Pittsburgh Modular Local Parks is an innovative experimental high harmonic analog oscillator with pulse shifting, morphing, and binary logic waveforms.
Concepts keep coming back in analog Eurorack oscillators. There are classic waveforms, then PWM, FM, and if you’re lucky, it offers a sub. And if you want to break new ground, you can find a waveshaper or wave folder as part of the feature set.
However, new analog synthesis impulses can be found in the Pittsburgh Modular Safari modules. These are experimental, aka proof of concept modules, fresh from the development bench and published as limited editions. Some the ideas can be found in the Taiga synthesizer, for example. Today, the Safari series continues with an all-new oscillator.
Pittsburgh Modular Local Parks
Local Parks is a new innovative analog oscillator with an experimental soul. Pittsburgh Modular describes it as a high-harmonic analog oscillator drawn from their waveform manipulation research.
It’s not another classic with always the same 3340 basic oscillator that we now have in abundance with various front panels. Local Parks oscillator goes its own way with a unique feature set.
For example, besides a super clean sine wave (same as in the Taiga and Captain Big-O), it offers a half-sine wave, aka a half-rectified wave. The benefit of this is that it provides a bit of harmonic content that works great with a filter.
Then, Local Parks’ pulse waves can be manipulated in multiple dimensions. Besides classic pulse width, it also comes with pulse shift, which creates an adjustable “step” within the pulse wave, giving you more harmonic content. A selectable sine or saw wave creates the pulse wave and gives you further sonic variations.
Morphing & Binary Waveforms
There is also a unique morphing saw wave called blade wave. It is pitched one octave above the core frequency of the oscillator that smoothly shifts back to the core frequency as it changes shape. Resulting in chorus-like effects on the sound without tune failures.
Next to this is a binary logic waveform, which premiered in the Narwhal Cymbal module in 2022. The core uses an analog binary logic-powered waveshaper that creates everything from gate effects to atonal bell-like tones. It goes wilder. You can sum the pulse and blade waves with the binary output for more complex timbres.
As the cherry on the cake, it also has a voltage-controlled modulator built-in in the oscillator. This you don’t need to use an external LFO to animate the waveforms.
On the connection side, you get individual waveform outputs (sine, half-sine, triangle, saw, blade, binary, & pulse) as well as various CV inputs, including FM, blade, and more.
First Impression
The Local Parks oscillator is fresh, and new. It shows that analog synthesis can go further beyond vintage synthesis. It is very experimental in places but also classic, like the Blade waveform that generates chorus effects on the wave. For me, a very exciting oscillator. Unfortunately, again, it is available only for a limited time.
Pittsburgh Modular Local Parks is available now for $339 in a limited run of 200 modules.
More information here: Pittsburgh Modular
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