ST-Modular intros three new Eurorack products: a CV-controllable radio, tiny 0HP helpers with simple functions and a powerful PT2399 based delay module.
The entry into the Eurorack format is not affordable for everyone. At just under € 100 per module, a small rack can quickly become expensive. If you have soldering experience you can put together a Eurorack system much cheaper. The disadvantage you have to solder the modules together yourself, which also takes time.
ST-Modular is a great module manufacturer that offers its modules as a DIY project and often well below the price of finished modules. For the virtual NAMM 2021, the designer presented three new exciting products. A radio, 0HP helpers, and a powerful delay module.
ST-Modular Radio
Radio, as the name suggests, is a radio for the Eurorack format. It supports a frequency band of 83,5 – 114 MHz and includes a handy automatic channel-search functionality The module features a built-in frequency control with signal quality evaluation and runs with automatic noise suppression. Unlike classic radios, it gives you the ability to trigger manually or via gate CV the station changes.
Radio is a very flexible tool that gives you endless new sound ideas and works perfectly in combination with samplers or audio manglers.
ST-Modular WORKMATES
The workmates are small 0HP passive helpers with various functions.
- ATT is a simple attenuator that allows level control over CV or audio signals.
- EQ is a one-knob low and high-frequency EQ with mid-frequency range control.
- COMBINER: a 4 to 1 passive mixer, an or-wired trigger/gate combiner, or a 1 to 4 passive multiplier.
- SWAP exchanges the destination of one or two sources (audio or CV) with the push of a button
- CLIPPING CAT: a passive distortion that can blend between hard clipping crossover distortion and softened LED clipping.
- LPG: a passive vactrol based low pass gate. It also has a passive lowpass filter for subtle tone control.
The WORKMATES look neat. I like the passive distortion CLIPPING CAT but also the LPG very much. Both are relatively simple ideas that usually take up precious space in the case. With these, you get these functions in a super tiny format that doesn’t sacrifice space in your rack.
ST-Modular Singer
The Singer module is a delay effect based on the well-known PT2399 chip. Instead of a yet another classic PT2399-based delay, Singer tries to go beyond all these. The module was made to explore the boundaries of the chip and is able to create all sorts of delays, glitches, and noise sounds. This is possible thanks to its impressive circuit design that offers CV control over most parameters.
A nice example where you notice that you are playing with the limit of the chip is the possibility of setting the length of the delay significantly higher than you normally know from this. In the high settings, it creates lovely, crazy glitches and noise artifacts. The delay time can be changed via CV that opens up the drawer of unusual delays even further. Singer has two audio inputs whereas B includes a highpass filter that attenuates frequencies below 320Hz. Especially for effect sends it is helpful to only introduce a highpass filtered delay effect to the mix.
The module also allows you to switch between the two channels manually, via cv/gate or by the internal LFO which has a triangle or square as a waveform. At first glance a very versatile delay module that offers a lot of possibilities.
All three ST-Modular releases (Radio, Workmates, Singer) look brilliant in my opinion. Clever designs, feature-rich, and, thanks to DIY, very affordable. They will be available soon from the official resellers.
More information here: ST-Modular
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