Tiptop Buchla system / Modular synth for breakfast

video upload by Daniel Mana - sound designer & composer

"I woke up with an idea and I decided to film it, I had this kind of format in my had for a while and I decided to give it a try. I am very very curious to know what you guys think about it, please write me some comments, I'd love to hear your feedback."

SUPERBOOTH 25: Tiptop Audio New Modules

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Tiptop Audio return to Superbooth for another year, bringing with them a multitude of new modules and updates that join their ranges of Buchla recreations and 200 Series."

New OCTOLFO, Multipass, & Resonator Eurorack Modules From Tiptop Audio

Also see Buchla & Tiptop Audio 248t and 230t Incoming for new details. As always, check with dealers on the right for availability.

Details on the OCTOLFO, Multipass, & Resonator follow.

OCTOLFO – Eight-Voice Voltage-Controlled LFOs

For all Eurorack users, here comes your mega LFO. And for those of you who have already joined us on our journey into polyphonic patching heaven, this is the one you've been waiting for. The Octolfo consists of eight fully independent LFOs with plenty of controls, lots of waveforms, and the ability to load your own waveshapes. Clock-sync it or let it free-run. Use one-shot cycles of waveforms to create unique envelopes, and reset LFO cycles from your notes. All eight LFOs are available simultaneously on regular jacks and Polytip jacks—both outputs and CV control inputs. CV is mappable to parameters, and the entire setup can be saved as a “preset.” This module brings polyphonic modulation into our new world of polyphonic patching.

Multipass – Eight-Voice Multimode Filter

Please welcome the second filter in our polyphonic series: the Multipass. This one carefully recreates the rare OB-X filter design (not the later CEM-based OB-Xa), delivering the sound of the ’80s and early techno.

It features extended signal levels on inputs and outputs for an even broader tone range. LP, BP, and HP modes are poly-voltage controlled and simultaneously available per voice through Polytip, and via a mixed output jack. Each filter mode has manual gain control via dedicated faders. Frequency control is polyphonic and can be over-modulated by a mono signal with adjustable scaling. With all its poly mod inputs, this filter goes far beyond its classic roots.

Where and how much?

The first batch is ready, and we expect to begin shipping to shops soon. Price will be in the $500–$600 range.

Resonator

An extended design based on the analog resonator from the 1975 Polymoog synthesizer. This classic beauty works with everything from drums to polyphonic audio, adding lush resonating swirls.

There are three resonators, each with a selectable band. Each has voltage control for every parameter, nine CV inputs in total. Multiple gain stages (master input, resonator gain, and mix output) allow fine control and help manage clipping. Emphasis CV range boundaries prevent runaway self-oscillation. A true-bypass switch makes it easy to compare processed and dry signals—perfect for leaving it patched in and engaging only when needed.

Where and how much?

The first batch is ready, and we expect to start shipping soon. Price will be about $245.

Buchla & Tiptop Audio 248t and 230t Incoming

via Tiptop Audio

Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator Model 248t

Status: TBA
Price: TBA

Update:

248 Boommm!

Yes yes, the MARF is here and alive! At Superbooth, we’re showing the first prototype, and it’s already 80% functional. What a monster. The range of possibilities here is truly outstanding. This thing can literally mutate based on how it’s programmed. It’s wild and often unpredictable. Is it a sequencer? A curve generator? For notes or modulation?

Well, it’s a function generator, an arbitrary one at that, and in practice, it’s more complex than we could’ve imagined.

We were unsure about this module. There’s no fully functional original unit we could test, and all the data comes from Don’s 22-page user manual from 1977, along with insights from Kyle Swisher and Todd Barton, who’ve been investigating this for years. Exciting times!

Where and how much?

Wish us luck—we hope to release it this winter. Pricing is expected to be in the $650–$950 range. As always, we’ll do our best to keep it affordable and give you plenty of time to save up.

Triple Envelope Follower Model 230t

Status: TBA
Price: TBA

Update:

Triple Envelope Follower Model 230t

Here’s another wonderful vintage design: three AC amplitude followers with excellent sensitivity and highly accurate CV reproduction of the incoming signal. Both sensitivity and decay time are adjustable across a wide range. The circuit is so sensitive, it can even produce output from the noise generated by rotating the sensitivity knob—pretty cool.

The pulse output can generate either a transient (trigger) or a sustained gate signal, depending on the switch setting. We’ve been using it extensively in our systems and discovering tons of creative patch ideas. Where and how much?

It’s heading into production, with the first batch expected in July 2025. Pricing will be in the $200+ range.

The Buchla Series - Demos by synthemodulaire

video upload by synthemodulaire

Playlist:

1. [The Buchla Series] #0 introduction

"Here is the introduction to a new series of videos about Buchla synthesizers.
I will try to create comprehensive videos on the Buchla 200 series modules"

2. [The Buchla Series] #1 Differences between eurorack and Buchla

Edit. I forgot to mention that Buchla audio levels are line levels, they don't need to be attenuated to be used with external gears like eurorack. Moreover the CV doesn't use the same standards by default, Buchla uses 1.2 V/Oct tracking and 10V Gates.

3. [The Buchla Series] #2 - Buchla 245 Sequential Voltage Source

In this episode, we will focus on the Buchla 245.

00:00 Overview
06:20 Simple sequence
07:40 Random sequence
09:13 Gate sequence
10:49 Analog groove
12:20 Analog preset manager
14:02 One shot mayhem

4. [The Buchla Series] #3 - Buchla 281 Quad Function Generator

In this episode, we will focus on the Buchla 281 (and briefly compare to the Tiptop Audio version features).

00:00 Overview
02:06 Self Cycling Mode
04:08 Trigger Mode
05:00 Gate Mode
05:55 Chaining Functions
08:22 Modulating the Modulator
09:22 Or's
11:45 Quadrature Mode
13:35 Conclusion, a few words about the Tiptop Audio version
14:27 Bonus ! Let's listen to the 281

5. [The Buchla Series] #4 - Buchla 266 Source of Uncertainty

In this episode, we will focus on the Buchla 266, the random generator that inspired so many others (Wogglebug, Noisering, etc.).

00:00 Introduction
01:01 Noise Source
01:43 Fluctuating Random Voltages
03:10 Quantized Random Voltages
08:49 Stored Random Voltages
13:53 Integrator
16:23 Sample and Hold

6. [The Buchla Series] #5 - Buchla 296 Programmable Spectral Processor

In this episode, we will focus on the Buchla 296, Programmable Spectral Processor.

00:00 Introduction
00:41 Manual Mode
04:16 Comb Filter
06:26 Bandpass Filter
10:30 CV Controlled EQ
12:49 Enveloppe Followers
15:15 Vocoder
18:30 Patches Examples

Velocité - full album (Mike Oldfield meets Air & Tame Impala)

video upload by Caught In Joy

"Inspired by the fluid energy of Tangerine Dream, the layered elegance of Mike Oldfield, and the dreamlike pulse of Air and Tame Impala, this album explores the strange intersections of speed and stillness.

Velocité is a deep, cinematic dive into motion, memory, and momentum—an hour-long journey shaped by analog synths, ambient textures, and hypnotic rhythms.

Created live and mixed with obsessive attention to detail, Velocité captures that fleeting feeling of being in transit—somewhere between the past and the future. Best experienced in one uninterrupted listen.

Composed, mixed and mastered by Caught In Joy. Karol Pokojowczyk uses Bitwig, Moog One, Moog Matriarch, Prophet-10, 3x Moog Mavis, TipTop Buchla modules, Make Noise Strega, Strymon Magneto, Arturia V-Collection and an army of guitar pedals. Performed and recorded live on tape with TEAC 80-8.

Timeline:
00:00:00 - 1. Velocité
00:10:16 - 2. Clockwork Pastoral
00:17:11 - 3. Microfilm Memory
00:26:36 - 4. Carbon Copies of You
00:28:12 - 5. Cigarettes and VU Meters
00:36:02 - 6. Beta Tape Ballet
00:44:34 - 7. Elevator to the Ether Pt.1
00:51:29 - 8. Elevator to Ether Pt.2
00:59:09 - 9. Terminal Lounge"

Buchla Tiptop 264T | ART protocol hacking with XAOC Drezno

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"According to Gur from TTA this was unlikely to work, but 'unlikely' is not impossible. The ART protocol is something like analog encoded digital data used to be transferred over regular patch cables. It carries information that can be used to play quantized notes on an ART capable VCO like the 259t (and obviously the ART series from TTA). I tried using XAOC Drezno to convert the ART signal to bits, and then scramble a few before recoding it back to analog. This is just an experiment and it was a bit too much off-topic for episode 14. It would also make the video too long and nobody's watching the end of long videos anymore. It makes me wonder if this could also work on MIDI data, but that's for another day."

Buchla Tiptop 264t | Buchla 200 Series | Episode 14 | Quad Sample and Hold / Polyphonic Adaptor

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"The original Buchla 264 is a very rare module, released in the 1970's. So it's important to realize it's a very primitive way of adding polyphony to a modular system. It's not that different from an early analog polysynth, where voice cards were used to activate two or more voices from a keyboard 'switch'. This is another fine example of doing easy things the hardest way possible, so there should be some reward in it. Apart from the polyphonic switching mechanism - you'd need four VCO's, four envelopes and four VCA's to switch between. I'll start with four Plaits, which can trigger their own internal LPG while distributing Marbles CV/GATE between them.

Then I used the Buchla LEM 218 keyboard to try and make chords. It didn't work so well, because the 264T is too slow picking the right voltage for the right key-down event. The 218 already outputs quantized notes in the 12-TET scale, so how hard could it possibly be to 'sample' the voltage from the played key and hold it? On the original Buchla 264, people used a gate lag (with the 281 envelope generator), to sample the voltage first, and trigger the hold with an end of cycle, just a few milliseconds later. Fortutnately, the 264 also has track and hold. In this mode, it can simply track the keys from the 218 keyboard, and hold it on key down. Works like a charm!

Regardless, this old-school analog polyphony is a lot of work and requires either a lot of modules, or specialized quad versions of your basic VCO, VCA and Envelope Generator. However, the module provides lots of cool resources you can use on a simpler setup, and results may be even cooler than trying to create polyphony. For instance, the polyphonic adaptor can double as a clock divider, which is missing from the current Buchla/TTA 200 series. It's super useful to clock a delay or sparse event. When combined with the 242 pulser, you could use a 11-step sequence, and pick every 2nd, 3rd or 4th event, creating all kinds of odd variations without changing the 'pins'.

Then there's ART, which is a new digital protocol for tuning a VCO, and sending quantized note and gate information. This requires an ART capable VCO like the 259T. While it's tempting to use two of those, it's much more fun to just use the principal VCO in ART mode, and use the modulation VCO in standard mode. Your voice will be in tune with other sources, but you'd still be able to create some new textures and leads. Quantized notes will steal some of the Buchla magic, so this is a best of both worlds. So if you're not pursuing polyphony (which isn't unwise), the 264 is a great source for stepped random voltages, divisions and quantized notes. Highly recommended for all you generative music lovers."

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!"

Buchla Zollstock

video upload by Ebotronix

"Buchla 200t TipTop Audio,
242t, 2x 292t, 4x 258t, 2x 281t ,2x 207t, 2x 259t, 257t, 266t, 2x 245t, 296t,
Doepfer R2m , Ribbon Controller,A 126-2, with Expander,
A 110-4, A 156, 2x A 177-2,
Mutable Instruments, 4x Shades,
Grendel Formant Filter
4ms, QPL, Peg, DLD,
Tunefish Modular ,2x Ornament and Crime,Dorian Scale,
WMD Time Warp,
Strymon Big Sky MX
12/ 8 time
10.04.2024
video # 2504"

264t snippets

video upload by Todd Barton

"Casual experiments with the new Tiptop Audio Buchla 264t Quad S & H.

My Patreon: / synthtodd"

Buchla & Tiptop Audio Introduce the Quad Sample & Hold and Polyphonic Adapter Model 264t

TipTop Buchla 264t – What is a quantizer anyway? video upload by Dexba

"We finally have a quantizer in Buchla form, but that poses some questions: what even is a quantizer?
Why is not called that? And how did they handle polyphony in modular 50 years ago?"

264t Quad Sample & Hold & Polyphonic Adapter module demo - Tiptop & Buchla

video upload by Stazma

"Today we are going to check out the new module from the Tiptop & Buchla 200t serie: the Quad Sample & Hold & Polyphonic Adapter Model 264t!

So we will talk about ART a lot, and even play around with TWO 259t to create four voice polyphonic patches."


264t Poly Patch video upload by Todd Barton

"This patch was first unfolded by Kyle Swisher on his Source of Uncertainty Podcast: https://www.amazon.com/Colour-Ink-Jas..."

Also see Todd Barton's original Buchla 264 experiments: • Buchla 264
You can find his Patreon with additional resources here: / synthtodd

via Tiptop Audio

Message from the Mothership to all 200t users on Planet Earth!

We are thrilled to bring you the Quad Sample & Hold and Polyphonic Adapter Model 264t. The module is now shipping, and pre-orders are open at our dealers. Price: $265. [check with dealers on the right for availability]

Don Buchla designed the original 264 in 1970, but only a few were ever mad,e. This module features high-speed sample & hold circuits that can also switch to track & hold, delivering the exceptional performance you’d expect from a Don Buchla design. To push the boundaries further, Don added a groundbreaking feature: the Polyphonic Adapter. This was a bold vision at a time when polyphony was virtually unheard of, synth pioneer Tom Oberheim wouldn’t introduce the world’s first polyphonic synthesizer, the SEM, until 1975. With the 264t, we’ve taken Don’s polyphonic concept one step closer to full realization. We’ve added ART outputs that can drive multiple oscillators equipped with ART, such as the 259t Complex waveform generator. Plus, we’ve incorporated built-in scales, adding a complete ART quantizer working seamlessly alongside Don’s original analog circuits.

3/5/25 Metasonix TM-1 SE + Buchla 292r 281 258d 244s + Doboz TSNM + Peavey DDL-3 + CXM 1978

video upload by Cfpp0

"For better or worse, we got into 4U Buchla format when we purchased the ZIMM system from Zerosum Inertia last year. And that purchase perfectly coincided with us liquidating the massive Tokyo Tape Music Center Buchla TTMC 100 eurorack system and TipTop Audio & Buchla 200 Eurorack system we had amassed over the years. One of the modules I missed was the handy 106 mixer. We had one by TTMC and one by Catalyst Audio. So we just got this Ebolatone CP-3 Moog mixer in Buchla format. This video was supposed to be a test of that mixer, but I got sidetracked."

Buchla & Tiptop Audio 292t quad LPG (vactrol-free version) demo

video upload by Signal Sounds

Update: (Reuploaded with improved sound!)

"Tiptop Audio have finally released the long-awaited RoHS-compliant version of their Buchla 292t quad low-pass gate for the UK and EU market. The classic module has been redesigned without vactrols, which are now illegal in these territories - but how does it sound? Spoiler alert: pretty good. Tom puts it through its paces in this demo. Buchla bongos ahoy!"

The 292t is vailable here: https://www.signalsounds.com/tiptop-a...

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."

200t texture 6

video upload by Todd Barton

"A little patch with the Tiptop/Buchla modules. Enjoy!

My Patreon: / synthtodd"

242t drm mach unfolded

video upload by Todd Barton

"A brief tutorial on this "drum machine" patch whose core is the Tiptop Buchla 242t Programmable Pulser.

My Patreon: / synthtodd"

It's a drone song w/ Tiptop Audio & Buchla, Strega and Space Echo

video upload by Stazma

"Hey there!
Here is a jam I recorded at the end of 2024. I remember I really had fun recording it (one take and done) and I'm happy to realize i'm still happy listening to it again now so here we go, it's here for you all.
Title is referring to the massive beating sound of all the oscillators ;-)

Have fun!

Gear used:
Tiptop Audio & Buchla big system
RE-150 Space Echo
Make Noise Strega
Verbos Electronics Touchplate Keyboard
Mixed live on a Studer 961 desk."

242t by Tiptop Audio & Buchla - Sound Only [no talk]

video upload by Stazma

"Here is a bonus patch that did not make it to the big demo video, as well as audio only snippets of all the main patches that were in it ;-)

For those who don't like the talking ;-)"

TipTop Buchla 242t – Tonal Tutorial

video upload by Dexba

"The first thing I noticed about the 242t was the number of steps, and since 'pitch is a vibration, everything is rhythm', I decided to show you this side of the new module by Buchla.
More "traditional" showcases will surely follow, but here we go!"