Introduction

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.

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.