Voltage Lab 2 from Pittsburgh Modular - Lab Coats at the Ready!

14 May by Rob Puricelli |

3,1 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Voltage Lab 2 · Source: Pittsburgh Modular

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The long overdue Voltage Lab 2 from Pittsburgh Modular looks like its been foolin’ around with their Taiga synth! And that’s not a bad thing!

The folks at Pittsburgh Modular have been rather busy of late! Hot on the heels of the Taiga Desktop and recently released Taiga Keyboard, we have the Voltage Lab 2. The original Lifeforms Voltage Lab debuted four years ago. This second version grows the concept much further.

Now in a “sit-up-and-beg” desktop case, the unit is semi-modular analog synthesizer with a wealth of innovate features. Over and above the first iteration, it now features a performance touch-controller.

The Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2 Oscillators

Voltage Lab 2 features a pair of unique oscillators, a set of multi-purpose function generators, audio processors, dynamics controllers and FX. The oscillators use different techniques to deliver a range of complex waveforms. The Laboratory Oscillator 1 uses Pittsburgh’s own Center Clipping wavefolding technique that manipulates the waveform from the center out.

Oscillator 2 introduces Pulse Symmetry which creates a step-like pulse wave and a new Reflection wave folder that folds the bottom of the waveform onto the top! This is very clever stuff and sets it apart from the crowd. Other oscillator effects include ring mod, FM and bit-crushing.

The multipurpose Function Generators operate as voltage-controlled envelopes with an array of options including slew, clock division, gate delay and more. The Pittsburgh dynamic controllers are an alternative to a filter or VCA and there’s a noise generator and a fully patchable sample & hold.

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Effects

The Voltage Lab 2’s FX section is no slouch either. Florist is a flanger/chorus hybrid with a focus on short time shifts and highly controllable feedback. Echoes is an analog, Bucket Brigade Delay that can generate a large number of repeats that eventually fall into self-oscillation.

The performance section is rammed with features, with a per-step sequencer, a global sequencer and assignable key and scale modes. The touch surface features 16 dedicated pitch knobs and the same amount of shared CV channel knobs. The whole thing is perfect for real-time or sequenced fun!

Connectivity

Aside from the obvious CV/Gate connectivity, there’s a full complement of MIDI and clock connections so the Voltage Lab 2 can either drive your system or be driven by it.

More Information

Pittsburgh Modular’s Voltage Lab 2 is available to order now with initial units shipping around June of 2024. It has an MSRP of $2,499 USD but expect the street price to be a smidge under the $2K mark.

You can order Voltage Lab 2 here in the Thomann shop (affiliate) for € 2149.00.

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