Toppobrillo Sport Modulator 2
Dual lag-and-hold: slew, S&H, LFO, and chaos
12 HP Eurorack module
The Sport Modulator 2 is a dual lag-and-hold processor inspired by the Serge SSG, capable of functioning as a slew limiter, LFO, sample-and-hold, track-and-hold, oscillator, envelope follower, VCA, subharmonic divider, and comparator-driven random voltage generator. Its open-ended, voltage-controllable architecture rewards experimentation and can operate across both modulation and audio-rate frequencies. Each of the two identical sections can be coupled via the CUPL section to create classic Serge-style random voltage patches with optional warble behavior.
Features
- Dual independent lag-and-hold sections (Top and Bottom)
- SMOOTH (track-and-hold) and STEPPED (sample-and-hold) operational modes per section
- Voltage-controllable slew rate via RATE knob, CV1 with attenuverter, and CV2
- CV2 input calibrated for V/OCT tracking over 3 octaves (30-240Hz) for pitched audio use
- CYCLE switch enables self-oscillation producing triangle wave at OUT and square wave at END
- GATE input forces output toward zero at current slew rate, works in any mode
- END gate output that goes LOW when output is falling, providing logical inversion and envelope-like signals
- S(H) input: freezes output in SMOOTH mode, triggers new sample on low-to-high transition in STEPPED mode
- CUPL comparator section comparing Top and Bottom outputs, outputting +5V or -5V
- CUPL switch norms comparator to Top S(H) and Bottom IN for one-switch Serge RVG patch
- CUPL switch locks Top section into STEPPED mode automatically
- Rear WARBLE jumper adds hysteresis overshoot to CUPL comparator for warbling smooth output
Controls & Jacks (32)
- Top Section GATE — Gate input. HIGH voltage pulls output toward zero at the RATE. Used for gating, sync, or adding variation.
- Top Section CV1 Attenuverter — Attenuverter for CV1 input. Controls the amount of CV1 modulation of the slew rate.
- Top Section RATE — Main slew rate control. Ranges from ~30s/cycle at minimum to ~1kHz at maximum. 20Hz at noon.
- Top Section S(H) — Sample/Hold input. In SMOOTH mode, HIGH freezes output. In STEPPED mode, LOW-to-HIGH transition samples a new value.
- Top Section OUT — Main output jack for slewed or stepped signal. Bi-color LED indicates polarity.
- Top Section CV2 — V/OCT-scaled control input (calibrated 30-240Hz over 3 octaves). Can also modulate slew rate.
- Bottom Section RATE — Main slew rate control. Ranges from ~30s/cycle at minimum to ~1kHz at maximum. 20Hz at noon.
- Bottom Section GATE — Gate input. HIGH voltage pulls output toward zero at the RATE. Used for gating, sync, or adding variation.
- Bottom Section CV1 Attenuverter — Attenuverter for CV1 input. Controls the amount of CV1 modulation of the slew rate.
- Top Section END — Gate output that goes LOW when output approaches slew limit and HIGH when caught up. Can invert gates patched to INPUT.
- Top Section IN — Input jack for the top channel. Accepts any signal within ±12V range. Ignored when CYCLE switch is engaged.
- Bottom Section END — output gate
- Bottom Section IN — Input jack for the bottom channel. Accepts any signal within ±12V range. Ignored when CYCLE switch is engaged.
- CUPL Comparator Output — Comparator output that is HIGH (+5V) when Top section output is higher than Bottom, LOW (-5V) when Bottom is higher.
- MODE
- Bottom Section END — Gate output that goes LOW when output approaches slew limit and HIGH when caught up. Can invert gates patched to INPUT.
- Bottom Section CV1 — Control voltage input for modulating slew rate with attenuverter. Summed with RATE and CV2.
- Top Section CV1 — Control voltage input for modulating slew rate with attenuverter. Summed with RATE and CV2.
- Bottom Section S(H) — Sample/Hold input. In SMOOTH mode, HIGH freezes output. In STEPPED mode, LOW-to-HIGH transition samples a new value.
- Top Section MODE — Selects between SMOOTH (down) and STEPPED (up) operational modes.
- Bottom Section CV2 — V/OCT-scaled control input (calibrated 30-240Hz over 3 octaves). Can also modulate slew rate.
- CUPL — When UP, enables feedback loop for Random Voltage Generator patch and locks Top section into STEPPED mode.
- CV1
- CYC
- Bottom Section CYCLE — When UP, enables self-oscillation mode. Default range is ±4V. Configurable to 0-8V unipolar via rear jumper.
- Bottom Section OUTPUT — Bi-color LED indicating output polarity and amplitude. Green for positive, red for negative.
- Bottom Section HOLD — Orange LED that lights when in hold state. Constantly lit in STEPPED mode, flashing in SMOOTH mode when S(H) is HIGH.
- Top Section OUTPUT — Bi-color LED indicating output polarity and amplitude. Green for positive, red for negative.
- Top Section HOLD — Orange LED that lights when in hold state. Constantly lit in STEPPED mode, flashing in SMOOTH mode when S(H) is HIGH.
- Top Section CYCLE — When UP, enables self-oscillation mode. Default range is ±4V. Configurable to 0-8V unipolar via rear jumper.
- Bottom Section MODE — Selects between SMOOTH (down) and STEPPED (up) operational modes.
- Bottom Section OUT audio — Main output jack for slewed or stepped signal. Bi-color LED indicates polarity.
How-To Guides
- Classic Portamento / Slew Limiter
- Free-Running LFO with Triangle and Square Outputs
- Classic Random Sample-and-Hold
- Serge Random Voltage Generator (One Switch)
- Pitched Audio Oscillator via CV2 V/OCT
- GATE Input as VCA / Signal Chopper
- Trigger Delay / One-Shot
- Pseudorandom Aliased Step Patterns
- Quadrature Function Generator
- Envelope Follower with Exponential Response
Explore the interactive Sport Modulator 2 panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.
