Initially announced at SB23, Tiptop Audio ART is a new smart way to create polyphony in Eurorack; the first modules are available now.
Almost exactly a year ago, Tiptop Audio released the first modules with its innovative ART technology, which makes it easy to create polyphonic modular setups.
Today, the ART technology is taking the next step. The first fully polyphonic modules are ready for shipping and available soon at retailers.
Tiptop Audio ART Polyphonic Modules
After the first monophonic ART modules, it’s time for the first polyphonic ones with innovative Polytip cable sockets.
Vortex6 is a new six-voice polyphonic wavetable oscillator replicating the PPG Wave’s sound character. It uses six vintage 8-bit converters similar to those in the iconic hybrid synth.
Tiptop Audio Vortex6 supports custom wavetables, has a sub-oscillator per voice, and offers unique polyphonic morphing capabilities via six ASR envelopes.
Then, Octopass gives you eight filter voices of the creamy, dark, and beautiful-sounding 24db SSM filter found in many 80s polysynths. A polyphonic modular system also requires modulation and VCAs.
The Octostages is a polyphonic analog modulation module with eight envelopes from the iconic Oberheim OB-X. At the same time, the new Octogain gives you eight voices of ‘80s analog VCAs with a summing output and stereo spread.
Next, TipTop Audio ships new utility modules for the ART system. M is a Polytip multiplier, Octo I/O is a Polytip multiplier and a bidirectional polyphonic breakout module, and Octovert gives you a polyphonic scaler, inverter, and offset in a module.
I look forward to seeing how ART Technology will spread in the modular module world.
The new Tiptop Audio ART polyphonic modules are shipping now. Vortex6 is $550, Octopass is $450, Octotages is $400, Octogain is $400, and Octo I/O is $100.
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Article From February 28, 2024
Creating polyphonic patches in Eurorack modular synthesis is cumbersome and costs a good amount of money. Plus, a lot of cables and patching. ART, the new signal format from Tiptop Audio, officially premiered at the last Superbooth (23), promises an easier and smarter way to work with polyphony.
This week, Tiptop Audio celebrates the official release of the first modules with this new technology built-in. The first batch is shipped to retailers worldwide and will be available soon.
Tiptop Audio ART
The main idea behind the innovative ART signal format is to simplify connectivity between Eurorack modular systems and other music gear, such as hardware MIDI sequencers, keyboard synths, DAWs, and more.
It is very positive that you don’t need any fancy new cables. ART works with classic mono patch or stackable cables.
You can send monophonic and polyphonic note signals with each ART channel, including 1V/oct, gate, and various MIDI commands (pitch bend…). You can use it with multiple monophonic, polyphonic, or combinations, creating multi-channel polyphonic patches via the internal manager. All this with a minimum of cables.
According to Tiptop Audio, these new signals have low jitter and rock-solid timing. If this all works as advertised, this could be a paradigm shift for the polyphonic workflow in Eurorack. Very interesting is also that other manufacturers can also equip modules with this technology.
ART Modules
For the start, there are 5 monophonic ART-enabled modules. More to come, says TipTop Audio. The fully polyphonic ART modules will be added to the lineup later. There are also two special bundles with a more attractive price.
- OCTOPUS (18HP): the interface that is the heart of the entire ART system with 8 drum triggers, ART, and velocity channels. Plus, MIDI input, USB, clock output, and reset output.
- ATX1 VCO (8HP) is an analog saw VCO continuously shapable waveforms, PWM, sync, and FM.
- VORTEX (8HP) a dual wavetable oscillator with various built-in wavetables and controls (position, vibrato, etc.).
- V/OCT quantizer: (8HP) a 4-channel CV to ART converter with 1V/oct inputs, gate ins, and ART outputs
- Control Path (8HP): a dual ADSR envelope generator with velocity and built-in VCA.
Later, Tiptop Audio will also add the full polyphonic modules, including the Vortex 6 (6-voice wavetable oscillator), or the Octopass (8-voice filter).
These modules will then require the OCTO (I/O) interface module with the new polytip cable. It looks like a USB-C cable, but it’s a new patch cable, allowing you to transfer multiple audio signals. It’s a pipeline for your signals.
First Impression
I’m glad to see that ART is now on the market. Congratulations, Gur Milstein (CEO), for the release. I’m particularly excited to see how the Eurorack world receives the format. Whether there will be many users and when the first third-party modules will be available.
The whole thing will become a bigger topic when the poly modules are available.
Tiptop Audio ART modules are shipping now. Vortex is $245, ATX VCO $225, Octopus $345, Control Path $165, and V/Oct quantizer $255. Bundle 1 is available for $999, and bundle 2 for $945, each with seven modules.
More information here: Tiptop Audio
Just buy a capable polysynth instead. It’ll be cheaper and have patch memory.
Maybe people want their fun to patch and have options that polysynths don’t have. Use new oscillators, filters, envelopes, etc. It’s not possible with a classic polysynth.
I was very excited when this concept was announced. Then the Tip Top guy said they wouldn’t be supporting non-EDO tunings because “microtonal music isn’t exactly at the top of the charts”. Last time I checked, music made on modular synths also wasn’t exactly lighting up the airwaves.