CSR-VCO

Shift Register Noise + Triangle Core VCO

BLM CSR-VCO
Width: 8hp
Current: +150mA, -140mA

What does this module do?
This is a complete mini synthesizer that only requires CV and Gate from your midi to cv converter. You can use an AKAI Mini Keyboard or Arturia KeyStep for example. As long as the product has CV and GATE outputs, you can musically control the CSR-VCO module. This is a great first-time module, or a great percussive voice to add to your electronic singer section.
The CSR-VCO is similar to the ‘toy’ algorithm on the mutable braids module, and the wiard noise ring (kinda).

-When the Shift Register is put into random mode using the toggle switches you can create the classic arcade noise sound found on the atari, and defender arcade game.
-The shift register can loop into more musical overtones, using the toggle switches, that also resemble early atari pulse wave sounds.

These are the only two modules I was able to confirm that use the same related approach of using many pulse harmonics to sculpt the sound. There is no firmware, or simulation happening on the CSR-VCO. The module is an analog and cmos logic hybrid module. There are many modular sections involved to make this happen. It would take many modules to attempt to make your own CSR-VCO patch on your modular. You would need the following: Triangle VCO, x2 clock generator, Shift Register module, High Pass Filter, VCA, Envelope Generator, Sub Division Pulse Generator Module, Logic xor, Logic AND, Logic Invert modules, and a mixer module. This would easily take up 64-84hp. Such a complicated patch on your system would probably not work as good as the CSR-VCO.
The CSR-VCO is a Bright in Sound. This module is not good for bass. It resembles cheap toy electronics from the 1980’s. The CSR-VCO excels at higher frequency ‘piano’ like sounds.

It can also be used for bright percussive sounds. All of this tracks +5 octaves, musically.

The CSR-VCO contains so many over tones (mathematically sub divided), that it is indeed producing chords. The EXT trigger input ‘rolls the wheel of chance’, and changes the over all tone of the shift register.
The CSR-VCO seems to sound more ‘Minor’ at times, it gives a more creepy, spooky set of chords. I can’t confirm this, but that is the impression I get from changing up the shift register.