🔥 MANGLE Block Documentation

Overview

The MANGLE block is a creative live audio processor that transforms incoming sound into rhythmic, granular, and tape-style textures. It continuously samples audio, slices it into musical fragments, and lets you manipulate time, speed, and playback order in real time. With deep control over slicing, varispeed, and morphing, MANGLE is designed for hands-on performance, glitchy loops, and evolving soundscapes—perfect for Eurorack experimentation and modern electronic music.

Inspirations & References

MANGLE draws inspiration from several innovative Eurorack modules and desktop synths, including:

  • Qu-Bit Data Bender (Eurorack)
  • Qu-Bit Mojave (Eurorack)
  • Qu-Bit Stardust (Eurorack)
  • Qu-Bit Nebulae v2 (Eurorack)
  • Bastl Thyme+ (Desktop FX)
  • Make Noise Morphagene (Eurorack)

These devices influenced MANGLE’s approach to live sampling, granular slicing, tape-style manipulation, and hands-on performance control.

Main Parameters (Rotary Encoders)

1. TIME

  • Zones:
    • 0–20%: Short buffer (micro loops, glitch)
    • 21–60%: Medium buffer (musical phrases)
    • 61–100%: Long buffer (ambient, full phrase)
  • Function: Controls sample period and buffer length for live audio recording.
  • CV Response: Real-time modulation of buffer length and sample period.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for smooth time scaling.

2. SLICE

  • Zones:
    • 1 slice: No chopping, continuous playback
    • 2–16 slices: Musical subdivisions (8th, 16th notes if synced)
    • 32–64 slices: Ultra-fine granular slicing
  • Function: Sets number of slices in buffer. Minimum slice length: 80ms (prevents artifacts). Smart scaling if buffer too short.
  • CV Response: Direct modulation of slice count.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for slice division selection.

3. VARISPEED

  • Zones:
    • -200%: Double speed reverse
    • 0%: Paused
    • +200%: Double speed forward
  • Function: Controls playback speed and direction (tape-style varispeed).
  • CV Response: Real-time speed and direction modulation.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for speed/direction control.

4. SCATTER

  • Zones:
    • 0%: Always selects first slice
    • 1–99%: Selects slice by position (CV/knob)
    • 100%: Always selects last slice
  • Function: Direct slice selector for processing/playback.
  • CV Response: Direct slice selection modulation.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for slice selection.

5. MORPH

  • Zones:
    • 0%: Plays only 10% of buffer splice (shortest playback)
    • ~50%: Plays entire splice (full length, no overlap)
    • 100%: Maximum overlap, polyrhythmic layering
  • Function: Controls splice overlap and playback length.
  • CV Response: Real-time overlap and layering modulation.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for overlap/length control.

6. DRY/WET MIX

  • Zones:
    • 0%: 100% dry (unprocessed signal only)
    • 1–99%: Blend between dry and wet
    • 100%: 100% wet (processed signal only)
  • Function: Controls the balance between original (dry) and processed (wet) signal.
  • CV Response: Real-time modulation of mix balance.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for smooth crossfade between dry and wet.

DSP Implementation Notes

Buffer Management

  • Circular buffer with live audio input sampling
  • TIME-controlled sample period acquisition
  • Background writing system for audio history (up to 1 minute)
  • Dual-pointer system (write/read)
  • SDRAM storage for long buffers
  • Internal/External clock synchronization

Slice Processing

  • Dynamic slice calculation based on TIME and SLICE params
  • Live audio sampling at TIME-controlled periods
  • MORPH splice overlap and layering system
  • Slice envelope generation for smooth transitions
  • Random number generation for slice scanning effects

Pitch Processing

  • Simple speed-based pitch changes (tape-style)
  • Semitone quantization for musical intervals
  • Smooth pitch interpolation for lag effects

Performance Considerations

  • Real-time parameter smoothing
  • Efficient buffer reading with interpolation
  • CPU-optimized random generation

RGB LED Feedback System

Visual Parameter Indication

  • SLICE encoder:
    • Dim blue = Low slice count (1-4)
    • Bright blue = Medium slice count (8-16)
    • Purple/White = High slice count (32-64)
    • Solid vs Pulsing = Different slice behaviors
  • VARISPEED encoder:
    • Green intensity = Speed amount
    • Red/Blue = Direction
  • SCATTER encoder:
    • LED position = Selected slice
  • MORPH encoder:
    • Brightness = Overlap amount
    • Color = Number of active instances
  • DRY/WET encoder:
    • Blue = Dry, Green = Wet, Blend = Mix

Musical Applications

Rhythmic Applications

  • Beat repeat and stutter effects
  • Groove creation via swing and timing offset
  • Polyrhythmic patterns via slice division

Textural Applications

  • Ambient texture generation via high slice counts
  • Reverse granular effects
  • Pitch-shifted soundscapes

Creative Mangling

  • Complete signal destruction via high Skip values
  • Musical pitch sequences from random semitones
  • Organic timing variations

Development Status

  • Core buffer framework
  • Varispeed implementation
  • Slice chopping algorithm
  • Parameter smoothing
  • CV integration
  • Testing and optimization

Last Updated: August 2025 Author: OmarKarray

1. TIME (Sample Period Control)

  • Sample Rate: Determines how often new audio buffer is acquired for processing
  • Background Writing: Buffer space outside current section continues recording recent audio
  • Time Travel: Can recall sounds from up to a minute ago when TIME is changed
  • Clock Modes:
    • Internal Clock Mode: Follows internal BPM timing
    • External Clock Mode: TIME knob acts as divide/multiply control
      • Divisions: /16, /8, /4, /2
      • Multipliers: x1, x2, x3, x4, x8
  • When SLICE = 1 (no slicing): TIME determines overall sample window from live input
  • When SLICE > 1 (slicing active): TIME determines sample period, then creates splices within
  • When LIDAR focused (51-100%): TIME affects the focused splice behavior

2. SLICE

  • 1 slice = No chopping, continuous playback int max_slices = (int)(buffer_length / min_slice_time); slice_count = min(slice_count, max_slices); ```

    5. SCATTER

5. MORPH (Splice Overlap Control)

  • 0% (Fully CCW): Plays only 10% of the buffer splice (shortest playback)
  • ~50% (12:00 position): Plays back the entire splice (full length, no overlap)
  • Advanced Features:
    • Automatic panning of overlapped instances
  • Preserves musical content with character
  • Creates melodic/harmonic variations
  • Quantized to chromatic scale Zone 6 (84-100%): Tape Lag Effect
  • Pitch bends smoothly into semitone jumps

  • Realistic tape speed-up/slow-down simulation

  • Options: Continuous, Triggered, Freeze
  • Zones:
    • 0–20%: Short buffer (micro loops, glitch)
    • 61–100%: Long buffer (ambient, full phrase)
  • Function: Controls sample period and buffer length for live audio recording.
  • CV Response: Real-time modulation of buffer length and sample period.
  • Zones:
    • 1 slice: No chopping, continuous playback
    • 32–64 slices: Ultra-fine granular slicing
  • Function: Sets number of slices in buffer. Minimum slice length: 80ms (prevents artifacts). Smart scaling if buffer too short.
  • CV Response: Direct modulation of slice count.
  • Zones:
    • -200%: Double speed reverse
    • 0%: Paused
    • +200%: Double speed forward
  • Function: Controls playback speed and direction (tape-style varispeed).
  • CV Response: Real-time speed and direction modulation.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for speed/direction control.

4. SCATTER

  • Zones:
    • 0%: Always selects first slice
    • 1–99%: Selects slice by position (CV/knob)
    • 100%: Always selects last slice
  • Function: Direct slice selector for processing/playback.
  • CV Response: Direct slice selection modulation.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for slice selection.

5. MORPH

6. DRY/WET MIX

  • Zones:
    • 0%: 100% dry (unprocessed signal only)
    • 1–99%: Blend between dry and wet
    • 100%: 100% wet (processed signal only)
  • Function: Controls the balance between original (dry) and processed (wet) signal.
  • CV Response: Real-time modulation of mix balance.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for smooth crossfade between dry and wet.
  • Zones:
    • 0%: Plays only 10% of buffer splice (shortest playback)
    • ~50%: Plays entire splice (full length, no overlap)
    • 100%: Maximum overlap, polyrhythmic layering
  • Function: Controls splice overlap and playback length.
  • CV Response: Real-time overlap and layering modulation.
  • Encoder Behavior: Rotary encoder for overlap/length control.

    Sub 8: OUTPUT GAIN

  • Range: -∞ to +12dB
  • Function: Final output level control

DSP Implementation Notes

Buffer Management

  • Circular buffer with live audio input sampling
  • TIME-controlled sample period acquisition
  • Background writing system for audio history (up to 1 minute)
  • Dual-pointer system (write/read)
  • SDRAM storage for long buffers
  • Internal/External clock synchronization

Slice Processing

  • Dynamic slice calculation based on TIME and SLICE params
  • Live audio sampling at TIME-controlled periods
  • LIDAR splice creation and scanning algorithms
  • MORPH splice overlap and layering system
  • Slice envelope generation for smooth transitions
  • Random number generation for LIDAR scanning effects

Pitch Processing

  • Simple speed-based pitch changes (tape-style)
  • Semitone quantization for musical intervals
  • Smooth pitch interpolation for lag effects

Performance Considerations

  • Real-time parameter smoothing
  • Efficient buffer reading with interpolation
  • CPU-optimized random generation

RGB LED Feedback System

Visual Parameter Indication:

  • SLICE parameter encoder:
    • Dim blue = Low slice count (1-4)
    • Bright blue = Medium slice count (8-16)
    • Purple/White = High slice count (32-64)
    • Solid vs Pulsing = Different slice behaviors
  • STUTTER parameter encoder:
    • Green intensity = Stutter amount
    • Flash rate = Current stutter timing
    • Red flash = Stutter repeat trigger
  • SKIP parameter encoder:
    • Color shifts through zones (blue→green→yellow→orange→red→white)
    • Brightness = Probability intensity
    • Flicker = Active transformations

Global Status LEDs:

  • Transport state (play/pause/record)
  • Buffer status (empty/recording/full)
  • CV modulation activity
  • Quantization grid (if enabled)

Musical Applications

Rhythmic Applications

  • Beat repeat and stutter effects
  • Groove creation via swing and timing offset
  • Polyrhythmic patterns via slice division

Textural Applications

  • Ambient texture generation via high slice counts
  • Reverse granular effects
  • Pitch-shifted soundscapes

Creative Mangling

  • Complete signal destruction via high Skip values
  • Musical pitch sequences from random semitones
  • Organic timing variations

Development Status

  • Core buffer framework
  • Varispeed implementation
  • Slice chopping algorithm
  • Skip transformation zones
  • Parameter smoothing
  • CV integration
  • Testing and optimization

Last Updated: August 2025 Author: OmarKarray