pittsburgh modular announces the Chain Reactor Limited Edition Module

Our second limited edition module, the Chain Reactor is a quadraphonic voltage influenced chaotic waveform generator. The module is available now exclusively at pittsburghmodular.com. Production of the Chain Reactor was limited to 50 modules and once it is gone, it is gone.

The Chain Reactor combines two of our classic VILFO modules with two additional free running LFOs to create an endless supply of chaotic fluctuations. VILFO1 and VILFO2 feature our unique voltage influence control. Voltage influence works differently than standard voltage control, it allows the incoming CV to mingle with the LFO waveforms in interesting ways, creating unique modulations and patterns. The output of each VILFO is a voltage controlled variable waveform that shifts from a triangle to square wave.

The Voltage Influence Circuit

A typical Voltage controlled oscillator works by using a CV input to directly control the oscillation frequency. The more voltage sent to the CV input, the higher the frequency of the oscillator. The lower the voltage, the lower the frequency of the oscillator. Voltage Influence works by using the CV input to attenuate the frequency of the oscillator while at the same time injecting some of the voltage from influence CV input to the feedback loop of the oscillator. Results can vary from subtle to chaotic. Subtle results can be similar to tremolo, shuffle, or soft reset while more extreme settings produce glitchy, rhythmic, chaotic fluctuations in the frequency of the oscillator.

Pittsburgh Modular Announces A New line of Limited Edition Modules

Three years ago Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers started as a crazy idea to sell a few strange, handmade modules out of a basement. Thanks to your enormous response to those modules we've grown meteorically.

Shipping modules and instruments in large numbers takes a tremendous amount of time and resources. Resources that we can not commit to every idea we have. While we have been working hard to expand and improve our manufacturing capabilities, at heart Pittsburgh Modular is still a small company that remains committed to producing high quality, hand made electronic instruments. Over the past few years, we have chosen to focus our energy on modules that make up the core of our amazing synthesizers. Because of this, we have a lot of concepts and a lot of modules that were designed but never sold. Most of our ideas are too strange to fit in with what Pittsburgh Modular has become and it would be impossible for us to maintain a product line that included all of our designs. Still, we want the modules for our systems so here is the idea...

We are starting a line of limited edition modules as a way to share some of our more esoteric designs with the world. The modules will range from chaotic and noisy, to simple, to over the top.  Each production run will be limited to 50 modules, and each module will be hand signed and numbered on the rear of the panel. All limited edition modules will be available for sale exclusively on shop.pittsburghmodular.com, and once they are gone, they are gone.

We are pleased to announce the Dual Ring, our first limited edition module. The Dual Ring houses a pair of ring modulators with linked inputs and an output mixer, creating unique sonic and signal routing possibilities. The Dual Ring was a request of our good friend Dave Skipper. We were a little skeptical at first but the results prove this was an inspired idea.

The Dual Ring is available now at shop.pittsburghmodular.com

Cell Cases Now Shipping with Improved Power System

CELL [48] And CELL[90] cases are now shipping with an improved power system. The new flexible power rail allows for easier module installs and is +5v and eurorack bus compatible. The new Cell case power system is easier to use. Eurorack modules are installed simply by attaching the power ribbon cable included with the module to the new flexible power rail. The power rail uses keyed headers to ensure a safe and correct connection each time.

Pittsburgh Modular Records Presents Black Sun - Lightning In A Bottle Video

The video for Black Sun - Lightning in a Bottle (Soy Sos Mix). This is the first video off the new Pittsburgh Modular Records Encryption Cipher LP. The video is by Hard Science. All of the effects in this video were made using LZX Visionary video synthesizer modules. Other than Adobe Premiere for editing, no other software was used.

The Encryption Cipher release party will be on March 7th at 720 Music Clothing and Cafe. The event will feature performances from many of Pittsburgh’s top MCs including: Jon Quest, Shad Ali, Crystal Seth, R Sin, and Hunter with more TBA. Doors at 9pm. The LP will be available for sale at the event and afterwards at 720.

The LP follows Encryption Cipher Pt.1, a digital-only release. The project combines modular electronics with the production prowess of Tuff Sound Encoding to present a record that highlights the most talented MCs from Pittsburgh and beyond. Rugged rhymes meet strange and satisfying beats as veteran producer Soy Sos (3 Generations Walking, Soma Mestizo) and brash newcomer, DJ Thermos, create soundscapes for the dancefloor and headphones. If Run The Jewels collaborated with Brainfeeder and Diplo, it might sound like this.

PITTSBURGH MODULAR WAVEFORMS OSCILLATOR DEMO

Waveforms

Complex Waveform Oscillator
Suggested Retail Price - $239

A wide range, high quality, complex VCO designed to be the core of a modern, analog synthesizer. The Waveforms module offers a full complement of standard waveforms including sine, triangle, saw, and pulse waves in addition to a sub octave generator and a unique modulatable blade wave. The oscillator offers 5 octaves of 1 volt per octave tracking, and a frequency range starting as low as 7 seconds per cycle, allowing it to double as an LFO. Additional features include oscillator reset for hard syncing, attenuated linear or exponential FM input, pulse width, and pulse width CV input.

The centerpiece of our 2nd generation oscillator is the extreme amount of modulation options available. Frequency modulation is switchable between linear and exponential and pulse width modulation is augmented with a manual pulse width control in addition to a dedicated pulse width cv input attenuator.

The blade wave is a saw wave pitched one octave above the core frequency of the oscillator. What makes the blade wave unique is how many modulation options are available at the same time.

The shape of the blade wave can be controlled using the pulse width CV input and attenuator creating a sweeping or chorus effect on the wave. The manual pulse width control can be used to manually sweep the blade wave. When used in combination with the pulse width CV input and attenuator, the manual pulse width control sets the positive or negative starting point of the pulse width CV input and attenuator. In addition to the pulse width controls, the blade wave has a dedicated modulation CV input and attenuator. Using the blade CV input and attenuator creates a shifting or pulsing effect. The third option for blade wave modulation is the most extreme. The wave shape of the modulation source plugged into the Blade In jack directly defines the overall shape of the blade wave. Using a low frequency modulation source creates a square wave amplitude modulation effect. Using an audio rate modulation source creates waveshaping effects similar to ring modulation. Using any combination of the 3 modulation sources produces a living, breathing, evolving waveform that is still capable of tracking 1 volt per octave.

The sub oscillator is a CMOS based square wave pitched one octave below the core frequency of the oscillator. It can be controlled using the pulse width controls to create 2 distinct effects. Using the pulse width CV input and attenuator creates a unique pulse width modulation effect.   Adjusting the manual pulse width control sets the range of the modulation. Setting the pulse width range control to the extreme left or right creates a gate effect on the sub oscillator allowing it to be switched on and off within the oscillator.