System 10.1 Synthesizer

Complete, Fully Patchable, Semi-Modular Synthesizer
Suggested Retail Price - $799

MASSIVELY SMALL MODULAR

 

The Pittsburgh Modular System 10.1 Synthesizer is huge sound hiding in a small case. Updated for 2015 to include the new extremely featured Midi 3 module, the System 10.1 offers direct access to a wide array of modern, analog monosynth sounds. Without a single patch cable, floor shaking bass and aggressive leads are just a few knob tweaks away. Plugging in a few patch cables opens the Pittsburgh Modular System 10.1 Synthesizer to complex experimentation by offering unlimited control over both the modulation and audio signal paths. All of the elements of a classic voltage controlled, analog modular synth are available as an open, patchable, modern synthesizer.

Features

System 10.1 Synthesizer Components

Synthesizer Box

(Complete, Fully Patchable, 2nd Generation Semi-Modular Synthesizer Voice)

Wired for instant access to classic tones without needing a single patch cable, the Synthesizer Box is a modern, complete semi-modular, monophonic synthesizer module. The Synthesizer Box is 100% analog and 100% Eurorack compatible with a complete set of patch points able to override the internal audio and CV signal paths.

• Full Range, Complex Waveform Oscillator
• Oscillator Waveform Mixer
• Voltage Controlled Multi-Mode Lowpass Gate
• Wide Range Low Frequency Oscillator
• Glide Control for Portamento Effects
• ADSR Envelope Generator
• High Quality, Linear Response, Voltage Controlled Amplifier

Synthesizer Box Module Components

Waveforms

(Complex Waveform Oscillator)

The Waveforms oscillator is the heart of the Synthesizer Box. Complex modulation, voltage controlled waveform morphing, and a sub oscillator allow for a deep tones and rich timbres.

Waveforms Controls:

Coarse and Fine Tune Frequency Controls

Sub Oscillator - Square wave pitched one octave below the core oscillator creates a huge bottom end for the Synthesizer Box. Switch adjusts between low volume / off / full volume

Frequency Modulation (FM) - Used to modulate the pitch of the oscillator, The attenuated FM input can be switched between exponential and linear response. The FM input is internally patched to the LFO triangle output. This routing can be bypassed by patching into the FM CV IN input jack.

Saw / Blade Switch - Selects the type of saw wave sent to the mixer. The SAW wave is the core wave of the oscillator and is not effected by the MOD CV input. The BLADE wave is a unique, complex saw wave that can be modulated using the MOD CV input. Additional manipulation of the blade wave can be achieved using the BLADE IN jack.

Waveform Modulation (MOD CV) - Attenuated MOD CV input controls the amount of waveform modulation. Waveform modulation effects the square wave and blade wave. The modulation effects each wave type differently. Pulse width modulation of the square wave and wave shape morphing of the blade wave. The MOD CV input is internally patched to the LFO triangle output. This routing can be bypassed by patching into the MOD CV IN input jack.

Oscillator Patch Points:

1V/O IN - One volt per octave input.
BLADE IN - Blade wave manipulation input.
FM CV IN - Frequency modulation input overrides internal routing to allow for external modulation.
MOD CV IN - Waveform modulation input overrides internal routing to allow for external modulation.
TRI OUT - Post mixer triangle wave output.
S/B OUT - Post mixer saw or blade wave output.
SQR OUT - Post mixer square wave output.
MIX OUT - Mixer output includes triangle, saw/blade, square, and sub oscillator waveforms.

LPG

(Voltage Controlled Lopass Gate)

The LPG is a distinctive module that incorporates both a low pass filter and VCA. The lopass gate is unique in the way that it simulates the characteristics of natural instruments. When used in LPG mode, additional harmonic content is added to louder sounds while quieter sounds pass through unmodified. This behavior imparts a rich, organic quality on the sounds.

LPG Controls:

Frequency Modulation (MOD CV) - Attenuated MOD CV input controls the amount of lopass gate frequency modulation.

Mod / Ping Switch - Determines how the lopass gate responds to frequency modulation. In MOD mode, the MOD CV is used to sweep the frequency range of the lopass gate. In PING mode, the MOD CV is converted to a short trigger used to ping or strike the lopass gate. The PING mode takes advantage of the lopass gates fast attack and slow decay to create organic percussive sounds with a natural decay. The MOD CV input is internally patched to the envelope generator output. This routing can be bypassed by patching into the LPG CV IN input jack.

Frequency Control - In filter mode, the frequency knob controls the center frequency of the filter. In VCA mode, the frequency knob controls the pass through signal level. In lopass gate mode, the frequency knob controls both the center frequency of the filter and the pass through signal level. 

Resonance Control - In filter mode, the resonance knob controls the amount of resonance. In VCA mode and lopass gate mode, the resonance knob is not active.

LPG Mode Switch - Switch between the 3 modes of the lopass gate. VCA position (up) enables VCA mode, LPG position (center) enables lopass gate mode, and LOPASS position (down) enables low pass filter mode.

LPG Patch Points:
LPG CV IN - Frequency modulation input overrides internal routing to allow for external modulation.
LPG IN - Signal input overrides internal routing.
LFP OUT - Signal output.

LFO

(Low Frequency Oscillator)

Wide Range LFO is perfect for long sweeps or audio rate frequency modulation.

LFO Controls:

Rate Knob - Selects the frequency of the low frequency oscillator.

Range Switch - Determines the range of the rate knob. Switches between low range and high range.

LFO Patch Points: 
TRI OUT - Triangle wave output.
SQR OUT - Square wave output.

Envelope

(ADSR)

Four stage envelope generator.

Envelope Controls:

Attack Knob - The first stage of the envelope generator. The attack knob adjusts the rise time of the envelope.

Decay Knob - The second stage of the envelope generator. The decay knob adjusts amount of time the envelope remains at the maximum level while the envelope input contains a signal.

Sustain Switch - The third stage of the envelope generator. The sustain knob sets the maximum output level of the envelope once the decay stage has completed.

Release Knob - The fourth stage of the envelope generator. The release knob adjusts the amount of time it takes for the envelope to turn off once the decay stage has completed.

Envelope Patch Points: 
ENV IN - Envelope input.
ENV OUT - Envelope output.

Glide

(Portamento)

Hardwired between the 1 Volt Per Octave Input (1V/O IN) and the waveforms oscillator.

Glide Controls:

Time Knob - Adjusts the amount of time it takes to shift from one frequency to another.

Mixer

(Waveforms Output Mixer)

Waveform mixer for oscillator outputs.

Mixer Controls:

Triangle Wave Attenuator - Adjust the level of the triangle wave sent to the TRI OUT and MIX OUT.

Saw / Blade Wave Attenuator - Adjust the level of the saw / blade wave sent to the S/B OUT and MIX OUT.

Square Wave Attenuator - Adjust the level of the square wave sent to the SQR OUT and MIX OUT.

Mixer Patch Points: 
MIX OUT  (in waveforms section) - Mixer output includes triangle, saw/blade, square, and sub oscillator waveforms.

VCA

(Voltage Controlled Amplifier)

High quality, linear voltage controlled amplifier.

VCA Controls:

CV Input Attenuator Knob - Adjusts the output level of the VCA.

VCA Patch Points: 
VCA CV IN - CV input. The VCA CV IN input is internally patched to the ENV OUT output. This routing can be bypassed by patching into the VCA CV IN input jack.
VCA IN - VCA signal input The VCA IN input is internally patched to the LPG OUT output. This routing can be bypassed by patching into the VCA IN input jack.
VCA OUT - Signal output.

The Mix Mult is a multifunction utility module. The module combines three important functions into a single module. A high quality three channel mixer and/or attenuator and two sets of passive multiples.

The mixer/attenuator section functions as a flexible, low-noise three channel mixer and/or attenuator for audio and cv that can be used in several ways. Patching into the output of channel 1 or 2 will remove that channel from the mixer circuit and turn the channel into an independent passive signal attenuator. Channel 3 can not be removed from the mixer circuit, however if channel 1 and 2 are all being used as attenuators, channel 3 is the only input remaining in the mixer allowing it to be used as a buffered attenuator. The mixer knobs are wired with a logarithmic volume curve that is tuned for use with audio but it will work with CV as well.

MIDI 3

(Extremely Full Featured MIDI to CV Converter)

The Midi 3 converts standard midi note messages into the analog control voltages used by modular synthesizers. This allows a modular synthesizer to be controlled by a midi keyboard, sequencer, or DAW.

The two sets of Gate (GT) outputs can be used to trigger envelope generators by providing a voltage of +5v. The Control Voltage (CV) outputs produce precisely 1volt per octave over a range of 10 octaves. Pitch bend, assignable CC and dedicated velocity outputs, a feature rich clock source with tap tempo, midi and external gate clock dividers, and multiple arpeggiator responses. This module is deep.

Outs

The simplest way to get sound out of a modular. Outs is a dual independent output module featuring a stereo 1/4" headphone amplifier output and dual mono 1/4" line level outputs.

Left and Right inputs are available. If only the left input is used, the signal is sent to both the Left and Right outputs.

System 10.1 Synthesizer Manual

System 10.1 Synthesizer Specs