Cre8Audio have announced their first products, the beginnings of an eurorack-compatible modular synthesizer system. The debut system currently consists of a few pieces: NiftyCase (a powered case with MIDI to CV), the Chipz module (a dual VCO and LFO), and the Cellz module (a programmable CV touch pad), and a complete NiftyBUNDLE case-plus-modules set.
The company describes itself as “a company that no one has heard of prior to this press release.”
Cre8Audio’s NiftyCASE is a powered modular case with MIDI to CV. Cre8Audio developers explain, “It’s difficult to have a modular system without having a case to put modules into.”
In addition to being a powered 84hp eurorack compatible modular synthesizer case, NiftyCASE features USB MIDI and 5 pin Din MIDI to CV/Gate conversion. The design of the case simplifies integration of modular synthesis into computer and traditional MIDI environments.
Technical specifications. NiftyCASE also features a significant 2.5A of total power for installed modules. 1500mA +12V, 500mA -12V, and 500mA +5v is supplied for module power consumption.
The Chipz module is a dual voltage-controlled oscillator / low-frequency oscillator module. The voltage-controlled oscillators are derived from classic lo-fi sounding wave shapes, designed to be full of character. Cre8Audio’s product description says “we started with the idea” that Chipz would be a 3 oscillator synth that reminds the user of “the sound of their Commodore, Atari, and NES systems.”
Beyond “chiptune” sounds, each Chipz module VCO features 5 different waveshapes – sine, triangle, saw, square, and noise. Users can morph between waveshapes with the turn of a knob. VCO #1 – Chip1 has an integrated filter, VCO #2 – Chip2 has integrated width control, aka duty cycle of the waveform can be modulated to shape the sound. Chipz dual LFO also features 5 different waveshapes, sine, triangle, saw, square, and random. Users can change between each of these waveshapes with the turn of a knob.
The module’s manual comes in the form of a five-minute video.
Technically speaking, Cre8Audio says that the Cellz module is “a dual unipolar control voltage generator …but really it’s just simply a funky module you can use as a controller or a wacky sequencer.”
Cellz works like 3 modules in one: a controller, sequencer, and an arpeggiator. Each of the 16 “Cellz” can be individually tuned to output 2 different CV values. The user then can play each cell by touching it. Cellz automatically cycle and can be arpeggiated while touching multiple Cellz at the same time. Alternatively, users can build their own sequences that run automatically by feeding / inputting Cellz clock, gate, or even an LFO.
Here’s how Cellz sounds:
The full debut system is the Cre8Audio NiftyBUNDLE, which they’ve dubbed a “big box full of synthy fun (aka metal, wood, wires, knobs, and circuit boards, all for your eye and ear holes).”
Included in the NiftyBUNDLE:
- NiftyCASE
- NiftyCASE 15v 2.4A Switching PSU with NA, EU, UK, and AU blades
- Chipz
- Cellz
- Box ‘O’ Cables (2x 45cm, 2x 35cm, 2x 20cm cables)
- 2x Cre8audio “8” panel blanks for covering unused rack space
The synth’s creators say NiftyBUNDLE is “designed to dropkick new users into the modular world” or allow more seasoned modular to expand their modular collection at a low price (see pricing and availability, below).
Pricing and Availability. Cre8Audio’s NiftyCASE is MSRP $249.99 (Street $199.99) US. The company’s Chipz VCO/LFO module is MSRP $149.99 (Street $99.99 US). The programmable Cellz CV touch pad module is MSRP $149.99 (Street $99.99 US). The “whole mess of synthy fun” NiftyBUNDLE is MSRP $569.96 (Street $269.99 US). All of these will begin shipping “in a few days,” according to Cre8Audio, and can be pre-ordered from the Cre8Audio online shop, or find a dealer near you at this link.
can cellz operate as a pitch/scale quantizer? that would make it extra interesting in my hypothetical/hopefully-never-gonna-blow-the-money rack.
Can you clarify this a bit?
If you are asking if it can take CV in and quantize it. The answer is no.
That’s what I meant, yes
In Modular speak quantizing is not associated with timing but with pitch. You quantize the incoming pitch CV so that it plays in tune.
They do not ship to the UK unfortunately.
They supply links for shop sales. You can pre-order from SCAN and Gear for Music. Hope this helps
Signal Sounds also will be getting some.
Loved the subtitles on the NiftyCASE video! Reminded me of the old Isuzu commercials with Joe Isuzu. Nice price for the case, but I want cases that I can stack. Already have two Arturia RackBrute 6u, and I just gotta have more.
What’s with the weird pricing? First: the msrp vs street pricing seems unusual – why not just have a single price?
Second: $200 for the case or $270 for the case and two $100 modules? I guess that’s a steal, but now I feel ripped off if I just want to buy one of the modules.
The pricing thing is pretty typical actually. Many products have an MSRP and then a differnet street price. I agree it’s pretty confusing and a bit weird. Retailers tend to like it though.
Re: pricing – we wanted each thing to be easy as possible for whatever you wanted. We thought $99 per module was reasonable. $199 for the case was too. And if you wanted to go all the way we’d make that way easy.
Al from Cre8audio
Thanks for weighing in.
The ‘NiftyBundle’ option looks like a great deal compared to a lot of the case/power options, though I have agree with the original poster that MSRP’s are confusing.
My question is whether you have plans for an option for expanding to larger Euro systems?
The NiftyCase looks perfect for starting out, but it would be nice to have a way to expand to bigger systems. I’m imagining a version of the NiftyCase without the space for the MIDI connections, and some way of connecting multiple systems together. Or a NiftyCase with space for multiple rows of modules.
Bonus points for a wall-mount option, because this would be great on the wall, above your keyboard controller!
Thanks for the kind words! We’re looking at ways to connect NiftyCASEs together. We’ve got some ideas but also want to see how things go with the launch first.
This all started out over 2 years ago as just a fun thing to work on in our spare time and somehow morphed into what you see now. We’re listening and watching as folks check it all out.
The site talks about Chipz having dual VCOs, but the name and page text refers to vintage digital chipsynth stuff, saying “Commodore, Atari, and NES systems.” Are the oscillators really analog VCOs or digitally generated?
can’t you have a voltage controlled digital oscillator?
Sure, but it’s not a VCO.
VCDO?
Lol, yes it is. This is the case and always has been the case. Just look at a very popular digital oscillator that is voltage controlled, Klavis Twin Waves. It’s a VCO, end of story whether you like it or not.
Is it an oscillator? Yes. Is it voltage controlled? Yes. It is therefore a VCO. Analog has no bearing on the term VCO.
In mainstream synthesis, a VCO is an analog circuit, typically with a relaxation core. A DCO is an analog circuit with digital waveform reset, an NCO… [Oh, never mind. You’re going to insist that any oscillator controlled by CV is a VCO, in a bizarre quest to render the classic definition meaningless.]
So this smells an awful lot like Twisted Electrons
– Look at the font used
– Look at the penchant for using “8” in random words
– Look at the “cells” module. Twisted Electrons has the same exact module with the outputs on the bottom.
– Look at the pseudo chip fetishism
– Look at at odd pricing
Weird thing is, the price of Cells from TE is around the same as for this whole bundle.
The Twisted Electrons tie in is no coincidence. We are very fortunate to have Alex from Twisted as one of the product managers on our team. He is quite involved in the design process. That said, unlike Twisted, where Alex is a one man boutique operation and hand makes most everything, with Cre8audio we are a bigger team. Our electrical, industrial, and much of the firmware engineering were tasks shared by others. We also design for mass production and are manufacturing in a factory on a production line.
Cellz shares the same concept as its Twisted cousin but has a different layout, electronic design, chipset, etc. Everything else in are completely new in every way.
Good Case! … also handy starting modules!
*There needs to be a TwO RoW version – with double the power ofc and more buffered CV outs – Niftiest Case!!!*
Ha, NiftierCASE?
Hefty CASE?
… actually searching for a 2x 84hp powered Case (two rows above each other each 84hp that is).
Plus the midi and audio interface would be perfect – would go for it if it was bigger, niftier, heftier in size.
PS.: White is a nice color – it is basically all colors – just like black!
This looks *really* interesting and tempting. Two questions:
– Is the master jack audio output mono or stereo? The Perfect Circuit article says so, but no one else does, and the product page does not mention it at all. But the product video says the two audio outs are *summed* to the master audio out, so I’m kinda assuming mono. Stereo would be really sweet though.
– Does the external powerbrick/wallwart powersupply needed come included in the package or do I need to buy my own? No article, picture or product page mentions this.
Thanks!