# 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 — Creative Patch Ideas and Pairings Skorpion is much more than a wavefolder. Reading the manual closely, it behaves like a **threshold-analyzed waveform reanimation system** with: - 8 comparator thresholds - a vector core that slews toward a target - selectable target behavior - per-segment target sequencing - feedback-based slope shaping - stereo widening/delay - a surprisingly deep internal modulation system - lots of derived outputs for self-patching and ecosystem integration That means it sits somewhere between: - wavefolder - comparator bank - segmented function generator - waveshaper - stereo processor - control voltage extractor - weird oscillator core companion So the most interesting use of Skorpion is often **not** “audio in, more harmonics out,” but rather: - **using the thresholds as a control structure** - **using the TRGTs as a sequence engine** - **using the auxiliary outputs as modulation infrastructure** - **using external modules to animate target, halt, fold, and shape in coordinated ways** --- ## Best companion module types These are the module categories that pair especially well with Skorpion: 1. **Clean analog VCOs** - Sine/triangle sources let you hear the threshold behavior clearly. - Examples: Intellijel Dixie II+, Joranalogue Generate 3, Doepfer A-110-1, AJH VCOs 2. **Complex or unstable sound sources** - Wavetables, drum voices, feedback oscillators, or physical modeling voices create rich threshold crossing behavior. - Examples: Noise Engineering voices, Make Noise DPO, Instruō Cs-L, Mutable Plaits, SSF Zephyr 3. **Function generators / envelopes** - Great for animating FOLD, SHIFT, TARGET, HALT, or OUTPUT. - Examples: Make Noise Maths, Joranalogue Contour 1, Frap Tools Falistri, Befaco Rampage 4. **Matrix mixers / CV mixers / attenuverters** - Essential because Skorpion is a self-modulation playground. - Examples: Doepfer A-138m, Happy Nerding 3xMIA, Frap Tools 321, Mutable Shades 5. **Sequential switches / comparators / logic** - Excellent for exploiting G(IN>0), ±G(DIR), COUNT, and DAC outputs. - Examples: Doepfer A-151, Joranalogue Compare 2, Noise Engineering Vice Virga, Klavis Two Bits 6. **VCAs** - Needed to dynamically control feedback and self-patching intensity. - Examples: Intellijel Quad VCA, Mutable Veils, Xaoc Tallin, ALM Tangle Quartet 7. **Filters / resonators** - Because Skorpion can get aggressive quickly; filtering after or before it is powerful. - Examples: Xaoc Belgrad, Bastl Ikarie, Rossum Linnaeus, QPAS, Doepfer SEM filter 8. **Delays / reverbs / granular modules** - Since Skorpion already creates complex transient-rich material, time-based modules make it explode into atmosphere. - Examples: Mimeophon, Magneto, Nautilus, Desmodus Versio, Arbhar, Beads 9. **Oscilloscope / tuner / analyzer** - Seriously useful here. This module’s behavior is easier to understand visually. - Examples: Mordax Data, O’Tool+ --- # How to think about Skorpion musically A useful way to approach it: - **FOLD** = how hard the signal engages the threshold structure - **SHIFT** = asymmetry / bias / pseudo-frequency-shift-like motion - **SLOPE** = the “speed” and harmonic density of the output core - **TARGET** = what the vector core is trying to become - **SHAPE** = nonlinear behavior / feedback law - **THLD sliders** = where folding events occur - **TRGT sliders** = per-segment destination/slope sequence - **HALT** = freeze motion for rhythmic or stepped artifacts - **OUTPUT** = dry/wet/wide stereo animator This makes Skorpion ideal for: - animated timbral sequencing - stereo sound design - pseudo-resynthesis - patch-programmable distortion - CV generation from audio --- # Creative patch ideas ## 1. Precision animated wavefolder voice **Pair with:** clean VCO, envelope, VCA, filter ### Patch - VCO sine or triangle → **IN** - 1V/OCT sequence → VCO and **Skorpion 1V/OCT** - Envelope → VCA for amplitude - Slow LFO → **SHIFT** - Another envelope or velocity CV → **FOLD** - OUT L/R → stereo mixer ### Why it works The manual notes that **1V/OCT controls slope and is necessary for equal timbre across notes**, so Skorpion can track musically more consistently than many wavefolders. This makes it unusually good as part of a melodic voice rather than just an effect. ### Extra move - Set **EQUALIZE THLDs ON** for more classic wavefolder behavior. - Then switch it off and manually spread thresholds for more formant-like uneven spectra. --- ## 2. Use it as a “comparator sequenced timbre engine” **Pair with:** any oscillator, clocked modulation, quantizer optionally ### Patch - Put **TARGET** to **SLIDERs** - Hold spring toggle left and set the **TRGTs** to a pattern of voltages - Feed a harmonically changing oscillator or chord mixture into **IN** - Use **TARGET ORDER**: - **SEQ** for count-based target stepping - **TIED** for “most recently crossed threshold” behavior ### Why it works Every threshold crossing can select or influence a different target. So the incoming waveform isn’t just being folded — it is effectively **navigating a table of destination voltages**. That’s way beyond standard wavefolding. ### Pairing suggestion - Put a **quantizer** after the **TRGTs output** and use it elsewhere in your patch. - Or use **TRGTs output** to modulate another oscillator’s FM index or filter cutoff. --- ## 3. Audio-rate CV extractor / control bus generator **Pair with:** logic, sequential switch, percussion modules, LPGs Skorpion’s lower jack row is gold: - **ABS(IN)** - **G(IN>0)** - **TRGTs** - **DIFF** - **±G(DIR)** - **COUNT** - **DAC** - **DELAY** ### Patch concept Use one audio source into Skorpion, but use the aux outputs to drive the rest of your rack. ### Example - Drum loop or percussion oscillator → **IN** - **G(IN>0)** → trigger percussion accents or logic - **COUNT** → filter cutoff staircase - **DAC** → oscillator FM amount - **DIFF** → wavefolder amount on a second voice - **±G(DIR)** → panner or bipolar CV destination - **ABS(IN)** → VCA CV or LPG strike level ### Why it works Skorpion effectively turns one sound into a **family of musically related control signals**. This is amazing for coherent patches where everything “breathes” with one source. --- ## 4. Stereo psychoacoustic lead processor **Pair with:** mono synth voice, stereo mixer, reverb ### Patch - Mono lead voice → **IN** - Set OUTPUT around noon and above - Toggle **OUTPUT SWITCH** between: - **DC** for raw width - **FILTERS** for centered low end and widened highs - OUT L/R → stereo reverb ### Why it works The manual explains the **WIDE** section introduces a very short delay plus optional mid/side filtering. That makes Skorpion an excellent **stereoizer** even before getting extreme with fold/shaping. ### Nice companion modules - Stereo reverb: Desmodus Versio, Erbe-Verb, FX Aid Pro - Stereo mixer: Worng, Toppobrillo, Cosmotronic mixer systems --- ## 5. Metallic percussion from halted segments **Pair with:** trigger source, envelope generator, noise or sine source ### Patch - Sine or short-decay sound → **IN** - Set **TARGET** to **SLIDERs** - Set some TRGT sliders fully down to 0 - Turn **HALT IF TARG=0** on - Use a sequencer or random CV to animate thresholds or target mod - Optionally use **SYNC HARD** ### Why it works The manual states that when a target is 0 and this mode is enabled, the vector core can **halt for just that segment**, creating square/flat regions. This can generate jagged, percussive, digitally fractured tones. ### Extra spice - Patch **±G(DIR)** or **COUNT** into **HALT** through a VCA for intermittent freezing. - Great with LPGs after Skorpion. --- ## 6. Drum loop destroyer / re-animator **Pair with:** sample player, breakbeat source, envelope follower, filterbank ### Patch - Drum loop or hi-hat pattern → **IN** - **SYNC HARD** on for aggressive resets, or **SOFT** for smoother contour following - Modulate **FOLD** and **SHIFT** slowly - Use **DRY IF NO THLDs** on if modulating heavily, so signal remains present - WIDE output to stereo mixer ### Why it works The manual specifically mentions fast switching from cymbals and handling complex signals well. Skorpion seems excellent on transient-rich audio. ### Pairing recommendations - Any sample player: Squid Salmple, Bitbox, Assimil8or - Envelope follower before or after to create closed-loop modulation - Filterbank for spectral emphasis after Skorpion --- ## 7. “Pseudo frequency shifting” motion using SHIFT **Pair with:** slow LFO, random source, stereo delays ### Patch - Sustained saw or sine drone → **IN** - Keep **SHIFT** near noon, modulate slowly with triangle/random - Moderate **FOLD** - Experiment with **SHAPE = DIR**, **OUT**, or **DIFF** - OUTPUT into WIDE region ### Why it works The manual explicitly notes: **slow modulation of SHIFT produces a frequency shift effect**. It’s not true frequency shifting, but it gives spectral drift and asymmetry movement that feels similar. ### Great companion modules - Slow random CV: Triple Sloths, Sapèl, Wogglebug, Marbles - Stereo delay/reverb after Skorpion for moving cloud textures --- ## 8. Self-modulated chaos patch **Pair with:** mixer/attenuverter, VCA, optional limiter Skorpion invites self-patching. ### Patch ideas - **DIFF** → **SHAPE CV** - **COUNT** → **FOLD CV** - **DAC** → **SHIFT CV** - **DELAY** → **SHAPE source = DELAY** - **TRGTs out** → **TARGET CV** - **±G(DIR)** → external VCA that controls amount of one of the above ### Why it works The module already exposes internal logic and trajectory-related signals. Feeding them back through attenuation gives evolving, nonlinear behavior that can go from organic to feral. ### Important Use attenuverters or VCAs. Raw self-patching may jump to extremes quickly. ### Best helper modules - Happy Nerding 3xMIA - Frap Tools 321 - Intellijel Quad VCA - Doepfer matrix mixer --- ## 9. Segment-by-segment waveshaping with TRGTs as a wavetable **Pair with:** VCO, clock divider, sequencer, sample-and-hold ### Patch - Oscillator → **IN** - **TARGET** toward **SLIDERs** - Hold left and set a custom 8-step TRGT pattern - Set **TARGET ORDER** to **SEQ** - Modulate threshold positions so the active count changes dynamically ### Why it works The TRGT sliders effectively form a **voltage table** that can be addressed by threshold crossings. You can think of this as a kind of analog “wavetable by threshold state.” ### Extended version - Send **TRGTs output** to a precision adder or quantizer - Use the same sequence to drive pitch-related changes elsewhere, tying timbre and harmony together --- ## 10. Use Skorpion as an oscillator companion, not the main effect **Pair with:** thru-zero FM oscillator, sub-oscillator, LPG ### Patch - Main oscillator goes dry to mixer - Duplicate same oscillator to **Skorpion IN** - Process only Skorpion path - Use **OUTPUT** to blend dry/wet/wide - Tune the processed channel lower in mix and stereo spread it ### Why it works Since Skorpion doesn’t simply amplify the original into folds, it can act like a **parallel synthetic overtone layer**. Blending processed and dry paths creates unusually rich and mix-friendly tones. ### Great sources - TZFM oscillator like Generate 3 or Rubicon 2 - A pure sine carrier is especially strong here --- ## 11. Cross-synthesis using external CLIP input **Pair with:** second oscillator, drum voice, speech/sample source ### Patch - Oscillator A → **IN** - Oscillator B or drum/sample voice → **CLIP** - Turn **TARGET** toward **CLP** - Optionally patch modulation into **TRGT MOD** ### Why it works The manual says the input normally goes to CLIP, but you can override it. This lets one signal determine how another signal’s target behavior is clipped/overlaid. That’s a pretty unusual cross-modulation route. ### Good pairing sources - Spoken word sample into CLIP - Kick drum into CLIP while a bass tone goes into IN - Another VCO at a harmonic or inharmonic interval This can create vocalized, sync-like, or punctuated timbres. --- ## 12. Rhythmic gating and animation from direction outputs **Pair with:** logic, VCAs, switches, panners ### Patch - **±G(DIR)** → bipolar CV for panner - **G(IN>0)** → trigger envelope - **COUNT** → switch address or logic threshold - **DAC** → slew limiter input or offset generator ### Why it works Skorpion reveals the **movement state** of the vector core. That means you can synchronize other events to whether its internal waveform is rising/falling, above/below zero, or how many thresholds are currently active. ### Result A whole patch can be rhythmically “played” by Skorpion’s internal motion rather than by clocks alone. --- ## 13. Audio-to-CV articulation extractor **Pair with:** envelope follower, LPG, filter, resonator ### Patch - Voice, field recording, or acoustic instrument through preamp → **IN** - Use: - **ABS(IN)** as a rough excitation contour - **G(IN>0)** as polarity-derived gate - **COUNT** for brightness control - **DIFF** for resonator excitation - Send those to other modules while also using OUT L/R as audio ### Why it works Skorpion can derive **structure** from incoming audio, not just transform tone. This makes it useful in hybrid/acoustic modular setups. ### Strong companions - Preamp/external input module - Resonator: Rings, Sealegs resonant modes, QPAS pinging, 4ms ensembles --- ## 14. Threshold-LFO macro performance patch **Pair with:** keyboard controller, gate source, sequencer The internal macro section is easy to overlook but very powerful. ### Patch - Use the **MACRO ENV** gate from external keyboard or sequencer - Program: - threshold LFO amount - threshold LFO rate - FOLD/SLOPE/SHIFT/SHAPE macro modulation - Build a performance patch where each note opens a whole moving timbral ecosystem ### Why it works All LFOs are amplitude-controlled by the macro envelope and **reset on each gate**, so repeated notes can have **consistent animated timbre articulation**. That is very performable. ### Musical use This is ideal for: - animated leads - evolving bass - repeatable IDM percussion - “same note, new motion” phrasing --- ## 15. Patch it with a filter before and after **Pair with:** multimode filter(s) ### Before Skorpion Filtering before changes which parts of the source cross thresholds. ### After Skorpion Filtering after sculpts the newly generated harmonics. ### Example chain - VCO → bandpass filter → Skorpion → lowpass filter → stereo FX ### Why it works Because Skorpion responds strongly to waveform geometry, **pre-filtering** is as meaningful as post-filtering. ### Especially good - Bandpass or notch before Skorpion - LPG or resonant lowpass after it --- ## 16. Use DELAY output as a modulation source **Pair with:** VCA, filter FM, panning, phase modulation destination The manual notes the **DELAY** output is tied to the WIDE portion of the output control and changes delay time/modulation depending on the knob position. ### Patch - Bring OUTPUT above noon so DELAY becomes active - **DELAY output** → SHAPE CV, filter cutoff, or panner - Audio out still goes to stereo path ### Why it works This gives you a delayed/modulated copy of Skorpion’s motion as a CV/audio source. Very useful for internal “echo modulation.” --- ## 17. Make it a weird CV processor for non-audio signals **Pair with:** sequencers, stepped CV, envelopes, joystick You do not have to feed only audio into Skorpion. ### Patch ideas - Envelope or LFO → **IN** - Use threshold crossings to create staircase, folded, or halted control trajectories - Output to: - filter FM - wavetable position - panning - granular position ### Why it works Skorpion’s vector core and threshold system can turn simple CV into: - segmented envelopes - staircase hybrids - asymmetrical modulation - direction-aware control signals This is one of the most underused ways to exploit it. --- # Specific pairing ideas by module ## With Make Noise Maths - Use channels 2/3 as attenuation for self-patching Skorpion outputs back into CV inputs - Use Maths envelopes to modulate HALT, SHIFT, and FOLD - Feed **DIFF** or **COUNT** into Maths for slewed derived CV ## With Joranalogue Generate 3 - Very clean source for hearing threshold topology - Use Generate 3’s phase/routing options to feed Skorpion harmonically precise material - Patch Skorpion **TRGTs** or **DAC** back into Generate 3’s FM index or phase modulation ## With Mimeophon - Use Skorpion for primary stereo widening, then Mimeophon for larger spatial extension - DELAY output can modulate Mimeophon color or zone ## With Xaoc Belgrad - Belgrad before Skorpion for focused band emphasis - Belgrad after Skorpion to tune the harmonic chaos into vocal resonances ## With Mutable Rings / resonator-type modules - Use **DIFF**, **COUNT**, or **ABS(IN)** to excite/modulate resonator parameters - Use Skorpion output as exciter audio for metallic, animated resonances ## With random modules like Marbles / Sapèl / Wogglebug - Randomly modulate threshold equalization on/off via jack - Animate SHIFT and TARGET subtly - Use stepped randomness on TRGT MOD for spectral jumps ## With matrix mixer Probably one of the best utilities for Skorpion. - Route **COUNT**, **DAC**, **DIFF**, **TRGTs**, and **DELAY** into a matrix mixer - Send blended versions back to **FOLD**, **SHIFT**, **SHAPE**, and **TARGET** - This creates deeply connected feedback ecosystems --- # Particularly strong self-patching ideas ## Self-patch 1: DIFF into SHAPE - Set SHAPE source to **DIFF** - Also patch **DIFF out** externally through attenuation back into **SHAPE CV** - Result: edgy, spiky, unstable harmonic emphasis ## Self-patch 2: COUNT into FOLD - COUNT is a staircase based on active thresholds - Feed it gently into FOLD CV - Result: more threshold activity begets more fold intensity ## Self-patch 3: DAC into SHIFT - Weighted threshold count gives more nuanced asymmetry changes - Result: continuously morphing asymmetry tied to comparator state ## Self-patch 4: DELAY into TRGT MOD - Great for ghosted, smeared target behavior - Especially effective in stereo/wide settings ## Self-patch 5: G(IN>0) or ±G(DIR) into external switch - Switch between two modulation sources feeding FOLD or TARGET - Result: waveform-dependent timbral branching --- # Modes and switches worth exploiting ## EQUALIZE THLDs This is not just convenience. It is a tonal mode switch. - **ON**: more classic, orderly, predictable fold intervals - **OFF**: irregular threshold spacing = speech-like, formant-like, broken spectra - **CV controlled**: ideal for switching between orderly and unruly states mid-performance Use a gate sequencer, logic output, or random gate here. --- ## DRY IF NO THLDs Useful when: - heavily modulating FOLD - processing dynamic material - wanting continuity rather than dropout This can make Skorpion act more like a morphing timbre processor than a hard-effect box. --- ## SYNC soft vs hard - **SOFT**: smoother, more “rubbery” and less clicky - **HARD**: sharper resets, more aggressive and percussive - **X**: freer motion, often more organic Good idea: modulate related parameters while manually changing SYNC mode during performance. --- ## TARGET ORDER: SEQ vs TIED This is one of the most musically consequential switches. - **SEQ** = active-threshold count selects target Feels more like addressable sequence behavior - **TIED** = most recently crossed threshold selects target Feels more event-driven and contour-sensitive Use: - **SEQ** for repeatable timbral sequences - **TIED** for expressive, waveform-reactive articulation --- # Patch recipes by musical goal ## For bass - Sine/triangle in - 1V/OCT patched - EQUALIZE THLDs on - TARGET around 5V or slight CLIP - mild SHAPE from OUT - FILTERS mode on output - low wet/wide blend ## For harsh industrial leads - Saw or wavetable in - TARGET to SLIDERs - SHAPE source = DIFF - SYNC HARD - modulate SHIFT and TRGT MOD - output into saturation or reverb ## For evolving drones - Slow LFO/random into SHIFT, SHAPE, TARGET - SHAPE source = DELAY or OUT - wide stereo output - post-process with reverb/granular ## For percussion - short sine burst or click into IN - TARGET sliders with some zero stages - HALT IF TARG=0 on - SYNC HARD - use COUNT or DIFF elsewhere in patch for coherent percussion CV ## For generative patches - use macro envelope + threshold LFOs - self-patch aux outputs through matrix mixer - route TRGTs output to other modules - randomize equalize/sync/target behavior externally --- # A few “hidden gem” uses from the manual ## 1. TRGTs output as its own sequencer This is easy to miss. The TRGTs are not just internal. Use them externally as: - 8-step wavetable-ish source - sequencer for filter cutoff - modulation lane tied to threshold events ## 2. ABS(IN) output Full-wave rectified input is super useful for: - unipolar envelope-like behavior - modulation from bipolar oscillators - driving VCAs or LPGs ## 3. COUNT vs DAC These are related but distinct: - **COUNT** = equal 0.5V steps - **DAC** = weighted threshold contributions COUNT is rhythmic and obvious. DAC is subtler and more “encoded.” ## 4. CLIP external override This turns Skorpion into a cross-processor, not just a folder. ## 5. Non-audio-rate modulation on thresholds Threshold modulation can radically alter where folds occur. This is one of the most powerful and least conventional aspects of the module. --- # Recommended support rack around Skorpion If you wanted to build a mini ecosystem around it, I’d suggest: - **1 precise analog oscillator** - **1 weird digital/noisy oscillator or sample source** - **1 dual function generator** - **1 matrix mixer** - **1 quad VCA** - **1 multimode filter** - **1 stereo reverb/delay** - **1 random/stepped CV source** - **1 logic/switch module** That setup would let Skorpion operate as: - voice processor - modulation extractor - stereo timbre designer - self-patched chaos engine - cross-modulation hub --- # Final thoughts Skorpion rewards treating it less like a conventional wavefolder and more like a **threshold-addressed analog computation module for sound and CV**. The deepest patches come from: - modulating the threshold structure - using TRGTs as an addressable voltage table - self-patching the auxiliary outputs - leveraging external VCAs/mixers to control feedback paths - processing non-sine, nontraditional sources - using stereo width as part of the composition, not just a finishing effect If you want, I can also provide: 1. **10 beginner-friendly Skorpion patches** 2. **10 advanced self-patching feedback patches** 3. **a “best companion modules by brand” list** 4. **a compact performance cheat sheet for this module** [Generated With Eurorack Processor](https://github.com/nstarke/eurorack-processor)