Morphagene

Make Noise 20HP
fw MG203
SAMPLER GRANULAR DELAY EFFECTS

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Stereo tape and microsound buffer. Records up to 2.9 minutes per Reel at 48kHz/32-bit, divides audio into Splices, granulates them into Genes. Vari-Speed, Slide, Morph, and Organize deliver granular manipulation, time-stretch, and tape-speed effects.

Patch Ideas · 7

★ Classic 1/1 loop playback
Record a phrase into a Splice and play it back at original speed/length — Morphagene as a simple stereo looper.
Walkthrough
  1. Gene-Size full CCW (plays the whole Splice, not grains).
  2. Morph at noon (Amber LED = 1/1 seamless loop, no overlaps, no gaps).
  3. Vari-Speed at 2:30 (Green LED = 1/1 forward playback).
  4. S.O.S. full CW (all loop, no live input in the output).
  5. Patch sound source → Audio In L.
  6. Hold REC + press Splice to capture a new Splice. Hit REC again to stop recording.
  7. Patch Audio Out L → your output.
Signal out Audio Out L — the captured Splice looping forward at 1/1, ~10Vpp.
Listen for The recorded phrase playing back seamlessly at its original speed and length. Turn Vari-Speed for pitched/reversed playback; Morph CW for overlapping Genes.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 2 connections. Modules: Morphagene, Sound Source, Output. Signals: 2 audio.MorphageneSound SourceOutputGene-Size: full CCWMorph: noon (1/1)Vari-Speed: 2:30 (Green)S.O.S.: full CWAudio In LaudioAudio Out LaudioOutaudioInaudioaudio
★ Clocked Gene Shift
With CLK patched and Morph below 2/1, each clock pulse steps chronologically through Genes within the Splice.
Walkthrough
  1. Record a Splice you want to chop (voice, melody, loop) into the Reel.
  2. Gene-Size ~2 o'clock so each Gene is a short chunk rather than the full Splice.
  3. Morph ~10 o'clock (Red LED = Gene Shift mode). Stay below noon.
  4. Patch a clock (8th or 16th notes) → CLK In. Each pulse advances one Gene.
  5. Patch a slow LFO → Slide CV and set its attenuverter to ~1 o'clock to sweep the Gene start point over time.
  6. Patch Audio Out L → output.
Signal out Audio Out L — chronologically-stepped Genes, ~10Vpp, one new Gene per clock pulse.
Listen for The recorded Splice becomes a beat-synced stutter that marches forward one chunk at a time. The Slide LFO smears the chop points across the Splice for evolving timbre.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Morphagene, Clock, LFO, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 clock.MorphageneClockLFOOutputGene-Size: ~2:00Morph: 10:00 (Red, Gene Shift)CLK InclkSlide CVcvAudio Out LaudioOutclkOutcvInaudioaudiocvclock
★ Time-stretch dub
Push Morph past 2/1 and an incoming clock stretches or compresses the Splice — Vari-Speed changes pitch only.
Walkthrough
  1. Record a melodic or vocal Splice into the Reel.
  2. Morph to 3 o'clock (Blue LED = Time Stretch mode).
  3. Vari-Speed noon stops normal playback; the clock drives the playhead now.
  4. Patch a slow clock (e.g. 1 pulse per beat) → CLK In. Slow it down to stretch the phrase longer.
  5. Patch a VCO LFO or an external CV → Vari-Speed CV to transpose independent of time.
  6. Patch Audio Out L → output.
Signal out Audio Out L — the Splice stretched to the clock rate, ~10Vpp, pitch set independently by Vari-Speed.
Listen for A vocal or phrase that drags on for bars without pitch-shifting. Bend Vari-Speed and the pitch slides while the stretched phrase continues underneath — classic dub/granular feel.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Morphagene, Clock, Source, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 clock.MorphageneClockSourceOutputMorph: 3:00 (Blue, Time Stretch)Vari-Speed: noon (pitch control)CLK InclkAudio In LaudioAudio Out LaudioOutclkOutaudioInaudioaudioclock
Four-Gene stacking blur
Morph full CW stacks up to four overlapping Genes with random pitch and pan — a wall of disintegrating sound.
Walkthrough
  1. Pre-record a textural source (Wogglebug + Erbe-Verb, or any noisy layered patch) into a Splice.
  2. Gene-Size at ~1 o'clock so Genes are bite-sized, not the full Splice.
  3. Morph full CW (4 Genes, random pitch and panning applied automatically).
  4. Vari-Speed 2:30 (1/1 forward) as a baseline.
  5. S.O.S. full CW so you're hearing the loop, not the live input.
  6. Patch Audio Out L → output L, Audio Out R → output R.
Signal out Audio Out L/R — stereo cloud of four overlapping Genes at random pitches and pans, ~10Vpp.
Listen for A disintegrating wash — the source recognizable, but scattered across pitch and stereo. Pull Morph back toward noon to gradually collapse the cloud into a clean loop.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Morphagene, Wogglebug, Erbe-Verb, Output. Signals: 4 audio.MorphageneWogglebugErbe-VerbOutputGene-Size: ~1:00Morph: full CW (4 Genes, random pitch/pan)Vari-Speed: 2:30S.O.S.: full CWAudio In LaudioAudio Out LaudioAudio Out RaudioRing ModaudioInaudioOutaudioLaudioRaudioaudio
Touch-sliced sample player
Pressure Points gates Play and its Y output selects the Splice — each touch plays a different slice.
Walkthrough
  1. Record several Splices into the Reel so Organize has targets to pick from.
  2. Gene-Size full CCW (play the whole Splice per touch).
  3. Vari-Speed 2:30 (1/1 forward).
  4. Patch Pressure Points Gate Out → Morphagene Play Gate.
  5. Patch Pressure Points Tuned Voltage Out Y (0–5V row) → Morphagene Organize CV.
  6. Patch Morphagene Audio Out L → output.
  7. Press a touchplate — Play retriggers and Y voltage selects which Splice loads.
Signal out Audio Out L — whichever Splice the Y voltage currently selects, ~10Vpp, retriggered per touch.
Listen for Each touch fires a different sample from your Reel. Tune the Y voltages on each Pressure Points channel to pick your four favourite Splices for performance.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Morphagene, Pressure Points, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 gate.MorphagenePressure PointsOutputGene-Size: CCW (full splice)Organize: CV-controlledPlay GategateOrganize CVcvAudio Out LaudioCH 4 GategateTuned Voltage Out YcvInaudioaudiocvgate
Beat-synced stutter stepper
A percussive loop chopped into 16 Splices marches one Splice per clock pulse while Play retriggers on the downbeat.
Walkthrough
  1. Record a percussive loop into one Splice. Then use a clock at 16 pulses per bar into Splice Gate to drop 15 more Splice markers evenly across it.
  2. Gene-Size full CCW so each Splice plays in full.
  3. Morph noon (1/1 loop).
  4. Vari-Speed 2:30 (1/1 forward).
  5. Patch the master clock → Shift Gate (advances to next Splice each pulse).
  6. Patch clock ÷2 → Play Gate (retriggers the current Splice every two pulses).
  7. Patch Audio Out L → output.
Signal out Audio Out L — one Splice per pulse, retriggered every other pulse, ~10Vpp.
Listen for A chopped drum loop that marches forward slice by slice, retriggering so short slices ring out twice. Slow the clock to freeze on a slice and repeat.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Morphagene, Clock, Clock ÷2, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 gate, 1 clock.MorphageneClockClock ÷2OutputGene-Size: CCWMorph: noonShift GateclkPlay GategateAudio Out LaudioOutclkOutgateInaudioaudiogateclock
Input-only delay (inop=1)
With options.txt inop=1, Morphagene becomes an always-recording delay — the Splice length sets the delay time.
Walkthrough
  1. Power off. On the microSD, edit options.txt and set inop=1 (input-only mode). Save and reinsert.
  2. Create one short empty Splice — its length will be the delay time.
  3. S.O.S. to noon — acts as wet/dry mix now.
  4. Vari-Speed 2:30 (1/1 forward).
  5. Patch source audio → Audio In L.
  6. Patch Audio Out L → output.
  7. Patch a slow LFO → Vari-Speed CV, attenuverter at ~11 o'clock, for pitched echoes.
Signal out Audio Out L — dry+delayed audio, ~10Vpp, delay time = Splice length.
Listen for A single-tap delay whose pitch wobbles with the Vari-Speed LFO. Play live into it and Morphagene echoes back with chorus/vibrato character.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Morphagene, Source, Output, LFO. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv.MorphageneSourceOutputLFOFirmware option: inop=1Splice: short empty splice as delay lengthS.O.S.: noon (wet/dry)Audio In LaudioVari-Speed CVcvAudio Out LaudioOutaudioInaudioOutcv11. pitched echoesaudiocv

Behaviors

Reels / Splices / Genes hierarchy audio organization

A Reel holds up to 2.9 min of stereo audio. A Reel is divided by up to 299 Splice Markers into Splices. Each Splice is granulated by Gene-Size into Genes. Up to 32 Reels per microSD card (mg1.wav … mgw.wav).

Time Lag Accumulate (TLA) REC Button press with existing Splice

Overdubs onto the currently-selected Splice with SOS-controlled feedback. Combined with Gene-Size + Morph, builds slowly-evolving microsound textures. Vari-Speed <1/1 forward eventually loses signal.

Record into New Splice Hold REC + press Splice

Captures all audible manipulations (SOS, Vari-Speed, Slide, Morph) as a fresh Splice at the end of the Reel. Recording is always at fixed speed/direction — the manipulations become baked-in content.

Time Stretch mode CLK In patched + Morph ≥ 2/1 (or ckop=2)

External clock drives Time Stretch/Compression. Vari-Speed controls pitch independently of time. Max clock ~18Hz; below 1 pulse/3.5s won't compress further. Morph Activity LED = Blue.

Gene Shift mode CLK In patched + Morph ≤ 2/1 (or ckop=1)

Each clock pulse increments to the next Gene in the Splice, in chronological order. Modulate Vari-Speed and Gene-Size for evolving timbral shifts in sync with a clock. Morph LED = Red.

Auto-Level / 4-step gain (MG203) Hold REC + press Shift

MG155 analyzes incoming signal for a few seconds and sets optimal gain. MG203 replaces this with 4-step input gain: Blue −3dB, Green 0dB, Orange +6dB, Purple +12dB. Press Shift repeatedly to cycle.

Reel Mode Hold Splice + press REC

Enters Reel Mode — Organize and its CV select the Reel to load from the microSD card. Final (Pink/White pulsing) Reel is Empty: exit with it to create a new Reel. Hold Shift + REC while in Reel Mode to delete a Reel.

Sound On Sound crossfader no live input

With no signal patched to Audio In, SOS becomes a voltage-controlled crossfader between silence and the loop — functions as a VCA for the loop via the SOS CV input.

options.txt firmware tweaks edit options.txt on microSD (MG155+)

SD card stores per-option flags: vsop (1V/oct Vari-Speed), inop (input-only recording = delay mode), omod (immediate Organize), gnsm (extended Gene smoothing), rsop (record-button inversion), pmod (momentary/trigger Play), ckop (force Shift or Stretch mode), cvop (envelope vs ramp CV out), and mcr1–3 (Morph chord ratios).

Organize stepping behavior Organize knob/CV change

Organize waits for the currently-playing Splice/Gene to finish before switching, generating EOSG at the handoff. Option omod=1 makes Organize and Shift switch immediately regardless of playback position (may introduce clicks).

Controls

Global Gene-Size Nondestructively shrinks the playback window within the current Splice. Full CCW plays the whole Splice; turning CW extracts progressively smaller Genes down to microsound clicks.
CCW: full splice · CW: microsound grains
Global Gene-Size CV IN Attenuverter Bipolar attenuator for Gene-Size CV.
Bipolar
Global Vari-Speed Bipolar playback speed and direction. 12:00 stops playback; CW speeds forward, CCW reverses. Higher resolution near center. Does not affect record speed.
±12 semitones up · −26 down · Green LED = 1/1 · Blue = +1 oct · Peach = −1 oct
Global Vari-Speed CV Attenuverter Bipolar attenuator for Vari-Speed CV input.
Bipolar · trims for 1V/oct when vsop option enabled
Global Morph Sets overlap between consecutive Gene instances. Full CCW inserts silence between Genes; noon = seamless 1/1 loop; CW layers up to four overlapping Genes with random pitch and panning.
CCW: gaps · noon: 1/1 · CW: stacked layers + pan/pitch · opposite Vari-Speed LED shows state
Global Slide Offsets where in the current Splice the first Gene begins playing. Continuously variable scrubbing across the captured audio, independent of Gene-Size.
Continuous · also changes Play Reset/Start point and EOSG position
Global Slide CV Attenuverter Bipolar attenuator for Slide CV input.
Bipolar
Global Organize Stepped selector for the next Splice to play. Current Splice plays to its end before the next Splice becomes active. In Reel Mode, selects the Reel to load.
Evenly distributed across Splices regardless of relative length
Global Sound On Sound (S.O.S.) Combo pot. Unpatched: sets mix between live input and recorded loop. With signal patched to SOS CV IN: acts as attenuator for that CV. Full CCW during record allows clean sampling with no prior-loop feedback.
CCW: live only · CW: loop only · 0V–+8V CV range
Global REC Button Starts/stops recording. Press alone: Time Lag Accumulate into current Splice. Hold REC + press Splice: record into new Splice at end of Reel. Hold REC + press Shift: Auto-Level (replaced by 4-step gain on MG203).
Illuminated · flashes while waiting for clock sync
Global Splice Button Drops a Splice Marker at the current playback position. Lights at end of Splice/Gene. Hold Shift + Splice: delete current Splice Marker. Hold 3s with Shift: delete all markers.
Illuminated · max 299 markers / 300 Splices
Global Shift Button Increments to next Splice. Also mounts microSD when unmounted. Flashes while SD card is busy writing — do not remove card when flashing.
Illuminated · flash = SD busy

I/O

IN · 12

  • Audio In L (Mono) / R line to modular (~10Vpp) AUDIO
    Stereo audio inputs, AC coupled. L is normalized to the R channel when R is unpatched. No analog gain pot — use Auto-Level (MG155) or 4-step gain (MG203).
  • Sound On Sound CV IN 0 to +8V CV
    Unipolar CV for S.O.S. parameter, linear response.
    NORM → +8V
  • Gene-Size CV IN 0 to +8V CV
    Bipolar CV for Gene-Size. Through the attenuverter.
  • Vari-Speed CV Input ±4V CV
    Bipolar CV for playback speed and direction. With vsop=1 firmware option and trimmed attenuverter: 1V/oct tracking.
  • Morph CV Input 0 to +5V CV
    Unipolar CV for Morph level, unity gain.
  • Slide CV Input 0 to +8V CV
    Unipolar CV for Slide position. Through the attenuverter.
  • Organize CV Input 0 to +5V CV
    Unipolar CV for Splice selection. Designed for sequencer ranges (5Vpp), narrower than other CVs. Unpatch in Reel Mode.
  • CLK Input ≥2.5V clock/gate GATE
    Clock/gate input. Syncs REC start/stop, drives Gene Shift or Time Stretch depending on Morph setting (or ckop firmware option).
  • Play Gate Input ≥2.5V gate GATE
    Gate HIGH triggers/retriggers playback from start of current Splice. HIGH = loop; LOW = stop at end of splice. Slide offsets the start point.
    NORM → HIGH (splice loops when unpatched)
  • REC Gate Input ≥2.5V clock/gate GATE
    Clock/gate toggles Record ON/OFF, enabling SOS overdubs at the rate of incoming pulses.
  • Splice Gate Input ≥2.5V clock/gate GATE
    Gate drops a Splice Marker at current playback position. Useful for rhythmic slicing against a clock.
  • Shift Gate Input ≥2.5V clock/gate GATE
    Gate increments Splice selection. Combines with Play input for step-through playback of percussive loops.

OUT · 3

  • Audio Out L (Mono) / R ~10Vpp AUDIO
    Stereo audio outputs, AC coupled.
  • CV Output CV ENV
    Envelope follower of the audio output — voltage rises with louder output. Option cvop=1 changes it to a Gene-Size-timed ramp wave.
  • End of Splice / Gene Gate (EOSG) 0 to 10Vpp GATE
    Gate at the end of each Splice and each Gene. Fires more frequently as Gene-Size and Morph increase.