Amplifier Apsides
While Buchla’s 292e Quad Dynamics Manager Module has a couple of key differences compared to its predecessor, the original 292, its core functionalities are identical. The 292e is comprised of four independently operating amplifiers, which can all be voltage controlled across a gain range of -120dB to +3dB. Each input features both an offset adjustment and a velocity input, which is new to the 292e. Velocity grants a greater degree of freedom and control over input gain, which can be accomplished with a CV or via the internal MIDI bus of a 225e (with the module in “remote enable” mode). Moreover, each input is accompanied by a 3-state-switch, providing straight gate (VCA), lowpass filter (VCF), and combination modes. In the case of the last option, the spectral response varies as the gain changes. At Sweetwater, we’ve found that the capacity for frequency domain gating is one of the strongest attributes of the 292e, giving you the opportunity to imbue your sound with a dynamic variance in tonal texture and produce richer overtones as the gain values increase.
Related Videos: 292e Quad Dynamics Manager Module
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 292e Quad Dynamics Manager Module Features:
- 4 independently operating channels allow for modulating multiple different signals and repatching opportunities
- Velocity values can be input to provide greater performance dynamics with gain values on each individual amplifier
- 3-way dynamic frequency gating delivers individuated options for VCA, VCF, and combination options
- Gain and velocity can be voltage controlled to increase textural depth and variance through overtone production
- Velocity values can be MIDI controlled internally with the 225e
- Settings and presets can be stored and recalled for later use*
*Note: Presets can only be stored and recalled with the use of the 225e or 206e Preset Manager. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Sweetwater sales engineer.
