Tiptop Audio

Notes: Reverse-engineered from the original machine, our BD909 is an identical recreation of the original all-analog drum circuit of the TR-909. We've added additional controls and synthesis features that turn this classic circuit into a chest-pounding analog bass drum laboratory - all tightly packed into an 8HP module. The BD909 sound differs from our BD808 in that the main sonic energy is centered in the mid to low frequency range (as opposed to the low frequency range of the BD808). This frequency range gives the needed headroom allowing your bass Lines to deeply fill up the low end while the kick drum rides on top - creating a clear and punchy mix.

The BD909 includes all the controls found in the original: Attack, Decay, Tune Decay, Accent and Level. We have gone beyond that and added controls that further increase the palette of sound this circuit is capable of. First off, we've added a tuning control knob for the oscillator and included its own CV input and attenuator that let you tune your 909 kick with your bass lines. Next, we added control knobs for the tuning attack and extending tuning decay - each one affects the other, allowing for very intuitive and interactive sound shaping - this feature opens up numerous "sweet spots", and provides the ability to center the energy peak at different parts of the sound. Finally, we offer additional punch and distortion by giving complete control over the internal waveshaper, which allows you to overload the waveform manually or with voltage control.

Beginning with the classic and pure sound of the 909 kick, these additional functions greatly expand the BD909's flexibility and let it create powerful analog bass drums that range from soft and smooth to punchy and aggressive - and everything in between.

Notes: CONTROL PATH is an all in one voice dynamics module that helps build full voices quickly. It contains two analogue envelopes with velocity cv, and one VCA. In a typical voice patch the left envelope will control a filter and the right envelope will be the voice VCA. Velocity control is provided for each envelope and delay front panel trimmers are used to compensate for any miss match between incoming gate signal and velocity CV timings. Envelope cv outs are 0-5V, Velocity cv ins are 0-5V.

Size: 8HP - Depth: 40mm / 1.5"
Power: +12V 50mA / -12V 55mA

Notes: The Z2040 is TipTop Audio's redesign of the most famous analogue filter from the polysynths of the 80's and features Tiptop Audio's signature lush, big, and creamy sound. Its frequency sweeps make thick bass lines and leads with great dynamics. When modulated with audio frequencies through its various inputs, the Z2040 gets quite colourful and is capable of creating many new sounds and textures as the forces of the incoming waves and their harmonics blend through the filter's non-linear circuit. When set with Resonance feedback fully up, the Z2040 transforms into a pure sine-core VC-Oscillator, great for making snappy percussive elements and whistling sounds.

A look under the hood will find that the heart of the Z2040 is a discrete design 4-pole low pass filter with a core similar to that of the SSM2040 filter chip, used in the 80's Prophet 5 Rev 2 synthesizer, and its brother the SSM2044, used in the famous early EMU samplers and PPG synthesizers of the 80's. Both filters are considered by many to be, "the best sounding filter ever".

The Z2040's four modulation inputs are built to handle CV and audio signals, enabling deep modulation of the filter core and passing signals. A VC resonance input is provided to modulate and even clip the sine wave produced by the filter feedback loop. A Frequency Modulation input (FM) provides dynamic filter sweeps and the unique VC-FM index allows modulation of the incoming FM signals. On top of that, the Z2040 comes with an audio VCA that can be configured to act upon the input or the output of the filter.

Size: 8HP
Depth: 42mm
Power: +12V 20ma / -12V 20ma

Notes: Back in 2008, the original Z5000 was not only the world's first Eurorack DSP effects module but also the first Tiptop Audio module released. It brought voltage controlled digital effects to Eurorack for the first time and the Z5000 was eventually replaced by the Z-DSP open source platform. Now, years later with over a decade of experience developing audio effects for Eurorack signals we are introducing a totally new version of the Z5000: a compact stereo 8HP multi effect with voltage controlled parameters, VC analogue clock generator driving the DSP chip and 24 of our creme de la creme reverbs, delays, modulation, harmonization and pitch modulated effects. A number of programs in the Z5000 combine more than one effect, in series or parallel, that represent studio techniques from-the early days till modern times often leaning toward the more experimental side.