I created a set of four movies on the Frap Tools SAPÈL Tamed Random Source – a very nice evolution of the Buchla 266 Source of Uncertainty module. The idea behind it is to provide a selection of random voltages: a typical sample & hold plus two other triggered-and-held voltages with a purposely limited number of potential outcomes, plus a smoothly fluctuating random voltage that is unlike a periodic LFO. What makes the SAPÈL different than other similar modules is that it ties together these outputs with centralized clocking (internal or external), as well as a probability function that will weight the various outputs toward lower or higher outcomes. Plus there are two sets of these voltages in one module, in addition for the two sections to cross-trigger the other half.
The demo + overview movie covers a bit of ground. The first half of it is “teaser” movie I released on August 20. I start describing the overall patch at 02:18 including an overview of the new LimaFlo Motomouth formant filter starting at 03:00. I go through the major sections of the SAPÈL itself starting at 03:38, including the four colored noise outputs along its right edge, and its sample and hold:
The second of four movies on the Frap Tools SAPÈL covers the n+1 (00:00-01:45) and the 2n (02:00-04:01) quantized, stepped random outputs. For each of these, “n” is the position of a knob that controls that section.
In the third movie on the Frap Tools SAPÈL, I first cover its smoothly fluctuating random output (00:00-00:53), which a knob that controls the speed of those fluctuations. I then cover its probability distribution knob (00:54-02:45) which “weights” all of its outputs either to higher or lower voltages:
In the fourth movie on the Frap Tools SAPÈL, I first play with its gate outputs (00:00-01:50), including its Random Gate Output. I then explore its clock section (01:50-03:39), including the ability for each half of the SAPÈL to also trigger the other half:
For more details including a pair of additional movies on the SAPÈL (as well as other modules I’ve made videos for), I encourage you to join the Learning Modular Patreon Tribe. For more on the Learning Modular Synthesis Eurorack Expansion Project for those exploring what module to add to their system next, click here.