Discontinued Blacet Modules

Had this cool idea, so spent some time writing up a "closeup" look at all the different modules that have been discontinued from production at Blacet Research.

Posted it at my forum so that it's easy to have a discussion if anyone wants. I'll keep the thread updated with info on any future modules that are killed off over at Blacet.

Click here to have a look!

Latest Modular Pics (Featuring Wiard!)

Well, finally got a bit of time to re-do one of my towers and get all my new Wiard stuff in there, and took a few pics. I think these may be some of the nicest pics I've ever taken of my synth... (never been much of a photographer)

Anyway this is actually an up-to-date photo of my synth! It's not showing the two 'orphan' frac racks I have sitting standalone on the side with some modules in them, but anyway. Mostly I wanted to get a shot or two of my gorgeous new Wiard modules that were waiting for me when I got back from the US on Friday. Enjoy.

(Oh yeah, click on the pics for a bigger size if you want)

Hylander Mini Wave Expander

Hey, I'm very excited about this, and it's basically done and I've got pics in hand, so it's time to post this to my blog...

David Hylander has built a Mini Wave Expander for me, and he'll be shipping it in the next couple of days. If you are already familiar with David's Expander, you'll notice that he's made some changes to the design - there's now an input so that the inverter can be used for other signals, as well as dedicated positive and negative outputs for the inverter's signal. Really, really cool stuff, and I can't wait to receive this!

For those that don't know, the Expander is used along with a Blacet/Wiard Mini Wave module, allowing the MW to address a total of 10 ROMs (as opposed to the 2 ROMs that a standard Mini Wave can work with), which ultimately gives your Mini Wave 2,560 individual waveforms. Additionally, the Expander adds CV control over the currently active ROM, and a signal inverter. Personally I think Dave Hylander is absolutely friggin' AWESOME for designing this, offering the PCBs for sale, and building them for people from time to time. Really, really cool, and this will turn one of the best modules ever into a total powerhouse. I can't wait to receive this, and will be eventually trying to talk Dave into building me a second one for my other Mini Wave.

If anyone wants to know more about the Mini Wave and what makes it so cool, I've written a little review here.

This Week's Frac-Rack News! Crazy!

No, not a new weekly feature here, but the results of a flurry of news from the Frac-Rack world!

First, and this is *major*, The Wiard Synthesizer Company has announced on their mailing list that they will be discontinuing the 1200 series (Frac-Rack Modules), and bringing the classic 300 series back to reglar production.

This is very mixed news, that impacts me in a few ways. First, I've just shuffled a bunch of funds, and have made a large payment to secure the remaining modules I need for my 'master plan' frac system, which required 2 of each of the 1200 series Wiard modules (one of each in black and blue!). Next, I'm bummed that there won't be new 1200 Series modules, in particular the Woggle Bug and the VCO. Finally, I'm extremely excited about the return of the 300 series. In fact, I can tell you right now that this will FOR SURE be my 'next format' after I'm done with Frac-Rack (actually, I'll probably start BEFORE I'm done with Frac-Rack). Tough beans Euro-Rack, this means you'll have to wait a LONG LONG time to see any of my money. Anyway, no more 1200's, and the return of the 300. Really interesting news. If you covet any 1200-series modules (they are all freakin' FANTASTIC), get your orders in fast - Grant will continue to build them only until his parts are depleted.

Next, Shawn from Analogue Haven dropped me a line to mention that the Bananalogue LPFA (see earlier post) should be in stock this week, along with the frac-rack version of the Livewire Frequensteiner module. He included a photo of the 'Frac'uensteiner, and I'm happy to say that it has a BLACK front panel (as opposed to "classic" Livewire silver), so it'll look great in all our frac systems! I won't post the image here, because Matrixsynth already did it. Anyway, thanks Shawn for the tip!

Finally, in MOTM news, Paul mentioned on the mailing list that PCBs are being stuffed for the next run of Frac'd MOTM modules. No more details, except that they will be available at Analog Haven as usual, and that the MOTM VCO will be one of the new modules. Cool stuff!

Livewire goes Frac-Rack!

Great news! I just found out from Shawn at
Analogue Haven that Livewire modules will be available in the Frac-Rack format "sometime soon". Apparently pricing will be similar to the current prices for the EuroRack format, and the Frequensteiner will be the first module to make the transformation.

I'm *really* excited about this. Livewire and Plan B are the two main draws for me on the EuroRack format. And the way that my Frac plans have been taking off (along with so many new modules in the format), it will be a LONG time before I can start another format.... so I really couldn't be happier about this news, very very cool!

Now here's hoping that Plan B follows suit sometime soon, I really want to get a couple of Model 13's and Model 15's

Lots of thanks to Shawn for this news. Take a peek at Analogue Haven's Livewire page by clicking here.