thorn.audio Splines Black

A wave pool beyond the beaten track

Splines by thorn.audio is a visual vector curve generator that offers a wide frequency range and features an integrated quantizer. It can function as a wavetable oscillator, low-frequency oscillator (LFO), step sequencer, or envelope generator. Additionally, it has a responsive oscilloscope and a variety of CV processing functions.

It's important to note that this is not the vector synthesis found in the Sequential Prophet VS; rather, it’s a completely different concept. The term "splines" is commonly used in 3D modelling, animation, and vector graphics, referring to a method for creating a curved path from one point to another.

This module allows for up to sixteen user-configurable points, or nodes, that operate similarly to a step sequencer, with the X-axis representing time and the Y-axis representing voltage. As the phase (time) progresses, each point triggers changes to the 1V/oct output, and an optional gate trigger is available for each point.

The points are connected by a spline that is shaped by three parameters: TENSION (curve intensity), CONTINUITY (the angle at each point), and BIAS (which shifts the voltage left or right). The Zoom and Scroll parameters control which section of the spline is output. The "Frequency" setting determines the phase speed, which can range from 16 minutes for LFO cycles up to 20 kHz, and this can be quantised using the integrated scale files. The CV input LEVEL controls the output amplitude, eliminating the need for a VCA, while level manipulation is handled through soft clipping and wavefolding.

The Sync input can be configured for clock signals, resets, sample-and-hold triggers, envelope gates, and other tasks. Thanks to the memory slots, no sound has to be a one-off experience. In fact, with three Splines modules (one for sequencing, one for modulation, and one for sound generation), you can achieve a significant range of sounds. Particularly effective as a modulator (LFO and envelope) and as an oscillator, Splines is likely to deliver completely novel results that may surprise even experienced modular users with medium to large systems.