Midweek Modular: Percussive voices, power sources and starvation
4,3 / 5,0 | 
This week we’ve seen some beautiful new modules to elevate your modular and one that’s determined to starve your system to destruction. Bring on the Famine.
But first Soundfreak has done a beautiful job of interpreting the EMS VCS3 for the 4U Buchla modular format. The synthesizer has been split into three modules, the Triple Oscillator, Dual Filter and Envelope Shaper/Noise Generator. They could bring such a tonal and vibe change to any Buchla modular system. Read more about it here.
It was great seeing a new range of modules from Sovage Engineering. They seemed to offer quirky and edgy takes on oscillations, modulations, filtering and distortion. There’s lots of mangling, warping and convoluting going on, which is always a load of fun. Read more about them here.
Modal Electronics appears to be about to reveal a Eurorack module based around a part of the Modal 002. They teased that it would be launched on the 7th of September but I haven’t seen anything yet. You can read more about the tease here.
Instruó also had a couple of new modules. The stereo oscillator offers up many versions of its sawtooth waveform or combines them into a lush supersaw. Meanwhile, a straightforward function generator brings some shape to things. Read more about them here.
Midweek Modular Bits and pieces
Here are a few more bits and pieces of modular news and coolness that I’m pleased to shine a light on for this week’s Midweek Modular.
Winterbloom Micronova
From the creator of the Caster & Pollux oscillator comes a tiny but mighty Eurorack power supply. It can supply up to 18w of power, is only 100x30mm and can sit hidden away in the bottom of your case. It has two DC connectors that will need to poke out the back of your case, which allow you to daisy chain more than one to the same power supply. Or you can use the screw terminals.
There’s an optional 4HP wide power module that sports a reassuringly green power switch. Not a whole lot else going on other than an LED to let you know it’s working. I do really appreciate the DC pass-thru, which is also on the module. Every power module should have one, which means that you can use a single power supply to run a number of these power modules by chaining them together.
Winterbloom Micronova
On the power supply are two Eurorack power headers that can be expanded using a busboard or flying bus cables that are not included, although Winterbloom does offer them as a bundle as a kit or assembled.
Micronova $124 or $157 with the module.
Flight of Harmony Famine 1500, 500 and 250
Talking of power, Flight of Harmony has announced two new Famine modules, the 500 and the 250, to add to the existing 1500. How does this relate to power? Well, the Famine range are voltage-controlled power starvation modules. It deliberately starves your Eurorack of power, resulting in strange, unpredictable and possibly fatalistic behaviour.
I remember when I first got into Eurorack going to seminars where wizened old modular enthusiasts would talk about the weird things that happen when you don’t have an adequate power supply. This is exactly that, but doing it intentionally to make the weirdness happen. Flight of Harmony stresses that this is experimental and could destroy your system.
Flight of Harmony Famine
I think the modules are essentially the same, the only difference being the size. The Famine 1500 is $177, 8HP wide and already exists. Joining it are the 4HP Famine 500 for $177 for which preorders are open, and the 2HP Famine 250 for $197 which is yet to come. All of them will support a bus board’s worth of modules. You can then use switches to split the positive and negative rails, choose whether they invert or mirror each other and then dial in how much you want to starve it of power and, I guess, let it go. The LEDs glow brightest at 0v.
I’m too scared to even think about giving it a go, but it’s totally brilliant and totally bonkers.
Erica Synths LXR Drum Module is now available
We saw this back at Superbooth. The LXR Drum module pulls the percussion sound engine out of the LXR-02 and sticks it into Eurorack. It leaves the drum sequencing bit behind and gives you 6 drum and percussion voices run by 7 trigger inputs and accents. There are a lot of parameters inside that can be modulated via the 5 assignable CV inputs.
You can use 3 voices to build basslines and other bits of melody and assign a CV input to handle the 1v/oct tuning. There are 4 assignable outputs and also an FX section. There’s an SD card slot for easy transfer of kits – they are compatible with the LXR-02 – and for firmware updates.
It’s a pretty epic digitally focused drum machine that’s going to enjoy being run by whatever trigger sequencer you have in your Eurorack.
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The LXR Drum Module will be shipping at the end of September for €420 ex VAT.
- Winterbloom Micronova: Winterbloom
- Flight of Harmony Famine: Flight of Harmony
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