TB11 Thought Box

Thought Box is a synthesizer with a special selection of modules in a compact enclosure for creating analog sounds and for creating experimental sequences and patterns. The possibilities are endless. Thought Box can operate as a dual-oscillator synth with MIDI or voltage control, or can generate its own patterns and operate as a self-contained system. Thought Box includes a high-quality metal cabinet with solid walnut sides, full-size (Moog Unit) modules, a power supply and molded patch cables. Expansion of the Thought Box is easy with our Box11 cabinets and modular controllers. Add modules as you see fit, and move them anywhere you wish at any time. Start small and grow as any time.

TB11 Thought Box Specifications Cabinet: Box11 11-space metal cabinet with two groups of 4 multiples and built-in power harness with LEDs. Sides: Solid Walnut with mate-able angles. Power Supply: QPS4 desktop (110V or 220V) Patch cables: Molded (8) 12", (6) 36"

Modules Q174 MIDI Interface with 2 channels. (2) Q167 LFO++ Oscillator with EG and VCA. Q173 Gate Math with 4 outputs and int clock. Q112 4-Channel mixer. Q107 Filter with HP, LP, BP, Notch, & VC Q. Q179 Envelope Generator/Sequencer. Q108 Amplifier (VCA). Q138 Logo panel. Q131 Blank panel.

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TB11 Thought Box

QPS4 Power Supply included

Jan 27, 2017

Box11 Power

Thought Box comes with a desktop QPS4 power supply which can operate on 110 or 220 VAC using a standard IEC power cable. A US power cable is provided. If you live in an area that uses a different wall outlet, you'll need to provide the power cable. The output connector of the QPS4 is our standard 6-pin DIN power connector which supplies DC power to the modules. You'll find a matching connector on the back of the Box11 cabinet.

QPS4 Power Supply

QPS5 Power Supply As your system grows, add a QPS4 power supply for each Box11 cabinet, or use a single QPS5 power supply capable of handling many cabinets and controllers.

IEC Power Cable

Jan 27, 2017

Box11 Cabinet

Thought Box comes in our 11-space Box11 cabinet. All-metal construction and solid walnut sides. The Box11 cabinet includes an internal power harness for the modules and a pair of quad multiples.

Box11 systems are easily expanded by adding cabinets and sides. There are 2 different types of sides - straight sides (included with the Thought Box) and angled sides. These sides have unique angles that match up in a variety of ways. Cabinets couple together with metal brackets and thumbscrews. See our website for details.

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MODULES Here's an overview of each module in the Thought Box configuration.

Each module has a more extensive data sheet

that can be found on our website.

Q174 MIDI Interface

MIDI Input (channel selectable)

Voltage input here is added to the Pitch voltage

Pitch Output 10-octave range

with MIDI Pitch Bend

Velocity Output 5 volt range

Gate Output 5 volt positive

Mode switch determines function of the 3 outputs

in the middle section

Mode 1 Extended features for channel 1. Mode 2 A second MIDI channel Pitch, Velocity, Gate Mode 3 Continuous Controller messages

Gate Mode Complete control over

how Gates are produced when multiple keys

are pressed

Note Priority Complete control over how note (pitch voltages) are produced when multiple keys are pressed

The Q174 MIDI Interface module converts a stream of MIDI data into pitch and gate signals used to control the other modules. This MIDI data can come from a keyboard or a computer or any device that produces MIDI.

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Oscillator range: .015hz - 8khz

Variable speed control. Lower mode = .015hz to .65hz.

Low mode = .15hz to 6.5hz. Audio mode = 15hz to 65hz

2-Color LED shows positive and negative swing of output waveform.

1V/Octave frequency control voltage with attenuation.

Envelope generator with Sustain time control. Sustain can be set by the Gate or an

arbitrary length. Delays decay phase.

Waveform selector. Start with triangle,

square or ramp and curve into other shapes.

Selects Frequency Range

Decay control of envelope.

Amplitude control, or attenuation of control voltage.

Q167 LFO++

Waveform polarity and amplitude control. Inverted 10v, non-inverted 10v, or unipolar 5v (gates).

Gate to start envelope and hard sync for oscillator.

Envelope control of LFO speed to create decaying or growing frequency modulation.

Envelope control of LFO amplitude.

Decaying or growing.

Waveform output

Amplitude control voltage (VCA).

LED shows envelope status.

The Q167 LFO++ is a powerful modulator and audio oscillator. The Q167 has a built-in envelope genera-tor with adjustable sustain and decay times, and there's a built-in VCA to control the amplitude of the out-put. Both frequency and amplitude can be controlled by the envelopes using invertable attenuators. There are 2) Q167 oscillators in the Thought Box configuration. This allows you to create standard dual-oscillator synth sounds or to use one for modulating while one creates audio. The possibilities are huge.

Turn completely CW for 1V/octave tracking

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Option Knob Multiply, Divide, Random, Sequence, or Alt patterns. Divisors.

Option Switch Combined with top knob

to make selection 1, 2 or 3.

Gate/Clock Input. If no plug inserted, then the

Configuration knob produces clocks at variable speed.

Configuration Selection This Jack and Knob selects 1 of the 6 user-programmed

configurations.

Output Type control. Normal, Inverted or S=Skip first gate pulse. Gate=Incoming gate time, B=Binary (50% gate time), Trig=5ms gate time.

A gate here resets patterns to the beginning.

Q173 Gate Math

LED for each output shows its status.

Buttons to set each output according to the top knob

and switches.

Gate outputs. Four separate channels. Individually programmed with the Set button. Each can get its input from the IN jack, from the internal clock, or from another output. Gate outputs have 2 states - On = about 5 volts, Off = about 0 volts.

Thru is an output, a copy of the Input gate.

Makes it easy to daisy-chain to other modules.

Source sets source of gates to IN, output #1,

or the previous output.

Set the Configuration knob to 0 if you don't need multiple configurations.

The Q173 Gate Math module offers four outputs of interesting programmable patterns driven by an exter-nal gate/clock or from its own internal clock. The Q173 can divide gate counts, multiply them, create se-quences of gates, random gates, bursts of gates, drum patterns, and a wide variety of other musically-useful patterns. Use the Q173 to drive oscillators, filters and envelope generators for self-contained mu-sical adventures, or use it along with the Q112 Mixer to create sequences of notes.

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Q112 4 Channel Mixer

Three input channels have attenuators to

adjust their levels.

Signal Inputs. Audio or

control voltages.

Output is the sum of all 4 inputs.

The Q112 mixer can be used to mix audio from two or more oscillators and it can also be used to mix control voltages from multiple sources to transpose pitch voltages. The Q112 can also be used along with the Q173 Gate Math module outputs to create a 4-step sequencer, and to simply attenuate audio or control voltages.

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Sets whether knob controls Release time,

Attack Peak Hold time, or Delay time.

Sets whether knob controls sustain level or sustain time.

If time, then level is 100%.

Attack voltage control. Higher voltage = faster.

0-5V.

Q179 Envelope++

Decay voltage control. Higher voltage = faster.

0-5V.

Attack time control. 0-1sec (fast), 0-100sec (slow).

Decay time control. 0-1sec (fast), 0-100sec (slow).

Sustain level or time control. 0-100% for level. For Time 0-1sec (fast), 0-10sec (slow).

Release time control. 0-1sec (fast), 0-100sec (slow). Or Peak Hold or Delay time 0-1sec (fast), 0-10sec (slow).

Positive output 0-5V.

Negative output 5V-0.

Voltage control of amplitude. 0-5V.

LED shows stages. Yellow=Delay, Red=Attack, Pur-ple=Hold, Green=Decay and Release. Blue=Sustain.

Curve control. Middle position toggles between Log, Peaky, Bumpy.

Sets speed of slopes and times.

Fast = 0-1sec, Slow=0-100sec

Gate Input (5V).

THRU is duplicate of Gate input for daisy-chaining modules.

The Q179 Envelope++ is a very powerful module with many unique features. I can operate as a standard envelope generator, dual envelope generator, or a 4-step sequencer. The Q179 will automatically loop and has an internal clock and VCA. It can also be used as a quantizer, gate-delay or LFO. Most systems would benefit from having several Q179's. See the Q179 data sheet for all the details.

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Q108 Amplifier

Two outputs provide normal and inverted versions of the input signals.

Response is the relationship between

the control voltage and the output

signal's amplitude

This Gain control is summed with the 2 control jacks to produce a voltage

that controls the amplitude. Normally this

stays at zero. If you want the output to stay on, turn

this gain up. This controls the amount of affect that Control #1 jack contributes to the output. Typically, this be-comes your volume con-trol. This control voltage input

goes through the Level control above.

This is typically patched to the envelope generator that controls amplitude.

This control voltage input is fixed

These inputs are the signal whose amplitude

will be controlled. These 2 signals are

mixed together.

The Q108 Amplifier (VCA) controls the amplitude of a signal - audio or control voltages. Typically the Q108 is the last module in the signal chain with its output going to a speaker system or a recorder. When the Q108 is used as the final VCA, controlled by the Q179 Envelope++, the Control #1 Level knob effec-tively becomes the volume control, controlling the amount of the effect that the Q179 has over the Q108's output amplitude.

Q108 NOTE For the best signal-to-noise ratio, use the highest signal levels possible within the sys-tem without clipping. Then attenuate the large signal at your ex-ternal input device.

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PATCHES

Here are some patches to get you acquainted with the Thought Box layout and functions

The patching possibilities are virtually limitless.

QKB37 Keyboard Controller or ANY MIDI source

Using the Q174 MIDI Interface

Use the Q174 to produce pitch and gate signals from MIDI devices - a keyboard or your computer. Here are some general ideas, see the Q174 data sheet for additional information. Consider adding the Q175 Aid module to get an arpeggiator and portamento.

MIDI channel 1 data

Pitch voltage to Oscillators

Gate signal to Envelope Generator

Velocity voltage for modulation

These switches set how gates and pitch outputs behave when

multiple keys are pressed.

This section can be used to produce a 2nd channel of pitch

and gate signals from MIDI channel #2. Or to capture

pressure, or MIDI CC messages.

Patch in an LFO here for vibrato.

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Using the Q173 Gate Math Module

The Q173 is a powerful gate pattern creator and can be used to make all sorts of inter-esting patches. The four gate outputs from the Q173 can be used as gates or patched into the Q112 Mixer to create variable voltages for sequences and for controlling any module. See the Q173 data sheet for additional information.

Programming outputs is easy, simply set the knob and switches to what you want, then press the SET button for the desired channel.

These 4 gate outputs can be used to trigger the Q179 envelope generator, gating Q167 oscillators, to change filter frequency or resonance, or patched through the Q112 mixer for variable voltages.

The THRU output comes from the internal clock and can be used as a gate out-put also.

This clock input can come from a Q167 LFO++ or from the

gate of the Q174 MIDI Interface. If you don't use it then the internal clock is activated and

the configuration knob sets the speed.

Or just select SIMPLE mode for /2, /4, /8, /16 outputs.

Sets the internal clock speed if there isn't a clock input.

This switch sets the length of the output gate and that makes a huge difference. Gate means the output equals the input gate, B is binary which is 50% on-time, Trig is a very short gate.

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Thought Box Options

Thought Box is easy to expand with additional modules and with additional cabinets and controllers. Here are some ideas.

Q175 MIDI Interface Aid The Q175 Aid module adds fea-tures to the Q174 MIDI Interface

module.

Arpeggiator with built-in clock, linear and exponential

Portamento (Glide/Slew Limiter), and additional MIDI connectivity.

The Q175 is a good option if you'll

be using a keyboard a lot.

Q962 Sequential Switch This module has three inputs and outputs, either selectable

manually or with an external shift signal (a gate).

The bottom section allows

switching of audio, gates or control voltages.

Use the Q962 along with the Q173 Gate Math module to

create automated patches that change signal routing or select

filter outputs.

Q167 LFO++ Oscillator Thought Box includes two Q167

but adding a third greatly expands possibilities.

Create 3-oscillator voice patches or create new modulation paths.

Q167 is a very dense module

containing an LFO, audio oscilla-tor, envelope generator, VCA and

attenuators.

Q181RC Ribbon Controller Press along the ribbon controller

to produce a variable control voltage capable of controlling

any module - pitch, filter sweeps, etc.

A gate signal is also produced

at an adjustable threshold.

The Q181RC is great for adding hands-on interaction to your

patches.

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Thought Box Options

Q117 Sample & Hold The Q117 captures and holds a

voltage. Signal sampling can be set by the internal clock or from an

external source.

Using the Q117 to process wave-forms from an oscillator can be

used to create interesting patterns that can drive audio oscillators or

filters or trigger envelopes.

Q171 Quantizer The Q171 takes a varying analog

control voltage and locks it into standard note intervals just like

frets on a guitar.

Use the Q171 to make se-quences easier to program, or

use it with an LFO to create se-quences of notes.

Quantizing can be controlled with

gates and a gate is produced when a new note is created.

Controllers We offer a huge variety of control-lers that are completely modular, just like the modules in your sys-tem. Our 37-key keyboard along with a Box1 cabinet fits nicely with our Box11 cabinets, both having solid walnut sides. We offer wheels, expression blocks, knobs, ribbons, pressure pads and even whammy bar con-trollers. See our website for details.

Jan 27, 2017