Pittsburgh Modular — Double Helix Oscillator
Lifeforms Double Helix Oscillator (Pittsburgh Modular) – Manual PDF
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Lifeforms Double Helix Oscillator — Cheat Sheet
Type: Dual Analog Oscillator & Complex Modulator
Size: 28hp
Depth: 37mm
Power: +12V 223mA / -12V 205mA (no +5V needed, reverse polarity protected)
Quick Start
- Primary oscillator outputs: Sine/Saw/Blade/Sub/Pulse.
- Secondary oscillator outputs: Sine/Saw/Square.
- Mix any wave(s) (using In 1 and In 2) into the contour section for wavefolding and LPG (Low Pass Gate) processing.
- Use ‘Impulse’ input to “strike” the LPG for percussive sounds.
- Mix and modulate sources with the dual voltage controlled routers for complex, flexible CV patching and live performance.
- Get modulation from integrated LFO (sine/square/random) and analog noise.
Inputs & Outputs Reference
Audio Inputs
| Jack |
Section |
Function |
| In 1 |
Contour |
Audio in (mix with In 2). Normalled to primary osc sine. |
| In 2 |
Contour |
Audio in (mix with In 1). |
Audio Outputs
| Jack |
Section |
Function |
| Sine Out |
Primary |
Sine wave out (±5V) |
| Saw Out |
Primary/Sec |
Saw wave out (±5V) |
| Blade Out |
Primary |
Blade wave out (±5V) |
| Sub Out |
Primary |
Sub square out (±5V) |
| Pulse Out |
Primary |
Pulse wave out (±5V) |
| Square Out |
Sec/Mod |
Sec osc output / LFO output |
| Output |
Contour |
Final contour section out (±5V) |
Pitch Control
| Jack |
Section |
Function |
Voltage Range |
| V/O In |
Primary/Sec osc |
1V/oct pitch CV input |
0V → +10V/(-1V)* |
Modulation Inputs (CV)
| Jack |
Section |
Function / Source |
CV Range |
| FM CV In |
Primary/Sec Osc |
FM amount |
±5V* |
| Blade/Pulse CV In |
Primary Osc |
Waveshape mod |
±5V* |
| Timbre CV In |
Contour |
Wavefolder mod |
±5V* |
| Dynamics CV In |
Contour |
LPG mod |
±5V* |
| Impulse In |
Contour |
LPG “strike” (Gate/Trig) |
>2V trig |
| VCR A/B CV In |
Router |
Level CV for mod channels |
0–+5V |
(*Ranges are ±5V typical for Eurorack, but manual does not specify extremes—start safe.)
Modulation Outputs
| Jack |
Section |
Function |
Level |
| Sine/Square/Random Out |
Modulation |
LFO waveforms (CV) |
±5V* |
| Noise Out |
Modulation |
Analog noise |
±5V* |
| VCR Out |
Router |
Mod source A/B or mix |
±5V* |
Controls Reference
Oscillators
- Frequency Knob (each osc) — LFO → Audio range sweep (typically 0.01–20kHz)
- Fine Tune Knob (each osc)
- Blade/Pulse CV Knob — Attenuates Blade/Pulse CV
- FM CV Knob — Attenuates FM CV
Contour Section
- Timbre Knob — Wavefolder gain (fold “depth”)
- Timbre CV Knob — Attenuates timbre CV input
- Dynamics Knob — LPG level (left = closed, right = open)
- Dynamics CV Knob — Attenuates dynamics CV input
- Dynamics Response Knob — Sets LPG “strike” decay (~LPG envelope time)
Modulation
- Frequency Knob — LFO rate
Voltage Controlled Routers (Matrix)
- In A/B Jacks — Assignable mod sources (A: normalled to sec osc sine, B: normalled to LFO sine)
- VCR A/B Level Knobs — Attenuate mod signals through router
- FM1/FM2/Blade-Pulse/Timbre/Dynamics Source Switches (per mod destination) — Route A/B/off to that CV in (mixes with its dedicated CV jack)
- VCR Output Source Switch — Selects A/B/off for VCR Out
- VCR Output Jack — Output of A or B mod signal
- VCR A/B CV Inputs — CV for VCR A/B mod signal level
PDF Manual
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Additional Notes
- Impulse Input makes LPG sound highly dynamic and organic (great for Buchla-like “pinging”).
- Routing switches allow switching modulation sources live without repatching.
- All CV inputs expected to operate in ±5V range (safe bet for all modulation).
- All outs and normal audio ins are typically ±5V; adjust downstream gain as needed.
- Experiment with cross-patching modulation (Osc2 as LFO, noise as mod, etc.) for complex organic movement!
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