Nautilus Tutorial 1: Getting Started

Nautilus is a complex delay network inspired by sub-nautical communications and their interaction with the environment. In essence, Nautilus is a stereo delay consisting of 8 unique delay lines which can be connected and synced in interesting ways. Each time Nautilus pings its sonar system, the generated topography reveals itself through the delay, all while staying in time with the internal or external clock. Complex feedback interactions plunge sounds to new depths, while related delay lines pull fragments of sound in different directions. Manipulate the delay lines even further by configuring the the stereo receptors, sonar frequencies, and aquatic materials that filter the space between Nautilus and its surroundings.
Though Nautilus is a delay effect at heart, it is also a CV/Gate generator. The Sonar Output creates either a unique Gate signal, or a unique CV signal algorithmically generated from Nautilus’s findings. Drive other parts of your patch with pings from the delay network, or use the generated topography as a modulation source.
From the deep ocean trenches, to shimmering tropical reefs, Nautilus is the ultimate exploratory delay network.
www.qubitelectronix.com/shop/nautilus
Configure Nautilus with Narwahl, our web-based config tool:
narwhal.qubitelectronix.com/
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A portion of all Nautilus proceeds will go towards the effort to preserve our ocean and coastal environments through the Surfrider Foundation.
- Stereo Sub-Nautical Delay Processor
- Ultra low noise floor
- 8 codependent delay lines with up to 20 seconds of audio each
- Fade, Doppler and Shimmer delay modes
- Sonar configurable CV/Gate output
// Tech Specs //
- Width: 14HP
- Depth: 22mm
- Power Consumption: +12V=151mA, -12V=15mA, +5V=0mA
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#eurorack #synth #nautilus

[@notsospy]

When Aurora came out, I immediately got it, and was floored by it! When Nautilus came out - you bet I immediately got it as well and I'm absolutely in love!! Everything you guys put out is a masterpiece, and the new designs with the LEDs, the easily-swappable firmware, and even the backpanel drawings is top-class!

[@QuBitElectronix]

Wow - thank you so much for these kind words. We're so glad our creations are resonating with you! We'd love to hear what you're doing with our modules. If you post anything, please tag us!

[@calderwood9641]

Loving my Nautilus, great work team Qu-Bit.

[@QuBitElectronix]

Great to hear! Thanks for letting us know!

[@bluenautilus]

I feel like this module was designed just for me.

[@QuBitElectronix]

Mission accomplished! Thanks for letting us know!

[@constantinflux]

This is a very inspiring module indeed! It would be awesome if there’d be a bandpass filter option for the delays. I’m thinking of putting a whole mix through the module and often find myself eqing delays to exclude bass and high frequencies, to avoid bassdrum/bass muddying the low end of the echos and high-hats/cymbals making the mix too busy. While having a lowpass and a high pass filter option in this module is great, a bandpass filter most often does the trick, leaving the drums alone and applying echos only to the other sounds in the mix.

[@QuBitElectronix]

This is a great recommendation! We'll definitely look into adding this in a future update.

[@constantinflux]

@@QuBitElectronix So awesome!

[@McEnroe911]

Check out Shakmat hi pass. It’s a killer module and very useful.

[@RyFitzProductions]

Sounds amazing! Nice work. Can’t wait to pick one up.

[@QuBitElectronix]

Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for watching!

[@RyFitzProductions]

Thank you. Couldn’t resist. It arrives tomorrow! Do you know when video 2 will be out?

[@wajobu]

Anyone notice that at 1:22 the Aurora changes quickly to FDN Verb and then back to Aurora. What kind of sorcery is Johno doing? 😂

[@QuBitElectronix]

We never put easter eggs in our videos. Nope. Never. :)

[@iamsushi1056]

When it’s not clocked or doesn’t have a tapped clock, can it do smooth delay times? Also, when it’s clocked, is there like a “fine tune” sort of thing? I love having a delay almost _almost_ on the beat, but slowly swelling and growing

[@QuBitElectronix]

Currently there is not a dedicated delay frequency knob that let's you smoothly transition between delay frequencies, as oppose to jumping between divisions/multiplications of a predetermined clock signal. We may be able to add that as a future assignable function on the attenuverter knobs, so we'll keep that in mind for future updates! As for the fine tune, Dispersal behaves as a delay fine tune when Sensors is set to 1 (fully CCW). As you turn Dispersal CW, each stereo channel will fine tune the delays opposite from each other. The left channel delay will speed up to double its original frequency at the max, while the right channel delay will slow down to half the original frequency at its max.

[@TheMachinesWon]

Would love to see a firmware update that allows one to remove say the HP/LP filters and allows for chorus or flanger. Love this module btw!

[@QuBitElectronix]

We always hear such great ideas from the community. Thank you! We'll add this to the list for consideration! And we're glad you're loving your Nautilus. :)

[@richarquis]

I already have Aurora and Data Bender, and Nautilus will be arriving in a few days. Watching this and The Unperson's demos, it looks and sounds completely batty. Can't wait! As for the Narwhal interface, that's a brilliant idea. I think I might petition Make Noise as to the possibility of them doing something similar for Morphagene.

[@QuBitElectronix]

Narwhal definitely makes dealing with configuration files a lot more palatable! Enjoy your Nautilus!

[@richarquis]

@lectronix I will! Since you're on the line, I have a question re: Nebulae V2. I already have MI Beads, MN Morphagene, and 1010 Bitbox Mk2. Beads and Morphagene are totally different animals, and Bitbox although it can work at a granular level, really isn't designed for that. Nebulae looks good because it has a much longer record time, and if I use that up, I can just transfer it into the Bitbox card which is huge. So, I'm asking myself, is there a reason to buy the Nebulae V2, and my first answer is, given all the alternate firmwares, hell yeah. However, there are very few videos showing the V2 in action in its native firmware, and I have yet to look for videos of the alternate firmwares. Are there any resources you can point me to? Or is it just functionally the same as V1, but with improved processing/buffer size or such, in which case the V1 videos would suffice? Oh, and if I did choose it, are there alternate panels available for those firmwares?

[@sillyworm]

Ooo JUST bought a VENO ECHO...and forgot I had THIS Q BIT on my list.Well...I'll get it sometime this summer.

[@QuBitElectronix]

Nautilus will be here for you whenever you're ready. Patch on!

[@dmg-electrique7292]

The plant panel alone makes me buy it. (Please more such aesthetic panels in the future) I have surface and data bender and I like them, but I could love Nautilus, the only thing I would like would be if it came with a reverb. What also contributes to the purchase is the USB connection on the front and the announcement that updates will come. Great Qu-Bit, thank you

[@QuBitElectronix]

Thanks for the kind words--we love the panel too. :) As for reverbs...have you see our Aurora?

[@dmg-electrique7292]

@@QuBitElectronix yes i know the aurora. Since I don't like the bitcrusher or distortion in the Nautilus, it would be great if there were reverb instead. Maybe can one of these replaced in another firmware update/Version?

[@destroy_television]

I just dropped about $3,000 on 10 modules plus a case. This was one of the modules, and the one I'm most excited to noodle around with. I used to make Eurorack cases 8 years ago, but when we closed our doors, I had decided to step away entirely and sold everything. It's only when I started seeing modules like this one a few weeks ago that got me wanting to build another setup. Also just saw the Christmas sale you guys got going. Might buy an Aurora+Databender as well!

[@QuBitElectronix]

That sounds exciting! If you share any sounds you're making--make sure to tag us. We'd love to hear it!

[@sillyworm]

That's exciting! I'm walking a tightrope with my budget....I'm awaiting a Sonicware Texture Lab,OXI Coral and a Veno ECHO.Just bought and received a Radikal Cep A rack version..building a rack forvthe 1ST time.Not sure what my next modules will be( I forgot I had wanted this Q BIT Nautilus..have to get it layer this Summer).Besides a sequencer( recommendations?)..what are a few essential intermediate modules I should def have? Thanks

[@destroy_television]

@sillyworm I think it's a little dependant on what you are trying to do, honestly. Within this system I put together, I snagged a Vermona meloDICER. I was doing some pretty generative ambient stuff, but I'm currently rebuilding for more of a Techno groovebox system, and while the meloDICER is incredibly fun and very easy for generating happy accidents.. at 34hp, it's very large for a sequencer in a 6U case. I picked up a Korg SQ64 when they were on sale for like $120, and that can do multiple sequences and drum triggers while freeing up that precious hp in my rack for other things like modulation sources or utility. I will say, though, that the QuBit Bloom looks really interesting and is definitely something I may consider down the line. I have a couple of QuBit modules, and all they do is inspire me. I think they're some of the coolest modules on the market. Aurora will probably be my next QuBit purchase! Can't wait to see what they come up with next.

[@remoteflying]

the sonar ping is really fantastic, I’ve used it to modify the start and length position on the lubadh, it gets weird fast

[@immersiveworlds]

Beautiful!

[@QuBitElectronix]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@rdean150]

The beautiful way you guys utilize LEDs in the panels of your new modules is inspired. Instruoh is the only other module maker I've seen who uses LED panels as aesthetically. Nixing the shift button is appreciated, although with all the color coded modes I'd still probably need to have the manual handy on my phone most of the time anyway. But if this module has even half the sonic potential of Data Bender, but sounds as smooth and pretty as this demo showcases, then all those modes are probably worth it. Is the ADC on this 24/96 by chance?

[@QuBitElectronix]

Thanks for the kind words @rdean150 - we're pretty proud of the LEDs on Nautilus. As for the ADC: • Sample Rate: 48kHz • Bit-depth: 32 bit (internal processing), 24-bit (hardware conversion) Hope you're loving your Nautilus!

[@VirtualModular]

Any plans to release some of your effects algorithms as plugins? This would be great, but I would really love a Databender plugin! Cheers.

[@QuBitElectronix]

That's a great idea! We don't have any current plans for that but will definitely keep it in mind for the future.

[@VirtualModular]

@@QuBitElectronix cool, thanks for replying.

[@JAM-rp6fi]

@@QuBitElectronix VCV Rack modules, PLEASE!

[@bleepinnbloopin1175]

What is the longest delay time that can be achieved with Nautilus? From the manual I see the slowest clock rate is .25Hz so 15bpm which would be 4 seconds. Wondering how this works out with the resolution knob. I see resolution divides as low as two bars. Assuming these are based on 4:4 timing, 2 bars would be 8 beats? would that mean a single delay line would have a delay of 32 seconds at min clock rate and min resolution? Or am I understanding resolution wrong? I'm hoping for around 8 seconds of delay so I can do Frippertronics style looping but with that qubit special sauce on top. Thanks!

[@QuBitElectronix]

The perceivable max delay time is ~20 seconds per channel, so you should be able to achieve that with a slow clock rate and Resolution!

[@bleepinnbloopin1175]

@@QuBitElectronix awesome thanks! I've been wanting this beautiful module since it came out and every time I think of something I want to do I find out Nautilus can do it! Seems like it is a bout time I finally pull the trigger on it.

[@andreas-wismann]

Great! At @3:10 it seems that longer delays are turned counterclockwise - can this be changed via settings or firmware? I'd like it to be traditional: longer => turn clockwise

[@QuBitElectronix]

We could easily apply this configurability in the Narwhal web app, and we will keep it in mind for a future update!

[@michel5148]

Is somebody seeing the fdn verb @1:23? do i win a prize? would love to win a bubble-a-mathingy...

[@QuBitElectronix]

We have no idea what you're referring to......sort of...

[@fosferus]

i'm gonna need a bigger boat.. i mean case...er, skiff. yeah, this creation deserves some detailed focus in a smaller environment.

[@QuBitElectronix]

Agreed--small "focus case" work can be so valuable. Enjoy your Nautilus!

[@latejuly432]

Is it possible to do Karplus Stong synthesis with this?

[@QuBitElectronix]

Nautilus's delay frequency can perform karplus-strong synthesis. Adding both Sensors and Dispersal can add some really neat harmonic variations as well!

[@andrewnancarrow]

what ever happened to Nautilus Tutorial 2: Advanced features?

[@QuBitElectronix]

It's been a long time coming, but we will be releasing Tutorial 2 with the upcoming Nautilus firmware update. That way we can cover the complete list of available features on Nautilus between the two videos. The firmware update is currently in beta on our Discord, and we expect to release an official version soon!

[@headfullofsnow2001]

Any plans to release a grey version?

[@QuBitElectronix]

Sorry--no plans of grey.

[@flomoller6096]

I like it, but it is too expensive

[@gz625]

Are you considering to build a module for AE modular systems?

[@QuBitElectronix]

We currently have no plans for an AE formatted module, but we never leave anything off the table!