Modalics EON-Arp is a free plugin for creating wild melody and chord patterns, and comes with a built-in wavetable synth.
Modalics’ first plugin, Beat Scholar, put a new spin on the beatmaking plugin concept, and was notable for its sliceable ‘beat pizzas’. The follow-up, EON-Arp, focuses on the creation of melodic and harmonic patterns, and the great news is that you can currently download it for free.
EON-Arp is an arpeggiator, but it’s one that promises a large amount of rhythmic and melodic control. The note grid is completely customisable: you can adjust the position, length or velocity of every note with either quantised or freeform timing. As such, everything from finely-honed grooves to experimental polyrhythms should be within your grasp.
Up to 128 steps and 11 pitch positions are available for you, and as well as being able to trigger your existing synths, EON-Arp also has its own built-in mini wavetable synth. As such, it can be viewed as a completely self-contained melody and chord pattern generator.
The plugin enables you to take up to eight snapshots, and you can switch between them with quantized triggering using keyswitches. More than 100 chord, progression and scale presets are included to get you started.
EON-Arp runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats and can currently be downloaded for free for a limited-time from the Modalics website. The regular price will be $29.
TipTop Audio has shared several updates related to their popular 200t line of Eurorack modules, based on the classic Buchla 200 Series Electric Music Box , originally introduced in 1970.
Buchla and Tiptop Audio have partnered to resume the production of these designs, but in Euro format, with module prices starting at $165.
They provided updates on the status of previously announced modules, and also say that they plan to announce more modules, based on Don’s Buchla 200 series modules, ‘later this year’.
New Batch Of Modules Coming In March
The Tiptop Audio Buchla modules have each sold out, shortly after they were introduced.
TipTop says that more modules are coming in March:
“Up first is a new batch of 258t, 245t, 257t and 281t. These are going through final assembly steps and we expect to start shipping them to the shops very soon. We will start with the 258t, 245t and 257t this week, followed by the 281t toward mid/late March. As always, we are letting the shops know the quantity they will be getting so they can open up for additional pre-orders.
The electronic parts shortages haven’t eased yet and we are still experiencing limited supplies. Some of you folks have waited a long time for your order and these coming batches should be able to cover a good number of the back orders placed with the shops.”
The exception is the recently introduced Model 266t Source Of Uncertainty. They say that stock is running low on this module and that it may be a while before more are available.
They note, “This complex module consumes a great deal of components, and hopefully we can make more toward the end of the year, if we get lucky.”
Model 292t Quad Lopass Gate Coming Soon For $350
TipTop had previously announced the Model 292t Quad Lopass Gate, with the goal of releasing it in March. This will be the last of the modules that were introduced in 2021.
What they say about it:
“Model 292t Quad Lopass Gate has moved to production status and we hope to get it released in March. To our EU/UK users, as you may already know, products with Vactrols, an electronic part used in the 292, are no longer allowed in the EU/UK markets and so our dealers in those regions will not be able to carry the 292t with Vactrols. This unfortunately hurts the distribution of many classic audio products like compressors, phasers etc and applies to the low pass gates too. We tried hard to find a solution, but it just didn’t work out.
However, we are optimistic about a modified version tailored for the EU/UK market which is currently in development and are looking forward to releasing when it is ready later this year.
Other shops around the world should be getting their first batch of Vactrol 292t in March. We will let you know when pre-orders open up and the price is $350.”
Preview of the Model 292t Quad Lopass Gate in action, using a 292t prototype and the new True Stereo and FSU cards for the Z-DSP:
Other updates include:
New One-Color, All-Length Stackcables – TipTop’s Stackcables have previously been available in a variety of lengths, color-coded by length. In response to user requests, they’re making white Stackcables available in all lengths, with a 5-pack priced at $30.
New TipTop Audio modules – they are planning on introducing a new family of modules at Superbooth in May. They say that “This new line extends the capabilities of Eurorack with respect to tuning, flexibility, integration with DAW and sequencers and, yes, even polyphony.”
Rode NT-1 is the world’s most popular studio microphone, and with more than six million units sold across a 30-year lifespan, that certainly seems plausible.
Now the company is attempting to write a new chapter in the NT-1’s story with the release of the 5th Generation model. This adds a number of innovative features designed to aid both convenience and performance.
Firstly, Rode claims there’s the new Dial Connect output, which puts both XLR and USB ports into a single housing. So, you can switch between analogue and digital workflows just by changing your cable, and you are promised “the same rich, warm tone” whichever connection method you choose.
Rode also claims, somewhat startlingly, that the new NT-1 is “unclippable”, thanks to a 32-bit float digital output that captures the full dynamic range of the microphone while also enabling DAW users to optimize the audio after recording. Therefore, you no longer need to worry about setting your gain correctly beforehand.
“The NT1 5th Generation redefines the meaning of plug-and-play,” says RODE CEO Damien Wilson. “Since the beginning of audio recording, engineers have relied on the gain knob to capture clean audio – it’s always been the most important process in the recording workflow.
“The NT1 5th Generation changes that completely. When recording in 32-bit float, users can literally plug their microphone into their computer and start recording instantly without any risk of their audio being ruined by clipping or distortion.”
Other features of the digital output include Rode’s Revolution preamp – this promises low noise and high gain – up to 192kHz A/D conversion and onboard DSP that enables you to apply Aphex processing to your audio. This comes in the shape of a compressor, noise gate and two-step high-pass filter, plus Aural Exciter and Big Bottom effects.
The processing can be tweaked with Rode’s two apps, Rode Central and Rode Connect, which enable you to choose from the simplified VoxLab editor, which has just Depth, Sparkle and Punch controls, or the advanced editor that gives you control over every single parameter.
The NT1 5th Generation ships with a shock mount, pop filter and both XLR and USB cables. It features an HF6 large-diaphragm gold-sputtered capsule and is available in either silver or black aluminium. It will be available to order in March priced at $249, and you can find out more on the Rode website.
