2hp — Slice

• Manual PDF

2hp Slice Manual (PDF)

2hp Slice: Advanced Modulation & Sound Design Tips

Module Overview

The 2hp Slice is a powerful beat repeat/glitch engine for Eurorack that is clock-driven, with flexible beat size, triplet toggles, and hands-on or CV activation. The key to unlocking unique sonic results is creative modulation and patching.

Below, I’ll break down methods for generating the specific types of sounds you mentioned:

1. Distorted Percussive Sounds

Technique:
- Input: Route drum hits, sharp noise, or synthesized percussion into the Audio Input. - Size Modulation: Patch a high-speed, jagged LFO or stepped random voltage (e.g. from a sample & hold like a Turing Machine or 2hp Rnd) into the Size CV Input. Abruptly changing the repeat size during playback can create stuttered, warped effects that verge on distortion. - Triplet Toggle: Toggle this up to inject triplet divisions for more complex, off-grid burst patterns. - Gate Triggering: Use a fast, irregular gate pattern to the Trig Gate Input (for example: from a clock divider/multiplier or probability gate module). Changing the gate mode (latching vs. momentary) with the Trig button at boot offers different activation “feel” for your glitches. - External Processing: After the Slice, send audio through a wavefolder, distortion, or aggressive VCA to further mangle the repeated sound.

Patch Example:
- Drum out → Slice Audio In
- Turing Machine Random CV → Size CV In
- Clock Divider Out → Trig Gate In
- Enable triplets
- Slice Out → VCA/Distortion → Mixer

2. Crazy Basslines (Dubstep/Drum & Bass Style)

Technique:
- Input: Use a synth voice or dedicated bass oscillator with sharp attack modulation for your primary bassline, routed to Audio Input. - Clock Rate: Modulate Clock Input with variable speed clocks for groove-swings, half-time/double-time rolls. - Size Knob & CV: Manually tweak or automate via slow/random LFO or envelope follower, synced to your main groove, into Size CV—this will gate the “window” of the repeat and create those chopped, pitch-jumpy effects. - Trig/Gate Input: Sequence activation in spots where you want “fills”, rhythmic breaks, or drop buildups. - Triplet Toggle: Add or remove for rhythm complexity, but in dnb/dubstep, rapid 1/32 and 1/64 repeats are very effective for the “machine gun bass” feel. - Post-Slice FX: Try running the output into a filter with heavy modulation and/or saturation to accentuate aggressive timbre changes.

Patch Example:
- Synth Bass Out → Slice Audio In
- Euclidean Rhythm Generator → Clock In
- S&H or Wogglebug → Size CV In
- Stepped Gate Seq → Trig Gate In

3. Haunting Atmospheric Pads

Technique:
- Input: Long, evolving samples, slow pads, or granulated textures into Audio In. - Size Modulation: Subtle slow LFOs (e.g. sine, triangle at <1Hz) or smooth random (wobbly) CVs into Size CV—changing repeat length gently to “smear” the pad sound and introduce a shifting, fractured haze. - Triplet Toggle: Down (removed) for straight feel, up (included) for unstable, stuttering ghostliness. - Manual Trig: Use the Trig button yourself at moments to freeze and repeat textures, or sequence it for timed “pad swells”. - External CV: Modulate the input signal’s filter cutoff or waveshaper in sync with the repeat for evolving overtones. - Reverb: Add heavy reverb/delay after Slice output to heighten the ethereal effect.

Patch Example:
- Complex Pad/Field Recording → Slice Audio In
- Slow LFO → Size CV In
- Manual or slow gate → Trig Gate In
- Slice Out → Lush Reverb

Experimental Tips

• Buffer “Freeze” Exploitation: Use latching mode for drone textures—trigger repeat and let it ride for static, looping fragments.
• Clock at Audio Rate: Input a VCO as Clock to produce digital audio-rate repeats—yields bit-crushed, granular textures.
• CV Pairings: Use the 2hp Play, Rnd, or Loop for further sample processing, as suggested in the manual; mult LFOs/random to both size (Slice) and pitch (Play).

Key Creative Patch Points

• Size CV Input is your main modulation lane: fast changes = glitchy, slow = evolving/refracted.
• Clock Input lets you sync or destabilize groove: try odd rhythms, clock swings.
• Manual vs. Sequenced Activation: Use both for maximum organic variation.
• Triplet Toggle: Rhythmic “flavor” overlay—experiment liberally!

For more ideas and patch inspiration:
Full 2hp Slice Manual (PDF)
Generated With Eurorack Processor