Presentation: Modulus 002 Polysynth Latest News

It's been a few months since we got our first look at the brand new 12 voice British polysynth Modulus 002 and as you may recall, Modulus Music are based just down the road from us. In that first look the synth was not a completely finished product and was also unvoiced. Since then the Arpeggiator, Sequencer and Animator have been fully implemented and Ben Crosland (patch creator for Access Virus range) has written a bank of 100 sounds to show off the extend of the features Modulus 002 has to offer.

As well as a quick chat with the "mad scientist" behind the design Paul Maddox - who tells us the first 50 have already been sold, we turned to Ben to show us around some of his patches, then Luca Mucci takes us through the Sequencer, Arpeggiator and Animator too.

Available world wide from select dealers £2995 +VAT / $5200 / €3750

More Information

• Modulusmusic.me
• Modulus first look

Full Specification

• Two oscillators per voice with two sub oscillators, however modulus.002 has a unique feature enabling the subs to be switched from being either traditional square wave to having the same waveform as the main oscillator - in effect making four oscillators per voice
• Analogue / digital hybrid architecture uses NCOs for very high resolution, and very stable oscillators
• modulus designed 24db per octave four pole transistor ladder filter, with some very unusual morphing characteristics or 'pole-sweeping', enabling transition from four pole through bandpass to one pole 6db per octave, or anywhere in between.
• Two LFO's, one per voice and one global
• Extensive modulation options, all accessed directly from the front panel - no menu options!
• modulus.002 features a range of sequencing options, a built in 16 Track, 12 row, 32 step sequencer with 16 dedicated step time editing controls on the front panel and MIDI sync able. Sequences can be transposed dynamically while running. A very highly featured arpeggiator with a wide range of different modes, including modulus 'hold' mode, enabling mini arpeggiator sequences to be created. Arpeggios can be saved as sequences for latter recall and editing in the sequencer
• The modulus Animator, which enables any control parameter on the modulus.002 to be sequenced, enabling very complex filter transitions, wave form changes and modulation matrix changes to be sequenced
• Superb UI, a great departure from the norm of synthesisers, featuring a very high quality 4.3" screen with wide viewing angle, display is context sensitive (if desired, can be changed in settings) where the control parameters of any control knob that is touched by the user, is immediately displayed.
• Twelve 'quick recall banks' are accessible directly from the front panel, enabling performing musicians to get rid of their set sheets and build set lists of presets, sequences and animations, all quickly accessible from dedicated front panel buttons. Up to ten banks of quick recalls can be created, making live performance a doddle.
• Very high quality construction, uses a premium FATAR semi-weighted five octave key mechanism with aftertouch
• All voice control parameters are accessible from a well designed and intuitive front panel, that follows a traditional synthesiser workflow
• Pure analogue signal path with combined XLR/TRS sockets for balance / unbalanced outputs. Further, each of the twelve outputs can be brought out individually via a dedicated dsub socket.
• Two audio inputs enabling audio processing from the VCF onwards
• XY joystick for performance controls - any control parameter can be assigned to either joystick access by pressing the dedicated front panel selector button
• Ethernet port to connect your modulus.002 to your network and enable updates via the internet (no more midi sysex dumps) and access to the Modulus cloud features

• Modulus 002 Synth Insights 02-Mar-15
• 16 Minutes Of Modulus 002 Patches 18-Sep-14
• Modulus News 15-Aug-14
• More Modulus.002 10-Jul-14
• Modulus.002 PolySynth Exclusive First Look 10-Jul-14