SERGE Medusa Comes to Eurorack

video upload by Serge Modular | Random*Source

"Teo takes the Medusa for Eurorack for a (long) spin, here's the full recording used for the IG teaser ... #sergemodular"

Press release follows:

Introducing the Serge MEDUSA Subharmonic Oscillator for Eurorack: Unleashing New Depths in Modular Synthesis

Frankfurt, 1 November 2024 — Serge Modular proudly announces the launch of the Serge Medusa Subharmonic Oscillator for the Eurorack modular synthesizer format. This groundbreaking module designed by Serge Tcherepnin brings orchestral clusters, coveted undertones and rich harmonic complexity to the Eurorack format.

A Revolution in Sound Design

The Subharmonic Oscillator is one of Serge’s latest inventions and one of his most extraordinary designs. 7 accurate analog VCOs tied at the waist—in unison, yet their frequencies can open like a fan, creating complex clusters. Each voice generates a pulse wave. It is temperature compensated and follows exceptional 1V/Octave tracking. 
In addition, each voice provides (voltage controlled) pulse width modulation or subharmonic division as well as an individual output. By producing mathematically related lower frequencies, it enables the creation of complex and evolving soundscapes that were previously difficult to achieve within the Eurorack environment.
The precision of these voices in combination with a global Spread control and various FM inputs opens an enormous sonic range from massive unisono sounds to dissonant, orchestra-style textures. The ODD and EVEN outputs enable the use as a stereo oscillator.

Key Features:

• Original Serge 2023 design
• 100% analog
• Seven simultaneous subharmonic VCOs with individual Outputs, PWM and variable divisions
• Wide Range Frequency Control: Precisely dial in frequencies from deep bass to soaring highs, all synchronized to the master oscillator.
• Voltage-Controlled Parameters: Extensive CV inputs allow for modulation of pulse width and frequency divisions, enabling expressive performance potential.
• Odd and Even outputs for independent processing / Stereo use.
• Global Spread Control (manual and VC)
• Linear and Exponential FM
• Eurorack format (3U), 42 hp
• Power consumption: 220mA @ +12V, 200mA @ -12V
• Skiff-friendly: depth less than 25mm (1")

“This is my version of a cluster generator. Clusters are part of the contemporary music arsenal of effects. The Subharmonic Oscillator has a total, tracking, V/octave range that is the same as all our VCOs, however, it outputs only pulse waves. Pulse-width operates from instantaneous -> square wave > 1st sub-harmonic > 2nd sub-harmonic ...> Nth sub-harmonic. You guessed it, this is one VCO that sounds like a symphony orchestra playing Atmosphères by György Ligeti.”
Serge Tcherepnin, 18 October 2023

Unmatched Versatility

Designed for both traditional musicians and experimental artists, the Serge Subharmonic Oscillator excels in a variety of applications:

• Bass Enhancement: Generate powerful sub-bass frequencies to add weight to your mixes.
• Polyphonic Textures: Create rich, chord-like structures from a single note input.
• Rhythmic Modulation: Utilize subharmonics to produce complex rhythmic patterns and sequences.
• Sound Exploration: Dive into uncharted sonic territories with modulations and cross-patching.

Availability

The Serge Subharmonic Oscillator will be available starting November 1st, 2024 through Serge Modular / Random*Source and authorized dealers worldwide.

The Story behind Medusa

“I was sitting on a bench recovering from a bike ride at the edge of Fontainebleau forest, when a swarm of crows - some 30-40 of them, suddenly erupted in the sky above the large forest trees facing me.  They swirled in a large arc, emitting a few caws-caws, disappearing and reappearing wildly in the sky in front of me.  
And here is what this made me realize about my electronics: Drones have been part of my musical consciousness from the very beginning, thanks to LaMonte Young and the many examples of drones in Indian classical music.  One of my first electronic circuits was a 3 oscillator 9V operated shruti box. Maryanne Amacher, Eliane Radigue, Charlemagne Palestine, are drone masters I helped and fostered.  Charlemagne still uses the console of ultra stable drone oscillators that I designed for him more than 50 years ago.   
Drones and clusters, in fact.  Clusters, thanks to the marvelous composer Henry Cowell who coined the word for music. The fruit of all this, was me deciding on designing electronics for the creation of drones and clusters.   MEDUSA is the result of this project.

But what do a swarm of crows swirling in the sky above a forest have to do with drones and clusters??

EVERYTHING

MEDUSA is the perfect module for letting fly a swarm of semi independent musical notes, swirling in and out of unison, clusters, or chords, capable to scaling the entire range of frequencies, from sub-sonic to inaudible. MEDUSA gives wings to drones :)”

About Serge Modular
Serge Tcherepnin is an American composer, musician and electronic mastermind of Russian and Chinese descent who grew up in France and in Chicago. In 1970 he joined the music faculty at Cal-Arts where he developed the idea and design of the first “Serge” modules. He founded his company, Serge Modular Music Systems, in Hollywood, in 1975.
Random*Source was founded by Ralf Hoffmann in 2015 with a mission to carry on and extend the work of synth pioneers Serge Tcherepnin and Jürgen Haible. Since the beginning Random*Source has been working in close cooperation with Serge on a new generation of the Serge system. In 2018 Serge became Chief Innovation Officer and is leading the development under the Serge Modular brand.