cosmotronic/vortex

Vortex

Cosmotronic

Analog complex dual oscillator with two independent triangle-core VCOs, through-zero linear FM, exponential FM, phase modulation, ring modulation, per-voice sinusoidal wavefolder, per-voice low pass filter, sync, and cross-modulation matrix.699

Capabilities 2

Complex Oscillatorcomplex-oscillator
Two independent triangle-core VCOs with dedicated signal paths and cross-modulation via FM, phase modulation, ring modulation, and sync.699
Through-Zero FMthrough-zero-fm
Both VCO1 and VCO2 support TZFM via the THRU ZERO knobs, with the FM INDEX controlling global modulation depth. VCO1 is modulated by VCO2's sine (normalized) and vice versa; external sources can be patched into the LINEAR inputs.699

Jacks 28 — 20 in / 8 out

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (20)
VCO1 EXPO INcv699
VCO1 FM INDEX INcvCV input controlling global FM amount for VCO1. Normalized to VCO2 FM INDEX input (left input controls VCO1). FM INDEX knob acts as offset. Accepts bipolar signals.699
VCO1 FOLD INcvCV input for VCO1 wavefolder amount. Normalized to sine of VCO2. Accepts bipolar signals.699
VCO1 LINEAR INcvExternal through-zero linear FM input for VCO1. Normalized to sine of VCO2; patch any signal to override. Accepts bipolar signals.699
VCO1 LPF INcvCV input for VCO1 low pass filter cutoff. Normalized to sine of VCO2. Accepts bipolar signals.699
VCO1 PHASE MOD DEPTH INcv699
VCO1 PHASE MOD MOD INcvPhase modulation source input for VCO1. Normalized to sine of VCO2; patch any signal to override.699
VCO1 SHAPE INcv-5V to 5V699
VCO1 SYNC INaudioSync input for VCO1. Normalized to the square wave of VCO2 via the toggle switch. Overrides internal normalization when patched.699
VCO1 V/OCTcvV/Oct pitch CV for VCO1. High impedance input suitable for passive multiples.699
VCO2 EXPO INcv699
VCO2 FM INDEX INcvCV input controlling global FM amount for VCO2. Left FM INDEX input is normalized to the right one (indicated by the arrow). Accepts bipolar signals.699
VCO2 FOLD INcv699
VCO2 LINEAR INcvExternal through-zero linear FM input for VCO2. Normalized to sine of VCO1; patch any signal to override. Accepts bipolar signals.699
VCO2 LPF INcv699
VCO2 RING MOD DEPTH INcv699
VCO2 RING MOD MOD INaudio699
VCO2 SHAPE INcv≤5V699
VCO2 SYNC INaudioSync input for VCO2. Normalized to the square wave of VCO1 via the toggle switch. Overrides internal normalization when patched.699
VCO2 V/OCTcvV/Oct pitch CV for VCO2. High impedance input suitable for passive multiples.699
Outputs (8)
VCO1 MAIN OUTaudio699
VCO1 SINE OUTaudioSine output of VCO1, affected by sync settings and FM.699
VCO1 SQUARE OUTaudio699
VCO1 TRIANGLE OUTaudioTriangle core output of VCO1, affected by the waveshaper, sync and FM.699
VCO2 MAIN OUTaudio699
VCO2 SAW OUTaudioSaw output of VCO2, affected by sync settings and FM.699
VCO2 SINE OUTaudioClean sine output of VCO2, bypassing both wavefolder and low pass filter. Also available pre-wavefolder/filter after the ring mod stage.699
VCO2 SQUARE OUTaudioSquare output of VCO2, affected by sync settings and FM.699

Parameters 28

NameTypeRangeBehavior
FM INDEXknobControls global FM amount for both VCO1 and VCO2 for linear and exponential FM. Acts as offset for FM INDEX CV inputs. LED indicator shifts from blue (low) to orange (high). Left FM INDEX input is normalized to right input.699
SYNC Toggleswitch3-position toggle: center = sync disabled; right = VCO1 masters VCO2; left = VCO2 masters VCO1. Uses square waves derived from triangle cores for sync.699
VCO1 Coarse Tuneknob699
VCO1 EXPONENTIALknobSets the maximum amount of exponential FM for VCO1, attenuated by FM INDEX. Modulator normalized to sine of VCO2; external signal via EXPO input. Can be used for vibrato with an LFO, or approximate pitch tracking by maxing FM INDEX and setting knob to ~3 o'clock.699
VCO1 Fine Tuneknob699
VCO1 Fold Attenuatorknob699
VCO1 Frequency Rangemenu_setting20Hz – 20000Hz699
VCO1 Hard/Soft Sync SwitchswitchSelects hard sync (up) or soft sync (down) for VCO1. Also applies when using external sync signals.699
VCO1 LPFfaderControls the cut-off frequency of the 12dB/oct non-resonant low pass filter of VCO1. Top position = fully open; bottom = fully attenuated. CV modulation via LPF input normalized to sine of VCO2.699
VCO1 LPF Attenuatorknob699
VCO1 Octave Switchswitch699
VCO1 Phase Mod DepthfaderControls the depth of phase modulation on VCO1. Slider acts as offset; DEPTH input (normalized to sine of VCO2) accepts bipolar CV; knob is attenuator. Maximum depth modulation with signals -5V to 5V.699
VCO1 Phase Mod Depth Attenuatorknob699
VCO1 ShapefaderContinuously shapes the VCO1 waveform from SINE (bottom) through TRAPEZOID (middle) to SAW (top). Accepts bipolar CV modulation; slider acts as offset.699
VCO1 Shape AttenuatorknobAttenuates the shape CV modulation input (normalized to sine of VCO2 or external via SHAPE input).699
VCO1 THRU ZEROknobSets the maximum amount of through-zero linear FM for VCO1, attenuated by the global FM INDEX knob. Modulator normalized to sine of VCO2; external signal via LINEAR input.699
VCO1 Wavefolderfader0V – 5VIncreases amount of wavefolding applied to VCO1. Slider is 0V-5V DC offset; bipolar CV modulation accepted via FOLD input. Negative total sum attenuates signal to silence (usable as makeshift VCA).699
VCO2 EXPONENTIALknobSets the maximum amount of exponential FM for VCO2, attenuated by FM INDEX. Modulator normalized to sine of VCO1; external signal via EXPO input.699
VCO2 Fold Attenuatorknob699
VCO2 Frequency Rangemenu_setting20Hz – 20000Hz699
VCO2 Hard/Soft Sync SwitchswitchSelects hard sync (up) or soft sync (down) for VCO2. Also applies when using external sync signals.699
VCO2 LPFfader12dB/oct non-resonant low pass filter identical to VCO1's LPF. Sine of VCO1 normalized as modulator. Top slider = fully open; bottom = fully attenuated.699
VCO2 Ring Mod DepthfaderControls depth of ring modulation on VCO2. Slider bottom = no ring mod; slider top = full range ring mod with -5V to 5V signals. Normalized to sine of VCO1; external source via MOD input. Depth CV modulation also available.699
VCO2 Ring Mod Depth Attenuatorknob699
VCO2 ShapefaderContinuously shapes VCO2 waveform from SINE (bottom) through TRIANGLE (middle) to INVERSE SAW (top). Normalized to sine of VCO1 for modulation; accepts bipolar CV via SHAPE input.699
VCO2 Shape Attenuatorknob699
VCO2 THRU ZEROknobSets the maximum amount of through-zero linear FM for VCO2, attenuated by the global FM INDEX knob. Modulator normalized to sine of VCO1; external signal via LINEAR input.699
VCO2 WavefolderfaderControls wavefolding amount on VCO2 using a novel topology. Introduces some distortion even at minimum; maximum wavefolding with +5V. Negative total offset attenuates to silence (makeshift VCA). Normalized to sine of VCO1.699

Firmware history 0 versions

No firmware history recorded.

References 2

  1. [699]
    Cosmotronic Vortex User Manualmanual
    verified 2026-05-21
  2. [700]
    Cosmotronic Vortex product pageproduct_page
    verified 2026-05-21