Grendel Drone Commander Classic Pedal analog synthesizer

Grendel Drone Commander Classic Pedal analog synthesizer, new in box. This item is US-made by Rare Waves LLC and ships direct from the manufacturer.

The original Grendel Drone Commander was a unique analog drone synthesizer made from an army ammo can that has become a favorite of many musicians and producers. Perhaps because its sound is both gritty and tough, yet harmonic and meditative. Perhaps because its got just enough controls to be versatile and playable, but not so many knobs that only a synth-head can understand it.

The Classic Pedal model was introduced in 2017. It has all the elusive tones of the original. Plus, it adds Gate In and Audio In, for extra patching options.

Check out the video demos and product literature at Rare Waves LLC's website, or see YouTube for our official demo video "Grendel Drone Commander Classic Pedal".

Set the two manually tuned oscillators for any harmonic interval, and blend them together with the crossfade mixer knob. The dark and deep resonating filter seems to grab hold of the overtones from the oscillators. The tone mutates and evolves as the LFO moves the filter in droney minimal rhythm patterns.

The oscillators are tunable over a range of 20-360 Hz. They are very stable and give slowly shifting beat frequencies when set to near-unison.

The LFO section is controlled with 4 knobs and 2 switches. It generates sweeps, blips, and square wave modulations to animate the filter. The LFO has a phase-locked loop (PLL) like the original ammo can model. A rotary switch selects 2,4,8, or 16 square wave pulses per LFO sweep. The PLL automatically adjusts the timing so the square wave is locked in rhythm with the filter sweep. It creates a 4/4 meter feel that makes a nice backdrop for improvisation.

It looks like an effect pedal, but the footswitch works differently. Tapping the footswitch mutes/un-mutes the sound. Or it can trigger a fade-in or fade-out. It is a hands-free way to bring in the sound during specific sections in a performance. It also works fine as a tabletop instrument.

With some synths, if you turn the knobs randomly, you might enter a zone of high pitched, tweeter-shredding sounds. But its almost impossible to totally trainwreck in tinnitus town with this synth's dark low end sound.

Requires 9V battery or AC adapter (Boss-type 9VDC tip negative, the standard pedalboard type). Its OK to use a daisy-chain cable with other pedals that have compatible power requirements. An AC adapter is included.  It has US-style pins, and accepts 100-240VAC input, so its OK to connect it to Europe and UK outlets with a slip-on travel adapter.

Audio Out: ¼" Analog mono.

CV connections (3.5mm): Filter CV In, Clock Out (analog square wave 1 pulse per step), Gate In, Audio In

The Audio In jack mutes the internal oscillators when patched. (There is no dry signal path from Audio In to Audio Out. The footswitch isn't a wet/dry bypass for Audio In)

This synth does not support V/oct or Clock In.