New Systems Instruments Discrete Map

Name: Discrete Map
Brand: New Systems Instruments

Continuous-time mapping sequencer

34 HP Eurorack module

Discrete Map converts continuous voltage motion into discrete stage events, gates, and stepped voltages. Its eight directional thresholds support sequencing, quantization, rhythm generation, harmonic mapping, and audio-rate waveform shaping.

Features

Works as a sequencer, chord generator, quantizer, and general-purpose continuous-to-discrete mapper.
Operates at audio rate as a graphic oscillator or waveshaper that maps continuous waveforms to stepped waveforms.
Uses logic and analog circuitry without a conventional ADC, DAC, microprocessor, sample rate, or bit depth.
Eight independently directed thresholds activate stages and produce gates as X crosses them.
The +Y precision-adder input transposes or combines another signal with the selected f(X) stage voltage.
Retriggering resets the gate timer, allowing one gate to remain high across several stages.
Provides immediate Sync reset and counted Sync/N reset; Sync also clears the Sync/N count.
Remember: shorten Gate Length if downstream equipment sees a continuously high gate instead of separate triggers.
Remember: in Length mode, do not leave every threshold slider fully down when Above or Below is patched. Raise any threshold slider slightly to restore impedance and prevent connected voltages from drooping.

Controls & Jacks (60)

Stage 4 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 4 can activate.
Stage 3 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 3 can activate.
Below Input— Sets the lower boundary of the threshold-slider range, replacing the normal −5 V boundary; it can receive another Discrete Map's ABOVE conne
f(X) Output— Outputs the stepped voltage selected by the active stage, summed with the +Y input; it outputs the +Y value alone when no stage is active.
Stage 5 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 5 can activate.
Stage 6 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 6 can activate.
External Input— A received gate cancels the active stage and causes a newly timed gate at the Gate output; the input is briefly inhibited after stage activa
Above Input— Sets the upper boundary of the threshold-slider range, replacing the normal +5 V boundary; it can connect to another Discrete Map's BELOW ja
Gate Output— Outputs a 5 V gate whenever a stage activates or a gate is received at EXT; pulse duration is set by Gate Length.
X Input— Signal whose rising or falling crossings of the eight thresholds activate stages; normalized to the internal Ramp output and suitable for co
Sync/N Input— Counts incoming pulses and resets the internal oscillator after the number selected by Sync Count has been received.
f(X2)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 2 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
f(X1)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 1 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
Position / Length— Selects Positional mode, in which each Xn slider directly places its threshold, or Length mode, in which the sliders set relative interval l
Gate Length— Sets generated gate duration from approximately 6 microseconds to 2.8 seconds; a new event retriggers the timer and can extend a gate across
Ramp Output— Outputs the internal oscillator's −5 V to +5 V ramp waveform and is normalized to the X input.
Rate CV Input— Linearly modulates the internal clock rate; at audio rates it acts as a linear-FM input.
Rate— Sets the internal oscillator from four minutes per cycle to 9 Hz in Slow range or from 4 Hz to 12 kHz in Fast range.
+Y Input— Precision-adder input summed with the selected stage voltage at f(X), useful for transposition or as the output value when no stage is activ
End of Cycle Output— Outputs a trigger whenever the internal clock resets or reaches the end of its cycle.
f(X3)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 3 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
Stage 5 Direction— Selects whether stage 5 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
Rate CV Attenuator— Attenuates the linear rate modulation received at the Rate CV input.
Stage 8 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 8 can activate.
Sync Count— Selects from 1 through 16 incoming SYNC/N pulses to count before resetting the internal oscillator.
f(X6)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 6 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
Stage 6 Direction— Selects whether stage 6 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
f(X5)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 5 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
Stage 7 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 7 can activate.
Stage 2 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 2 can activate.
V/O Input— Exponential frequency-control input for the internal oscillator; accurately tracks approximately seven octaves.
Sync Input— Immediately resets the internal clock when it receives a pulse rising from 1 V or below to 4 V or above; it also clears the SYNC/N pulse cou
Stage 8 Direction— Selects whether stage 8 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
Rate Range— Selects Slow operation from four minutes per cycle to 9 Hz or Fast operation from 4 Hz to 12 kHz.
f(X8)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 8 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
Stage 1 Threshold— In Positional mode, directly sets the voltage threshold at which stage 1 can activate.
Stage 4 Direction— Selects whether stage 4 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
f(X) Range— Selects the range of all eight f(Xn) sliders: −5 V to +5 V, 0 V to +5 V, or 0 V to +2.5 V.
Stage 3 Active— Lights while stage 3 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
Stage 7 Direction— Selects whether stage 7 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
Stage 3 Direction— Selects whether stage 3 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
Loop / Once— Selects Loop for a continuously resetting oscillator or Once for a single rising cycle that waits above +5 V until Sync or Sync/N restarts i
f(X4)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 4 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
X Position Indicator 4— Fourth segment of the X position indicator.
Stage 1 Direction— Selects whether stage 1 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
Stage 2 Direction— Selects whether stage 2 activates when X rises above its threshold, falls below it, or remains disabled; in Length mode an Off stage's nonze
f(X7)— Sets the voltage contributed to f(X) while stage 7 is active, within the range selected by f(X) Range.
Stage 1 Active— Lights while stage 1 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
Stage 2 Active— Lights while stage 2 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
Stage 4 Active— Lights while stage 4 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
Stage 5 Active— Lights while stage 5 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
Stage 6 Active— Lights while stage 6 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
Stage 7 Active— Lights while stage 7 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
Stage 8 Active— Lights while stage 8 is active and turns off when another stage is selected or EXT cancels stage selection.
X Position Indicator 7— Highest segment of the X position indicator; the top LED represents +5 V or the patched ABOVE voltage.
X Position Indicator 6— Sixth segment of the X position indicator.
X Position Indicator 5— Fifth segment of the X position indicator.
X Position Indicator 3— Third segment of the X position indicator.
X Position Indicator 2— Second segment of the X position indicator.
X Position Indicator 1— Lowest segment of the X position indicator; the LED column displays the current X voltage from its lower to upper range.

How-To Guides

Variable-Length Step Sequencer
Variable-Position Step Sequencer
LFO or Envelope Synced Step Sequencer
Quantizer or Harmonizer
Graphic VCO
Waveshaper or Bitcrusher
Sync to MIDI Transport

Explore the interactive Discrete Map panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.