#drone synth

a little drone synth improvisation

The STOCHASTIC ASYMMETRY is a machine to generate glitched-out eruptive noise assault patterns. it is a signal generator for those who are interested in exploring the harsher spectrum of experimental noise making. STOCHASTIC ASYMMETRY can be the base battery for any anti-fascist noise resistance set-up and running it through a chain of manipulating EFX will lead to massive sonic results. Simply put... 5 square wave oscillators of which 2 are LFOs generate complex waveforms which are getting further effected by a starve control, a distortion and a resonant low pass filter.

Of course nothing really is simple, so here are more details: WAVING: Each of the 3 square wave oscillators has a FREQUENCY potentiometer for controling pitch, a RANGE toggle switch to select 2 different frequency ranges, a MODE toggle switch that enables latch or trigger mode and a TRIGGER button switch, as well as a orange indicator LED. In trigger mode, the oscillator is mixed into the signal only momentary as long as the trigger is depressed. But be aware, the machine has a non-linear response in the trigger section and sometimes an oscillator raises it's voice even when you did not engage it with the trigger, that is part of the fun and it can get less out of control depending on the starve setting. when the oscillator's LED is on it's LED is on and it might or might not switch off when you repress the trigger, but as said, this function is highly stochastic and i have not been able to predict it (a lesson for control freaks!). All three oscillators have different ranges, higher on the left and lowering towards the right. A MIX toggle switch selects linear or non linear mixing, the non-linear mixing is a bit more uneven and noisy.

MODULATING: Each of the 2 LFOs has a SPEED control and similar to the other oscillators a MODE toggle switch and when in trigger mode the LFO can be activated temporally, which is most interesting when running in higher speeds for tremolo-like effects or high pitch noise assaults in the highest setting.

SOUNDSHAPING: the signal generated with oscillators with or without LFOs is shaped by two more controls, which are highly depending on other setting on the machine, so they as well, do not have a fully linear response. the EDGE control works like a distortion, that adds more sharp edges to the waveform, resulting in 'higher harmonics', while the CURVE control acts like a resonant low pass filter that rounds off the already very 'edgy' squarewave forms and it has slight self-resonance. Both of these controls are as such not affected by the power-starve function, but works differently the more the oscillator section is starved. With very much starving (STARVE counterclockwise) the CURVE control can generate almost electro-acoustic sounding crunch and hiss for example (see demovideo). Of course there is also a VOLUME control that lets you tame the output level.

STARVING: The STARVE control regulates the power that is accessible to the IC that is used for the 5 oscillators and when one turns it down (CCW) the different oscillators start to get more stochastic in their functions so the generated waveform becomes more noisy. Turning STARVE counterclockwise also has a global scale effect, it lowers the pitch of the three oscillators and the speed of the LFOs, but at the same time it also introduces high pitched noises and clicks. Similar to the other trigger functions on this machine there is also a POWER toggle switch, that is either in latch mode or activates the power trigger mode, which interacts with the STARVE function. When starve is up (CW) the decay time of the oscillators using up the available power is faster, while when STARVE is low the decay is longer, while the oscillators get less power in total.

CONNECTING: STOCHASTIC ASYMMETRY runs on 12V DC (positive inside/negative outside, 2.1mm standard socket) and unless otherwise communicated it ships with a suitable PSU with euro-plug (but i might have US-plugs anytime soon). The audio output is a standard 6.3mm mono instrument jack socket. The 2nd batch is build into standart die-cast aluminum enclosures, painted with the 'industrial burn-out' camo pattern in chrome and black. Handmade by GRM for METSÄÄN. Sold out.

Demovideo below is from the first batch, the only difference is slightly faster LFOs and all controls working the same way.

DIRTY DRONE SMASHISM is a small and raw drone synth with 2 synced SQUARE WAVE OSCILLATOR pairs, each with an OFF-SET dial for one of them. A 3 position toggle switch selects one of the pairs (½ with a lower  or 2/4 with a higher frequency range) or all 4 oscillators, when in the middle position (basically this is one half of the stereo DIRTY DRONE DEFROST). The complex waveform generated by the oscillators runs through a powerful resonant filter (based one the TOTAL CONTROL FILTER), which offers control over the LOW and the HIGH end with a dedicated pot, to attenuate the frequency or increase it towards slight distortion). additionally it has a RESONANCE control with an extra BOOST that can be engaged by a  toggle switch (left position). And of course a FILTER CUTOOF FREQUENCY pot for a wide sweep through the frequency spectrum. The output VOLUME can be set with a trimmer that is accessible on the side, next to the 3.5mm stereo mini jack output (output mono on both channels). An additional 3.5mm stereo mini jack input allows to insert a  external audio signal (mono) to the drones and let them run through the filter section as well (for some old school industrial vibes.) UV pover indicator LED. Face-plate made from a recycled brushed and embossed aluminum. Build in a ‘barebone’ style’ so on the bottom all solder points are accessible for circuit bending by body contact and some marked dedicated solder points for the output of the 4 individual oscillators, in case you feel like experimenting with that). Handmade by GRM for METSÄÄN. Always remember, kids: IF YOU CAN’T SMASH IT, SET IT ON FIRE.

Size: 100 X 63 X 30 mm

In/Out: 3.5mm mini jack (mono)

Power: 2.1mm socket,  9V DC (center positive) NOT INCLUDED!

SOLD.

The demo video below shows a build of a previous batch, it looks a bit different, but has the same functions.

The picture below shows an older build, but the functions are the same (it just misses the knobs and has another panel material)

here’s how the latest batch looks again. black knobs, brushed aluminum panel with hand embossed METSÄÄN lettering.