Summary of Contents for SERGE PAPERFACE
- Page 1 SERGE PAPERFACE 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION A BASIC USER’S GUIDE TO THE SERGE TCHEREPNIN SYNTHESIZER V 0 . 1 R A N D O M * S O U R C E...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
MODULAR PAPERFACE INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Before you start . -
Page 3: Introduction
The way the front panels of these early systems were made would later be know as the “paperface”: For each module, the panel graphics would be printed or copied onto a piece of paper . These would then be attached to pre-drilled aluminium panels so that top and bottom edges of these pieces of paper would fold over on to the back of the panel before they would be covered over with a single piece of transparent adhesive mylar film . -
Page 4: Before You Start
MODULAR Before you start The Paperface 50 system is designed to be powered by a linear Serge PSU (providing +/-12V) . Using any other PSU is not recommended and may damage the system . Feeding any of the inputs (or outputs) with voltages outside a +/-12V range may damage the module . This type of damage is not covered under warranty . -
Page 5: Signal Types
(“direct current”) meaning that a voltage is of one polarity only . The polarity for D .C . control voltages in the SERGE is positive . Their range falls typically from 0 to +V Volts, within a maximum voltage range of +/-12 Volts . This is the way D .C . control voltages look within the... - Page 6 . The word bipolar denotes the ability of a control voltage tto be negative as well as positive (+/-) . Bipolar control voltages in the SERGE are typically +/-2 .5 Volts, but may fall anywhere within the entire voltage range of the system (+/-12 Volts) . Bipolar control voltages...
- Page 7 SERGE MODULAR HOW ARE THE VARIOUS SIGNALS USED? The usual logic of synthesizer is that TRIGGERS are used to start and define the length of sustain of CONTROL VOLTGE ENVELOPES, whereas CONTROL VOLTAGES serve to specify and control the frequency, timbre or loudness of an AUDIO VOLTAGE . Thus for example:...
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Page 8: Oscillator (Vco)
SERGE MODULAR OSCILLATOR (VCO) The original Serge VCO from 1973 has been given a powerful overhaul in 2022, now featuring a vastly OSCILLATOR improved control voltage circuitry . While keeping the flair of the original VCO’s waveforms this version now... -
Page 9: Oscillator+ (Vco+)
PULSEWIDTH knob and controlled by the WAVE VC PWM input via an attenuator . SHAPE In addition, a SERGE NOISE SOURCE provides white noise, pink noise as well as the classic SERGE Sample/Hold Source (S/H SRC) . The latter is required to turn the SSG into the famous Random Voltage Generator . -
Page 10: Smooth & Stepped Generator (Ssg)
SERGE MODULAR SMOOTH & STEPPED GENERATOR (SSG) This is The Serge Smooth & Stepped Generator (SSG) is an essential part of the SMOOTH & STEPPED GENERATOR Serge system . According to the 1979 catalogue, “it is a complex multi-functional module which can be patch programmed to... -
Page 11: Ssg First Steps
SERGE MODULAR SSG First Steps The SSG is a complex, highly versatile module which allows for a wide range of uses and abuses both in the audio and CV range, so it may require some time and experimenting to familiarize oneself with it - don’t expect the module to reveal its secrets and power in a few minutes after... -
Page 12: Dual Cv-Processor / Mixer
. The knob below the output section provides a 0V to 5V DC offset which is primarily useful for control voltages . The Serge CV-Processor has a unique circuitry that reduces (limits) the level when adding the signals would result in a very high level (>... -
Page 13: Triple Waveshaper
SERGE MODULAR TRIPLE WAVESHAPER This might be the godfather of all waveshapers . The module comprises 3 TRIPLE WAVESHAPER identical sections which can be patched in sequence . The input can be any audible waveform . The output is a distorted form of that wave, basically, a full wave rectification with a lot of non-linearities . -
Page 14: 1973 Filter (Vcf) And Balanced Output
SERGE MODULAR 1973 Filter (VCF) and Balanced Output This section contains 2 independent modules: FILTER The top converts an audio signal in banana form to a professional balanced signal (TRS jack) for external use (AD-converter, mixing console etc .) . -
Page 15: Positive Slew
SERGE MODULAR POSITIVE SLEW The Positive Slew accepts a voltage at the INPUT and follows (i .e ., outputs) exactly any POSITIVE SLEW falling voltage but “slews” or “portaments” or “integrates” between any rising voltages . This is similar to the negative slew except that it slews between rising voltages rather than falling signals . -
Page 16: Negative Slew
SERGE MODULAR NEGATIVE SLEW The Negative Slew is a dual module with 2 (almost*) identical sections . It accepts a voltage at the INPUT and follows (i .e ., NEGATIVE SLEW outputs) exactly any rising voltage but “slews” or “portaments” or “integrates” between any falling voltages . -
Page 17: Envelope Generator
SERGE MODULAR ENVELOPE GENERATOR The envelope generator is a complex module . It can be used as a sub-harmonic generator, an (inaccurate) sample and hold ENVELOPE (via window size) and as a staircase generator, among others . Negative and positive slews can be concatenatcd with multiple envelope generators - to give ultra complex multiple output envelope generation . -
Page 18: Dual Gates (2023)
SERGE MODULAR DUAL GATES (2023) The DUAL GATES is a completely new Serge Design for the Anniversary Edition which goes far beyond the 1972 version, DUAL GATES both in sound and function . Each side is independent and can act in 3 different modes (set with the toggle switch): •... -
Page 19: Gate Sequencer
SERGE MODULAR GATE SEQUENCER Triggerinq the CLOCK input with a repetitive pulse source sends out pulses one at a time from the eight pulse outputs of the GATE SEQUENCER . In other words, only one of the 8 outputs is high (+5V) - as indicated by the LED - and with each incoming clock signal the output jumps to the next stage . -
Page 20: Sequencer / Programmer (Seq4)
SERGE MODULAR SEQUENCER / PROGRAMMER (SEQ4) This is a modernized version of the four-stage Sequencer Programmer . Features include the ability to be used as push-button, manual programmers and/or as multi-versatile sequeencers The length of sequences can be programmed interractively via the pushbuttons: thus sequence lengths can be changed in performance while a sequence is running . - Page 21 SERGE MODULAR There are 4 stages each with 3 levels (top . middle, bottom) corresponding to the outputs A, B and C . Depending on which stage the programmer is set to, each output provides the voltage set by the relevant knob for that stage and row . There is (only) one stage active at a time as indicated by the LEDs above the push buttons .
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Page 22: Metronomic Clock
SERGE MODULAR METRONOMIC CLOCK The METRONOMIC CLOCK is a new 2022(!) Serge design that provides a simple, yet very accurate and temperature-stabilized analog clock source . It generates a chain of very short trigger pulses, ideal to drive the GATE SEQUENCER or the SEQ4 . -
Page 23: Bi-Directional Routers (Switches)
SERGE MODULAR BI-DIRECTIONAL ROUTERS (SWITCHES) As the name suggests, these are analog switches that work in both directions: either to select one of two input signals (A0 and A1) at output B or to send a single input signal (B) to one of 2 outputs (A0 and A1), in each case dependent on the SWITCH input . -
Page 24: Peak & Trough
SERGE MODULAR PEAK & TROUGH PEAK and TROUGH (MAX and MIN) is a mathematical function that compares two waveforms (AC or DC - audio, CV or logic) . PEAK (MAX) returns whichever signal is highest at any given instant .
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