disting mk4

Expert Sleepers 4HP
fw 4.28
UTILITY OSCILLATOR VCO LFO ENVELOPE QUANTIZER DELAY REVERB SAMPLER FILTER EFFECTS RANDOM CLOCK MIDI ATTENUVERTER

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Compact multi-algorithm module with 100+ algorithms covering VCO, LFO, quantizer, envelope, delay, reverb, sampler, filter, effects, logic and more. Algorithm selected via encoder menu.

Patch Ideas · 4

Quantized random melody
A6 Quantizer forces a random CV onto a musical scale so a VCO plays in key.
Walkthrough
  1. Press the S encoder to open the menu, twist to Algorithm, press S to confirm.
  2. Twist S to A-6 Quantizer, press S to load.
  3. Patch a noise or sample-and-hold CV source OUT into the disting X input.
  4. Patch the disting A output into your VCO 1V/oct input.
  5. Turn the Z knob fully clockwise until the display briefly shows the scale name 'Triad' or 'Pent' (Z positive = scale select).
  6. Patch the disting B output into your envelope trigger input (B fires a 10ms pulse whenever the quantized note changes).
  7. Play a clock or LFO into the X source so the voltage drifts, and listen.
Signal out A output — quantized 1V/oct pitch CV; B output — 5V trigger pulse on every note change.
Listen for A VCO stepping through the notes of the selected scale. Rotate Z through scales while it plays to morph from Chromatic to Major to Pentatonic — the melody stays in key as you change.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: disting mk4, Noise/S&H, VCO, Envelope. Signals: 1 cv, 1 pitch, 1 trigger.disting mk4Noise/S&HVCOEnvelopeAlgorithm: A-6 QuantizerZ knob: scale select (positive = scale, negative = trigger mode)XcvA1v/octBtrigOUTcv1V/oct1v/octTrigtrig1231. raw pitch CV2. quantized pitch3. trigger on note changecvpitchtrigger
Tap-tempo delay/echo
B4 Clockable Delay/Echo locks delay time to a clock on Y, with Z setting feedback.
Walkthrough
  1. Press S, twist to Algorithm, press S, twist to B-4 Clockable Delay/Echo, press S to load.
  2. Patch your audio source (voice, drum, synth) OUT into the disting X input.
  3. Patch a clock or gate output (any rising edge over 1V) into the disting Y input — the time between pulses sets the delay time.
  4. Turn the Z knob to about 2 o'clock for roughly 60–70% feedback.
  5. Patch the disting A output into your mixer or next effect — at default parameter 1 = 0, A carries the wet/dry mix and B carries delay only.
  6. Press and release the Z knob twice in rhythm to tap a tempo if you do not have a clock source.
  7. Adjust Z live to dial feedback from short slap to self-oscillating runaway.
Signal out A output — mix of dry signal and delay at audio level; B output — delay-only (wet) tap for parallel routing.
Listen for Rhythmic echoes locked to your clock. Tap Z twice and the delay time jumps to match — push Z past 3 o'clock and the repeats build into a feedback drone.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: disting mk4, Source, Clock, Mixer. Signals: 2 audio, 1 clock.disting mk4SourceClockMixerAlgorithm: B-4 Clockable Delay/EchoZ knob: feedback (press Z = tap tempo)Param 1 = 0: A = mix, B = delay onlyXaudioYclkAaudioOUTaudioOUTclkINaudio1231. audio in2. sets delay time3. wet/dry mixaudioclock
Clocked wavetable LFO sweep
K2 Clockable Wavetable LFO scans a wavetable from the SD card, locked to a master clock, to modulate filter cutoff.
Walkthrough
  1. Make sure a MicroSD card with wavetables is inserted in the front slot.
  2. Press S, twist to Algorithm, twist to K-2 Clockable Wavetable LFO, press S to load.
  3. Press S again, twist to Parameter, and with Hold-S pick parameter 0 (Chooses the wavetable) — twist to a wavetable number you like.
  4. Patch a clock output (any pulse over 1V) into the disting X input — the cycle time of the LFO follows the clock.
  5. Patch the disting A output into your filter cutoff CV input.
  6. Leave the Y input unpatched for now (Y sweeps through wavetable waveforms; try plugging a slow LFO into Y later).
  7. Turn the Z knob to display '1' (no division), then twist to '-2' to run the LFO at half the clock rate, or '+2' for double.
Signal out A output — wavetable LFO CV with attenuverter (param 2); B output — second attenuverted copy (param 3) for a second modulation destination.
Listen for The filter opens and closes on a complex wavetable shape, locked rhythmically to your clock. Turning Z divides or multiplies the rate in whole steps; plug Y into a slow LFO to hear the waveform itself morph.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: disting mk4, Clock, Filter, VCA. Signals: 2 cv, 1 clock.disting mk4ClockFilterVCAAlgorithm: K-2 Clockable Wavetable LFOZ knob: integer multiplier/divider of clockParam 0: wavetable numberXclkAcvBcvOUTclkCutoffcvCVcv121. sets LFO cycle time2. second attenuverted copycvclock
Dual Euclidean drum patterns
H5 Dual Euclidean Patterns turns one clock into two related Euclidean gate trains, with Z setting the second pattern's pulse count.
Walkthrough
  1. Press S, twist to Algorithm, twist to H-5 Dual Euclidean Patterns, press S to load.
  2. Patch your master clock output into the disting X input (each rising edge over 1V advances one step).
  3. Hold S and twist to Parameter 0 (Steps), set to 16.
  4. Release, then Hold S and twist to Parameter 1 (Pulses pattern 1), set to 5 — this is output A's density.
  5. Turn the Z knob to set pattern 2's pulse count live (1–16 pulses over 16 steps) — watch the display.
  6. Patch disting A output into your kick drum trigger input.
  7. Patch disting B output into your snare or hat trigger input.
  8. Optional: patch a reset pulse into the Y input to re-sync the pattern to bar 1.
  9. Start the clock and listen.
Signal out A output — Euclidean gate train 1 (pulses set by parameter 1); B output — Euclidean gate train 2 (pulses set live by Z).
Listen for Two interlocking rhythmic pulse patterns from one clock. Rotate Z while it plays to shift the second pattern from sparse (1) to dense (16) hits without stopping the groove.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 4 connections. Modules: disting mk4, Clock, Reset, Kick, Snare. Signals: 3 trigger, 1 clock.disting mk4ClockResetKickSnareAlgorithm: H-5 Dual Euclidean PatternsZ knob: pulses for pattern 2 (B)Param 0 = 16 (steps), Param 1 = 5 (pulses pattern 1): XclkYtrigAtrigBtrigOUTclkOUTtrigTrigtrigTrigtrig12341. advances pattern2. optional reset3. pattern 14. pattern 2triggerclock

Behaviors

Precision Math (A group) select A1–A8

A1 Precision Adder (X+Y+offset/A, X-Y-offset/B), A2 Four-Quadrant Multiplier (ring mod/VCA), A3 Full-wave Rectifier, A4 Min/Max, A5 Lin/Exp Converter, A6 Quantizer, A7 Comparator, A8 Dual Waveshaper.

Sample, Slew & Tracking (B group) select B1–B8

B1 Sample and Hold, B2 Slew Rate Limiter (portamento), B3 Pitch & Envelope Tracker, B4 Clockable Delay/Echo, B5 LFO, B6 Clockable LFO, B7 VCO with linear FM, B8 VCO with waveshaping.

Delay & Processing (C–D groups) select C1–D8

C1 Counter, C2 Voltage-Controlled Delay, C3–C4 Clockable Ping Pong Delay, C5 Resonator, C6 Vocoder, C7 Phaser, C8 Bit Crusher; D1 DJ Filter, D2 Tape Delay, D3 Waveform Animator, D4 State Variable Filter, D5–D8 LP/HP/BP/Notch Filters.

Envelopes & VCA (E–F groups) select E1–F8

E1 AR Envelope, E2 AR Envelope+VCA, E3 Dual AR, E4–E6 Compressors, E7 Euro-to-Buchla, E8 Buchla-to-Euro; F1–F4 Clockable AD Envelopes (with mute/gate/trigger/VCA), F5–F8 Shift Register Random CVs/Quantized/Triggers.

Pitch Reference & Clock (G group) select G1–G8

G1 ES-1 Emulation, G2 ES-2 Emulation, G3–G4 Pitch/Frequency Reference, G5 Tuner, G6 Clock, G7 MIDI/CV, G8 CV/MIDI.

Dual & Utility (H group) select H1–H8

H1 Crossfade/Pan, H2 Dual Sample & Hold, H3–H4 Dual Quantizer, H5 Dual Euclidean Patterns, H6 Dual Delayed Pulse Generator, H7 Noise, H8 Quantizer 2.

Audio Playback & Sampling (I–J groups) select I1–J8

I1–I7 Audio Playback variants (basic, clocked, V/Oct, Z speed, reverse, scrub, dual); J1–J3 MIDI File Playback, J4–J6 Audio Playback (end CV, recorder, multisample), J7 Mono Audio Recorder, J8 Crossfade.

Wavetable & SD Delay (K group) select K1–K8

K1 Wavetable VCO, K2 Clockable Wavetable LFO, K3 Wavetable Waveshaper, K4 Clockable Wavetable Envelope, K5 Programmable Quantizer, K6–K8 Clockable SD Delay variants.

Reverb, Filter & Chorus (L group) select L1–L8

L1 Stereo Reverb, L2 Mono-to-Stereo Reverb, L3 Dual Reverb, L4 Dual Vowel Filter, L5 Stereo Chorus, L6 Mono Chorus, L7 Mixer, L8 Gate.

Logic & Modulation (M–N groups) select M1–N8

M1 Delayed LFO, M2 Scaled LFO, M3 Logic, M4 Half-wave Rectifier, M5 Stereo Filter, M6 Stereo Tape Delay, M7 Granular Pitch Shifter, M8 Chaos; N1 Switch, N2 Rotary, N3 Attenuverter/Offset, N4 Low Pass Gate, N5 Pulsar VCO, N6 Phase Shifter, N7 Frequency Shifter, N8 Clockable SD Ping Pong.

Knob Recorder hold Z + turn (in supported algorithms)

Records Z knob movements into a loop (up to ~14 seconds). Release to begin looped playback. Turn Z slightly to regain manual control.

Tap Tempo press Z (in clockable algorithms)

Pressing Z sets delay/LFO time from interval between presses. Division is factored in for subdivided algorithms.

Controls

Global S (Encoder) Rotary encoder/push button. Press to enter menu; turn to scroll; press to confirm.
Hold S + turn = select parameter number · menu: Algorithm / Save / Load / Help / Settings / Calibrate
Global Z Knob Algorithm-specific control knob. Also has push-button function for tap-tempo or knob recorder.
Summed with Z CV input · press Z = tap tempo or toggle knob recorder in many algorithms
Global Z CV Input CV input summed with Z knob for real-time control of Z parameter.
Top input jack · LED illuminated (red=positive, blue=negative)

I/O

IN · 3

  • Z CV ±5V CV
    Summed with Z knob; controls Z parameter of current algorithm
  • X ±5V typical
    Algorithm-specific input; function depends on selected algorithm
  • Y ±5V typical
    Algorithm-specific input; function depends on selected algorithm

OUT · 2

  • A ±8V typical
    Primary output; function depends on selected algorithm
  • B ±8V typical
    Secondary output; function depends on selected algorithm