Mutable Instruments Streams - Manual

Signal follower
The EXCITE signal is analyzed to extract its amplitude
and cutoff envelopes. The IN signal is then amplified and
filtered with these envelopes.
SHAPE controls the attack and release time of the de-
tector. MOD controls the range of filter modulation.
Compressor
In this mode, the VCF is disabled and the VCA is used to
compress the dynamic range of the IN signal. Optimal
results are obtained when the VCA response curve is set
to exponential. EXCITE is a sidechain input – for normal
operation, leave it unconnected.
SHAPE controls the compression threshold, from -30dB
to 0dB. MOD controls both the compression ratio and
make-up gain:
The compressor has a fast detector (0.2ms attack time,
150ms release time) and a hard knee.
Envelope generator
In this mode, EXCITE behaves like a trigger input, trig-
gering an envelope generator. This envelope is internally
routed to the VCA and the VCF.
SHAPE controls the envelope attack and decay time.
The envelope curve depends on the amplitude (height)
and duration (width) of the trigger pulse.
MOD controls the range of filter modulation.
Vactrol emulation
In this mode, the VCA gain and VCF frequency are
controlled by a moody Vactrol low-pass gate emulation.
EXCITE is the amplitude/brightness CV input.
SHAPE controls the Vactrol on/off response times, and
MOD the amount of damping - using the same control
scheme as for the envelope mode.
Streams
Dual dynamics gate
Tips and tricks
Heck, no input?
In Vactrol mode, leave IN unconnected, send a CV to
EXCITE and get a smoothed CV on OUT.
In envelope or Vactrol mode, leave IN unconnected, send
a positive CV to LEVEL MOD. Use the linear/exponential
control to waveshape it, and the MOD control to filter it.
To get an envelope CV out of the envelope follower, leave
IN unconnected.
In envelope (or Vactrol) mode, patch a velocity CV to IN
and send a trigger (or gate) to EXCITE, to get a veloci-
ty-scaled envelope on OUT. Use MOD to control envelope
smoothness.
Offsets and boosts
In Vactrol mode, leave LEVEL unconnected and use
LEVEL MOD to add a gain offset, pushing the VCA into
saturation.
Leave EXCITE and LEVEL unconnected. Set the VCA
response to exponential. Use LEVEL MOD to drastically
boost the IN signal until saturation is reached. Tame it
back by adjusting cutoff with MOD - that’s why we put
the VCF after the VCA!
Combos
Use channel 1 to shape a CV and channel 2 to apply it to
an audio signal. Use channel 1 to filter/distort/boost an
audio signal and channel 2 to compress it.
Boost quiet parts Tame loud parts
attack
increases
attack and decay
decrease
decay
increases