Grendel RA-99 Grenadier Sounds

Published on Nov 14, 2019 EA78751

Also see: Grendel RA-99 Grenadier + 2TAC Sequencer

"Grendel RA-99 Grenadier is in production! More details coming soon at rarewaves.net. This is an audio demo with nasty bass drums, growling arpeggios, and wobbly formant synthesis tones. It’s a dry recording with no FX. RA-99 Grenadier is a true analog synthesizer with 14 sound parameters controlled by rotary knobs and 6 pushbuttons. It has a 20-point patch bay that greatly expands your options for creative CV, gate, and audio signal routing. This is a one-oscillator monosynth with VC waveshape, subharmonic generator, plus a pink noise source. Its accurate and FM-able VCO has 2x 1V/oct inputs, a 5V/oct input thats great for octave trills, plus a 15V/oct input for vibrato and narrow pitch bending. The RA-99 filter bank has 3 VCFs in parallel, tunable with its Alpha, Beta, and Filter parameters for a wide range of tones including vowels and vocal-like sounds. Its modulation section can be configured as 2x envelope , 2x LFO, or one of each. The envelopes can be either Decay or Attack-Release and have bipolar depth. As LFOs, they have variable symmetry and can act as frequency divider or stair-step voltage sources. The synthesizer is housed in a tough anodized aluminum case and features protective hand grips just like the original Grendel RA-9 Grenadier. Manufactured by Rare Waves (Texas). Thanks for checking us out!"

Grendel RA-99 Grenadier + 2TAC Sequencer

Published on Oct 17, 2019 EA78751

"We’re in the Rare Waves shop, demoing tones from the first prototype of a Grendel RA-99 Grenadier with help from a Grendel 2TAC analog sequencer. Fun! The RA-99 is based on the unconventional Grendel RA-9 Grenadier we produced back in 2014. It’s a true analog synthesizer with CV-Gate control. It has a formant filter bank with 3 VCFs for those guttural vowel tones and alien beatbox sounds. Its filter bank is animated by a pair of voltage-controlled modulation sources that can work as either LFOs or envelope generators. Its tone comes from 1 oscillator with VC waveshape + subharmonics and a pink noise source. And it has 20 patch points for semimodular control.

The original RA-9 Grenadier had a very basic 4-step sequencer built in - after revision, it spawned the 2TAC. So in a sense, the original RA-9 Grenadier evolved into the two units which you’re hearing."

New Grendel DC-2 LTD and 2TAC Controller

Published on Oct 4, 2019 EA78751

"In this video demo, check out the limited edition Grendel DC-2 LTD analog synth played with a Grendel 2TAC (2-Track Analog Control). DC-2 LTD is a fresh re-design of our Drone Commander 2 Standalone a.k.a. the Grendel DC-2e. The 2TAC is a compact minimalist CV-Gate sequencer. These units have hand-tooled metalwork, oil finished hardwood sides, and permanent silkscreen graphics."

6 Synth Arp featuring Skulpt, MS-101, UNO, MicroFreak, Hydronium & CraftSynth2

Published on Jul 9, 2019 Molten Music Technology

"The second in a series of multi-synth projects exploring how to make use of a table full of little synths. This time I take the MS-101 arpeggiator and run it to everything - and then start playing with the knobs. Much less talking in this one and the resulting performance is split into 3 movements.

Intro - 0:22
First movement - 1:14
Second movement - 20.03
Third movement - 29.18"

First part:

6 Synth Drone featuring Skulpt, MS-101, UNO, MicroFreak, Hydronium & CraftSynth2

Published on Jul 5, 2019 Molten Music Technology

"The first in a series of multi-synth projects exploring how to make use of a table full of little synths. Starting with the basics - a single droning note - and then start playing with the knobs. This is the full (almost) unedited version with explanation and the resulting drone is split into 3 movements.

Intro - 0:08
First movement - 6:41
Second movement - 22:42
Third movement - 38:10"

New CV sequencers + 2-osc FM synth + Rare Waves Hydronium

Published on Jul 1, 2019 EA78751

"Electronic music from the Rare Waves lab bench. Synth voice 1: Rare Waves Hydronium + Iron Horse distortion pedal. Synth voice 2 is a unique prototype with 2 analog oscillators, FM + noise, and a sweet diode bridge VCF. I’m playing the synths from a pair of CV-Gate sequencers I’m currently developing. Thanks for listening! Comments welcome. -Eric Archer (July 2019)"

Rare Waves Hydronium analog synth acid noodle

Published on Jul 2, 2019 Molten Music Technology

"Run a handful of notes through the Rare Waves Hydronium acid synth and play with the knobs. Also features the Erica Synths Black Stereo Delay, a bit of 2HP Hats and Pico Drums. Sequence and gating from the Varigate 4+"

Hydronium, Part 3: Acid all the Synths!

Published on May 24, 2019 Olivier Ozoux

"The Rare Wave Hydronium can turn every other modular or semi-modular synths into Acid synths, thanks to a CV output that contains the legato glide information, so it doesn't matter if your synth can't do it, because the Hydronium will legato glide in its place.

I have four different semi-modular synths, that I'm turning into acid synths. The Behringer Model D, Plankton Electronics Ants, Dreadbox NYX, and MakeNoise 0-Coast, and as bonus, the Rare Waves Hydronium by itself. The portable Deluge does sequencer duties and makes all the other noises."

Hydronium + Guitar Pedal = Awesome Acid Distortion

Published on May 6, 2019 Olivier Ozoux

"The Rare Waves Hydronium has an effect send/return between the filter and the VCA, perfect for pluging in a dirty, grungy guitar pedal without drowning in noise. I didn't think I had a distortion pedal until I remembered about my old ZOOM G1Xn guitar effect.

As before the Deluge sequences the Hydronium, and plays all the drums and percussions. "

Hello Hydronium: analog acid synth

Published on May 1, 2019 Olivier Ozoux

"Happy New Gear! I finished assembling the Rare Waves HYDRONIUM, a fun little TB-303 inspired analog acid synth, available as a desktop or eurorack unit, in yellow, blue or black.

This is a quick little video of the hydronium by itself, but I'm looking forward to using the glide CV out to turn all my other semi-modular synths into acid synths."

Hydronium

Rare Waves Hydronium - Lithium Drift (synth demo)

Published on Feb 16, 2019 EA78751

"Hydronium is a new music instrument for 2019 from Rare Waves, with both MIDI and CV-Gate control. Available in tabletop or Eurorack format, as a DIY kit or pre-assembled. This video demo shows some of the great tones it can get! Its available now from rarewaves.net, created and supported by Eric Archer behind the Grendel brand."

Rare Waves Hydronium – Anode Sludge (synth demo)

Published on Jan 31, 2019 EA78751

"Rare Waves Hydronium is a great sounding analog synthesizer with MIDI + CV-Gate control, and lots of patchability. Its new for 2019, created and supported by Eric Archer behind the Grendel brand. Hydronium comes as a DIY kit or pre-assembled, available now at rarewaves.net in tabletop format and a Eurorack version is in the works.

This demo track focuses on heavy tones in the stoner doom vein. The black Hydronium has a distortion pedal patched into its effects loop to bring out some lovely nasty crusty crunchy sounds. This synth’s effects loop is positioned between its VCF and VCA, which is a sweet spot for distortion, fuzz, and overdrive. It lets you use a distortion pedal for waveshaping without sacrificing the synth’s dynamic range or increasing the background noise. The yellow Hydronium is playing through a spring reverb 100% wet, and has an external LFO patched to its VCF CV input for psychedelic lead sounds. The blue box is dry in the mix."

Hydronium

Rare Waves Hydronium: DIY acid synth

Published on Jan 17, 2019 EA78751

"Rare Waves Hydronium is an excellent synth DIY kit for electronic music producers. This is a great-sounding acid synth with both MIDI and CV-Gate control! Available now in tabletop format, and Eurorack format is coming soon. Its available direct from rarewaves.net

This video demo shows different sounds from three Hydroniums playing simultaneously. We patched a distortion pedal into the effects loop of the blue one, to get some classic gritty acid tones. And there is some extra help from two external LFOs, which are used to animate the filter and get PWM tones from the yellow Hydronium."

Previously: Synth DIY: The Rare Waves Hydronium kit

Synth DIY: The Rare Waves Hydronium kit

Published on Dec 4, 2018 EA78751

"The Hydronium DIY acid synth kit from Rare Waves is coming soon! Available in tabletop or Eurorack format. This video takes a closer look at its fun features and explains the CV patch options.
Hydronium can be controlled by either MIDI or CV-Gate. Its VCO has sawtooth, square wave, and PWM waveforms. Pitch slide (legato glide) effect works with both MIDI and CV-Gate control, and it has a handy post-glide v/oct CV output for slaving a second VCO. Glide time can be voltage-controlled. The decay envelope is velocity sensitive, and its bipolar dynamics knob gives unique control over accented notes. Decay time can be controlled by the MIDI mod wheel, as well as a Decay CV input. The filter is a 2-pole state-variable filter. By the term “acid synth” we don’t mean it is a Roland clone, but it does include many 303-inspired playability features... Hydronium DIY kits will be available soon through rarewaves.net."

Rare Waves DIY MIDI Acid Synth Kit Coming Soon

Published on Nov 8, 2018 EA78751

"Coming soon from Rare Waves, a great DIY acid synth kit with MIDI control + CV ins and outs. Tabletop or Eurorack. We're taking a poll... which color would you take? Blue, black, or yellow?"

Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2 Standalone

Published on Oct 19, 2018 EA78751

"The Grendel DC-2e Drone Commander 2 ... in its own custom fitted Euro case! The 35HP case features a removable lid for protection, and the tolex covering comes in orange, black, and more color options. From rarewaves.net"

Rare Waves MIDI Narrator - Vintage Speech Synth DIY Kit

Published on Oct 4, 2018 EA78751

"MIDI Narrator is a fun MIDI-controlled vintage speech synthesizer. This DIY electronics kit from Rare Waves is for creative musicians, audio producers, and sound designers. It features the SP0256-AL2 speech synthesizer chip. These chips were used in 1980's home computers and arcade games. This kit lets you play all of its sounds from a MIDI controller or sequencer. Plus it adds pitch bend, pitch modulation, random pitch, and stutter effects. And, it can store up to 8 phrases for instant triggered playback from the on-board buttons. You assemble it by soldering, with our easy to follow step-by-step instructions.

The MIDI Narrator DIY electronics kit from Rare Waves.
Available at rarewaves.net, while supplies last."

Crazy talking vintage speech synth chip

Published on Aug 22, 2018 EA78751

"Just having some fun developing a MIDI-controlled voice synthesizer kit"

Electro dub chillout with synthetic alien soul voice

Published on Aug 16, 2018 EA78751

"This is an electronic music track that demonstrates the sound of synthetic vocals created with analog modules under development at Rare Waves. Our website is rarewaves.net"

Electro lovers rock w/ synthetic alien reggae voice

Published on Aug 11, 2018 EA78751

"A demonstration of artificial voices singing over a canned reggae rhythm from the Yamaha QY-70. The vocals are synthesized with voltage-controlled analog filters and oscillators, using hardware in development at Rare Waves.

Rare Waves manufactures unique electronic music instruments for creative musicians and audio producers. Our website is rarewaves.net"

Electro doom with synthetic alien death voice

Published on Aug 6, 2018 EA78751

"This video demonstrates vocal formant synthesis with some new hardware we're developing. The voice is synthesized with analog filters and oscillators. Created by Eric Archer / Rare Waves LLC 2018. Rare Waves manufactures the Grendel Drone Commander, Grendel Formant Filter, and other unique analog music equipment. Our website is rarewaves.net"