Analog Ribbon Controller With Pitch Bend

AXE & RAZOR work together as an external expression controller for your Eurorack modular synthesizer.

AXE creates five control voltages from four touch sensors:

  • POSITION on the main ribbon (0V to 8V)

  • PRESSURE on the main ribbon (0V to 8V)

  • PITCH BEND from two pressure points opposite the main ribbon, UP (0V to 2V) and DOWN (0V to -2V)

  • Simultaneously, UP CV (0V to 6V)

  • And DOWN CV (0V to 6V)

AXE has attenuators to set the maximum value of POSITION, PRESSURE and PITCH BEND UP and DOWN.

AXE returns its analog signals to RAZOR, a 6 hp Eurorack module via an RJ45 (Ethernet) cable.

In addition to outputting the five CVs created above, RAZOR:

  • creates 5V GATE (w/LED signal) and TRIGGER signals using a comparator between PRESSURE and an attenuated THRESHOLD.

  • can sample and HOLD the POSITION CV.

  • accepts any CV IN to add to PITCH BEND; the input is normalled to POSITION.

  • can attenuate pressure point UP and DOWN CV outs.

Additional Features:

AXE can be played in “Keyboard Mode” flat on a surface, or in “Guitar Mode,” held in both hands. It has RJ45 jacks on both sides of its enclosure to accommodate left- and right-handed grips. It also has a recessed switch to quickly reverse the orientation of the POSITION CV: either low to high moving outward from the enclosure (keyboard) or high to low (guitar).

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