Midweek Modular: Randomisation, Lavender and ignorable filters
3,2 / 5,0 | 
In Midweek Modular this week, a VCV Rack module becomes hardware; we mix stereo signals and discover a unique lowpass filter in the valleys of Wales.
Midweek Modular
Let’s not get distracted by a potential new polyphonic Moog. Instead, we’ll bring our attention to the ever-evolving world of modular synthesis. Here are this week’s gems.
Nano Modules VCV Random
This is an interesting reversal of the usual trope of software emulating hardware. Nano Modules has been working with Eurorack simulation VCV Rack to produce a hardware version of one of their modules.
VCV Random is based upon the stock “Random” module that comes as one of VCV Rack’s included modules. Nano hasn’t posted any details about it other than a photo and comment on Instagram. But it looks like it mirrors the functionality completely.
The idea is that from a Sample & Hold circuit, you have four versions of the same randomisation: one stepped, one smooth, one linear and one exponential. So you can choose how the voltage should move between the randomly generated voltage. But then you have some interesting control with the four sliders. The RATE governs how fast new values are generated, but the PROB decides on how likely there will be a new value. RND dictates how close or independent that value will be from the last one. SHAPE determines how pronounced the journey between the values will be.
The Instagram post said it will be available in March, and it will be interesting to see how it differs from the VCV Rack version.
NOH Modular Lavender
Last week, we were impressed by NOH Modular’s Pianist chord-generating module. This week they have something a little more low-key but still useful. Lavender is a 5-channel stereo mixer module with a couple of nice touches.
There are four left/right channels with independent inputs, and then the interesting bit is an additional channel that can use either a regular mono or a stereo minijack. It’s a really compact and useful way to bring in stereo sources from outside your rack. The other cool feature is the tall VU meter right in the middle giving you a nice visualisation on the overall level.
Lavender is compact, neatly done and useful in an increasingly stereo modular setup.
- NOH Modular website.
Dwyfor Tech Pas-Isel
From a new Welsh modular company comes the Pas-Isel low-pass filter. Apparently, it was inspired by an article on the Buchla 191 filter, which described it as “ignorable”, and then combined with some ideas borrowed from Korg to give it some grunt. It’s quite unique in that it’s comprised of a diode-based and uses high-pass filters in op-amp negative feedback loops to generate the familiar sound of a -24dB lowpass filter.
In use it’s a very straightforward VCF with lots of nice gain on the input and CV control over both cutoff and resonance. The gain does give it some really nice beef as it barrels towards self-resonance. It sounds characterful, and has anunusual look about it.
Pas-Isel is available as a through-hole kit or you can persuade the designer to build it for you for a fistful of tenners.
- Dwyfor Tech store.
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