XAOC Devices Sofia
Analog formant oscillator with dual waveshaping elements
24 HP Eurorack module
Sofia is a fully analog voltage-controlled oscillator built on a temperature-compensated triangle core and an extended form of FOF (formant wave-function) synthesis. Two waveshaping elements add pairs of decaying ripples on top of a slightly saturated base tone, each with independent ratio, damp, warp and shape controls. Beyond its main mix output it exposes the fundamental, both elements and their impulse envelopes for deep self-patching and animated, vocal-like timbres.
Features
- Fully analog voltage-controlled oscillator
- Temperature-compensated triangle core
- Extended FOF (formant wave-function) synthesis
- Two independent waveshaping ripple elements (A and B)
- Per-element ratio control up to ~240 ripples, formant ~8 octaves above the fundamental
- Per-element damp control setting the formant's spectral width
- Per-element warp for intra-cycle density bending
- Sine-like or square-like ripple shape per element
- Ratio and damp pitch-tracking switches per element
- Continuous two-octave pitch knob plus eight-range octave selector
- Subsonic LO range for LFO and drone use
- 1V/oct input accepting -10 V to +10 V
Controls & Jacks (37)
- Pitch CV V/Oct — 1V/oct pitch control input.
- Pitch — Continuous fine pitch control spanning two octaves.
- Fund/Elem Mix CV — CV offset for the fundamental/elements balance.
- Warp A — Bends ripple density across the cycle for element A.
- Global FM In — Spectrum-preserving FM input.
- Pitch FM In — Shape-preserving FM input.
- Warp A In — Bipolar CV input for Warp A.
- Elements Mix — Balances the level of ripple element A against element B.
- Warp B — Bends ripple density across the cycle for element B.
- Ratio A In — CV input for element A ripple density.
- B Out — Full-amplitude element B output.
- Damp A — Slider setting the decay rate of the ripples for element A.
- Impulse A — Element A decay-curve output.
- A Out — Full-amplitude element A output.
- Warp B In — Bipolar CV input for Warp B.
- Damp A In — CV offset input for element A decay rate.
- Main Out — Final mixed oscillator output.
- Octave — Eight-position rotary octave selector for the base tone.
- Pitch FM — Attenuator setting the depth of shape-preserving pitch FM.
- Damp B In — CV offset input for element B decay rate.
- Ratio B In — CV input for element B ripple density.
- Fund Out — Pure fundamental sine output.
- Global FM — Attenuator setting the depth of spectrum-preserving global FM.
- Fund/Elem Mix — Balances the fundamental base tone against the ripple elements.
- Impulse B — Element B decay-curve output.
- Elements Mix CV — CV offset for the A/B element balance.
- Ratio A Attenuator — Attenuates the Ratio A CV input.
- Damp B — Slider setting the decay rate of the ripples for element B.
- Ratio B — Sets ripple density (formant frequency) for element B.
- Ratio A — Sets ripple density (formant frequency) for element A.
- Ratio B Attenuator — Attenuates the Ratio B CV input.
- Shape A — Selects sine-like or square-like ripple waveform for element A.
- Shape B — Selects sine-like or square-like ripple waveform for element B.
- Ratio Track A — Sets whether element A ripple density tracks pitch.
- Damp Track A — Sets whether element A decay rate tracks pitch.
- Ratio Track B — Sets whether element B ripple density tracks pitch.
- Damp Track B — Sets whether element B decay rate tracks pitch.
How-To Guides
- Basic Harmonic Tone
- Vocal Formant Sweep
- Animated Warp Motion
- Self-Patching Texture
- Subsonic Drone and Sub
Explore the interactive Sofia panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.
