mutable-instruments/tides-2018
Tides 2018
Digital tidal modulator — a function generator with three ramp modes (AD envelope, looping LFO/VCO, AR envelope), four output modes, and a wide palette of waveshapes with shape, slope, and smoothness controls.495
Capabilities 5
- Clock Multiplier/Dividerclock-multiplier-divider
- Can lock to external clock and operate at 1/16 to 16x multiple; FREQUENCY knob sets the ratio.495
- Envelope Generatorenvelope-generator
- AD and AR one-shot envelope modes; unipolar 0 to +8V output; gate-following AR sustain behavior.495
- Function Generatorfunction-generator
- Tidal modulator / function generator with AD-envelope, looping LFO/VCO, and AR-envelope ramp modes.495
- LFOlfo
- Cyclic ramp mode with bipolar output (±5V); frequency ranges from sub-audio to audio rate.495
- Voltage-Controlled Oscillatorvco
- Audio-rate cyclic operation with V/Oct tracking, selectable waveshape, and frequency multiplication/division output mode for chord generation.495
Jacks 12 — 8 in / 4 out
| Name | Signal | Voltage | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inputs (8) | |||
| CLOCK | clock | 0V to 8V | Clock input for tempo or frequency-locked operation. FREQUENCY knob controls ratio between clock frequency and Tides output frequency; 1:1 at 12 o'clock. Can accept a clean audio oscillator signal as reference.495 |
| Frequency CV | cv | — | 495 |
| Shape CV | cv | -8V to 8V | 495 |
| Shift CV | cv | -8V to 8V | 495 |
| Slope CV | cv | -8V to 8V | 495 |
| Smoothness CV | cv | -8V to 8V | 495 |
| TRIG | gate | 0V to 8V | Trigger/Gate input. In AD mode: trigger resets envelope to 0V and initiates AD cycle. In cyclic mode: trigger resets oscillator to start ascending phase. In AR mode: rising edge raises to +8V, falling edge falls to 0V.495 |
| V/OCT | cv | -3V to 7V | 495 |
| Outputs (4) | |||
| Output 3 | gate | — | Output 3: In Different Shapes mode, produces the end-of-attack gate signal.495 |
| Output 4 | gate | — | Output 4: In Different Shapes mode, produces the end-of-release gate signal.495 |
| Slope Output | mixed | -5V to 8V | Output 2: In Different Shapes mode, produces the raw asymmetric triangle waveshape.495 |
| Unity Output | mixed | -5V to 8V | Output 1: In Different Shapes mode, produces the main signal with voltage-controlled attenuverter. In other modes, signal is routed/shifted as determined by SHIFT/LEVEL.495 |
Parameters 9
| Name | Type | Range | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attenuverters | knob | — | Attenuverters for the CV inputs (Slope, Frequency, Smoothness, Shape, Shift).495 |
| FREQUENCY | knob | -4octave – 4octave | Spans ±4 octaves around the central frequency set by the Frequency Range button. In clock mode, controls the ratio between the external clock frequency and Tides' output frequency (1:1 at 12 o'clock). In one-shot modes, clockwise = faster.495 |
| Frequency Range | button | ≤2000Hz | Selects the central value of the FREQUENCY knob: 1/8 Hz (movements), 2 Hz (rhythms and modulations), or 130.8 Hz (audible tones).495 |
| Output Mode | button | — | Selects the relationship between the four output signals: Different Shapes, Different Amplitudes, Different Times, or Different Frequencies.495 |
| Ramp Mode | button | — | Selects between one-shot unipolar AD envelope generation, cyclic bipolar oscillations, and one-shot unipolar AR envelope generation.495 |
| SHAPE | knob | — | Controls the shape of the ascending and descending segments. In the audio range, offers a different palette of waveshapes for more striking timbral differences; range is narrowed at high frequencies to prevent aliasing.495 |
| SHIFT/LEVEL | knob | — | In Different Shapes mode: attenuverter on the main signal. In Different Amplitudes mode: selects to which output the signal is routed with smooth crossfading. In Different Times mode: shifts the apex of the waveform across outputs. In Different Frequencies mode: adjusts frequency ratio between outputs (1:1 at noon).495 |
| SLOPE | knob | — | Sets the ratio between the durations of the ascending and descending segments (A/D time ratio). In audio range, uses a linear scale for smooth PWM effects.495 |
| SMOOTHNESS | knob | — | From noon CCW: 2-pole low-pass filter smooths waveform edges. From noon CW: wavefolder adds kinks and bumps along the slope. Range is narrowed at high audio frequencies.495 |
Firmware history 0 versions
No firmware history recorded.
References 2
- [495]
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[496]
Mutable Instruments Tides 2018 product pageproduct_page● verified 2026-05-17