SSF — Autodyne

• Manual PDF

Steady State Fate Autodyne Manual (PDF)

Creative Modulation and Sound Design with SSF Autodyne

The SSF Autodyne is a 4hp analog auto-compressor/distortion module with CV-controllable sidechain, character-driven gain stages, and a blend for NY-style parallel compression. Because it fuses compression, distortion, and sidechain manipulation in a small package, it’s highly versatile—not just for mixing duties but as a driving force for fresh, animated modular tones.

Below you'll find some focused strategies for exploiting the Autodyne in three styles: distorted percussion, aggressive basslines, and haunting atmospheric pads.

General Tips

• COMP (Combo Ratio/Threshold/Gain) Control: Main shaper. Left = mild, to right = heavy compression & saturation.
• GAIN: Output gain control—crank for hard clipping/distortion, or keep low for transparency.
• Side Chain Input & Filter: External or internal (normalled) sidechain; sculpt what triggers compression with HP slope filter.
• BLEND: Mixes unprocessed signal with compressed/distorted signal. Far left = dry, far right = wet.

1. Distorted Percussive Sounds

Patch Example

1. Audio Input: Feed in drum hits, complex percussion, or a basic analog drum sound.
2. BLEND: Start around 75–100% wet for maximum compression/distortion impact.
3. COMP: Sweep right to get brutal squashing. Extreme settings for "smacky" transient attacks.
4. GAIN: Crank to taste for over-the-top distortion and drive.
5. Sidechain Filter: Turn on, set moderate HPF to allow sharp transients but tame subby body (prevents "flabby" low end from choking the compressor).
6. CV Modulation: Modulate COMP or GAIN with an envelope (synced to drum trigger) for per-hit intensity change, or apply stepped random CV for “broken tape machine” effects.

Pro Tip:

For “all-buttons-in” type FET compression, push COMP to max, GAIN to max, BLEND to max—with sidechain HP engaged for punchy, techy drum busses.

2. Crazy Basslines (Dubstep, DnB, Electro)

Patch Example

1. Audio Input: Use a wobbly VCO or sampled reese bass.
2. COMP: Center or just past for aggressive, pumping compression. Right past center = dirty, rowdy.
3. GAIN: Dial up for saturation. Full-up = gnarly bass growls.
4. Sidechain Input: Patch a kick or modulating CV (like an LFO) to the sidechain; this will "duck" or animate compression with the kick/LFO rhythm.
5. Sidechain Filter: Engage for tightness—turn up HPF so sidechain responds less to sub frequencies (avoids muddy compression).
6. BLEND: Start wet, then back off a bit to retain original transient snap.
7. CV Modulate: Modulate BLEND or COMP with sequencer-patterned LFOs or random voltages for basslines that “breathe” or glitch.

Pro Tip:

Turn GAIN up to the edge of tearing and feed in pitch- or filter-modulated bass for classic neuro/dubstep stabs. Sidechain to drums for instant “pumping” effects.

3. Haunting Atmospheric Pads

Patch Example

1. Audio Input: Long, evolving VCO wave, sample loop, or dense reverb wash.
2. COMP: Set low (left of center) for smooth, slow, transparent compression; higher for “ghostly” pumping.
3. GAIN: Low to medium for gentle grit & warmth. Higher for eerie, lo-fi sounds.
4. BLEND: Use about halfway; full wet can sound “withering” and otherworldly. Experiment for blend of clarity and fogginess.
5. Sidechain Input: Patch a slow LFO, noise, or random stepped voltages to modulate the sidechain—this creates undulating, spectral volume swells and spectral dips.
6. Sidechain Filter: Experiment with triple slope HPF to let low mids pass through, highlighting “hollow” or “chilly” upper mids.
7. CV Modulate: Automate BLEND or COMP with subtle slow CV for movement and depth.

Pro Tip:

Feed the output into a big reverb or granular processor for endless, morphing atmospheres. Use random gates/envelopes to animate COMP or GAIN for evolving “whispers.”

Bonus: Stereo Processing

• If using two Autodynes, match controls closely for stereo bus compression, or mismatch slightly for wide, animated stereo fields on pads, drums, or complex textures.

More Modulation Ideas

• Envelope Following: Patch envelope followers to COMP or GAIN for dynamic, audio-reactive compression.
• Audio-Rate: Try modulating GAIN or COMP with audio-rate signals for FM-like amplitude distortion.
• Random Gates: Plug random clocks or gates into sidechain input for unpredictable stutter & glitch.

Want to patch all this digitally, or auto-generate wild modular recipes? Browse the tools at:
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