Mob of Emus

Polyfunctional Harmonic Sextet

Mob of Emus Software v.2.1 has been released. Check the Downloads tab for details.

Mob of Emus is a powerful music and sound design tool that packs an enormous amount of creative power into an amazingly compact 16HP module.

Mob of Emus gives you six channels of oscillators, noise sources, cyclical and 1-shot modulators (including LFOs, envelopes, and various other shapes), sample and hold waveshapes, slow random modulators, triggers, rhythm patterns, and quantization (of both internal and external signals) in pretty much any combination (well, any combination of six channels, anyway).

In addition to being able to independently program the function of each individual channel, Mob of Emus’ Hex Mode provides a macro control layer that allows you to control all of its channels simultaneously (while maintaining the relationships of each channel’s independent programming).

What’s more, Mob of Emus’ “harmonic” control structure makes it extremely easy to combine its oscillators into rich additive timbres, to combine its LFOs into stacked harmonic low frequency modulation waves, and to create modulation sources and triggers with intricate polyrhythmic patterns.

With an external trigger input, six CV inputs that can operate in six different control modes, six independent outputs, and an assignable mix output, Mob of Emus can operate as the heart of an almost unlimited variety of patches. And its 8 real-time controls will give you immediate hands-on access to a channel’s (or all six channels’) key parameters, inviting (and rewarding) exploration and improvisation.

Mob of Emus features include:

Six channels that can function independently or can be further controlled by a Hex Mode macro layer that lets you control all six simultaneously. Channels can be:
- Wide-range digital oscillators
- Noise sources
- Cyclical and 1-shot modulators (including LFOs, envelopes, and various other shapes)
- Sample and hold waveshapes
- Slow random modulators
- Triggers
- Rhythm patterns
- Quantizers (of both internal and external(!) signals)
Six CV inputs that can function in six different control modes
Eight real-time controls for immediate access to key channel parameters
Six individual channel outputs and an assignable mix output
The ability to store and recall 12 user presets
And much more…

Mob of Emus is 16HP wide and 25mm deep.

Power requirements (max): 130mA +12V, 25mA -12V. Reverse polarity protected.

Mob of Emus is available from Rossum Electro-Music dealers worldwide.

Mob of Emus Introduction

Mob of Emus Harmonic LFO and Arp Demonstration

View or download Mob of Emus documentation.

Mob of Emus Quick Start Guide (PDF)

Mob of Emus Manual (PDF)

Mob of Emus 1.2 Software New Features Guide (PDF)

Download the latest Mob of Emus software.

The latest version of Mob of Emus firmware is v2.1_220820

Mob of Emus 2.1

Pause Jack Fix

The Pause function can only be toggled by holding HEX and pressing the TAP button. Pause can no longer be toggled by holding HEX and receiving a pulse at the TAP jack.

Master Tune

A persistent (non-volatile) Master Tune setting has been added. This enables global retuning of Mob of Emus (MOE)’s origin frequency, allowing its default/initial parameter values to match more closely with one’s synthesizer system or ensemble when MOE’s output(s) are monitored as an audio signal (as opposed to being used as control voltages for modulation). This is most useful when using Mob of Emus as an audio oscillator or sound source (instead of as a modulator like an LFO or envelope) together with its default/initial parameter values without tuning. For example, it is now possible to set the default/initial parameter values to frequencies that correspond with tuning standards like A = 440 Hz.

To enter Master Tune Mode, press and hold OPTION + HEX + TAP (pressing in that order works well), and while continuing to hold OPTION + HEX + TAP, press HARM4 (the Channel 4 button).

H.LED4 will flash. Release all buttons.

Turn the FREQ pot to set Master Tune.

– The original MOE setting is at full counterclockwise (CCW).

The H.LED4 will flash slowly at this original setting.

At this setting, Mob of Emus’ origin frequency is 2Hz (120 BPM).

(When MOE’s parameters are set to default (and without any CV patched to its inputs) and it is then used at a sound source (instead of as a source of CV modulation), the default parameter values will sound like they are tuned corresponding to A = 430.53896461Hz.)

– Above that default value, there are 129 further settings.

These frequency settings correspond to a range of about A = 332 to A = 448 (at full clockwise CW). A = 440 is at approximately noon on the FREQ pot.

The H.LED4 will flash at a medium rate for all of these settings.

Press the HARM4 (Channel 4) button to exit Master Tune Mode. The tuning is saved to persistent FLASH memory.

Tuning Notes

* As it ships from the factory, MOE will have an origin frequency of 2.0 Hz (120 BPM). (This sounds like A = 430.53896461 Hz when parameters are set to factory defaults and used as a sound source without tuning.)

* At the the setting corresponding to approx. A=440, MOE will have an origin frequency of approx. 2.04395 Hz (approx. 122.63698 BPM).

* Please be aware that changing the global Master Tune will affect the frequencies of all presets. This includes the factory (default) content.

Installation Notes

* When the new software is first installed, MOE will remain at its original master tune setting, corresponding to 0 = fully CCW.

* MOE will continue to ship from the factory with at its original master tune setting.

NOTE:

* To set default parameter values, press and hold Tap + Hex + Option. All of the LEDs will “chase” to let you know you are ready to select a utility function. While continuing to hold Tap + Hex + Option, press and hold the Preset 2 button for at least 2/3 of a second to set all of the current panel parameters to their default values. The Channel Selector LEDs will strobe once from 6 to 1 to indicate the values have been set.

The Mob of Emus 1.3 software update includes bug fixes and feature enhancements.

– The LEDs in the Display Software Revision utility have been updated to version 2.1.

Mob of Emus 1.3 software update:
– This update fixes a bug where holding a Channel Selector Button for a short time to select a single channel and deselect any others was not working correctly.
– This update fixes a bug where some Hex Mode parameters were not ignored when Hex Mode was set to off.
– This update introduces a feature allowing users to double-click and hold the Hex button to reset all Hex Mode parameters and set Hex Mode to on.

The exciting Mob of Emus 1.2 software update contains feature enhancements including the new single CV Input Reassignment feature, new CV modulation destinations, and a new Pause feature that expand programming and performance possibilities.

To check the version that’s in your Mob of Emus, press and hold Tap + Hex + Option and (while continuing to hold them) click the Preset 1 button. While holding Tap + Hex + Option, the software revision number will be displayed on the Preset and Channel Selector LEDs. The major revision number will be displayed on the Preset LEDs and the minor revision number on the Channel Selector LEDs. So, for example, if current software is v1.1, the Preset 1 LED and the Channel Selector 1 LED would be lit.

The latest version of Mob of Emus factory presets is v1.0_201110

NOTE: This is the version included with the initial shipments of Mob of Emus.

If you’ve saved over the factory presets and would like to restore them, download the file below and follow the procedure in the Utilities chapter of the manual.

The latest version of Mob of Emus boot software is boot2_200728

It’s very unlikely you will ever need to update this. If it ever becomes necessary, we’ll put appropriate instructions here at that time.

Updating your Mob of Emus Firmware

To update your Mob of Emus, you’ll play the .wav file linked at the bottom of this page into your module. We’ve had good luck playing the file directly from a computer (but see the warnings below) and from mobile devices. In theory, any device that will play a .wav file without distorting the data should work. However, here are some caveats:

If you are steaming the file directly from the web, be sure that your data rate is sufficient to keep up. If necessary, wait until the file has been completely buffered before starting playback.
If you are playing through an audio interface, it should output line level.
If you are playing the file from a computer or phone, quit Facebook, your email client, and any other software that produces audio. Any other audio injected into the stream will cause the update to fail. If you’re using an iPhone, temporarily placing it in Airplane Mode will prevent any incoming call or message notifications from interfering with playback.
We have found that Safari on the Mac plays the file in a way that sometimes keeps it from being successfully recognized and decoded. If you are using Safari, we recommend downloading the zip archive below and playing the file from the local copy using Quicktime Player.
In fact, if you are having any problem streaming the file, downloading the zip archive is a good alternative.

To update the firmware in your Mob of Emus :

Connect a patch cable from the output of whatever you are using to play the .wav file to the 6/FREQ input on your Mob of Emus (we’ve found that a regular Eurorack patch cord works fine).
Turn on your system while holding the HEX and Channel 5 buttons. The Channel 1 and Preset 1 LEDs will be lit, and the HEX LED will be off.
Press the OPTION button to proceed.
Play the audio file containing the Mob of Emus software. The Preset 1-3 LEDs will show the input audio signal VU: P1 is too low. P1 and P2 is better. All three is best. Once a file sync marker is detected the Channel 2 LED will light and the remaining channel LEDs will light in sequence to show load progress. If a successful load occurs, all 6 LEDs will be lit.
Press the OPTION button to reboot using the new software.
If an error occurs, all Channel LEDs will go off, the HEX LED will light, and the P4-P6 LEDs indicate the type of error. This is very rare and almost always because of a playback level that was either too low (most often) or too hot. In that case, click the OPTION button, adjust the playback level, and try again. If it still doesn’t work, get in touch via our Support Request Form and we’ll help you get it handled.