NAMM 2023: 1V/Oct The Centre semi-modular wavetable synth station
4,8 / 5,0 | 
Building on the success of a Kickstarter campaign to launch the Eurorack module, 1V/Oct is now showing an updated semi-modular version that includes a polyphonic MIDI interface and stereo output module.
The Centre
I think the concept is to bring the wonder of VST-style software instruments into Eurorack via a hardware interface. The Centre hosts a software environment that’s running a polyphonic wavetable synthesizer. That synth can then be controlled via the front panel knobs and accessed via the CV inputs.
The Centre sports four lots of 1V/Oct inputs, so it’s somewhere along the lines of being 4-part multi-timbral and/or 4-voice polyphonic. It has unison modes, detuning and plenty of internal modulations with LFOs and envelopes. There are all sorts of filters, VCAs, Ring Modulation, Wave folding, all available via internal patching. It also has Drum Racks with sampled kits, Euclidean rhythm generation and some physical modelling. There are also some effects in there somewhere.
The 8 knobs and 8 CV inputs with attenuators can all be patched to whatever you like. It’s all patched together via the little colourful screen.
Semi-modular
What makes this version a semi-modular synth is the inclusion of the TAMAR MIDI-to-CV interface on the left and the stereo output module on the right, all presented in a nice wooden case. Otherwise, these are individual modules.
The Centre which is the heart of the system just got a V2.0 firmware update which, apparently makes the whole thing much better.
They keep talking about how easy and simple it is, “ideal for beginners” and so on but honestly, there’s nothing I’ve seen or heard in any of the videos that would support that idea. It looks terribly complicated and while I’ve no doubt it can make some fabulous sounds this is not the sort of interface that thrills me.
Availability
The Centre has already been available since the Kickstarter last year. The Centre module is usually $699, but the whole semi-modular system is around $1,000. 1V/Oct are on booth 10505.
- 1V/Oct website.
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