issue.design bass frog is a new hardware filter bank Synthesizer and FX processor built around eight evolving bandbass filters.
In a classic Synthesizer, you can shape the frequency content of its raw sound with a filter. Depending on the chosen topology, specific frequencies pass through while others are blocked or reduced. It’s different with a filter bank.
A filter bank is an array of band-pass filters that splits a source into multiple separate signals, each carrying a specific frequency range. issue.design, a new company from Berlin, has now packaged this concept into a new Synthesizer and FX processor called bass frog.
issue.design bass frog
bass frog is a new 8-band filter bank Synthesizer and FX processor. issue.design is a Berlin-based design company that usually helps develop products for clients like Nonlinear Labs C25. For the bass frog, issue.design developers have created their first synth.
It’s a compact device consisting of a series of sliders and knobs. They are arranged very hands-on, and the device has no display.
bass frog doesn’t function like a traditional synthesizer by offering blocks like oscillator, filter, envelope, etc. Instead, it takes a single signal and processes it through a filter bank. Analog or digital not sure.
You can either use its internal oscillator to create sounds from scratch or use it as an FX processor with an external input.
Whether internal or external, the sound goes directly into the filter bank. The engine takes a single sound source, splits it into eight independent frequency bands, and lets you shape each band.
For this, it has eight dedicated filter bank level sliders, each with a fixed frequency from 110 to 1800. Then, you have a traditional filter with morphable filter character from smooth ladder to resonant twin peak filtering. It has filter and resonance controls.
Rhythmical Filtering
The filter bank in issue.design bass frog has a twist, though. It’s been enhanced with a modulation engine. Alongside level control, each frequency band also has an independent adjustable Euclidean rhythm pattern and AD envelope generator.
There is a dedicated sequencer section on the hardware with two controls: populate and move. It’s not described or shown in a video, but I assume you can distribute the patterns across the frequencies using the populate function and then set the animation level with the move function.
I also assume that the animated LED display above each frequency band will also offer visual feedback of this. Depending on the settings, you can achieve more subtle or more intense moving rhythmic textures with the filter bank.
Additionally, it comes with an automatic audio-input detection and a fader strike performance mode
First Impression
An exciting new filter bank Synthesizer and FX with a very hands-on interface. Since there are no demos yet, there’s not much more to say except that I’m eagerly awaiting them.
issue.design bass frog availability and price TBA. You can join the mailing list to get product updates and secure the Early Bird price.
More information here: issue.design
This looks like a twist variation of the Moog – MIDIMurf.
Alas without the same rear input controls.
Does it have sequence edit via MIDI and does the sequence / pattern do random ?
no info sorry
What kind of a market can there be for such a thing?
Judging by your comments over the last few years, this certainly isn’t a product for you or your music. However, there is a market for experimental music where people find exactly this kind of thing very appealing.