Erica Synths Supersizes Bullfrog Educational Synthesizer For The Classroom
Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Erica Synths and Richie Hawtin have introduced the Bullfrog XL, an educational electronic music instrument designed specifically for teachers to use in front of the classroom.
Erica says that the “Bullfrog XL expands the concept of the regular Bullfrog by inflating its size by a factor of three. With its expanded size and built-in oscilloscope, Bullfrog XL isn’t just for classrooms but is sure to be a great addition to any studio.”
When the original was announced, Hawtin said “We believe that the hands-on approach and problem solving that is innate to synthesis on a semi-modular synth like the Bullfrog, contains life lessons that go beyond what we can hear.”
The newly inflated version, Bullfrog XL, is 3 times the size of its predecessor, measuring 820mmx505x65 (250 with the side panels) and weighing in at just over 8kg, and adds a few key educational features, including the oscilloscope you see at the top of the unit.
Bullfrog XL key features:
- Fully analog design
- Highly accurate voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that tracks great over 8 octaves
- Manually adjustable and voltage controlled waveshapes – sine-shark fin and pulse wave with pulse width modulation (PWM)
- Zener diode-based noise generator
- Resonant lowpass voltage controlled filter (VCF)
- Voltage controlled amplifier (VCA) with adjustable offset
- Delay effect with adjustable delay time and feedback amount
- Two looping attack-sustain-release envelope generators (EG)
- Sample & Hold circuit with an individual clock
- Attenuverter and two buffered splitter circuits
- Slew processor with adjustable slew time
- Two channel oscilloscope
- 3 mm jack sockets
- Manual gate button, Gate and Trigger out
- Voice card slot
- Built in speakers
- DIN5 MIDI input and USB connector
- Dimensions (mm): 820 x 505 x 65 (250 with the side panels)
Bullfrog XL is available direct from Erica Synths now, priced €1,700
