Grendel 2TAC 2-Track Analog Controller - Black / Walnut

Its a compact minimalist CV-Gate sequencer – the Grendel 2TAC 2-Track Analog Controller.  Featuring hand tooled metal work, oil finished hardwood sides, and permanent silkscreen graphics, these are made in limited edition by Eric Archer for Rare Waves. This is the 2022 edition, made of black anodized aluminum with walnut sides and yellow LEDs. It is powered by 9VDC, and an AC adapter  is included. This edition comes with a quick reference chart of key commands printed on its underside. 

The Grendel 2TAC is made to work with all analog synthesizers that have 1V/octave CV-Gate patch inputs. It takes 3.5mm mono phone plug patch cords, the standard for eurorack. The Gate Out and Clock In/Out are 5V.  

Grendel 2TAC works great with Rare Waves Hydronium, Grendel Drone Commander DC-2, Grendel RA-99 Grenadier! 

Its control voltage outputs are accurate and precise, making it very handy for calibrating your VCOs and many other analog synth workbech duties.

User Guide PDF :

rarewaves . net / grendel-2tac-2-track-analog-controller

Sequencer Standards

2TAC uses the pulse-per-step clock standard. One clock pulse advances the sequencer by one grid step. Each clock pulse typically represents a 16th note or 8th note. The sequencer has patchable Reset In / Reset Out connections to maintain a common reference point when other sequencers are synchronized to it. A Reset Out pulse is transmitted when Stop is pressed. While Reset In is activated, such as by patching a Gate signal to it, the transport is paused. 2TAC can serve as the master clock for other compatible sequencers, or it can be a slave unit to expand your production setup when you’ve maxed out your other sequencers.

Pattern Data

2TAC’s patterns are limited to 4 different pitches. The 4 keys on the keypad can be considered as a 4-note mini keyboard. You can tune the keys independently with the rotary encoders above each key. The restriction of only having 4 pitches per pattern lends itself to a minimal compositional style. However, it is possible to layer several patterns during playback with the Sticky Patterns feature. In this case, you can produce sequences that contain more than 4 pitches.  You can layer patterns with different loop lengths to get polyrhythmic melodies. 

Sequencing

You can easily create chains of patterns that play as a loop, allowing simple song structures.But, 2TAC does not have extensive memory for lots of patterns, multiple song programming, or other advanced DAW-like features. It is intended more as a scratch pad for developing musical ideas, and performing minimal compositions which don’t involve a lot of pattern changes.

Controls One or Two Synthesizers

You can use 2TAC’s Track 1 and Track 2 outputs to play two different analog synthesizers. Or, patch both CV outputs to the same VCO and get more complex melodies by voltage addition.  Or, use Track 2 as an auxillary CV channel to modulate other sound parameters like Filter CV, Velocity CV, etc.