How far down does the inferno go? Well… Ours isn’t as deep as Dante’s, but seven levels is still pretty deep.

Inferno is a frequency divider that creates square wave outputs* at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 octaves below the original input signal. Based on a CD4024, and some basic clock divider concepts**, Inferno is serious about adding bottom end to your sound source.

The -1, -2 and -3 outputs are available individually, or at a buffered mix output. Use the pots to dial in the desired amount of each octave for the mix, or patch different octaves out on their own journeys around your modular. Depending on the frequency of the input, octaves below this start to divide down out of the audio range. -4, -5, -6 and -7 octaves are available as a selectable LFO output.

* Based on how the CD4024 works, all inputs waveforms end up squared off in the division process.

** Technically, there’s no reason you couldn’t use Inferno as a clock divider. The concept is the same: Divide the input frequency.

Schematic

Schematics are provided as-is. Never trust that any schematic on the internet is foolproof. Test your build in isolation before introducing it to the rest of your modules.

Download Inferno PDFDownload

BOM

  • Resistors
    • 1k (5)
    • 10k (2)
    • 100k (7)
  • Potentiometers
    • 100k (4)
  • Transistors
    • BC548 (1)
  • ICs
    • TL074 (1)
    • CD4024 (1)
  • Audio jacks (6)
  • 4-position rotary switch (1)

Demos

Octaves demo – Exploring different mixes of -1, -2 and -3 octaves with the original source sound.
LFO demo 1 – Pulse output from a VCO into the Inferno, with the Inferno LFO output patched back into the PWM input of the same oscillator.
LFO demo 2 – Sine output from the Dannysound Cali Osc into the Inferno, with the Inferno LFO patched back into the Wave Shape CV of the Cali Sound.
Octave journey – A pulse wave into the Inferno, with the -7 octave LFO modulating the pulse width of the wave. -1 octave out is running through an envelope filter. -3 octave out is running through distortion and a LPF. These outputs are patched into a mixer, where they rejoin the Mix output of the Inferno for some level tweaking. A touch of delay and reverb after that.