If you've been looking to add choir-like tones and textures to your Eurorack system, the new module from 4ms may just be a celestial answer to your synthetic prayers.
The Ensemble Oscillator is a 16-oscillator module, designed in partnership with electronic artist Matthias Puech, which offers a "unified polyponic voice" of myriad forms of synthesis. 4ms explains:
"The Ensemble Oscillator is a unified polyphonic voice of sixteen complex oscillators combining additive, FM, phase-distortion and wavefolding synthesis techniques in new unorthodox ways. By quantizing the oscillators to scales or series of harmonics, the Ensemble Oscillator allows you to explore the sonic boundary between musical chords and rich evolving textures. Easily create a wide variety of sounds ranging from aggregates of pure sine waves to pulsar synthesis or pristine harmonic tones and lush wide chords to rich dirty drones and rumbling glitches."
The module will come with 30 factory-programmed, user-writeable scales organized into three groups: 12TET, where all notes are quantized to equal temperament, repeating over octaves; Octave, where notes are not quantized and repeat over octaves; and Free, where notes are not quantized and repeat over the interval between the lowest and highest note.
Other features include:
- A simple method to program (“Learn”) your own scales manually or with a CV/Gate keyboard
- Three Twist phase distortion effects
- Three Warp wave distortion effects
- Three algorithms of Cross FM for modulating the oscillators with each other
- Mono or stereo output with selectable panning algorithm
- Freeze button and jack to freeze the frequency of some of the oscillators, with selectable algorithm
- Two 1V/oct inputs: Pitch (non-quantized), and Root (quantized)
- High-accuracy, temperature-stable, eight octave range (-2V to +6V), can be calibrated to any keyboard
- Six bi-polar CV inputs (-5V to +5V)
- Two gate inputs for automated Learning and Freezing
The Ensemble Oscillator will be available on April 20, for $299 USD. Click the "Follow" button above to add it to your Reverb Feed and be notified as soon as it's available for sale on Reverb.
For all the latest gear news and new product announcements from NAMM 2020, check our ongoing coverage here.