Rob Hordijk's latest revision of the classic Benjolin. The core of the Benjolin continues to be two oscillators, the rungler (stepped CV generator), and a multimode filter. This latest revision adds:
- Reworked oscillator and filter sections
- All levels are adjusted to eurorack standards
- Two different steps modes (8/16 and 127)
- Double and single clock rate
- Externally clockable
- External filter input with blend control
- Support for the Turing Machine expanders (with Tom's permission)
The Benjolin ‘patch’ is based on four ‘modules’, or function blocks. There are two voltage-controlled oscillators with a very wide pitch range. These two VCOs are named OSC1 and OSC2. Third is a 12dB voltage-controlled filter simply named the filter. In this text it is also named the VCF. This filter has exceptionally good ‘pinging’ characteristics, and the cutoff can be modulated deeply at the highest audio rates. The fourth block is a special ‘interference pattern generator’ function, creating voltage patterns from the signals coming from the two oscillators. The pattern generator architecture is unique enough that it is entitled to its own name and many years ago it was baptized as a Rungler. So, just like how an oscillator is oscillating, a Rungler is Rungling. In its simplest form a Rungler needs two pulse signals as inputs, and from these two pulses it can create several output signals that are basically stepped patterns of specific lengths. Patterns are either slowly changing or can be frozen in a short loop. What sets a Rungler apart from e.g. a sequencer is its property that patterns are dynamic, so they can be constantly changing. There is also a certain amount of control over when the pattern changes.
The output signals of the VCOs and the Rungler are used to crossmodulate and self-modulate themselves and the other functions. These cross-modulations and feedback-modulations together create a system that is capable of myriads of different and dynamically changing sounds. Still, all those sounds will have one specific character, and that is the ‘sound’ of the Benjolin.
To summarize, there are two VCOs, one VCF and the Rungler in the Benjolin. Each of these four blocks can be used separately as an individual module, having its own signal and modulation inputs and outputs. So, it’s no problem at all to use the VCOs as extra modulation signal oscillators in a larger patch, if you just need an extra LFO. Also the filter can be used as a separate filter, or even as a separate sinewave oscillator.
