Flight of Harmony Facehugger is a new analog, 8-stage chainable function generator and control module, now on Kickstarter.
Flexible modulation generators are very useful tools in modular synthesizers to add movement and variety to sounds. This starts with simple ADSR envelopes, LFOs and goes all the way to fully customizable function generators. The Mutable Instruments Stages, for example, is an FG that is almost modular in itself. From this one, you can build umpteen different mod signals.
Flight of Harmony takes a comparable deep concept with its new Facehugger module, which is now available on Kickstarter.
Flight of Harmony Facehugger
Facehugger is described as an all-analog, addressable, non-linear 8-stage, chainable, function generator and control module for Eurorack. In easy words, it’s a sequenced function generator that outputs up to eight different control voltage levels.
The output function depends on how you patched the module. According to Flight of Harmony it can be:
- Control Voltage (CV) Sequencer
- Gate Sequencer
- Arpeggio Generator
- Envelope Generator
- Burst Generator
- Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO)
Here are some more details: first, the Facehugger is unlocked, which makes it very flexible to use. It has a built-in ramp generator that controls the cycling. Alternatively, you can use any 0-+5V waveform. The sequence order is, however, not adjustable. It is determined by the amplitude and slope of the driving waveform. Depending on which waveform is routed in, the order is different and thus the final result.
if it is linear, the stages will trigger linearly (in order), incrementing with a rising signal, and decrementing with a falling signal. With a non-linear drive signal (like a stepped, or staircase wave), the stages will trigger non-linearly based on the same parameters.
If you need longer patterns or want to create more extensive setups (chords…), you can chain multiple units via the rear chaining header. There is also a rear ramp out pin for syncing the oscillator or as an independent, fully-controllable LFO with adjustable curvature. The latter is only possible with an external drive waveform.
Further, Facehugger has a rear expansion header for a separate expander module providing individual level-out jacks, gate-out jacks, a master gate in jack, and a ramp-out jack. If the module reaches more than $45k in Kickstarter, there will be an opportunity to purchase the expander. There will be another expansion panel with large 75mm slide potentiometers coming if the project is successful.
Flight of Harmony has posted many videos on YouTube showing the features. Attention it will be loud.
First Impression
So far the developer is known for its crazy, bizarre synth voice Inferno Noise Machine that catapults every modular system to the industrial corner. The new Facehugger module is also anything but a classic modulation module. It’s very playful and has an interesting feature set. Would be happy if the Kickstarter will be successful
Flight of Harmony Facehugger is available now for pre-order for $285 and in various DIY kit versions starting at $158.
More information here: Flight of Harmony (Kickstarter)
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