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• Ciat-Lonbarde Esoterica Chainlock PCB

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  Ciat-Lonbarde's Esoterica is a pair of circuits (along with Spikering) described as "for Phase Lock Loop Resynthesizing of Monophony (with a tambourine component)". The original papers are available here - www.ciat-lonbarde.net/TIMARACURRICULUM/TIMARATERIALS/cirques/index.html
  
  Chainlock is simply explained as "a freeform circuit" but I've also seen it referred to as a chain of LFOs. Either way, it pairs nicely with some Rollz-5 to generate pulse triggers. Reportedly, other external modules, e.g. Eurorack stuff can trigger nicely too.
  
  Chainlock and Spikering also play quite nicely together pinging pulses off of each other (though some Rollz is still recommended).
  
  Notes on how these PCBs were converted from paper, BOM, and build info is all available here - gitlab.com/tripping-on-wires/ciat-lonbarde-pcbs
  
  Includes unlimited streaming of Esoterica Chainlock Demo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

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• Chainlock [Full DIY Ciat-Lonbarde Build]

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  This is an odd and unusual rhythmic noise/synth box with patch points and integrated Rollz-5 circuits to generate patterns.
  
  The Chainlock is, in many ways, sister to the Spikering circuit as they have similar topologies and are based around the LM13700 transconductance OpAmp. Whereas the Spikering used the LM13700 as a filter, here, in the Chainlock, it's utilising Phase Locked Loop (PLL).
  
  Peter Blasser has clearly done some heavy tinkering as his circuit diverges somewhat from the LM13700 data sheet schematics. Anyway, you want to know what it does/sounds like.
  
  In the first instance, there's a tttrrugg input that, used with the included rollz circuits, generates rhythms. There's several other nodes that introduce more rhythmic variation and, if you stumble upon a sweet spot, lends a chaotic progression to the mix. The range knob seems to help shift some internal logic on the relationships between these other nodes and allows one to range within subtly different variations. Owing to the PLL mechanism, everything is a little squelchy, reactions to your interactions can be slightly lagging and unpredictable.
  
  Like the Spikering, there's also a pitch knob and Frequency Modulation section. Unsurprisingly, the pitch knob lets you scroll from deep sub-bass to super high pitch. FM works with the included Rolls but, surprisingly, I've also had some success using this with audio signals, injecting some timbral variety from external audio sources.
  
  Overall it's a funny little synth, sometimes the PLL seems to get overwhelmed and you need to unpatch or reset the tttrrugg input. It definitely has a bit of a mind of its own lending it a lot of charm.
  
  Finally, the Rollz section is a 5 and 6 roll. I've gone for mid tempo capacitors and a few randoms so each one is slightly different. Connect to nodes as above, and up the ante even more by cross patching between the rollz for more complex interactions.
  
  This small batch is built on PCB (not paper) and housed in a handmade birch plywood box with a custom front panel. I've oiled the wood too for protection and to bring out the grain.
  
  It runs off of a 9-volt battery.
  
  Shipping includes insurance and tracking. I know it's high but it's not inflated, it's actual cost.
  
  Credit where it's due of course, this is an unofficial Peter Blasser/Ciat-Lonbarde build. I made one for myself and the minimum orders of PCBs/panels are 5 and so I've made a small batch. The original paper circuit (and lots of other cool stuff) can be found here - ciat-lonbarde.net/ciat-lonbarde/TIMARACURRICULUM/TIMARATERIALS/cirques/index.html
  
  Includes unlimited streaming of Esoterica Chainlock Demo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

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