The heart of Frames is a 4-channel VCA and mixer under tight digital control which can morph between snapshots-all under voltage control!
Through flexible input/output mixing and normalling options, it can be patched to serve the following purposes (among others):
- 4-channel attenuator/VCA.
- 4-channel mixer.
- 4-channel programmable CV source.
- Quadraphonic signal dispatcher.
But what makes Frames truly unique is the way in which channel gains/CV levels can be controlled, using a technique inspired by computer animation.
Frames allows up to 20 configurations of the 4 gain knobs to be stored and recalled throughout the course of its big Frame knob.
By rotating this knob (or sending a CV to the Frame modulation input and adjusting its amount with the attenuverter), the configurations are morphed into one another.
With a bit of patching and imagination, Frames can also be repurposed as a 4-channel sequencer, a multi-stage envelope generator or a trajectory generator for quadraphonic panning.
An analog mixer...
4-channel voltage-controlled mixer based on the V2164 IC.
- 4 DC-coupled signal inputs.
- 1 global input, sent to all unconnected inputs, and normalized to a precision voltage reference (+5V or +10V).
- 4 DC-coupled channel outputs.
- 1 global mix output, collecting signals from all unpatched outputs, with a -6dB gain.
...under digital control
- 12-bit digital control of the gains for the 4 VCAs.
- Up to 20 keyframes, each keyframe storing VCA CVs for each channel.
- Per-channel easing curve selection: stepped (no interpolation), linear, accelerating, decelerating, sine, bouncy.
- Per-channel CV/VCA response selection, from linear to logarithmic.
Specifications:
18HP
+12V:90mA
-12V:30mA
25mm Depth
Mutable InstrumentsFrames Manual
Note: This is a used item, and while it is guaranteed to be fully functional it is almost sure to also contain "rack rash" on the mounting holes and have some minor scratches on the panel from use. It will include a ribbon cable, m3 screws, and a box, but not the original box.
