"Tom takes a look at Smear, the debut module from Smoothie Audio. It’s a dual stereo 98-pole allpass filter, and it’s capable of some pretty mind-bending spectral effects.
"We say... It's not often that we come across something genuinely new and innovative in Eurorack these days, but Smear is just that - a pair of stereo 98-pole all-pass filters that open up all sorts of strange sonic territory. Brilliant!
Manufacturer's description Smear is Smoothie Audio’s first Eurorack module - a dual stereo 98-pole allpass filter unlike anything else in your rack.
At its core, Smear takes a deceptively simple concept - the allpass filter, usually buried deep inside reverb algorithms — and refines it into a playable, sculptural processor. A single allpass subtly shifts the phase of incoming audio while passing the entire signal unfiltered. Stack 98 poles in series, and the effect becomes striking: frequencies across the spectrum are delayed by different amounts, creating a rich spectral delay that can smear, morph, and transform sound.
Smear can be become different effects, according to how you set the parameters:
Transient Smearing & Spectral Delay that reshapes transients, can add punch Resonator & Percussion Voice for metallic, physical-modeling tones when pushed into feedback territory Morphing filter & Phasor for animated timbral movement Interface & Controls
The panel is laid out symmetrically, with two identical sections (Left and Right). By default, stereo audio flows left → right → out, but a dedicated Split Mode allows each side to process audio independently.
Each section offers three core parameters — Frequency, Resonance, and Stages — each with dedicated CV inputs. Frequency and Resonance have attenuverters for precise modulation. A global Feedback control (with CV) unlocks resonant, flanger-like, and physical-modeling behaviors.
The Stage sliders reveal Smear’s hidden depth: with LEDs indicating crossfade modes between filter poles, you can dive into complex notch filtering, animated flams, and evolving timbral movement. Modulate them, and the module comes alive with unpredictable, dynamic filtering effects.
Built on the Daisy platform by Electrosmith CV inputs -5V to 5V 48kHZ sampling rate"
"Olivella Modular's Furia is a 4-pole transistor ladder filter, based on the E-mu Modular 2100 LPF designed by Dave Rossum in the 1970s, paired with a discrete transistor VCA with tons of gain. There are no ICs anywhere in the audio path, so it has an authentically vintage sound, and it distorts in a really musical way. In this video, I give an overview of Furia’s signal path and controls and build a few patches to demonstrate how it sounds.
"FURIA is a discrete 4-pole ladder filter and a transistor VCA with a variable response CV curve control. It isn't 'just' a filter, but an all-around vintage-sounding sculpting and performing tool.
The filter section is based on the venerable E-mu Modular 2100 LPF, but unlike it, there're no ICs in the audio path - even the output stage op-amps are transistor based, both in the VCF and VCA sections.
As its name suggests, FURIA has plenty of gain on tap: the INPUT LEVEL knob starts distorting around 9 o'clock and interacts with the resonance in interesting ways, while the VCA and its X10 input switch can transform the filtered sound into nasty acid basslines - no external distortion required.
You can use the filter and VCA independently or in series, with an AMP CV input that's normalled to the FREQ CV input to facilitate a LPG-like configuration.
The AMP IN allows you to mix a signal into the VCA after the filter - for example, a higher register FM'd or wavefolded sine wave with a bassier filtered sawtooth from the LPF stage.
Unlike most ladder filters, FURIA's LPF is fully DC-coupled, though internal offsets may produce slight clicks at the VCA stage.
To remedy that, the DIP switch on the back lets you selectively AC-couple the VCF and VCA inputs and outputs, reducing clicks and offsets for audio purposes. It also allows you to change the VCF -> VCA normalling for series, parallel or independent use."
"To round off a cracking 2024 in the world of music tech, we asked a few of our staff and some good friends of the store to pick their favourite pieces of gear of the year.
All the gear mentioned is available to buy or pre-order here:
Update: 3rd video, pics, and details added below. Check with the dealers on the right for availability.
"The 'CIZZLE' is a dual digital 'phase distortion' VCO inspired by the classic Casio 'CZ' series synthesizers. It brings the specifics of 'CZ' style phase distortion (PD) synthesis into Eurorack with the inclusion of primary and secondary oscillator layering and detuning (with up to 8 voice chord generation), extended morphable PD wave generation algorithms, unique resonance wave generation, plus specific 'end of chain' ring modulation and noise modes that are key to the CZ sound.
The voices also feature built in VCAs and various modulation controls and inputs, a cv-able chord mode, tracking ability, triggered mode switching and can be output independently or mixed with stereo widening.
The 'CIZZLE' finally brings characteristic CZ style synthesis to Eurorack with a rich palette of sounds from mellow ambient tones, 90s Detroit Techno inspired chords, Reese style basses, and synth tones with unique faux resonance squelch."
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:08 - Frequency Controls
4:20 - OSC A Controls
12:38 - OSC B Ring Mod
18:08 - OSC B Noise
23:30 - Chord Mode
28:57 - Patches - Acid Bassline
30:58 - Patches - Ambient Chords
32:46 - Patches - Beat
34:38 - Outro
"ALM / Busy Circuits invited artists Satoshi and Makoto, renowned Casio CZ synthesists, to the Clockface Modular shop and studio in Tokyo, Japan to try out the new ALM CIZZLE module. This short film documents the visit and provides a translated interview.
Satoshi and Makoto are a twin duo that received international acclaim in 2017 with the release of their debut album 'CZ-5000 Sounds and Sequences' on Safe Trip. In 2020, their follow up album "CZ-5000 Sounds and Sequences Vol. II” was released, solidifying their dedication to the Casio CZ synthesizer.
The new ALM CIZZLE is a dual digital 'phase distortion' VCO inspired by the classic Casio CZ series synthesizers. It brings the specifics of CZ style phase distortion (PD) synthesis into Eurorack with the inclusion of primary and secondary oscillator layering and detuning (with up to 8 voice chord generation), extended morphable PD wave generation algorithms, unique resonance wave generation, plus specific 'end of chain' ring modulation and noise modes that are key to the CZ sound. The CIZZLE is available now from fine ALM stockists worldwide.
"Cizzle is a Eurorack synth voice from ALM Busy Circuits based around Phase Distortion synthesis, which Casio pioneered in their CZ series back in the 1980s.
It contains two digital oscillators that would typically be combined and used as one voice, but you can also use them independently. Each oscillator can produce four-note chords and has its own VCA, so all you need is an envelope or two to start using this as a complete voice.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:43 Patch previews
02:10 What is phase distortion?
02:48 Cizzle overview
06:27 Deep house chords
09:34 Ring mod electro synth
12:34 Sweeping synth arpeggios
13:56 Jacking house loops
16:22 Two separate voices
18:12 Dual stepped modulation
20:16 Chord progression sequencing
23:06 Freaky techno loops
The ’CIZZLE’ is a dual digital ’phase distortion’ VCO inspired by the classic Casio ’CZ’ series synthesizers. It brings the specifics of ’CZ’ style phase distortion (PD) synthesis into Eurorack with the inclusion of primary and secondary oscillator layering and detuning (with up to 8-voice chord generation), extended morphable PD wave generation algorithms, unique resonance wave generation, plus specific ’end of chain’ ring modulation and noise modes that are key to the CZ sound.
The voices also feature built in VCAs and various modulation controls and inputs, a cv-able chord mode, tracking ability, triggered mode switching and can be output independently or mixed with stereo widening.
The ’CIZZLE’ finally brings characteristic CZ style synthesis to Eurorack with a rich palette of sounds from mellow ambient tones, 90s Detroit Techno inspired chords, Reese style basses, and synth tones with unique faux resonance squelch.
Feature List → Dual phase distortion VCO with direct and voltage controlled parameters.
→ Easy, quick and accurate tuning via an encoder control.
→ 9 morphing phase distortion ’Algorithms’ (Osc A) with direct and CV control.
→ PD Offset ’Shape’ with direct and CV control.
→ Unique CZ resonance waveform (Osc B) with direct and CV control.
→ Multiple Osc B modes; Rez, Ring Mod, and Noise based on classic CZ synthesis.
→ Mode switchable via direct and trigger control.
→ Optional Osc B frequency tracking of Osc A with offset.
→ Voltage controlled chord mode with inversion and up to 8 voices.
→ Dedicated oscillator output level VCAs.
→ Separate dual or mixed outputs with stereo widening effect.
→ Skiff friendly with reverse power protection.
→ 2 Year Warranty.
→ Made in England.
Ideal For
→ Flexible and precise primary digital voice duties in a Eurorack system.
"This video is about New Systems Instruments - one of the most innovative and underrated brands in Eurorack.
I’m looking at four modules: the Harmonic Shift Oscillator, a unique analogue VCO; Inertia, a ‘universal movement simulator’ or function generator that can be anything from an envelope to a filter depending on how you patch it; Babel, which is a one-of-a-kind analogue logic and intermodulation utility; and the new Quad LFO with Phase Expander.
I give a quick overview of each module before building some patches with various configurations of the modules to demonstrate a range of sounds and techniques.
Chapters:
00:00 Preview
00:56 Introduction
02:48 Harmonic Shift Oscillator overview
05:56 Inertia overview
11:15 Quad LFO and Babel overview
13:33 Harmonic Shift Oscillator: basic bass voice
16:22 Inertia as a waveshaping VCO with FM
18:54 Harmonic sequencing for techno loops
21:13 Drones with Inertia as a complex filter
24:32 Exploring FM on Harmonic Shift Oscillator
27:06 Experimenting with percussive effects
29:22 Complex wave combinations with Babel
32:00 Final thoughts
Find out more about the modules on the New Systems Instruments website (and do check out the manuals - they’re incredible!): https://nsinstruments.com/
Big thanks to New Systems Instruments’ distributor, Signal Sounds - https://www.signalsounds.com/ - who hooked me up with Harmonic Shift Oscillator, Inertia and Quad LFO to use in this video. All opinions are my own.
