thorn.audio Splines Silver

A wave pool beyond the beaten track

Splines by thorn.audio is a visual vector curve generator with a wide frequency range and an integrated quantizer. It can be used as a wavetable oscillator, LFO, step sequencer, or envelope generator. Additionally, it features a responsive oscilloscope and a variety of CV processing functions.

It's important to clarify that this is not the vector synthesis found in the Sequential Prophet VS; rather, it represents a different concept. In this context, "splines" refers to a technical term commonly used in 3D modelling, animation, and vector graphics. Essentially, it is a method of creating a curved path from one point to another. The 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.

Each point triggers changes to the 1V/oct output as time progresses. An optional gate trigger can be activated for each point. The points are connected by a spline, which is shaped by three parameters: TENSION (curvature intensity), CONTINUITY (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" parameter sets the phase speed, which can range from 16-minute LFO cycles up to 20 kHz and can be quantised using integrated scale files. The CV input LEVEL controls the output amplitude, eliminating the need for a VCA. Additionally, level manipulation is provided via soft clipping and wavefolding. The Sync input can be configured for clock signals, resets, sample & hold triggers, envelope gates, and other tasks.

Thanks to memory slots, no sound has to be a one-time experience. Essentially, by using three Splines modules—one for sequencing, another for modulation, and one for sound generation—you can cover a vast range of sounds. This is particularly effective as a modulator (LFO & envelope) and also as an oscillator. The results are likely to be novel and surprising, even for experienced modular users with medium to large systems.