With the Transient Eurorack module, Future Retro announced last year during Musikmesse an interesting sampled-based percussion module with innovative sound design capabilities. It contained more than 400 recordings of rhythm machines and analog Synthesizer that can be modified further with amplitude & ring modulation, a multi-mode filter and different effects. This amazing module has one limitation: it’s not possible to change the sample content.
Today, the company announced a big upgrade for the Transient module which will be loved by the Eurorack community and yes, existing customers can upgrade at low cost.
The new Transient Plus Eurorack module allows you now to load on instrument sets and samples into the module and to manipulate them further. This means, the percussive sound design possibilities are now unlimited. It allows also to change the playback speed of samples from +1 to -5 octaves from the original recorded pitch. The playback speed can be modulated by numerous modulations sources and ring mod can be also applied.
Overview
The Transient Plus is a sample-based percussion module for the Eurorack format. The Transient Plus can recreate individual drum voices or sound like an entire drum machine or loop is playing, morphing from rhythm to rhythm, or at times sound more like a synthesizer when retriggering samples at audio rates, and creating other special effects. It’s easy to use, introduces new ways to quickly sculpt your beats with endless possibilities, and… it sounds great! Up to 256 User Instruments can be stored and loaded from the microSD card, and the Transient Plus will come loaded with the Original factory Instruments to get you going right out of the box, and to help you learn how to achieve certain results. Instruments can now be named, as well as backed up to a computer.
Up to 600 individual User samples (16 MB max total) can be loaded into the Transient Plus using the microSD card. Over 400 audio sample come preinstalled with the Original factory sound set. These samples focus on classic drum machines and modern analog percussive sounds. There are two voices to play these samples, and sample selection for each voice can be modulated with things like knobs, CV’s, or random values. While internal processing of these sounds is all 16 bit resolution, a 12 bit DAC is used to add more vintage character. Additional factory sound sets can also be purchased and installed in your Transient Plus, or users are free to create their own custom sound sets.
Sound Design Possibilities
A unique architecture in the Transient allows these digital samples to have similar sound characteristics to what you would expect from analog drum machines or synthesizers, and natural sounds. Natural sounds never repeat in exactly the same way, and the Transient achieves similar results by altering the phase and amplitude of samples.The Transient Plus now allows changing the playback speed of samples from +1 to -5 octaves from the original recorded pitch. Playback speed can be modulated by numerous modulation sources. Ring modulation can also be applied to alter the perceived pitch and harmonics of a sound.
The sample Mod selection allows different combinations for samples to be Amplitude or Ring modulated, by periodic waveforms, envelope shapes, or other sample waveforms. It is also possible to apply two of these processes simultaneously to a single sample. Two Modulation Oscillators provide both typical waveforms and new envelope waveforms. That means all envelopes in the Transient are looping. Envelopes do not have adjustable ADSR times like most synthesizers. Instead the total time or frequency of the envelope is adjustable, and so is the phase the envelope or waveform starts at. The modulation oscillator can cover both the LFO and audio range for some really nice results.
Amplitude modulation can be used to apply Fades, Tremolo, Envelopes and Audio-rate modulations to samples. Ring modulation can be used to change the phase of waveforms, creating subtle changes in repeating samples. It can also be used to change the perceived pitch, and harmonic content of a sample. It can even rectify a sample when ring modulated with itself, or allow two samples to share their “sonic DNA” with each other creating all sorts of new combinations in harmonic content.
The Mixer allows control over the mix of two voices, and the multi-mode filter allows you the sculpt the tones. By applying CV control to these, the voices come alive and begin dancing to the dynamics. The Digital section can be used to add a little more character to sounds by Companding, Distorting, or Bit Crushing the audio, along with changing the Bit Depth and Sample Rate for each effect.
A multi-mode filter provides low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass filter types, or the filter can be bypassed completely. The filter frequency can be modulated by knobs, CV’s, Random generators, and now includes the ability to use the internal Modulation Oscillators as LFO and audio-rate mod sources. The Dynamics section provides control of the final output sound level. This can be used as a simple set-and-forget level control, assign a knob to act as volume control, allow external CV’s to control the dynamics, or combinations of these can be applied simultaneously.
Making beats has never been easier! The Trig In jack accepts a wide range of trigger sources (gates, oscillators, LFO’s, even audio), to play sounds in the Transient. Two CV inputs allow external control voltages to modulate or modify parameters. And of course the Audio Out provides the final audio output.
There are two CV attenuator knobs to scale each CV input source, and two more knobs K1 and K2 that can be assigned to control multiple parameters simultaneously. These K1 and K2 knobs allow you to basically morph between different modulation amounts for various parameters. And finally a Parameter control is used to navigate through the parameters, and adjust parameter values. In addition to the CV or K1 or K2 modulation sources, a Random generator is also provided as a possible modulation source. The Transient Plus also adds a new Sequential mod source that can be used to step through sample waveforms automatically, and is just the thing to recreate sliced audio loops.
Upgrade From Transient To Transient Plus
Future Retro also thought about the customers of the original Transient module. Owners can now upgrade their unit to have all the latest features of the new Transient Plus. New features include the ability to load up to 16MB of user samples, store up to 256 Instruments on the microSD card, each sample voice now has adjustable pitch, the filter frequency can be modulated by either of the modulation oscillators, a new sequential mod source for the sample waveform selection, plus updated display menu, screen saver, and a few other goodies.
By purchasing this upgrade customers will receive all the latest features, and a microSD card preloaded with the original factory sound set samples and instruments, plus an SD card adapter, and SD case.
Transient owners will be responsible to send their unit in to receive the upgrade. The new OS will be installed here at our factory. The upgrade procedure will usually take 1 day once we receive your Transient, and we will return the product to the shipping address you enter into the shopping cart at checkout. You pay to send the product in to us, and we cover the shipping cost back to you. Note: This upgrade will not change the physical appearance of your unit.
Availability & Price
The Transient Plus by Future Retro is now available for $249 USD. Owners of the original Transient module can upgrade for $49 USD.
More information here: Future Retro
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