Instrument manual
Ectocore Guide
Ectocore is an 8 HP Eurorack version of Infinite Digits’ Zeptocore: a stereo sample mangler for slicing breaks, combining effects, sequencing transients, and staying locked to a modular clock.
Demo
Ectocore streams stereo audio from its SD card and reshapes it in real time. Use the large Break control for immediate variation, select sounds from 16 banks, and move through curated combinations of slicing, gating, filtering, distortion, and other effects.
Highlights and effects
- 8 HP Eurorack module.
- Stereo 44.1 kHz audio streamed from SD card.
- 16 sound banks with voltage control over sample selection.
- 16 curated FX combinations selected by the Grimoire control.
- Algorithmic sequencing for generating new sample-slice patterns.
- Transient-specific triggering for kick, snare, and other detected events.
- Clock input and output with synchronized playback.
Source code and schematics
Ectocore is based on the open-source Zeptocore device by Infinite Digits. Explore the canonical
_core source repository
or open the
Ectocore v1.0.1 schematic directly.
Rungling and sequencing
The internal looping random sequencer is inspired by runglers and Turing machines. It can continually generate related slice patterns, balancing repetition with controlled mutation.
Transient sequencing
Ectocore can identify and expose transients so external triggers can address musically useful events such as kicks and snares instead of advancing through a sample blindly.
Stay in sync
Clock input keeps Ectocore aligned with a patch while automatic pitch adjustment matches the sample to the detected tempo. Clock output can pass the synchronized pulse onward to the rest of the system.
Firmware and sample tools
For the desktop app, read the _core sample manager guide.
Use the store’s Ectocore firmware selector to choose the current clock and latency build. The existing quick-start and sample manager remains available for preparing the SD card and managing sounds.
Acknowledgments
Ectocore grew from the open-source Zeptocore platform and a wider community of hardware, firmware, and music-software work. Read the full project history and acknowledgments.