After Later Audio — Ornament and Crime

• Manual PDF

Ornament & Crime v1.3 User Manual (PDF)

Creative Uses for Ornament & Crime: Patching Strategies & Module Pairings

The Ornament & Crime (O&C) is extraordinarily versatile, providing quantization, sequencing, LFOs, envelope generation, chaos CVs, reference voltages, and more. Here are some creative patch ideas and module pairings that unlock novel possibilities:

1. CopierMaschine: Polyphonic Quantized CV Recorder

• What it does: Four-stage “analogue shift register” with quantization, scale masking, delay, and S&H tricks.
• Try this:
  • Combination: Pair with a multi-output sequencer (e.g. Malekko Voltage Block or Intellijel Metropolix) running slow, dreamy sequences. Route each quantized output from O&C into four separate oscillators (Doepfer A-110, Mutable Plaits, etc) for instant chord memory/voicing.
  • More Depth: Clock O&C’s ASR from unusual rhythmic sources (e.g., a Mutable Grids or any Euclidean rhythm generator). Modulate the ‘buf.index’ with an LFO or random source for unpredictable delays and generative melodies.

2. Harrington 1200 / Automatonnetz: Chord Progression Engine

• What it does: Tonnetz-based triad generator with hands-on, triggerable transformations and chord sequencing.
• Try this:
  • Combination: Use outputs B/C/D into a group of oscillators with a 4ms VCA Matrix for chord morphs and key changes. Patch outputs through individual envelope-VCA-VCF chains for lush pads or evolving textures.
  • Automation: Automate inversion and mode via an Expert Sleepers FH-2/CV expander for programmable control over harmony shifts and modulations.
  • Euclidean Triggers: Pair with a NE Stoicheia or ALM Pamela’s Pro Workout for complex, polyrhythmic chord progressions.

3. Quantermain / Meta-Q: Quad/dual Advanced Quantizer

• What it does: Four fully independent quantizers with user/scale editing and complex internal CV sources.
• Try this:
  • Generic combo: Use with a chaotic/random CV generator (Make Noise Wogglebug, SSF Ultra-Random). Send four outputs to four voices, or two to voices and two to modulation inputs elsewhere for “musical randomization.”
  • Microtonality: Program custom scales or select microtonal tunings. Pair with tunable VCOs (Intellijel Dixie II+ or Verbos Complex Oscillator) for quarter-tone or Bohlen-Pierce experiments.
  • Continuous quantization: Use cnt+ or cnt- modes for pitch glide/portamento effects, feeding an LFO or stepped CV in for rich, evolving, but always "in-scale" pitch lines.

4. Quadraturia: Quad Wavetable LFO Factory

• What it does: Four phase-locked or ratioed waveform LFOs with wave/morph/offset/spread and tap tempo.
• Try this:
  • AM/FM Modulation Matrix: Patch each Quadraturia output to modulate the cutoff on different filters, the FM input on oscillators, or the morph input on wavetable modules.
  • Animated Stereo: Send LFO outputs to panners, delay times, and VCA amplitudes across your stereo field for shifting, psychedelic spatialization (Happy Nerding PanMix, Doepfer A-134).
  • Audio Rate for Wavetable FX: Use high frequency settings, filter the results, and treat as lo-fi oscillators or complex modulation signals.

5. Low-rents: Chaotic CV Catalysts

• What it does: Lorenz and Rössler attractor CV generation: high-dimensional, never-repeating chaos.
• Try this:
  • Wild Modulation: Patch to filter cutoffs, oscillator wave morphs, VCAs, or digital effect parameters for evolving, organic textures.
  • Scope Show: Patch outputs to a vector oscilloscope (LZX Visual Cortex, Junsi DS212) for mesmerizing generative visuals along with your sound.
  • Locked Chaos: Modulate Rho/c with sequenced voltages for semi-predictable, “controllable” chaos.

6. Piqued: Quad Envelope & Rhythmic Architect

• What it does: Four highly programmable, voltage-controllable envelope generators with Euclidean triggering.
• Try this:
  • Euclidean Percussion: Use to generate complex rhythmic envelopes into drum modules (ALM Akemie’s Taiko, Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas).
  • Rhythm to Modulation: Gate-modulate filter or effect modules, or create choppy stutter effects on audio/CV VCA paths.
  • CV Looper Modes: Turn looping envelope types into complex LFOs, which you can further route or crosspatch for pseudo-generative behaviour.

7. Sequins: Step Sequence Everything

• What it does: Two channels, four sequences each, up to 16 steps/sequence, sequence chaining, voltage addressing, and envelope outs.
• Try this:
  • Programmable Carrier/Modulator Pair: Use the two channels to address the main oscillator’s pitch and a secondary modulation parameter (e.g., wavefold, filter, FM amount) for “meta-sequencing.”
  • Permutation/Glitch: Use external CVs to address sequence step or length for generative results. Feed Korg SQ-1, Make Noise Pressure Points, or similar sequencers for hands-on performance.

8. Dialectic Ping Pong: Bouncing Ball LFOs

• What it does: Simulates balls bouncing for complex, decaying/accelerating envelopes—lovely for organic trigger sources or wild modulation.
• Try this:
  • Organic Percussion: Patch into plucked-string modules (Mutable Elements, Endorphin.es Blck_Noir) or LPGs for naturalistic triggering.
  • Gravity Modulated by CV: Automate gravity/bounce loss with modulation for ultra-lifelike, self-evolving modulations. Pair with a joystick or manual CV controller for “playing” gravities live.

9. Viznutcracker, Sweet!: Bytebeat Synthesis & Sequencing

• What it does: Four independent Bytebeat equations; can be audio rate or sloooow CV for algorithmic sequences.
• Try this:
  • Audio Processing: Patch raw (lo-fi) audio to a filter bank (Mutable Shelves, Intellijel Polaris) for digital chiptune/grit fun.
  • Bytebeat CV Sequencing: Set speed low, use result as stepped CV into quantizers, LPGs, or morphable effect parameters. Can act as unpredictable, “mathematical” melody/morph source.

10. Acid Curds: Algorithmic Chord Machine/Sequencer

• What it does: Step/fixed CV-triggered chord progressions, with voicing, inversion, and direction options.
• Try this:
  • Polyphonic Chords: Outputs -> four oscillators (or a polysynth accepting multiple pitch/gate inputs, e.g. Poly End Poly 2), for patchable polyphony with evolving, sequenced chords.
  • CV addressing: Use a joystick, touch surface, or random voltages to select chord progressions for live harmonic improvisation.
  • Rhythmic Progressions: Use drum triggers or percussion gates to step through chord progressions for live, performance-timed harmonic changes.

11. References: Precision Tuning, Calibration, & Metering

• What it does: Reference voltages for tuning/calibration, high-precision frequency and BPM metering, note tuning, closed-loop VCO calibration.
• Try this:
  • Tuning Utility: Use as VCO reference to build “just-tuned” chords or sequence precise microtonal intervals.
  • Frequency Cross-Referencing: Pair with Expert Sleepers Disting or Korg Tuner for module calibration, tape/field recording sync checks, or even comparative testing in a modular system.
  • Live BPM Sync: Meticulously sync vintage drum machines or DAW clocks via the BPM output.

Bonus: All-In-One Generative Patch

• Example Recipe:
  • Run Piqued in Euclidean mode to trigger outputs of Quantermain in LFSR Turing Machine mode.
  • Send Quantermain channels to four oscillators, running through VCA/VCFs, whose cutoff/modulation is controlled by Quadraturia’s LFOs.
  • Send another Piqued channel to trigger Low-rents reset, and Quantized outputs to Viznutcracker, Sweet! (running slow, for algorithmic sequence modulation).
  • Cross-patch with a logic module (Doepfer A-166, Intellijel OR) for generative, never-repeating soundscapes!

General Module Type Recommendations

• Envelope Followers: Patch Oscillator or external audio through an envelope follower, modulate O&C parameters in real-time (“audio to harmony” patches).
• Matrix Mixers (e.g., Doepfer A-138m): Route multiple O&C outs to multiple mod targets, hands-on blend for complex animation.
• Random Generators / S&H: Feed their signals into O&C quantizer/scaler for musical randomness.
• Logic Processors & Gate Sequence Modules: Combine O&C triggers with Boolean logic (SSF Propagate, Doepfer A-166) to unlock advanced rhythm/switching.
• Manual CV Controllers/Touch Plates: For live performance and “macro” control of major O&C parameters—especially awesome with chord machines, chaos, or bytebeat settings.

“Deep Dive” Utility Use Cases

• Calibration: Precise calibration for all modules; reference voltages for troubleshooting.
• Testing Other Modules: Feed known multichannel O&C outputs into new filters/mixers/etc for module reviews and development.

This summary just scratches the surface. O&C is a system expander—with the right patching, it can elevate any modular setup, from generative ambient to precision-tuned minimalism, quirky grooves, or chaotic sound design.

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