This page describes the legacy mk1/mk2 disting. For the current product, please see here.

Introduction

disting, front disting
The Disting is a 16-in-1 multifunction module, offering a variety of CV and audio processes, including a selection of oscillators (LFOs/VCOs). All algorithms have two high-precision inputs and outputs, and a third control input, exposed on a front panel knob and a CV input.

Expert Sleepers 'disting' on Vimeo.

The included algorithms are:

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
a Precision Adder
with integer voltage offsets
Linear/Exponential Converter Sample and Hold
with noise source and
adjustable slew rate
LFO
with through zero frequency control
and waveshaping
b Four Quadrant Multiplier
with integer multiply/divide
Quantizer
with selectable scales
Slew Rate Limiter
with linear and
exponential slew
Clockable LFO
with multiply/divide
and waveshaping
c Full-wave Rectifier Comparator
with adjustable hysteresis
Pitch and Envelope Tracker VCO with linear FM
sine and saw outputs
d Minimum/maximum Dual Waveshaper
wavefolder and
triangle-to-sine shaper
Clockable Delay/Echo VCO with waveshaping
saw/triangle
and pulse outputs
The video below was the winning entry in a video competition we held to promote the disting. It's a fun and very musical romp through all 16 of the disting's functions.

Specifications

The Disting's specifications are as follows:
  • Panel width: 4HP
  • Module depth: 53mm
  • X & Y inputs, A & B outputs
    • Sample rate: 78.125kHz
    • ADC: 24 bit, THD+N -93dB, Dynamic range 99dB, SNR 99dB
    • DAC: 24 bit, THD+N -94dB, Dynamic range 105dB, SNR 104dB
  • Z input sample rate: 10kHz approx
  • CPU: Microchip PIC32MX at up to 40MHz
  • Current draw: 111mA on the +12V rail, 37mA on the -12V rail (148mA total)

The front panel is drilled for both Doepfer and Analogue Systems mounting holes (using a 'slot' rather than a single round hole). The power connector is a Doepfer standard 10 way IDC, with -12V furthest from the top of the board.

For more detail, please see the user manual.

Disting mk2

From May 2015, the disting has been updated to a 'mk2' version. Compared to an original ('mk1') disting, the only change is an increase in the maximum delay time of the Clockable Delay/Echo mode - more than doubled to over 1.6 seconds.

Pricing & Availablity

The disting mk2 is no longer available. It was replaced by the disting mk3.

Hackable

The Disting is based around a PIC microcontroller, with a programming/debug header available on the board. Using Microchip's free development tools a user can easily hack the Disting to perform their own functions.

We have provided an open source code framework into which developers can slot their own algorithms. This can be found here. There is a thread about disting firmware hacking on the forum here.

Below is a (rather long) video introducing the disting in some detail, filmed at a meeting of the London Music Hackspace. You may like to jump in at these times:

  • 06:00 - description of the hardware
  • 40:45 - description of the open source software framework
  • 1:16:45 - compilation of some custom code and seeing how it sounds.

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