FALISTRI

Frap Tools 18HP
FUNCTION ENVELOPE LFO SLEW VCA

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Dual analog function generator + dual cascaded frequency divider + four-quadrant multiplier + linear slew limiter. Each generator: triangle-core, four stages, rise/fall + independent shapes, loop/transient/hold modes, quadrature and AHDSR combinations.

Patch Ideas · 10

★ AHDSR via quadrature
Yellow Play Mode: Transient · Green Play Mode: Hold · Quadrature switch right · yellow Rise = Attack, yellow Fall = Release, green Rise = Decay, green Fall = Sustain time · green attenuverter sets Sustain level · take Max Output · fires full AHDSR from one gate patched to yellow trigger.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 2 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Gate, Yellow, VCA. Signals: 1 cv, 1 gate.FALISTRIGateYellowVCAYellow Mode: TransientGreen Mode: HoldQuadrature: ONGreen Attenuverter: Sustain levelMax OutcvOutgateTriggateCVcvcvgate
★ Bouncing ball envelope
Yellow Loop mode · yellow attenuverted output → yellow Fall CV · each cycle feeds back and shortens the fall · envelope self-accelerates like a bouncing ball · trigger manual button to restart.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 2 modules and 1 connection. Modules: FALISTRI, Yellow. Signals: 1 cv.FALISTRIYellowYellow Mode: LoopYellow Attenuverter: ~2 o'clockFall CVcvAttenuverted Outcv11. positive FB shortens fallcv
Undertone via On Rest
Green back-panel On Rest · feed steady clock into green trigger at ~300 Hz · green Rise/Fall set for ~900 Hz function cycle · green now divides incoming trigger rate by /3, producing a sub-octave formant · bipolar output through a VCA into mixer.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 2 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Clock, Green, VCA. Signals: 1 audio, 1 trigger.FALISTRIClockGreenVCAGreen Back Switch: On RestGreen Mode: TransientOuttrigTrigtrigBipolar OutaudioInaudioaudiotrigger
★ Single-module synth voice
Yellow as audio oscillator (Time Scale down, Loop mode, V/Oct from sequencer) · green as envelope (Transient, triggered by gate) · leave 4QM inputs unpatched — semi-norm brings yellow unipolar into 4QM1 and green bipolar into 4QM2 · 4QM output is oscillator × envelope — the complete voice.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 3 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Sequencer, Yellow, Gate, Green, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 pitch, 1 gate.FALISTRISequencerYellowGateGreenOutput4QM inputs: unpatched (semi-norm)Loop, Time Scale shortTransient, Time Scale long4QM OutaudioPitch1v/octV/Oct1v/octOutgateTriggateInaudioaudiopitchgate
Ring-modded dual oscillator
Both generators at audio rate (Time Scale down, Loop) · yellow tuned to fundamental via V/Oct, green tuned an interval above by detuning Rise/Fall · patch yellow bipolar to 4QM1 and green bipolar to 4QM2 · 4QM output is their ring modulation · modulate Level CV with an envelope for dynamic timbre.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 5 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Sequencer, Yellow, Green, Envelope, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 1 cv, 1 pitch.FALISTRISequencerYellowGreenEnvelopeOutputLoop, audio rateLoop, audio rate4QM In 1audio4QM In 2audio4QM Level CVcv4QM OutaudioPitch1v/octV/Oct1v/octBipolar OutaudioBipolar OutaudioOutcvInaudioaudiocvpitch
Clocked envelope with divided variant
Clock into yellow trigger fires an envelope every beat · patch same clock into DCFD Input 1 to get /2 and /4 divisions · /4 triggers green for slow modulation envelopes · one clock now drives three synced but different envelope rates.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 5 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Clock, Yellow, Green, VCA 1, Filter. Signals: 2 cv, 1 trigger, 2 clock.FALISTRIClockYellowGreenVCA 1FilterYellow Mode: TransientGreen Mode: TransientDCFD Range: highDCFD In 1clkDCFD Out 2trigOutclkTrigclkUnipolar OutcvTrigtrigUnipolar OutcvCVcvCutoffcvcvtriggerclock
Pitch smoothing via slew
Sequencer pitch into Slew input · Slew Rise short, Slew Fall long · portamento glide on descending notes only · output to VCO V/Oct · works as CV smoother for S&H pitches or sample-and-hold.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 2 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Sequencer, VCO. Signals: 2 pitch.FALISTRISequencerVCOSlew Rise: CCW (fast)Slew Fall: CW (slow)Slew In1v/octSlew Out1v/octPitch1v/octV/Oct1v/octpitch
Force Loop for fake delay
Green in Transient mode · patch EOR output from yellow → green Force Loop input · each yellow cycle forces green to loop briefly then stop · green fires an amplitude envelope that retriggers for the yellow rise-stage duration · creates echo-like envelope repeats.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 3 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Gate, Yellow, Green, VCA. Signals: 1 cv, 2 gate.FALISTRIGateYellowGreenVCAYellow Mode: TransientGreen Mode: TransientOutgateTriggateEORgateForce LoopgateUnipolar OutcvCVcvcvgate
Sub-octave audio generator
Patch VCO square wave into DCFD Input 1 · DCFD Range switch low (bipolar ±5 V) · take DCFD Out 1 (-1 oct square) and DCFD Out 2 (-2 oct square) into a mixer with the original · fat three-octave unison bass.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 4 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, VCO, Mixer. Signals: 4 audio.FALISTRIVCOMixerDCFD Range 1: low (bipolar)DCFD Range 2: low (bipolar)DCFD In 1audioDCFD Out 1audioDCFD Out 2audioSquareaudioIn 1audioIn 2audioIn 3audioaudio
Complex LFO with waveshaping
Yellow Loop, Time Scale long · set Rise Shape CCW (log), Fall Shape CW (expo) · asymmetric bipolar LFO with custom slope profile · V/Oct input from a separate slow LFO inversely modulates rate · very fluid modulation source.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 2 connections. Modules: FALISTRI, Slow LFO, Yellow, Filter. Signals: 2 cv.FALISTRISlow LFOYellowFilterRise Shape: CCWFall Shape: CWLoop, Time Scale longOutcvV/OctcvBipolar OutcvCutoffcv11. inverse rate modcv

Behaviors

Three play modes per generator Play Mode switch

Loop: function auto-retriggers at end — free-running LFO or oscillator. Transient: one-shot rise-then-fall (AD) fired by each trigger. Hold: signal above ~1.5 V holds at peak while high, falls on gate-low (AHR envelope). Time between hold and rise equals Rise time.

Shapes independent of times Rise/Fall Shape knobs

Waveshaper sits after the triangle core, so shape morph does not change period. Any blending between logarithmic and exponential is freely achievable. Enables audio-rate waveshaping when generator runs as oscillator — two pots become a minimal waveshaper.

Retrigger depends on stage trigger during active function

Rise stage: ignored. Hold stage: ignored. Fall stage: jumps back up to the level at which fall began, fires new rise. Rest stage: fires new cycle. This lets FALISTRI produce clock-divided envelopes naturally — fast triggers drop through while slow cycles reset.

V/Oct inverse tracking patch V/Oct input

One CV patched to V/Oct inversely modulates both Rise and Fall simultaneously. Positive CV shortens both (pitch goes up when used as oscillator); negative lengthens. This is the pitch input when running as audio-rate oscillator.

Force Loop overrides switch gate-high at Force Loop In

While high, the generator loops regardless of Transient/Hold setting. Release returns to switch-selected mode. Audio-rate signals at Force Loop produce rapid mode-toggling for complex sync-like effects.

Green On Rest retrigger back-panel switch (up = On Rest)

Green's retrigger only acts during rest stage. Running green faster than incoming triggers creates subharmonic division (/2, /3, /4…) of the master rate — formant/undertone generator behaviour found on EMS and old analog modulars.

Quadrature chaining Quadrature switch right + green in Hold

Enables chained envelope stages between the two generators. Sequence: yellow rise → green rise → yellow fall → green fall → cycle. With green in Hold + attenuverters for relative levels, this generates a full AHDSR envelope where yellow = A+R, green = H+D and Hold level.

4QM semi-normalled synth voice leave 4QM inputs unpatched

4QM Input 1 ← yellow unipolar, 4QM Input 2 ← green bipolar by default. Run yellow as envelope and green as audio oscillator to get a one-module synth voice (oscillator × envelope VCA) at the 4QM output.

DCFD as divider or flip-flop feed signal to DCFD

Clock input → /2, /4 outputs (classic division). Trigger input → flip-flop (output changes state on each trigger). Audio input → sub-octave generator producing -1 and -2 octaves. Random clock input → variable-length gate streams. Semi-normalled cascade lets one input feed both dividers.

4QM behaviour follows polarity bipolar vs unipolar signal at 4QM inputs

Two quadrants: unipolar + bipolar — acts as linear VCA (AM). Four quadrants: both bipolar — ring modulation. Both unipolar: two-quadrant multiplier (simpler VCA with polarity shifts). Bandwidth DC–20 kHz+ lets it double as audio-rate ring mod.

Controls

per generator (yellow, green) Trigger/Gate Button Manual trigger. LED lit when generator currently in rising stage of a To Rise cycle.
momentary · mirrors Trigger/Gate Input
per generator Rise Time Rising stage duration.
Long range: 0.9 ms – 10 s · Short range: per Time Scale switch · CV via Rise CV input
per generator Fall Time Falling stage duration. In Hold mode, time after hold releases.
Long range: 0.9 ms – 10 s · CV via Fall CV input · V/Oct input inverse-modulates both
per generator Rise Shape Morphs the rising curve.
CCW: logarithmic · noon: linear · CW: exponential · independent of time
per generator Fall Shape Morphs the falling curve.
CCW: logarithmic · noon: linear · CW: exponential · waveshaper is post-core
per generator Attenuverter Scales the Attenuverted Output between +10 V and -10 V of the unipolar function.
CCW: inverted unipolar · noon: zero · CW: positive unipolar
per generator Time Scale Switch Selects Rise/Fall range.
up: long times (envelope/LFO) · down: short times (audio rate / microsecond LFO)
per generator Play Mode Switch Trigger behaviour.
Loop: self-retriggers (LFO/oscillator) · Transient: one-shot AD · Hold: AHR (holds while gate high)
Green generator only Green Retrigger Switch (on back) Changes green retrigger behaviour.
down: yellow-style retrigger always · up: On Rest — retrigger only during rest stage (formant/undertone generator)
Dual-generator Quadrature Switch Chains the two generators into an interdependent quadrature pair. Forces green to To Rise mode.
right: quadrature ON · disables green's retrigger · green must be set to Hold for AHDSR
Dual Cascaded Frequency Divider DCFD Range 1 / Range 2 Output voltage range of divider stages.
high: unipolar 0 V / +10 V · low: bipolar ±5 V
Linear Slew Limiter Slew Rise / Slew Fall Independent rising / falling slew times for the slew input.
linear · max 1.25 V/ms slew rate
Four-Quadrant Multiplier 4QM Level Bipolar attenuator scaling the multiplier output.
±unity · 4-LED quadrant indicator matrix

I/O

IN · 9

  • Trigger/Gate Input threshold >1.5 V · max ~6 kHz · 80 µs min pulse GATE
    Fires the generator. Gate extends Hold stage in Hold mode; audio-rate signal accepted.
  • Rise CV Input ±10 V usable · 15 V knob offset CV
    Modulates rise time. Positive CV lengthens.
  • Fall CV Input ±10 V usable · 15 V knob offset CV
    Modulates fall time. Positive CV lengthens.
  • V/Oct Input 1 V/oct inverted tracking CV
    Inverse-tracks both Rise and Fall. Positive CV shortens times, negative lengthens. Pitch source when generator is used as oscillator.
  • Force Loop Input threshold >3 V GATE
    Gate-high forces the play mode to Loop regardless of physical switch position. Accepts audio-rate signal for experimental effects.
  • DCFD Input 1 / 2 audio or gate · threshold >3 V GATE
    Gate/trigger/audio input to frequency dividers. Semi-normalled in series — patching Input 2 only still produces 1/2 and 1/4 outputs.
  • 4QM Input 1 ±10 V bipolar · unattenuated
    First multiplier input. Semi-normalled to yellow unipolar output.
    NORM → yellow unipolar when unpatched
  • 4QM Input 2 ±10 V bipolar · unattenuated
    Second multiplier input. Semi-normalled to green bipolar output.
    NORM → green bipolar when unpatched
  • Slew Input bipolar, audio/CV CV
    Signal slewed by the Linear Slew Limiter.

OUT · 9

  • Bipolar Output (two dots) ±5 V AUDIO
    ±5 V bipolar version of the function. Useful when using generator as audio-rate oscillator or bipolar LFO.
  • Unipolar Output (one dot) 0 – 10 V ENV
    0 V / +10 V unipolar envelope output. Classic envelope feed.
  • Attenuverted Output 0 – 10 V to 0 – -10 V
    Attenuverter-scaled copy of the unipolar output.
  • End Of Rise (EOR) ~10 V gate GATE
    Gate high for the duration of the falling stage (Transient/Loop mode). In Hold mode stays high through fall + held level.
  • End Of Fall (EOF) ~10 V gate GATE
    Gate high from end-of-fall to start of next rise (Transient/Hold mode). Fast trigger in Loop mode at each cycle boundary.
  • DCFD Output 1 / 2 Range switch: unipolar 0/+10 V or bipolar ±5 V
    Successive /2 divisions. Output 1 = /2, Output 2 = /4 of input rising edges.
  • 4QM Output ±10 V · max gain ~6 dB AUDIO
    Four-quadrant multiplier result. VCA with bipolar signal → AM; both bipolar → ring mod; both unipolar → 2-quadrant.
  • Slew Output passes input range
    Slew-limited version of Slew Input with independent rise/fall times.
  • Max Output (quadrature section) 0 – 10 V ENV
    Maximum of the two attenuverted outputs. Analog-OR for combining both generators into one envelope.