How It Works
Technical view
Despite the name, the current Split Atom patch is not a dual-band fuzz with octave partial generation. It is a single high-passed fuzz branch that raises gain with `fuzz`, adds a DC offset with `bias` before the saturation stage, and then shapes the result with a broad 980 Hz peak and a tone-controlled high shelf before `mix` blends it with the dry stereo preview source. The result then passes through the shared DC-blocking, output-gain, and soft-limiting stage.
- ninetysix Originals
- waveshaping / saturation
- delay processing
- oscillator / LFO modulation
- DC blocking
Signal Path
Compiled preview chain
Preview source: An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with the shared 19-sample right-channel delay before it hits the current single-branch fuzz core.
- 1internal picked-string demo phrase
- 2shared stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- 3high-pass cleanup
- 4gain boost into the fuzz stage
- 5DC bias offset before saturation
- 6single saturation stage
- 7980 Hz peak shaping
- 8post-fuzz high-shelf trim
- 9dry / wet mix
- 10DC blocker
- 11output gain trim
- 12final tanh limiter
Preview source
An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with the shared 19-sample right-channel delay before it hits the current single-branch fuzz core.
Effect core
Single high-passed DC-biased fuzz branch with post-fuzz peak and shelf shaping.
Signal path
The static waveform and the live player both reflect this compiled signal chain.
- internal picked-string demo phrase
- shared stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- high-pass cleanup
- gain boost into the fuzz stage
- DC bias offset before saturation
- single saturation stage
- 980 Hz peak shaping
- post-fuzz high-shelf trim
- dry / wet mix
- DC blocker
- output gain trim
- final tanh limiter
Controls that matter
These are the currently active controls detected in the FAUST source for this effect.
- mix: Crossfades or scales the current wet layer against the dry stereo preview source.
- output_gain_db: Applies final post-effect level trim after DC blocking and before the output limiter.
- fuzz: Raises the gain feeding the fuzz stage.
- tone: Sets the post-fuzz 980 Hz peak and high-shelf trim.
- bias: Adds a DC offset before the saturation stage.
Code-backed analysis
The generated description is tied to the active helper blocks and routing found in the current DSP.
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- fuzzCore
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
Controls
Audible controls in this DSP
Crossfades or scales the current wet layer against the dry stereo preview source.
Higher settings make the processed layer more dominant relative to the dry phrase.
Applies final post-effect level trim after DC blocking and before the output limiter.
Matches loudness without changing the underlying effect structure.
Raises the gain feeding the fuzz stage.
Higher settings add more edge, sustain, and fuzz density.
Sets the post-fuzz 980 Hz peak and high-shelf trim.
Higher settings brighten the fuzz and push more upper-mid focus.
Adds a DC offset before the saturation stage.
Higher settings skew the clipping and change the fuzz texture.
Analysis
Code-derived notes
Current implementation is one DC-biased fuzz branch with EQ, not a true split-band or octave-partial design.
Active blocks
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- fuzzCore
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
- softsat
- splitAtomOctave
- pickedVoice
- fund
- pickEnv
- ampEnv
- triggerAt
- maxDelaySamples
Inactive helpers
- synthVoice
- organVoice
- bellVoice
- quantize
- combLP
- echoOnly
- diffuser
Warnings
No current warnings are attached to this effect.
Source
- library/ninetysix-originals/split-atom.dsp
- Output stage: DC blocker -> output gain trim -> final tanh limiter
- Library position: 276