Paia 9700 Modular

via this auction

"The following is from the Paia website:
'The PAiA 9700 Series takes a decidedly high level, systems approach to Synthesizer Module design. Rather than individual elements such as a single VCO, VCA or Envelope Generator, each PAiA module combines multiple elements and a powerful patch-over hardwired normalling scheme behind a single compact panel. Common synth voices can be realized with few patch cords but elements can also be accessed individually for maximum versatility in creating complex, unique timbres. A lot of synth power gets packed into a small space at a low cost. Even a "small" system of only four modules, such as the P9700S, provides the sound generating power of as many as 15 conventional modules, including: 2 VCOs, 2 VCFs, 2 VCAs, 1 Balanced Modulator, 1 Noise source, 2 AR Envelope Generators, 1 ADSR Envelope Generator, MIDI to CV Converter, Glide Processor, CV Scale/Offset Processor, Power Supply
System level design also improves performance and lowers cost. Local voltage regulation and Star grounding on and between modules means a low noise floor and no parasitic modulations or interactions such as oscillator locking.

All modules are scaled for 1Volt/octave Control Voltages with standard 100k ohm input impedance. Nominal signal level is approximately +10dB.

The 9700 modules have heavy duty 1/8" black anodized and screen printed aluminium panels that are 2U high (5-1/4") and provide 1/8" phone jacks for patching.

Midi to CV CV8

This freshly updated MIDI to CV converter from PAiA is an economical and versatile solution for interfacing MIDI to the world of analog synthesis and control. It is an easy to build and use system with eight analog outputs that can be Control Voltages, Gates, Triggers, even variable amplitude pulses for triggering analog drum sets. The CV8 can be configured to provide multiple control voltages for one channel. two channels or four channels (polyphony will obviuosly be dependant on your module configuration and capacity)The newly revised firmware allows Multi assignment of notes by midi channel and a DIN sync mode that can also control of one or two synths while sync is running.

Voltage Controlled Oscillator - VCO
The 9720 Dual VCO w/Modulator features two independent VCOs, each with a chromatic range of 10 octaves from 16Hz to 16kHz at a +/- 1cent pitch error. Total range of each oscillator is from 1 cycle/minute (0.017 Hz) to 100 kHz so both can be used as wide range pitch sources covering the extending well beyond or super slow multi-waveform LFOs.

Temperature stability is extraordinary due to a novel exponential converter that provides more accurate temp tracking than conventional designs.

Each VCO has two 1 V/Oct Control Voltage summing inputs and Pitch knob with 3 octave transpose range.. All outputs are DC coupled 5V p-p (-2.5V to +2.5V). The VCOs are identical in performance but there are subtle difference in features that optimize the flexibility of the pair.

Oscillator A has Ramp, Pulse, Triangle and Sine waveforms outputs. A built-in Glide Processor provides slew rates from milliseconds (perceptually instantaneous) to several seconds. Glide is also normalized to Osc B allowing both oscillators to track a single CV at variable slew rates with no additional patch cords. A convenient toggle switch transposes OscA down from normal audio outputs to an LFO mode in which the Pitch knob controls a range from 0.017Hz to 50Hz. Pulse output width is voltage controllable and defaults to a high harmonic output of ~10% DF. A "soft" Sync input allows more complex timbres than unsync'd waveforms provide.

Oscillator B has Ramp, Triangle and Pulse waveforms ouputs. Pulse Width is controlled both by the PW input and the Width knob. The PW input is normalized to the Modulator output so the useful effect of dynamic Pulse Width Modulation -either by transient or LFO - can be realized with no patch cords. An auxiliary 1 V/kHz Frequency Modulation input allows for complex FM timbres.

The Modulator is an Attack/Release Envelope Generator that has a separate Trigger input for A/R envelopes and Gate input for A/R with Sustain (ASR). Attack time is from 0.5ms to 2 seconds, Release time from 1ms to 4 seconds. The Cycle switch allows self-triggering for an LFO with independently adjustable rise and fall times and a range from a cycle every few seconds to over 100Hz. Gate and Trigger inputs work in Cycle mode to sync and control the LFO function. The front panel LED brightens and dims to indicate Modulator output.

The glide output normals to Pitch VC1 of the B oscillator so that only a single patch cord is needed for a tracking oscillators w/glide configuration. Plugging into Osc B Pitch CV1 disables the normal patch for independent control of the oscillators. The Pulse Width input of Osc B normals to the A/R Modulator's output.

Voltage Controlled Filter - VCF
Two filters are better than one, and when you include a combination Envelope Generator / LFO and interconnect them with a powerful normalization scheme the result is a filter system with unmatched versatility.


A dual filter offers a lot of flexibility. It can be used as two independent 12db/oct. (2 pole) elements to achieve complex, dynamic timbres not possible with one filter, or the two sections can be cascaded for a single 24db/oct (4 pole) reponse. Each filter has Lo Pass, Band Pass, and Hi Pass outputs with nominal corner frequency (Fc) range from 16Hz. to 16kHz.. Control Voltage scaling is 1V/oct. Resonance ("Q") has both a front panel knob and Control Voltage input. All inputs are DC coupled so the filter can process Control Voltages as well as audio signals.

The 9730 Modulator is an Attack/Release Envelope Generator with separate Trigger input for A/R envelopes and Gate input for A/R with Sustain (ASR). Attack time is adjustable from 0.5ms to 2 seconds, Release time from 1ms to 4 seconds. The Cycle switch allows self-triggering for an LFO function with independently adjustable rise / fall times and a range from a cycle every eight seconds to over 100Hz. The Gate and Trigger inputs also work when in Cycle mode - a Gate input turns the oscillator off and on and Trigger inputs syncs the oscillator to an external source. The front panel LED brightens and dims to indicate Modulator output.

Signal and control flow are normalized for use as a single filter - the A filter LP ouput internally connects to the B filter input so that a patch cord is not required for this very useful configuration.

Similarly, the output of the Modulator routes to Fc of both filters so that no patch cords are required for sweeps or cycling.

A single patch cord can apply a CV to both filters for keyboard tracking or other external control.

And while the hi-level normalization gives maximum processing power with minimum patch cords, the patch over-ride provisions allow each VCF and the A/R to be used completely independently or in different combinations

Voltage controlled Amplifier - VCA
Ordinarily, Voltage Controlled Amplifiers are pretty routine. But by combining 2 VCAs, a Balanced Modulator, a White Noise Source and Envelope Generator in a single module and interconnecting them with a powerful normalization design, the 9710 redefines what a VCA module should be.

At the highest level, you can use the 9710 like a traditional VCA but with the added convenience of a built-in Voltage Controlled Input Submixer and ADSR Envelope Generator. This configuration of elements allows a couple of signals to be mixed together before being processed by the VCA which is controlled by the ADSR. It would ordinarily require three or four modules and a handful of patch cords but is embodied as a single element in the 9710.

And the versatility of individual modules is not sacrificed because patch cords can be used to override the normalization and access progressively lower level functional sub-groups or even the individual elements.

The "L" and "R" VCAs are normalized for source pan mixing (morphing) either with a knob or a single CV applied to the CVL input but they can also be accessed as individual VCAs.

The "A" VCA uses a 1496 type Balanced Modulator IC and normally it's Modulation source is an exponential (10dB/V) output of the ADSR. It can be used as a Balanced (Ring) Modulator by patching an external signal source into the CVa (Modulation) input, which overrides the ADSR and expo circuit for a direct linear input.

Many artists prefer linear dynamic response when building percussion sounds because they have much more "punch" than the technically correct exponential response. Patching CVa to the ADSR output bypasses the expo converter for linear ADSR response.

The Envelope Generator is a full-function ADSR with Attack (500uS - 5Sec), Decay (2mS - 7Sec), Sustain Level (0 - 10V) and Release (2mS - 7Sec) controls. Separate Trigger and Gate inputs allow re-triggering. The Cycle switch enables self-triggering for a Low Frequency Oscillator function with independently adjustable rise and fall times. When being used as an LFO the Gate inputs turn the oscillator off and on and Trigger inputs sync it to an external source. The front panel LED brightens and dims to indicate Modulator output.

An important characteristic that the 9710 shares with other 9700 series modules is DC coupling throughout. Any of the VCAs can process Control Voltages as easily as audio signals - one of the pan VCAs can ADSR modulate an LFO vibrato, for example, or one of the pan VCAs can serve as an attenuator for the ADSR '"