Blades

Mutable Instruments 18HP
VCF FILTER DISTORTION WAVESHAPER OSCILLATOR

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Dual analog 2-pole (12dB/oct) state-variable filter with CV-morphed LP/BP/HP response, continuously variable single/parallel/series routing, clean self-oscillation as sine VCO, and a per-channel overdrive stage morphing from soft clip to two-stage wavefolder. DC-coupled.

Patch Ideas · 6

★ Series drive into low-pass
Patch a saw VCO into Filter 1 IN. Set ROUTING fully clockwise for series. Both filters on low-pass, filter 1 with moderate DRIVE around 11 o'clock, filter 2 clean and resonant. MAIN out to a VCA. You get grit shaped into filter 2's sweep.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 6 connections. Modules: Blades, VCO, Envelope, VCA, Output, Sequencer. Signals: 3 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch.BladesVCOEnvelopeVCAOutputSequencerRouting: series (CW)Filter 1: LP, Drive 11 o'clock, Resonance lowFilter 2: LP, Resonance medium-highFilter 1 INaudioCutoff CVcvMain OutputaudioV/Oct1v/octSawaudioOutcvInaudioCVcvOutaudioInaudioPitch1v/octaudiocvpitch
★ Parallel split-band or stereo
ROUTING at 12 o'clock for parallel. Cutoff Coupling off. Filter 1 set to LP, filter 2 set to HP, both with the same source at Filter 1 IN. Take Filter 1 Out and Filter 2 Out to L/R for a wide split-band processor.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Blades, VCO, LFO, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 1 cv.BladesVCOLFOOutputRouting: parallel (noon)Cutoff Coupling: offFilter 1: LP, Cutoff low-midFilter 2: HP, Cutoff mid-highFilter 1 INaudioCutoff CV, filter 1cvFilter 1 OutputaudioFilter 2 OutputaudioSawaudioOutcvLaudioRaudioaudiocv
★ Dual sine VCO with coupling
Both Resonance knobs at max for self-oscillation. Cutoff Coupling on. Set filter 2 FREQUENCY above noon for a fifth offset. V/OCT tracks the pair. Use Filter 1 Out and Filter 2 Out as two sine voices.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Blades, Sequencer, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 pitch.BladesSequencerOutputNo input patched: Resonance 1 and 2: max (self-osc)Cutoff Coupling: onFilter 2 Frequency: ~3 o'clock (fifth up)V/OCT1v/octFilter 1 OutputaudioFilter 2 OutputaudioPitch1v/octLaudioRaudioaudiopitch
Phase-modulated metallic voice
Filter 1 self-oscillating (Res max, no audio in). V/OCT tracks pitch. A second VCO (or LFO at audio rate) through a VCA into Mode CV 1 gives CV-controlled phase modulation, FM-like metallic timbres from Filter 1 Out.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 7 modules and 5 connections. Signals: 2 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch.BladesVCO Carrier PitchVCO ModulatorVCAEnvelopeOutputSequencerFilter 1: Resonance max, Response knob noonNo signal at Filter 1 IN: V/OCT1v/octMode CV filter 1cvFilter 1 OutputaudioSineaudioInaudioCVcvOutcvOutcvInaudioPitch1v/octaudiocvpitch
CV-controlled wavefolder
Use Blades as a folder ahead of an external filter: feed VCO into Filter 1 IN, set Drive Shape fully CW (fold), Resonance low, Response low-pass, modulate Drive CV with an envelope. Take Filter 1 Out post-fold-and-LP.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Blades, VCO, Envelope, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv.BladesVCOEnvelopeOutputFilter 1: LP, Resonance low, Drive Shape = foldRouting: single (CCW)Filter 1 INaudioDrive CVcvFilter 1 OutputaudioSineaudioOutcvInaudioaudiocv
Cross-patched chaos
Patch Filter 2 Out to Filter 1 Cutoff CV and Filter 1 Out to Filter 2 Cutoff CV with moderate attenuverter settings. Feed a sustained tone into Filter 1 IN, ROUTING at noon, and drive up Resonance on both. Expect chaotic timbres.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Blades, VCO, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 2 cv.BladesVCOOutputRouting: parallel (noon)Resonance 1 and 2: medium-highFilter 1 INaudioCutoff CV filter 1cvCutoff CV filter 2cvFilter 2 OutputcvFilter 1 OutputcvMain OutputaudioSawaudioInaudioaudiocv

Behaviors

Single / parallel / series routing Routing knob and CV

ROUTING is a dual crossfader. It sets how much of filter 1 vs filter 2 reaches MAIN out, and also how much of filter 1's input vs filter 1's output feeds filter 2 (when Filter 2 IN is unpatched). CCW = filter 1 alone, noon = both in parallel on the same signal, CW = filter 1 feeding filter 2 in series.

Patch filter 2 for crossfader patch a signal into Filter 2 IN

Patching Filter 2 IN overrides the internal routing. ROUTING then behaves as a simple crossfader between the two independent filters at the MAIN output.

Cutoff coupling Cutoff Coupling button

When engaged, filter 2's FREQUENCY knob sets a relative offset to filter 1's cutoff. Noon = same cutoff; past/before noon transposes filter 2 up/down while filter 1 drives the pair.

Clean self-oscillation / sine VCO high Resonance with no input

Both filters self-oscillate cleanly with constant amplitude across the audio range and track 1V/oct via V/OCT. Each filter becomes a usable sine oscillator.

Response as phase on oscillation modulate Mode CV while self-oscillating

When a filter is self-oscillating, modulating its Response (via knob or Mode CV) shifts the phase of the sine output. Audio-rate Mode CV gives FM-like metallic tones; a VCA on Mode CV gives CV-controlled PM depth.

Drive morphs clip to fold Drive Shape clockwise

The pre-filter drive stage morphs continuously from soft clipping to a two-stage wavefolder. Combined with DRIVE level and Drive CV it becomes a CV-controlled overdrive/folder ahead of each filter.

Filter-response shelving Response knob between LP/BP or BP/HP

Intermediate Response positions produce shelving shapes rather than pure LP/BP/HP, which makes Blades effective as a spectral shaper or tone control.

DC-coupled CV processing feed CV into a filter input

Because the signal path is DC-coupled, Blades can process CV: FREQUENCY as portamento, RESONANCE to add overshoot, DRIVE to scale or shape control voltages.

Controls

per filter Frequency Sets each filter's cutoff frequency.
8 Hz to 18 kHz
per filter Resonance Emphasis around cutoff. Reaches clean self-oscillation with constant amplitude.
self-oscillates cleanly
per filter Drive Gain and distortion amount feeding the filter core. Also acts as the offset for the DRIVE CV input.
0 dB at 11 o'clock
per filter Drive Shape Morphs the drive circuit from round soft-clipping to a two-stage wavefolder.
continuous soft-clip to fold
per filter Response Continuously morphs between low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass. Intermediate settings have a shelving shape useful for EQ.
when self-oscillating, adjusts the phase of the sine output
global Routing Dual crossfader from single (filter 1 only) through parallel (mix of both) to series (filter 1 into filter 2).
CCW single · 12 o'clock parallel · CW series
global CV Attenuverters Bipolar attenuverters for filter 1 and 2 frequency and resonance CV inputs, plus the routing CV input.
bipolar
global Cutoff Coupling Button/LED. When on, filter 2's frequency knob sets an offset relative to filter 1's cutoff; at 12 o'clock both filters share the same cutoff.
relative tuning mode

I/O

IN · 8

  • Mode CV bipolar CV, audio-rate capable CV
    CV over filter response (LP/BP/HP morph). When a filter self-oscillates this acts as phase modulation of the sine output.
  • Cutoff CV bipolar CV, audio-rate capable CV
    Attenuverted CV over cutoff frequency, per filter.
  • Resonance CV bipolar CV, audio-rate capable CV
    Attenuverted CV over resonance, per filter.
  • Routing CV bipolar CV, audio-rate capable CV
    Attenuverted CV over the single / parallel / series routing between the two filters.
  • V/OCT 1V/oct CV
    Unattenuated frequency CV, calibrated for 1V/octave tracking of cutoff (and of the self-oscillation pitch).
  • Drive CV bipolar CV CV
    CV over drive amount. Normalized to +2 V when unpatched, which is why a moderate gain is obtained with DRIVE fully CCW.
    NORM → +2 V internal offset
  • Filter 1 IN audio / CV, 30k impedance CV
    DC-coupled signal input to filter 1. Accepts audio or CV (the path is DC-coupled so portamento/slew on CV is possible).
  • Filter 2 IN audio / CV, 30k impedance CV
    DC-coupled signal input to filter 2. When left unpatched, filter 2 receives a blend of filter 1's input and output set by the ROUTING control (this is what creates the single/parallel/series morph). Patching a signal here breaks the internal routing and turns ROUTING into a crossfader between the two filters.

OUT · 3

  • Filter 1 Output audio / DC AUDIO
    Individual output tap for filter 1.
  • Filter 2 Output audio / DC AUDIO
    Individual output tap for filter 2.
  • Main Output audio / DC CV
    Mix of filter 1 and filter 2, balanced by the ROUTING control and CV: only filter 1 at CCW, 50/50 at noon, only filter 2 at CW.