Josh Mason
Selected Works ︎︎︎
Selected Works ︎︎︎
Everything Is Connected To Everything Else.
The purpose of the PCE project is/was an endevor to build tools (focusing primarily on utilities I wish I had, in the space I needed or wanted them in) for use in recording and performance. It was also to act as an educational/informational platform for things I am working to create, understand, and control.
Much of this is approached from the angle of it being functional sculpture, and less so market-ready audio equipment. While am not an engineer per se, I am coming to understand that those tendencies are in my blood, and I suppose I have the engineers in my family to thank for that (or maybe I just enjoy the way burning flux smells, for better or worse).
At the very least, these devices are presented something akin to “studies” (in the B. Thom Stevenson sense of the word.)
The purpose of the PCE project is/was an endevor to build tools (focusing primarily on utilities I wish I had, in the space I needed or wanted them in) for use in recording and performance. It was also to act as an educational/informational platform for things I am working to create, understand, and control.
Much of this is approached from the angle of it being functional sculpture, and less so market-ready audio equipment. While am not an engineer per se, I am coming to understand that those tendencies are in my blood, and I suppose I have the engineers in my family to thank for that (or maybe I just enjoy the way burning flux smells, for better or worse).
At the very least, these devices are presented something akin to “studies” (in the B. Thom Stevenson sense of the word.)
Tactical expansion unit for Bionic Lester mk1 by Industrial Music Electronics ︎︎︎ Connects behind the scenes via a 14-pin ribbon connection.
Individual filter responses from Lester are normalled to two bi-polar mixers respectively, allowing for sculpting of new response types, which are available at the sum output. Each normalled connection to Lester can be overridden by patching an external signal to any of the mixer's inputs.
Each mixer's sum is normalled to a vca-controlled feedback path back into its respective filter's core. The operation of this feature is managed by each of the switches for each mixer. In the down position, no signal is fed back via the vca unless a control signal is present at the cv input (which expects unipolar signals, unity gain is roughly 5v). With no cv present, this switch acts as a master feedback path mute. When the switch is in the up position, a fixed bias is connected to the vca cv control and the mixer sum is fed back continuously.
Since it is DC coupled, when Æ is not connected to the Bionic Lester, it can act as a standalone dual bi-polar mixer for cv or audio signals.
︎
Size 9HP
Depth 44mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +25/-20mA (quiescent)
Individual filter responses from Lester are normalled to two bi-polar mixers respectively, allowing for sculpting of new response types, which are available at the sum output. Each normalled connection to Lester can be overridden by patching an external signal to any of the mixer's inputs.
Each mixer's sum is normalled to a vca-controlled feedback path back into its respective filter's core. The operation of this feature is managed by each of the switches for each mixer. In the down position, no signal is fed back via the vca unless a control signal is present at the cv input (which expects unipolar signals, unity gain is roughly 5v). With no cv present, this switch acts as a master feedback path mute. When the switch is in the up position, a fixed bias is connected to the vca cv control and the mixer sum is fed back continuously.
Since it is DC coupled, when Æ is not connected to the Bionic Lester, it can act as a standalone dual bi-polar mixer for cv or audio signals.
︎
Size 9HP
Depth 44mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +25/-20mA (quiescent)
Named after signs found in coastal regions warning beach goers about the level of aquatic risk, Hazard Flags is a quad gate module that features 4 levels of “hazard” (sonic quality) ranging from low to “stinging marine life”
VCA, VC X-Fade, Filtered Gate, “Trash” Amplifier
︎
Size 10HP
Depth 44mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +18/-16mA (quiescent)
VCA, VC X-Fade, Filtered Gate, “Trash” Amplifier
︎
Size 10HP
Depth 44mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +18/-16mA (quiescent)
A simple voltage recall utility module. 4 stages of manually addressed voltages (jumper selectable between 0-5 or 0-10v per stage), gate output (5v) that goes and stays high whenever its stage is active, global trigger output (10v) goes high whenever any button is pressed and respects press duration.
︎
Size 10HP
Depth 24mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +4/-8mA (quiescent)
︎
Size 10HP
Depth 24mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +4/-8mA (quiescent)
Now I Am You is a dual probabilistic bi-directional (ab/y) switch. A single clock input flips both switches randomly, and each switch is/can be weighted against the other, so at extreme ends of the potentiometer throw, only one switch will flip. When external cv is applied, it overrides the manual control and the probability follows the polarity of the incoming control signal. Loosely inspired by a consumable item from Elden Ring.
︎
Size 8HP
Depth 44mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +60/-55mA (quiescent)
︎
Size 8HP
Depth 44mm (with power header)
Construction FR4, Analog SMD
Power +60/-55mA (quiescent)
