October 2022 Eurorack module round-up

This month’s best new Eurorack releases include an excellent percussion module from Noise Engineering, clever stereo switching from Tesseract, a powerful compact oscillator from Befaco and a dark version of Knobula’s outstanding Poly Cinematic module.

Befaco Pony VCO

Befaco’s Pony VCO is a tiny little oscillator with a few twists, available in the standard 3U Eurorack format as well as the 1U format. Whichever option you choose this is a module which is more than you expect. In just 4hp we’ve got a basic oscillator core with sine, triangle, saw and square waves available as an LFO or at audio rate. The fun starts with the timbre control, which allows you to fold each of the wave shapes (or apply PWM in the case of the square) and generate complex harmonics. It’s here that you realise the depth of the module, with a surprisingly broad range of unusual tones on offer via the little red slider, and the option to modulate timbre via a CV input. Switch to LFO mode and the wavefolding becomes a way to add complexity to a modulation source; start with a simple waveform and then twist it into new and unusual shapes. Add sync, thru-zero FM and a built-in VCA and you’ve got a surprisingly versatile little module.

Noise Engineering Tymp Legio

It’s hard to beat Noise Engineering when it comes to versatility. Tymp Legio is another perfect example, offering a wide variety of stereo percussion sounds in a compact format. We’ve come to expect a lot from Noise Engineering modules, most of which riff around identical hardware platforms with different firmware. The Tymp Legio is pleasingly creative, with Boot, Cat and Boing modes offering an onomatopoeic clue as to the type of sounds you can coax out. A Tang toggle switch selects contrasting sound palettes for each mode, while the Quack inputs allow you to apply stereo ducking for sidechain compression effects. Not the cheapest, at just over £270, but a module which can happily take care of most creative percussion duties (not to mention giving you the option of trying out all the other Legio firmware).

Tesseract Modular DABS

The stark face panel of Tesseract’s DABS doesn’t reveal much about the functionality but this passive utility module turns out to be very versatile. DABS stands for Dual A/B Switch and that’s exactly what you get – in fact, you get four of them. Designed primarily for routing stereo audio signals but also capable of handling CV, the DABS allows you to select between sources or destinations, set up bypasses or complex routing configurations. Ideal for hands-on live performance, the DABS is at its best when you plan ahead, setting up contrasting routings of signals and then jamming them in real time. Good value at £63.50.

Eventide Misha

Part instrument, part sequencer, Eventide’s Misha is a compelling, innovative new module inspired by the twelve-tone composition technique closely associated with composer Arnold Schoenberg. The application of serialism to Eurorack is nothing new, but the way the interval-based approach is implemented here makes it an inspiring and quick way to generate melodies and patterns. There’s a learning curve if you want to understand the concepts of tone rows and prime, retrograde and inverse permutations of your sequence, but even without understanding the theory it’s easy to select a scale and extemporise. Misha can be triggered via a MIDI keyboard or even another sequencer, but the module is very much designed to be a hands-on instrument, played like a keyboard and performed in real time. The audio aspect of Misha is fairly basic, but it can output simple waveforms, effectively acting as an oscillator for you to process further down the signal chain. Stay tuned for a full review coming soon.

Knobula Poly Cinematic Dark Mode

Now available in its new Dark Mode format, the Poly Cinematic has been on our radar since it was first teased last year and then released in its original multi-coloured format. Our video above explains the full range of options this clever polysynth module has to offer, but essentially it’s a complex digital synth in Eurorack form, capable of operating either in an eight-voice polyphonic mode or in a monophonic mode with up to 56 stacked oscillators, giving you a range of supersaw sounds, detuned waves and tonewheel organ effects. Built-in envelope generation, filtering and high-quality reverb make the Poly Cinematic a hugely powerful synth voice. Just as importantly as the extensive feature list, it sounds spectacular and it’s got proper hands-on control for every parameter without menu diving, plus MIDI support. The Dark Mode follows the same winning formula as the original module, toning down the colour scheme for those who prefer things a bit more subtle. Highly recommended.

AtoVproject cDVCA

It’s a clunky name, but the AtoVproject cDVCA is a unique VCA, based around the same ‘class D’ circuitry used in a lot of compact amplifiers. Designed to add character to your signal, the cDVCA proves to be a peculiar VCA in a good way. The input signal is converted into an ultrasonic signal before being scaled and then filtered back down to its original frequency, but this process can be manipulated in order to add waveshaping effects and clipping. You can use it like a regular VCA if you want, but the real fun here is to warp and twist your sound along the way. You can even use the module as a basic synth voice, with precise 1V/oct tracking and a square wave generated when no input is applied. Clever stuff.

Greg Scarth