Bard Frequency Vault is a new 34HP Eurorack filterbank with triode Sallen-Key type filters packed with vacuum tubes.
A filter is a crucial part of a Synthesizer. It modifies the sound by allowing certain frequencies to pass through while attenuating others. By altering the frequency spectrum, it also shapes the tonal quality of the sound. The effect of the filter depends on the filter topology and the design.
If classic filtering is too simple for you, you can also use filterbanks that intervene much more deeply in the sound. The most famous and legendary is the Moog 914 Fixed Filter Bank from the Moog modular. There are also other designs. A new one comes from Bard Frequency that combines bandpass filters with vacuum tubes.
Bard Frequency Vault
Vault is a new analog filterbank with five individually adjustable vacuum tube filters. The core is based on pure triode Sallen-Key type filters with soft saturation and resonance. The Korg MS-20 is the most prominent Synthesizer with a Sallen-Key filter implementation.
The first band is selectable between LP/BP modes, while the fifth band offers bandpass or highpass. The rest are bandpass filters. Then, for each filter, you get an independent resonance control (ping) and input level.
Its design is intriguing because classic filter banks do not offer this, making the Vault filter bank more unique. Then, you also have common controls for the frequency, cutoff spread, and resonance.
A highlight of the Bard Frequency Vault filterbank is its seven vacuum tubes, five in the filter and two in the mixers at the end of the chain. These give the filter bank a lot of character. According to the developers, the circuit has 15 vactrols.
The connection side has a stereo output with hard-wired panning, individual audio inputs, and CV inputs for the common controls and each resonance level.
If you want to use the module, you have to be careful. Bard Frequency says:
Warning Vacuum tubes are thermionic devices; They require high temperatures in order to work, which correlates with high power consumption.
Tubes that size usually need hundreds of milliamps each – that means your Eurorack system needs to provide LOTS of current. Alternatively, an external power source can be used to offload your PSU.
Please note that vacuum tube modules are generating significant heat that may alter performance of neighbouring temperature sensitive modules.
Bard Frequency Vault can be hard-wired for 5V, 12V, or external power supply on order, depending on your needs. There is no sound demo on YouTube but one on Soundcloud.
First Impression
It looks like an exciting new filterbank module with a unique feature set. It’s a shame that there aren’t many demos yet. I would have liked to hear more of them. I think the filter bank can be super growly and dirty.
Bard Frequency Vault is available now for 720€ + shipping
More information here: Bard Frequency
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