Specifications

THE EFFECT DEVICES
249
Spider CV Merger &
Splitter
The Spider CV Merger & Splitter is not an effect device, but a utility. It has two
basic functions:
D To provide one merged CV output from up to four CV input sources.
D To split CV or Gate inputs into several outputs.
Two inputs, A and B, are provided, each with four outputs, where one of the
outputs will invert the polarity of the control signal. One reason for having
two splitable inputs is to make it possible to split Gate and Note CV, to con-
trol several instrument devices with one Matrix for example.
There are no controls on the front panel of this device, only CV signal indicators.
The four horizontal indicators light up to indicate signals connected to the corre-
sponding merge input. The two indicators to the right indicate signals con-
nected to the corresponding split inputs.
Merging CV
On the back panel of the Spider there are several CV connectors. The left half of
the panel contains four CV/Gate input connectors with associated trimpots, and
to the right of these, one merged CV output.
D The merged CV output will produce a CV signal that represents the
“sum” of all connected CV inputs.
A few things to note:
• Gate CV signals typically trigger notes or envelope cycles and are normally
routed to a Gate input.
• CV signals typically control note pitch or for modulating parameters and are
typically routed to CV Note or Modulation inputs.
There are no strict rules involved, but the facts mentioned above means that it is
generally better to stick to using either Gate CV signals or CV signals but not a
mixture when merging. simply because the CV/Gate signals usually go to differ-
ent input destinations.
For instance, merging Note CV and Gate CV from a Matrix does not make much
sense if you want to use Matrix to play melodic patterns via the Sequencer Con-
trol inputs of an instrument device. There would only be one merged output
whereas the instrument device would need a separate Gate and Note CV signal
to work properly.
Practical uses of merging CV
The practical applications of merging CV are maybe less obvious compared to
splitting CV. But there are numerous applications for a merged CV control out-
put, a few of which are listed below:
D You can create interesting modulation effects by merging several
Modulation outputs from LFO’s and other CV modulation sources.
For example, merging the Modulation outputs from several LFO’s would pro-
duce a “mixed modulation” output. This merged output signal could be lik-
ened to a “super LFO” capable of generating several modulation cycles
simultaneously, each with a different waveform and modulation rate! In addi-
tion to this, by using the trim control for each CV input, you have full control
over the amount of modulation applied by each LFO.
The above example could of course also include Curve CV outputs from a
Matrix or Mod Outs from Malström etc., in short any CV Modulation output.
D Use the ECF-42 Filter to apply envelope controlled filter effects.
This can create the sound of “synthesized” percussion, and other interesting
effects.
This is done using the following method:
1. Connect the audio outputs of a Redrum to a ECF-42 Envelope con-
trolled filter.
2. Connect the Gate outputs from up to 4 Redrum drum channels to
the merge inputs of a Spider CV.
3. Route the merged output to the Env Gate input on the ECF-42.
If you add a touch of velocity the connected Gate signals will trigger the
ECF-42 filter envelope. Again, the trim pots on the Spider allows you to ad-
just the amount of filter envelope applied.
Four CV inputs with trim
controls.
The merged CV
output.