AGOGÔ - Cascade Vactrol LPGs

[sitarredon]

hi wigglers!

AGOGÔ is an octal analogue vactrol-based low pass gate and mixer in a cascade configuration.
Each one of its inputs, CVs and outputs are normalized and buffered to the next one: it can be used as a multiplier and a mixer for both audio and CV.

One way to imagine AGOGÔ is to use water and streams.
In the module we have three rivers:
"I" - inputs
"V" - CVs and modulations and
"O" - outputs

"I" is flowing from top to bottom. An input inserted in the first socket will be
buffered and it will flow unaltered in the next. If a cable is inserted, the connection
will be interrupted.

"V" works in the same way but there is some latency in the interruption due to its
chained vactrol configuration. This means that with a single control voltage you can
open all the gates simultaneously.
Combining the features of both "I" and "V" you can - for example - control a single
signal with 8 different CVs or 8 different sources with the same CV. The streams can
be interrupted in any point, this means that all the LPGs can be used individually or
in pair for stereo effects or send/return divisions.

The last stream, "O" represents the end of the flow, the river mouth. It acts as an
active mixer, letting you mix 8 or more signals. As in the other streams, the
connection can be interrupted in any given point to create sub mixes or individual
outs.

More units can be chained together thanks to headers on the back. This chained
configuration will add saturation to the final out.

If you have some ideas for the new demo to share or questions, let me know


pre-orders are available for the first 10 assembled units.

https://www.jolinlab.com/agogo/
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/jolin-lab-agogO

[Puscha]

This module looks awesome! There are a lot of passive LPGs out there so it's great to see this.

I've sent an email enquiry already, but it would be great to get some discussion going, and I also have some requests for demos.

Would you be able to show what it sounds like with:
Slow attack and release in V input
Short, snappy gates in both I and V inputs
Attenuated audio through I input
Attenuated CV through V input
Sweeps of the filter through different stages of the cascade
All of the above with reverb to see what it sounds like with some dimension!

Congrats on the new module!

[blaythe.steuer]

this looks awesome! coming with both panel colors is great too:)

[vidret]

This normaling is to die for.

What a hero

[sitarredon]

Would you be able to show what it sounds like with:
Slow attack and release in V input
Short, snappy gates in both I and V inputs
Attenuated audio through I input
Attenuated CV through V input
Sweeps of the filter through different stages of the cascade
All of the above with reverb to see what it sounds like with some dimension!

Congrats on the new module!

I'm preparing new demos using only one unit and I was looking for some features to include. Thank you for your list!

[anosou]

Love a bit of active LPG action. I've ordered one of these and hope to upload a video after it arrives

[moremagic]

looks really cool, just a few Qs:
does this unit low-pass the outputs or just gate them?
is the maximum output greater or less than unity?
can stackcables be patched all around the module or are smaller cables needed?

[hawkfuzz]

Just realized this isn't the other LPG offered

[ipassenger]

Looks cool

[sitarredon]

looks really cool, just a few Qs:
does this unit low-pass the outputs or just gate them?
is the maximum output greater or less than unity?
can stackcables be patched all around the module or are smaller cables needed?

AGOGÔ is a LPG and it low-pass the outputs. Each couple of LPGs has two different "flavour", light (green) and dark (red).
The outuput of the single LPG is at unity level, since each LPG is chained to the next one you can get different stages of amplification: if you are using the first LPG and all the other inputs are unpatched, the signal will be bufferend and added to the following stages. In this way you can use agogo also as a distortion/saturation unit.
About stackables I've patched 24 of them and they seem to fit

[anosou]

Took delivery of Agogô yesterday and it's a JOY. I believe in dense VCAs/LPGs because suddenly you use them more, and that's definitely the case here.

Here's a video that's basically 8 oscillators into Agogô and then to a mixer. I'm opening the LPGs with chaotic/random signals processed by a Nonlinearcircuits Let's Splosh. Then, as is customary on the internet, I smother it in reverb and delay. But you still get the point:


Here's a more "plucky" LPG excercise with varying-length decay envelopes (from almost a trigger to decent decay) opening the Agogô:

[Puscha]

Took delivery of Agogô yesterday and it's a JOY. I believe in dense VCAs/LPGs because suddenly you use them more, and that's definitely the case here.

Here's a video that's basically 8 oscillators into Agogô and then to a mixer. I'm opening the LPGs with chaotic/random signals processed by a Nonlinearcircuits Let's Splosh. Then, as is customary on the internet, I smother it in reverb and delay. But you still get the point:


Here's a more "plucky" LPG excercise with varying-length decay envelopes (from almost a trigger to decent decay) opening the Agogô:

Sounds excellent! Thanks for posting this.

[LDT]

Then, as is customary on the internet, I smother it in reverb and delay. But you still get the point:

This remark is pure gold.

[Efudd]

I received two Agogô from Jolin Lab earlier today in excellent condition thanks to superb packaging. I look forward to being able to spend some time with these.

[sitarredon]

Would you be able to show what it sounds like with:
Slow attack and release in V input
Short, snappy gates in both I and V inputs
Attenuated audio through I input
Attenuated CV through V input
Sweeps of the filter through different stages of the cascade
All of the above with reverb to see what it sounds like with some dimension!
Congrats on the new module!

I've uploaded a new short demo patching it with in a "classic" configuration for a vactrol LPG: the Buchla Bongo

more are coming

[Hooft]

Puscha wrote: ↑Tue May 26, 2020 11:55 pm
Would you be able to show what it sounds like with:
Slow attack and release in V input
Short, snappy gates in both I and V inputs
Attenuated audio through I input
Attenuated CV through V input
Sweeps of the filter through different stages of the cascade
All of the above with reverb to see what it sounds like with some dimension!
Congrats on the new module!

What he said.

The demos so far are intriguing but not a real test as above, and not pushing me to buy.

How about it, anyone?

PS: reverb nein danke

[imrae]

Does anyone have experience/info about the kit/DIY version of this? The build guide link on the product page leads me to a PDF for a different module! Would be good to see the BOM for what parts are needed.

[Estes]

Also curious about those short envelopes.

[Puscha]

Does anyone have experience/info about the kit/DIY version of this? The build guide link on the product page leads me to a PDF for a different module! Would be good to see the BOM for what parts are needed.

The PCB is so tiny and crammed full, it's by far the tightest of any module I've seen! It would a very advanced DIY project, and because of that I wouldn't be surprised if there won't be any DIY kits for this one.

[sitarredon]

Does anyone have experience/info about the kit/DIY version of this? The build guide link on the product page leads me to a PDF for a different module! Would be good to see the BOM for what parts are needed.

Thank you for the note. Build manual updated and BOM link added (https://www.jolinlab.com/agogo/).
There are few elements, the most difficult part is at the end with the jack sockets.
I've graded it as a medium difficulty. Tabor is easy and BE2N is a hard one.
New demos are coming soon, I'll keep this post updated

[sitarredon]

hi wigglers!

AGOGÔ is an octal analogue vactrol-based low pass gate and mixer in a cascade configuration.
Each one of its inputs, CVs and outputs are normalized and buffered to the next one: it can be used as a multiplier and a mixer for both audio and CV.

One way to imagine AGOGÔ is to use water and streams.
In the module we have three rivers:
"I" - inputs
"V" - CVs and modulations and
"O" - outputs

"I" is flowing from top to bottom. An input inserted in the first socket will be
buffered and it will flow unaltered in the next. If a cable is inserted, the connection
will be interrupted.

"V" works in the same way but there is some latency in the interruption due to its
chained vactrol configuration. This means that with a single control voltage you can
open all the gates simultaneously.
Combining the features of both "I" and "V" you can - for example - control a single
signal with 8 different CVs or 8 different sources with the same CV. The streams can
be interrupted in any point, this means that all the LPGs can be used individually or
in pair for stereo effects or send/return divisions.

The last stream, "O" represents the end of the flow, the river mouth. It acts as an
active mixer, letting you mix 8 or more signals. As in the other streams, the
connection can be interrupted in any given point to create sub mixes or individual
outs.

More units can be chained together thanks to headers on the back. This chained
configuration will add saturation to the final out.

If you have some ideas for the new demo to share or questions, let me know


pre-orders are available for the first 10 assembled units.

https://www.jolinlab.com/agogo/
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/jolin-lab-agogO

[mz25]

Agogô by JolinLab - Presented in Stereo by mz_2250
Recorded at JolinLab laboratory this performance video enlight stereo features of Agogô by JolinLab.

I met for the first time Federico and Pedro aka JolinLab in 2019, I've reached JolinLab to modify one of my pedals with additional Cv Input, at that time they were prototyping their First Module Tabor.

Since that day we developed a strong friendship and a collaboration.
I immediately started hanging out in their lab, and I've been part of the beta testing of Tabor, of which I'm a proud owner of the first DIY version available.
You can find more videos about Tabor in my channel.
Later came Agogô, and I've seen this module born.

Federico gave me a unit to test and to explore its features and later we decided to record some videos in the Lab, where I was able to use three copies of this gem simultaneously!
With the help of a Joystick Agogô is capable of morphing sources in the stereo field, opening up a lot of opportunities in the spatial exploration of sound.

This video is the second of a series about Agogo by Jolin Lab stay tuned for the next video

[mz25]

The next video of this series would be an interview with JolinLab creators, so please leave in the comments your question for Federico and Pedro !!!

Recorded at JolinLab laboratory this performance video enlight Utility features of Agogô by JolinLab.

In this video I'm using Agogô as CV mixer, with the help of a Behringer 960 Sequential Controller, each step trigger output is sent to Agogô inputs since it can handle also CV signals, then the output is sent to an Hexinverter Mutant Bassdrum, the organicity of the LPG network help to tide up everything and give nice accents to triggers inputs of the Drum module.

[boboter]

I got a factory built Agogo and noticed that there is a certain CV threshold until the channels respond to an incoming CV signal. So if I e.g. open a channel with a sine wave, it doesn't fade in smoothely but 'pops' in once the sine reaches a certain point.

Can any Agogo owner confirm this? Not sure if it is a calibration thing or if the module just is like that.

Thanks.

[meeba]

I got a factory built Agogo and noticed that there is a certain CV threshold until the channels respond to an incoming CV signal. So if I e.g. open a channel with a sine wave, it doesn't fade in smoothely but 'pops' in once the sine reaches a certain point.

Can any Agogo owner confirm this? Not sure if it is a calibration thing or if the module just is like that.

Thanks.

This is how mine behaves, as well. You have to reach a certain threshold for the whole LPG thing to kick in. I've found it to not be overly poppy, but it is a fairly quick attack once you hit the mark. I have also found that not all channels respond quite the same way, but they are all nice. Sometimes it takes me a little bit of trial and error to get things perfected on each channel.

Unrelated to my response above: I do want to say that this module is a ton of fun. It's working best for me when supplemented with additional VCAs, but it adds quite a bit of magic to my sounds.