Swarmatron
Encyclopedia
The Swarmatron is an analogue synthesizer or electronic musical instrument
that uses a ribbon controller rather than a keyboard. It is noted for its use of multiple oscillator
s that are linked through a 'swarm' control, giving its distinctive sound and method of playing.
or Tannerin. A finger is placed or slid from side to side along a ribbon controller, controlling the pitch. Glissandi are obviously easily achieved, or careful finger placement may be used to play discrete notes.
The distinctive feature of the Swarmatron is its use of eight individual oscillators, under a single control. These oscillators produce an equidistant chord, where their spacing is under the player's immediate control. There are two ribbon controllers: the larger controls the pitch in the obvious manner, the second is used to control the spacing of the oscillators when in 'Swarm' mode. A large central knob on a rotary control may also be used to control this swarm.
The oscillators may also be switched on and off individually by a row of switches. With all but one switched off, the instrument becomes a simple ribbon-controlled monophonic synth, capable of the usual glissandi. Using combinations, and adjustment of the range control, allows a non-equidistant swarmed chord to be produced. The oscillators may also be preset to the usual chord intervals of major third
s etc.
The pitch control also controls a low-pass filter
. This may either track the main pitch, or may be controlled by the second ribbon.In this mode, swarming is controlled by the central knob. With the sawtooth wave
of the oscillators, this tracking filter controls the sound
of the instrument.
As for many other analogue synths, there is also an ADSR envelope control.
Like the Persephone
, the tuning controls for the ribbon's base frequency and overall range have such a wide span that the ribbon controller itself is unlabelled, although some players mark note positions on the ribbons for a piece.
There are no facilities for MIDI. However there are three analogue 0-10V Control Voltage (CV) inputs for pitch, filter cutoff and swarm. With the use of a standard MIDI to CV converter, the instrument may be controlled from a sequencer or other MIDI controller.
green paint. Knobs and switches also show a distinctly retro
influence, verging on the crudely home-made. Front panels labels in particular are deliberaterly minimal and cryptic, controls being labelled (if at all) with single letters rather than words.
Dewantron sell their Swarmatron through Big City Music of Los Angeles. At a 2011 price of $3,250The price rises to $3,450 with additional fine-tuning controls., the instrument is limited to those with deep pockets. From 2004 to the start of 2011, only nine had been sold.
used a Swarmatron in his soundtrack
for the 2010 film The Social Network
. The DVD includes a bonus feature of Reznor discussing the instrument.
Reznor's band How to Destroy Angels
and their eponymous first album
are as yet the most prominent users of the instrument.
Electronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
that uses a ribbon controller rather than a keyboard. It is noted for its use of multiple oscillator
Electronic oscillator
An electronic oscillator is an electronic circuit that produces a repetitive electronic signal, often a sine wave or a square wave. They are widely used in innumerable electronic devices...
s that are linked through a 'swarm' control, giving its distinctive sound and method of playing.
Operation
The Swarmatron is a fingerboard synthesizer like the TrautoniumTrautonium
The trautonium is a monophonic electronic musical instrument invented about 1929 by Friedrich Trautwein in Berlin at the Musikhochschule's music and radio lab, the Rundfunkversuchstelle. Soon Oskar Sala joined him, continuing development until Sala's death in 2002. Instead of a keyboard, its manual...
or Tannerin. A finger is placed or slid from side to side along a ribbon controller, controlling the pitch. Glissandi are obviously easily achieved, or careful finger placement may be used to play discrete notes.
The distinctive feature of the Swarmatron is its use of eight individual oscillators, under a single control. These oscillators produce an equidistant chord, where their spacing is under the player's immediate control. There are two ribbon controllers: the larger controls the pitch in the obvious manner, the second is used to control the spacing of the oscillators when in 'Swarm' mode. A large central knob on a rotary control may also be used to control this swarm.
The oscillators may also be switched on and off individually by a row of switches. With all but one switched off, the instrument becomes a simple ribbon-controlled monophonic synth, capable of the usual glissandi. Using combinations, and adjustment of the range control, allows a non-equidistant swarmed chord to be produced. The oscillators may also be preset to the usual chord intervals of major third
Major third
In classical music from Western culture, a third is a musical interval encompassing three staff positions , and the major third is one of two commonly occurring thirds. It is qualified as major because it is the largest of the two: the major third spans four semitones, the minor third three...
s etc.
The pitch control also controls a low-pass filter
Low-pass filter
A low-pass filter is an electronic filter that passes low-frequency signals but attenuates signals with frequencies higher than the cutoff frequency. The actual amount of attenuation for each frequency varies from filter to filter. It is sometimes called a high-cut filter, or treble cut filter...
. This may either track the main pitch, or may be controlled by the second ribbon.In this mode, swarming is controlled by the central knob. With the sawtooth wave
Sawtooth wave
The sawtooth wave is a kind of non-sinusoidal waveform. It is named a sawtooth based on its resemblance to the teeth on the blade of a saw....
of the oscillators, this tracking filter controls the sound
Subtractive synthesis
Subtractive synthesis is a method of sound synthesis in which partials of an audio signal are attenuated by a filter to alter the timbre of the sound...
of the instrument.
As for many other analogue synths, there is also an ADSR envelope control.
Like the Persephone
Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
, the tuning controls for the ribbon's base frequency and overall range have such a wide span that the ribbon controller itself is unlabelled, although some players mark note positions on the ribbons for a piece.
There are no facilities for MIDI. However there are three analogue 0-10V Control Voltage (CV) inputs for pitch, filter cutoff and swarm. With the use of a standard MIDI to CV converter, the instrument may be controlled from a sequencer or other MIDI controller.
Dewantron
The Swarmatron was developed by Dewantron, the Dewan cousins, Brian and Leon. They are still hand-made by the Dewans, explaining their high price-tag. Previous instruments such as their Melody Gins and Dual Primate Console have also used the same principle of multiple, interacting oscillators. These instruments also show the Swarmatron's retro styling of dark wood cases with hammer-finishHammer paint
Hammer paint is a special lacquer with a surface that looks like hammered metal when dried.The slightly iridescent areas are caused by the different orientation of very small shiny particles which are suspended in the lacquer. These particles are often made of the mineral mica...
green paint. Knobs and switches also show a distinctly retro
Retrotronics
Retrotronics is the making of electric circuits or appliances using older electric components, such as vacuum tubes, Nixie displays, relays, uniselectors, analogue meters, etc. These are usually chosen for their aesthetic qualities, more than performance.Retrotronics is a popular strand within the...
influence, verging on the crudely home-made. Front panels labels in particular are deliberaterly minimal and cryptic, controls being labelled (if at all) with single letters rather than words.
Dewantron sell their Swarmatron through Big City Music of Los Angeles. At a 2011 price of $3,250The price rises to $3,450 with additional fine-tuning controls., the instrument is limited to those with deep pockets. From 2004 to the start of 2011, only nine had been sold.
Notable appearances
Trent ReznorTrent Reznor
Michael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
used a Swarmatron in his soundtrack
The Social Network (soundtrack)
The Social Network is a dark ambient soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for David Fincher's film of the same name. It was released on September 28, 2010. On September 17, a five-track sampler was also made available for free...
for the 2010 film The Social Network
The Social Network
The Social Network is a 2010 American drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin. Adapted from Ben Mezrich's 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires, the film portrays the founding of social networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits...
. The DVD includes a bonus feature of Reznor discussing the instrument.
Reznor's band How to Destroy Angels
How to Destroy Angels (band)
How to Destroy Angels is a musical group featuring Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor, his wife Mariqueen Maandig and Atticus Ross. Rob Sheridan is the group's art director.The group is named after a 1984 Coil single of the same name....
and their eponymous first album
How to Destroy Angels (album)
-Album Personnel:Written, Arranged, Produced, Performed and Art Directed by How To Destroy Angels*How To Destroy Angels:**Mariqueen Maandig**Trent Reznor**Atticus Ross**Rob Sheridan*Mixed by Alan Moulder*Engineering: Blumpy*Mastering: Tom Baker...
are as yet the most prominent users of the instrument.