up to around 50% the Pitch Shifting is subtle,
introducing chorusing effects. Increasing the DEPTH beyond 50% will create increasingly deeper pitch
shifting until finally at 100% the full 4 octave range of harmonizing is possible. The DEPTH parameter is best
modulated with linear functions such as an envelope generated by the MATHS.
The PITCH controls alter the perceived pitch of the sound. PITCH 1 (8C) has an associated bi-polar
attenuator (5C) allowing you to add or subtract the control signal patched from the setting of the PITCH
Panel Control (2C) and PITCH 2 (9C). PITCH 1 is perfect for patching an LFO for Vibrato effects. By
adjusting the associated attenuator (5C) the depth of the Vibrato is programmable. PITCH 2 (9C) is well
suited for patching a sequencer CV or Keyboard CV. Since most analog sequencers generate uni-polar CV
in the range of 0V to 5V, you will need to set the PITCH Panel Control (2C) to Full CCW (0%) in order to
control the entire range of PITCH.
The ECHO Time panel control (3D) sets the length of the Delay line, ranging from 7ms at Full CCW to
1.7sec at Full CW. Patch into ECHO CV IN (5D) and adjust the associated uni-polar attenuator (4D) to
modulate ECHO Time. Just about any source will work wonderfully as this parameter has a smooth
exponential response tailored for great modulations.
If you patch an external Clock signal to the TEMPO INput (6D), the ECHOPHON will follow that Clock, and
the ECHO Time controls act to set a Divisor or Multiplier of that Master Tempo. The slowest clock (input or
output) is limited to the delay time, so to get a 12/1 out, you need a fairly fast clock in (1.7s/12 or .15s).
The FEEDBACK Panel Control (3E) is bi-polar with 0 to 49% sending FEEDBACK through LOOP1, 50%
sending no feedback and 51% to 100% sending Feedback to LOOP 2. Loop 1 goes around the PITCH
Shifter, and so each regeneration will be pitch shifting again, resulting in spiraling echoes that rise out of
audibility or fall into sub sonic obscurity. LOOP 2 will create traditional ECHO Repeats. Bi-polar modulation
of FEEDBACK is a unique element of the ECHOPHON allowing the two feedback loops to be continuously
cross-faded. When FEEDBACK goes to ZERO (at 50%, 0V), the delay line empties out after one echo, so
the ratio between ECHO Time and the rate of the signal modulating FEEDBACK will be an important factor
in bi-polar modulation. A pronounced bi-polar modulation of FEEDBACK is achieved with a mid-range LFO
(around 4hz). Audio Rate bi-polar modulation is subtle and gorgeously resonant. Signals such as an ASR
envelope with a long Fall Time or a sequenced program change from Pressure Points are useful for
animating a sound within a composition. For example, a cluster of notes is emphasized by increasing
feedback resulting multiple repeats.
Using FREEZE:
Once your signal is passing through the ECHOPHON, pushing the FREEZE button (1F) or sending a Gate
HIGH to the FREEZE Gate IN (2F), will cause the ECHOPHON close the ECHO chamber and hold the
sound inside. The FREEZE LED (3F) will light to indicate this state. While the ECHOPHON is FREEZEd the
PITCH may be controlled using the PITCH parameters. The ECHO Time parameters will change the sound
destructively. Feedback controls will do nothing while the ECHOPHON is FREEZEd. Note is that the REEZE
Button is Top Priority, meaning that the FREEZE Gate in will have no effect when FREEZE has already been
toggled ON using the FREEZE Button.