This is Takazudo Modular Highlights vol.13 (distributed December 11, 2024).
This is an archive of the newsletter sent through our Mercari Shops. While we call it an archive, the Mercari newsletter has various limitations, so this is an optimized article for the web.
Here are the contents of Vol.13.
This is Takazudo Modular Highlights vol.13 (distributed December 11, 2024).
This issue covers the zudo-bus bus board, Slow Wave blank panel, and since we're in the middle of a sale, some sale recommendations.
- zudo-bus Now Available!
- Blank Panel Slow Wave Now Available!
- Sale Pick: Two Mixers from AI Synthesis
zudo-bus Now Available!
First announcement: I designed a compact bus board called zudo-bus, which is now on sale. The zudo-bus is available as both a DIY kit and a built unit. The built unit is currently out of stock at the time of this newsletter, but I, Takazudo, plan to restock whenever I have time.
This zudo-bus was developed as a bus board that attaches to the zudo-block-40 announced in the previous newsletter. I already have many zudo-block-40 cases at home, all fitted with this zudo-bus. So the functionality has been thoroughly tested.
That said, a bus board is essentially a simple component that just distributes input to each pin — very straightforward in design. So if you're thinking about trying some DIY or building something case-like, please check out the DIY kit. The DIY kit is cheaper too!
Blank Panel Slow Wave Now Available!
Second announcement: In collaboration with my designer friend SAUCER, we created a blank panel set called Slow Wave, which is now on sale. Slow Wave is a set of 5 design blank panels in 1HP/2HP/3HP/4HP/12HP sizes. Each panel has a different design on front and back, and when placed side by side, the patterns connect into a continuous design.
Personally, I've always wished you could casually buy nice blank panels at affordable prices, and I plan to keep adding to the blank panel series going forward. If you have empty space that needs filling, please check them out. They're also priced affordably enough for when you have leftover Mercari points to use.
Sale Pick: Two Mixers from AI Synthesis
Since the sale runs until December 18, 2024 at 00:00, let me recommend some picks. Here are two mixers from AI Synthesis:
- AI Synthesis: AI022 Harmonic Mixer
- AI Synthesis: AI106 West Coast Mixer
These are two mixers that transform the input sound, and we've written a detailed explanation on our website at Column 003: Clipping Audio Through Mixers. Even after writing that column, I personally continue to use these two mixers regularly. They're affordable and the sound transformations are quite interesting.
Last month, there was an event called Festival of Modular 2024 Tokyo, where Takazudo Modular also exhibited. When I explained the waveform transformations these mixers produce, some customers were genuinely impressed. It reminded me that this kind of thing is part of what makes modular synthesis fun, which is why I'm recommending them.
Also, these two come as very light DIY kits, making them great for soldering beginners. If you're thinking about trying some synth DIY over winter break, how about building these two practical and fun modules?
- AI Synthesis: AI022 Harmonic Mixer (Aluminium Panel) Introduction
- AI Synthesis: AI022 Harmonic Mixer (Black Panel) Introduction
- AI Synthesis: AI022 Harmonic Mixer (Aluminium Panel) DIY Kit Introduction
- AI Synthesis: AI022 Harmonic Mixer (Black Panel) DIY Kit Introduction
- AI Synthesis: AI106 West Coast Mixer (Aluminium) Introduction
- AI Synthesis: AI106 West Coast Mixer (Black) Introduction
- AI Synthesis: AI106 West Coast Mixer (Aluminium) DIY Kit Introduction
- AI Synthesis: AI106 West Coast Mixer (Black) DIY Kit Introduction
By the way, I've been building a modular synth power supply recently, and I've burned through two power adapters. I was using them beyond their current capacity, and they burned out from overload. Come to think of it, how much current your modules draw isn't something most modular users pay much attention to, is it?
I was exactly in that position, but while modular synths are designed to make it easy to add and remove modules, without a sufficiently powerful power supply, the total power draw of your modules can easily exceed capacity. I imagine quite a few people are running in an overloaded state. I'd like to put together a column about this topic as well.
That's all for this newsletter.
See you next time.
This newsletter was distributed on December 11, 2024.
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