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the TeaspoonCAS  |  KINK edition

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out of production

DESCRIPTION .\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'

the teaspoonCAS [ creamandsugar ] can be called a window sampler, a granular sampling gate, a granular trigger or something along those lines. its main intention is as a handheld voltage controlled instant looping sampler. knobs cover gain, volume, storage size, granular window and feedback. toggles allow real time speed / pitch modulation, self triggering window, and window hold. then there is a larger set of controls inside the case featuring touch pads, circuit bends, range extensions, input conversions and feedback loops. the input / pre will accept anything from direct guitar input to lower synth level. the window input will take just about any active voltage you can feed it and together with the length and threshold knobs it allows control over the window with enough detail to respond to higher audio frequencies which can allow for options like voltage controlled waveshaping if the source is clean and loud enough. the SLF switch sends the main audio to the window input and uses it as the control source allowing you to walk away from rhythmically synced sample playback. this input can also be used with a common sustain pedal to allow remote use. the CV input gives remote control over the currently available size of the sampler which can reach roughly one second though at the expense of fidelity. like the window input it will accept both AC and DC sources [ 6vdc ~ +/-3v ] which means that those of you that do not yet understand CV don't really need to, you can use anything from standard modular control sources to DAW based audio editors to draw out shapes and just plug the audio out into the CV input and it will work, volume in your editor then become size. CV input sensitivity together with the huge size range allows for an effect not unlike ring modulation when in pitch mode, the modulation source needs to be rather loud though. you can also insert a passive expression pedal with no other changes needed allowing the CAS to operate hands free. you can also trigger playback via the internal tilt switch

GN .\\\\'  this allows for up to 20db of gain from the pre amp. an additional 20db of gain can be had by flipping ISB #4 for approximately 40db total. pre amp is post SLF so gain does not effect the threshold. unity at left most setting

THRSH .\\\\'  adjusting the threshold when using an external window source or with it under SLF control is how you choose at which point in the sources volume / voltage you want the window to trigger. when using an external window footswitch this will need to be set above half. this control has a large range of use and can also be extended via ISB #2

LNGTH '/////.  the length will stretch out all trigger info including the push button. useful when driving the window with an external audio source and the THRSH is set to trigger at just its peaks. approximately two seconds max addition to source

FDBK .\\\\\\\'   this is a clean audio feedback loop wrapped around everything allowing for CV delay effects reaching nearly comb filter range and dropping down into sludgy crushy drones and it also pushes far into aggressive self oscillation

OTPT '///.  passive output attenuator

SZ .\\\\\\\\\\\'  the sampler storage size is determined by this course control and the internal fine thumbwheel. when using CV they function as offsets

PTCH .\\\\\'  this together with the SZ will yield slow down / speed up / pitch modulation. the effect is available while manually turning the SZ knob, once you stop turning it the pitch will settle back to normal but the lower you set it the lower the sound quality. best when using CV

SLF .\\\'  self control will allow you to send the audio input directly to the window input. loud dense audio sources will need to be attenuated in order for their peak info to trigger well. if you also plug an audio source into the window jack and flip the SLF switch it will allow you to mix that audio into the main audio path of the CAS giving you a second audio input though it will always be present at the trigger's input and the resulting audio will not be perfectly clean. all functions are available to both

PUSH .\\\\'  light action manual window control. the corresponding led lights for all resulting window info so you can see the result of all of window changes and remote control. misfire is now impossible, the only time you will hear silence during sample playback is if you sample silence

HLD .\\\\'  this will hold the window open and override all other window controls - far right toggle, not labeled

AUDIO INPUT '/////.  this input will accept anything from a piezo to drum machine though some loud sources will need to be attenuated or they may cause loss of detail or distort [ +/-3v max with isolated *OVP ]

AUDIO OUTPUT / POWER JACK .\\\\\'  the output is also the main power switch so you must use a TS cable. left led is a constant power indicator

CV INPUT .\\\\'  labeled with a small circle, the control voltage input accepts both AC and DC sources [ 6vdc or +/-3v max with isolated *OVP ] though as one might expect with a pcb this dense loud audio freq AC sources can bleed into the main audio. this insert will also accept a passive expression pedal via internal switching [ current limiting present ]

WINDOW INPUT .\\\\\\\\'  labeled with a small square, this input will accept just about any active voltage source you can plug into it, audio, CV, clocks [ 6vdc or +/-3v max with isolated *OVP ]. together with the THRSH and LNGTH it allows control over the window. with the SLF switch to the right it can function as a second audio input though it will always be present at the trigger's input. you can also use ISB #10 to allow this input to accept a standard [N.O.] momentary footswitch, THRSH must be set above half

GATE OUTPUT .\\\'  the resulting gate pulse from the 'anything to wndw' converter is present at this 3.5mm jack on the right side, though it is inverted. roughly 4.75vDC

INTERNAL SWITCH BANK .\\\\\'
1: tilt switch enable / disable
2: threshold range extension
3: bent distortion - only in pitch mode - crude response to CV
4: gain range extension - roughly +20db
5: noise generation bend - only in pitch mode - crude response to CV
6: pitch modulating bend - in all modes - response to CV
7: self oscillation bend - in all modes - response to CV
8: feedback bend - in all modes - response to CV but the audio input is ignored
9: feedback loop - in all modes - response to CV standalone or input is over powered
0: converts window input to momentary footswitch input - only functions with #2 up

default position for the switch bank is with all tabs up, away from the pcb

CLIMB CALIBRATION .\\\\'  allows for control over the climb and fall of the sample playback volume, when using the FDBK control you will need to adjust this in order to keep the climb stable. if you do not then triggering the window with a high FDBK setting will send the feedback climbing or falling in volume, which of course can be used to great effect on its own

FINE SZ THUMBWHEEL .\\\\\\'  this is the fine control over the window size. in order to achieve the full size range possible you have to adjust this control in conjunction with the top SZ knob. its positioned so that the average middle finger rests directly on it if the rest of your hand is in the normal button use position. when using CV they both function as an offset control

TILT SWITCH .\\\'  there is an internal tilt switch attached to the window as well. the motion needed to activate it is vertical from the normal sitting position, so you can hold it in your hand with the cable falling straight to the floor and shake it in a left / right motion, or you can turn it upside down and it will work as a hold switch. ISB #1 will disable this

TOUCH PADS .\\\'  there are three very sensitive bugs inspired touch pads on the bottom PCB available only with the back plate removed. from left to right its - feedback | crushy bent distortion | size - the pads can be used individually or together along with roughly seventy percent of the remaining solder tabs on that PCB yielding an enormous range of bent sound options

WARNING: only use touch pads with battery power

\\\  USE TOUCH PADS AT YOUR OWN RISK  ///

*OVP [ over voltage protection ] each input has its own over voltage protection though please try to stay under 6vdc or +/-3v for any extended period of time

*CLAP PROOF | by this i mean that there is no chance of it dropping to silence if you turn a knob too far or try something you are not familiar with - just being stupid

 

SAMPLE synth loop from exuviae
SAMPLE guitar loop from adrian d
SAMPLE drum loop from dispyz
SAMPLE
SAMPLE tonewrecker drums
SAMPLE otto-tsr noise drums
SAMPLE synth track from cricklewood
SAMPLE synth / drum loop from adrian d
SAMPLE tonewrecker drums
SAMPLE synth loop from exuviae
SAMPLE drum loop from dispyz
SAMPLE
SAMPLE dispyz synthtones
SAMPLE noise drums from kosta
SAMPLE drum loop from dispyz
SAMPLE drum loop from dispyz
SAMPLE dispyz tones
SAMPLE messy casio drum loop
SAMPLE noise drums
SAMPLE no input, fdbk set to max, only touch pads used
SAMPLE another noise drums
SAMPLE organ tone
some of these are nearly 20mg - please watch your volumes there are some very loud sections in these. the samples are just me cutting crude loops of mine and other peoples work with some made entirely by them where noted. signal path is | computer - teaspoon - mixer - computer | nothing else. at a few points i plug in the attenuated audio output of a summed pair of sine VCO’s set to low frequencies into the CV input to simulate the audio outputs of a standard sound card, no other outside control is used. i try to cover as much range as i can without stopping on anything for too long so you will have to use your imagination to pause things a bit, there is a lot to cover. most tracks have the right side clean so you can compare the two. most of the time is spent with the SZ, FDBK, LNGTH and THRSH controls, the push button is only used a few times, tilt disabled. SLF control is used about 90% of the time focusing on hit replacement. there is some touch pad stuff and a couple bends in there too but not much

 

NOTES '/////////.


it is widely considered a bad idea to ever use more then one hand at a time when conducting electricity through a human body in an attempt to avoid sending current across your heart. i ask you to please only use one hand and never under any circumstances use the touch pads with the CAS plugged into a wall supply. components fail, power spikes happen, please don't

and be sure to wash your hands after using the touch pads on the PCB because lead is present just like it is in just about every other electronic device out there. oh and no licking. there is nothing to worry about with standard use though

by purchasing this device you give up the right to hold me responsible for any physical harm you or anyone else may incur from ill advised use, for any reason, in any way, for ever and ever and ever

the CAS is not *CLAP PROOF though only rarely when using bends or external controls, experience with the device can easily resolve this with a knob turn. things like sending it an LFO larger then 6vDC can result in silence during the shape’s peaks, common stuff

no SMD components were used - all pots are metal shaft

the first bunch of bags were handmade and designed by my mother and little sister. some have the pink lining and some do not. those with pink will be sent out first. all have TSP logos poorly stamped on them by me - the later half shipped with a felt bag of my design that they made for me

why no mix control? there is nothing i felt like sacrificing and you have a mixer with a send and a polarity switch, because the output is out of phase from the input

oh yeah DO NOT DRINK THE UNICORN BLOOD. not even a joke, you will probably die because its screen printing emulsion

i accidentally flipped the drill guide for the back panel for the early builds and have cut black plastic plates to cover the small gaps left behind after correcting this. number two and three have little aluminum plates

please understand that many of the decisions made were a result of space limitations

i'm probably forgetting a few things.......


DETAILS '/////////////////.

each is handmade and numbered internally
extensively tested before shipping
internal power regulation accepting 6vDC to 15vDC - [ reverse polarity protection ]
2.1mm DC wall jack [ center negative - supply not included ]

single 9V battery operation - approx: 5ma / 120 hours of use [ battery included ]
professionally manufactured PCB set
powder coated outside, spray painted inside, lacquer coated, then baked for scratch resistance
graphics | waterproof vinyl decals coated with poly for extra protection
aluminum enclosure | dimensions - 4.3 in. x 2.3 in.
approximate weight | 11 ounces
four I/O ¼” jacks ( unbalanced )
one 3.5mm jack ( unbalanced )
3 year warranty | covering parts and labor. it does not cover the appearance or finish. for this model the warranty travels to new owners ( for others models it will not ) and is valid from first recorded purchase date. any attempt to circuit bend, alter or dismantle any part of this device in any way instantly voids the warranty. the final decision of this is entirely mine. all shipping costs for anything not under warranty are your responsibly

 

please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or visit the forum here

 
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