Biyiblip - Blippulator
VIDEO
User Manual can be downloaded here
Born from the mind of Hordijk's sonic explorations and further refined by Biyi, Blippulator takes everything we love about these classics and adds a fresh twist.
At its core, blippulator features extensive CV control, letting you dial in and modulate key parameters like the pitch of its two oscillators and the cutoff frequencies of its dual resonant filters. These aren’t just any filters—they’ve got that twin-peak magic that Hordijk fans will instantly recognise, adding a complex, organic edge to your sound.
One of blippulator’s coolest tricks? You can select any two arbitrary signals to create a custom PWM waveform, adding a layer of flexibility and unpredictability to your patches. Whether you’re controlling it from a Eurorack system or another external device, the 0-5V CV inputs and outputs make it a breeze to integrate into your setup. The panel is user-friendly, making it easy to get hands-on with your sound and improvise live.
And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, blippulator’s got a few secret weapons up its sleeve to keep things interesting in your performances. It’s a powerful tribute to Rob Hordijk’s genius, honouring his designs while pushing them in new directions, making it a must-have for anyone who loves modular synthesis and sonic exploration.
Blippulator is more than a synthesizer—it's a celebration of the past and the future of sound design, with a nod to one of the most innovative minds in the field. Plug in, experiment, and let it take your performances to the next level
Rate This knob controls the pitch of the oscillators, clockwise (CW) is high, counter-clockwise (CCW) is low. This is added to the corresponding CV inputs to determine the final resulting pitch.CV This knob controls how much the CV inputs (or the normalised signal from the Runglers) will affect the final pitch of the corresponding oscillator. Even with a signal present at the CV inputs, if the position is fully counterclockwise (CCW) the pitch of the oscillator will not be affected by the external control voltage. This is also known as Frequency Modulation Amount. Peak This knob controls the cutoff frequency of the corresponding filter. The filters are arranged in the classic Hordijk twin-peak configuration, meaning that both frequency knobs interact to allow for the creation of Low-pass, Highpass, and Band-pass filter responses. Reso This controls de resonance of the corresponding filter, also known as Qfactor or emphasis in other electronic instruments. It determines the sharpness or resonance of the filter’s cutoff frequency. A higher Reso value (CW) produces a more pronounced peak at the cutoff, emphasizing frequencies near the cutoff point or even making the filter oscillating and creating a ping sound every time it receives an impulse, while a lower Q (CCW) results in a smoother, less resonant response. CV This knob controls how much the CV inputs (or the normalised signal from the Runglers) will affect the frequency cut-off of the corresponding filter. Even with a signal present at the CV inputs, if the position is fully counterclockwise (CCW) the cut-off frequency of the filter will not be affected by the external control voltage. This is also known as Filter Frequency Modulation Amount. Main This knob simply sets the overall volume of the instrument. PTN The PTN knob controls the data flow into the logic processor that feeds the Runglers, affecting the generation of patterns. When positioned fully clockwise (CW) or fully counter-clockwise (CCW), the current pattern is frozen, maintaining the existing sequence without introducing new data. In any other position, new data is allowed to enter the processor, continually evolving the pattern generated by the Runglers. Clock/Manual selector This switch lets you choose the source of the clock that feeds the Runglers. If set to the upper position (CLK) it will send them either the clock signal generated by OSC A or, if a minijack is connected, the one present at the Rungler CLK input. If the switch is set to its lower position then the clock will be generated each time you press the Manual Button. Manual Clock Button This button generates a pulse every time you push it. If the Clock/Manual selector is set to the manual position this pulse acts as a clock signal for the Runglers. If it is set to the clock position, this pulse halts the clock signal.OSC CVA and CVB These inputs accept external control voltage (CV) signals for controlling the pitch of the corresponding oscillators (OSC A and OSC B). By applying a CV signal ranging from 0 to 5V, you can externally modulate the oscillator pitch, enabling complex modulation effects when combined with the internal Rate and CV knob settings. Note that negative voltages are ignored, so it is recommended to use unipolar signals, such as those typically from envelopes or sequencers. If using bipolar signals, such as those from LFOs or VCOs, please offset them into the appropriate positive range to achieve the expected results. Filter CVA and CVB These inputs accept external control voltage (CV) signals for modulating the cutoff frequency of the corresponding filters (Filter A and Filter B). When a CV signal is connected, the cutoff frequency can be modulated in real time, allowing for dynamic and evolving filter effects. The same recommendations given for the oscillator CV inputs apply here: use unipolar signals for optimal results, and offset any bipolar signals into the appropriate positive range. Comparator inputs These inputs accept signals to be compared internally to produce a pulsewidth modulation (PWM) signal, generating a high or low state depending on the input levels. The resulting PWM signal is sent to the filters to modulate their behaviour and is also output individually, allowing for further processing or use as a gate signal, enabling rhythmic interaction between different parts of the system and providing additional flexibility for complex modulation. Rungler PTN This input allows an external control voltage (CV) to influence the pattern generated by the Runglers. When a signal is applied here, it replaces the signal coming from OSC B into the logic processor, modifying or modulating the pattern's evolution and adding further variation to the generated sequences. Rungler CLK This input accepts an external clock signal for synchronising the Runglers with other equipment. When a clock signal is connected here, it replaces the clock signal coming from OSC A, allowing the Runglers to follow the external timing and ensuring precise synchronisation with signals from the blippulator or even external instruments. Direct Oscillator Outputs These outputs provide the raw waveforms generated by oscillators A and B. These signals can be used independently for further processing in external modules or sent back to the blippulator for new exciting possibilities. Be careful and connect this signals only to blippulator’s inputs or to devices that expect voltages in the 0 to 5V range! Runglers Outputs These outputs provide the chaotic signals generated by the Runglers as well as a gate signal created with the values of single bits in the bit-shift registers. These signals can be used independently as modulation or trigger signals for external devices or can also be sent back to the blippulator for new and exciting possibilities. Be careful and connect this signals only to blippulator’s inputs or to devices that expect voltages in the 0 to 5V range! PWM Output This output provides the pulse-width modulated waveform generated by the comparator. Be careful and connect this signals only to blippulator’s inputs or to devices that expect voltages in the 0 to 5V range! 16. Main Output This output provides the final audio signal of the instrument. This is a regular line voltage output. Some amplification may be needed if connected directly to eurorack modules that expect a full -5 to +5V signal.
