make-noise/maths

Maths

Make Noise

MATHS is an analog computer designed for musical purposes, capable of generating linear, logarithmic, or exponential functions; integrating, attenuating, amplifying, and inverting signals; and performing analog logic (OR, SUM). Functions as envelope generator, LFO, slew limiter, VCO, and more.500

Capabilities 7

Analog Mixer / Summinganalog-mixer
SUM and OR buses combine all 4 channel Variable Outputs. SUM allows addition/subtraction/inversion; OR outputs the maximum voltage (analog logic OR).500
Attenuverterattenuverter
All 4 channels have attenuverter knobs for scaling, attenuating, amplifying, and inverting signals. CH2 and CH3 are primarily attenuverters/amplifiers with offset generation.500
Clock Sourceclock-source
In Cycle mode, EOR and EOC outputs provide clock/gate signals. Rise and Fall control frequency and pulse width.500
Envelope Generatorenvelope-generator
CH1 and CH4 generate AR or AD envelopes (0–10V) on trigger, or ASR envelopes from gate via Signal Input. Rise, Fall, and Vari-Response shape the function.500
Function Generatorfunction-generator
The archetypal modern function generator: CH1/CH4 produce voltage-controlled rise/fall functions usable as envelope, LFO, or slew, and self-oscillate (Cycle) as an LFO/oscillator.500
LFOlfo
CH1 and CH4 self-oscillate (Cycle mode) to generate LFOs as slow as 25 minutes or as fast as 1kHz. Shape controlled by Vari-Response.500
Slew Limiter / Portamentoslew-limiter
CH1 and CH4 integrate incoming signals via the Signal Input with Rise and Fall controlling slew rates independently.500

Jacks 24 — 13 in / 11 out

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (13)
CH1 Both CV Inputcv-8V to 8VBipolar exponential CV input affecting both Rise and Fall. Positive signals decrease total time; negative signals increase total time.500
CH1 Cycle Inputgate≥2.5VGate HIGH enables cycling (LFO mode); Gate LOW disables cycling unless Cycle button is engaged. Minimum +2.5V for HIGH.500
CH1 Fall CV Inputcv-8V to 8VLinear CV input for Fall parameter. Positive increases Fall time, negative decreases it relative to panel control setting.500
CH1 Rise CV Inputcv500
CH1 Signal Inputmixed-10V to 10VDirect Coupled input. Use for Lag, Portamento, ASR envelopes. Also feeds into Sum/OR Bus.500
CH1 Trigger InputgateGate or Pulse triggers the circuit regardless of Signal Input activity, generating a 0–10V envelope function defined by Rise, Fall, and Vari-Response.500
CH2 Signal Inputmixed-10V to 10VDirect Coupled input normalized to +10V reference for voltage offset generation. Accepts external signals within +/-10Vpp.500
CH3 Signal Inputmixed-10V to 10VDirect Coupled input normalized to +5V reference for voltage offset generation. Accepts external signals within +/-10Vpp.500
CH4 Both CV Inputcv-8V to 8VBipolar exponential CV input for CH4 affecting both Rise and Fall. Positive decreases total time; negative increases it.500
CH4 Cycle Inputgate≥2.5VGate HIGH enables cycling; Gate LOW disables unless Cycle button is engaged. Minimum +2.5V for HIGH.500
CH4 Fall CV Inputcv-8V to 8VLinear CV input for CH4 Fall parameter. Positive increases Fall time; negative decreases it.500
CH4 Signal Inputmixed-10V to 10VDirect Coupled input. Use for Lag, Portamento, ASR envelopes. Also feeds into Sum/OR Bus.500
CH4 Trigger InputgateGate or Pulse triggers CH4 regardless of Signal Input activity, generating a 0–10V envelope function.500
Outputs (11)
CH1 EOR Outputgate0V to 10VGoes HIGH (10V) at the end of the Rise portion of CH1's function. Defaults to 0V when inactive. Useful for clocking, pulse delay, and clock division.500
CH1 Unity Outputmixed0V to 8VDirect output from CH1 circuit, unaffected by attenuverter. 0–8V when cycling; otherwise follows input amplitude. NOT normalized to SUM/OR bus.500
CH1 Variable Outputmixed-10V to 10VCH1 signal processed by its attenuverter. Normalized to SUM and OR buses; patching a cable removes signal from those buses.500
CH2 Variable Outputmixed-10V to 10V500
CH3 Variable Outputmixed-10V to 10V500
CH4 EOC Outputgate0V to 10VGoes HIGH (10V) at the end of the Fall portion of CH4's function. Defaults to +10V (HIGH) when no activity — associated LED is on when nothing is happening.500
CH4 Unity Outputmixed0V to 8VDirect output from CH4 circuit, unaffected by attenuverter. 0–8V when cycling; otherwise follows input amplitude. NOT normalized to SUM/OR bus.500
CH4 Variable Outputmixed-10V to 10V500
INV SUM Outputcv-10V to 10VInverted version of the SUM output — allows reversed modulation without needing inversion at the CV destination.500
OR Outputcv0V to 10VOutputs the highest voltage of all four variable outputs (analog OR / maximum voltage selector). Does not respond to negative voltages; can be used for half-wave rectification.500
SUM Outputcv-10V to 10VSum of all four variable outputs as weighted by their attenuverters. Allows addition, subtraction, and inversion of up to 4 signals.500

Parameters 12

NameTypeRangeBehavior
CH1 AttenuverterknobScales, attenuates, and inverts the signal from CH1. Controls the CH1 Variable Output and its contribution to the SUM and OR buses.500
CH1 Cycle ButtonbuttonCauses CH1 to self-oscillate (cycle), generating a repeating voltage function (LFO/Clock/VCO). Same function as a Gate HIGH at the Cycle Input.500
CH1 FallknobSets the time for the voltage function to ramp down. CW rotation increases Fall time. Also controls slew rate when processing external decreasing signals.500
CH1 RiseknobSets the time for the voltage function to ramp up. CW increases Rise time. Range spans from audio rate (1kHz) to as slow as 25 minutes with CV assistance. Also controls slew rate when processing external signals.500
CH1 Vari-ResponseknobContinuously variable from Logarithmic through Linear to Exponential to Hyper-Exponential. Tick mark on panel indicates the Linear setting. Shapes both Rise and Fall rates.500
CH2 AttenuverterknobScales, attenuates, amplifies, and inverts signal at CH2 input. With no signal patched, controls the level of the +/-10V offset generated by CH2. Affects CH2 Variable Output and SUM/OR bus contribution.500
CH3 AttenuverterknobScales, attenuates, amplifies, and inverts signal at CH3 input. With no signal patched, controls the level of the +/-5V offset generated by CH3. Affects CH3 Variable Output and SUM/OR bus contribution.500
CH4 AttenuverterknobScales, attenuates, and inverts the signal from CH4. Controls the CH4 Variable Output and its contribution to the SUM and OR buses.500
CH4 Cycle ButtonbuttonCauses CH4 to self-oscillate (cycle), generating a repeating voltage function (LFO/Clock/VCO).500
CH4 FallknobSets the time for CH4's voltage function to ramp down. CW rotation increases Fall time.500
CH4 RiseknobSets the time for CH4's voltage function to ramp up. CW increases Rise time.500
CH4 Vari-ResponseknobContinuously variable from Logarithmic through Linear to Exponential to Hyper-Exponential. Tick mark on panel indicates the Linear setting. Shapes both Rise and Fall rates of CH4.500

Firmware history 0 versions

No firmware history recorded.

References 2

  1. [500]
    Maths Operation Manual (2013)manual
    verified 2026-05-18
  2. [501]
    Make Noise Maths product pageproduct_page
    ⚠ verified 2026-05-18 · manufacturer changed since last verified