Trilling Synths: Artful Modules from the Netherlands

Online ads - most of them pass me by, but occasionally one will make me go "ooooh!" Case in point - Trilling Synths' array of colourful, intriguing Eurorack modules. They're inviting, fairly minimalist (no million-menu-option-shift-click-press gymnastics here!) and upon further inspection, deceptively powerful. We spoke to designer Dirk about his playful creations:

Thanks for chatting to us Dirk! Can I start by asking what first attracted you to the world of modular synths?

It all started with my friend who found an Elektor Formant kit from the seventies that his dad built. We learned the basics of modular synths by trying to figure out what each part does, without a manual or any other reference, just plugging in cables to see what would happen. We still use that synth to this day, it sounds amazing! This kind of tactile experimentation, connecting cables and turning knobs, accidentally finding beautiful (or at least interesting) sounds, that can only be done with modular synths.

Your designs are colourful, elegant, artful even (I see shades of Piet Mondrian in some of them) - what are the inspirations behind your design ethos? What role does colour play?

Thank you! I don't consider myself a graphic designer, especially colours are not my expertise so I am always happy to hear that people appreciate the designs. The colors on the modules are actually functional. On the 4051 Permutational Sequencer, for example, the three control inputs match the colours on the steps, so you can immediately see what each input is doing. The 3DGS Permutational Gate/Switch is very similar in that way, the colored parts on the cube match the inputs so you can see at a glance what each input contributes. I do have some experience with generative graphic design, the shapes to display the note lengths on the clock divider are actually generated with code, showing exactly what each gate output does relative to the other outputs.

What delights might we find in the Trilling catalogue and nowhere else? What features make your modules stand out?

I try to make my modules easy to understand at first glance but once you get to know them you can get much more out of them. You can just look at the front panel and instantly know what it does but you will find new ways to use them every time you connect something else. For example the permutational logic on the 4051 (and 3DGS); when you feed it three consecutive divisions (eighth, quarter, and half note for example), it will be a simple left to right sequencer but once you start experimenting with different divisions or even random gates, the sequence can quickly become very complex but still very intuitive and musical, all depending on what you put in.

A number of modules (Quantizer, Clock Divider) feature both CV and MIDI connectivity - do you feel MIDI is an important tool within Eurorack modular, e.g. within small cases?

I do. Not because MIDI should replace CV, but because the two complement each other in ways that are really musically useful. I've always been interested in that boundary between digital and analog; getting expressive analog signals into the digital domain, or letting digital structure shape analog sound. MIDI is a very natural bridge for that. It's simple, reliable, and it works with everything from vintage gear to modern controllers.

On the MC2VQ Dual Voice Quantizer for example, the MIDI side isn't required at all, but once you start changing chords from a keyboard, controller or DAW, the module reveals what it can really do. You can treat it almost like a harmonic conductor for your patch. It can even function as an arpeggiator for analog voices, or sync the active scale or chord across two quantizers, even across two small cases if you're jamming with a friend. Doing that purely with CV would be extremely difficult.

The MIDI Clock Divider exists for a similar reason: the MIDI Beat Clock is an underrated but incredibly powerful feature. I love being able to sync all my gear together, including digital synths and DAWs, so building a dedicated Eurorack module around that made sense. It produces triplet, standard and dotted note divisions, all perfectly locked, and it can also run on an internal clock when needed.

So yes, especially in small systems, MIDI isn't about replacing CV; it's about opening up possibilities that would otherwise be hard or impossible to achieve.

Your "Introduction" video (linked below) is delightfully musical. I'm guessing your dual voice quantizer plays a major part in this - it seems very capable, could you describe how it works?

The quantizer maps the incoming voltages to notes based on the active scale or chord. It divides the input voltage range into equal parts, based on the amount of active notes. It takes three control voltages that you can send to each of the voices using the dedicated attenuvertors. Each of the two voices will interpret the same harmonic context differently; they use the same active scale or chord but by changing the influence of each input CV for each voice, both voices can play different melodies, allowing you to play two voices that are just slightly shifted in the scale, or going into the complete opposite direction even.

Do you have an overall favourite Trilling module?

The first three modules I introduced (T=3  2 , 4051 and MC2VQ) are designed as a set and work together really well. If I had to pick one I would say the MC2VQ because it stands out most from what already existed, like the MIDI syncing capabilities, the option to play your MIDI synths too with the MIDI voice outputs, and the equal division of the combined input voltages. But I think all of them have something that was not there before and combined they are just a very powerful melody machine.

You launched via Kickstarter I believe. How did you find that process, and are there any words of wisdom for other instrument makers who are thinking of turning their hobby into a business?

Do it! The modular community is incredibly supportive, and launching on Kickstarter was a great way to find out whether my ideas resonated with other people. I reached my goal quickly, which gave me the confidence to turn this from a hobby into a real business.

The hardest part wasn't the production or logistics, it was shaping the modules into a coherent story that would convince people to back something they couldn't try yet. I didn't have much real-world user input at that stage, so I had to trust my own instincts about what would be musically useful and then communicate that clearly in the campaign.

My main advice for anyone thinking about it is: prepare as much as you can before launch. Get your prototypes stable, document them well, and make sure you can explain why the instrument should exist. If you can articulate the musical idea behind your work, the community will often meet you halfway.

Anything new in the pipeline that you'd like to tell us about?

The next module I'm working on is a digital oscillator that takes some ideas from my Wavepeek Max for Live device. It has three CV inputs that directly shape the waveform, alongside the usual 1V/octave pitch, fine tuning and sync inputs. Two of those CV inputs control the skew and morph of the core waveforms, so you can move around in a 2D space between the basic shapes without passing through unwanted dips.

The third CV input controls a type of distortion based on alternating the wavelengths inside a larger cycle. The total length of the cycle (the sum of two or four cycles - you can morph between patterns) always stays constant, so the pitch remains locked to one or two octaves below the base note while the timbre shifts. This produces very playable, sometimes almost trumpet or woodwind-like sounds that are fun to explore with modulation.

I've posted a few sneak peeks on my social channels if people want to see and hear where it's going.

Where can our readers buy your modules, or find out more?

I'm selling and shipping worldwide directly to customers via trillingsynths.com. Also check out the website for demos and documentation. For sneak peeks and behind the scenes footage, find me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or TikTok.

Thanks again Dirk, and best of luck with your modules!

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