schlappi-engineering-nibbler

Schlappi Engineering Nibbler

4-bit binary accumulator: clock divider, sub-osc, sequencer, shift register

12 HP Eurorack module

The Nibbler is a four-bit digital accumulator built from discrete CMOS logic rather than a CPU. It counts in binary from 0 to 15, adding (or subtracting) a value set by four ADD switches (worth 8, 4, 2 and 1) and four gate inputs on each clock pulse. It exposes the four register bits as individual gate outputs plus a CARRY that fires on overflow, and sums the bits into two stepped analog voltages (the second with a selectable phase offset). At slow clocks it makes rhythms, sequences and modulation; at audio rate it generates subharmonics, chiptune timbres and modem-like noise. A built-in shift register adds Rungler and Benjolin-style chaos, and multiple Nibblers can be chained for a deeper register.

Features

  • Four-bit binary accumulator built from discrete CMOS logic
  • 5 rhythmically related gate outputs (Out 8/4/2/1 plus Carry)
  • Four ADD switches (8, 4, 2, 1) set the count increment
  • Subtract/Add switch reverses count direction
  • Sync (clocked) and Async (immediate) output modes
  • Two stepped analog voltage outputs (0-10V)
  • Second stepped output has selectable 0/45/90/180 deg phase offset
  • Cherry MX Brown keyboard switch for reset
  • Reset jack AC-coupled for hard sync at audio rate
  • 4 gate inputs for modulating the count
  • Shift register functionality (noise, Rungler, Benjolin)
  • Chainable via Carry In/Out for a deeper register

Controls & Jacks (27)

  • Add 8
  • Add 4
  • Add 2
  • Add 1
  • Reset
  • Subtract/Add
  • Async/Sync
  • Offset (Lower)
  • Stepped Out 2
  • Stepped Out 1
  • Carry Out
  • Clock In
  • Carry In
  • Gate 8 In
  • Out 8
  • Reset In
  • Shift In
  • Gate 4 In
  • Out 4
  • Sub In
  • Shift Data In
  • Gate 2 In
  • Out 2
  • Data XOR In
  • Gate 1 In
  • Out 1
  • Offset (Upper)

How-To Guides

  • Clock divider
  • Clock-divider drum sequencer
  • Triangle wave / sub-oscillator
  • Rungler / Benjolin chaos
  • Chain two Nibblers (8-bit register)
  • Dual phase-offset melodies

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

8c571ce