Peradam - Synthesizer Cosmotronic - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL Peradam Cosmotronic

Technical line drawing of a mechanical assembly with dimension标注 (21mm), showing internal components and no readable text or symbols.

OVERVIEW

Peradam is an analog distortion module in 10HP with an internal sidechain, like a compressors twisted brother. The input signal is split up, the main signal goes into a VCA, while the sidechain is phase modulated, before being fully ring modulated, to create a signal at twice the frequency of the original. This signal then modulates the amplitude of the VCA, creating complex self distortions in the main signal.

That output then goes into a dual band drive circuit, similar to the one found in Cosmix, before entering a soft clipper output stage. Things get really wild when you start feedbacking this output back into the input, creating very rich feedback tones.

The module even goes into self oscillation at high feedback levels, producing all sorts of crazy sounds. Modulating all these parameters gives a broad palette of distortions, from subtle saturation to massive clipping and complete destruction.

Need a bit more drive? There's a handy +6dB gain switch on the input for that. A blend slider allows you to further dial in your tones, and mix in the distortion to taste.

The main distortion character is achieved using a side-chain that modulates the original signal, not by over overdriving the amplitude.

When you turn up the DRIVE knob Ⓐ you increase the amount of this modulation. With the knob all the way counter clockwise (CCW) the signal is undistorted.

The PHASE knob Ⓑ controls the phase of the side-chain. Please be aware that the DRIVE needs to be open for PHASE to have an effect.

Simple sine wave diagram with no text or labels

IN PHASE

PHASE DIFFERENCE

Pure waveforms showing amplitude and frequency contrast (no text or symbols)

90° DIFFERENCE 180° DIFFERENCE

Two overlapping sinusoidal waves with varying amplitudes and phase offsets (no text or symbols)

This side-chain is the multiplied by itself, resulting in a doubling of the frequency. This is done using a multiplier, a device that takes two analog signals and produces an output which is their product. In synthesis this is often known as a ring modulator.

This output is used to modulate the amplitude of the original signal.

Changing the phase offset of the side-chain has a big impact here, because of the way the signals line up drastically changes the shape out the waveform.

SIDE-CHAIN MULTIPLIER

INPUT (100 Hz) OUTPUT (200 Hz)

The INJECT CV input P can be used to send control voltages or audio into the side-chain. This input is summed together with the internal side-chain, before being multiplied (ring modulated). This is dependent on the DRIVE setting.

Pure waveform diagram showing two identical sinusoidal waves with no text or symbols

Pure waveform diagram with no text, numbers, or symbols

Output waveforms with phase at 90 and 180 degrees

COSMOTRONIC

PERADAM

The HARMONICS knob ⬆ adds a DC offset to the input signal, which results in asymmetrical clipping, changing the harmonic character of the sound.

Using the HARMONICS CV input Ⓑ, you can mix in other sound sources or control voltages as well. Can also be used to mix in an additional feedback path.

The LOW ❶ and HIGH Ⓕ sliders are a dual band over-drive, inspired by the BBE sonic maximizer. These can be used to boost the harmonics generated by the previous stage.

The FEEDBACK ① slider controls a VCA for internal feedback, that can also be CV controlled. Higher settings will result in self oscillation, with some careful sweet spots allowing for a kind of ‘pinging’ of the distortion.

This works great in combination with the LOW/HIGH overdrive.

There is some additional circuitry that automatically compensates the gain, as well as a final soft clipping circuit. If you want to boost the input a bit, you can use the small gain switch Ⓗ to add 6dB.

The BLEND Ⓐ slider is a simple WET/DRY control. The dry signal is only affected by the +6dB gain switch.

graph TD
    A["INPUT"] --> B["+6dB switch"]
    B --> C["Phase"]
    C --> D["Phase knob"]
    D --> E["All Pass Filter"]
    E --> F["VCA"]
    F --> G["Ring Modulator"]
    G --> H["Wet/Dry Blend"]
    H --> I["OUTPUT"]
    J["Feedback"] --> K["VCA"]
    L["Harmonics"] --> M["VCA"]
    N["Low slider"] --> O["Dual band overdrive"]
    P["HIGH slider"] --> O
    Q["Drive knob"] --> F
    R["Drive"] --> F
    S["Input"] --> T["Phase"]
    T --> E
    U["Feedback slider"] --> K
    V["Full Wave Rectified"] --> G
    W["INPUT"] -.-> H

SIGNAL PATH

COSMOTRONIC

Power

MAKE SURE THE POWER IS OFF WHEN INSTALLING A NEW MODULE IN YOUR SYSTEM, AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE ORIENTATION OF THE POWER CABLE.

PLEASE NOTE THE LABEL "RED" AND WHITE LINE, UNDER THE POWER HEADER ON THE BACK OF THE MODULE. MATCH IT WITH THE RED LINE OF THE RIBBON POWER CABLE. THE RED LINE INDICATES THE -12V POWER RAIL.

COSMOTRONIC MODULES ARE REVERSE POLARITY PROTECTED, BUT WILL NOT TURN ON IF THE CABLE IS REVERSED.

LIMITED WARRANTY

COSMOTRONIC WARRANTS THIS PRODUCT TO BE FREE FROM DEFECTS IN WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIALS FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FOR THE ORIGINAL INVOICE DATE. THE WARRANTY COVERS REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR.

FINAL DISCRETION OF WARRANTY COVERAGE LIES SOLELY WITH COSMOTRONIC.

CONCEPT AND DEVELOPMENT: MATTHIJS MUNNIK

CONTACT: [e-mail]

2021