draft: false
Name: UMWELT
short-description: Four-track generative soundscape synthesis with Crossfade, Reverb, Life, and one-switch randomization.
summary: >
  A four-track generative soundscape synthesizer for the Music Thing Modular Workshop Computer.
  Background, Texture, Voices, and Percussion combine continuous synthesis,
  generated note sequences, and probabilistic event triggering with stereo spatialization
  and feedback delay network reverb. Flick the switch down to generate a new sound
  configuration on the hardware. Allow approximately 1-3 seconds of silence at startup
  and after randomization, followed by the fade-in.
Language: C++ (Pico SDK + ComputerCard)
Creator: Laboratory 0
Version: "1.0"
Status: Released
License: Laboratory 0 Freeware (see LICENSE.txt)
date-created: "2026-10-07"
date-updated: "2026-10-08"
Editor: none
demo-link: https://youtube.com/shorts/Psgmo7R4KKM

tags:
  - generative
  - synthesizer
  - ambient
  - stereo
  - reverb
  - percussion

uf2:
  - path: UMWELT_Workshop_v1.0.uf2
    name: UMWELT 1.0

panel:
  inputs:
    - id: AudioIn1
      name: Audio Input 1
      type: audio
      description: Input envelope modulates activity and track levels. Granular configurations can capture short input segments. Both inputs are averaged to mono when connected.
    - id: AudioIn2
      name: Audio Input 2
      type: audio
      description: Input envelope modulates activity and track levels. Granular configurations can capture short input segments. Both inputs are averaged to mono when connected.
    - id: CVIn1
      name: Life CV
      type: cv
      description: Adds a bipolar offset to the Y Life setting.
    - id: CVIn2
      name: Pitch CV
      type: cv
      description: Smoothed pitch transposition, limited to two octaves in either direction. Nominally 1 V/oct; hardware tracking is not calibrated.
    - id: PulseIn1
      name: Clock
      type: pulse
      description: Advances sequencing and adjusts the phase of coupled rhythm generators where used. Independent events and sustained synthesis remain active.
    - id: PulseIn2
      name: Randomize
      type: pulse
      description: Generates a new configuration, including while stopped. Allow approximately 1-3 seconds for generation; a half-second retrigger lockout applies.
  outputs:
    - id: AudioOut1
      name: Left
      type: audio
      description: Stereo left audio output.
    - id: AudioOut2
      name: Right
      type: audio
      description: Stereo right audio output.
    - id: CVOut1
      name: Modulation CV
      type: cv
      description: Bipolar output from the slow chaotic modulator.
    - id: CVOut2
      name: Activity CV
      type: cv
      description: Unipolar output proportional to the combined Texture and Voices activity parameters.
    - id: PulseOut1
      name: Percussion Triggers
      type: pulse
      description: Short triggers indicating Percussion events.
    - id: PulseOut2
      name: Phrase Triggers
      type: pulse
      description: Short triggers indicating the start of a Voices phrase.

controls:
  knobs:
    - main:
        name: Crossfade
        description: Background to the left; Texture, Voices, and Percussion to the right. Center retains both groups at their base levels.
      x:
        name: Reverb
        description: Adjusts the reverb return level. Decay time is set by the generated configuration and internal modulation.
      y:
        name: Life
        description: Adjusts trigger probability and event rates. Compare over several seconds; sustained tones, existing notes, and reverb tails continue at low settings.
  switch:
    up:
      name: Stop
      description: Fades to silence, then pauses synthesis, sequencing, modulation, and effects. Pulse outputs go low and CV outputs hold their latest values.
    middle:
      name: Run
      description: Plays or resumes the current sound. Returning to center does not randomize.
    down:
      name: Randomize
      description: Generates a new configuration once on entry. Allow approximately 1-3 seconds of silence, followed by the fade-in. Holding down does not repeatedly randomize.
    tap:
      name: Randomize
      description: Flick down to generate new synthesis, tuning, sequencing, modulation, and effect settings. Knob positions remain active.