Archive for September, 2021

Superbooth 2021: Is Waldorf about to get back on the Wave?

 

Against all odds, Superbooth is back, with the previously annual grassroots music technology show set to take place in Berlin schedule for 15-18 September. And we can look forward to hearing about some new synth and other sound-making gear.

 

Walforf prepares to ‘welcome back, old friend’, so is a new synth in the offering?

 

Waldorf has posted an image of a red button on its social media channels, along with the words “Welcome back, old friend”. While this does not give an awful lot away – red buttons have been a fixture on quite a few pieces of Waldorf kit down the years – excitable types are suggesting that this could mean a new addition to the ‘Wave’ family, which has a history that stretches right back to the legendary PPG Wave.

 

However, time will tell but, given that Waldorf is booked to attend Superbooth, we can say that the chances of this ‘old friend’ making its reappearance there are rather high.

 

 

Superbooth 2021: Doepfer Introducing 5 New Eurorack Modules


Ahead of Superbooth 2021, scheduled for Sept 15-18 in Berlin, Doepfer has introduced five new Eurorack modules, along with a new case that features a keyboard built into the lid.

 

The Doepfer 100PB is a Eurorack case with a keyboard built into the lid. It features 37 keys, a MIDI interface with 3.5 mm stereo jack socket, power supply (1200mA) and two bus boards.

 

The A-126-2 Frequency Shifter is a fully analog frequency shifter for audio signals.

 

A frequency shifter is an audio processing unit that shifts each frequency of the incoming audio signal by the same frequency. If the shifting frequency is e.g. 200Hz an incoming audio frequency of 1000 Hz becomes 1200 Hz, 2000Hz becomes 2200 Hz, 3000 Hz becomes 3200 Hz and so on.

 

Because frequency shifting adds a fixed frequency to the source signal, it results in very different results than pitch shifting or slowing down/speeding up sounds.

 

The A-138f Dual 3-way crossfader contains two identical crossfaders, with three inputs and one output each.

 

Three different signals are connected to the inputs A, B and C. In the ccw position of the corresponding control only signal A appears at the output. Between ccw and center position a mix of the signals A and B appears at the output. In the center position only signal B appears at the output. Between center and cw position a mix of signals B and C appears at the output. In the cw position only signal C appears at the output.

 

The module is DC coupled and can be used for both audio and control voltage processing.

 

The A-149-4 Quad Random Voltage Source generates four triggered random voltages, which meet the criteria choosen by several controls.

 

It features controls for the criteria selection:

  • Octave range (manual control “Oct.”): this parameter defines how many octaves are covered by the random voltages (0 … +5V, with “Oct.” control fully CCW only 0V are generated)
  • Grid (6 illuminated radio buttons): this parameter defines the grid of the random voltages:
    • Octaves (Oct)
    • Octaves + Quin (Quint)
    • Chords
    • Scale
    • Semitones
    • continuous (i.e. stepless)
  • Minor / Major (2 illuminated radio buttons): this parameter defines in case of chords or scales if they are minor or major. For all other grids this parameter has no meaning
  • Sixth / Seventh (2 illuminated separate buttons): these parameters defines if the sixth or seventh is added. Valid only if Oct, Quint, Chord or Scale is chosen as grid.

 

The A-179-2 Light Controlled Voltage Source II can be used to convert different illumination intensities into corresponding analog voltages and a gate signal derived from the analog voltage.

 

A light sensitive resistor (LDR) converts the illumination of the internal light sensor into a corresponding analog control voltage. The internal sensor is located at the front panel. Instead of the internal sensor a remote sensor can be connected via a standard patch cable to the module (ext.Sens. socket). An external sensor with a 2 m patch cable (A-100C200) is included. The external sensor is mounted on a small pc board which is equipped also with a 3.5 mm jack socket.

 

One can choose between passive control by covering/shading the sensor via hand or body, or active control by using e.g. a pocket lamp or flashlight. For this two versions of output voltages are available (CV Out + und CV Out -).

 

The Doepfer A-182-4 Dual Rotary Switches is a passive module that contains two mechanical rotary switches, with 4 positions each.

 

According to the position of the control knob socket 1, 2, 3 or 4 is connected to the common socket C. As the module is fully passive it works bidirectional, i.e. the sockets 1…4 can be inputs and then C is the output. The other way round C can be the input and the sockets 1…4 are the outputs.

 

By means of an internal jumper the terminals C of both switches can be connected. That way the module can be used as kind of a miniature 4×4 matrix. Rotary switch A is e.g. used to select one of the four sockets 1…4 as input and this signal is sent to one of the four sockets 1…4 of switch B. Visit the Doepfer site for details.

 

 

WMD Releases The Kraken

Demo of the Kraken in action

 

WMD has released the Kraken, a new physical modeling snare drum Eurorack module that is designed to create realistic snare sounds.

 

The heart of Kraken is a digital synthesis engine that uses filters, delay, and feedback networks to create the sound of two heads and a resonant cavity. Shell, Low Tune, Pitch, and Overtone knobs all interact with each other, creating the physical model of the drum itself. This resonator then acts as an exciter for a network of noise generation to provide the sound of the snare springs rattling on the bottom head.

 

The Model switch provides three distinct modeling sounds. The first uses digital noise to create the sound of the “snares”, providing a repeatable, sample-like sound. The second model uses analog noise, which makes each hit a bit different. It mimicks the subtle inconsistencies of a real drummer hitting the head with alternating stick patterns. The third model uses the digital noise to generate the snares, then engages a pitch shifter on the output that transforms the sound to a vintage pitched up or down style sound.

 

The Wreck switch provides 3 unique distortion characters that can be dialed in or modulated via the corresponding CV input. The analog style distortion ranges from saturation to clipping. The wavefolder selection gets that compressed crunch, and bit depth reduction resembles vintage, digital sampler-like sounds.

 

Finally, Stick and Rim inputs give the user two gate inputs for hitting the head of the drum or the rim. When both inputs receive a trigger simultaneously, a realistic “rimshot” sound is generated, offering even more ability to sequence a realistic sounding snare pattern.

 

WMD released the Kraken and it is available now, priced at $299.