Make Noise Soundhack tELHARMONIC, Manual

Sculpting Timbre with tELHARMONIC: Moving CENTROID w/ FLUX

The tELHARMONIC has 3 independent and simultaneously available Algorithms, each with a unique timbre. Using 

two control voltages and a gate signal, full timbral animation of the tELHARMONIC is possible. Because the Noise, 

Harmonic and Phase Mod algorithms all respond quite differently to these parameters, the results may be very 

complex, and it is also possible to have some voices deeply modulated while other voices are not modulated at all.

The single voice Noise Algorithm, N-OUT, is inspired by the Music III patch that composer James Tenney wrote at 

Bell Labs in 1961 for his first computer music piece, “Analog 1: Noise Study”. It consists of two band-limited noise 

sidebands, which surround the frequency set by TONIC and DEGREE. FLUX controls the width of the sidebands, 

which can go from extremely narrow (for a fluttering sinusoid) to full bandwidth. Using these two controls almost 

any color of noise may be generated.

For the Harmonic Algorithm, H-OUT, each of the three voices is a 24-partial harmonic oscillator, using 

high-resolution sine wave generators. The timbre is varied by the CENTROID and FLUX parameters, with CENTROID 

setting the loudest of the 24 harmonics, and FLUX setting the steepness of the gain roll-off around that center 

harmonic. When FLUX is full CCW (0% modulation) the spectrum is flat and sweeping the CENTROID will ripple the 

spectrum (like a string harmonic). When FLUX is increased, the harmonics surrounding the CENTROID decrease in 

amplitude and the sound becomes more focused upon the center harmonic, which causes modulation of the 

CENTROID to have a more dramatic effect.

When FLUX is not set to 0%, a trigger or gate in the H-LOCK input, or a press of the H-LOCK button, will cause the 

partial that is currently selected by the CENTROID parameter to be locked ON at full amplitude even after 

CENTROID changes. By sequencing CENTROID and Locking harmonics, many additive timbres can be found. Press 

and hold the H-LOCK button for 1 second, or set Flux to 0% via panel control or CV, to clear all locked harmonics. 

This parameter affects all three voices of the H-OUT, but does not affect the P or N OUTs.

Each voice of the Phase-Modulation Algorithm uses 3 sine wave oscillators arranged as 2 modulators and one 

carrier and the modulators and carrier are phase-locked. This algorithm will create a large number of harmonically 

locked partials by reshaping the carrier (similar to wavefolding). The CENTROID controls the frequency ratio of the 

modulation, and hence the brightness. The FLUX controls the depth of modulation, which determines the number 

of partials. When the FLUX is full CCW, this is the largest number of partials; when full CW, there is only one (a sine 

wave). The CENTROID controls two adjacent harmonic modulation partials from 1 to 8. For example, when 

CENTROID is at 2.5, the modulator will be an even mix of harmonics 2 and 3.