toppobrillo-sport-modulator

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.

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