SOPHIE for Elektron Digitakt

A metallic percussion machine with four models: FUSE, BOOM, PIPE and SHARD.

Module version 1.1.13-experimental.2. Base firmware: 1.53.

About this module

SOPHIE is a metallic percussion synth SRC machine for the original Digitakt on OS 1.53. Sjoerd (Soejrd) adapted Matt Estela’s Sophie for Schwung into four models: FUSE’s bright clang, BOOM’s rounded low body, PIPE’s inharmonic ring and SHARD’s grainy tone/noise attack. TUNE and trig notes set pitch; SWEEP shapes the pitch attack, METAL and COLOR set the metallic character, FBK adds oscillator feedback and FOLD folds the output. The synth feeds the normal AMP, filter, mixer and sends without needing a sample. AMP controls note duration, and custom SRC controls accept parameter locks. Start with one SOPHIE track; the author’s earlier hardware test found two practical with FAST AUDIO, without claiming eight-track operation.

• Four source models: FUSE, BOOM, PIPE and SHARD, with lockable synthesis controls.
• Bipolar SWEEP starts above or below the played pitch; zero removes the pitch sweep.
• FOLD adds compensated wavefolding; zero bypasses it. The stock SAMP slot is unused by the synth.
• AMP HOLD = NOTE follows TRIG LEN; a finite DEC gives a release, while DEC = INF can sustain indefinitely.

How to use it

1. On one audio track choose SOPHIE with FUNC + SRC. No sample is needed; choose FUSE with MODEL for this example.
2. Set SWEEP to 0 and FOLD to 0. On AMP set HOLD to NOTE and choose a finite DEC, so TRIG LEN determines when the release begins.
3. Add a few trigs and play the pattern. Adjust TUNE for pitch, then raise METAL and turn COLOR to explore the clang’s harmonics; add FBK gradually.
4. Parameter-lock MODEL on a trig to compare BOOM, PIPE and SHARD, or lock SWEEP above/below zero for a descending/ascending pitch attack. Try FOLD, then return it to 0 to bypass wavefolding.
5. Press STOP and let the finite AMP release finish. Remove the example locks and return SWEEP and FOLD to 0 for the starting sound; avoid DEC = INF if you want notes to finish.

Controls

TUNE

SRC knob A: pitch, combined with the trig’s note. The normal Digitakt AMP, filter and effects process the resulting synth voice.

MODEL

SRC knob B: choose FUSE (bright clang), BOOM (rounded sine body and FM attack), PIPE (inharmonic ring) or SHARD (grainy tone with a short noise attack). Each track has one voice; retriggering replaces it.

FOLD

SRC knob C: output wavefolder, 0–127. Zero bypasses it; increasing it adds folds with level compensation before the stock AMP/filter chain. It replaces this machine’s BR control.

SAMP

SRC knob D: retained stock sample selector. SOPHIE generates its own audio and does not use the selected sample.

SWEEP

SRC knob E: bipolar pitch attack, -64 to +63, centered at 0. Positive starts above the played pitch and falls; negative starts below and rises. FUNC + turning uses stock TUNE octave steps (-60 to +24).

METAL

SRC knob F: FM/ring intensity, 0–127. Higher settings increase metallic modulation; its interaction with COLOR and FBK depends on MODEL.

FBK

SRC knob G: oscillator feedback, 0–127. Increase gradually to change the model’s edge and harmonics; this is synthesis feedback, not the delay send’s feedback.

COLOR

SRC knob H: inharmonic character, 0–127. Moves through different oscillator-ratio bands for each model; on SHARD it also shapes the noise character.

Compatibility notes

• One instance runs without FAST AUDIO; the author found two practical with FAST AUDIO on. Eight tracks are not claimed.
• Built for OS 1.53 only.

Test evidence

Imported from the author’s v1.1.13 source; Modwerk linked and verified the pinned catalog release for the UI documentation run. Documentation captures verify the listed UI pages on OS 1.53; audio, timing and hardware remain unqualified.