# Making Sound Machines — DivSkip - [Manual PDF](../../manuals/SKORPION_Manual.pdf) --- [Manual PDF](https://wmdevices.com/cdn/shop/files/Skorpion_Manual_Rev1.00.pdf) # WMD Skorpion Cheat Sheet ## What it is **Skorpion** is a stereo analog **wavefolder / waveform animator** built around a **vector core**: - Your **IN** signal is compared against **8 thresholds** - Each threshold crossing can reverse the core’s direction - **SLOPE** sets how fast the core moves - **TARGET** sets what voltage the core moves toward - **SHAPE** adds feedback-based contouring - **OUTPUT** crossfades from dry → wet → stereo widened wet It can behave like: - a classic-ish wavefolder - a highly asymmetrical folding/distortion source - a CV/audio-rate animation engine - a modulation source generator via its many aux outputs --- ## Quick start 1. Patch **audio to IN** 2. Patch **OUT L** and **OUT R** to mixer/output 3. Set: - **OUTPUT** around noon to full wet - **TARGET** to **5V** or **CLIP** - **SYNC** to **SOFT** or **HARD** for stable behavior - **EQUALIZE THLDs** ON for simpler/classic folding 4. Raise **FOLD** 5. Adjust **SLOPE** 6. Add **SHIFT** for asymmetry 7. Add **SHAPE** and choose a **SHAPE source** for more complex timbres If it gets too weird/silent while modulating: - turn on **DRY IF NO THLDs** --- ## Core sound controls ### FOLD Amplifies the input against the threshold stack; more fold activity. ### SLOPE Sets the vector core slew rate. Higher = more harmonic content, brighter/faster motion. ### 1V/OCT Tracks **SLOPE** so timbre stays more consistent across pitch. ### SHIFT Offsets the input against thresholds for asymmetry. - Noon = ~0V shift - Slow modulation here can create frequency-shift-like effects ### TARGET Sets where the vector core tries to go: - **5V**: static destination, squarer sounds - **CLIP**: uses input waveform (or external CLIP jack) as destination overlay - **SLIDERs**: uses 8 target sliders as a sequenced destination voltage ### SHAPE Modulates SLOPE using a selected feedback/control source. - Noon = no feedback - **SYM** switch on: shaping is symmetrical for + / – portions of the waveform ### OUTPUT Crossfader: - lower half: **DRY ↔ WET** - upper half: **WET ↔ WIDE** - **WIDE** brings in stereo delay/mid-side widening --- ## Most important switches / toggles ### EQUALIZE THLDs switch Forces equal threshold spacing; sounds more like a classic wavefolder. - **ON**: equalized always on; jack ignored - **XOR**: equalized on unless jack is high - **JACK**: equalized off unless jack is high LED on = thresholds equalized. ### DRY IF NO THLDs If no thresholds are active, forces dry signal through the core. Helpful when heavy modulation causes folding to disappear. ### SYNC Resets vector core at **IN zero crossings**: - **SOFT**: ramps toward 0V at current slope - **X**: off - **HARD**: fast reset to 0V ### OUTPUT switch - **DC**: direct signal, no filtering - **FILTERS**: low end (<240Hz) stays centered; highs get delayed/side processed ### TARGET ORDER How slider targets are selected: - **SEQ**: by number of active thresholds - **TIED**: by most recently crossed threshold ### HALT IF TARG=0 If a target slider is at 0, that segment can stop moving, producing square/held sections. ### TRGT MOD mode - **SYM**: full-wave rectified modulation, symmetrical - **ASYM**: straight modulation, asymmetrical --- ## Sliders and spring toggle ### Slider contexts The 8 sliders serve 3 roles: #### 1) THLDs mode (default) Sets the **8 threshold voltages** where folds occur. #### 2) TRGTs mode (hold spring toggle left) Sets the **8 target voltages** for the target sequencer. #### 3) MACRO SETUP (hold spring toggle right for ~1 second) Configures internal modulation. --- ## Macro system Skorpion has an internal **macro envelope** controlling internal LFO/envelope modulation. ### Spring toggle behavior - **Tap right**: enable/disable Macro Envelope - **Hold right**: enter Macro Setup while held - **Hold left**: edit TRGT sliders ### Macro Env LED - **Red**: gate on - **Blue**: envelope level ### Macro Setup sliders 1. **Macro Env Attack**: 50ms–600s 2. **Macro Env Release**: 500ms–600s 3. **THLD LFO Amount** 4. **THLD LFO Rate**: 0.0016Hz–6Hz 5. **FOLD normal modulation** 6. **SLOPE normal modulation** 7. **SHIFT normal modulation** 8. **SHAPE normal modulation** For sliders 5–8: - quick **top→bottom** gesture = **LFO mode** - quick **bottom→top** gesture = **ENV mode** Behavior: - **LFO**: 0.0016Hz–6Hz, unipolar, amplitude controlled by Macro Env - **ENV**: 50ms–600s, gated by Macro Env gate, amplitude not scaled by Macro Env - Routed internally to the corresponding CV normal input Notes: - LFOs reset on each Macro gate-on - Envelopes attack without resetting on retrigger - LFO disabled at slider bottom; envelopes cannot be disabled --- ## Practical usage tips ### For classic wavefolder territory - **EQUALIZE THLDs = ON** - **TARGET = 5V** - **SHAPE near noon** - **SYNC = SOFT or HARD** - Bring up **FOLD**, then tune brightness with **SLOPE** ### For asymmetrical / vocal / unstable folds - Modulate **SHIFT** - Use **TARGET = CLIP** - Feed external signal into **CLIP** - Add **SHAPE** from **OUT**, **DIFF**, or **DIR** ### For sequenced/talking timbres - Set **TARGET** toward **SLIDERs** - Edit **TRGTs** - Switch **TARGET ORDER** between **SEQ** and **TIED** - Try **HALT IF TARG=0** ### For stereo width - Turn **OUTPUT** past noon into **WIDE** - Use **FILTERS** mode to keep bass centered - Tap the **DELAY** output as an extra modulation/audio source ### For self-patching Good aux outputs to patch back in: - **DIFF → SHAPE CV** for spiky timbres - **COUNT → TARGET / SHIFT / SHAPE** - **±G(DIR) → SHIFT** - **TRGTs out → anything** - **ABS(IN) → modulation destination** - **DELAY → SHAPE** with output in wide region --- ## Controls reference ### Knobs - **FOLD** — amount of folding - **SLOPE** — vector core rate - **SHIFT** — input offset/asymmetry - **SHAPE** — slope feedback amount - **OUTPUT** — dry/wet/wide blend - **TARGET** — destination selection between 5V / CLIP / SLIDERs ### Attenuverters / associated CV controls - **FOLD CV attenuverter** - **SLOPE CV attenuverter** - **SHIFT CV attenuverter** - **SHAPE CV attenuverter** - **OUTPUT CV attenuverter** ### Rotary / mini switches - **EQUALIZE THLDs**: ON / XOR / JACK - **TARGET ORDER**: SEQ / TIED - **SHAPE source**: IN / OUT / DELAY / COUNT / DIFF / TRGTs / DAC / DIR - **SHAPE symmetry**: SYM / asym - **TRGT MOD**: SYM / ASYM - **HALT IF TARG=0** - **SYNC**: SOFT / X / HARD - **OUTPUT**: DC / FILTERS ### Sliders - **8 THLD sliders** in default mode - **8 TRGT sliders** when holding spring toggle left - **Macro setup sliders** when holding spring toggle right ### Spring toggle - center: thresholds - hold left: targets - tap right: macro env on/off - hold right: macro setup --- ## Jack reference ## Inputs > Manual states **IN nominal range is ±5V**. Other CV/gate inputs are supported; explicit ranges are only given where stated in the manual. When not explicitly specified, patch typical Eurorack CV/audio. > Input impedances: **IN 100kΩ**, **1V/OCT 3MΩ**, **TRGT MOD 20kΩ**, all other CV/gate inputs **220kΩ**. | Jack | Type | Range / notes | |---|---|---| | **IN** | Audio/CV input | **±5V nominal** | | **CLIP** | Audio/CV input | Range not specified; overrides normal from IN for clip/target overlay | | **1V/OCT** | CV input | Range not specified | | **FOLD** | CV input | Range not specified; affects fold amount | | **SLOPE** | CV input | Range not specified | | **SHIFT** | CV input | Range not specified | | **SHAPE** | CV input | Range not specified | | **TARGET** | CV input | Range not specified | | **OUTPUT** | CV input | Range not specified; controls dry/wet/wide | | **TRGT MOD** | CV/audio input | Range not specified; directly modulates TARGET pot output | | **THLDs/** | CV input | Range not specified; weighted modulation of all thresholds | | **THLD1** | CV input | Range not specified; direct modulation of threshold 1 | | **TRGTs** | CV input | Range not specified; modulates all targets together | | **EQ THLDs** | Gate/CV input | High signal enables/disables equalization depending on switch mode | | **MACRO ENV** | Gate input | Range not specified; gates macro envelope | | **HALT** | Gate/CV input | Range not specified; stops vector core motion; audio-rate capable | --- ## Outputs > Output impedance: **1kΩ** | Jack | Type | Voltage range / notes | |---|---|---| | **OUT L** | Audio output | Range not specified | | **OUT R** | Audio output | Range not specified | | **ABS(IN)** | CV/audio output | Full-wave rectified IN; range not specified | | **G(IN>0)** | Gate output | **0V / +5V** | | **TRGTs** | CV/audio output | Target sequencer output; range not specified | | **DIFF** | CV/audio output | Difference between target and vector core; range not specified | | **±G(DIR)** | Bipolar gate output | **-5V / +5V** | | **COUNT/** | Staircase CV output | **0V to 4V**, +0.5V per active threshold | | **DAC** | Weighted staircase CV output | **0V to 4V** full scale | | **DELAY** | Audio/CV output | Delayed waveform from WIDE section; range not specified | --- ## Output section behavior ### OUTPUT knob - **Below 12 o’clock**: dry→wet blend - **Above 12 o’clock**: wet→widened stereo ### DELAY output behavior Only active when OUTPUT is in the wide region: - below 12 o’clock: no delay out - 12:00 to 12:30: fades in - to ~3:00: delay time increases - beyond ~3:00: delay time plus slow modulation depth/rate increase Delay specs: - fade-in region: **80µs to 1.8ms** - up to modulation onset: **8.2ms** - max: **14.4ms ±3ms** at ~2Hz modulation --- ## Threshold/CV behavior summary ### THLDs/ Weighted across all 8 thresholds: - THLD1 gets CV ÷ 2^7 - THLD2 gets CV ÷ 2^6 - ... - THLD8 gets CV ÷ 1 ### COUNT vs DAC - **COUNT/**: simple staircase, each active threshold adds **0.5V** - **DAC**: binary-weighted version of threshold activity, **0–4V** DAC bit weights: - THLD1 = 1/256 full scale - THLD2 = 1/128 - THLD3 = 1/64 - THLD4 = 1/32 - THLD5 = 1/16 - THLD6 = 1/8 - THLD7 = 1/4 - THLD8 = 1/2 --- ## Helpful reminders - If slider LEDs don’t respond as expected, check **EQUALIZE THLDs** - **SHIFT at noon** is recommended when using **HALT** - **MACRO ENV** is always **OFF on power-up** - Settings auto-save after **1 minute** of inactivity - Audio path is **analog except delay** - **All CVs support audio-rate modulation** for threshold-related processing --- ## Specs - **Width:** 20HP - **Depth:** 38mm - **Power:** +200mA / -160mA - **Mid/Side crossover:** 240Hz - **Max slew rate:** 0.4V/µs - **Internal LFOs:** 0.0016Hz–6Hz - **Envelope times:** 50ms–600s --- [Generated With Eurorack Processor](https://github.com/nstarke/eurorack-processor)