Richter Wogglebug

Make Noise 10HP
RANDOM NOISE CLOCK OSCILLATOR SLEW

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Random voltage generator after Grant Richter's Wiard Wogglebug. Voltage-controlled clock feeds a sample-and-hold, lag processor, gate-burst generator and two VCOs ring-modulated into each other. Seven simultaneous random/audio outputs.

Patch Ideas · 10

★ Classic melodic random
Stepped Output quantized to pitch, Burst Output as rhythm trigger — a self-contained generative melody.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~12:00 (internal clock around a few Hz).
  2. Set EGO/ID to ~10:00 (clustered values — narrow pitch range).
  3. Leave EGO INPUT unpatched so the internal uncertainty source is used.
  4. Patch Wogglebug STEPPED → quantizer IN.
  5. Patch quantizer OUT → VCO V/OCT.
  6. Patch Wogglebug BURST → envelope TRIG.
  7. Patch envelope OUT → VCA CV, VCO OUT → VCA IN, VCA OUT → mixer.
  8. Roll EGO/ID clockwise any time to widen the note range from clustered wander to full octave jumps.
Signal out STEPPED — 0 to 10 V stepped random CV, new value every internal-clock pulse, feeding the quantizer.
Listen for A self-playing pitched melody in whatever key the quantizer is set to, with rhythmic accents landing whenever the Burst output fires a flurry of gates.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 7 modules and 6 connections. Signals: 2 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch, 1 gate.Richter WogglebugQuantizerWogglebugVCOEnvelopeVCAOutputSpeed/Chaos: ~12:00Ego/Id: ~10:00IncvOut1v/octSteppedcvBurstgateV/Oct1v/octOutaudioTriggateOutcvInaudioCVcvOutaudioInaudioaudiocvpitchgate
★ Bit-crushed S&H
Drive Ego In with an audio-rate signal while the clock runs above 200 Hz — Stepped Output becomes a bit/sample-rate reducer.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS fully clockwise (clock pushed past 200 Hz).
  2. Set SPEED CV ATTENUATOR fully clockwise (unpatched +8 V normal lifts the clock to its highest range).
  3. Set EGO/ID fully counter-clockwise (recommended in the manual for bit reduction).
  4. Patch a VCO Saw or any audio signal → Wogglebug EGO INPUT.
  5. Patch Wogglebug STEPPED → mixer / output (this is now your bit-crushed audio).
  6. Slowly turn SPEED/CHAOS counter-clockwise to hear the sample rate drop — aliasing, warble, then chunks.
Signal out STEPPED — 10 Vpp sample-and-held copy of the Ego input, clocked at audio rates (up to ~200 Hz).
Listen for A gritty lo-fi version of the incoming oscillator: sweep SPEED/CHAOS and the tone moves from near-clean to aliased metallic warble to stuttering blocks of sample-held voltage.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 2 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, VCO, Wogglebug, Output. Signals: 2 audio.Richter WogglebugVCOWogglebugOutputSpeed/Chaos: full CWSpeed CV Att: full CWEgo/Id: full CCWSawaudioEgo InaudioSteppedaudioInaudio11. bit-crushed sawaudio
Pitch-to-voltage second voice
Feed an audio oscillator into Ego In so Woggle CV Out tracks — but quivers after — the source pitch.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~12:00.
  2. Set WOGGLE to ~12:00 (medium chase speed).
  3. Set EGO/ID to ~1:00 so the external signal mostly dominates the internal source.
  4. Patch DPO VCO A Saw (or any audio-rate oscillator) → Wogglebug EGO INPUT.
  5. Patch Wogglebug WOGGLE CV OUT → second VCO V/OCT.
  6. Patch second VCO OUT → VCA → mixer alongside the DPO for a duet.
  7. Rotate WOGGLE counter-clockwise for a snappier tracker, clockwise for a drifting ghost voice.
Signal out WOGGLE CV OUT — 0 to 10 V quivering CV that chases the Ego-input pitch, feeding the second VCO's V/OCT.
Listen for A second oscillator shadows the lead line but with wobble and hesitation — like a slightly drunken singer harmonizing, tightening or loosening as you turn WOGGLE.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, DPO, VCO, Wogglebug, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 pitch.Richter WogglebugDPOVCOWogglebugOutputWoggle: ~12:00Speed/Chaos: ~12:00Ego/Id: ~1:00VCO A SawaudioV/Oct1v/octOutaudioEgo InaudioWoggle CV1v/octInaudio11. ghost harmonyaudiopitch
Jittery clock for MATHS
LFO into Speed CV In turns the internal Clock Output into a swinging/jittering master clock.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~11:00 (a moderate base rate).
  2. Set the SPEED CV ATTENUATOR to ~12:00 so the CV influence is moderate.
  3. Patch an LFO (slow triangle, ~0.2 Hz) → Wogglebug SPEED CV INPUT.
  4. Patch Wogglebug CLOCK OUTPUT → MATHS CH 1 TRIG (set CH 1 as envelope, Cycle off).
  5. Patch MATHS CH 1 OUT → filter CUTOFF (or any destination needing a clocked envelope).
  6. Raise the Speed CV Attenuator for more pronounced rubato, lower for subtle swing.
Signal out CLOCK OUTPUT — 0 to +10 V square clock whose rate breathes with the LFO (independent of any signal at External Clock In).
Listen for A clock that speeds up and slows down with the LFO shape — tempo swells and contractions rather than a rigid grid, driving a predictable modulation that feels alive.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, LFO, Wogglebug, CH 1, Filter. Signals: 2 cv, 1 clock.Richter WogglebugLFOWogglebugCH 1FilterSpeed/Chaos: ~11:00Speed CV Att: ~12:00OutcvSpeed CV IncvClockclkTrigclkOUTcvCutoffcvcvclock
Three linked random modulators
Stepped, Smooth and Woggle CV all share one internal clock — three flavours of the same random DNA modulating three destinations.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~11:00 (slow-ish clock).
  2. Set WOGGLE to ~12:00.
  3. Leave EGO INPUT unpatched; set EGO/ID to ~12:00 for full range.
  4. Patch Wogglebug STEPPED → filter CUTOFF (sudden jumps).
  5. Patch Wogglebug SMOOTH CV OUT → VCA CV (glide-in dynamics).
  6. Patch Wogglebug WOGGLE CV OUT → VCO FM INPUT (quivering pitch drift).
  7. Turn SPEED/CHAOS clockwise to tighten all three together; counter-clockwise to let them breathe.
Signal out STEPPED / SMOOTH CV OUT / WOGGLE CV OUT — three 0 to 10 V CV streams sharing one clock, sent to three destinations.
Listen for Stepped timbre jumps, Smooth volume swells, and Woggle pitch quivers — all synchronized yet different, so the patch breathes as one living modulation field.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, Filter, VCA, VCO, Wogglebug. Signals: 3 cv.Richter WogglebugFilterVCAVCOWogglebugSpeed/Chaos: ~11:00Woggle: ~12:00CutoffcvCVcvFM IncvSteppedcvSmoothcvWoggle CVcvcv
★ Influence-driven chaos
Sequencer pitch CV into Influence In makes the Ring-Mod Output speak per-step, each step with a different angular timbre.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~12:00 (audible internal VCO range).
  2. Leave EGO INPUT unpatched, EGO/ID to ~12:00.
  3. Patch sequencer pitch CV → Wogglebug INFLUENCE INPUT.
  4. Patch Wogglebug RING-MOD OUTPUT → filter IN (or straight to mixer).
  5. Patch sequencer GATE → envelope TRIG → VCA CV, Ring-Mod through the VCA.
  6. Tweak SPEED/CHAOS to move the internal VCO frequencies relative to the sequencer pitch — each knob position is a new chord of inharmonics.
Signal out RING-MOD OUTPUT — 10 Vpp ring-modulated pulse signal, timbre keyed to the Influence pitch CV.
Listen for Every step of the sequence becomes a different metallic/angular bell-like tone — dissonant, digital, but rhythmically locked to the sequencer.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 2 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, Sequencer, Wogglebug, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv.Richter WogglebugSequencerWogglebugOutputSpeed/Chaos: ~12:00PitchcvInfluence IncvRing-ModaudioInaudio11. angular per-step timbreaudiocv
Disturb-as-sample button
Clock effectively frozen, Disturb Button becomes a manual sample-and-hold trigger for whatever is at Ego In.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS fully counter-clockwise (internal clock approaches 1 minute/cycle — effectively off).
  2. Patch an LFO (triangle, ~0.3 Hz) → Wogglebug EGO INPUT.
  3. Patch Wogglebug STEPPED → filter CUTOFF (or VCO V/OCT through a quantizer).
  4. Play a sound source through the filter.
  5. Press the DISTURB BUTTON any time to sample the LFO's current phase into Stepped.
  6. Hold DISTURB to freeze Stepped/Smooth/Woggle at their last values for as long as you hold.
Signal out STEPPED — 0 to 10 V, frozen between Disturb presses; each press captures the LFO's instantaneous value.
Listen for A hand-played sample-and-hold: silence-and-sudden-shift filter movements every time you tap Disturb, with full freeze when you hold the button down.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 2 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, LFO, Wogglebug, Filter. Signals: 2 cv.Richter WogglebugLFOWogglebugFilterSpeed/Chaos: full CCWOutcvEgo IncvSteppedcvCutoffcv11. press Disturb to samplecv
Generative drone (self-patched)
No external input — the Ring-Mod Output drones while the module's own CV outputs animate it.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~9:00 (slow clock — slow modulation).
  2. Set WOGGLE to ~11:00, EGO/ID to ~12:00.
  3. Leave EGO INPUT and INFLUENCE INPUT unpatched.
  4. Patch Wogglebug RING-MOD OUTPUT → filter IN.
  5. Patch Wogglebug SMOOTH CV OUT → filter CUTOFF.
  6. Patch Wogglebug WOGGLE CV OUT → filter RESONANCE (or a second VCO FM).
  7. Patch filter OUT → mixer. Let it run; slow SPEED/CHAOS further for longer evolutions.
Signal out RING-MOD OUTPUT — 10 Vpp angular audio, filtered and shaped by Smooth/Woggle CVs from the same module.
Listen for An evolving digital-tinged drone: angular ring-mod tone slowly opens and closes through the filter with Smooth, while Woggle adds restless shimmer on resonance.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, Filter, Wogglebug, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 2 cv.Richter WogglebugFilterWogglebugOutputSpeed/Chaos: ~9:00Woggle: ~11:00InaudioCutoffcvRescvOutaudioRing-ModaudioSmoothcvWoggle CVcvInaudioaudiocv
Burst-triggered drum rolls
Burst Output drives a drum, Stepped varies the accent — instant random fill generator.
Walkthrough
  1. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~1:00 (faster clock = denser bursts).
  2. Leave EGO INPUT unpatched, EGO/ID to ~12:00.
  3. Patch Wogglebug BURST OUTPUT → drum module TRIG.
  4. Patch Wogglebug STEPPED → drum ACCENT (or pitch CV).
  5. Monitor the drum's output.
  6. Sweep SPEED/CHAOS to change roll density; the orange Burst activity window shows the rhythm.
  7. Patch a slow LFO → Wogglebug SPEED CV INPUT for rolls that ebb and flow over time.
Signal out BURST OUTPUT — 0 to +10 V random gate bursts, synced to the internal clock; Stepped provides per-hit 0–10 V accent CV.
Listen for Stuttering random drum rolls — some tight, some scattered — with dynamic hits where Stepped happens to land high. Turn SPEED/CHAOS for the classic 'fill sweep' effect.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Richter Wogglebug, Drum, Wogglebug, Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 trigger.Richter WogglebugDrumWogglebugOutputSpeed/Chaos: ~1:00TrigtrigAccentcvOutaudioBursttrigSteppedcvInaudio11. chaotic drum rollaudiocvtrigger
Tame-the-Bug (external clock + slew)
External clock sets sample rate; Speed/Chaos now only sets Smooth's lag amount — gliding random pitch in the key of your master clock.
Walkthrough
  1. Patch MATHS CH 1 (Cycle ON, slow — ~1 Hz square-ish) → Wogglebug EXTERNAL CLOCK INPUT.
  2. Now Wogglebug's S&H is clocked by MATHS, so Speed/Chaos only affects Smooth-CV slew rate.
  3. Set SPEED/CHAOS to ~11:00 (heavy lag — pitches glide).
  4. Leave EGO INPUT unpatched, EGO/ID to ~10:00 for clustered wanders.
  5. Patch Wogglebug SMOOTH CV OUT → quantizer IN, quantizer OUT → VCO V/OCT.
  6. Patch MATHS CH 1 → envelope TRIG → VCA CV; VCO → VCA → mixer.
  7. Turn SPEED/CHAOS clockwise to sharpen glides into near-stepped pitch changes.
Signal out SMOOTH CV OUT — 0 to 10 V slewed (lagged) random CV; new target on every MATHS tick, with the glide time set by SPEED/CHAOS.
Listen for A lazy, gliding random melody locked to MATHS' tempo — portamento between notes rather than jumps, tightening as you turn SPEED/CHAOS clockwise.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 7 modules and 5 connections. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 pitch, 1 gate, 1 clock.Richter WogglebugCH 1WogglebugQuantizerVCOEnvelopeVCASpeed/Chaos: ~11:00 (slew amount)Ego/Id: ~10:00Cycle ON, slowOUTclkExternal Clock InclkSmoothcvIncvOut1v/octV/Oct1v/octOutaudioTriggateInaudioaudiocvpitchgateclock

Behaviors

Four CV flavours at once patch any CV output

Stepped, Smooth, Woggle and Burst all derive from the same internal S&H but expose different characters simultaneously: Stepped = classic sampled random; Smooth = slewed/lagged version; Woggle = quivering product of the two; Burst = gate-burst rhythm. Pull all four for a coordinated random voice.

Audio-rate clock → digital noise Speed/Chaos full CW · Speed CV near +8V

Internal clock exceeds 200Hz. Stepped Output becomes bit-reduced noise, Smooth Out becomes jittery grainy CV, Clock Output becomes a square wave. Patch an audio signal to Ego In for sample-and-hold bit-crushing on that signal.

Pitch-to-voltage following audio signal → Ego In

Patching a VCO or any audio signal to Ego In makes Woggle VCO Out and Smooth CV 'follow' the ego-in pitch. Ego/Id sets blend; Woggle sets the type/degree of following. Useful as a generative second voice that tracks a sequencer melody.

Independent Master Clock patch anything to External Clock In

External Clock overrides the S&H clock while Internal Clock Output keeps running at the Speed-set rate. This lets Wogglebug serve as both master clock source AND slave-sampling random generator from the same module.

Disturb = freeze + step Disturb Button

Press samples new values manually. Hold pauses CV outputs — Stepped, Smooth, Woggle all freeze for the duration of the hold. At slow clock rates, use Disturb as a performance-friendly next-value button.

Influence warps pitch and ring-mod audio or CV → Influence In

Influence simultaneously FMs both VCOs, feeds the ring-mod, and level-shifts Woggle CV. Patching a sequencer's pitch CV here yields discordant FM squelch that tracks the sequence. Patching LFO here animates the ring-mod timbre.

Ego/Id probability distribution rotate Ego/Id with Ego In unpatched

Ego/Id CCW makes random values 'cluster' around a narrow band — biased/coloured random. Fully CW spreads values across the full 0–10V range. Use for controlled pitch wanders vs wild jumps.

Kick-the-Bug reset dummy cable → External Clock In · Speed 3+ o'clock

A dummy cable (unplugged end) into External Clock defeats the internal clock without providing a new one. Press/hold Disturb to freeze last random values. Releases generate a fresh burst. Classic Wogglebug performance trick.

Activity windows = value visualisation observe blue / orange / system LEDs

System Clock LED (blue) mirrors S&H clock rate — shows External Clock rate when patched, Internal rate otherwise. Stepped activity window shows approximate voltage. Burst orange window shows gate rhythm. Useful for dialling in without monitoring audio.

Controls

Global Ego/Id Balance Sets the range of probable random values when Ego In is unpatched. CCW clusters values near a narrow band. When Ego In is patched, balances external signal against the internal uncertainty source.
unpatched: probability range · patched: internal/external blend
Woggle circuit Woggle Sets how quickly the Woggle circuit catches up to the Smooth/Stepped CV. CW = sluggish follow; CCW = snappy chase.
CW: slow · CCW: fast
Internal Clock + Smooth lag Speed / Chaos Dual purpose — sets Internal Clock rate AND the Smooth CV lag-processor response. CW speeds the clock and makes Smooth CV jittery; CCW slows the clock and smooths the response.
1 min/cycle → ~40Hz (extended ~200Hz) · CW: jittery · CCW: smooth
Internal Clock Speed / Chaos CV Attenuator Unipolar attenuator for Speed/Chaos CV input. With nothing patched, extends internal clock upper range.
unipolar · normalled +8V
Sample & Hold Disturb Button Manual clock for the S&H. Press = sample new value; hold = pause CV outputs. At fast clock rates, kicks the system to fetch a fresh cluster of values.
press: sample · hold: freeze

I/O

IN · 4

  • Ego Input 10Vpp max CV
    External S&H source. Signal is injected directly into the Wogglebug's uncertain heart. Accepts CV or audio-rate signals.
  • Influence Input audio / CV rate CV
    CV or audio input to the Ring-Mod circuit. Also modulates Smooth/Woggle VCO frequency and level-shifts the Woggle CV.
  • External Clock Input rising edge CLK
    Any signal clocks the S&H when patched. Internal Clock Output keeps running at its own rate regardless.
  • Speed / Chaos CV Input 0V – +8V CV
    Unipolar control over Speed. Attenuated by Speed/Chaos CV Attenuator.

OUT · 8

  • Smooth VCO Output 10Vpp CV
    Sharktooth audio-rate waveform. Pitch controlled by Ego Input, Ego/Id setting, Influence CV and Speed/Chaos.
  • Ring-Mod Output 10Vpp GATE
    Pulse-wave audio-rate ring-mod product of Smooth VCO × Woggle VCO × Influence. Digital-flavoured, aggressive. Gets messy fast.
  • Woggle VCO Output 10Vpp AUDIO
    Square audio-rate signal. Pitch controlled by Woggle, Ego, Ego/Id, Influence and Speed/Chaos.
  • Stepped Output 0V – 10V GATE
    Stepped random voltages. New value on every Internal Clock pulse (or External Clock / Disturb). At audio-rate clock, becomes bit-reduced noise. Activity window shows approximate voltage.
  • Smooth Out 0V – 10V CV
    Lag-processed (slewed) random CV. Smoothness set by Speed/Chaos — CCW = gentle smooth random, CW = audio-rate jitter.
  • Woggle CV Out 0V – 10V CV
    Product of Smooth and Stepped CV, shaken and chased by Woggle control. Always in motion.
  • Burst Output 0V – +10V GATE
    Square random gate burst signal. Synced to internal clock, influenced by Stepped/Smooth/Woggle. Orange activity window shows gate activity.
  • Clock Output 0V – +10V CLK
    Square clock from internal generator. Independent of External Clock Input — always runs at Speed/Chaos rate.