I’m just now learning about comparators and would love some feedback on one’s you all have enjoyed and think are creatively useful.
I really like what I see in the Joranalogue Compare 2 comparator hardware module and hoping something like it exists in VCV Rack!
Thank you!
Greg
So the Joranalogue Compare 2 has 2 windowed comparators plus logic operations. I don’t know if there is any module like that in the VCV catalogue. But you should be able to build the functionality by combining existing windowed comparators with logic processors.
If you want to process audio signals, then I recommend Venom WinComp and Venom Logic, as they both have oversampling options to mitigate digital aliasing that is likely going to become noticeable at higher audio rates. Definitely read the documentation, as there is a lot of functionality built into those modules. For the WinComp, don’t forget to check out the module context menus, as well as the top four output port context menus.
I am not aware of any other VCV comparator or logic modules that support oversampling.
Both modules are polyphonic, so with a couple Merge modules you can get both comparators with a single WinComp. And the Logic merge option can directly process the two poly channels to produce a single channel of output.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate this, especially in light of how busy I know you must be around your new release! Spent a couple hours with Sofia’s Daughter yesterday and love it! Can’t wait to dive in more…
In my first module ‘Steps’. The top section is a window comparator. It has two gate outputs that tell you if you are above or below the window. The bottom half of the module is a stepper, and the two parts are normalled to control the stepper range. You can also use the top/bottom stages apart.
I have some demo patch ideas in the user manual, which could help give ideas how you might use it in patches.
Thank you! Definitely checking this out! Looks great.
BRIES created a Practical User Guide for Joranalogue Audio Design COMPARE 2 (PDF). Though ‘unofficial’ it is ‘approved’ by Joran and you can find a link to it on the Joranologue site.
It first describes some Comparator/Logic theory and then continues with many example patches/techniques, including audiorate.
It was specifically written with COMPARE2 and Eurorack in mind, but the most of the principles/techniques can be transfered to any use of Comparators/Logic in any modular environment, including VCV Rack.
Here is the introductory video…
That’s perfect and I appreciate it. Looks like it goes really deep on the topic!
I went ahead and patched up a polyphonic emulation of Joranalogue Compare 2 with enhancements. The patch is self documented pretty well. All the hardware features are implemented, plus the outputs can be unipolar or bipolar, and there are a bunch of additional outputs. Couple the hardware manual with the patch documentation, and you should be able to understand how it works.
The oversampling really makes a difference when working with audio inputs and outputs!
I may implement this as a new Venom free module in the near future.
Joranalogue Compare 2.vcv (7.8 KB)
maybe Black Noise Cosmos is toon much on the cryptic side, but it’s not less fun
When I get a chance, this will be the next module ported to the VCV NonlinearCircuits collection:
It’s one module with three different window comparator algorithms.
This is so exciting!! Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try this when I get back home next Thursday!
Let me know if something isn’t working properly. I did some quick tests, but nothing exhaustive.
I definitely will!
I made one significant update for version 1.1. I now adjust the Schmitt trigger thresholds for Logic and Bernoulli Switch depending on if unipolar or bipolar outputs. That makes the outputs at audio rates a bit more consistent.
I have also created a selection set vcvs file in addition to the normal vcv patch file. Make sure to insert the selection using Stoermelder Strip++, else critical mappings will not be preserved and the slection will be useless.
Joranalogue Compare 2 v1.1.vcv (8.5 KB)
JoranalogueCompare2Plus_v1_1.vcvs (149.0 KB)
I have created a Venom Compare 2. More info at
