Pittsburgh Modular A Filter of Crows, Dynamics Controller Bat, & The Wolf Eurorack Modules

Pittsburgh Modular A Filter of Crows Eurorack Module Lab


Pittsburgh Modular Dynamics Controller Bat Eurorack Module Lab


Pittsburgh Modular The Wolf Eurorack Module Lab

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

A Filter of Crows
Our classic Pittsburgh Filter pushed to the limits. The overdrive preamp from original Crow module paired with switchable filter response, resonance instability mode, and voltage control over both frequency and resonance. A Filter of Crows can be both menacing and subtle with a massive sonic palette. Shifting from buttery smooth sweeps to punishing, overdriven noise without ever sounding harsh or uncomfortable. This is the most interesting variant of the Pittsburgh Filter we have created.

A Filter of Crows is a unique filter module that builds on the concept of the highly sought-after Safari Series #1 module, 'Crow'. It combines three Pittsburgh-designed 100% analog technologies.

Ultra-high-gain preamp:
The first is an ultra-high-gain preamp circuit. The preamp, taken directly from the original Crow offers a unique up to 75x of variable gain overdrive. This circuit provides unmatched dimensions of overdrive without sounding harsh. Additionally, the circuit can be completely bypassed to allow for a completely clean exploration of the other aspects of the module.

PGH Filter:
Next is a 12db State Variable 'no-dead-spot' Filter, The classic PGH Filter with manually selectable and stackable filter responses. Lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filter responses can be enabled or disabled individually for instant parallel processing.

The PGH filter has been continually refined over the last 12 years of research and altered to fit the demands of each system that it has been a part of. One of its unique defining characteristics is its ability to offer a complete sweepable range without any noticeable dead spots. Dead spots are uneven / muted portions of the swept range due to non-linearities in the circuitry. The PGH filter has no noticeable dead spots and is voiced to interact well with the high-gain preamp circuit. The result is a rich, even, fully sweepable range.

Resonant Stability Circuit:
Lastly is Pittsburgh’s Resonant Stability Circuit. This circuit enables the PGH filter to provide near-infinite resonance without slipping into self-oscillation, unless the user wants it to. Set to stable, Crows will not self-oscillate. It operates as a clean, organic filter. Set to unstable mode, the character of Crows changes dramatically. At normal settings, the incoming signal modulates the self-oscillating filter to produce harmonically complex sounds. In more extreme settings, Crows will start to struggle with controlling the oscillating resonance, adjusting the resonance shifts from ringing fuzz to heavy distortion to an extremely musical total failure."

Dynamics Controller Bat
Both a resonant filter and a VCA, the Pittsburgh Modular Dynamics Controller Bat is a modern re-interpretation of Don Buchla’s famous 'lopass' gate. The original lowpass gate was limited to a static response time that varied from unit to unit. For better or worse, this made each lowpass gate a little different. The Dynamics Controller Bat solves this issue and expands on the original concept by adding a unique voltage controllable response curve and variable resonance to the lowpass gate. Nothing has more depth, sounds more natural, or feels more alive than the our Dynamics Controller. Not only is this module unique in the world of modular synthesis, it sounds amazing.

Both a resonant filter and a VCA, the Pittsburgh Modular Dynamics Controller Bat is a modern reinterpretation of Don Buchla’s famous 'lowpass' gate.

Unlike a VCA, which simply changes the loudness of the sound without modifying the harmonic content, the lowpass gate circuit uniquely simulates the characteristics of how sounds interact in natural environments.

When used in lowpass gate mode, louder sounds contain more harmonic content and quieter sounds contain less harmonic content. The result is a more organic, complex, and rounded sound.

Don Buchla’s original lowpass gate (LPG) was limited to a static response time that varied from unit to unit. For better or worse, this made each lowpass gate a little different. Pittsburgh’s research that has made its way into the Dynamics Controller Bat solves this issue. It modernizes Don Buchla's concept by adding a unique voltage controllable response curve and variable resonance to the lowpass gate. This allows for all the sonic depth of the LPG while providing the same kind of sustain control offered by a more traditional VCA. The resulting Pittsburgh innovation is the best of both worlds, natural and alive sound, that's completely controllable."

The Wolf Channel Strip VCA
The idea was to design a VCA that makes everything sound better. Through the use of a custom Wolf preamp circuit, parametric EQ, and a high quality, linear VCA, The Wolf adds depth and presence to any patch. A custom preamplifier with variable gain control shifts between .5x and 7x gain followed by a soft clipping limiter. Results range from fully transparent to warm saturation to overdrive depending on how hard it is pushed. A three stage, 15db EQ pairs sweeping low and mid range channels with a fixed frequency high shelf followed by a second soft clipping limiter identical to the one in the preamp to keep it smooth. Green, Yellow, and Red LEDs are both fun and informative! Located after the EQ and before the VCA in the signal path, the LEDs offer insight into the audio signal.

The Wolf is a Channel Strip VCA designed to improve and provide more control over any input source. It does this through another three unique circuits.

Wolf Preamp
The Wolf’s Preamp is a custom preamplifier with variable gain control shifts between .5x and 7x gain followed by a soft-clipping limiter. The soft-clipping limiter is a way to control the amplitude of the signal while avoiding harsh distortion. Depending on how hard it is pushed, the results of running a signal through this circuit range from fully transparent to warm saturation to overdrive.

Wolf three-stage Semi-Parametric 15db EQ
The Wolf also has a three-stage Semi-Parametric 15db EQ featuring sweeping low and mid-range channels, as well as a fixed frequency high shelf. The EQ section is followed by an additional soft-clipping limiter identical to the one in the preamp. This evens out the signal keeping the audio sounding smooth.

Wolf VCA
The Wolf’s VCA is a low noise, high quality, linear voltage controlled amplifier with both manual level and CV attenuator controls.

Metering
No channel Strip would be complete without metering. Wolf’s LED Meter provides Green, Yellow, and Red LEDs for fun and informative listening. Located after the EQ and before the VCA in the signal path, the LEDs offer useful insight into the audio signal."

Price, Availability, and More Information The retail price for the A Filter of Crows, Dynamics Controller Bat, and The Wolf Channel Strip VCA is $249 USD each. Because these modules are considered experiments, production has been limited to 200 A Filter of Crows, 250 Dynamics Controller Bat, and 200 The Wolf Channel Strip VCA modules. The modules are available now through the Pittsburgh Modular web shop. More information regarding the A Filter of Crows, Dynamics Controller Bat, and The Wolf Channel Strip VCA Eurorack Modules is available at pittsburghmodular.com/safari.