Directions (2025)

Directions is a control voltage processor for the [Nonlinear] Dynamics system. It is an early concept, and its specifications and features are likely to change as it is developed.

Directions is designed to extrapolate several potentially meaningful streams of data from even a single incoming control voltage. It is primarily intended to be used with gestural control sources (e.g. the 4-D Input Port joystick controller, the MIGSI 2 trumpet augmentation interface, or other controllers). In this application, it translates raw “position” sensing outputs into six distinct-yet-interrelated streams of data based on the detected rate of change and direction of change at its input(s).

It monitors up to three incoming control voltages, each of which offers a dedicated incoming gain control. It internally combines these three scaled signals with one another, using a method determined by the Mode switch. The combination Mode could be a direct sum, an average of the three channels’ current amplitudes, or a “maximum” comparison of the three channels, passing only the highest of the three inputs.

The module then performs a rate-of-change and direction-of-change analysis of the resulting combined signal, producing six outputs: three UP outputs and three DOWN outputs.

The Direction outputs are logic signals which go high (5V) when the combination of the incoming signals is ascending or descending in voltage level, respectively. When the incoming signal exhibits no change within a computation cycle, both Direction outputs will go low (0V).

The Velocity outputs produce time-derivative voltages corresponding to the “instantaneous” rate of change of the input(s) in either direction (up or down).

The Strike outputs sample each direction’s Velocity signal upon detection of a change in Direction; effectively detecting the “velocity” of a “strike”—similar to the strike detection method used in distance-detection-based percussion-like instrument interfaces such as Donald Buchla’s Lightning or Marimba Lumina.

Directions is still in the early prototype/concept phase. As of May 2025, only one Directions has been assembled. It is being designed primarily for personal use and is not available for sale.