Hand-sculpted Sound
Buchla’s touch-based innovation has been previously implemented via the likes of the 218 Music Easel keyboard and the 1980s-era Thunder MIDI controller. However, the 296e Spectral Processor Module takes a more ethereal approach. At its simplest, the 296e is a 16-channel bandpass filter, but each channel features dedicated VCAs and envelope outputs, allowing for a wide range of expressive capability. Furthermore, the center of the module is touch controllable to sculpt the filter across its various frequency channels, which can be done in real time. Signal inputs are divided into “odd” and “even” (with respect to channel number) groups, and they can be panned, spectrum transferred, and modulated between, either through continuous knobs or control voltage inputs. If you’re really feeling ambitious, the 296e is designed to be cascaded with another module, dedicating 16 channels to synthesis and spectral analysis, respectively, for a total of 32 channels. At Sweetwater, we agree that this is a must-have for soundscape designers and tone-texture sculptors looking to realize their Buchla system's full potential!
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 296e Spectral Processor Module Features:
- All channels can be individually controlled by touch for real-time filter sculpting
- Dedicated VCA inputs and envelope outputs for each channel enable distinctive control and management of frequency bands
- “Odd” and “even” designation based on channel numbers divides spectral analysis into A and B groups that can be modulated between via CV input or manually
- Program display can illustrate modulation of individual frequency bands in real time
- Module can be cascaded with another 296e to expand to 32 channels with scaled split capabilities
- Store presets and info for later recall*
*Note: Storing and recalling presets requires use of the “remote enable” function, which is only available with the inclusion of a 225e or 206e in your Buchla system. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer with any questions or concerns.
