Schlappi Engineering Interstellar Radio

The Interstellar Radio is a faulty transmission line providing several varieties of destructive effects as well as acting as a non-volts/octave complex oscillator when no input is provided.

Interstellar radio converts an audio signal from the input jack to a high frequency pulse train and then back to an audio signal with voltage control over the clock for the up conversion (CARRIER) as well as the down conversion (DEMODULATOR), like a voltage controlled radio transceiver designed for poor reception.
Manipulating these clocks allows for a variety of aliasing, distortion, and frequency modulation type effects. The output is also sent to a comparator along with the input, and the result is available at the “ERROR” output for a ring modulation type effect.

When no input is provided a DC offset (controllable with the input jack) sets a frequency for the up conversion (which is effectively a VCO), the down conversion acts as a modulation oscillator allowing for a fairly radical form of frequency modulation. Two audio signals can be inserted into the clock input jacks and modulate each other in the same way.

• Simulates the process of modulating and demodulating a signal for radio transmission
• Effect or complex oscillator (non v/oct)
• Voltage controlled aliasing, distortion, and frequency modulation effects
• Two wide ranging voltage controlled square wave oscillators with individual outputs
• CARRIER oscillator converts input into high frequency pulse train
• DEMODULATOR oscillator inside control loop brings sound back to audio range
• CV applies external voltage control to oscillators or uses input signal as audio rate FM
• Internal oscillators can be replaced with external modulation sources
• TYPE selects demodulation loop type (changes timbre and response)
• ERROR output with threshold control
• TONE control for filtering out the harshest of frequencies
• All analog design
• 14 HP
• Power requirements :+12V 40mA, -12V 30mA