Piston Honda mk III

Industrial Music Electronics 17HP
fw 1.1
OSCILLATOR VCO WAVESHAPER

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Dual wavetable oscillator with 512-wave 8×8×8 morphing cube. Per-oscillator thru-zero FM, unison detune, waveshaper input mode, 8-slot preset manager. Shared X/Y/Z sliders with per-osc select and lock.

Patch Ideas · 10

★ Wavetable lead with Link unison
Osc B Link ON · Osc B Fine Tune slightly off center (~10 cents) · X slider 3 · Y slider 4 · Z slider 2 · slow LFO → Y CV (depth ~30%) · Mix output → filter → VCA · detuned dual-osc lead with slowly morphing wavetable position across the Y plane
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 7 modules and 6 connections. Signals: 3 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch.Piston Honda mk IIISequencerLFOFilterVCAEnvelopeOutputOsc B: Link ON · Fine: +10 centsX: 3 · Y: 4 · Z: 21V/Oct Osc A1v/octY CVcvMixaudioPitch1v/octOutcvInaudioOutaudioCVcvInaudioOutaudioOutcvInaudioaudiocvpitch
★ Thru-zero FM bell
Osc A as carrier · Osc B Link OFF · Osc B output normalled to Osc A FM (no cable) · Osc A FM attenuator ~1 o'clock · Osc B Frequency set ~ratio 1:2.76 for bell · X 2 Y 1 Z 1 (sine-like carrier) · envelope → Osc A CV (modulating FM index via attenuverter) · DX-style bell voice from the internal normal
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, Sequencer, Envelope, VCA. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 pitch.Piston Honda mk IIISequencerEnvelopeVCAOsc A: carrier · FM attn: ~1 o'clockOsc B: Link OFF · Freq ratio ~2.76X: 2 · Y: 1 · Z: 11V/Oct Osc A1v/octCV Osc AcvAaudioPitch1v/octOutcvInaudio11. FM index swellaudiocvpitch
Waveshaper on external sine
External sine VCO → Osc A FM/Ext In · Osc A Mode: Ext In · large Osc A knob = manual gain · envelope → Osc A CV (VCA gain) · X slider scans harmonic complexity per note · classic FM waveshaping voice using the wavetable cube as nonlinear shaper
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, VCO, Envelope, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv.Piston Honda mk IIIVCOEnvelopeOutputOsc A: Mode Ext InX: scan 1-8 · Y: 3 · Z: 1Wave: SineFM/Ext In Osc AaudioCV Osc AcvAaudioSineaudioOutcvInaudio11. VCA gainaudiocv
★ Hard-sync wavetable scream
Osc A: master pitch · Osc B: Sync input patched from Osc A (use a mult or patch Osc A out to Osc B Sync) · Osc B Frequency 1 octave above A · sweep LFO → Y CV (both oscs selected) · Osc B Select only for knob edits · classic sync-sweep plus moving wavetable = aggressive lead
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 5 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, Sequencer, Mult, LFO, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv, 1 pitch, 1 trigger.Piston Honda mk IIISequencerMultLFOOutputOsc A: base pitchOsc B: one octave up, Link OFF1V/Oct Osc A1v/octSync Osc BtrigY CVcvAaudioBaudioPitch1v/octInaudioOuttrigOutcvInaudioaudiocvpitchtrigger
Stereo dual-osc patch
Osc A pitched at unison with Osc B but separate 1V/oct inputs for chord · X/Y/Z different per osc (select one at a time to tweak independently) · Osc A → stereo L · Osc B → stereo R · Waveform CV disabled on Osc B (menu) so X/Y/Z only affects A · Z CV (slow LFO) scans banks on A only — asymmetric stereo morph
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 5 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, Chord Seq A, Chord Seq B, LFO, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv, 2 pitch.Piston Honda mk IIIChord Seq AChord Seq BLFOOutputOsc A: selected · X 4 Y 2 Z 1Osc B: deselected, Waveform CV Off · X 1 Y 5 Z 31V/Oct Osc A1v/oct1V/Oct Osc B1v/octZ CVcvAaudioBaudioPitch1v/octPitch1v/octOutcvLaudioRaudioaudiocvpitch
Preset morph performance
8 presets authored with increasing harmonic density · Preset Scope: Waves Only (pitch stays musical) · CTL: CV+Offset · slow sequencer ramp → Preset CV · Morph mode ON · each note transitions voice character across 8 snapshots · stable pitch, fluid timbre — Star Wars organ territory
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, Sequencer, Ramp, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 pitch.Piston Honda mk IIISequencerRampOutput8 presets: low → high densityPreset Scope: Waves Only · CTL: CV+Offset · Morph ON1V/Oct Osc A1v/octPreset CVcvMixaudioPitch1v/octOutcvInaudioaudiocvpitch
Glitchy wavetable drum
Osc A: percussive envelope on CV · Morph Enable: Z off (hard bank transitions) · stepped random → Z CV · each trigger lands on a different wavetable bank · Fast X/Y slow modulation · Unison: +OCT for thickness · produces an ever-mutating digital drum voice
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 6 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, Trigger, Envelope, S&H, Noise, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 3 cv, 2 trigger.Piston Honda mk IIITriggerEnvelopeS&HNoiseOutputOsc A: Morph Enable Z off · Unison +OCTX: 2 · Y: 3CV Osc AcvZ CVcvAaudioOuttrigTrigtrigOutcvTrigtrigIncvOutcvOutcvInaudio11. each hit = new bankaudiocvtrigger
Cross-modulated pair
Osc A out → Osc B FM In (attenuator ~11 o'clock) · Osc B Mix/A out patched to Osc A FM In (via a mult) · small attenuation both ways · two-way FM creates complex quasi-stable timbres · X/Y/Z mild modulation · pitch tracked on Osc A only, Osc B at ratio by ear
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 6 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, Sequencer, Mult A, Mult B, Output. Signals: 5 audio, 1 pitch.Piston Honda mk IIISequencerMult AMult BOutputOsc A: Mode Osc · FM attn: 11 o'clockOsc B: Mode Osc, Link OFF · FM attn: 11 o'clock1V/Oct Osc A1v/octFM/Ext In Osc BaudioFM/Ext In Osc AaudioAaudioBaudioMixaudioPitch1v/octInaudioOutaudioInaudioOutaudioInaudio11. two-way FMaudiopitch
Trig-Random preset on accent
CTL: Trig Random · accent trigger → Preset CV · preset randomizes on every accented note · Preset Scope: Waves Only · pitch stays stable, voice character changes unpredictably on accents · use Reload Presets to return to known states between performances
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, Sequencer, Accent Seq, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 pitch, 1 trigger.Piston Honda mk IIISequencerAccent SeqOutputCTL: Trig Random · Preset Scope: Waves Only1V/Oct Osc A1v/octPreset CVtrigMixaudioPitch1v/octGatetrigInaudio11. randomize on accentaudiopitchtrigger
Dual waveshaper stereo
Osc A Mode: Ext · Osc B Mode: Ext · different external sources patched to each FM In (breaks the self-feedback warning) · Select buttons flip between A and B independently so X/Y/Z can be dialed per-osc before locking · Osc A → L · Osc B → R · stereo waveshaping rig with independent wavetable processing per side
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 6 connections. Modules: Piston Honda mk III, VCO L, VCO R, Envelope, Output. Signals: 4 audio, 2 cv.Piston Honda mk IIIVCO LVCO REnvelopeOutputOsc A: Mode Ext · X/Y/Z set while only A selectedOsc B: Mode Ext · X/Y/Z set while only B selectedFM/Ext In Osc AaudioFM/Ext In Osc BaudioCV Osc AcvCV Osc BcvAaudioBaudioOutaudioOutaudioOutcvLaudioRaudioaudiocv

Behaviors

8×8×8 wavetable cube X/Y/Z slider or CV movement

512 16-bit waveforms arranged as a 3D cube. X/Y scan 64 waveforms within a Z bank; Z selects one of 8 SD-loaded .wav banks. Smooth morphing on all axes by default. Per-axis morph disable turns smooth interpolation into hard wave transitions, useful for glitchy wavetable scanning or for hearing stored waves un-mixed.

Shared X/Y/Z with Select lock Select button state · preset change

Sliders and X/Y/Z attenuverters are shared — Select buttons determine which oscillator(s) receive slider motion. After pressing Select or loading a preset, sliders lock until moved. Unlocking per-oscillator prevents editing the wrong voice by accident. Deselecting both is prevented.

Thru-zero FM audio signal patched to FM / Ext In · Mode: Oscillator

Each FM input implements thru-zero FM, keeping pitch stable around zero hertz during deep modulation. Normalled from the other oscillator — attenuator fully CCW disables unintentional self-FM. True through-zero means classic DX-style bell and metallic tones without detuning.

External Input (waveshaper) mode Mode button on osc · Ext appears on display

Large Frequency knob becomes manual Gain; CV attenuverter becomes VCA for gain. Internal oscillator silences; instead the signal at FM/Ext In is dynamically waveshaped through the selected wavetable — classic digital waveshaper sound. Feed a sine for the cleanest harmonic sculpting. Both oscs in Ext mode with nothing patched causes unpleasant feedback.

Link follows A Link button on Osc B

Osc B coarse tune disables; B copies A's pitch. B's Fine Tune and CV still apply — use Fine for unison detune. Combined with per-oscillator Unison, you get up to 4-oscillator stacked sounds through the Mix output with one pitch CV.

Unison detune Oscillator menu → Unison · or hold encoder + Mode button

Doubles the oscillator with a detuned copy summed internally. Detune amount or ±octave settings give thick 2-voice sounds per oscillator. Stacking on both oscs plus Link mode gives a huge 4-voice unison without extra cables.

Morph enable per axis Oscillator menu → Morph Enable

Turn off morph on X, Y, or Z to produce hard wave switching instead of smooth interpolation. Z-off is particularly useful for hearing a single loaded wavetable file without neighbor-bank bleed. Display shows missing colon on a given axis label when morph is disabled there.

Tone quantization menu Oscillator menu → Tone

Introduces subtle quantization distortion for 'classic' digital character reminiscent of prior Piston Hondas. Orthodox is full 16-bit clean. Other modes fold high-frequency aliases back into the audible range — most audible at low frequencies on sine-like waves.

Octave shift hotkey hold Select button + turn encoder

Shifts oscillator pitch across ±2 octaves. Works without menu. Pitch falls silent if you exceed the ~14 Hz minimum.

Preset morph Preset button pressed twice (Morph mode)

Morph mode locks all managed controls. Encoder selects the base preset (fixes non-morphable menu settings like Unison/Mode). Preset CV interpolates smoothly across 8 stored sound-design states. Preset Scope chooses between Waves Only (stable pitch) and All Params (full morph including pitch).

microSD wavetable loading 8 files named 1.wav–8.wav on SD · Global menu → Load Waves from SD

All 8 Z-axis banks load at once. Each file: 1-channel 16-bit WAV, 32 KB, 64 waveforms × 256 samples. WaveEdit by Synthesis Technology is the recommended authoring tool. Factory wave set still downloadable from industrialmusicelectronics.com for re-filling missing banks.

Sync hard-reset rising edge at Sync jack

Classic hard sync. Phase resets to zero on each trigger. Combined with X/Y/Z CV, produces sync-scream timbres that also scan wavetables — a sonic region unique to this module.

Controls

Osc A, Osc B Frequency (large) Primary tune knob per oscillator. Default is coarse tune; swappable with the small knob in the Global menu. In External In mode this knob becomes the waveshaper Gain control.
coarse (default) or fine · doubles as Ext In Gain
Osc A, Osc B Frequency (small) Secondary tune knob. Default fine tune; roles reversible via Freq Knob Mode.
fine (default) or coarse
Osc A, Osc B CV attenuverter (Freq/Gain) Bipolar attenuverter for the oscillator CV input. Center = no modulation; CCW inverts, CW adds. In Ext In mode controls VCA amount on the external gain.
center: zero · nonlinear curve · ±full swing
Osc A, Osc B FM/Ext In attenuator Attenuator for the audio-rate thru-zero FM / external-input jack. Keep fully CCW if FM is not desired — normalled from the other oscillator.
thru-zero FM depth · Ext In gain in waveshaper mode
Osc A, Osc B Mode button Toggles between Oscillator mode (internal wavetable VCO) and External In mode (wavetable waveshaper processing the FM/Ext In signal).
Osc ↔ Ext · display shows 'Ext' in Ext mode
Osc A, Osc B Select button Selects which oscillator receives motion from the shared X/Y/Z sliders and attenuverters. Both may be selected; at least one must be selected. Pressing locks the sliders to prevent accidental cross-editing.
routes X/Y/Z · auto-locks on press/preset change
Osc B Link button Links Osc B's coarse frequency to Osc A. Fine tune and CV remain active on B. Enables one-touch 2× or 4× unison fat sounds via the Mix output.
B follows A · B's Fine/CV still active
Waveform selection X slider Manual position on the X axis of the 8×8×8 wavetable cube. Moves across 8 waves within the current Y/Z plane.
8 positions · morphs between
Waveform selection Y slider Manual position on the Y axis. Scans a new plane of X-axis waveforms.
8 positions · morphs between
Waveform selection Z slider Manual position on the Z axis — selects between the 8 loaded wavetable banks (each a user-loadable .wav file on the SD card).
8 banks · morphs between (disable for hard transitions)
Waveform selection X/Y/Z attenuverter One attenuverter per axis CV input. Center = no CV; CCW/CW adds or subtracts from the slider position.
center: zero · ±full swing
Global Preset / Edit button Enables the 8-slot preset manager. Second press enters Morph mode (smooth CV-driven interpolation). Click rotary encoder while preset is active to enter edit-save state.
off / Preset / Morph
Global Preset CV attenuator Attenuates or offsets the Preset CV input. Role depends on CTL option (CV+Offset, CV+Atten, Trig+Offset, Trig Random).
behavior per CTL menu
Global Rotary encoder Menu navigation and preset selection. Hold + button combos reach the three main menus (Osc A, Osc B, Global, Preset). Hold + Select to change Octave; hold + Mode to change Unison.
menu nav · preset scan · hotkeys

I/O

IN · 8

  • 1V/Oct (Osc A, Osc B) 0-8V (1V/oct)
    Tracked pitch input per oscillator. 0V at C0 convention — input voltage maps directly to displayed note name.
  • CV (Osc A, Osc B) ±8V CV
    Bipolar frequency CV per oscillator, scaled by the attenuverter. In Ext In mode controls waveshaper gain.
  • FM / Ext In (Osc A, Osc B) AC 10Vpp AUDIO
    AC-coupled audio-rate input. In Oscillator mode provides thru-zero FM. In External In mode provides the signal to be waveshaped through the selected wavetable. Normalized from the other oscillator when unpatched.
    NORM → other oscillator's output
  • Sync (Osc A, Osc B) 0-5V
    Hard-sync input per oscillator. Rising edge resets oscillator phase.
  • X CV ±8V CV
    CV input for X-axis waveform position. Shared between oscillators (can be disabled per-osc via Waveform CV menu).
  • Y CV ±8V CV
    CV input for Y-axis waveform position. Shared/toggleable.
  • Z CV ±8V CV
    CV input for Z-axis (bank) selection. Shared/toggleable.
  • Preset CV ±8V GATE
    Scans or triggers the 8 preset slots. Behavior set via CTL (CV+Offset, CV+Atten, Trig+Offset, Trig Random).

OUT · 3

  • A audio AUDIO
    Main audio output of oscillator A.
  • B audio AUDIO
    Main audio output of oscillator B.
  • Mix audio AUDIO
    Sum of oscillators A and B. Useful for one-cable unison/link patches.