July 2023 Eurorack round-up
This month’s best new modules include polyphonic versatility from OXI, simple but effective filtering from Erica Synths and some creative routing options from AJH and Joranalogue.
OXI Instruments Coral
Polyphonic modules are slowly but surely increasing in popularity recently, thanks to solid Eurorack options such as the Qu-Bit Chord and Knobula Poly Cinematic. OXI’s Coral is the latest option on the market, and it’s a seriously versatile little thing, based on Mutable Instruments Plaits firmware (with quite a few additional features), but packing in eight voices of multitimbral capability. In practice, then, that means you can use the Coral as a polyphonic synth voice, but you can also use it as anything up to eight separate instruments in one module, including the option to load user samples or custom wavetables.
The tricky aspects of polyphonic modules tend to be editing sounds and sequencing. The editing side of the Coral is well thought out, albeit a little fiddly to get started with. The first step is to set up groups of voices depending on your needs, then assign engines to them in order to create various different sounds. The real strength of the module is that you can effectively create full arrangements from nothing more than the Coral, with a few sample parts for drums, a monophonic part for basslines, plus polyphonic parts and FX on top. The asking price of £390 seems like very good value when you consider the Coral as the main focal point for generating a range of different sounds.
In terms of sequencing, MIDI is realistically the way to go here. You can achieve polyphonic sequencing with just one pair of CV and gate signals, but MIDI makes life much easier. The obvious pairing is OXI’s own One sequencer, which seems perfectly suited to pairing up with the Coral, giving you a gigantic amount of creative possibilities from just one sequencer and one module.
Erica Synths Black DJ VCF
Erica Synths are masters at taking a simple idea and executing it perfectly. The Black Series DJ VCF is a case in point. The concept here is nothing more than a DJ-mixer-style low-pass/high-pass filter, effectively a low-pass in series with a high-pass, controlled by a single cutoff knob. In the 12 o’clock position, the filters are fully open. Rotate anticlockwise and you close the low-pass filter. Back to 12 o’clock and rotate clockwise, you close the high-pass filter. Options are kept fairly simple, with adjustable resonance the only other real hands-on control, but CV modulation is nicely implemented, with two CV inputs, one going through an attenuvertor and one an attenuator, allowing you to experiment with multiple modulation sources. Great for filter house effects on samples, but also interesting as a sound design tool for individual synth patches and drum sounds.
AJH Synth Triple Cross & Joranalogue Pivot 2
Two different takes on signal routing make for an interesting comparison here. AJH’s Triple Cross is a combined crossfader and panner, allowing you to manipulate up to four signals of audio or CV, routing them to mono or stereo outputs. The creative options here are extensive although perhaps not all immediately obvious. It’s well worth reading AJH’s documentation and example applications, from simple audio crossfading through to more complex CV manipulation. The circular/3D panning example is particularly effective, taking two audio signals and making them appear to swirl around in 3D space.
Joranalogue’s Pivot 2 might look quite different at first glance but actually achieves quite similar functions in a completely different way, as a variable signal router with CV control. The input signal (CV or audio) is routed to two send outputs according to the position of the Pivot control (or Pivot Modulation via the CV input), then a pair of return sockets allow you to mix processed sounds back in with the send signals, effectively meaning that you can achieve parallel/series/reverse effects processing, set up a pair of complementary VCAs, or create voltage-controlled crossfading and panning effects. Compact, versatile and good value at just over £140.
Doepfer A-101-8 Photo Phaser
Finally this month, Doepfer’s A-101-8 Photo Phaser feels like a bit of a bargain. A replica of the early 1970s Schulte Compact Phasing A unit, the Photo Phaser uses light-dependent resistors to create iconic Krautrock sounds. It’s a mono input, stereo output module, with manual or CV control of phase shift, adjustable feedback/resonance and a mix control to adjust the balance of original and phase-shifted signal. Gorgeous on synths, drums, loops, pretty much anything really. An original unit will set you back the best part of £1,000 if you can find one. The Doepfer version? £137.99. Don’t sleep. These will sell out quickly.
Greg Scarth