Tags: Drum module

Notes: Chimera is a granular synthesis module that specializes in drum sounds. It offers a wide range of detailed sample sources as well as its own synthesis engine. Firmware updates can be performed via USB.

The module features various samples called Surfaces. The samples are mainly metallic sounds:

Tambourine
Bells
Drill
Wrenches
Cartridge cases
Coins
Chains
Metal housings
Broken modular front panels

Chimera uses impulsive sounds with lots of detail and long decay times to create detailed shaker-like sounds. The granular synthesizer was developed around the samples here, this has the advantage that the percussion sounds sound so more natural.

Power consumption: 63mA at +12V and 17mA at -12V

Depth: 38mm

HP : 8

Notes: Originally inspired by audience applause, hip-hop samples, and classic drum machines, Fracture is a multi-particle percussion synthesizer that applies concepts from classic analogue clap circuits to granular synthesis methods.

It all starts from proprietary micro-samples we recorded specifically for this purpose and ends with an engine built to suit these samples.
Unlike our other percussion module, Chimera, which uses impulse rich samples as it's tonal center, Fracture uses single impulse samples like claps, snaps, ping pong balls, opening a beer can, and many more. It then plays a group of similar samples back in a psuedo random order for unique hits. Density, Decay, and Tail affect tone and how "tight" your virtual clappers are to playing together.

Our goal was to design a clap percussion module covering the range from classic drum machine claps all the way to full audience applause. We ended up with a module that covers a huge range of timbres beyond claps. We hope this engine provides you with the tools to intuitively create wild percussion sounds that bring your system to life in a new way.

Features
Stereo output
Control over "how many people" and " how tight" they sound together
Built in Hall and Room reverb
Two Trigger inputs for different types of sounds
3 Filter types, 3 Envelope types
Free running, Voltage Controlled "applause" capability
CV over all parameters

Specifications:
Size: 8hp Depth: 38mm (with cables)
Power: +61mA, -17mA
All CV Inputs: 100k ohm impedance
CV inputs sum with knobs
Full sweep is 5V
Gate Inputs: 100k impedance 2V threshold Schmitt Trigger
Audio Outputs: 470 ohm impedance
20Vpp range
1ms latency max

Notes: A unique analogue percussion module, based on principles from the legendary 909 twisted into new sonic territory. Capable of everything from classic kicks and snares to more experimental hits and complex VCO effects.

Supplier's Notes:
A machine is born

The Machine began as a quest to create a rich-sounding eurorack snare drum synthesis module to complement the existing Mutant Drums. The project quickly became too large and costly to justify the module being capable only of snare drum sounds. So, the decision was made to learn from the architecture of the TR-909's snare and kick circuits, in order to develop a module capable of generating multiple forms of analogue percussion, and various other effects.

Like the other Mutant Drums, the Machine has its roots in classic analogue percussion synthesis. Even though it can create totally alien sounds, it still has the capability to deliver those classic 909 house snares and kicks if you want them. There are no microcontrollers in the Machine. The signals and waveforms are all generated by discrete components and ICs, for a distinctly analogue sound, and user experience.

Features

Microcontroller-free analogue percussion synthesis engine
Unique Inverter Core oscillators form the MEMBRANE. Each analogue oscillator has three waveforms to select from
Capable of synthesizing everything from heavy-hitting bassdrums to classic 909-style snares and other complex timbres
Modular design gives the Machine many auxiliary purposes, great for modular sound design of many varieties, and not just percussion
The SNAPPY section is comprised of a voltage controlled noise oscillator, for modelling the noisy part of drum timbres
Both MEMBRANE and SNAPPY elements have an external input for replacing the built-in sound sources, opening up many avenues of possibility
13 control voltage and audio inputs, for a fully modular drum experience
7 audio and CV/gate outputs for maximum integration with other modules
Dedicated outputs for each WAVE and NOISE oscillator mean you can use the Machine as a complex VCO in your system, when not synthesizing percussion
Waveform scanning feature generates complex timbres from analog waveforms
The MEMBRANE's waveforms can be scanned through automatically by the wavescanner's voltage controlled clock generator, or an external clock or VCO can be used
SCAN FREQ CV forms a unique form of timbre control, making the Machine act like a complex oscillator at its WAVES output
The ENABLE input allows you to gate the wavescanner on and off with a CV or gate signal

Technical specifications

Width: 29HP | Depth: 30mm
Current draw: +139mA, -115mA @ 12V

Notes: TRINITY is a 3 channel Digital Drum Synth Array packed into a 20hp eurorack synthesizer. Effectively, Trinity performs as 3 powerful drum voices packaged into one beastly drum module with a few tricks up its sleeve.

The name Trinity refers to the 3 drum channels and tips its hat to the core elements of any modern beat driven composition which is typically Kick, Snare and Hat. Trinity takes this simple idea and flips it on its head with 3 channels and an array of drum synth algorithms that use various types of synthesis (Analog Inspired, Additive, FM & Noise). This allows for a wide range of drum design capability that achieves and reaches far beyond the conventional kick, snare ,and hat.

Trinity's array of digital drum synth algorithms are very malleable by way of the 7 knobs and 4 mini-pots, each of which control a specific parameter and characteristic (Pitch, Sweep, Time, Shape, Grit, Decay, EQ, Clipper, Hold, Volume and Character) for each drum type. Each drum channel has its own trigger and v/oct in addition to extensive CV input options per channel.

Trinity's uniquely performable and switchable output matrix allows for the routing of each drum channel's output to the mix output, the individual drum channel output or both. This makes for easy performability, mutable output, parallel processing, or side chain source.

Lastly, Trinity's midi over USB connection allows for midi control over various parameters via one usb cable. USB midi makes integration a cinch by connecting one usb wire from Trinity to a groove-box or computer - instant integration

All in all, Trinity packs a hefty punch and weighs in at 20hp, 11 knobs, 3 drum channels, 3 triggers buttons, 4 drum synth algorithms based on 4 different types of synthesis, 24 CV inputs, 3 way output switching with 3 individual outputs, a mix output and a midi over usb connection.

Drum Synth Algorithms
BLOCK (Analog Inspired): Drum synth building blocks featuring sine and triangle core. Great for traditional electronic drum creation.
HEAP (Additive): Additive drum synth with 8 partials. Great for fun natural sounds and pitched percussive sounds (i.e. bells, chimes, steel drums, and wood blocks etc.).
NEON (FM): FM drum synth engine. Great for high quality FM drums, clangorous metallic percussion and more.
ARCADE (Noise): Quirky noise generator synth, reminiscent of classic 1980's arcade games sounds - zaps, crashes, explosions etc. Great for claps, hats, even some vinyl noise approximations, and all sorts of fun percussive and degraded noises.

Modes
Cycle Modes
The cycle modes can be enabled and disabled per channel.
'Round Robin' mode will switch between each drum synth type sequentially with each new trigger to the drum channel.
'Random' mode will generate a new random drum sound with each new trigger to the drum channel.
Stack Modes
The stack modes group the channels together allowing 2 or 3 drum channels to be triggered by the primary channel's trigger and v/oct inputs.
Stacked drums can be spread out similar to unison mode on a traditional synthesizer. Stack modes are inspired by the characteristics of chopped breaks where drums tend to overlap and fan out depending on the content of the chopped source material.

Features
20hp
4 drum algorithms - Block (analog inspired), Heap (additive), Neon (fm) & Arcade (noise)
2 dozen CV inputs
CV control over all major parameters
Trigger and pitch control over all 3 channels
3 voice drum polyphony
Clipping limiter
Switchable output routing matrix with individual and Mix output
Stack, Cycle & Random modes
Midi over USB (micro)
Width: 20HP
Depth: 28mm
Power: 153mA +12V, 7mA -12V (160mA Peak on Power Up)

Notes: Universal drum synthesizer with roots in the analogue world on a swappable oscillator platform

Basimilus Iteritas Alia is a parameterized digital drum voice with its roots in the analogue world. At its heart, the BIA is a simple six-oscillator additive and FM synthesizer with waveform, harmonic spread, and envelope controls. An adjustable noise oscillator and an extreme take on a wavefolder round out its synthesis abilities. Its straightforward controls make sound design fun and performable: create sub-shaking kicks, snares, hats, and unique drum hits with just a few tweaks.

BIA is a classic percussion module but you'll be blown away by how much more it can do. Use it for leads, basslines, or build a whole drum kit with some external CV. Plus, the envelope output means you can use the BIA for shaping and modulating other parts of your patch.

Basimilus Iteritas Alia is available on Noise Engineering's 10HP Alia oscillator platform. Buy an Alia module and use the included USB cable to connect to the Noise Engineering Customer Portal to check out any other Alia firmware, free of charge, any time.

Width: 10HP
Depth: 22mm

What's in the box

Module
Power cable
Micro USB cable

Notes: This is a self contained analogue high hat module. This is a Transistor based VCA design. It is influenced by the DR110 drum machine. The original circuit used 4 oscillators to make the metallic audio sound. I added the original 4 oscillator, and an extra 6 oscillator circuit. The 6 oscillator version is doing a double XOR ringmod (internally). You select that by switch.

The 4 oscillator design sounds more crunchy, where as the 6 XOR circuit sounds more polished with sheen. You can blend in the amount of white noise in the mix labeled 'sizzle'.

Internally, the audio is passing through a few high pass filters, making the output sound very high in frequencies.

The module by itself is not exciting. But in the mix, with other percussion modules, this is your favorite-go-to module. It sits almost perfect in the mix.

There are two triggers. One is for 'Open' sound. The other is for 'close' sound. Both open and close have there own decay knob to adjust the length of the audio tail.

There is a tone control, labeled LPF. Use this to taper off some of the high frequencies.

Instead of adding an 'accent' control. Both triggers have been made to voltage variable. 5V triggering is the normal expected input. So a 3V trigger will sound softer in volume. 10V trigger signals will sound louder.

This module is as simple as it gets, just patch your Arturia Beat Step Pro and use the drum track.

Features

-Both trigger inputs are voltage variable. You can get softer audio, with softer trigger voltage.
-2 voice metallic noise generator
-2 decays (open and close)
-2 Flavors select by switch.
-Normal mode, and Sustain mode, selected by switch.
-frequency adjustment of the internal XOR ringmod.
-classic roland sounding transistor based VCA.

Why get this module over the Shimm module, or other high hats modules?

-Ease of use, ready to go. No sound exploring needed.
-Want the classic transistor based, crunchy sound.
-lower budget
-Sits very well in the drum mix.

Dimensions
8 HP
32 mm deep

Current Draw
21 mA +12V
13 mA -12V