Propagate Steady State Fate Reference Manual

P R O P A G A T E
Thank you for purchasing the Steady State Fate Propagate: quad voltage controlled gate delay. Propagate takes the
classic gate delay synthesizer function to a new level as an entirely new concept for your modular synthesizer. To get the
most out of Propagate, please use this guide to familiarize yourself with the controls and features. There are 4 delay
units, each with independent inputs/outputs, delay and gate length (space), CV inputs and speed mode switches. The
signal and controls ow from left to right and the delay stages are stacked vertically and labeled 1 - 4, starting at the
top. There are master CV inputs, a Sum output as well as some special function jacks located at the bottom.
take a minute to study the image of the panel to the right. Once you become somewhat familiar with the layout, please
refer to the detailed description below...
1

GATE/TRIGGER INPUT

Each of the 4 delay stages has a gate/trigger input labeled from 1-4. They are fast rising edge sensistive and will
activate when the applied signal reaches ~1.2V. They are tolerant of very fast and extremely short pulses. The manual
TRIG button is hardwired to input 1. Each of the following stage inputs are normaled to the previous stage's
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output so that longer delays and delay sequences/trills can be created. Inserting a jack into the input jack(s) will
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break the normal.
2

DELAY CONTROL

The DELAY control is used to set the delay time. When activated by the onset of a fast rising edge at the relevant input,
the delay stage begins a count based on the current delay setting. When the count is complete, the output
immediatedly res a pulse with a duration (pulse width) set by the SPACE control
the speed mode . In LO mode, the range is approximately 20ms - 5s without CV and up to~13s with +5V CV
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applied. In HI mode, audio rate delays are possible. The delay range becomes approximately 200uS - 100ms without
CV and up to ~300ms with +5V CV applied.
Please note that once the a delay sequence is intiated, any signal present at the GATE/TRIGGER INPUT will be ignored
until the count is complete - the delay will then immediately re-trigger upon the next rising edge transition.
3

SPACE CONTROL

SPACE determines the width of the delayed output pulse; despite the duration or amplitude of the input pulse. The
width is variable from roughly 5ms - 3s in LO mode and 200us - 100ms in HI mode. Longer pulse durations are possible
by cascading two or more stages with short delays and long pulse widths. Other methods for achieving longer widths
are also possible***.
Try experimenting with the super fast triggers that Propagate produces. The max level of the trigger (+rail voltage)
remains constant until reaching ~ 90us (when CV is applied). The trigger may drop a few volts in amplitude at this
impressive threshold. The minimum possible pulse when CV is applied is ~10us!
4

OUTPUT INDICATOR LED

The green LEDs will re with the output and are indicative of the output pulse duration.
5

PULSE OUTPUT

These are the pulse output jacks for the delay stages. As mentioned previously, the outputs are hardwired to the normalling switch on the following stage's input
jack. The normal is broken when a patch cable is inserted into an input jack but will not a ect the signal ow at the output jacks. Outputs will swing to the +rail
voltage. Please note that the rails voltage will vary from system to system as voltage drops will occur and depend on how heavily a system is loaded and well
regulated.
6

TRIG

This is a manual trigger button that is normaled to the rst delay stage input jack. Use this button to manually re Propagate, to initiate oscillation when
Propagate is patched for self feedback or for general trigger duties.
7

SPEED MODE SELECTOR SWITCH

Use this switch to select either HI or LO speed delay mode for each stage. HI mode turns Propagate into a quad PWM tone generator. The user is encouraged to
experiment with this unique feature.
8

DELAY CV INPUT JACK(s)

Voltage control over delay time is possible using the DELAY CV IN jack(s). The response is linear for all signals within the range of +/-5V and tapers o
logaritmically for CV upwards of +8V. This region is perfectly safe for high amplitude transients. Any voltage less than -5V will disable the individual delay stage
inde nitely until the voltage returns to -5V or greater. When control voltages are applied, use the DELAY potentiometer to set the baseline delay level. The delay
time will roughly double the baseline at +5V and half the baseline at -5V. Please note that the delay time will not decrease further when the control is set fully
CCW and negative CV is applied. It will however increase when the control is set fully CW and positive voltage is applied. The increase in delay time will eventually
taper o as the input level increases beyond +5V.
9

SPACE CV INPUT JACK(s)

Voltage control over output pulse width is possible using the SPACE CV IN jack(s). The CV response is also linear for +/-5V control voltage. The pulse width
will decrease substantially when the control is set fully CCW and negative CV is applied. In LO mode, the minimum pulse possible is ~250us and in HI
mode less than 10us - equivelent to a 100kHz pulse! CV less than -5V will disable the output - so be mindful when using negative control voltages. As you
may have already guessed, you can also use the SPACE control to set the baseline pulse width. Just like the DELAY CV, SPACE CV can handle any level of
positive control voltage and will increase the pulse width linearly before tapering o quickly with a logarithmic curve upwards of around +8V CV.
1
. The delay time is dependent on
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10

Control and function reference guide

P R O P A G A T E
HI
1
LO
DELAY
CV 2
IN
6
TRIG
HI
2
LO
DELAY
7
8 CV
IN
HI
3
LO
DELAY
CV
IN
HI
4
LO
DELAY
CV
IN
Sum
ENABLE
MASTER
DELAY
12
13
Width......................14hp
Depth, Max.............23mm
Current Draw
Quiescent.................+49mA
Peak.........................+85mA
Average....................+67mA
SIGNAL LEVELS
Gate Inputs tolerate any signal level.
Activate on positive polarity, fast
rising edge amplitudes of ~1.2V
or greater.
Outputs are ~12V (rail to GND)
Nominal CV response range: +/-5V
CV inputs will tolerate all levels. Levels
below -5V will disable the delay. Above
+5V the CV response is limited but will
not disable the delay.
DC input impedance: ~10MOhms
Output impedance: ~1kOhms
***A circuit modi cation is possible if longer pulse widths are pre ered. Please contact SSF
@ steadystatefate@gmail.com for mod instructions or send us your Propagate to modify for a
modest fee. Delay timing can also be modi ed if desired.
4
5
OUT 1
SPACE
3 CV
IN
OUT 2
SPACE
CV
9
IN
OUT 3
SPACE
CV
IN
OUT 4
SPACE
CV
IN
11
Mix In
MASTER
SPACE
14

TECH SPECS

-34mA
-34mA
-34mA
Rev Polarity Protected
RoHS & CE compliant