You can find demos of the hardware Apparatus tube synthesizer in previous posts here.
"The Apparatus plugin is a rompler based on meticulously sampled oscillators from the Eternal Engine EMI tube synthesizer of the same name. The plugin supports polyphony and allows you to utilize the sound of exclusive tube synthesis on a much more modest budget."
"Hello guys! You've been asking for a long time, and I finally got around to recording the tube synthesizer MARS through a line-in. Sorry I couldn't do it earlier; there was a lot of organizational work to handle in these challenging times. This is just a small first attempt."
MARS - the first polyphonic synthesizer based on vacuum tubes. The power and flexibility of oscillators based on the famous R-2R DAC TDA1387, combined with the original fully tube audio path based on the APPARATUS synthesizer circuit, allow you to create a wide range of sounds from punchy aggressive FM leads and acid basslines to soft classic pads and strings. The synthesizer supports full software control and easily integrates into any DAW using the original plugin. All synthesizers are assembled by hand and produced in limited quantities.
Specifications: Compact RACK format, 5 units high
Fully tube audio path based on the APPARATUS synthesizer
Four oscillators operating in modes: BASIC (Sine, Triangle, Sawtooth, Fixed Pulse Width 1/2, 1/4, 1/8); PULSE; ENSEMBLE and Noise with Hi-Pass and Low-Pass filters
Voltage-controlled tube filter of the second order with self-oscillation with overload
Voltage-controlled amplifier, following the traditional architecture of tube opto compressors
Triode asymmetric overdrive Indicator based on Nixie lamps
Full software control using the plugin
Four channels of 4xCV and Gate for integration with Eurorack format synthesizers External Input for processing the audio signal of external audio devices
Two HADSR envelope generators with pre-delay and multiple retriggers
Sub-audio frequency generator LFO with restart and synchronization Clock, smooth waveform transition sawtooth-triangle-sawtooth, pulse-square-pulse, as well as Sample & Hold and Noise with reconfigurable Hi-Pass and Low-Pass filters
Auto and continuous modes of portamento / legato
Mono, duo, and 4-voice polyphony modes Flexible 4-channel modulation matrix Plugin for integration with DAW PC connection with galvanic isolation
Priced at $2199
https://apparatus.su/mars.html
"Standalone Modern Analog Synthesis Laboratory Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers’ long-anticipated successor to the Voltage Research Laboratory is filled to the brim with interesting new inventions, such as several new wave-shaping technologies, an addictive tactile performance controller, and more…"
The New, Experimental Synthesis of the Voltage Lab 2
"Dusting the cobwebs from my vintage 1950's lab coat - it was all the rage once honest.
Going into lab rat research mode and seeing where the maze takes me..
... and here's the results.
Just a little taster while I open the lab book to record apparatus, method, results, discussion and conclusion.
0:00 Bunsen Burner Big Beats 2:15 Plucking Pipettes (no pipettes were harmed) 3:06 Test Tube Techno (it's not techno) 5:59 She's Alive 7:44 Naked Flame 10:00 Medical Skeleton (its the Bare Bones)"
"Fascinating new modular system from Pittsburgh with a decidedly West Coast bent. Too soon for a review, but here's half an hour of playing with the rather remarkable sequencer, the timbre of the oscillators and other bits and pieces. I added some reverb via the Chroma Console but otherwise it's all the VL2."
The Sweet Spot: Voltage Lab 2 Semi-Modular Synthesizer
video upload by HAINBACH
"As anyone who has ever tried to assemble a modular synthesizer, it is not easy to create a cohesive instrument, especially if you try to narrow it down to a portable case. In comes The Voltage Lab 2 that Pittsburgh Modular send me to play with (thanks for that!) - it is a semi-modular self contained synthesizer, and to me it hits the sweet spot between functionality and musicality."
May 14th, 2024 - Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers today announced Voltage Lab 2, a standalone dual oscillator analog synthesizer synthesis laboratory with a unique integrated touch-sensitive performance controller.
"MARS Wavetable oscillators engine output to NOS DAC TDA1543 and directly to tube filter input. It use vactrols to control presets.
MARS is a synthesizer engine with 4 wavetable oscillators (FM, offset, and phase restart) that are controlled independently, much like it was implemented in Korg Mono/Poly. Also available a modulation matrix all to all, two multi-function LFOs, and two HoldADSR envelopes."
MARS appears to be new. See Eternal Engine EMI label below for additional posts featuring them.
Side note: Anyone remember the CME controllers? I haven't seen on in ages.
