Pittsburgh Modular Models Their Own Synth

Pittsburgh Modular has announced the Microvolt 3901, a software instrument that recreates its Microvolt 3900 semi-modular analog synthesizer. Rather than working with an outside developer, Pittsburgh Modular modeled their own synth by meticulously recreating and experimenting with each circuit in the digital domain. They then assembled them all into a complete software incarnation of the Microvolt 3900. They say that the end result is an unmistakably Pittsburgh-sounding software instrument that combines the original 3900's voice, patching, and character with the conveniences and capabilities afforded by software, as a standalone app or a VST3 / AU plug-in on macOS and VST3 on Windows. Here's more details from the company...

More Than a Microvolt
Plug-ins that emulate hardware are often built from the outside in: a developer measures a hardware unit and approximates what it hears. Pittsburgh Modular built the 3901 from the inside out, actually modeling its own designs at the component level, component by component to keep the warmth and quirks of the original circuits.

The 3901 uses the original Microvolt's architecture as its core, then opens it up. Like the original, patch cables carry audio and control voltage between every module, however, now the whole system plays with up to six-voice polyphony, or monophonically with up to six unison voices.

Not stopping with just modeling the original Microvolt, they've also included an extra arsenal of digital emulations of some of their most beloved modules. Here's a list of some of what users can expect.

Oscillator Details:
    •    Microvolt 3900 Oscillator
    •    Lifeforms SV-1 Oscillator
    •    Primary Oscillator from the upcoming Voltage Lab mini
    •    Generator (strange)
    •    Voltage Controlled Oscillator 2 (based on the Microvolt oscillator core)
    •    Digital lo-fi oscillators:Double Helix, DNA Symbiotic Waves Waveform Processor.

Modulation:
    •    Microvolt 3900 modulation sources
    •    VILFO (Pittsburgh's very first module)
    •    Dual LFO
    •    Function Generator
    •    Game System
    •    Three Stage Envelope
    •    Envelope Generator
    •    Modulation Oscillator
    •    Sample & Hold
    •    Ring Modulator

Effects: 19 of the Pittsburgh team's favorite effects
    •    Fragments
    •    Crow filter
    •    Lo-fi Tape
    •    Flanger
    •    Phaser
    •    Chorus
    •    Local Florist
    •    Digital Delay
    •    BBD Delay
    •    2399 Delay
    •    Reverb
    •    Verbtronic
    •    28 Verb
    •    Fuzz
    •    Overdrive
    •    Resonator
    •    Texture
    •    Bit Crush
    •    Compressor

Virtual Keyboard Controller & Step Sequencer:
    •    Touch plate controller
    •    Deep 16 step sequencer

Other key features:
    •    200 presets + preset import/export
    •    100 steps of undo
    •    Integrated oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer
    •    Six-voice polyphony, or monophonically with up to six unison voices.
    •    Standalone and plug-in (VST3 / AU on macOS, VST3 on Windows) (iOS version coming soon)
    •    Integrated user manual for each module, simply click on the question mark.

Pricing and Availability:
Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer's Microvolt 3901 is available now at an introductory price of $69 USD. 

More information:

• Microvolt 3901

Pittsburgh Modular Social

• SonicLAB: Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms SV-2 12-Aug-26
• Lifeforms SV-2 - Pittsburgh Modular's Redesigned Semi-Modular 11-Aug-26
• New From Pittsburgh - Crow 3 Filter, Double Helix Oscillator 03-Jul-25
• Superbooth 2025: Pittsburgh Modular - Boom Chick + Assembler 08-May-25
• Double Helix Wavetable Processor to Return 25-Mar-25