Buchla/Tiptop 292T RoHS | Buchla 200 series | Episode 13

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"This week, the 292t quad lo-pass gate finally arrived at the EU and the UK, but without the toxic vactrol components. As you may know, vactrols require the use of cadmium, which is mildly radio active and it should not end up in the environment. The 292t RoHS can safely be disposed when it turns out it ain't no Buchla anymore.

In this video I'll do a quick test using both versions but as always, TipTop Audio did a truly amazing job. It still has the magic of the original 292c, but it's a bit quicker because there's no vactrol memory effect. The bad news is that you can't strike it with a short blip, ping or trigger. The good news is that it sounds as tight as a doornail and when you use envelopes, you will not get the feeling it's not a 292.

Still, it's impossble they will respond in the exact same way. Even the original vactrol 292 would expose tiny differences from unit to unit, where the RoHS version will be consistent. I am a huge fan of LPG's and I always assumed you can't have a decent LPG without vactrols. The excellent Natural Gate from Rabid Elephant already proved me wrong a long time ago, and the 292t RoHS confirms it. There's no need to get yourself an 'original' 292t with an illegal import. The EU/UK version is fine!"

242T Programmable Pulser | Buchla 200 Series EP.12 | By Tiptop Audio

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"I've been wondering how to approach this episode. If this were a module review, the 242 would not be able to stand up against modern 21st century sequencers. It's basically a 12 step sequencer with three rows of pulses so you can't even do a four on the floor. We need to remember we didn't have those in the late 60's, so let's not worry about that too much.

The classic pin-controlled 242 was custom made for CBS and it didn't carry the Buchla name. CBS (California Broadcast Systems) was licensed to build and distribute the 100 series and it eventually stopped because CBS didn't see a future for electronic instruments. I guess you need to have a long term vision, and CBS clearly had a different one. Regardless, the 242 is extremely rare. Fortunately, the 242T is not. Tiptop abandoned the pins and fancy illuminated buttons in favour of small buttons and a LED matrix. The 242t is a Tiptop first, and a CBS/Buchla later.

The 242 is a retro-futuristic trigger sequencer with some weird outputs. The ABC pulses are extremely short, but the alternating outputs are longer. Then, there's this SAW CV output which is tied to the master clock. There are start/stop and reset inputs and a CV controlled Period which is not unlike a frequency when pushed to audio rate. I tried to ping the 296 Spectral Processor with the ABC outputs, but these are barely audible. If you want to ping a rhythm on the 296, you'll need to use 281 envelopes and patch from there. Using them to ping a 292 vactrol is just wonderful.

Stazma and Todd Barton made excellent video manuals, so I am not going to explain the module in this video. Since nearly every Buchla module is either quad or dual, I used two 242 modules. I had to. Imagine it's the early 70's and it's the Dawn of Synthesis. We have no idea what the future will bring."

Tiptop/Buchla 200 Series | Episode 11 | 285t Frequency Shifter & Balanced Modulator

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The 285t is a worthy addition to the already impressive classic 200 series by Tiptop Archeology and Buchla. It has two separate sections which can be combined at will. The top section is a frequency shifter with a built in reference VCO/LFO that can go up to 1K and allows modulation and FM. You can use your own reference sound by switching up to EXT but then you'll need to take care of FM and modulation yourself. The section can be used to play with the perceived pitch of any source, tuning it up and down at will. You can also use it (multed) to add an extra layer to a single voice, or to a mix.

The lower section is a classic ring modulator with a dedicated out, and a variable output that's under CV control. Variable mode can morph the effect from off to amplitude modulation (unipolar) to ring modulation (bipolar) which adds metallic effects. Ring modulation works best with sinewave modulators, but you can throw any combo of waveforms at it. It pairs very well with the 'simple' 258 VCO because it has two sinewaves, where the 259 has only one.

00:00 Introduction
00:31 Bipolar Shifts
04:00 Beats
04:27 Audio
05:33 Beats and Audio
06:04 Feedback patch with the 296t Spectral Processor
07:56 Ring Modulation"

Buchla/Tiptop Audio 292T Quad Lopass Gate

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Welcome to Episode 06 of my Buchla/Tiptop 200 series video series. This time, we'll focus on the 292T Quad Lopass gate, the essential part of the system that brings everything together and defines the classic Buchla sound. Since the vintage 1960's Vactec Vactrols have become very rare (and expensive) TipTop had no choice but to make their own. And they did an AMAZING job."

Buchla/Tiptop #257T | Voltage Processor

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The 257 Voltage Processor is the latest addition to the Buchla/Tiptop Audio 200 series. It may not have the impressive looks of the previous releases, but - again - it's an amazing design by the legendary Don Buchla and it opens up many patches that are hard to achieve in modern Eurorack. The 257 and 281 (quad function generator) inspired many contemporary modules, with MakeNoise Maths being the most significant.

It will take some time to fold your brain around it, but this episode will hopefully make the module feel less scientific. The 257T has an equation on the panel that involves three voltages a, b and c. Voltage a can be attenuverted, voltage b and c can be crossfaded. These voltages are added together and finally you can add an offset voltage to the final output. It may feel like quantum mechanics instead of music, but that's the Westcoast way. To infinity and beyond!

Please support my work on patreon.com/cinematiclaboratory"

Buchla / Tiptop 200 Series | Episode 02 | A Deep Dive

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"I recently got a second 258T oscillator, all the way from Australia because they seem to be sold out anywhere else. Why? Because most Buchla designs feature a quad 'whatever' design and the 258T is 'only' dual. I could imagine a second one would open a lot more possibilities. And it did! I hope you'll have as much fun watching this video as I have working with these amazingly affordable little masterpieces. Thank you, TipTop & Buchla for bringing this to a wide audience!"

Buchla / TipTop Audio 200 Series

TipTop Buchla

Buchla / TipTop Audio 200 Series | Episode 01

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"I always dreamed of having a Buchla in my studio. Now Buchla & Tiptop Audio have teamed up to bring real Buchla 200 series modules to eurorack, kicking off with the 281T and 258T. I am really bad with remembering all those numbers, but it's a quad function generator and a dual oscillator and both are super affordable (if not sold out). They don't use bananas, it's all true eurorack. Obviously this series will grow as my collection will grow in the next months, or maybe years."