Tags: Effects module

Notes: Quasar brings 3D spatial audio to the Eurorack world. It is a two-channel audio mixer that uses binaural algorithms. You can seamlessly move sounds around your head, dynamically change the angle, height and distance in real time.

** Includes 3mm screws, 16-Pin to 10-Pin eurorack power cable, USB cable for firmware updates **

Main functions
2 mono inputs
Stereo output (two single jacks + headphone stereo jack)
2 CV inputs
24Bit 48kHz inputs and outputs, 32Bit internal signal processing
Dynamic 3D positioning in three dimensions (height, angle, distance)
Room reverb can be applied for better localization
Internal LFOs with flexible routing
External CVs can be flexibly routed to all parameters, multiple destinations per CV, individual intensity
Different 3D transfer functions to choose from
Two large endless encoders with aluminum knobs, RGB LED rings for setting and displaying parameters
OLED display for navigation and to show which parameter the encoders are currently controlling
Flat menu structure, no deep dives neccessary
" User presets can be flexibly created and recalled
" Potentiometers for volume control of the three positions Quasar 1, Quasar 2 and Center

Quasar creates a 3D sound image by binaural audio processing. Two positions named Quasar 1 and Quasar 2 are available, which you can virtually place and move at any angle, height and distance around your head. Room reverb can be added as a further aid to distance perception. The audio signals at input 1 and input 2 can be flexibly routed to either or both positions via an internal matrix mixer. The coordinates of the positions can be set manually or be modulated by internal LFOs or external CVs. For example, you can have sounds orbiting around you, coming from above or below, front or back, and moving toward or away from you. Likewise, a centre position is available as a routing destination that leaves the signal without sonic processing to create a dry/wet mix.

Quasar features two CV inputs which can be flexibly routed to any target inside the module. In fact, each CV can have up to four different targets, which enables a very flexible design of auditory 3D-scenes.

Internal LFOs can be used to add dynamic movement and to create spectacular three-dimensional scenes. There are a variety of standard and advanced waveforms that can be routed to the position coordinates. LFOs can also be triggered and reset by external CVs.

Quasar can add some reverb to the signal. While not being a reverberation module in the first place, Quasar's reverb can improve distance estimation, but also be used to create impressing ambient stereo soundscapes.

All inputs also have digital high and low pass filters, so you can decide which frequency bands go to which position. However, in addition to Quasar 1 or Quasar 2, you can also route the audio to the center position. The center position takes the input signal and distributes it equally to the left and right ears without further processing. For example, you can route the low frequencies to the center position and have the higher frequencies distributed to the outer positions Quasar 1 and Quasar 2. That way, the bass stays centered and mono-compatibility is preserved.

As soon as a three-dimensional virtual scene has been created, it can be saved to the module's preset list. That way, scenes can be recalled at any time. Quasar also features some factory presets as a starting point and to show off the module's capabilities.

The module works best with headphones, as the algorithm basically mimics the shape of the head and the pinnae, which are responsible for our directional hearing. But even if you play the sound through speakers, you will hear a significant difference from classic panning.

As spatial hearing is a psychoacoustic effect that everybody perceives in a slightly different way, Quasar offers several transfer functions for different ear types to choose from. This way, the intensity of the 3D effect can be adjusted to personal needs and fits with the processed audio signal.
With its large aluminum knobs, LED rings, rubber potentiometers and mechanically solid components, Quasar is fun to use and invites creative work.

Notes: Oof. Frap casually serve up one of the best filters we've seen in a long time. Quad multimode circuits with saturation and feedback give you extensive routing options. Delicious.

Supplier's Notes:
cunsa /'cu?nsa/ s.f. [dialect of Modena of uncertain etymology, probably from a Latin *comptiare, derived from comptus, participle of comere 'organize,' 'decorate'] i curing, seasoning (of foods), tanning (of leathers).

Seasoning is crucial for cooking. It is a process that enhances the flavors, glues the ingredients together, and even adds some unexpected kick.

From a gentle refining touch to a shovelful of spice, CUNSA is the perfect seasoning tool for your patches. It can sweeten a sour lead or beef up an insipid bass line, and anything in between.

And, just like a good oil, you can even taste it by itself!

CUNSA is a quadruple analog pingable multimode resonant filter, saturator, mixer, and oscillator.

It is Frap Tools' sound seasoning tool: it can gently even a patch, applying a final touch, or it can set it on fire with a ridiculous amount of spice. It's up to you and your cooking style!

It consists of four multimode resonant filters with a custom saturation and feedback control that you can use independently or in various combinations and roles thanks to a series of seminormalizations.

Four Analogue Resonant Multimode Filters

CUNSA features four state-variable filters that can be used independently or linked and mixed. Each filter provides three behaviors simultaneously: lowpass, bandpass, and highpass. Each behavior has a 12 dB/oct slope, except for the lowpass, which can be either 12 or 24 dB/oct.

Unique 'Character' Circuit for Feedback and Distortion

CUNSA handles feedback and gain staging with extreme control and versatility. Besides the usual Q control that emphasizes the cutoff frequency, the Character circuit defines the amount of soft clipping when the filter overloads. High clipping guarantees a controlled behavior with fat tone and pure resonance, while low or no clipping lets the signal saturate the filter stages and make it scream.

V/oct Tracking and Quadruple Oscillator

Each filter responds to the V/oct signal with excellent tracking. It is thus possible to move the cutoff frequency along with the main melody or make CUNSA resonate with no input and transform it into a multiple oscillator. The V/oct inputs are seminormalled so you can control more filters with the same CV. Easy chords stabs!

Ping and Ring

CUNSA is ideal for percussive and organic tones. The Ping circuit offers a behavior similar to the BRENSO but AC-coupled. Instead of shooting the frequency to the moon with any trig, CUNSA gently responds to different incoming gates with a selectable decay curve. The Ping circuit can thus create natural decay sounds when fed with trigs or smoother envelopes with any other voltage, like a linear integrator with a custom decay.

Besides this, you can also feed the filter's audio input with trigs and make it ring at high Q settings.

Linked or Individual Filtering

The four filters can work independently or arranged in groups through seminormalled inputs and sum outputs. CUNSA can thus be a 4×1, 2×2, or a massive 1×4 filter. Even odd configurations are possible, like 1+2+1 or 3+1. Mono, stereo, or quadraphonic audio is at your fingertips.

Filter and Combo Behaviour

When the filter behavior is set to COMBINED, every control of the cutoff frequency also affects the input VCA, reducing the signal amplitude and saturation as it approaches the lowest range. It can make organic decays with the ping circuit or tame the low range at high Q and Character settings.

Four Seminormalizations for Group Use

Four inputs have a cascaded seminormalization: audio inputs, VCA CV, V/oct, and Ping. Every signal patched to a filter will thus feed also those at its right, making simultaneous use even simpler. To remove a seminormalization, simply patch a dummy cable to the corresponding input.

Analog Mixing Stage and Group Outputs

Every filter output can be routed to an analogue mix bus that sums the four filters and outputs them in three combinations: all, 1+2, and 3+4. These outputs allow for versatile audio processing. Just like we did with FUMANA, we added a gentle shelving EQ for the higher frequencies of the All output to provide additional timbral variety.

CV Inputs with Attenuators

Besides the seminormalled inputs, every filter features additional CV inputs for cutoff frequency, Q, and Character, each with a dedicated attenuverter.

Notes: Really neat stuff from Hexinverter. Designed with synth sounds and drum processing in mind, the Hot Glue is a unique twist on a four-channel mixer, helping to integrate effects and voltage-controlled distortion alongside built-in bus compression.

Supplier's Notes:
The Mutant Hot Glue is a versatile bus mixer for analogue effects chain design. The included analogue compressor offers series or parallel compression and a sidechain input, making it particularly well suited to drum processing. The voltage controlled distortion is based on ideas borrowed from the guitar pedals responsible for a lot of yesterday's acid style techno sounds, but improved over the guitar equivalents, and made specifically for synthesizer and drum processing. The distortion can be used in its default position, normalized to the effects send, or like every other part of the module, broken out and used elsewhere in your modular system.

Features

4 Channel Mixer with Effects Send

4 input channels, each with their own level and effects send control
Channel A mixer bypass switch and dedicated output for easy sidechain compression
Channel B is dual input, but shares level/send controls (for dual output modules, like the Mutant Hihats)
Channel C+D summed output
Main mixer output normalized to compressor input

Hi-Fidelity Analogue Compressor

Soft-knee compressor based on the same family of premium audio ICs used in some 500 Series studio gear
Dedicated threshold and compression ratio controls
Gain control dials in up to +40dB of compressor make-up gain
Compressor sidechain input for creating pumping effects
LED indicator actively displays the amount of compressor gain reduction

Voltage Controlled Analogue Distortion

A classic distortion topology reborn for modular analogue synthesizers and drum processing
In/Outputs are conveniently normalized to the module's send and return jacks
Blend control lets you adjust the mix of distorted and clean input signal
Fast responding CV input allows for complex modulation patterns and even modulating with audio signals

By default, the 4 channel mixer's output conveniently feeds into the compressor's input, giving access to easy New York style parallel compression by way of the compressor blend control. The dedicated output and mixer bypass switch for channel A allow you to use it as a sidechain source for the compressor. An effects send and return allow you to create complex effects routings within your modular system. With the number of excellent DSP and other effects modules on the market today, this makes it easy to combine modules to great effect, all within the eurorack modular domain.

Redesigned by Erica Synths in close collaboration with Hexinverter. Minor alterations were made in mechanical assembly and digital controls to address Erica synths manufacturing routines and chip shortages, but the analogue signal path is 100% identical to the original version.

In September 2022 Stacy Gaudreau - the founder of Hexinverter Electronique, announced closing down the operations. Following their announcement, Erica Synths in cooperation with Hexinverter Electronique saw a way for their incredible and truly unique music instruments to keep on inspiring musicians and finding a home in countless studios to come.
The effort and innovation incorporated in Hexinverter Electronique eurorack modules are far too great to prematurely become history. Erica Synths will take over the manufacturing, sales, and support of several Hexinverter Electronique modules. While retaining all functionality of Hexinverter Electronique modules, Erica Synths redesigned the hardware of modules and will provide support for reissue modules only.

Technical specifications

Width: 24HP | Depth: 30mm
Current draw: +70mA, -70mA @ 12V

Notes: The insert module allows you to connect stereo effects to your CGM setup, either by inserting them between two points of the internal summing bus or by placing them in parallel, as in a rudimentary stereo send-and-return.

It consists of two couples of outputs and inputs with dedicated gain switches. The first O/I stereo couple is the insert circuit, while the second is the parallel circuit.

The Insert module can be used:

between a group and a master;
between a group and a group;
between a channel and a group;
between a channel and a channel;
between a channel and a master (without a group).
The Insert module ships with two Insert cables compatible with every member of the CGM family, including the discontinued ones.

Flexible placement

The insert can effortlessly sit between every CGM module. Use it between a group and a master as an end-of-chain bus, or between two series of channels of the same group to create a channel subgroup with independent solo-in-place controls.

Stereo insert circuit

This circuit overrides the internal summing bus and allows you to route whatever sum goes into the insert module through your favourite stereo effects.

Stereo parallel circuit

A second out-in circuit remains parallel to the main one, excellent for adding stereo ambiance effects to the main sum.

Gain switches

The outputs and inputs provide three degrees of attenuation and matching amplification to scale the signal to most of the audio equipment out there.

Specifications:

Size: 6 HP
Depth: 38 mm
Current draw: 35 mA @ +12 V / 35 mA @ -12 V

Recommended warmup time: 30 min
Audio input impedance: > 30 KO (mono)
Audio output impedance: =100 O
Maximum output level before clipping: = 17 dBu
Frequency response: 0.01 to 40 KHz
Harmonic distortion: < 0.3 %

Notes: This module is designed to generate a multitude of aggressive, punchy, violent and absolutely bonkers variations of the original unprocessed sound,

Transform any clean sound into a distorted monster, using 2x drive stages per channel with a wide range of distortion flavors ranging from subtle saturation to extreme fuzz.

Process two channels at the same time and create balanced and smooth or raw and rough transitions between them.

Allow the kick drum and bass line to coexist effectively in the mix, avoiding conflicts in the low-frequency range with env. follower and sidechain.

Shape any sound with 3 band adaptable EQ.

Function as a signal generator as well, this module can be pushed into self-oscillation at any frequency even with no input.

Add sub-octave tones to melodies and bass lines.

Preserve the dynamic range and clarity of the sound through parallel processing, ensuring that the original characteristics are not lost even when applying heavy distortion.

Add character, flexibility and madness to any source that sparks your imagination.

Notes: This module is designed to generate a multitude of aggressive, punchy, violent and absolutely bonkers variations of the original unprocessed sound.



Transform any clean sound into a distorted monster, using 2x drive stages per channel with a wide range of distortion flavors ranging from subtle saturation to extreme fuzz.



Process two channels at the same time and create balanced and smooth or raw and rough transitions between them.



Allow the kick drum and bass line to coexist effectively in the mix, avoiding conflicts in the low-frequency range with env. follower and sidechain.

Shape any sound with 3 band adaptable EQ.

Function as a signal generator as well, this module can be pushed into self-oscillation at any frequency even with no input.

Add sub-octave tones to melodies and bass lines.



Preserve the dynamic range and clarity of the sound through parallel processing, ensuring that the original characteristics are not lost even when applying heavy distortion.



Add character, flexibility and madness to any source that sparks your imagination.