Samarkanda

Xaoc Devices 42HP
fw 1953/1.0
DELAY EFFECTS GRANULAR SAMPLER

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Quadruple resampling performance delay. Four channels (A·B·C·D) of 0.5ms–15s each, with analog (tape/BBD-like pitch-shifting) and digital (granular crossfade) behaviours, freeze, reverse, 1V/oct loop playback, linkable groups, and lossless digital stacking.

Patch Ideas · 10

★ Two independent stereo delays (A+B, C+D)
LINK A↔B and C↔D · set knobs in B and D to noon (1:1) · channels B/D follow A/C. Delay-time, feedback, mix changes in A/C affect both pairs · patch stereo L/R into A and C
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, SourceL, SourceR, Output. Signals: 4 audio.SamarkandaSourceLSourceROutputLINK A-B: ONLINK C-D: ONBEHAVIOUR A/B: ANALOGBEHAVIOUR C/D: ANALOGINPUT AaudioINPUT CaudioMIX OUT BaudioMIX OUT DaudioOutaudioOutaudioLaudioRaudioaudio
Stacked granular cascade with compounding echoes
Default stacked config · all four channels DIGITAL · each TIME at a different subdivision of clock · MIX at 100% per channel · cascading taps produce dense, overlapping granular texture
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Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 7 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, ClockSrc, Voice, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 4 clock.SamarkandaClockSrcVoiceOutputBEHAVIOUR A/B/C/D: DIGITALTIME A: 1/4TIME B: 1/8TIME C: 3/8TIME D: 1/2SYNC AclkSYNC BclkSYNC CclkSYNC DclkINPUT AaudioMIX OUT DaudioOutclkOutaudioLaudioRaudioaudioclock
★ Tuned loop sampler (1V/oct loop playback)
Record a phrase into A · press HOLD · BEHAVIOUR ANALOG · PURGE+HOLD combo to ensure +1V/oct polarity · keyboard → TIME A · TIME knob sets base loop length
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Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Voice, Kbd, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 pitch.SamarkandaVoiceKbdOutputA BEHAVIOUR: ANALOGA HOLD: ONA RANGE: X10INPUT AaudioTIME A1v/octMIX OUT AaudioOutaudioPitch1v/octInaudioaudiopitch
★ Ping-pong with cross-coupled feedback
Patch WET OUT A → FB INPUT B and WET OUT B → FB INPUT A · link off · different TIMEs per channel · stereo bounces between sides
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Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 5 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Voice, Output. Signals: 5 audio.SamarkandaVoiceOutputLINK: OFFBEHAVIOUR A/B: ANALOGINPUT AaudioFB INPUT BaudioFB INPUT AaudioWET OUT AaudioWET OUT BaudioMIX OUT AaudioMIX OUT BaudioOutaudioLaudioRaudioaudio
Reverse verb via two stacked channels
Channel A: REVERSE ON, no feedback, full wet · Channel B: forward with long feedback, picks up A's reversed tail · gives true reversed-with-decay effect
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 2 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Voice, Output. Signals: 2 audio.SamarkandaVoiceOutputA REVERSE: ONA FBCK: 0A MIX: 10 (wet)B REVERSE: OFFB FBCK: 7INPUT AaudioMIX OUT BaudioOutaudioInaudioaudio
Tuned resonator
BEHAVIOUR ANALOG · RANGE X1 · FBCK near max · keyboard into TIME at 1V/oct · PURGE+HOLD set if needed · plucky resonant tones track pitch
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Patch diagramPatch diagram with 6 modules and 5 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Kbd, Trig, VCA, Noise, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 1 pitch, 1 trigger.SamarkandaKbdTrigVCANoiseOutputA BEHAVIOUR: ANALOGA RANGE: X1A FBCK: 9A MIX: 10TIME A1v/octINPUT AaudioMIX OUT AaudioPitch1v/octTrigtrigCVtrigInaudioOutaudioOutaudioInaudioaudiopitchtrigger
Real-time granulator on one channel
BEHAVIOUR DIGITAL · RANGE X10 · FBCK 0 · MIX fully wet · random CV source into TIME CV · continuous grain scatter · increase FBCK for denser cloud
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Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Pad, Noise, Reverb, Output. Signals: 3 audio, 1 cv.SamarkandaPadNoiseReverbOutputA BEHAVIOUR: DIGITALA RANGE: X10A FBCK: 3A MIX: 10INPUT AaudioTIME AcvMIX OUT AaudioOutaudioSlewRndcvInaudioOutaudioInaudioaudiocv
Buffer freeze pad from live source
Play material into A · gate into HOLD jack captures on the fly · slow LFO into TIME CV creates drifting sustained pad · add ANALOG for tape drift, DIGITAL for stable pitch
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 5 modules and 4 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Voice, Gate, Slow LFO, Output. Signals: 2 audio, 1 cv, 1 gate.SamarkandaVoiceGateSlow LFOOutputA BEHAVIOUR: DIGITALA RANGE: X100INPUT AaudioHOLD AgateTIME AcvMIX OUT AaudioOutaudioOutgateOutcvInaudioaudiocvgate
Maximum 60-second delay line
Stacked default · all RANGE X100 · all TIME max · MIX 100% · FBCK 0 in B/C/D · feedback only from D WET OUT back to A FB INPUT · effective ~60s delay
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 3 modules and 3 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Voice, Output. Signals: 3 audio.SamarkandaVoiceOutputA/B/C/D RANGE: X100A/B/C/D TIME: maxA FBCK: 0B/C FBCK: 0D FBCK: 0INPUT AaudioFB INPUT AaudioWET OUT DaudioMIX OUT DaudioOutaudioInaudioaudio
FDN-style reverb across four channels
All four stacked with short differing TIMEs · external matrix mixer cross-feeds WET OUTs into each channel's FB INPUT with different gains · shimmering dense early reflections
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 4 modules and 10 connections. Modules: Samarkanda, Voice, Matrix, Output. Signals: 10 audio.SamarkandaVoiceMatrixOutputA TIME: 37msB TIME: 53msC TIME: 71msD TIME: 97msA/B/C/D BEHAVIOUR: DIGITALINPUT AaudioFB INPUT AaudioFB INPUT BaudioFB INPUT CaudioFB INPUT DaudioWET OUT AaudioWET OUT BaudioWET OUT CaudioWET OUT DaudioMIX OUT DaudioOutaudioIn1audioIn2audioIn3audioIn4audioOut1audioOut2audioOut3audioOut4audioInaudioaudio

Behaviors

Analog vs digital time-change behaviour BEHAVIOUR switch

ANALOG models a fixed-rate buffer read at a variable sample rate — every change of TIME squeezes/stretches what is in the buffer, pitching it tape/BBD-style. DIGITAL crossfades between buffer read positions at a fixed rate — delay time can jump without pitch change. Switchable live; HOLD additionally changes the switch into a loop-playback style selector.

Lossless digital channel stacking no cable in INPUT of channel B/C/D

When INPUT is unpatched, the MIX OUT of the previous channel is passed digitally (skipping D/A + A/D) into the next channel. Four channels default to a stacked cascade of delays with intricate compounding echoes, and the feedback paths follow the same smart normalisation.

Linked channels relative to a master LINK button between channels

Linked channels follow the master's TIME/MIX/FBCK controls relatively — knobs act as bipolar offsets around the master value. TIME range switch on linked channel scales the offset span (X100 = broad, X1 = very fine). Eight link permutations possible; two independent pairs (A+B and C+D) is a common stereo layout.

Continuous / tap-tempo / external sync per channel TAP TEMPO button colour

Each channel independently operates in free (green), tap-tempo (yellow), or external-sync (red) mode. Patching a cable to SYNC forces sync; unplug returns to free. In synced modes, TIME knob jumps between factor 1:8 to 8:1 and RANGE is ignored.

Reverse delay (buffer played backwards) REVERSE button/gate ON

Segments of the buffer are played backwards — periodic discontinuity when the read pointer meets the oldest sample, masked by short fades. Adding feedback re-reverses the sound on the second repetition; to keep directional reverse with feedback, stack two channels: first reverse/dry, second forward with feedback.

HOLD freezes and loops the buffer HOLD button/gate ON

Captures the current buffer as a loop. In DIGITAL, TIME sweeps loop length without pitch. In ANALOG, TIME resamples the frozen loop — so TIME CV + 1V/oct lets you play the loop chromatically from a sequencer (Samarkanda as a crude tuned sampler).

1V/oct tuned loop playback HOLD ON · BEHAVIOUR = ANALOG · SHIFT+HOLD combo to set CV polarity if needed

Manual PURGE+HOLD sets TIME CV to +1V/oct sensitivity. Freeze a single-cycle or short phrase into the buffer, then play it via a keyboard/sequencer → TIME. Different initial TIME knob settings yield different loop lengths = different 'patches' to play.

Feedback polarity inversion SHIFT + REVERSE (hold PURGE + press REVERSE)

Flips feedback polarity from positive to negative for that channel. Subtle on long delays but dramatic on very short delays — shifts the notch/peak positions of the resonator-like comb pattern. Per-channel and persistent across power cycles.

TIME CV polarity inversion SHIFT + HOLD (hold PURGE + press HOLD)

Inverts the direction of TIME CV for that channel (factory +1V/oct → -1V/oct). Useful for playing tuned loops from sequencers that output negative voltages, or inverting sweep direction. Big TIME knob direction is unchanged.

External feedback loops per channel cable into FB INPUT

Breaks the digital normalisation from WET OUT back to FBCK and lets you insert any external processing into the repeat path — filters, distortions, reverbs, even another Samarkanda channel for feedback-delay-network (FDN) reverb topologies.

Soft-clip (ANALOG) vs compressor (DIGITAL) on feedback overdrive FBCK > ~50%

ANALOG applies a modeled soft-clip to emulate classic analog saturation at the repeat stage. DIGITAL applies a transparent compressor to tame amplitude buildup without audible colour. Gain structure behaviour thus differs sharply between the two modes.

PURGE clears all buffers hold PURGE then release without pressing other buttons

Instantly wipes all four buffers. Handy after runaway feedback or when changing sources — no need to power-cycle. Holding PURGE alone while pressing REVERSE/HOLD invokes the secondary (polarity) functions instead.

Controls

per channel (A·B·C·D) TIME Large rotary delay-time dial. Exponential scale tied to the RANGE switch. Also doubles as loop-length control while HOLD is engaged.
X1: 0.5–150ms · X10: 5–1500ms · X100: 50–15000ms · in sync/tap shows discrete factors 1:8…8:1
per channel RANGE Three-position TIME scale selector. Ignored when the channel is externally synced (factor scale replaces it).
X1 · X10 · X100 · overlaps at boundaries
per channel BEHAVIOUR Switches the delay algorithm between tape/BBD-like resampling and granular crossfade. Can change at any time.
DIGITAL = crossfade between read positions, no pitch change · ANALOG = variable sample rate with tape/BBD pitch shift
per channel FBCK Feedback amount. Full-turn ≈ 10V of CV equivalent. Nonlinear response — sharp from 0% toward 80%, slow over the last few % toward full.
0–10 · beyond 50% invokes ANALOG soft-clip or DIGITAL compressor · 10 = infinite (use HOLD for true sound-on-sound)
per channel MIX Dry/wet balance at MIX OUT. Bipolar CV offset via MIX jack.
0 = dry · 10 = wet · CV ±10V
per channel REVERSE Lit button toggling reverse-delay playback. Also a gate/trigger input on the associated jack — rising edge flips state.
rising edge flips state · on reverses buffer playback
per channel HOLD Lit button freezing the buffer into a loop. Also a gate/trigger input. Loop length = current TIME; TIME/RANGE/CV then act on loop length.
freezes buffer · TIME becomes loop-length · with ANALOG + 1V/oct = tuned loop playback
per channel TAP TEMPO Lit button — taps set the time base. Also indicates sync state via colour.
green = continuous · yellow = tap · red = external sync
between adjacent channels LINK Button linking a channel to its left neighbour as follower. Leftmost linked channel = master. Can extend groups (A+B+C+D) or pair into A+B · C+D etc.
linked TIME dial becomes ±relative around 1:1 at noon · ranges X1/X10/X100 rescale relative span
Global PURGE / SHIFT Multi-function button. Momentary hold + release = clear every buffer. Also the SHIFT modifier for secondary functions.
hold+release = purge · SHIFT + REVERSE = invert feedback polarity · SHIFT + HOLD = invert TIME CV polarity
per channel IN / MIX LEDs Dual multicolour peak indicators for analog input and mix-out levels, with PPM-style discharge.
green safe · yellow hot · red soft-clip engaged · LED off = no analog cable (digital normalised)

I/O

IN · 8

  • INPUT 0–20Vpp · recommended 10Vpp AUDIO
    Audio input for the channel. With no cable, digital MIX data from the previous channel is virtually passed in lossless — enabling clean stacking.
    NORM → previous channel's digital MIX (when unpatched)
  • FB INPUT 0–20Vpp
    Return for the external feedback loop. Digitally normalised to the WET OUT of the same channel — patch breaks normalisation to insert external processing.
    NORM → WET OUT (same channel, digital)
  • TIME -5V to +10V CV
    CV over delay time. 1V ≈ ×2 in the continuous ranges (effectively 1V/oct in loop-playback mode).
  • SYNC any clock signal, rec. 5V CLK
    External clock input. Patching activates sync mode (TAP TEMPO red); RANGE switch is ignored and factor scale replaces it.
  • REVERSE +5V standard trigger or gate GATE
    Gate/trigger input. Rising edge flips the REVERSE button state.
  • HOLD +5V standard trigger or gate GATE
    Gate/trigger input. Rising edge flips the HOLD button state.
  • FBCK -10V to +10V CV
    Bipolar CV added to the feedback knob. Full 10V step equals a full-knob turn.
  • MIX -10V to +10V CV
    Bipolar CV offsetting the dry/wet knob.

OUT · 2

  • MIX OUT 0–20Vpp
    Dry + wet blend per MIX controls. Also the source of digital stacking into the next channel's INPUT when that channel has no cable patched.
  • WET OUT 0–20Vpp
    Direct access to the delayed signal only. Source of the normalised internal feedback loop (broken by patching FB INPUT).