Braids

Mutable Instruments 16HP
fw 1.8 (final official release)
VCO OSCILLATOR WAVESHAPER NOISE

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Digital macro-oscillator with ~45 synthesis models spanning virtual-analog, waveshaping, FM, formant, physical modeling, wavetable, drums, and noise. LED display + push-encoder exposes quantizer/scales, internal AD envelope, bit-depth, sample-rate, drift, and signature bitcrush.

Patch Ideas · 8

★ Self-contained percussive voice
Model: KICK or SNAR · BITS/RATE lowered for crunch · TRIG from clock · V/OCT fixed · internal AD shapes hit via |\VCA · OUT direct to mixer
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 2 connections. Modules: Braids, Clock, Mixer. Signals: 1 audio, 1 trigger.BraidsClockMixerModel: KICKMenu: BITS 8, |\VCA ONTRIGtrigOUTaudioOuttrigInaudioaudiotrigger
★ META-morphing texture
Menu META: ON · slow LFO into FM jack · FM attenuverter sets model sweep range · TRIG from clock so model changes are sampled on each hit · timbre evolves rhythmically across model groups
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Braids, Keyboard, Slow LFO, Clock, Filter (In) -> Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 pitch, 1 trigger.BraidsKeyboardSlow LFOClockFilter (In) -> OutputMenu: META ONV/OCT1v/octFMcvTRIGtrigOUTaudioPitch1v/octOutcvOuttrigInaudio11. selects modelaudiocvpitchtrigger
★ Drifting analog-style bass
Model: CSAW · menu DRFT 2 + FLAT 1 for VCO-flavoured instability · sequencer on V/OCT · envelope into TIMBRE CV for filter-like sweep · feels like a vintage VCO
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 5 connections. Modules: Braids, Sequencer, Envelope, Filter (In) -> VCA (In) -> Output, VCA. Signals: 1 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch, 1 gate.BraidsSequencerEnvelopeFilter (In) -> VCA (In) -> OutputVCAModel: CSAWMenu: DRFT 2, FLAT 1V/OCT1v/octTIMBREcvOUTaudioPitch1v/octGategateTriggateOutcvInaudioCVcvaudiocvpitchgate
Plucked string with quantized random
Model: PLUK · menu QNTZ = pentatonic, ROOT set · random CV into V/OCT is quantized internally · clock on TRIG fires the pluck · no external quantizer needed
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 5 connections. Modules: Braids, Noise, S&H, Clock, Reverb (In) -> Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 cv, 1 pitch, 2 trigger.BraidsNoiseS&HClockReverb (In) -> OutputModel: PLUKMenu: QNTZ PENTA, ROOT AV/OCT1v/octTRIGtrigOUTaudioOutcvIncvTrigtrigOut1v/octOuttrigInaudio11. Braids quantizes internallyaudiocvpitchtrigger
FM bell with bitcrush
Model: FM · COARSE in bell register · menu BITS 6 for heavy crush · TIMBRE CV from envelope modulates FM index · COLOR slow-swept by LFO · 8-bit DX-style bells
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 6 connections. Modules: Braids, Sequencer, Envelope, LFO, VCA, VCA (In) -> Reverb (In) -> Output. Signals: 1 audio, 3 cv, 1 pitch, 1 gate.BraidsSequencerEnvelopeLFOVCAVCA (In) -> Reverb (In) -> OutputModel: FMMenu: BITS 6V/OCT1v/octTIMBREcvCOLORcvOUTaudioPitch1v/octGategateTriggateOutcvOutcvCVcvInaudioaudiocvpitchgate
Wavetable scanning pad
Model: WTBL · slow LFO on TIMBRE scans wavetable X · slow LFO on COLOR scans Y · V/OCT from sustained chord · DRFT 1 adds breathing motion · lush evolving pad
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Braids, Keyboard, LFO 1, LFO 2, Stereo Chorus (In) -> Reverb (In) -> Output. Signals: 1 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch.BraidsKeyboardLFO 1LFO 2Stereo Chorus (In) -> Reverb (In) -> OutputModel: WTBLMenu: DRFT 1V/OCT1v/octTIMBREcvCOLORcvOUTaudioPitch1v/octOutcvOutcvInaudioaudiocvpitch
Self-playing melodic voice (TSRC AUTO)
Model: BELL or PLUK · menu TSRC = AUTO · sequencer on V/OCT only — no gate cable needed, Braids auto-triggers on each pitch change · internal AD shapes each note
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 2 connections. Modules: Braids, Sequencer, Reverb (In) -> Output. Signals: 1 audio, 1 pitch.BraidsSequencerReverb (In) -> OutputModel: BELLMenu: TSRC AUTO, |\VCA ONV/OCT1v/octOUTaudioPitch1v/octInaudioaudiopitch
Filtered noise drone
Model: NOIS or ZBPF · V/OCT sets the filter / tonal centre · slow LFOs on TIMBRE and COLOR modulate model parameters · sustained noise-based texture
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Braids, LFO 1, LFO 2, Offset, Reverb (In) -> Output. Signals: 1 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch.BraidsLFO 1LFO 2OffsetReverb (In) -> OutputModel: NOISTIMBREcvCOLORcvV/OCT1v/octOUTaudioOutcvOutcvOut1v/octInaudio11. fixed tonal centeraudiocvpitch

Behaviors

META mode (CV-driven model selection) menu: META = ON

FM CV selects model instead of pitch (pitch FM becomes unavailable while META is on). Slow CV sweeps through models; stepped CV picks discrete algorithms. FM attenuverter sets the span of the sweep. Encoder still works for manual selection.

Internal AD envelope TRIG patched + envelope destinations enabled in menu

TRIG fires a short internal AD envelope with separately routable amounts to FM, TIMBRE, COLOR, and VCA. Firmware 1.8 added the four individual mod destinations, enabling a self-contained voice without external envelopes. Physical models use TRIG as the exciter/strike regardless.

Auto-trigger from pitch change (TSRC) menu: TSRC = AUTO

Braids generates its own trigger each time V/OCT changes by ≥ 1 semitone — a self-contained voice follows a pitch sequencer without needing a separate gate cable.

Internal quantizer (QNTZ + ROOT) menu: QNTZ ≠ off

Quantizes V/OCT + COARSE to a selectable scale with adjustable root. Firmware 1.8 rewrote the scale table, adding ~50 scales (chromatic, major, minor, modal, pentatonic, Japanese, raga, microtonal, etc.). Lets Braids self-quantize imprecise or random CV.

SIGN (signature waveshaper) menu: SIGN > 0

Adds grungy glitches and waveform imperfections whose exact character is derived from the module's serial number — each Braids has a slightly unique degradation.

DRFT (analog-style drift) menu: DRFT > 0

Adds slow random pitch drift simulating the instability of a poorly-designed analog VCO. Makes the digital oscillator feel breathing/alive, especially when stacked with other VCOs.

FLAT (VCO tuning imperfections) menu: FLAT > 0

Recreates the slight tracking/tuning errors of an analog VCO across the keyboard range — separate from DRFT's time-varying drift.

BITS / RATE (lo-fi rendering) menu: BITS < 16 or RATE < native

BITS reduces DAC word length; RATE drops the internal sample rate (some models natively render at 48 kHz instead of 96 kHz). Together they give vintage-sampler / 8-bit textures without external effects.

Trigger-delay (TDLY) menu: TDLY > 0

Delays internal trigger handling to let CV sources settle before the model re-initialises — tightens up plucks/drums when the pitch CV arrives slightly after the gate.

Controls

Global Encoder + LED display Rotates to select synthesis model; push to open hidden menu (META, scales, AD envelope, BITS, RATE, drift, signature, calibration, etc.).
~45 models · 4-char display
Global COARSE Coarse pitch. Range depends on RANG menu setting (EXT extended, FREE continuous, XTND, or 440Hz lock).
Default ~8 octave range
Global FINE Fine pitch tuning.
±1 semitone
Global FM Attenuverter Scales and inverts the FM CV input. When META is ON in menu, this attenuverter scales CV-driven model selection instead of pitch FM.
CCW: invert · noon: zero · CW: unity
Global TIMBRE Model-dependent primary tone parameter. Generally sweeps brightness or spectral density. Knob position is summed with the attenuverted TIMBRE CV.
Meaning varies per model
Global TIMBRE Attenuverter Scales and inverts the TIMBRE CV input.
Bipolar
Global COLOR Model-dependent secondary tone parameter. Knob position is summed with the COLOR CV (no attenuverter for COLOR).
CV adds to knob; attenuate externally if needed

I/O

IN · 5

  • TRIG gate/trigger GATE
    Trigger input. Fires the internal AD envelope (when enabled), acts as the exciter/strike for physical models, and can reset phase on some models. TSRC menu option can auto-generate triggers from V/OCT changes ≥ 1 semitone.
  • V/OCT 1V/oct CV
    1V/octave pitch input. Precalibrated; unattenuated. Two-point calibration available via CAL menu.
  • FM CV in (attenuverted) CV
    Frequency modulation — or, when META is enabled in the menu, CV-driven model selection. Scaled/inverted by the FM attenuverter.
  • TIMBRE 0–5V (attenuverted) CV
    TIMBRE parameter CV, scaled by the TIMBRE attenuverter. CV is summed with the knob position (0V = knob minimum, +5V = knob maximum).
  • COLOR 0–5V CV
    COLOR parameter CV. Summed with the COLOR knob (0V = knob minimum, +5V = knob maximum). No attenuverter on the panel.

OUT · 1

  • OUT audio AUDIO
    Main audio output of the selected synthesis model. Loudness is model-dependent.