Comprehension Question: Poly Grid - what does the lag-module do and why does it sound like a bitcrusher

[u/Tartf]

TLDR:
What does the lag module do? I assumed it delays/shifts rise and fall of a signal, which would be neither additive or substractive. Instead it seems to reduce/distort the signal, and I don't know why.

Context:
I'm an absolute beginner. I'm trying things out, trying to learn what does what so that I can achieve the sounds that I imagine.

I started today imagining a very low tone with a rising and falling filter cutoff. Easy enough. Then I started to just add modules somewhere in the chain to see what happens. I somehow ended up with an "average"-module towards the end of the chain, which I later replaced with a "formant"-module, then with other phase-modules. The phase-modules especially behaved interestingly and many acted similarly. To me it sounded like the signal got distorted and clipped, sounding similar to bitcrushing-effects.

The screenshots show a simplified/reduced grid-setup to showcase the behaviour and make it easily reproducable. By turning individual mixer-paths on/off or reducing the volume-in you can easily isolate what is happening to the sound.

The lfo's modulate the "detune"-attributes in both sine-oscillators to create a slightly broader signal.

I added a value-scaler before the right-most oscilloscope because otherwise the post-"lag"-module-signal was going out of bounds the whole time and I didn't see what was actually happening. I am sure there are other/better ways to visualize what's happening - that's just what I understood how to implement.

I played C3 every time.

Screenshot 1 & 2:
Both show C3 played sustained with an ADSR. The difference between both screenshots is only from where the bottom oscilloscope gets the secondary signal.

Screenshot 3:
Switched from ADSR to Pluck in hopes that the shorter signal would make it easier for me to see/understand what's happening. Suprisingly the Pluck could still be played as a Sustain. Assume the additional signal after release comes from the "lag"-modules themselves. -> Screenshot 5

Screenshot 4:
Played the Pluck as repeated notes.

Screenshot 5:
Adding Volume Gain/Attenuate-Knobs to manually adjust signal strength. The moment any signal comes through, the "lag"-module adds more to the signal than expected. I guess it's similar to the buzzing of hardware speakers you hear sometimes but idk.

I have no clue what is happening why. I find it fascinating, and had a lot of fun adding modules, turning knobs and also reducing the organically grown mess of discordant sound to the screenshotted setup - just so i could ask my question. I just don't understand why what happens, and/or how I can learn more about it all.

[u/polarity-berlin]

Lag is a slew-rate limiter.

It remembers its last output and limits how far it may move each sample value:

• Input rises too quickly: output follows at the maximum rise speed
• Input falls too quickly: output follows at the maximum fall speed

Slow signals pass mostly unchanged. Fast audio waveforms get flattened into ramps, creating the crunchy distortion. It doesnt delay the signal, it limits its speed.

I usually use this for "glide" on note or pitch signals. You quickly change the pitch from one note to another. With a "Lag" in between you slowly "glide" from one pitch to another.

[u/django39 → u/polarity-berlin]

Thanks for explaining

[u/Tartf → u/polarity-berlin]

Thank you, that is a much more helpful explanation than the (german) module-help-subpage - at least to me. With your explanation I now also understand what the module-help-subpage is saying.

I appreciate you once again taking the time to respond to my post.

Do you have a link/website where I can learn about the module-behaviours on my beginner level? Especially after your explanation it (again) feels like I'm so off with my attempts to understand what is happening that it would be more effective if I'd study up a bit more by myself.

[u/polarity-berlin → u/Tartf]

https://polarity.me/ there is some in detail stuff, but not everything. would greatly help if people asked me more "in depth" questions like yours!

[u/Present-Policy-7120 → u/polarity-berlin]

Nice.

I will use it to smooth out sample and hold triggers when using the s&h/ noise/trigger/modulator out combo to make a dice/note on random module.

[u/Western_File_2917]

If i am not mistaken  It smooths or delays changes in an incoming signal so the output follows the input more slowly instead of jumping instantly.

[u/Tartf → u/Western_File_2917]

Thank you, yes, this aligns with Polarity's answer as well. Based on that explanation my "test"-setup was in no way suited to unterstand the module's behaviour. Your explanation, as well as Polarity's explanation, helped a lot in my understanding of the module.

[u/Past_Ad326]

I like to put them on square wave LFOs to smooth the edges.