QU-Bit Electronix Nebulæ

QU-Bit Electronix is a new Eurorack modular synthesizer company based in North America founded by Andrew Ikenberry and Jason Lim.
They love open source hardware/software, and put their knowledge together to create this first QU-Bit module, the Nebulæ.

QU-Bit Nebulæ module 

Nebulæ is an audio file player/granular oscillator in the Eurorack modular synthesizer format.

It uses sound files to create loops, melodies, granular clouds, drones, pads and any sound recorded audio is capable of generating.

It comes with 1 GB of royalty free samples recorded and mastered specifically for Nebulæ.

Main features:
- Plays .wav, .aif, .flac , and .ogg files from a USB device- No naming convention for files
- Independent control of pitch and speed
- 1 V/oct pitch tracking
- MIDI control over all parameters
- DSP engine by Csound ( Csound is a C-Based Audio Programming Language) http://www.csounds.com/
- Looping / one shot capabilities

Video 1: Nebulae Drum Break

" Demonstration of the 'freeze' and granular functionality of the Nebulæ Eurorack module by QU-bit Electronix"

Video 2: Nebulae Loop Controls

" Demonstration of the looping/cropping functionality of the Nebulæ Eurorack module by QU-bit Electronix"

Video 3: Nebulae Looping Mode

"Demonstration of the Nebulæ Eurorack module by QU-bit Electronix in Looping mode"

The Nebulæ looks like a pretty awesome and flexible module to me, especially with the easy file-import via USB.
It can be yours for USD 429.00
They are now (december 6) accepting a limited number of pre orders on the site (http://www.qubitelectronix.com/) and anticipate to start shipping in mid to late December.

More at http://www.qubitelectronix.com/

Say hi to them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/qubitelectronix (new)

Videos uploaded by http://www.youtube.com/QuBitElectronix

Random Video: Cardio Bass & Respiration Synth by Ukrets

Mark Mennings (@sensien) brought this next video to my attention.
A nice example of biorythmic/posture control of a doepfer modular.

Video: Cardio Bass & Respiration Synth

" Ukrets uses the ephysm.us biomusic performance and authoring platform. Performed by the Holminid with synthesis by Sensien, using a modular analogue synth. Everything is generated from live biosignals and postures, except the obligatory 808 kick that was added for structural support. The track consists of two patches recorded in succession, mixed without any further editing or processing. Jaala, Finland, July 2013. http://ephysm.us"
" ...we convert the signals from the wireless sensor belt to OSC, which is then used to create triggers and control ableton. This is converted to CV."

Read more about it on MuffWiggler,
and don't forget to check out http://ephysm.us/ electronic physiological music

Quick SiteTip: CatSynth.Com

Funny how most of the modular synth-lovers that i know seem to be serious cat-lovers as well.

Penelope trapped in a Eurorack
Picture by @Grillobeats

Because of this, you might also have heard of CatSynth.com before...

The CatSynth blog started in July 2006 and covers Cats, Synthesizers, Music, Art, Opinion and more...
Besides that, CatSynth regularly features reviews of music and art.

The focus is on modern, contemporary or experimental work in a variety of media. 

Catsynth primarily covers the San Francisco Bay Area, but occasionally find themselves in New York or such far away locales as an electronic music show in Tokyo or an underground club in Shanghai.

Want to see how it all started in 2006?
Find their inaugural post with the photo of the cat (Luna) that started it all… HERE

http://www.catsynth.com
http://twitter.com/catsynth
https://www.facebook.com/catsynth

2Egress Studio Furniture and Cases

After the recent wave of interesting new Eurorack-modules you might run out of rack-space pretty soon...
I recently stumbled upon a Canadian firm that builds and designs studio furniture and Eurorack cases.

A few of the 2Egress Eurorack case-designs

2Egress is a three year old small business located in Toronto, Canada that specializes in technical furniture for recording studios and film editing suites.

"Growing up with an avid woodworking father, Brock inherited a love for all things wooden, and developed a passion for restoring classic racing sailboats.
These experiences have been stepping stones to the high quality, detail oriented pieces that he designs and builds today.

As a schooled audio engineer and musician, it became clear to Brock that studio furniture had become stuck in the 60's and 70's - ugly and utilitarian to excess, the standard pressboard self-assembled furniture available was not recognizing the unique needs nor aesthetic discernment of the industry.
Some time ago they had been invited to build a Eurorack case and have decided to continue building them ever since."

12U 104HP wide custom case for Damian Taylor

Recently they designed and built a double wide 12U 104hp modular case for Grammy-nominated producer Damian Taylor (Bjork, The Killers, Unkle, Arcade Fire, The Prodigy).

It houses four Doepfer PSU2’s and 8 Bus Boards, has two IEC power connectors on the rear and even a matching rear panel to compliment his studio space.

They included 1/4” connectors on the rear with passthroughs to the front of the case. 

See the building-process HERE, and the finished product with modules installed HERE

I really like this sort of craftsmanship, that's why I think it is worth posting it here.
If you are looking for a new case or rack, contact them to find out what they can do for you.
They mention worldwide shipping on their website...
Based on the pictures they seem to make good quality products with an eye for detail.
Watch their site as they will be adding some very funky cool cases in the very near future.
Loads of drawings are already just waiting to be pumped into their CNC machine...

Also check out their impressive portfolio at http://www.2egress.com/portfolio.html

Website: http://www.2egress.com/home.html

I also added their RSS newsfeed to the right column of this blog >

Make Noise Sub Timbral Oscillator (STO)

Make Noise released their Make Noise Sub Timbral Oscillator (STO) and it looks quite interesting.

Make Noise
Sub Timbal Oscillator
(STO)

The STO is a "compact Voltage Controlled Oscillator designed for generating SINE waves, Variable wave-SHAPEs, SUB-Octaves, Oscillator SYNC and Linear FM in the analog domain. 

The Sub-Timbral Oscillator is the more subtle and melodic friend to the DPO's complex harmonic lattice.

It features:
- Triangle Core with outputs for SINE, SUB and Variable SHAPE
- Unique Variable SHAPE circuit ripples Even and Odd harmonics for subtle timbral shifts
- Linear FM input with Depth control
- EXPOnential input for deep FM, SYNC sweeps or Transposition of sequences
- SUB-Oscillator yields max bass
- S-Gate input for gating or sync of SUB-Osc. independent of other outputs
- Hard SYNC circuit which combined with Linear FM and Variable SHAPE yields harmonically rich sounds
- Pairs well with the MMG or Optomix"

Video: Make Noise Sub Timbral Oscillator (STO)

Uploaded by http://www.youtube.com/user/MAKEN0ISE

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/makenoisemusic

Random Video: Doepfer A100 vs Moog Modular by Kevin Farrow

Kevin Farrow posted a nice video, comparing his Doepfer A-120 Moog filter with an original Moog modular system...

Video: Doepfer A100 v Moog Modular by Kevin Farrow

" Spot the difference. This is a comparison of my new Doepfer Modular A100 System fitted with the A120 (Moog) 24db Filter compared to Tom's Mighty Moog Modular.
Not bad considering the Doepfer is about £30,000 cheaper !"

Uploaded by Kevin Farrow

Doepfer A-166-2 Logic Module Announced

Via the Doepfer A-100 Usergroup on Yahoo we found out today that Dieter and his crew are working on an additional logic module (A-166-2).

Not the new, but the 'old'
A-166 Dual Logic Module

You probably remember the original A-166 Dual Logic Module, which is a double logic device that combines digital control / clock signals.
Read all about that module HERE.

A typical application of this module is the combination of digital signals of the A-100 gates, clocks and triggers to obtain "gated" clocks or rhythmic clock patterns.

The new A-166-2 "...will also include - among other functions - a flipflop.
( The output will turn high as soon as the first pulse of the "gate stream at audio rate" appears and stay high until the gate turns low.)
Sometimes I'd like to have a flipflop function in certain patches.

A simple zero-crossing comparator could be added to this module too. 

The A-166-2 will probably also include a rising edge detector (outputs a short pulse at the rising edge of a digital input signal) and a falling edge detector (outputs a short pulse at the falling edge of a digital input signal).
I think also about a pitch-change-detector (or more general CV-change-detector). 

It outputs a signal whenever a CV connected to it's input changes (probably with three outputs: positive/negative/both). 

So far there is no front panel layout available as I'm still fiddling about the arrangement of the sockets and controls, which features will be finally included and which front panel width (4/6/8 HP) is the best compromise."

Price and availability are still unknown...

Source: Dieter Doepfer