Schlappi Engineering — Three Body

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Three Body Manual (Schlappi Engineering, PDF)

Using Schlappi Three Body for Hyper-Complex Percussion & Rhythmic Music

The Schlappi Engineering Three Body is exceptionally powerful for driving complex, evolving rhythmic and percussive material, thanks to its trio of deeply-interconnected digital oscillators, flexible normalization, and highly configurable modulation. Here’s how to leverage its architecture in the context of hyper-rhythmic, polyrhythmic, and advanced percussive music.

Approaching Percussion with Three Body

Module Roles

• Voice: Each of the three oscillators can act as an individual percussion voice—kick, tom, snare, metallic clang, noisy hit, etc.
• Effect: Use the internal cross modulation to process other voices, creating pseudo-coordinated “sidechain” or unexpected percussive artifacts.

Key Techniques for Dense, Complex Rhythm

1. Polyrhythms & Polymetric Structures

• Ratio Tracking: Set oscillators to RATIO mode and use integer/non-integer ratios between carriers. Try tracking the inner oscillator (master “clock") with outer oscillators as polyrhythmic “subdividers.”
  • Example: Center at “free” (master clocked oscillator), left and right at ratio with divisions/multiplies set to 3 and 5 for a 3:5 polyrhythm.
• External SYNC: Patch different rhythmic impulses (clock dividers, triggers, LFOs) into the SYNC inputs. Each oscillator can then lock to independent time bases or odd rhythmic clocks, furthering polyrhythmic complexity.

2. Complex Patterns

• FM/PM Modulation: Cross-modulate oscillators with audio-rate or sub-audio oscillators, making patterns with spectral/transient complexity that can “mimic” layered percussion ensembles.
  • Patch sine output of one into phase or FM input of another, then tweak the index and polarity for pseudo-chaotic percussive bursts and metallic artifacts.

3. Time Signature Adventures

• Use odd or evolving division/multiplication ratios on the outer oscillators for signatures like 5/4, 7/8, 11/16.
• Modulate these with random voltages or sequenced CV sources to automate pattern switching or evolving metric feel.

Patch Concepts

> A: Polyrhythmic Percussion Triplets and Fives

1. Set Center osc to FREE, HIGH (base frequency = clock/root note).
2. Left osc: RATIO, DIV: 3 (triplets), MULT as 1 (standard).
3. Right osc: RATIO, DIV: 5 (quintuplets).
4. Take Sine, Triangle or Saw from each out to separate LPGs or VCAs—trigger each with similarly divided external gates or let the phase interaction itself “illusion” hits (especially with envelope followers/comparators after).

> B: Algorithmic "Drum Machine" with Shifting Ratios

• Use step sequencer or random CV into V/OCT RATIO on outer oscillators. Modulation can create live-shifting subdivision, blurring the line between precise and chaotic patterns.
• Use modulation attenuators to restrict the CV range so that only certain divisions/multiplies are accessible at a given time—morphing between 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, etc.
• This results in arpeggiating or grid-shifting patterns, like a generative rhythm engine.

> C: Metallic, Punchy Percussion With Phase Modulation

• Self-patch the left and right oscillator’s sines to each other's PHASE CV inputs (with index attenuators!).
• Use center oscillator for a deep base, or patch outer oscillator waveforms to LPGs with fast envelopes.
• Turn up PHASE INDEX or FM INDEX just to the point before noise—this yields complex, biting metallic transients like cymbals, snares, or bells with naturalistic tails.
• For even more character, experiment with the External Filter header (16H) for noisier/cleaner modulation.

> D: Trigger-Gated Percussive Bursts

• Use fast external triggers/gates into SYNC for hard resets.
• Patch audio-rate modulation between FM/Phase inputs for “ring mod” and atonal percussive pops.

Manipulations For “Punch” and Uniqueness

• Use Wavefolding Effects: Push phase modulation hard for sharp wavefolded attacks that read “percussive.”
• Dynamic Indexing: CV control over PHASE/FM INDEX allows envelopes per hit for snappy/decaying timbral movement.
• Multilayer With Outputs: Simultaneously mix SINE, SAW, TRI out for rich transient “impacts” with high-frequency detail.
• Stereo Field: SINE/COSINE and SAW/COSAW pairs, with strong phase/frequency modulation, create wide, spatially animated percussive events.
• Square Wave Phase Mod: Use the square output with phase mod disengaged (header 14G) for suboctave “thump” or to layer fundamental body beneath noisy or metallic upper harmonics.

Additional Tips

• Use comparators or envelope followers on outputs to convert wild waveforms into new gates/triggers for (meta-)sequencing drums.
• Run outputs through fast VCAs or LPGs to get that “clicky,” punch-in-the-face percussion transient, using envelopes synced to other oscillators’ cycles for layered, interlocking grooves.
• Don’t overlook: cross-pollinate Three Body’s outs as modulation sources elsewhere in your rack for system-wide chaos/groove.

Recommended External Utilities

• Sequencers (step, random, or burst): Drive V/OCT RATIO for evolving pattern signatures.
• Fast Envelope Generators/LPGs: For sculpting output into drum-like envelopes.
• Comparators/Logic: For extracting triggers from complex waveforms.

For additional ideas and inspiration, see the Schlappi Three Body Manual PDF.

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