Mutable Instruments Ears Contact Microphone (4HP)

Full Description

Controls & I/Os

• Gain: This control has a range of 0 to +40dB. The large range design covers everything, from the amplification of line-level instruments, to the magnification of tiny sonic details captured by external contact microphones
• Contact Microphone: Create sound by scratching, tapping, rubbing, brushing, or just collecting external acoustic waves
• Hi-Z Audio Input: Amplifies an external source. Patching a cable here disconnects the contact microphone
• Audio Output: The red indicator LED will shine if the signal is clipping
• Envelope CV Output: The white indicator LED shows the envelope CV level
• Gate Output: Emits +8V when the envelope exceeds a threshold. The activity of this output is indicated by the orange LED

Envelope Follower & Gate Detector Jumpers

Located on the back of the module are a set of jumpers that allow you to adjust the response of the envelope follower and gate detector. The final setting on the jumpers can be achieved by removing the jumper. This corresponds to the longest time, or higher voltage.

Features

Ears For Your Modular Rig

• Built-in contact microphone soldered right under the front panel, turning the panel and your entire case into a microphone
• Increasingly spaced ridges on the panel, generating sonically interesting pulses, or impulse combs when rubbed. Strike, pick, or scratch digital resonators such as Rings or Elements
• High-quality amplification stage suitable for external contact microphones, electro-acoustic instruments like guitars, or plain line-level signals

Extending the Mikrophonie Open Source Project

• Compared to the open source Mikrophonie from Tom Whitwell, Ears features additional outputs:
  • Envelope follower, translating the decaying amplitude profile of a tap into an envelope CV
  • Gate detector, translating taps into gate signals
  • Envelope follower and gate detector can process external signals

Specifications

• Audio amplifier with 1M input impedance, up to 40dB of gain
• External input bypassing the built-in contact microphone
• Envelope follower with 3 preset attack and release times (adjustable by jumpers on the back of the module)
• Gate detector and preset sensitivity levels (adjustable by jumpers on the back of the module) and +8V gate output
• Three indicator LEDs:
  • Red: Clipping
  • White: Envelope Follower Level
  • Orange: Gate Detector Activity