Morgasmatron
Intellijel 20HPDual 6-mode self-oscillating multimode VCF (LP2/LP1/BP1/HP1/HP2/BR1) with series/parallel routing, built-in crossfader, Q-drive soft saturation, ProCo Rat-style overdrive on Filter A and phase-invert ring modulation. MS-20-inspired Korgasmatron lineage.
Patch Ideas · 9
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Behaviors
LP2 (2-pole low), LP1 (1-pole low), BP1 (1-pole band), HP1 (1-pole high), HP2 (2-pole high), BR1 (notch/band-reject). Modes are instant-switchable — makes live timbre morphs easy.
Each filter self-oscillates at max Q, producing a pitched sine that tracks 1V/oct. Two independent pitched sines — useable as a full duophonic VCO pair.
Q-Drive soft-clips the resonant sine, adding harmonics and gradually squaring the waveform. Fattens self-oscillation from pure sine toward reed/brass territory without breaking tracking.
A's output → B's input. Two same-mode filters in series steepen the slope (e.g., LP2 + LP2 = 4-pole). Mixed modes create formant-like peaks when cutoffs sit close.
Filter A distorts aggressively; Filter B becomes a tone control sculpting the saturated signal. Modulating B's cutoff under performance control adds dynamic distortion tone.
With the two filter paths bypassed and Filter B phase-inverted, the XFADE knob nulls the signal. CV at XFADE CV jack multiplies in — yields ring modulation at MIX.
XFADE knob becomes a wet/dry blend between distorted Filter A and untouched Filter B input. Parallel saturation without losing low-end clarity.
A single pitch CV to Filter A's 1V/OCT tracks both filters (Filter B's jack normals from Filter A). Dummy-cable Filter B's 1V/OCT to break the normal for dual voices.
FM2 also normals A → B. One CV source can sweep both filter cutoffs simultaneously.
Controls
| Filter A / Filter B | CUTOFF | Sets filter cutoff frequency. Sums with FM1 and FM2 CV inputs and the dedicated 1V/OCT input. Full sweep · dedicated V/oct tracking |
| Filter A / Filter B | FM1 | Unipolar attenuator for FM1 CV input. FM1 tracks 1V/oct when fully CW. 0–unity · attenuator |
| Filter A / Filter B | FM2 | Bipolar attenuverter for FM2 CV. Noon = no effect · CW = positive · CCW = inverted. Attenuverter · ±unity |
| Filter A / Filter B | MODE | Cycles through six filter modes: LP2, LP1, BP1, HP1, HP2, BR1 (notch). Six-position select |
| Filter A / Filter B | Q | Sets resonance. Self-oscillates at maximum, producing a pitched sine that tracks 1V/OCT. Sums with Q CV input · self-osc at max |
| Filter A / Filter B | Q-DRIVE | Drives resonance path to keep Q high as input gain rises. Adds warming growl at mid-Q and soft-clips self-oscillating sine into squarer wave at high Q. Requires some Q to work · soft-clips sine |
| Filter A / Filter B | IN | Input gain. Unity at ~12 o'clock (10Vpp eurorack). Past noon induces soft clipping. Unity at noon · soft-clip past noon |
| Filter A / Filter B | OVERLOAD LED | Lights when the filter output begins to soft-clip. Red · per filter |
| Filter A | OVERDRIVE switch | Engages ProCo Rat-style aggressive overdrive circuit on Filter A's output. Up = on · down = clean. A-only · pre-XFADE |
| Filter A → XFADE | DRY switch A | Up = bypass Filter A at XFADE (raw IN A feeds the crossfader). Enables wet/dry blends and parallel distortion tricks. Up = dry · down = wet |
| Filter B → XFADE | DRY switch B | Up = bypass Filter B at XFADE (raw IN B feeds the crossfader). Up = dry · down = wet |
| Filter B → XFADE | PHASE INVERT | Inverts Filter B's phase before XFADE. Enables ring modulation via phase cancellation and subtly different parallel colours. Up = inverted |
| Filter A ↔ Filter B | SERIES / PARALLEL switch | Up = Series (A's output feeds B's input — steeper slope or tone-staging). Down = Parallel (both process inputs independently). Two-position |
| MIX out | XFADE | Crossfades between Filter A and Filter B at the MIX output. Sums with XFADE CV. CCW = A · CW = B · noon = equal |
| XFADE CV | XFADE attenuverter | Attenuates/inverts the XFADE CV input. Noon = no CV effect. Bipolar |
| MIX out | XFADE BALANCE LEDs | Two LEDs (green) show Filter A and Filter B contribution to MIX in real time. Dual LED |
I/O
IN · 11
- IN A 10Vpp typical AUDIOAudio input to Filter A
- IN B 10Vpp typical AUDIOAudio input to Filter B
- 1V/OCT (A) 1V/oct CVDedicated pitch tracking CV for Filter A — tracks over several octaves at self-oscillationNORM → feeds Filter B's 1V/OCT when B is unpatched
- 1V/OCT (B) 1V/oct CVDedicated pitch tracking CV for Filter BNORM → Filter A's 1V/OCT when unpatched
- FM1 (A) CV CVFirst cutoff CV for Filter A (attenuator)
- FM1 (B) CV CVFirst cutoff CV for Filter B (attenuator)
- FM2 (A) CV CVSecond cutoff CV for Filter A (attenuverter)NORM → feeds B's FM2 when B unpatched
- FM2 (B) CV CVSecond cutoff CV for Filter B (attenuverter)NORM → Filter A's FM2 when unpatched
- Q (A) CV CVCV for Filter A resonance (external attenuator recommended)
- Q (B) CV CVCV for Filter B resonance
- XFADE CV CV CVCV for crossfader — scaled by XFADE attenuverter
OUT · 3
- OUT A 10VppFilter A direct output (post-overdrive if switched on)
- OUT B 10VppFilter B direct output
- MIX 10VppCrossfaded A/B mix with DRY switches and PHASE INVERT applied