808 Cowbell with Falistri and Brenso
808 Cowbell With Falistri & Polaris:
This 808 cowbell patch is similar to the basic Falistri cowbell patch, but it omits the ring mod.
Modules:
Falistri x2
Sum or mixer (333)
Intellijel Polaris
VCA
Envelope (Falistri A):
Use one Falistri to create a 2-stage percussion envelope. The top (Yellow) function will be used to recreate the transient sound of a stick hitting the bell The lower (Green) function recreates the bell’s ringing. The functions are combined to create an envelope with a ‘Tick-tsss’ sound.
Set both time scales to slow.
Set both play modes to transient.
Top Yellow Function Generator (Transient):
The top yellow function generator will be used to create the initial strike of the cowbell.
Set the rise shape knob to linear (noon).
Set the fall shape knob to exponential (fully counterclockwise).
Create zero attack time by setting the rise time knob fully counterclockwise.
Adjust the fall time knob to create a distinct tick. Pull back after it starts having at Ch sound. It should be just long enough to sound like a snap. The 808’s transient envelope is 0.05 seconds (50 ms).
Set the yellow attenuated out fully clockwise to +100%.
Lower Green Function Generator (Ringing Body):
The lower green function generator will be used to recreate the decaying ringing of the bell.
Set the rise shape knob to linear (noon).
Set the fall shape knob to exponential (fully counterclockwise).
Create zero attack time by setting the rise time knob fully counterclockwise.
Set the fall time to around half a second: the 808’s sustained envelope is 0.5 seconds (500 ms). Shorter times will create a drier sound, while longer times will become more cymbal-like.
Set the green attenuated output to around 1 or 2 o’clock; it should be quieter than the transient envelope and have an almost reverb-like effect.
Set the Q (quadrature) switch off (to the left).
Patch the max output to the VCA CV in. The max output combines both attenuated functions; the envelope will follow the shorter yellow function until its level falls bellow the more sustained green function.
Oscillators (Falistri B):
Use the other Falistri as the sound source. Setup both function generators as oscillators:
Set the time scale on both function generators to audio rate.
Set the play mode on both function generators to loop.
The 808 cowbell uses 2 oscillators tuned to 800 Hz (G5 +35 cents) and 540 Hz (C#5 -45 cents). This is a fifth apart, detuned. The buzzing from the oscillators beating against each other creates the inharmonic metallic hum of a ringing bell.
The cowbell requires square or pulse waves, but Falistri outputs either triangles or unipolar pulse waves. The flip-flops will fix this, but they will also pitch the function generators down by an octave. Tune each function generator an octave higher than the 808:
Function 1: 1600 Hz (G6 + 35 cents)
Function 2: 1080 Hz (C#6 -45 cents)
Set both flip-flops to bipolar.
Patch both function generators end-of-rise (EOR) to the flip-flop ins. You could alternatively use the function generators’ unipolar, or bipolar outputs. The flip-flop will convert all of them into pulse waves.
Filtering (Polaris):
Unlike some cowbells, the 808 doesn’t use ring-mod. Patch the flip-flop outs to a sum or mixer, then patch from there to a filter in. I’ve used the Intellijel Polaris as the filter. Polaris’ bandpass mode ‘E’ has a frequency response similar to the filter in the 808. It has an asymmetrical shape that cuts out most of the lower harmonics and gently rolls off the highest fizz.
Set the filter to bandpass mode E.
Tune the filter to 800Hz (A5).
Set the input drive fairly low (between 8 and 9 o'clock). Raising the drive too high will add an unwanted rattling sound into the metal noise.
The 808 has quite a resonant sound, set Q to about 50%. This will exaggerate the pluckiness of the sound.
Try out the different filter modes. Mode ‘A’ sounds good too, but has more bass than the 808’s cowbell.
Output:
Patch Polaris to the VCA in.
Patch the VCA out to your audio out.
The result really captures the right character of the 808’s cowbell.
Alternative Filter Option:
If you don’t have Polaris, you can combine 2 independent high and low pass filters. They should have a combined centre frequency of 880Hz (A5), and a bandwidth of 180 to 200Hz (the distance between the high and low pass). Ideally you should choose a highpass with a gentler falloff than the lowpass. An 18db lowpass and a 12db highpass combination should work well, but try out other combinations.
Lowpass: set the lowpass frequency to approximately: 975 Hz (B5 minus 23 cents)
Highpass: set the highpass frequency to approximately: 795 Hz (G5 plus 24 cents)
Adjust both filters to have a moderate to high resonance.
808 Cowbell with Brenso & Polaris
New Modules:
Brenso
This is the same patch as above, but with the oscillator Falistri replaced with a Brenso.
Tune Brenso’s oscillators to 800 Hz (G5 +35 cents) and 540 Hz (C#5 -45 cents).
On the yellow oscillator, flick the square/pulse switch to square.
Patch both square waves to the mixer.
The rest of the patch follows as above.
Further Reading
Pg. 5: Fig. 12: A swing type VCA.
Pg. 6: A short description on the cowbell circuit.
Pg. 7: A block diagram.
Pg. 13: Circuit schematic.
Pg. 14: A chart with frequencies and decay times.
More Cowbell: a Physically-Informed, Circuit-Bendable, Digital Model of the TR-808 Cowbell
An analysis of the 808 cowbell.
Pg. 6 Transfer function for the bandpass filter.
Synthesizing Cowbells & Claves (SOS Synth Secrets)
A classic Gordon Reid article from 2002 explaining his approach to the 808 cowbell.