Qu-Bit Electronix - Scanned (Black)

Looking for a unique oscillator? – With Qu-Bit Scanned, you can add a very special type of audio generator to your modular system. Scanned synthesis is a powerful and efficient technique for animating wavetables and controlling them in real-time. It is based on the psychoacoustics of how we hear timbres. Similar to physical modeling, exciters and resonators are used to generate sound. However, Scanned is not about producing audio material reminiscent of acoustic instruments, but new, very complex results.

Qu-Bit Scanned is an organic wavetable oscillator, making it possible to create evolving timbral landscapes without external modulation. the module uses scanned synthesis, which was developed by Bill Verplank, Rob Shaw, and Max Mathews in the late 90s. This synthesis technique was never implemented on hardware before.

Scanned dynamically generates wavetables by emulating a set of “objects” tied together on a virtual string. There are potentiometers and CV inputs for Mass, Stiffness and Damping parameters. They affect the way that the string moves through space and time. A virtual hammer is used for excitation. It can be edited in Shape and Strength via the front panel controls in the Hammer Section. There are control voltage inputs for these parameters as well. The shape is visualized by the color of three LEDs. Furthermore, this section determines whether the module acts as a free running oscillator or as a triggered sound source. You can activate the module manually with the Excite button or via a trigger respectively gate input. Thanks to the Inject input, it is possible to use an external audio or CV signal to excite the string.

The frequency range of the VCO is set via the Frequency knob. For more precise adjustments, there is a Fine potentiometer. For playing the module, a 1 V per octave input was implemented.