Tiptop Audio & Buchla News

US New Polyphonic modules are on their way 05/07/24

Tiptop Audio has been in touch to tell us what's happening with them. Here's the story in their own words...

We are working on many projects simultaneously and have probably never been as busy as we are now. The 200t series, ART, polyphonic modules, and the new Polytip patch cable are all in the works. Customers have been asking us when more manufacturers will start using ART. The answer is that the ART signal has greatly enhanced the performance of our modules ushering in a new era for Eurorack. We believe that manufacturers who add ART to their oscillators will experience great improvements to performance and reliability and won't look back. However, change takes time. It is always easier to keep doing the same old thing with a different package. Fortunately, a fair number of manufacturers have approached us and received the ART specifications. We look forward to seeing more makers use ART.
So let's get started with the products coming soon:

Polyphonic Modules:
The first set of polyphonic modules was scheduled to be released several weeks ago. Unfortunately, the Polytips, which are the polyphonic patch cables, are not ready yet, so everything Poly got delayed. It's not easy to produce a custom cable like this to our high standards! However, the good news is that while waiting, we have been developing even more polyphonic modules - we are obsessed with what polyphony can do! If all goes as planned, by the end of August, we will be ready to start shipping the first modules from the polyphonic line: Vortex6, Octopass, Octostages, Octogain, Octovert, M, Octo I/O and the Polytips patch cables. If you already have Octopus or ART/VOCT, then you are all set and ready to add the polyphonic line to your studio.

259t Programmable Complex Waveform Generator:
The 259t is now in production, and if all goes as expected, we will start shipping in late September 2024. During the last three weeks, we ran stress tests to see how this module behaves under various temperature conditions. It gave us even further insight into the beauty of analog fluctuation. It's a true 70's spacecraft.

292t-EU:
Our European and UK users have been waiting patiently for this, and soon it's coming. The 292t-EU is a 292t low pass gate made with an analog circuit that uses the effect of electrons charging in a capacitor instead of the Vactrols. This makes the module comply with UK/EU RoHS regulations, meaning it can legally be sold in that region. We found that in terms of sound, both versions are very close, and with our eyes closed, we could hardly tell which is which. The module is in its final stage of prototyping and will soon go into production. The expected release is October 2024.

285t Frequency Shifter:
The 285t uses a special component that is not common and hard to get (or better said, hard to get at a fair price). Getting enough for the first batch has been a challenge. It looks like production and shipping will occur in November. This is a significant shipping delay, and we will do our best to try and get it out faster.

Resonator:
Our new resonator module, based on the Polymoog, is a true charm. The three filters with selectable modes with the added voltage control allows tons of tonal shaping possibilities. Run a pad through it, put a bit of reverb after, and hear that cloud of shifting harmonics as the pad passes through the various VC filters inside. The module is in production and is expected to start shipping in late August