DATA

Mordax Systems 16HP
fw 01.02.05
UTILITY CLOCK LFO OSCILLATOR I/O

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Multifunction measurement and signal tool. Seven menu-selected programs: oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, spectrograph, tuner, dual wave output, quad clock output, voltage monitor. Color display with buffered through jacks on all four inputs.

Patch Ideas · 8

★ Calibrate an analog VCO
Use the Tuner program to trim an analog VCO's 1V/oct scaling against DATA's reference.
Walkthrough
  1. Press Menu, scroll with the encoder to Tuner, push to enter.
  2. Patch your VCO's main out into DATA IN 1 (channel 1 should be highlighted in the bottom bar).
  3. Patch a steady 0V (or a known C2 reference) into the VCO's V/oct, read the note on DATA, trim the VCO's offset/tune until it reads C2 exactly.
  4. Patch a +3V reference (from a precision source) into the VCO V/oct — DATA should now read C5.
  5. If it reads flat or sharp, adjust the VCO's scale trimmer until C5 lines up with 0.00 Hz NOTE DIF.
  6. Repeat the 0V / +3V check until both octaves lock within a few cents (Hz equivalent).
  7. If the VCO output is weak (<6Vpp), press 2-1 to engage NORMALIZE for cleaner detection.
Signal out None (measurement patch). DATA IN 1 reads note name, measured frequency, and Hz difference.
Listen for Tuner display shows nearest note name and Hz difference. A well-calibrated VCO holds within a few Hz across three octaves. Drift beyond a few Hz at C5 signals scale trim is off.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 2 connections. Modules: DATA, VCO, Reference. Signals: 1 audio, 1 pitch.DATAVCOReferenceProgram: TunerInput: IN 1IN 1audioV/Oct1v/octOutaudioOut1v/octaudiopitch
★ Quad master clock
Drive four destinations from DATA's Clock Output at related divisions — whole notes, quarters, eighths, and triplets.
Walkthrough
  1. Press Menu, scroll to Clock Output, push to enter.
  2. Set BPM with the encoder (e.g., 120) in Internal Master mode.
  3. Assign OUT 1 to ×1 (quarter notes), OUT 2 to ×2 (8th notes), OUT 3 to ×3 (8th-note triplets, labelled 8T), OUT 4 to /4 (whole notes).
  4. Patch OUT 1 into your main drum trigger.
  5. Patch OUT 2 into a hi-hat trigger.
  6. Patch OUT 3 into a percussion voice for a triplet layer.
  7. Patch OUT 4 into an envelope that opens a pad once per bar.
  8. Press soft-button 1-4 (RUN/STOP) to start; 1-3 (RESET) snaps all four outputs to beat one.
Signal out OUT 1–4 — trigger pulses, 0V low, +5V high (5Vpp).
Listen for A locked polyrhythm: four-on-the-floor kick, doubled hats, a triplet percussion pattern, and a slow pad swell every bar. All phases line up on downbeat after pressing RESET.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 4 connections. Modules: DATA, Drum, Hats, Perc, Envelope. Signals: 1 trigger, 3 clock.DATADrumHatsPercEnvelopeProgram: Clock OutputMode: Internal MasterBPM: 120OUT 1: x1OUT 2: x2OUT 3: x3 (8T)OUT 4: /4OUT 1clkOUT 2clkOUT 3clkOUT 4trigTrigclkTrigclkTrigclkTrigtrigtriggerclock
★ Dual LFO pair with phase offset
Use Wave Output for two slow LFOs with a deliberate phase offset — stereo-style movement from one module.
Walkthrough
  1. Press Menu, select Wave Output.
  2. WAVE 1: TYPE sine, FREQ 0.20 Hz, AMP 100%, PHASE 0, OFFSET 0%.
  3. WAVE 2: TYPE sine, FREQ 0.20 Hz, AMP 100%, PHASE 90, OFFSET 0%.
  4. Patch OUT 1 to the filter cutoff CV of your left-channel VCF.
  5. Patch OUT 2 to the filter cutoff CV of your right-channel VCF.
  6. Run audio through both filters into a stereo mixer.
  7. Adjust WAVE 2 PHASE between 0 and 180 to taste — 90 gives the widest stereo feel, 180 inverts for full anti-phase.
Signal out OUT 1 and OUT 2 — bipolar CV, ±5V sines at 0.2 Hz.
Listen for The two filters sweep in a lazy rotation. At 90° phase the stereo image pans as the cutoff opens and closes on opposite sides. Pull phase to 180° for full inversion, to 0° for mono sweep.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 2 connections. Modules: DATA, VCF L, VCF R. Signals: 2 cv.DATAVCF LVCF RProgram: Wave OutputWAVE 1: sine, 0.2Hz, 100%, 0degWAVE 2: sine, 0.2Hz, 100%, 90degOUT 1cvOUT 2cvCutoffcvCutoffcvcv
A4 reference tone for drift testing
Park DATA on 440 Hz and A/B-check an analog VCO for warm-up drift over 20 minutes.
Walkthrough
  1. Menu → Wave Output. WAVE 1: TYPE sine, FREQ 440.00 Hz, AMP 100%, OFFSET 0%.
  2. Patch DATA OUT 1 into one channel of a mixer.
  3. Patch your analog VCO into the other channel; tune by ear until the beating stops.
  4. Patch the mixer output — or the VCO directly — into DATA IN 1, switch to Tuner to read the offset in Hz.
  5. Record the VCO's starting note and NOTE DIF reading.
  6. Leave the rack running; check back every 5 minutes for 20 minutes.
  7. Watch how far the analog VCO drifts against DATA's digital 440 Hz — this maps the warm-up behaviour of your oscillator.
Signal out DATA OUT 1 — sine reference at 440.00 Hz, ±5V.
Listen for A steady pure tone from DATA. The unpatched analog VCO slowly drifts as it warms up — beating against DATA's tone builds, then disappears as you retune. Tuner reads the exact Hz gap between the two.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 3 connections. Modules: DATA, VCO, Mixer. Signals: 3 audio.DATAVCOMixerProgram: Wave Output then TunerWAVE 1: sine, 440Hz, 100%IN 1audioOUT 1audioOutaudioIn 1audioIn 2audioaudio
Bench voltage source
Use Voltage Monitor as a four-channel DC source for poking at a new module's CV response.
Walkthrough
  1. Menu → Voltage Monitor.
  2. Push soft-button 2-4 (OUTPUT) to open the channel output pop-up.
  3. Set OUT 1 TYPE to CV, dial VOLTAGE to +1.00V with the encoder (push-turn for coarse).
  4. Repeat for OUT 2, OUT 3, OUT 4 at +2.00V, +3.00V, and −2.00V.
  5. Leave the OUTPUT pop-up — the four live values show at the bottom of the screen.
  6. Patch OUT 1 into the CV input of the module under test; swap between OUT 1–4 to confirm each voltage response.
  7. Patch the module's output back into DATA IN 1 — the Voltage Monitor displays it scoped live on the top panel.
Signal out OUT 1–4 — constant DC, user-set between −5V and +10V.
Listen for No audio — this is a measurement patch. The module under test should respond predictably at +1V, +2V, +3V (equal increments if the CV path is linear). IN 1–4 scope each reading live on the display.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 2 modules and 2 connections. Modules: DATA, DUT. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv.DATADUTProgram: Voltage MonitorOUT 1: CV +1VOUT 2: CV +2VOUT 3: CV +3VOUT 4: CV -2VIN 1audioOUT 1cvCV IncvOutaudioaudiocv
Spectral filter-sweep visualiser
Watch a VCF's resonance peak traverse the spectrum as an LFO sweeps its cutoff.
Walkthrough
  1. Menu → Spectrograph.
  2. Patch a noise source into your VCF input.
  3. Patch an LFO (0.1 Hz triangle) into the VCF cutoff CV.
  4. Turn VCF resonance high but below self-oscillation.
  5. Patch the VCF output into DATA IN 1 (use the bottom soft buttons to confirm channel 1 is the FFT source).
  6. Let it run — the spectrograph paints the cutoff peak travelling up and down the frequency axis over time.
  7. Swap to Spectrum Analyzer program to see a live bar-graph snapshot with peak-bin frequency read out instead of the scrolling heat map.
Signal out None (measurement patch). DATA displays the spectrum of IN 1.
Listen for A slowly sweeping whooshing noise through the filter. On the display, a bright band climbs and falls on the frequency axis tracing the resonant peak; low-level noise stays dim, the peak stays bright.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: DATA, Noise, VCF, LFO. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv.DATANoiseVCFLFOProgram: SpectrographResonance: highRate: 0.1Hz triangleIN 1audioOutaudioInaudioCutoffcvOutaudioOutcvaudiocv
External-synced poly-clock
Chain DATA behind a master sequencer clock so every DATA output divides or multiplies that clock, with IN 2 as reset.
Walkthrough
  1. Menu → Clock Output. Open MODE (2-4) and set External Sync.
  2. Patch your master clock (DAW / sequencer / Pam's) into DATA IN 1 — DATA expects PPQN 4 (16th-note pulses).
  3. Patch the master sequencer's reset into DATA IN 2 so downbeats realign.
  4. Assign OUT 1 ×1 (quarters), OUT 2 /2 (half notes), OUT 3 ×4 (16ths), OUT 4 ×3 (8T triplets).
  5. Patch OUT 1 into a bass drum trigger.
  6. Patch OUT 2 into a half-time snare.
  7. Patch OUT 3 into a fast ratchet voice; OUT 4 into a triplet perc.
  8. Start/stop the master — DATA follows. Triggering the master's reset snaps all four outputs back to beat one.
Signal out OUT 1–4 — trigger pulses, 0V to +5V, locked to the external clock.
Listen for The whole rhythm locks to your master clock. Stopping the master stops all four DATA outputs. Triggering reset snaps everything onto the downbeat together — useful after tempo changes or live edits.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 7 modules and 6 connections. Signals: 1 trigger, 5 clock.DATAMaster ClockReset SourceKickSnareRatchetPercProgram: Clock OutputMode: External Sync (PPQN 4)OUT 1: x1OUT 2: /2OUT 3: x4OUT 4: x3 (8T)IN 1clkIN 2trigOUT 1clkOUT 2clkOUT 3clkOUT 4clkOutclkOuttrigTrigclkTrigclkTrigclkTrigclktriggerclock
Debug an unknown cable
Park DATA in Scope to identify what's on a mystery cable — CV, gate, audio, or nothing.
Walkthrough
  1. Menu → Oscilloscope.
  2. Patch the mystery cable into DATA IN 1.
  3. Push channel 1's bottom button to open its pop-up; set DC coupling, SCALE 5V/div as a starting point.
  4. Push 2-4 (TIME) and turn the encoder to set 10MS/div (then adjust).
  5. Set TRIG mode AUTO (top-row 2-2) until you know what's on the line — NORM hides non-triggering signals.
  6. Read the trace: flat line = DC voltage, slow wave = LFO, fast wave = audio, pulse = gate/trigger.
  7. Zoom the time scale — 5.0S/div for slow LFOs, 1MS/div for audio.
  8. Toggle AC coupling if a large DC offset is hiding a small AC component.
  9. Push 2-1 (CUR) and enable cursors to measure exact period or amplitude.
Signal out None (measurement patch). DATA displays the trace of IN 1.
Listen for No audio — visual identification. Flat trace at +2V means DC CV; a regular 1 Hz triangle means an LFO; a 4 kHz sine means audio. A single brief step means a trigger. Read amplitude from the Y cursor, period from the X cursor.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 2 modules and 1 connection. Modules: DATA, Mystery. Signals: 1 cv.DATAMysteryProgram: OscilloscopeCH 1: DC, 5V/divTIME: 10ms/divTRIG: AUTOIN 1cvOutcvcv

Behaviors

Program switching Menu button, then encoder, push to enter

Only one program runs at a time. Switching programs re-assigns the meaning of IN 1–4 and what OUT 1–4 emit. The buffered THRU jacks keep passing signal regardless of program.

Oscilloscope — four channels + triggering Oscilloscope program

Four channel traces at once. TIME scale 50µs to 5.0s per division (12 divisions full screen, so 600µs to 60s total window). Per-channel SCALE 1V/2V/5V per division, AC/DC coupling, vertical position. Trigger modes AUTO (free-run) and NORM (triggers on crossing LEVEL with RISE or FALL edge); AUTO recommended for slow signals.

Oscilloscope cursors Scope · top-left soft button 2-1 (CUR)

Two cursors per axis — AX/BX on time, AY/BY on voltage — with live delta (BX-AX, BY-AY) readout. Y cursor references any of the four channel SCALEs on the fly. DISPLAY parameter keeps cursors visible while the pop-up is closed.

Oscilloscope XY Scope Scope · hold Menu ~1.5s, then XY SCOPE

Renders a Lissajous pair: CH1(X) & CH2(Y), or CH3(X) & CH4(Y). Independent scale/offset per channel via the XY SCOPE pop-up so the XY figure and the waveform traces can be sized separately.

Oscilloscope Minimal Display Mode Scope · hold Menu ~1.5s, then MIN-MODE

Hides grid, channel labels, and soft-button legends — just the traces. All soft buttons disabled except the small MIN-MODE indicator in the top-left; click it again to exit.

Tuner Tuner program · signal on selected input channel

Displays nearest chromatic note, target frequency, measured frequency, and Hz difference. Any of IN 1–4 can be picked via bottom soft buttons. Typical accuracy ±0.01 Hz. Range 27.50 Hz to 2,960 Hz (A0 to ~F#7). Push 2-1 NORMALIZE for small signals (≤6Vpp).

Voltage Monitor — 4 CV/Gate sources Voltage Monitor program · OUTPUT pop-up (2-4), then channel button 1-1 to 1-4

Each of OUT 1–4 is independently set to CV (constant −5V to +10V), GATE-MO (gate while button held), or GATE-LA (latching toggle). Gate HI / LOW voltages are user-configurable per channel. IN 1–4 are scoped live on the display. Outputs retain their set values when switching to Tuner / Scope / Spectral programs.

Wave Output — dual generator Wave Output program

Two precision generators on OUT 1 and OUT 2. Shapes: SINE, SQR, SAW, TRI. Per-channel FREQ (0.01 Hz to 9,999.99 Hz manual; 0.01 Hz to 4,200 Hz under CV), PHASE, AMP (−200% to +200%, negative inverts), OFFSET (−100% to +100%, re-centers the wave). Output ±5V (10Vpp).

Wave Output — 1V/oct pitch tracking Wave Output · CV pop-up (2-3) assigns an input to WAVE1/WAVE2 FREQ, MODE set to 1V/OCT

Set the base TUNE to note C0 (16.35 Hz), then CV IN accepts 1V/oct over C0 to C8 (8 octaves). Normal functional CV range 0V to +8V; larger inputs up to +10V still produce sound but become unstable above ~15,800 Hz.

Wave Output — waveshaping (CLIP / FOLD) Wave Output · MODE pop-up (2-4) · SHAPE · CLIP or FOLD

CLIP squashes the wave flat once AMP × OFFSET pushes past ±5V — useful on sines and saws (no effect on square). FOLD reflects the waveform back when it passes ±5V; in FOLD mode the AMP control is relabeled FOLD and 50% produces an unmodified wave, 100% a first reflection.

Clock Output — 4 outputs, 32 div/mult values Clock Output program

Four clock outputs with per-channel DIV/MULT (32 values from /48 to ×48, including triplets like ×3, ×6 4T, ×12 8T, ×48 128T) and OFFSET (±96 ticks, one quarter note). Internal Master (set BPM) or External Sync (IN 1 expects 16th-note pulses / PPQN 4). Press 1-4 for RUN/STOP, 1-3 for RESET; IN 2 is Reset gate in both modes. Clock outs 0V to +5V.

Clock Output — CV-assignable IN 3 / IN 4 Clock · CV pop-up (2-3)

IN 3 or IN 4 (range ±5V / 10Vpp) can modulate any Clock 1–4 DIV/MULT or OFFSET, with independent attenuation per destination. One CV source can drive several outputs at once for complex polyrhythmic modulation.

Spectrum Analyzer & Spectrograph Spectrum Analyzer or Spectrograph program

FFT of the selected input channel (switch with bottom soft buttons). Spectrum draws bar-graph magnitude vs frequency with the peak bin's frequency read out at top. Spectrograph scrolls the same FFT as a color-coded heat map over time. Window type (square, Hann, etc.) selectable via 2-1.

Memory — 8 system-state snapshots Settings (1-4 on main menu) · MEMORY page

Eight slots save a snapshot of every program's current state (Scope channel positions and TIME, Wave Output shape/freq/amp, Clock BPM, etc). 1-1 SAVE, 1-4 LOAD. Useful for recall between test routines or live performances.

Front-panel reset Hold 1-1 + 1-4 + 2-1 + 2-4 together (four corner soft buttons)

Reboots DATA without cycling rack power. Same effect as a power cycle, but only affects DATA. Useful if a program locks or firmware misbehaves.

microSD firmware update Place .bin (DSxxxxxx for system or DBxxxxxx for bootloader) on microSD root, reinsert, power up

System firmware auto-detects on boot. Bootloader firmware updates via Settings → MISC → BOOTLOADER FIRMWARE UPDATE. Current system v01.02.05 (230107) fixes NORM trigger lock-up on low-freq signals at fast timebase.

Calibration routines Settings · MISC page

AUTO CALIBRATION recalibrates the ADCs using internally-routed reference voltages — run after ~30 min warm-up when moving to a new environment. MANUAL CALIBRATION of the DACs requires a sub-millivolt DMM on OUT 1–4 and is rarely needed after factory burn-in.

Controls

Global Encoder Push-turn encoder. Twist to scroll menus or parameter values. Push to enter a program, select a parameter, or toggle between list-scroll and value-edit.
Push: select · Twist: scroll/edit · Push+turn in some screens: coarse adjust
Global Menu Button Return to the main menu from any program. Press and hold for ~1.5s inside Oscilloscope to open the secondary top menu (XY Scope, MIN-MODE).
Tap: back to main menu · Hold 1.5s (in Scope): secondary menu
Global Soft Buttons 2-1 – 2-4 (top row) Four context-sensitive buttons along the top of the display. Labels map to the boxes shown at the top edge of the screen for the active program.
Top row · Left→Right: 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4
Global Soft Buttons 1-1 – 1-4 (bottom row) Four context-sensitive buttons along the bottom of the display. Labels map to the boxes shown at the bottom edge of the screen. 1-4 opens Settings from the main menu.
Bottom row · Left→Right: 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 · 1-4 on main menu: Settings
Global Display Full-color LCD. Renders waveforms, FFT graphs, tuner readout, clock parameters, volt meter, and all menus.
Color · scratch-resistant window

I/O

IN · 5

  • IN 1 ±10V · AC or DC coupled per on-screen setting GATE
    Channel 1 signal input. Clock (Internal Master) mode: Run/Stop gate. Clock (External Sync) mode: external 16th-note clock. Tuner / Scope / Spectrum: measurement input.
  • IN 2 ±10V · AC or DC coupled per on-screen setting GATE
    Channel 2 signal input. In Clock program (both Internal and External modes) acts as Reset input — send a gate to reset the clock's measure position.
  • IN 3 ±10V · AC or DC coupled per on-screen setting · CV range ±5V (10Vpp) CLK
    Channel 3 signal input. In Clock and Wave Output programs doubles as a user-assignable CV input — route to any output's div/mult, offset, frequency, or amplitude with selectable attenuation.
  • IN 4 ±10V · AC or DC coupled per on-screen setting · CV range ±5V (10Vpp) CLK
    Channel 4 signal input. In Clock and Wave Output programs doubles as a user-assignable CV input — route to any output parameter with per-destination attenuation.
  • THRU 1–4 unity · buffered
    Buffered copies of the four inputs. Always live regardless of active program — use DATA as an inline probe without splitting cables.

OUT · 4

  • OUT 1 Wave: ±5V (10Vpp) · Clock: 0V to +5V · Volt Monitor CV: −5V to +10V GATE
    Program-dependent. Wave Output channel 1 (audio/LFO), Clock Output 1 (trigger), Voltage Monitor channel 1 CV or gate. Silent in Scope/Tuner/Spectrum programs.
  • OUT 2 Wave: ±5V · Clock: 0V to +5V · Volt Monitor CV: −5V to +10V CLK
    Program-dependent. Wave Output channel 2 (audio/LFO), Clock Output 2, Voltage Monitor channel 2.
  • OUT 3 Clock: 0V to +5V · Volt Monitor CV: −5V to +10V · Gate: user-set HI/LOW GATE
    Program-dependent. Clock Output 3 or Voltage Monitor channel 3 (CV / momentary gate / latched gate). Silent in Scope, Tuner, Spectrum, and Wave Output programs.
  • OUT 4 Clock: 0V to +5V · Volt Monitor CV: −5V to +10V · Gate: user-set HI/LOW GATE
    Program-dependent. Clock Output 4 or Voltage Monitor channel 4 (CV / momentary gate / latched gate). Silent in Scope, Tuner, Spectrum, and Wave Output programs.