whimsical-raps/three-sisters

Three Sisters

Whimsical Raps (Mannequins)

THREE SISTERS links three filters (LOW, CENTRE, HIGH) for building spectral spaces. The three filters can be configured as lowpass, crossover, and highpass (crossover mode) or three bandpass filters (formant mode). Signals can be patched into individual filters or all three simultaneously, and outputs can be taken individually or as a mix.271

Visualization filter_response

Capabilities 3

Multiband Filtermultiband-filter
Three linked filter blocks (LOW, CENTRE, HIGH) with individual and global I/O, selectable crossover or formant mode.271
Self-Oscillationself-oscillation
All three filter blocks self-oscillate when QUALITY reaches approximately 3 o'clock, producing sine waves at the cutoff frequencies.271
Vcfvcf
FREQ CV input is V/oct; LOW block tracks accurately over ~5 octaves. SPAN and QUALITY also have CV inputs.271

Jacks 12 — 8 in / 4 out

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (8)
ALL(IN)audioPatches a signal into all three filter blocks simultaneously.271
CENTRE(IN)audioDirect signal input to the CENTRE filter block.271
FMmixedFrequency modulation CV input, routed through an attenuverter before being added to FREQ. Accepts both control-rate and audio-rate modulation.271
FREQ CVcvVolt-per-octave CV input for FREQ. A 1V increase doubles all cutoff frequencies. Accurately tracks V/oct over approximately 5 octaves.271
HIGH(IN)audioDirect signal input to the HIGH filter block.271
LOW(IN)audioDirect signal input to the LOW filter block.271
QUALITY CVcv-5V to 5VCV input for QUALITY/resonance; added to the QUALITY knob. With knob at noon, -5V to +5V sweeps from fully CCW to fully CW.271
SPAN CVcvCV input for SPAN; added to the SPAN knob value. Controls the spread between LOW and HIGH cutoff frequencies.271
Outputs (4)
ALL(OUT)audioEqual mix output of all three filter block signals.271
CENTRE(OUT)audioIndividual output from the CENTRE filter block.271
HIGH(OUT)audioIndividual output from the HIGH filter block.271
LOW(OUT)audioIndividual output from the LOW filter block.271

Parameters 5

NameTypeRangeBehavior
crossover/formant switchswitchSelects between crossover mode (LOW=lowpass 24dB/oct, CENTRE=crossover 12dB/oct, HIGH=highpass 24dB/oct) and formant mode (all three are bandpass 12dB/oct).271
FM attenuverterknobAttenuverter for the FM CV input before it is added to FREQ. Controls both attenuation and polarity of the FM signal.271
FREQknobControls the cutoff frequencies of all three filter blocks simultaneously in the same direction. Works as a V/oct control when used with the CV input. The LOW filter block cutoff is FREQ minus SPAN; the HIGH block is FREQ plus SPAN; CENTRE in formant mode is solely FREQ.271
QUALITYknobClockwise from noon increases resonance; at approximately 3 o'clock the filters self-oscillate producing sine waves. Counterclockwise from noon blends in complementary (rejected) frequencies, creating notch filter responses and a dry/wet effect. At noon, resonance is at minimum and no rejected frequencies are mixed back in.271
SPANknobPushes LOW and HIGH cutoffs in opposite directions around the FREQ centre-point. In crossover mode, also widens/narrows the CENTRE passband. In formant mode, CENTRE's bandpass cutoff is unaffected by SPAN.271

Firmware history 0 versions

No firmware history recorded.

References 2

  1. [271]
    Three Sisters Technical Mapmanual
    verified 2026-05-06
  2. [272]
    Whimsical Raps Three Sisters product pageproduct_page
    verified 2026-05-06