FM Radio is out now



Synthesis is about transformation. A poetic action that can give new meanings to the ordinary and ever present.

The Twin Tropiques FM Radio is an experimental fm radio synthesizer. The radio receives mainly FM frequencies but is also capable of picking up AM and shortwave bands.

The received audio can be taken as is or mangled beyond recognition.

Once tuned in to a frequency, the audio will trigger a clock divider and a pseudo random voltage source- the outputs of which can be used to control either the on board gate or state variable filter. This allows the user to effect the audio in sync with whatever happens to be received in a given moment.

The state variable filter features simultaneous high pass, band pass, and low pass frequency responses. It also has a unique capacitor switching system which can be controlled by patching with the pseudo random source and the clock divider. There are 2 sets of 16 possible capacitor selections which can be activated via the 3 way switch and the 3 bit binary patch points. The feedback path can also be switched which allows for self resonance in the lower bass range frequencies - great for drum synthesis.

The Radio features 2 control knobs - Bandwidth and Frequency. When Bandwidth is towards the left position, the radio will receive FM frequencies. As the bandwidth knob moves toward the noon position and beyond, the reception will become more spotty, but it might be possible to receive am and shortwave depending on the strengths of the signal and environmental conditions. Typically in the city I haven't had great reception in the shortwave range but recently on a trip to Capri I picked up several shortwave radio stations that seemed to be coming from somewhere in Africa.

The other control knob is the frequency knob for dialing in a station once the band width knob has been set. This parameter can also be voltage controlled. When the cv switch is enabled, the frequency knob will act as an attenuator for the cv source. The output of the fm radio is not ac coupled and so it can as well be used as a cv source.

The FM Radio can also be included in the 23 psychoacoustic and anti rave deluxe edition systems.