Don’t Call it a Randomizer
Here at Sweetwater, we appreciate seeing something different. The Buchla 250e Arbitrary Function Generator is a shining example in being as much of a wonderful oddity as its name might suggest. The 250e operates by manipulation of one (or both) of its two control voltages, stored in each of the 16 stages of its sequencing function. Within or across one or all 16 stages, voltage and time values can be edited for their respective ranges to produce unique pulses patterns. Furthermore, both sets of variables can be interpolated, quantized, or replaced with externally applied voltages at each stage. Variable options for stage advancement and subdivision, in conjunction with loop counters that allow loops to be nested within any level of staging, mean producing some truly wild outputs. The use of up to four voltage inputs — which are all selectable for any level of staging modulation — adds an even more mind-boggling layer to an already fascinating machine.
Buchla: the crossroads of sonic excellence and game-changing technology
The name Buchla is synonymous with some of the most compelling, convention-breaking technology to emerge in the musical spheres of the mid-20th-century’s electronic awakening. A pioneer of electronic music and instrument design, Don Buchla founded his namesake company in the 1960s, following the success of a modular electronic music system that was commissioned by composers on a Rockefeller Foundation grant. For the next 50 years, Don lived on the bleeding edge of electronic music synthesis. He incorporated uncommon coding languages, touch- and pressure-sensitive surfaces, and spatial location modulation, eventually innovating for the likes of Oberheim, CBS, Zeta Music, E-Mu Systems, and Moog. Meanwhile, he also dedicated himself to make good on MIDI’s promise of the 1980s to be more than just a piano keyboard controller. By the 2000s, Don introduced his magnum opus with the 200e, a love letter to a half century of unparalleled innovation in modular and analog synthesis. Today, Buchla U.S.A. works diligently to uphold Don’s rich legacy and provide his classic designs alongside new iterations of products that are “designed to introduce the unique world of Buchla synthesis to a whole new generation of electronic music makers.”
Buchla 256e Arbitrary Function Generator Module Features:
- 2 control voltages can be used for each of the 16 stages for programming variation
- External voltages can be applied for replacing, interpolating, and quantizing control and time voltages
- Staging can be advanced at will via internal clock, external pulses, or MIDI clock
- Variable subdivisions of staging create more opportunity for variety
- Loop counters can be programmed to each stage and nested within any level
- Color-coded LEDs distinguish staging and editing modes, which can be accessed at any time within sequencer function
