Mutable Instruments BLADES // Eurorack dual/stereo multimode filter, folder & saturator

DivKidVideo

"Here we have the new Mutable Instruments Eurorack module ‘Blades’. It’s a dual multimode stereo filter that can be used as a dual mono filter, stereo filter, dual filter in series of parallel blends with CV modulation over EVERYTHING! An exciting addition in the input stage which takes your inputs through a dynamic saturation stage that can also blend (so you can mix both together) across to a wavefolder. You can modulate the input drive so CV modulated saturation or wavefolding is possible before going into the filters."

A DUAL MULTIMODE FILTER…

A CV-controlled overdrive circuit capable of wavefolding.

A clean 12dB/octave multimode filter self-oscillating cleanly across the audio range.

Times two. And this could have stopped here.

FOR ALL THE IN-BETWEENS…

What sets Blades apart is that options commonly presented as multiple choices (low-pass or high-pass? serial or parallel?) are presented here as a continuum, ready to be explored at the twist of a knob or with a CV.

The filter response is continuously variable between low-pass, band-pass and high-pass, and delivers intermediate shelving responses, for more nuanced spectral coloring.

A dual crossfader circuit allows the routing between the two filters to smoothly vary from single to parallel to series.

AND MORE…

Originally thought as a complex filter, Blades turns out to be capable of much more:

A dual distortion with spectral color control?
An oscillator mixer with crossfading, wavefolding, and enough filtering to clean up the mess?
A voice, using one filter as an oscillator, then distorting, folding it and filtering it with the second filter?
A complex oscillator capable of FM, PM and AM?

An essential overdrive circuit

A CV-controlled overdrive stage precedes each of the two filters.
Overdrive response continuously adjustable between soft-clipping and 2-stage wavefolding.
Two rich multimode filters

Clean 2-pole (12dB/octave) state-variable design.
CV-controlled filter response, continuously variable between low-pass, band-pass and high-pass.
CV inputs with attenuverters for cutoff and resonance.
Unattenuated frequency CV input, calibrated for 1V/Oct tracking.
Clean self-oscillation across the audio range, extending into very low frequencies, with constant amplitude.
Modulating the filter response is akin to modulating the phase of the self-oscillation tone.

Unique routing possibilities

Continuously variable (and CV-controlled) routing from single to parallel to series.
With a signal patched into filter 2’s audio input, the routing knob and CV act as a crossfader.
Filter 2’s cutoff can be set relatively to filter 1’s cutoff.
Specifications

Fully analog, based on the V2164 quad VCA chip.
Frequency knob range: 8Hz to 18kHz.
Audio input impedance: 30k.
DC-coupled audio inputs.
Filter mode CV input impedance: 50k.
Other CV inputs impedance: 100k.
All CV inputs handle audio-rate modulations.
There is no mention of stereo on this page, ykinmkbykiok."