Mutable Instruments Shelves User Manual

Mutable Instruments | Shelves

Shelves is a voltage-controlled signal processor inspired by the EQ section of console channel strips. Just
like many sought-after equalizers, it provides low-shelf, high-shelf, and two parametric tone controls.
Unlike an equalizer, each of these four tone controllers can be swept over the entire audio range; and their
parameters can be freely modulated with control voltages.

Shelves occupies a space between tone-controllers and filters, sometimes achieving sounds reminiscent
of a filter bank. It provides a subtler and less cliché’d way of spectrally altering complex drones or
feedback patches.

Shelves is designed for Eurorack synthesizer systems and occupies 16 HP of space. It requires a -12V /
+12V supply (2x5 connector), consuming 75mA from the -12V rail and 75mA from the +12V rail. The red
stripe of the ribbon cable must be oriented on the same side as the “Red stripe” marking on the printed
circuit board.

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.

This device meets the requirements of the following standards: EN55032, EN55103-2,
EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3, EN62311.

On all channels, the FREQ knob covers the entire audio range, from 20 Hz to 20kHz. This is radically
different from a classic EQ, in which each section operates in its narrow frequency range. Strange things
(positive/negative interferences or phase effects) can happen when two sections overlap.

All the FREQ CV inputs have a 1V/Oct scale and act as offsets to the value set by the FREQ knobs.

On all channels, the GAIN knob covers an attenuation/boost range of -15dB to +15dB. The GAIN CV input
has a 3dB/V scale and acts as an offset to the value set by the GAIN knob. Gains above +15dB cannot be
reached, even by adding a positive CV offset to the GAIN CV input. However, gains below -15dB can be
obtained by adding a negative CV offset to this CV input.

On parametric channels, Q goes from 0.5 to 20.0 from the panel knob, but can reach higher values, up to

1 of 4

1000.0 through external CV modulation.

Mutable Instruments | Shelves

A. High-shelf section. This section boosts or attenuates all frequencies above the FREQ control. The
GAIN potentiometer controls the amount of attenuation or boosting. No modification is applied when GAIN

is in its central position.

B. Parametric sections 1&2. These two sections boost or attenuate all frequencies in a frequency band

whose central frequency is set by FREQ. The narrowness of this frequency band is set by the Q setting ­from very wide to very selective.

C. Low-shelf section. This section boosts or attenuates all frequencies below the FREQ control. The
GAIN potentiometer controls the amount of attenuation or boosting. No modification is applied when GAIN

is in its central position.

1. 2. Global frequency and gain CV inputs. These CV inputs simultaneously adjust the FREQ or GAIN

of all 4 channels.

3. IN. Audio input. The input signal can optionally be attenuated by -6dB before being processed by the

EQ filter. A jumper is available on the back of the module to enabled/disable this pre-gain.

4. Output clipping indicator. It is recommended to reduce the level of the input signal - or to reduce the

gain on all channels - when this LED lights up.

5. OUT. Audio output.

6. 7. Individual outputs for the parametric sections’ filters. Behind the scenes, Shelves’ parametric

sections are full-blown multimode filters. The low-pass (LP), band-pass (BP), and high-pass (HP) outputs
of these two filters are provided on these two groups of jacks.

Note: the first batch of modules had these two groups of three outputs on a separate expansion
module. Please refer to this page to learn how to connect it to the main board.

On all sections, the FREQ knob spans the entire audio range, from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

2 of 4