Intellijel Rubicon - Manual (Page 5)

Intellijel Rubicon Manual Version 1
Page | 5
The TZFM Section in depth
On the Rubicon panel, the "Index" input is the CV input for dynamic
control of the TZFM CV input. This TZFM input goes through a linear
VCA, and the Index input controls this VCA. (The Symmetry input
does not go through a VCA, and therefore cannot be put under
dynamic control -- that is the only difference between those two
inputs.) Like the other modulation indices, it is 20% per volt.
On using TZFM from the designer himself:
“About using the TZFM, the best (i.e., most musical) results will be obtained when the TZFM modulation
signal has a lower frequency than the base frequency of the Rubicon (i.e., the frequency of the
unmodulated VCO with the SYMMETRY pot cranked fully CW). If the TZFM modulation signal is faster
than the Rubicon's base frequency, then all you'll get is little wiggles on the waveform which aren't that
interesting.
If you want balanced TZFM (where the frequency is modulated through zero in a symmetrical fashion,
going up to the same frequency in both the positive and negative directions), then set the SYMMETRY
pot in the centre. However, you must be aware that the unmodulated frequency of the VCO at this
setting is actually zero, and even with the COARSE knob cranked way up, the frequency range you
hear will still be relatively low. This is simply the nature of the beast. Hence, if you want high frequencies
with balanced TZFM, you'll really have to crank the COARSE pot up pretty high (which would give
"base" frequencies well above the audio range under "normal" operating conditions).
I personally find that the TZFM sounds are the most interesting when the SYMMETRY is adjusted to
around 1:00 or 2:00 o'clock (or 10:00 to 11:00 o'clock). However, YMMV. I also find the sound to be
quite invigourating when the symmetry is modulated (by feeding a waveform, preferably sine, into the
SYM input) and the symmetry knob is then slowly turned. As Martha used to say, "It's a good thing!"
Try relatively fast modulation to the TZFM input, modest TZFM attenuator setting, maybe some INDEX
(maybe not), and a slow modulation to the SYM input. Then, send something else to HARD or SOFT