Contour 1 - Uncategorized Joranalogue - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Eurorack Synthesizer Module
Brand	Joranalogue
Model	Contour 1
Module Width	8 HP
Module Depth	35 mm
Weight	120 g
Power Supply	+12V / -12V, 45 mA each rail
Power Connector	10-pin Eurorack header
Main Functions	Envelope generator, function generator, LFO, slew limiter
Controls	Rise, Fall, Shape, Level pots; CV inputs for rise/fall/level
Outputs	EOC, EOR gate outputs; bipolar signal output
CV Inputs	Rise, Fall, Level, Shape (0-5V or 0-10V)
Input Impedance	100 kΩ
Output Impedance	1 kΩ
Maximum Output Level	+/-10V
Frequency Range	0.1 Hz to 10 kHz (approximate)
Maintenance and Cleaning	Wipe with a dry, lint-free cloth. Avoid solvents.
Safety	Do not expose to liquids or extreme temperatures. Connect only to Eurorack case.
Spare Parts and Repairability	Contact Joranalogue or authorized dealer for repairs.
General Information	Analog design, skiff-friendly, reverse power protection.

Frequently Asked Questions - Contour 1 Joranalogue

What is the Joranalogue Contour 1?

The Contour 1 is a compact analog function generator module for Eurorack modular synthesizers. It can function as an envelope generator, LFO, slew limiter, and more.

What power does the Contour 1 need?

It requires a standard Eurorack +12V and -12V supply with approximately 45 mA on each rail. Connect via a 10-pin ribbon cable.

What are the main controls on the Contour 1?

The module has knobs for Rise, Fall, Shape, and Level, plus CV inputs for Rise, Fall, and Level.

What outputs does the Contour 1 have?

It provides a bipolar signal output (voltage range +-10V), plus gate outputs for End of Cycle (EOC) and End of Rise (EOR).

Can the Contour 1 be used as an LFO?

Yes, by setting Rise and Fall to similar values and enabling cycle mode (if available). The frequency range extends from subsonic to audio rates.

How do I clean the Contour 1?

Use a dry, lint-free cloth to wipe the front panel. Avoid using liquids or cleaning agents.

What is the maximum depth for a case to fit Contour 1?

The module depth is approximately 35 mm, so it fits most skiff cases. Ensure at least 40 mm clearance for ribbon cable.

Does the Contour 1 have reverse power protection?

Yes, the module is designed with reverse power protection to prevent damage from incorrect ribbon cable orientation.

What is the Shape control doing?

The Shape control morphs the output curve from exponential through linear to logarithmic, affecting the envelope's contour.

Where can I find the manual for Contour 1?

The user manual is available for free download on the notice-facile.com website in PDF format.

USER MANUAL Contour 1 Joranalogue

For decades, the voltage controlled slew limiter has been a staple of modular synthesisers. With its extreme versatility, it can be used to slew control voltages (CVs), create envelopes, as a low-frequency or audio oscillator and much more.

Today, Contour 1 brings a fresh approach to this classic circuit. It delivers much improved performance and control by incorporating modern design techniques.

At its most basic, a slew limiter slows down the rate of voltage change in a signal. On Contour 1, the rising and falling rates can be individually set using sliders and CV modulation.

The gate and trigger inputs allow the module to be used as a function generator: create snappy attack-release (AR) and attack-decay (AD) envelopes, with slope times ranging from 500 s to 30 seconds. The dedicated gate input makes it easy to generate +10 V envelopes from any signal source. Using the large tactile push button, AD envelopes can be manually triggered. A trigger will also reset the output voltage.

When set to loop mode, Contour1 will continually re-trigger itself. In this mode, it fulfils the role of a variable-shape low-frequency oscillator (LFO) or temperature-stable voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in the audio range.

Both the rising and falling slopes can be individually bent, from concave through linear to convex. While doing so, the deviation in slope time, and thus oscillation frequency, is kept to a minimum. Since the bend parameters are separately voltage controllable, boundless modulation possibilities present themselves.

Explore anything from shape-shifting envelopes to rich VCO timbres: Contour 1 will make you re-think what a slew limiter can do.

CONTENTS

In the Contour 1 box, you'll find:

■ Product card, stating serial number and production batch.
■ 16-to-10-pin Eurorack power cable.
- Mounting hardware: two black M3 x 6 mm hex screws, two black nylon washers and a hex key.
- The Contour 1 module itself, in a protective cotton bag.

If any of these items are missing, please contact your dealer or [e-mail].

CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS

1 SLEW RATE SLIDERS

Use these sliders to set the rising and falling slew rates, from fast on the bottom to slow on top. In the full mode, the 0 to +10 V slew time range is 500 s to 30 seconds (1 kHz to 8.3 mHz loop). In the audio mode, it is 500 s to 30 ms (1 kHz to 16 Hz loop).

The LEDs on the levers, show the module's status in real time. When the slew core is rising or falling, only the corresponding LED will light up. When it is holding, both LEDs will be illuminated. The brightness is at all times correlated with the positive output voltage.

2 TRIGGER BUTTON AND INPUT

Pressing the trigger button or applying a rising edge to the trigger input has two effects: firstly, it resets the output voltage to 0 V. Secondly, while in slew mode, it starts a single-shot: the voltage will rise to +10 V, and then fall again until it reaches the voltage on the analogue input. This feature can be used to create attack-decay (AD) envelopes.

Contour 1's trigger, gate and hold inputs are uniquely designed to be driven reliably even from weak, slow, bipolar signals. They feature Schmitt action, with a +2 V low and +3 V high logic threshold.

3 SLEW/LOOP SWITCH

With this switch to the left, Contour1 will function as a standard slew limiter or envelope generator. Set it to the right, and the circuit will continually re-trigger itself for sustained oscillation.

In this mode, the output voltage will rise to +10 V, and subsequently fall to the voltage at the analogue input. Once this point is reached, a new cycle will start. Adjust the rise and fall slew rates to change both the frequency and waveshape of the output signal.

4 FREQUENCY RANGE SWITCH

This switch determines over which time range Contour1 will operate: full (slew limiter, VCLFO, envelope generator, envelope follower...) or audio frequency (VCO, VCF, waveshaper...).

5 BEND KNOBS

Using these knobs, the rising and falling slopes can be individually bent: from concave through linear to convex. While in loop mode, changing the shape will inevitably affect slope time as well. However, Contour1 has been designed to minimise this effect as much as possible.

6 SLEW RATE CV INPUTS

An increase in voltage at one of these CV inputs will increase the corresponding slew rate, and thus decrease the slew time.

The rise CV socket is normalised to the fall CV, allowing both to be modulated by the same source simultaneously. In this case, the module will respond at a standard 1 volt per octave. For the best possible pitch tracking performance, set both rise and fall slew rates equal and the slope shapes linear (bend knobs centred).

7 BEND CV INPUTS

These inputs are used to modulate the slope shapes. With the corresponding bend knob centred, the CV range is -5 V to +5 V. Both slopes can be modulated separately or together thanks to the normalisation from rise to fall.

8 ANALOGUE INPUT

Apply the signal to be slew limited to this input socket. When the gate, trigger or loop features are used, this sets the minimum voltage for each cycle (0 V by default).

9 GATE INPUT

The gate input has a different function depending on Contour 1's mode of operation.

In slew mode, a high gate switches the source between the analogue input socket and a precision +10 V reference. This allows accurate attack-release (AR) envelopes to be created from any gate signal.

In loop mode, it allows for gated oscillation: once a cable is inserted in the socket, Contour 1 will only loop while the incoming gate is high.

10 HOLD INPUT

A hold gate signal 'freezes' the slew core, slowing it down to near-standstill until the hold is released. This is useful for halting modulations, or as a sync-like effect at audio frequencies.

11 ANALOGUE OUTPUTS

The slew limited output signal is available from the main output socket. It is highly accurate and impedance-compensated, allowing portamento effects to be applied on pitch-accurate CV sequences. An inverted output is included as well.

12 SLOPE GATE OUTPUTS

These gate outputs go high (+5 V) whenever the slew core is rising or falling. At any other time, they are low (0 V).

13 VOLT PER OCTAVE TRIMMER

This trim potentiometer is used to calibrate the module's pitch tracking. Since it is accessible from the front panel, calibration can be easily performed without removing the module from the system. Each module is individually calibrated during production; do not adjust this trimmer if not needed.

Should you find your Contour 1 to be out of tune, set it to loop mode, range switch to audio, both slew rate sliders to about 30 % down from the top positions, and both bend knobs centred.

Make sure Contour1 has been powered for at least 20 minutes at a stable ambient temperature. Now connect any output to a calibrated digital tuner. The rise slew rate CV input should be switched between 0 V and a precision +4 V source, toggled automatically or by hand. Leave all other inputs unpatched.

Using a dedicated trimming tool or standard 2.5 mm flat screwdriver, adjust the trimmer until the interval between both states is exactly 4 octaves.

PATCH IDEAS

IMPROVED SAW WAVE OSCILLATOR

Approximate saw/ramp waves can be created by engaging loop mode, setting one of the slew directions to a rather slow rate and the other to the maximum rate. However, it is possible to speed up the saw 'step' immensely by taking advantage of the resetting trigger feature.

Simply patch the fall gate output to the trigger input. Now, as the module enters the fall period, rather than slewing down at the selected fall slew rate, the output voltage will instantly reset to 0 V, resulting in a brighter saw sound.

COMBINED FM/AM VCO

The lower voltage bound in loop mode is determined by the analogue input, a unique feature creating deep modulation possibilities.

With Contour1 patched as a VCO, apply an external oscillator's output to the signal input. This causes a combination of frequency and amplitude modulation, as the module will oscillate 'on top of the modulator signal.

Vary the input amplitude to adjust the modulation depth. This technique can of course be combined with rate and bend modulation, manual, external or via feedback, resulting in an extreme range of possible waveforms.

SUBHARMONIC GENERATOR

To create this classic patch using Contour1, process the signal source through a normally closed gated switch, the output of which is sent to the trigger input. The rise gate output drives the switch, disabling triggering during the rise stage.

The resulting waveforms at Contour 1's outputs will be at a subharmonic frequency of the original source. Vary the rise time to select different subharmonics.

ENVELOPE FOLLOWER

To extract an envelope from a signal applied to the analogue input, set the rise slew rate to the fastest and the fall to a moderate setting, in the full rate range and slew mode. Varying the fall rate results in different decay settings. The output signal can be used to modulate any aspect elsewhere in the patch, for example a lowpass filter.

You can also increase the rise rate to reject transients. A concave fall bend will create the most 'natural' sounding decay.

VOLTAGE CONTROLLED FILTER

Fast signal edges represent high frequency harmonic content. Slewing a signal attenuates these harmonics. In other words, a slew limiter can function as a type of lowpass filter. The (by default) linear slopes and separate rise/fall slewing differentiate the sound from a standard lowpass filter.

Set both slew rates to the maximum speed, in audio range slew mode, and apply an audio signal to the analogue input. Use a signal containing fast edges, such as a square wave, for best effect.

Lowering both the slew rates results in a filtering effect on the analogue output. The rise/fall gate outputs deliver bonus pulse signals.

PULSE WIDTH MODIFIER/DELAY

Shrinking, stretching and delaying pulses has a multitude of uses within a modular system. These pulses can be gates, triggers or audio frequency signals.

With the module set in slew mode, patch the pulse source to the trigger input. Two pulses are generated on a trigger: one on the rise output, and another on the fall. The width of each pulse is controlled by the corresponding slew rate. The fall pulse is delayed, with the delay time set by the rise rate.

SPECIFICATIONS

Module format

Doepfer A-100 'Eurorack' compatible module

3 U, 8 HP, 30 mm deep (inc. power cable)

Milled 2 mm aluminium front panel with non-erasable graphics

Maximum current draw

+12 V: 90 mA

-12 V: 85 mA

Power protection

Reverse polarity (MOSFET)

I/O impedance

All inputs: 100 kΩ

Analogue outputs: 0 Ω (impedance comp.)

Gate outputs: 1 kΩ

Outer dimensions (H x W x D)

128.5 x 40.3 x 43 mm

Mass

Module: 110 g

Including packaging and accessories: 195 g

SUPPORT

As all Joranalogue Audio Design products,

Contour 1 is designed, manufactured and tested with the highest standards, to provide the performance and reliability music professionals expect.

In case your module isn't functioning as it should, make sure to check your Eurorack power supply and all connections first.

If the problem persists, contact your dealer or send an email to [e-mail].

Please mention your serial number, which can be found on the product card or on the module's rear side.

REVISION HISTORY

Revision D: no functional changes.

Revision C: initial release.

With compliments to the following fine people, who helped to make Contour 1 a reality!

Ben 'DivKid' Wilson Björn Jauss

Boris Uytterhaegen Gregory Delabelle

Jan D'Hooghe Jens Van Daele

Everyone at Wired Electronics

Contour 1 User Manual

version 2019-09-18

21 ^st Century Analogue Synthesis—Made in Belgium

© 2019

Joranalogue

AUDIO DESIGN

[e-mail]

https://joranalogue.com/