Mutable Instruments Blades

Mutable Instruments Blades

Double multimode filter state-variable

A CV-controlled overdrive circuit capable of wavefolding.

A clean 12dB/octave multimode filter self-oscillating cleanly across the audio range.

Times two. And this could have stopped here.

For all the in-betweens…

What sets Blades apart is that options commonly presented as multiple choices (low-pass or high-pass? serial or parallel?) are presented here as a continuum, ready to be explored at the twist of a knob or with a CV.

The filter response is continuously variable between low-pass, band-pass and high-pass, and delivers intermediate shelving responses, for more nuanced spectral coloring.

A dual crossfader circuit allows the routing between the two filters to smoothly vary from single to parallel to series.

And more…

Originally thought as a complex filter, Blades turns out to be capable of much more:

• A dual distortion with spectral color control?
• An oscillator mixer with crossfading, wavefolding, and enough filtering to clean up the mess?
• A voice, using one filter as an oscillator, then distorting, folding it and filtering it with the second filter?
• A complex oscillator capable of FM, PM and AM?

Dual multimode filter with CV-controlled, continuously variable filter response, filter routing, and an overdrive/wavefolding stage for each filter.

An essential overdrive circuit

• A CV-controlled overdrive stage precedes each of the two filters.
• Overdrive response continuously adjustable between soft-clipping and 2-stage wavefolding.

Two rich multimode filters

• Clean 2-pole (12dB/octave) state-variable design.
• CV-controlled filter response, continuously variable between low-pass, band-pass and high-pass.
• CV inputs with attenuverters for cutoff and resonance.
• Unattenuated frequency CV input, calibrated for 1V/Oct tracking.
• Clean and constant amplitude self-oscillation across the audio range, extending into very low frequencies.
• Modulating the filter response is akin to modulating the phase of the self-oscillation tone.

Unique routing possibilities

• Continuously variable (and CV-controlled) routing from single to parallel to series.
• With a signal patched into filter 2’s audio input, the routing knob and CV act as a crossfader.
• Filter 2’s cutoff can be set relatively to filter 1’s cutoff.

Features

• Fully analog, based on the V2164 quad VCA chip.
• Frequency knob range: 8Hz to 18kHz.
• Audio input impedance: 30k.
• DC-coupled audio inputs.
• Filter mode CV input impedance: 50k.
• Other CV inputs impedance: 100k.
• All CV inputs handle audio-rate modulations.

Specifications

• 18HP
• 25 mm deep
• +12V:150mA
  -12V:140mA