A sneak preview of Hideaway Studio's new Klockwerks realtime DDS Clocked FX System in action...

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source. This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear. Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime. Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer. This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

Introducing Hideaway Studio's Klockwerks

Made with Korg Wavestation being utterly mangled by Hideaway Studio's infamous Klockwerks DDS Clocking system under MIDI control...

There was no pitch bending on the Wavestation - that was all created in real-time by Klockwerks sliding the clock rate to an old ART MultiVerb LT by the same MIDI notes sent to the Wavestation with a slow slew rate dialled in to create a weird sliding effect.   Because the clock rate is not musically related to the pitch, the results are very much atonal in this case.  The Multiverb LT is running 100% wet to achieve this effect.

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source. This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear. Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime. Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer. This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

Here is a segued demo of the Klockwerks system in action:

https://soundcloud.com/hideaway-studio/klockwerks-sneak-preview-ii

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2021.

Wavestation & Klockwerks: Temporal Slyders...

Having a go firing the little Orla DSE-24 (a rebranded Böhm Dynamic 12/24 from 1986) through a wobbly reverb patch on my Klockwerks system.  I've grown to love these little 4OP FM synths - I think it was a moment of genius to bolt on a discrete Solina strings style triple analog chorus generator to the YM2203 based synth section - the result is a wonderful complex soup of unusually organic sound for an FM synth.  It doesn't work for all timbres but over time I've had a go making some patches of my own on this thing (this being one of them) and its sometimes really surprised me what has emerged from its outputs!

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studo, 2022.

1986 Böhm Dynamic 12/24:  A Klockwerked Orla...

A sneak preview of Hideaway Studio's new Klockwerks realtime DDS Clocked FX System in action...

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source.  This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear.  Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime.  Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer.  This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.  

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

Klockwerks System in Action: Sneak Preview

Two landscapes made with several layers of sound generated by feeding an Alesis Micron through Hideaway Studio's Klockwerks system.  In this case modified Klockwerks Donor FX were the ART MultiVerb LT and LTX.  Some of the layers were slowed down and some were reversed.

Klockwerks is a unique and fully programmable external DSP clocking system using DDS technology allowing autonomous control of the system clock under MIDI, CV and algorithmic control thus creating all manner of unusual effects the factory original FX units were not capable of producing.  This includes effects whereby the system clock is modulated by a MIDI clocked LFO with complex waveshapes with MIDI or CV control of all the LFO parameters or where the clock frequency is morphed between two keys on a midi keyboard.  The system also allows patches on the donor FX unit to be attributed with named patches created in the Klockwerks handset for instant recall.

Sound Design, Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio.

Klockwerks System in Action: Eastern RetroLanders

Having another play with Hideaway Studio's truly insane Klockwerks system.

Here a classic Korg Minipops 45 is being fed into the a MultiVerb LT (patch 09) modified as a "donor unit" for the Klockwerks system.  The LT is being modulated with various LFO rates and waveforms from one of the clock modulator programs on the Klockwerks handset....  in this case the LFO shape, depth, offset and rate are being tweaked on the fly by hand but these can be acurately controlled from a MIDI sequence using up to 4 separate CC channels as well a CV input.  LFOs and slide effects can also be synchronised to MIDI clock at various clock rate divisions.

One powerful and unique aspect of the Klockwerks system is that it binds clock modulation patches with patches on the donor FX unit to form an instant recall system.  Such patches are stored in NV memory and then called up instantly via MIDI program changes.

Patch 09 on the MultiVerb LT seems to respond well to this sort of thing!... the resulting output is truly mangled beyond recognition!!

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio.

Klockwerks System in Action: Mangling a Korg MiniPops 45!

Having another play with Hideaway Studio's truly insane Klockwerks system.

Simply feeding in a sinewave and some white noise into various LFO shapes - again using LT patch 09...

Here basic tones from a Minimoog are fed into the a MultiVerb LT (patch 09) modified as a "donor unit" for the Klockwerks system. The LT is being modulated with various LFO rates and waveforms from one of the clock modulator programs on the Klockwerks handset.... in this case the LFO shape, depth, offset and rate are being tweaked on the fly by hand but these can be acurately controlled from a MIDI sequence using up to 4 separate CC channels as well a CV input. LFOs and slide effects can also be synchronised to MIDI clock at various clock rate divisions.

One powerful and unique aspect of the Klockwerks system is that it binds clock modulation patches with patches on the donor FX unit to form an instant recall system. Such patches are stored in NV memory and then called up instantly via MIDI program changes.

Patch 09 on the MultiVerb LT seems to respond well to this sort of thing!... the resulting output is truly mangled beyond recognition!!

Original Sound Design & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio.

Klockwerks System in Action: Fun with Sine & Noise

Another absolutely bonkers Klockwerks system is born!

Every time I play with Klockwerks the hours seem to melt away in a bizarre world of twisted and mangled lo-fi digital audio processing.....

Hideaway Studio's Klockwerks realtime DDS Clocked FX System draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source. This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear. Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime. Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer. This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2020.

Klockwerks: Another system is born!....

A bizarre watery effect created by feeding back the output of an ART LT FX processor to its input whilst randomly modulated by the Klockwerks System.. the regenerative path was created with a Binson tube Pre-Mix fed back via a DBX II 128 classic limiter and the Hideaway Dual Tube Hybrid Filter centred around 1KHz in tube resonance.   The resulting chaos was then further filtered with two Hideaway Studio TEQ-9B All Tube Gyrator EQs.   Before each plunge effect was wild self-oscillation which was removed using a mixture of Izotope RX and cut/paste.   Each plunge effect itself was created by rapidly winding down the clock frequency just at the point the self-oscillation was tamed.  No deliberate tone or noise sources whatsoever were used in the making of this recording.

I love this kind of pseudo chaotic self-making stuff!   Its a pig to setup but when it works it can be really interesting..

Original Sound Design & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson

Klockwerks: Regenerative Waters...

Demonstrating the stock Windy.+# patch on a Hideaway Studio Klockwerks handset in this case driving a old ART MultiVerb LT modified for Klockwerks..

In this demo the MultiVerb is being modulated with a random LFO program.  The Klockwerks system is being fed from a Roland JX-8P (factory patch ArcoString) - first you hear the 8P directly into a conventional reverb - then the output from the Klockwerks system is brought into the mix.  Although lo-fi in nature, the effect can be really quite beautiful when used with care...

This is one of all manner of interesting effects the Klockwerks system can create.

Klockwerks draws upon the concept that many have experimented with in providing a digital signal processor with an externally generated variable CPU clock in place of its original fixed frequency source. This method of modification opens up a very interesting world as time is no longer periodic and linear. Since most digitally generated acoustic effects rely on clocking audio into a buffer at a regular rate all manner of interesting effects are realised when the clock rate is modulated in realtime. Such effects were discovered a long time ago when the first BBD based chorus and delay units were developed. These early devices relied on variable clocking to achieve realtime pitch shifting effects effectively due to the sample rate at the point the audio was loaded into the front of the memory buffer being different by the time it arrived at the end of the buffer. This causes a stretching and compressing effect on the timing of the samples which can result in some very curious effects – especially if the memory is forming the basis of a complex effect such as a reverse reverb or a multi-tapped delay. Almost all current retrofitable modifications offered to enable such effects tend to be manually or voltage controlled with little in the way of sanity checking and often the effect can be rather random/uncontrollable with high potential for causing the modified FX unit to crash.

Klockwerks overcomes this by offering a much more controlled environment for CPU clock modulation using an advanced computer controlled DDS subsystem (Direct Digital Synthesis) operating within parameters tested to be within acceptable working limits for the Donor FX Unit. The system goes several stages further by then offering a number of modulator programs that modify the CPU clock frequency and offer a significant number of realtime parameter sources via 4 MIDI CC controllers (MIDI CC20 thru 23), MIDI Clock, Note On and Note Velocity as well as an analog CV input. All patches created on the Klockwerks system can then be attributed to a patch on the Donor FX Unit and stored in non-volatile memory as a named patch for instant recall via program changes.

More demos of Klockwerks in action here:

https://soundcloud.com/hideaway-studio/klockwerks-sneak-preview-ii

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson 2019.

Klockwerks: Windy.+# (Mangling the Roland JX-8P)

D.A.Wilson is an Electronic Engineer, Sound Designer & Vintage Synth Specialist with a particular interest in combining vintage tube, classic analog and modern digital technologies working as a synth engineer looking after a very considerable amount of vintage studio equipment for Will Gregory (Goldfrapp / Moog Ensemble) and a number of other internationally celebrated electronic musicians and producers.  Having undertaken several major restorations and produced custom electronic designs for a number of major artists including Jean-Michel Jarre, Dani is also known for fully restoring two out of the world's four remaining 1979 Crumar GDS and partially restoring 1938 Novachord 346 (the only known operational Novachord in the UK) to playable order along with developing and producing the new Elfin family of 8-bit polysynths and the popular MIDI Front Panel Animator (FPA), Filter Defeat Module (FDM) and XD-280 Drive Emulator upgrades for the AKAI S612 sampler.

Demos of the S612 Upgrades in Action: 

https://soundcloud.com/hideaway-studio/sets/hideaway-studios-s612-front


Hideaway Studio Kontakt Sound libraries may be purchased directly from: 
https://www.lootaudio.com/category/kontakt-instruments/hideaway-studios
 

..and a nice introduction by Cory Pelizzari to the Hideaway Studio Kontakt Libraries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-C7a3ChC9U&feature=emb_title


For more on releases from Hideaway Studio for Kontakt please visit the blog at:  www.hideawaystudio.net