Ballista Blast

Shakmat Modular 12HP

OSCILLATOR VCO FILTER VCF VCA DISTORTION

Hybrid mono synth voice. 16-bit/48 kHz digital oscillator with Classic, Wavetable and FM engines into analog filter (2-pole LP/HP/BP, 4-pole LP), VCA/LPG and distortion. Assignable envelope, randomiser and velocity. 256 presets with Select Bus.

Patch Ideas · 5

★ Classic acid bass

Classic engine · 4-pole LP filter · envelope to filter cutoff · velocity to resonance for accent · distortion soft-clip for body.

Walkthrough

Set Engine to Classic; pick the saw + sub mode with the Parameter knob.
Set the analog filter to the 4-pole LP type; Emphasis (resonance) around 1 o'clock.
Open Envelope assign and route the envelope to filter cutoff with a moderate positive depth; choose AD shape, short attack, medium decay.
Open Velocity assign and route Velocity to Emphasis (resonance) with small positive depth — accented notes squelch harder.
Engage the distortion stage in symmetrical soft-clip; keep depth low for warmth, high for grit.
Patch Sequencer (Pitch) -> V/Oct, Sequencer (Gate) -> Gate, accent CV -> Velocity.
Take OUT to mixer and tune Pitch by ear against your reference.

Signal out OUT — mono ±5 V audio: a punchy resonant acid bass that opens on accented gates.

Listen for A 303-style squelch — woody on regular notes, biting and resonant on accented ones, with soft-clip warmth in the body.

▸ Show diagram

★ Wavetable evolving lead

Wavetable engine · slow LFO scans the 8 waves of one bank · envelope on amplitude · randomiser on Parameter (bank) for occasional bank flips.

Walkthrough

Set Engine to Wavetable; use Parameter to choose a bank you like.
Set Harmonics around 12 o'clock (mid wave position); leave the analog filter wide open with Emphasis low.
Open Envelope assign in AR mode -> VCA/LPG with full depth, medium attack, long release.
Patch a slow triangle LFO (~0.1 Hz) -> the Harmonics CV input — wave morph drifts continuously.
Open Randomiser assign and route the randomiser to Parameter (bank) with very small depth — most gates keep the same bank, occasional ones jump.
Patch Keyboard (Pitch) -> V/Oct, Keyboard (Gate) -> Gate.
Take OUT into a stereo reverb or delay to widen the mono voice.

Signal out OUT — mono ±5 V audio: a soft-attack lead whose wave is constantly morphing, with rare timbral surprises on new gates.

Listen for A glassy, evolving lead that is never quite the same shape twice — like a slowly breathing wavetable pad with occasional flickers to a different texture.

▸ Show diagram

★ FM bell strike

FM engine · short AD envelope on amplitude · velocity on FM index for hammer dynamics · 2-pole BP to focus the partials.

Walkthrough

Set Engine to FM; pick a metallic algorithm with the Harmonics knob.
Set Parameter (modulation index) around 11 o'clock; Emphasis (feedback) low for now.
Set the analog filter to 2-pole BP, mid cutoff, low resonance — keeps the focus on the FM partials.
Open Envelope assign in AD -> VCA/LPG with full depth, very short attack (~5 ms), medium decay (~400 ms), exponential curve.
Open Velocity assign and route Velocity to Parameter (FM index) with positive depth — harder hits = more inharmonic clang.
Patch Sequencer (Pitch) -> V/Oct, Sequencer (Gate) -> Gate, accent/velocity CV -> Velocity.
Send OUT to a long plate reverb for tail.

Signal out OUT — mono ±5 V audio: percussive bell strikes, pitched by V/Oct, brighter and more inharmonic on accented notes.

Listen for A glassy mallet bell — soft notes ring like a bell, hard notes crack with a metallic clang before decaying into the reverb tail.

▸ Show diagram

Drone with breathing distortion

VCA/LPG in Drone mode · Classic engine with sub · randomiser on Emphasis for slow filter shimmer · asymmetric distortion for harmonic motion.

Walkthrough

Set Engine to Classic; pick a saw + sub mode.
Switch the VCA/LPG stage to Drone mode so the voice runs continuously without a gate.
Set the analog filter to 4-pole LP, cutoff just past 12 o'clock.
Engage the distortion stage in asymmetrical mode for an even-harmonic edge.
Patch a slow clock (~1 Hz) -> Gate so the randomiser fires once a second.
Open Randomiser assign and route the randomiser to Emphasis with small depth — resonance shimmers without screaming.
Hold V/Oct at the drone pitch with a fixed offset (or skip the input and use the Pitch knob). Take OUT to mixer.

Signal out OUT — mono ±5 V continuous drone audio with slowly drifting harmonic content.

Listen for A thick saw-and-sub drone that breathes — the resonance shimmers in and out and the asymmetric distortion adds a slow growl on top.

▸ Show diagram

Select Bus preset sequencing

Save four related presets in one bank · Select Bus master steps through them in time with the music · randomiser adds per-step variation so repeats never feel identical.

Walkthrough

Dial in four variations of a sound (e.g. four FM bell tones with different algorithms) and store them in slots 1-4 of the same bank using the Preset / Memory menu.
Connect the Select Bus from a compatible master (e.g. Shakmat Bard Quartet or Knight's Gallop) to the Ballista Blast Select Bus header.
Set the master to send preset recall messages on a clock division (e.g. every bar).
Patch Sequencer (Pitch) -> V/Oct, Sequencer (Gate) -> Gate.
Open Randomiser assign and route a small depth to one or two parameters (e.g. Emphasis) so even within one preset the sound moves.
Send OUT to the mix and start the clock — the voice steps through saved sounds while still varying inside each one.

Signal out OUT — mono ±5 V audio: pitched notes whose entire patch swaps every bar, with subtle per-note variation from the randomiser.

Listen for A voice that completely changes character every bar — bright bell, warm sub, gritty acid, glassy lead — but always musical, like a four-scene arrangement.

▸ Show diagram

Behaviors

Three synthesis engines, one analog chain select Classic, Wavetable or FM

All three engines feed the same analog filter, distortion and VCA/LPG. Classic offers seven subtractive modes (saw/square plus sub and unison/chord variants), Wavetable serves 32 banks of 8 morphable waves each (custom tables loadable from microSD), FM gives seven multi-operator algorithms with feedback and waveshaping.

Engine-dependent knob behaviour turn Harmonics / Emphasis / Parameter

The four main knobs (Pitch, Harmonics, Emphasis, Parameter) change what they do depending on the active engine. The same patch sounds completely different after a single Engine change, even before re-tweaking knobs.

Assignable envelope, randomiser and velocity assign a modulator to a destination

The internal envelope, gate-triggered randomiser and Velocity input can each be routed to almost any parameter with its own depth. The same patch can swing between stable, animated and chaotic behaviour without external modulation.

Analog filter and distortion set filter mode and distortion type

Four analog filter types (2-pole LP / HP / BP and 4-pole resonant LP) sit after the oscillator. The post-filter distortion has two characters — symmetrical soft-clip for warmth, asymmetrical for harmonic crunch.

Preset memory and Select Bus save / recall presets

256 presets in 16 banks are stored on the internal SD card. Recall happens from the panel, from a CV pattern, or via Select Bus from a master module — letting a sequencer step through whole sound states.

Expander-ready connect 1 or 2 Ballista Blast Expanders

Up to two 4 HP expanders can be added to provide extra modulation sources that integrate with the preset system, so saved patches recall expander state too.

Controls

Global	Pitch	Sets oscillator pitch. Tracks 1 V/Oct from the V/Oct input and is summed with the front-panel knob. main pitch knob · 1 V/Oct input
Engine	Harmonics	Engine-dependent timbre control. In Classic engine it morphs through the seven subtractive modes / oscillator combinations; in Wavetable it scrolls between the eight morphable waves of the active bank; in FM it sets the algorithm or carrier balance. direct + dedicated CV input · function changes per engine
Engine	Emphasis	Engine-dependent harmonic intensity. Classic = filter resonance / character; Wavetable = wave-position emphasis or sub level; FM = operator feedback / waveshaping. direct + dedicated CV input · function changes per engine
Engine	Parameter	Engine-dependent secondary parameter. Classic = filter mode / sub mix; Wavetable = bank select across the 32 wavetables; FM = modulation index / depth. direct + dedicated CV input · function changes per engine
Global	Envelope	Built-in assignable envelope generator. Selectable AR, AD, ASR or Loop shapes with linear or exponential curves; depth and destination are set per patch. AR / AD / ASR / Loop · linear or exponential · assignable depth
Global	Randomiser	Gate-triggered random source with per-parameter depth. Each gate draws a new random value that is scaled into the assigned destinations. gate-triggered S&H · per-parameter depth control
Global	Velocity	Velocity input with independent scaling. Can be routed to any of the assignable parameters (filter cutoff, distortion, envelope time, FM index, etc.). per-parameter scaling · works with the Velocity input jack
Analog chain	Distortion	Analog distortion stage with two character options (symmetrical soft-clip and asymmetrical harmonic generation), placed after the filter and before the VCA/LPG. soft-clip · asymmetrical · two selectable types
Output	VCA / LPG mode	Final amplifier stage that can run as a clean envelope-controlled VCA, a gated LPG-style amp, or a constant drone (always-open). Envelope · Gate · Drone modes
Global	Preset / Memory	Stores and recalls presets from internal memory (microSD card slot used for firmware and user wavetables). Recall is non-volatile and supports CV and Select Bus. 256 presets in 16 banks · panel / CV / Select Bus recall · microSD slot

I/O

IN · 6

V/Oct 1 V/Oct CV

1 V/Oct pitch CV input, summed with the Pitch knob.
Gate gate GATE

Gate input that triggers the built-in envelope and clocks the randomiser.
Velocity CV ENV

CV input scaled by the Velocity assignment — adds a second expressive modulator on top of the envelope.
FM / AM In audio / CV CV

Audio-rate input for through-zero-style FM or amplitude modulation of the digital oscillator from an external source.
Parameter CV ins CV CV

Dedicated CV inputs for the main engine parameters (Pitch, Harmonics, Emphasis, Parameter) plus assignable inputs that route to whichever destination the patch assigns.
Select Bus bus

Receives Select Bus messages so a compatible master module (e.g. Bard Quartet, Knight's Gallop) can recall presets remotely.

OUT · 1

OUT audio AUDIO

Main mono audio output of the voice — digital oscillator through analog filter, distortion and VCA/LPG.

Expanders

Ballista Blast Expander 4HP

4HP expander for Ballista Blast. Adds one envelope (AR/AD/ASR) or LFO (Free/Synced/Clocked/Both) routable to six Blast destinations: HRMN, EMPHS, PARAM, PITCH, AMP, ASGN. Ribbon-connects to a Blast expander port; up to two per Blast. Settings save with presets.

Behaviors

No audio/CV out — modulation is internal automatic

The expander has no front-panel output jacks. Its generated LFO/envelope is delivered directly to the Ballista Blast over the ribbon cable and applied internally to the selected destination(s). All routing happens through the destination LEDs, not patch cables.

Seven modes (3 ENV + 4 LFO) set EXP MODE in host Mod menu

Envelope: AR (triggered attack/release), AD (gated attack/decay), ASR (gated attack/sustain/release). LFO: Free (free-running), Synced (resets to a rising edge at the Blast's GATE input), Clocked (locks to expander's CLK/TG), Both (synced AND clocked).

Six shapes set EXP SHAPE in host Mod menu, then sweep SHAPE/ATTACK

Envelope shapes: Linear or Exponential decay/release. LFO shapes: Skewed Ramp (rise/fall balance morph), Symmetrical (tilted-triangle → triangle → sine → square morph), Random (sample-and-hold into constant-time slew), Sequences (morphs through 8-step sequences). The SHAPE/ATTACK knob sweeps within the chosen family.

Six destinations with per-destination depth press destination button to cycle

HRMN, EMPHS, PARAM, PITCH, AMP, ASGN — each stores its own depth. The same expander source can drive any combination simultaneously. AMP acts on level. ASGN's actual target is chosen on the host (main env depth/attack/decay or the other expander's depth/shape/time).

Per-destination depth catch cycle destinations with destination button

Each destination's depth is stored. When you select a destination whose stored depth differs from the DEPTH knob's physical position, the LED blinks until the knob is moved past the stored value (catch behavior). Holding the destination button for 2 seconds clears all depths to zero.

Attenuator or attenuverter global options menu on Ballista Blast

DEPTH defaults to attenuator. A global option flips it to attenuverter, so the knob's centre = 0 and the modulation can invert.

Cross-modulation between expanders (ASGN) set ASGN target to E1/E2 DPTH / SHPE / TIME on host

With two expanders fitted, one expander's ASGN destination can be aimed at the other's depth, shape/attack, or time/decay parameter — letting expander A modulate expander B.

Preset recall integration save Ballista Blast preset

All expander parameters (mode, shape, depths per destination, ASGN target) are stored in the Ballista Blast preset and restored on recall. Preset packs with one or two expanders are available on shakmat.com.

Random and Velocity reach the expander expander enabled in host global options

The Ballista Blast's Random and Velocity menu pages gain extra entries for the expander's parameters when an expander is enabled, so the host's random source and velocity input can move the expander's depth, shape, time, or per-destination depths.

Patch Ideas · 4

Snappy AD pluck without patching a second envelope

Set the expander to AD envelope on the host, route it to AMP and PITCH, fire it from the same gate that opens the voice. Plucked attacks with a tiny pitch chirp — no extra ENV module needed.

Walkthrough

On the Ballista Blast Mod menu, set EXP1 MODE = AD and EXP1 SHAPE = Exponential.
On the expander, press the destination button until AMP is selected. Set DEPTH to about 3 o'clock.
Press the destination button again to land on PITCH. Set DEPTH small (around 9 o'clock) — small pitch dip on each hit.
Set SHAPE/ATTACK fully CCW (instant attack) and TIME/DECAY around 10 o'clock (short decay).
Patch your sequencer's Gate → Ballista Blast GATE input (the host's gate also fires the expander envelope in AD mode).
Patch sequencer pitch → Ballista Blast V/Oct.
Listen: each note has a percussive amplitude envelope from the expander plus a tiny pitch click-down on the attack — like a soft FM-style pluck.

Signal out Ballista Blast OUT L/R — voice modulated internally by the expander's AD envelope on AMP and PITCH (no expander front-panel output exists).

Listen for Tight plucked attacks with a faint pitch chirp on each hit. Increase the PITCH depth for a more dramatic FM-bell click; flip EXP1 SHAPE to Linear for a softer fade.

▸ Show diagram

Free-running symmetrical LFO drifting harmonics + emphasis

LFO mode = Free, SHAPE = Symmetrical wave morphed to a slow sine, routed shallowly to HRMN and EMPHS. The wavetable engine breathes around a sustained note without any external clock.

Walkthrough

On the Ballista Blast, set Engine Select = Wavetable and enable EXP1 in global options.
In the Mod menu, set EXP1 MODE = Free (LFO) and EXP1 SHAPE = Symmetrical wave.
On the expander, set TIME/DECAY around 9 o'clock (very slow LFO).
Set SHAPE/ATTACK to about 12 o'clock — that lands on a sine-ish symmetrical wave.
Press destination button until HRMN is on. Set DEPTH to about 11 o'clock.
Press destination again to EMPHS. Set DEPTH to about 1 o'clock (slightly more emphasis movement than harmonics).
Hold a long gate on the Ballista Blast GATE input (or use a sustained sequencer note).
Watch the green and red activity LEDs swing — the timbre opens and closes around the held pitch.

Signal out Ballista Blast OUT L/R — sustained wavetable note whose harmonics and emphasis sweep slowly together.

Listen for A glassy pad that breathes. Turn TIME/DECAY clockwise to speed it up; sweep SHAPE/ATTACK to morph from tilted-triangle through sine to square for sharper steps.

▸ Show diagram

Clocked S&H random into PARAM for evolving timbre

LFO mode = Clocked, SHAPE = Random, fed by an external clock. Each clock pulse hands a new sample-and-hold value to PARAM, with the slew making it morph instead of jumping.

Walkthrough

On the Ballista Blast, enable EXP1 in global options. Engine Select = Classic.
In the Mod menu, set EXP1 MODE = Clocked (LFO) and EXP1 SHAPE = Random.
Patch a clock (e.g. 1/8 notes) → expander CLK/TG.
On the expander, press destination until PARAM is selected. Set DEPTH around noon.
Set TIME/DECAY around 12 o'clock — this tunes the slew rate of the constant-time slew limiter so values morph between steps.
Trigger notes on the Blast as normal (gate → GATE, pitch → V/Oct).
Listen: every clock pulse, the PARAM macro lurches to a new random value, sliding rather than stepping thanks to the slew.

Signal out Ballista Blast OUT L/R — note whose PARAM macro is randomized in time with the master clock.

Listen for An ever-changing classic-engine tone that locks to the song clock. Speed up the clock for chaos; slow it for slow morphing. Add a second destination (e.g. EMPHS at low DEPTH) to spread the random across two parameters.

▸ Show diagram

Dual-expander: slow LFO modulates the other expander's depth

Two expanders fitted. EXP1 = slow Free LFO, ASGN target = E2 DPTH. EXP2 = fast Clocked LFO on HRMN. Result: EXP2's harmonic shimmer fades in and out under EXP1's slow control.

Walkthrough

Enable both EXP1 and EXP2 in the Ballista Blast global options.
EXP2: set MODE = Clocked (LFO), SHAPE = Symmetrical wave (square-ish). Patch master clock → EXP2 CLK/TG. Press destination → HRMN. Set EXP2 DEPTH high (~3 o'clock).
EXP1: set MODE = Free (LFO), SHAPE = Skewed Ramp. Set TIME/DECAY very slow.
EXP1: press destination → ASGN. Set EXP1 DEPTH to ~3 o'clock.
On the Ballista Blast Mod menu, on the EXP1 ASSIGN page, choose target = E2 DPTH (other expander's depth).
Trigger notes on the Blast as normal.
Listen: EXP2 keeps adding clocked harmonic motion, but EXP1 slowly modulates how much of that motion gets through — long ebb-and-flow over the rhythmic shimmer.

Signal out Ballista Blast OUT L/R — voice with rhythmic harmonic motion (EXP2) whose intensity slowly waxes and wanes (EXP1 → EXP2 depth).

Listen for Bursts of harmonic activity that swell and recede on a long timescale. Save the preset and both expander states recall together — entire performance scene from one slot.

▸ Show diagram

I/O

IN · 5

CLK / TG clock / trigger / gate GATE

Clock input (LFO Clocked / Both modes) or trigger/gate input that fires the envelope (AR/AD/ASR modes). Used as the LFO clock source when LFO mode = Clocked or Both.
DEPTH CV -5V to +5V CV

CV over the modulation depth of the currently selected destination.
SHAPE / ATTACK CV -5V to +5V ENV

CV over the LFO shape (LFO mode) or the envelope attack time (envelope mode).
TIME / DECAY CV -5V to +5V ENV

CV over the LFO rate (LFO mode) or the envelope decay/release time (envelope mode).
Expander ribbon (rear) expander bus

IDC ribbon cable to the corresponding expander port on the Ballista Blast (expander 1 → port 1, expander 2 → port 2). Red stripe matches the white line on the PCB. Must also be enabled in the host's global options menu.

Controls

Source shaping	SHAPE / ATTACK	In LFO mode, sets the LFO shape (morphs through the selected shape family). In envelope mode, sets the attack time. Activity LEDs sit next to this knob: green only in envelope mode, green + red in LFO mode. morphable LFO shape · envelope attack time · CV input
Source shaping	TIME / DECAY	In LFO mode, sets the LFO rate. In envelope mode, sets the decay (AD) or release (AR/ASR) time. LFO rate · envelope decay/release · CV input
Per destination	DEPTH	Sets modulation depth for the currently selected destination. Each destination stores its own depth (LED blinks until the knob catches the stored value). Attenuator by default; switchable to attenuverter in the Blast's global options. per-destination depth · attenuator (default) or attenuverter · CV input
Routing	Destination button	Press to cycle through the six available destinations: HRMN, EMPHS, PARAM, PITCH, AMP, ASGN. Hold for two seconds to clear depth on all destinations. 6 destinations · short press = cycle · 2s hold = clear all depths
Routing	Destination LEDs (HRMN, EMPHS, PARAM, PITCH, AMP, ASGN)	Six LEDs around the destination button. Solid = selected. Dim = not selected but active (non-zero depth). Off = not selected, inactive. Blinking = selected but DEPTH knob hasn't caught the stored value yet. off / dim / on / blink states
Source shaping	Activity LEDs (+ green, − red)	Show the modulation source's current output. Envelope mode uses only the green (+) LED. LFO mode uses both LEDs to show bipolar swing. envelope = green only · LFO = green + red
Mod menu page on Ballista Blast	EXP1/EXP2 MODE (configured on host)	Seven modes, set in the Blast Mod menu. Envelope: AR (triggered A/R), AD (gated A/D), ASR (gated A/S/R). LFO: Free, Synced (to Blast GATE), Clocked (to CLK/TG), Both. ENV: AR / AD / ASR · LFO: Free / Synced / Clocked / Both
Mod menu page on Ballista Blast	EXP1/EXP2 SHAPE (configured on host)	Shape family that SHAPE/ATTACK morphs through. Envelope: Linear, Exponential. LFO: Skewed Ramp (rise/fall balance), Symmetrical (tilted-tri → tri → sine → square), Random (S&H + slew), Sequences (8-step morph). ENV: Linear / Exponential · LFO: Skewed Ramp / Symmetrical / Random / Sequences
Mod menu page on Ballista Blast	EXP1/EXP2 ASSIGN — ASGN target (configured on host)	Picks what ASGN modulates. Six choices: MN DPTH / MN ATCK / MN DCAY (host's main envelope) or E1·E2 DPTH / SHPE / TIME (the other expander's parameters). MN DPTH/ATCK/DCAY · E1·E2 DPTH/SHPE/TIME

Patch Ideas · 5

Behaviors

Controls

I/O

▸ IN · 6

◂ OUT · 1

Expanders

Behaviors

Patch Ideas · 4

I/O

▸ IN · 5

Controls

IN · 6

OUT · 1

IN · 5