Mutable Instruments Blinds

MUSICAL FEATURES

Blinds is a 4-channel voltage controllable polarizer. Depending on how you use it, it is also called a ring modulator or bipolar VCA. The two inputs to each channel can accept both CV and audio signals.

It is similar to VCA, but different from normal VCA in that when a negative voltage is input to the modulation input, the gain does not become 0, but the input signal is inverted and output. The greater the negative voltage, the greater the inverted output. A normal VCA only modulates the size, but a bipolar VCA can also modulate the orientation.

In other words, on each Blinds channel, the signal and modulation inputs are multiplied, including the sign. To be precise, the voltage to the modulation input is adjusted by the Attenuverter, and then the gain knob voltage is added or subtracted. The product of that value and the voltage of the signal input is output as the voltage. The signal inputs are internally wired to 5V if unpatched. In this case each channel can be used as an Attenuverter + offset of the signal to the CV input.

Using this property, you can, for example, put simple LFOs into the signal input and CV input to create a complex LFO, or create a modulation envelope whose direction changes. You can also input audio data and use it as a ring modulator. It can also be used as a cross fader or panner.

It also has offset and mix functions, and is very useful as a central module for controlling the direction and size of modulation. Also of MutableThe KinksCombined with it will be a more powerful modulation tool.

Interface

Patch example

• Bipolar LFO → Unipolar LFO:
  Instead of patching the signal input, patch a negative (+ bipolar) LFO that moves from positive to positive to the modulation input. If you raise the gain knob fully to the right and Attenuverter to the right, you can convert it to an LFO that moves only in the positive range (unipolar).
• Cross fader:
  Put the first of the signals you want to crossfade into the CH1 signal input and the second into the CH1 signal input. Set the gain knob to the same position for CH 2 and CH 2 on the right side. The CV used for crossfade is branched by multiples and patched to the CH1 and CH2 modulation inputs (same CV input for 1 channels). Set Attenuverter on the positive side for CH2 and on the negative side for CH2 to the same level. Extract the signal from the CH 1 output.
• Ring modulator:
  Input the two audio signals you want to mix into the signal input and modulation input. Move Attenuverter from the center to the right to apply ring modulation. If you move the gain knob from 2 o'clock, the original sound to the signal input will be mixed with the output.