At Superbooth 2024, held May 16-18 in Berlin, Shakmat showed three new Eurorack module prototypes: Ballista Blast, Griffin’s Claws & Bishop Miscellany mk2.
Ballista Blast is a complete monophonic synthesizer voice, in 12hp, with a hybrid digital/analog architecture.
It offers a wide sonic palette, with three engines:
- Classic: combines saw and square waves in various configurations, driving two switchable analog VCFs with different flavors (acid or bubbly), a VCA, and a distortion unit.
- Wavetable: provides a wide and customizable set of wavetables, processed through the same analog chain as the classic engine.
- FM: Original algorithms processed by an LPG and a VCA. These algorithms use up to four operators and are controlled by three macro controls, enabling precise manipulation of the different algorithms.
Ballista Blast also incorporates an envelope, a random generator, and a velocity input, all of which can be assigned to nearly any parameter.
The module also features a non-volatile memory of 100 presets (stored on an SD card) and supports the select bus protocol.
Features:
- Hybrid digital / analog synthesizer voice
- Classic, Wavetable and FM engines
- Onboard envelope
- Assignable velocity and gate inputs
- Assignable random generator
- SD card storable presets
- Select bus compatible
- Width 12hp Depth 29mm
The Bishop’s Miscellany mk2 is a major update to their CV/Gate recorder, with many new features.
- First, a sequence processor with glide, ratchet, CV modulation, and gate length has been added. These processes can be recorded for creating more dynamic sequences.
- The module also comes with a wide set of algorithms dedicated to sequence generation and regeneration. From generative music to radical sequence breakage, the (re)gen feature offers tools to originally create or manipulate musical patterns.
- Finally, it is now possible to store recorded sequences on a SD card. The Bishop’s Miscellany mk2 features a tracker-like grid, providing the ability to arrange stored sequences for song composition or organizing a live set.
As with all the latest Shakmat modules, the Bishop’s Miscellany mk2 supports the select bus protocol.
Features:
- Dual Stepped CV/Gate Engine
- Glide, gate length, ratchet and pitch modulation
- Performative (Re)generative algorithms
- Onboard quantizer
- SD card and presets
- Tracker style pattern arrangement
- Select bus compatible
- Width 14hp Depth 29mm
The Griffin’s Claw features four recordable attenuators with offset normalization, linear or logarithmic response and cascade mix. The Griffin’s Claw can be used for a large range of applications: CV attenuation animation, atypical modulation signals, automated audio mix and more.
Features:
- Attenuation recorder with offset normalization
- Logarithmic or linear response
- Syncable recording time with tempo adaptation
- Gate outputs linked to fader movements
- Control on rates and amplitudes
- Memory of 16 presets
- Select Bus compatible
- Width 12hp Depth 29mm
See the Shakmat site for details.
