Power connector as found on Medic Modules
pin1
-12V
0V
0V
key
0V
+12V
+5V (if fitted in your case)
n/a
cranial saw dual vco
Cranial Saw is a dual with Sync, Sub Osc, Glide, Cross mod and more!VCO
It is based on modified old circuit designs from the mid 1970s - giving a very full and vintage
sound.
Specification;
Width: 38HP
Depth: 25mm
Weight: 285g
Voltage: -/+12V
Power Consumption: +12V, 15mA / -12V, 28mA
Doepfer style power cable included.
Screws not included.
Mounting/Connection tips;
The supplied power cable is keyed.
That means it can only be fitted one
way! (Unless you use excessive force).
Pin one is at the top on our modules
(Doepfer fit their sockets upside-
down).
Medic Modules use a 14 pin 'boxed'
header on the .PCB
The two ends of the power cable are
different. Plug the 14pin socket end
into the Module power header.
Plug the larger 16pin socket into
your case power supply.
Note: Physically disconnect your
power supply/case from the mains
electricity.
Ensure you connect up the module
correctly!
Ensure it is screwed into the case.
Ensure no metal parts can short out
the solder joints on the rear.
Ensure your case is 100% functional
before fitting the module.
It has been found over the last 15
years of making modules, that around
90% of module problems have typically
the following user problems;
Power cable connected wrong,
faulty power supply, other poor quality
modules fitted in the case affecting
other modules.
DETUNE Slider
This slider is used to
detune 2 relative to VCO
VCO1.
TUNE Slider
This slider sets pitch for both
VCOs
GLIDE Control / Switch
The rotary control sets the Glide
(portamento) time for both s.VCO
But if the Toggle switch is up, then
Glide is only applied to 2.VCO
The normal mode would be down
so Glide works on both VCOs.
Scaling for VCO1 will be a little
out when Glide for VCO1
removed since a whole circuit
gets disconnected - but this
should not be an issue since this
mode is more for sound effects.
PITCH CV input
This is the main pitch CV
input. It will affect both
VCOs, and is sent pre-
Glide.
These input sockets allow the pitch of each to be CV VCO
modulated. The lower socket is a direct input.
The signal sent to the upper socket can be attenuated using
track the input PITCH CV
VCO FREERUN1
When this switch is up,
then will no longer VCO
socket.
MOD CV Inputs
the slider.BOTH
VCO2 Mod Slider
This slider is used to
attenuate the signal CV
patched to the VCO CV2
socket below.
SYNC
When the switch is
up Sync is VCO
enabled. When
enabled the Detune
range is increased
to allow extremee
VCO VCO PW1 / 2 Inputs
Each has a Pulse Width input, to allow VCO CV
external control over the pulse width of each
VCO's square wave.
PW PW1 & 2 Sliders
These two sliders allow the
pulse width of each 's VCO
square wave to be manually
set.
VCO VCO1 / 2 Square Wave Outputs
These are the square ( ) audio PW
outputs from each , pre-mider.VCO
VCO VCO SUB1 / 2 / Sliders
These sliders set the level of
the above audio sources that
are sent to the mixer.
WAVE Switches
The position of these swiches
determines whether each
VCO's saw or square wave is
sent to the mixer.
SUBOSC Output
This is the audio output from
the Sub Osc, pre-mixer.
MIX Output
This is the audio output from
the mixer. Signal sources for
the mixer are each and VCO
the Sub Osc.
Controls In More Detail and Setup Ideas
TUNE slider
This is the master tune control to change the pitch of both VCOs.
DETUNE slider
This slider allows you to detune VCO2 relative to VCO1. This allows a richer sound to be
created, setting up beats, or full de-tunings. When Sync is enabled, the range of this control
becomes much wider, allowing more extreme Sync effects when manually moving this slider.
SYNC toggle switch
When this switch is down oscillator Sync is enabled. It forces VCO2 to start a new
cycle whenever VCO1 does. This means VCO2 can only play the harmonics of
VCO1. Particularly interesting effects can be created by only using Glide on VCO2,
modulating the pitch of VCO2 only, or manually moving the DETUNE slider.
PW 1 / PW 2 sliders
Each VCO has a manual pulse width slider. This allows the shape of the square
wave to be adjusted. When the Pulse Width is changed, a large change in
harmonics is created.
GLIDE rotary control
This applies portamento to both VCOs. When applied it causes the oscillators to move
smoothly through frequencies between the last note and new note played.
GLIDE toggle switch
It is possible to disconnect VCO1 from the Glide circuit, so that only VCO2 will be affects.
The reason to disconnect VCO1 from Glide is for extreme and unusual effects when using
either Sync, or setting up a patch to do cross-modulation (see later) between the VCOs. By
applying Glide to just one VCO when using cross-mod or Sync, as the master Pitch is
changed you will get a difference sound each time (a new harmonic content).
FREERUN toggle switch
When this switch is down (Freerun enabled) VCO1 is disconnected from the master PITCH
CV input sockets. So the VCO is just free-running and will not track incoming pitch. Only
VCO2 will continue to track. This again, like the GLIDE disconnect switch outlined above,
would be used for creating extreme cross-mod and Sync effects by only applying pitch
changes to one VCO.
PITCH CV input socket
This is the master pitch control input. It is calibrated to 1V/octave. Range is approx 5 octaves,
and the VCO performs its best at low to middle ranges.
Note that when VCO1 is set to bypass the Glide circuit, calibration is put a little out. This is
because literally a whole circuit is removed from the pitch CV patch to VCO1. In normal use,
always leave the GLIDE switch set to both VCOs (the down position).
VCO1 PW / VCO2 PW input sockets
Each VCO has Pulse Width modulation CV input sockets. This allows the Pulse
Width to be modulated by an external signal. Eg, use a LFO triangle wave to give a
chorusing style effect which thickens up the sound, or, use an EG signal to give
brass style sounds.
VCO1 / VCO2 Square Wave audio output sockets
These are direct outputs from each VCO, and are taken before the mixer.
Sub-Oscillator
This is a special waveform that tracks the pitch of VCO1, but one whole octave
down. It has a square wave. It is really effective at giving the sound more grunt. It is
most effective with bass sounds.
SUB audio output socket
This socket is not labelled as such. It can be found under the SUB sockets and they
are connected by an arrow.
This is a direct output from the Sub-Oscillator.
Mixer
Cranial Saw has a built in audio mixer. The signals from each oscillator and the subosc can be mixed and are output at the OUT socket.
VCO1 / VCO2 / SUB sliders
The three audio sources each have their own level slider.
BOTH slider and top MOD CV socket.
MOD CV is a pitch modulation CV input. This is used to change the pitch of both VCOs using
an external CV, such as a LFO triangle wave (to create vibrato) or an EG (to create
percussion sounds). The BOTH slider sets the depth of modulation.
bottom MOD CV socket
This is a 2nd pitch CV input that will also modulate both VCOs. This one does not have a
depth slider.
VCO2 slider and VCO2 CV socket
This is similar to the MOD CV sockets outlined above, but this socket is used to modulate just
VCO2. The slide sets the depth of modulation. The reason to just modulate VCO2 is for
extreme effects, particularly when a cross-mod patch is set up, or when using Sync.
VCO1 WAVE / VCO2 WAVE toggle switches
The position of these switches sets whether Sawtooth wave or Square wave is sent
to the mixer, via the level slider.
MODULATIONPITCH OUTPUT MIXER
TUNE DETUNE PW1
GLIDE
VCO2
1+2VCO
VCO1
FREERUN
BOTH VCO2
MOD
CV
CV
VCO2
CV
SYNC
VCO1 VCO2
PW PW VCO1 VCO2 MIXPITCH MOD
PW2
VCO1
VCO2 SUB
+ +
WAVE WAVE
OUT
OUT
=
OUT
medic
modules
Cross Modulation Patch.
Patch the audio out of VCO1 to VCO2 CV so that VCO2 pitch is modulated by VCO1's audio.
The intensity of the effect is changed using the VCO2 Modulation slider. Play around with
levels, relative pitches, etc to hear the range of sounds. It works best if you have continually
changing relative pitches. This can in part be achieve using the FREERUN toggle switch or
disconnecting VCO1 from the GLIDE circuit.
dual vco / sub
cranial saw
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