Tyche (/ˈtaɪki/) is a set of modules for VCV Rack (library page), designed to bring controlled, reproducible randomness to the modular patches.
At the moment, Tyche modules include:
- Omen: a central module holding the seed, which is shared with all connected modules.
- Tale: a random voltage generator that outputs both stepped and smooth random outputs. Capable of being both a very slow LFO, or an audio-rate noise oscillator.
- Kron: a probabilistic trigger generator, emitting triggers based on clock division and density.
- Fate: a probabilistic trigger routing module (Bernoulli gate) that routes incoming triggers to one of two outputs based on a user-defined probability.
- Moira: a probabilistic voltage selector that outputs one of three voltages based on defined probabilities.
- Blank: allows to visually group the modules without breaking the expander chain.
Omen is the only standalone module in the collection, all other modules are its expanders. Connect Omen with just one module for a simple setup, or chain dozens of them to create a central randomness hub controlling the entire patch.
"Omen" is the central module of the Tyche collection, generating the "seed" that controls the randomness of all connected modules. The seed allows the creation of deterministic, reproducible random patterns across patch saves.
- Six momentary buttons cycle through six states (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta), changing the seed value and corresponding LED color.
- The seed is saved with the patch. Can generate 46,656 unique seeds.
- Expects a 24ppqn clock signal to drive the connected modules.
- Triggers a global reset of Omen and all connected modules.
"Tale" is a random voltage generator, producing control voltages influenced by the seed from Omen.
- Pace Slider: Controls noise evolution speed (0.001 Hz to 440 Hz).
- Pace Input: CV input (-5V to +5V) to modulate pace. When connected, the CV input attenuates the slider's value.
- Variant Knob: Generates a new, internal to this module random pattern (1-128).
- S&H Input: Samples the noise at incoming triggers for stepped outputs. If unused, outputs continuously evolving noise.
- Resets the internal random pattern to the first step.
- Outputs the generated noise (-5V to +5V).
- Sample & Hold: Create stepped random voltages or rhythmic patterns.
- Reset Sync: Use reset to create repeating noise patterns aligned with other modules.
"Kron" is a probabilistic trigger generator, outputting triggers at clock divisions based on the density parameter, influenced by Omen's seed.
This module is heavily inspired by the Rhythm Explorer from VenomModules. Where Kron can be seen as a single strip of the Rhythm Explorer.
- Density Slider: Controls trigger probability at each clock division (0%-100%). Acts as an attenuator when the density input is connected.
- Density Input: CV input to modulate density (-5V to +5V). When patched, the density slider attenuates the CV input.
- Density Light: Yellow for triggers, Red for muted triggers, Off for no trigger.
- Variant Knob: Generates a new, internal to this module random pattern (1-128).
- Suppresses trigger output when gate voltage ≥ 0.1V.
- NOTE: When Kron is muted by another Kron that is ahead of it in the expander chain, the mute will not work due to a 1-sample delay in the signal path. Please let me know if you know how to fix this!
- Resets the internal random pattern to the first step.
- Outputs +10V triggers at 1ms length.
- Clock Division: Select clock divisions from 1/2 to 1/16, with triplet and dotted options available via right-click menu.
- Mute: Useful for chaining Krons together for a linear rhythm.
- Gates: Patch Kron with VCV Gates (or any other gate source) to convert triggers to gates.
- Tip: Modulate gate length with Tale!
Fate is a probabilistic trigger routing module (Bernoulli gate) in the Tyche collection. It routes incoming triggers to one of two outputs based on a user-defined probability, with its randomness influenced by the seed from the Omen module.
- Bias Knob: Sets the likelihood of routing triggers to Output A. A probability of 50% means equal chances for Output A or Output B.
- Bias Input: CV input (-5V to +5V) to modulate the probability externally. When patched, the bias knob is deactivated.
- Gate Input: Receives incoming triggers or gates to be routed.
- Reset Input: Resets the internal random pattern to the first step.
- Output A: Receives the input trigger if the probabilistic decision favors this output.
- Output B: Receives the trigger if not routed to Output A.
- Latch mode: Use right-click context menu to enable latch mode, where the last trigger is held until the next trigger arrives.
- Reset for Sync: Use the Reset Input to create looping sequences.
"Moira" is a probabilistic voltage selector in the Tyche collection. It outputs one of three user-defined voltages (X, Y, or Z) based on relative probabilities, with its randomness influenced by the seed from the Omen module.
- X/Y/Z Probability Sliders: Sets the relative probability for X/Y/Z inputs (0%-100%).
- X/Y/Z Probability Inputs: CV input (-5V to +5V) to modulate the probability of X/Y/Z. When patched, the slider acts as an attenuator for the patched signal.
- X/Y/Z Voltage Knobs: Sets the output voltage for X/Y/Z values (-10V to +10V).
- X/Y/Z Voltage Inputs: CV inputs to override the X/Y/Z values. When patched, the knob acts as an attenuator for an incoming voltage.
- Variant Knob: Generates a new, internal to this module random pattern (1-128).
- Fade Knob: Sets the duration of voltage crossfade when switching outputs (0s to 20s). It uses an exponential curve for smooth transitions.
- Trigger Input: Triggers the selection of X, Y, or Z.
- Reset Input: Resets the internal random pattern to the first step.
- Main Output: Outputs the selected voltage (X, Y, or Z).
- AUX Output: Outputs a secondary voltage based on the remaining probabilities of the other two voltages not selected by the main output.
- X/Y/Z Chosen Output: Outputs a trigger when a corresponding X, Y, or Z voltage is selected.
- Relative Probabilities: X/Y/Z probabilities are relative to each other, e.g. if all sliders are set to the same value, the resulting probability of each value is 33.3%.
- Lights: The brightness of the slider indicates the probability of the corresponding voltage. Green light means the voltage is selected for the main output, blue light means that the voltage is selected for the auxiliary output.
- Fade: Use the fade parameter to smoothly transition between voltages when the selection changes.
Blank serves as a placeholder within the expander chain (being an expander itself), allowing you to create clean visual sections in your patches while maintaining connectivity between the Tyche modules.
- Blank has no parameters, inputs, outputs, or lights. It’s purely for visual and organizational purposes.
If you have any feedback, suggestions, or you've discovered a bug, please open an issue.