Pittsburgh Modular

Notes: A beautifully realised instrument drawing on West coast and East coast synthesis concepts to create something new and beguiling. Three oscillators, smooth filter and Buchla-style dynamics controller.

Supplier's Notes:
Taiga Paraphonic Modular Synthesizer

Taiga is a complete, modern, modular instrument that allows us to explore beyond the boundaries of a traditional analog synthesizer. The sound of Taiga can be attributed to three uniquely Pittsburgh innovations. A trio of huge analog oscillators, the unmistakably smooth sound of the Pittsburgh Filter, and the warmth of the unique Dynamics Controller. These enable you to not only create sounds that would be traditionally expected from an analog synthesizer, but also to explore new sonic textures and performance possibilities.

Taiga oscillators

Waveforms generated by the three Taiga oscillators stretch beyond the basic geometric shapes and sounds associated with analog synthesis. Taiga waveforms pass through up to three proprietary, cascading waveshapers designed to precisely manipulate their symmetry and harmonic content. In addition, each oscillator includes a robust six-stage wave folder to add even more complexity and depth to the diverse sonic palate of Taiga.

The Pittsburgh Filter

The Pittsburgh filter has defined the sound of Pittsburgh Modular from the moment it was introduced. A signature gummy and relaxed sound with no dead spots that has been tweaked to perfection. It offers a warm, smooth sweep through the full frequency range and a sweet resonance that does not roll off the low end. This generation of the Pittsburgh filter is specifically designed to ensure a remarkable interplay with Taiga's oscillators.

Pittsburgh Dynamics Controller

Pittsburgh's new Dynamics technology imparts Taiga with a uniquely organic depth and presence. By simultaneously managing both amplitude and harmonic content, the Pittsburgh Dynamics Controller expands beyond the one-dimensional VCA found in other synthesizers. It does this by utilizing new advancements from traditional low pass gates to add additional definition and dimension to the voice of Taiga.

When used in low pass gate mode, sounds shed harmonic content and become warmer as they decrease in volume. This mimics how sound waves react to their environment. Because of this connection, the Taiga sounds more natural or complex compared to other instruments.

Analogue Echoes

Echos is a beautifully dark analog delay tuned to enhance the source material by repeating it over and over. Echos utilize a pair of bucket brigade delay chips to produce a classic voltage-controllable analog delay effect that helps to place the sounds of Taiga in a simulated environment.

Open Architecture

Taiga has an internally defined signal path. Patch cables are not necessary to begin exploring. Attach a midi keyboard and plug the output into a speaker or DAW and Taiga is ready to go with a robust but familiar workflow. When your ideas grow beyond the pre-defined signal path, a 60 point patch bay opens up a fully modular instrument with access to an even deeper set of features and tools.

Complete Set of Modular Tools

Taiga includes a host of fully modular, analog, and digital synthesis tools to support and enhance its core functionality. Analog tools include a flexible dual mixer, a pair of plucky four-stage envelope generators, noise, and sample and hold. Digital tools cover external MIDI, arpeggiator, clock sync'd modulation tools, and a robust collection of random generators. The Taiga toolset is deep enough for any type of sonic exploration.

Taiga features and other info:

Paraphonic synthesizer with unique additive elements

Fully patchable - use Taiga's components as separate modules with external devices or reroute its internal patching.
Controllable via MIDI, CV, and integrated pseudo random sequencing mode
Clock-synced arpeggiator
3x Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer developed 100% analog oscillators
Oscillator waveforms - sine, triangle, and saw - Waveforms can be combined
3x Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer 6 stage wave folder/shaper circuit - folds inputted waves back onto themselves to increase harmonic content
Oscillators include frequency modulation (FM)
Noise generator - pitched somewhere between pure white and pink noise. Perfect for percussion or adding a bit of edge to a sound.
Variable state, multi-mode "Pittsburgh No-Dead-Spots" filter (lowpass, bandpass, highpass, modes can be combined)
Sample & Hold circuit
2x Analog ADSR / envelope generators
Pittsburgh dynamics section - an alternative to an envelope generator and a VCA, the dynamics controller is a Pittsburgh Modular invention that adds a dimension of control over a vactrol-less lowpass gate circuit, adding release time. (read more on this in the user guide)
Dual range analog LFO with square and triangle wave outputs.
LFO Range High: 2 Hz to 500 Hz Low: 41 seconds to 5 Hz
Dual Channel Mixer - 2 channel mixer and a 3 channel mixer joined together, capable of mixing both audio or control voltages.

Notes: Typically creative stuff from Pittsburgh Modular, the updated Voltage Lab is the pinnacle of the brand's synth output. Dual oscillator design with a 16-note touch controller, built-in sequencer and MIDI control.

Supplier's Notes:
The Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2 is a cutting edge synthesis laboratory that offers a new palette of analogue textures and waveforms to sonic researchers. Newly developed wave shaping capabilities paired with powerful synthesis tools, and a deep, performance oriented controller join together to create a complete sound design laboratory. This instrument has a very physical sound. The tones it creates feel natural and alive, with traditional waveforms becoming the seeds of unique new shapes and sounds that shift between analogue physical modeling and more unfamiliar, abstract timbres.

Laboratory Oscillator 1

Voltage Lab 2 includes a pair of Laboratory Oscillators. Each with a unique set of newly invented waveshaping tools designed to expand the sonic potential of analogue synthesis. Laboratory Oscillator 1 introduces Center Clipping to analogue synthesis. Center clipping unlocks independent control over the top and bottom of the waveform, allowing for detailed manipulation of harmonics and timbre without affecting pitch. It does this by processing waveforms from the center out as opposed to traditional methods which work from the peaks inwards.

Laboratory Oscillator 2

Laboratory Oscillator 2 introduces a host of new sonic possibilities with two new waveshapers. Pulse Symmetry and Reflection. Pulse Symmetry creates a new species of pulse wave that adds a step between the top and bottom of the waveform. The resulting wave looks like a set of stairs where the depth of the center step can be adjusted in addition to the pulse width. Wave Reflection takes the bottom half of the waveform and reflects it onto the top half. Each waveshape responds to this differently. For example, a saw wave morphs into a triangle while triangle and sine waves lose their fundamental harmonic and jump up an octave.

Pittsburgh Dynamics Controllers

The new Dynamics technology imparts Voltage Lab 2 with a uniquely organic depth and presence. By simultaneously managing both amplitude and harmonic content, the Pittsburgh Dynamics Controller expands beyond the one dimensional VCA found in other synthesizers. It does this by utilizing new advancements from traditional low pass gates to add additional definition and dimension to the voices of the Voltage Lab 2.

When used in low pass gate mode, sounds shed harmonic content and become warmer as they decrease in volume. This mimics how sound waves react to their environment. Because of this connection, the Voltage Lab 2 sounds more natural or complex compared to other instruments.

Touch Controller 2

The Touch Controller 2 enables artists to blend traditional pitched performances with the freedom to openly experiment, creating a flexible playground for music creation. Two independent channels offer a combination of real time, expressive playing and in-depth sequencing. Assignable scales, step conditions, jumps, chance effects, generative sequencing, and a host of other tools, come together allowing musicians to both create and interact with complex systems.

A Florist and Echos

The Voltage Lab 2 includes a set of analogue time based effects, Florist and Echos. The Florist is a flanger/chorus hybrid that focuses on brighter, short time shifts with highly controlled feedback allowing for maximum ringing before self oscillation. Echos is a more traditional, darker analogue BBD delay that also utilizes highly controlled feedback to provide a larger number of repeats before falling into self oscillation. Both effects are perfect for traditional workflows and unconventional experimentation.

Complete Set of Modular Tools

The Voltage Lab 2 includes a host of fully modular, analogue and digital synthesis tools to support and enhance it's core functionality. Analog tools include flexible mixers, a pair of complex function generators, noise, sample and hold, and an LFO. Digital tools cover external MIDI, arpeggiator, and a robust chance sequencer. The Voltage Lab 2 toolset is deep enough for all types of sonic experiments.