This listing has ended
View similar gear from other sellers on Reverb
Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again.
Turn up the overdrive control, and the oscillator output clips the output amplifier pentode tube, for a unique soft-clipped square-wave sound. The simplicity of the R-55 will fool you--its behavior is erratic and weird, it always sounds broken, and the waveform is deviated in every way. You don't even need to feed it Hz/v CV; just run a square-wave or pulse signal from a conventional VCO into a pitch CV input, and it will force the R-55 to track along with the other VCO.
CV response: Hz/v, giving about 1.5 octaves of usable range with a Kenton Pro-Solo MIDI/CV. Span and offset trimpots on front panel, adjustable to make the R-55 track roughly along with the Metasonix R-54 Supermodule, or with other Hz/v VCOs. Maximum pitch range, 60 Hz to more than 3 kHz (approximate), range with CV typ. 2.5 octaves maximum. Octave switch raises pitch range about 2 octaves. Input jacks: two CV for pitch, plus one that optionally controls the gain of the pentode clipping circuit, acting as a VCA. Maximum output signal, 20 v p-p. Power requirement: +5v at 1.8 amps cold, 650 mA hot, plus +-12v dc, 50 mA.
(All specifications are approximate and may vary from sample to sample.) Tubes used: 2D21/5727 thyratron, 6AK5 pentode.
Warning... WARNING!: the R-55 draws massive power from the +5v line when first powered up. For each R-55 module, your power supply must produce 1.8 amps at +5v to warm up the tubes in the R-55 initially, and then provide a continuous 700mA. Most +5v power adapters cannot supply anything close to this much current.
Addition of a large +5v supply to your Euro cabinet is essential. Monorocket now offers a special cabinet (Mission 9M) with +5v power sufficient to run at least 3 R-55 modules, plus +/-12v power sufficient for many other Metasonix R modules plus modules from other manufacturers.
Metasonix R-series vacuum-tube modules are intended for use in any Eurorack standard modular synthesizer system, assuming you have sufficient current. All R-series modules are 22HP (112mm) wide and fit in any Doepfer(tm), Analogue Systems(tm), or other compatible cabinet. The R-55 is powered entirely from the cabinet's internal +5v and +-12v dc power supplies, using Doepfer compatible 16-pin power connectors. Their circuits protrude behind the panel less than 25mm (1 inch). All vacuum tubes are NOS (new old stock) types from classic American and European manufacturers that are run very conservatively for long life, and are readily available from distributors. The tubes protrude from the panel for visibility and cooling, less than 38mm (1.5 inches), and should fit inside a Doepfer A-100 suitcase cabinet lid. All audio inputs and outputs and CV inputs/outputs are 100% compatible with other synthesizer modules. Plate voltage is provided by a tiny switching supply producing clean 95v regulated at low current, which is very safe and will not injure the user. Potentiometers are top-quality Alpha RK12L types, and 3.5mm phone jacks are special Kobiconn vertical-mount types, much better quality than the cheap ones usually seen in Euro modules. Each R-module is fully protected against reverse supply voltage, overvoltage, undervoltage, or incorrect hookup to external equipment. As with all our products, the R series is totally handcrafted in Northern California, USA.
Please note. There is a sticker on the back of this module. Do not remove this sticker as it is there to prevent electrical shock.
