#15

It is totally amazing! There’s so many different ways to use it, and so many sources for sequenced modulation, that you really never get bored. The built in clock divider, and the option to split the “keyboard” is really cool, though I will point out that the cv lanes have different responses in duo and mono modes. As a touch controller, I have to say it is absolutely brilliant, and the Y-axis control is super responsive.

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#16

part of me thought that maybe it was ‘too soon’ in a way… I never have used any of their actual modules but to me Pittsburgh at least when I was paying attention was kind of trying to model themselves as US version of Doepfer - inexpensive and functional basics. While modular was already much bigger and had more users at that point it was still small compared to where we are now, and I think a lot of guitarists maybe didn’t get what it was or why it would be useful. Granted they are a bit different and maybe less gig/pedalboard fragile in some way but the popularity of digital modular pedals now makes me think it just wasn’t time yet. I wonder how it would go over now.

I hadn’t thought about the whole guitar/line level issue since I’m not a guitarist and I’d actually want it for use with keyboard synths or other set-ups. well… if you find out they ever have any in storage somewhere :wink:

3 Likes
#17

I’m sure there may be a patchbox in the basement of the shop somewhere, but honestly at this point you’d be a lot better off with some small format euro case option and just filling it with modules that suit your needs. I think the ergonomics of the guitar pedal format are somewhat in opposition to the EuroRack format. Those modules felt odd to me sitting on the floor with little patch cables hanging out of them.

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#18

Fellow Pittsburgher here. I really loved the older series of modules they did which included the Timerunner, Game System, Switch, Crush, v2 Filter, and Verbtronic. I hope that they pursue more modules like that in the future. The Florist seems like a step in that stranger direction.

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#19

Also regarding this talk of being angry they made more of a limited module, there are bigger problems in this world. Seems like enough people wanted to get one and they had a change of heart. Small companies have limited resources.

Look at the generation loss cooper fx/chase bliss pedal, very annoying that it was limited and now prices are absolutely ridiculous.

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#20

I still have my Timerunner and despite it being functionally replaced by Pam’s New there’s an immediacy and novelty in the design that I’m having a hard time saying “yeah I’m never gonna want this again.” I never grabbed Game System but I feel like if i saw one at the right price now (and felt like affording that) I’d grab it. Pitts definitely dropped some pretty novel modules that they don’t sustain as a product line.

I don’t have a reason in 2020 to afford their new lil desktop jams but that is a genre of electronic music instrument I always love to see work happening in.

I had a Cell90 case that transitioned me to a Move208 that I swapped a 'Jel power board into. were/are these perfect? nah but they were in my budget and have gotten me where I am.

the mk of Outs I had was noisy but I think I paid $50 for it. Just feel like Pitts never had a “hit” module despite having a lot of pretty good work out there. Whatever they are still in business and responded promptly to a couple Q’s I had about swapping the power on my 208 case.

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#21

this thing always seemed badass to me and i’m still kicking myself for never investigating what seems like a module designed specially for me.

#22

never owned pitts but i loved their early aesthetics (eg vilfo)

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#23

cell 48 was my first case

not sure i’d have embraced modular synthesis w/o a decently priced low hp option like that

been a wonderful journey…thanks and welcome @soysos

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#24

My second or third semi-modular synth was the SV-1, which is still the only PM device I have as yet, but I’m looking forward to the return of the Voltage Lab. The SV-1 sounds immense too, and I have learned a lot through patching it.

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#25

I really was a fan of the Double Helix, and regret having sold mine (back when I tried to replace a bunch of gear with an ER-301). It had some weird crosstalk, a couple of odd design decisions (such as no sync) and, let’s generously call it “nonlinear behavior” – but frankly that just added to its charm. It sounded gorgeous.

If I’d had a case with a more robust power supply at the time, I might have gotten a second one.

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#26

I have only owned the SV-1 but it was my gateway into modular. I still use it a lot for things like S+H and some FM. Learned so much on this thing. Would love to support them more, I might need to start looking into their modules.

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#27

i’m big fan of the Big Ol Knob panel interfaces too

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#28

I really want a Voltage Lab in the Blackbox format as they have pictured/described on their website.
Did that product ever exist?
Will it ever exist?
Is it just on the website as some sort of tease?

(I’ve only recently returned to synth-land after a hiatus, of sorts)

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#29

yes please to a more adventurous direction. I have a feeling the main engineer is down:

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#30

Yes, they did end up making a black box version, they still pop up fairly regularly on reverb, though I think production may have halted while they’re working on the new iteration of the VRL.

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#31

VRL 2 is in the pipeline, but there’s a bunch of new things ahead out first…
…plus covid shit… It’ll be an exciting year ahead for Pitt Mod.

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#32

Agreed about the Florist, it’s a wonderfully wonky module. Really organic and liquid sounding. Funny about the Timerunner and the original Timetable… I could never really get rhythmic patterns out of it that I found useful in my music and I never really understood how it actually worked despite Richard explaining it to me multiple times.

#33

Ya, the Voltage Influenced LFO
It was Richard’s first module and was essentially an accident along the way of trying to develope a VC LFO, but it sort of works backwards in a great way. That was my idea for the Chain Reactor, 2 VILFOs with 2 simple supporting LFOs. The behavior of that circuit is a central element of my modulation tool box.

#34

Yes, the Voltage Lab Black Box was an option of the original kickstarter campaign. Not sure of the status of a stand alone for the VL2.
It’s going to be a great synth though.

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