Sputnik Modular Variable Waveform Generator
Buchla-inspired discrete triangle-core VCO with wave folding, saw animation, and hard sync
18 HP Eurorack module
The Sputnik Variable Waveform Generator is a Buchla-inspired discrete triangle-core analog VCO featuring hard sync, five dedicated waveform outputs (sub, pulse, sine, saw, and triangle), and extensive waveshaping capabilities. Each output section has its own animation circuit — wave folding on the sine, saw animation (double/triple saw), triangle overdrive, and pulse width modulation — all with dedicated sliders and CV inputs with attenuators. The module operates in both VCO and LFO modes and offers linear FM, exponential FM, and 1V/Oct tracking inputs.
Features
- Discrete triangle-core analog oscillator (Buchla-inspired design)
- Five simultaneous waveform outputs: sub, pulse, sine, saw, triangle
- Hard sync input (unusual for triangle-core designs)
- Sine wave folder with SYM/ASYM modes
- Sawtooth animation with double/triple saw modes
- Triangle overdrive with ODD/EVEN harmonic selection
- Pulse width modulation with EDGE/CENTER modes
- Sub-octave divider (-1 or -2 octave square wave)
- VCO/LFO mode switch for audio or modulation rates
- Linear FM input (AC-coupled) with attenuator
- Exponential FM input (DC-coupled) with attenuator
- 1V/Oct tracking input with very good accuracy
Controls & Jacks (30)
- Sub Output — Sub-octave square wave output (-1 or -2 octaves below main pitch).
- Pulse Output — Pulse/square waveform output with variable width.
- Sine Output — Sine waveform output with optional wavefolding.
- Saw Output — Sawtooth waveform output with optional animation.
- Triangle Output — Triangle waveform output with optional overdrive.
- -1/-2 OCT Select — Selects between -1 octave and -2 octave sub-oscillator division.
- SYM/ASYM Select — Selects between symmetric and asymmetric waveshaping modes.
- Double/Triple Select — Selects between double and triple frequency multiplication for waveshaping.
- ODD/EVEN Select — Selects between odd and even harmonics for the sub-oscillator output.
- Fine Tune — Fine-tunes the pitch for precise tuning adjustments.
- VCO/LFO Select — Selects between VCO (audio rate) and LFO (low frequency) modes.
- Frequency — Main frequency control. Sets the base pitch of the oscillator.
- Pulse Width — Sets the pulse width of the pulse/square waveform output.
- Sine Wave Fold — Controls the amount of wavefolding applied to the sine output.
- Saw Animate — Controls the waveshaping animation amount on the sawtooth waveform.
- Triangle Drive — Controls the overdrive/distortion amount on the triangle waveform.
- Lin FM Attenuator — Attenuator for the linear FM CV input.
- Exp FM Attenuator — Attenuator for the exponential FM CV input.
- PWM CV Attenuator — Attenuator for the pulse width modulation CV input.
- Fold CV Attenuator — Attenuator for the wave fold CV input.
- Animate CV Attenuator — Attenuator for the saw animate CV input.
- Drive CV Attenuator — Attenuator for the triangle drive CV input.
- Lin FM Input — Linear frequency modulation input for through-zero FM.
- Exp FM Input — Exponential frequency modulation input.
- Sync Input — Hard sync input. Resets the oscillator phase on incoming triggers.
- V/Oct Input — 1V/octave pitch tracking input for musical intervals.
- PWM CV Input — CV input for pulse width modulation.
- Fold CV Input — CV input for controlling sine wave fold amount.
- Animate CV Input — CV input for controlling saw animate amount.
- Drive CV Input — CV input for controlling triangle drive amount.
How-To Guides
- Classic Hard Sync Sweep
- Dynamic Wave Fold Drone
- Thick Animated Saw Lead
- Pseudo Ring Modulation
Explore the interactive Variable Waveform Generator panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.
