Format: Eurorack
Width: 8HP
Depth: 21mm
Current: 92mA @ + 12V, 52mA @ -12V
Banshee Reach is a triangular core VCO with thru-zero frequency/phase modulation and performance-friendly features such as frequency lock to lock the value of the coarse tune knob.In addition to outputting regular analog waveforms independently, Banshee Reach has a 'Vari' output that combines a sub-octave generator with continuously variable waveform crossfading.
With hard or soft sync, digital noise modulation, PWM, and more, it also has an LFO mode, making it compact yet feature-rich.
Like most VCOs, the Banshee Reach has coarse and fine manual tuning controls.course potentiometer I continuously varies the frequency of the output signal over a wide range, while the fine potentiometer J provides a more precise ±1 semitone control range.
Pressing the Octaver button K (the button lights up) turns on Octave mode. The module saves the current coarse control frequency and turns coarse potentiometer I into an octave switch. The fine knob functions as before. To return to free tuning mode, press the Octaver button K again (the button turns off). The coarse knob will not affect the frequency until it passes the saved frequency value (takeover by the pickup). Note that the above digital controls only affect manual controls. The V/Oct and FM/PM inputs use a completely analog signal path.
When Octaver mode is off, if coarse potentiometer I is set to fully counterclockwise and fine potentiometer J is set to around noon, the generated frequency will be C0 (16.35 Hz) even without applying an external voltage.
In addition to the conventional sine wave 11 , pulse 9 , and sawtooth wave 10 outputs, Banshee Reach also has a Vari output 12. The Vari output is a continuously changing waveform that is crossfaded with a square sub-oscillator.
The Shape potentiometer A allows you to continuously transform between sine waves, triangle waves, sawtooth waves, and square waves (or pulses via the jumper on the back of the module). Shape can be CV controlled using Shape CV input 4 and Shape CV attenuator D. Shape CV input 4 is normalized to the VCO's triangle wave core, so if there is no patch, its attenuator acts as a wave shaper, subtly adding harmonics and affecting the sine and triangle waves.
Variable waveform is Sub potentiometer E and CV input 8 is crossfaded with a square sub-octave generator via Sub button and LED G allows you to select a sub-octave waveform: LED off for minus 1 octave, LED on for minus 2 octaves, blinking LED for minus 2 octaves and quarter pulse width.The Banshee Reach has three frequency/phase CV inputs: V/Oct 1 , through-zero linear frequency modulation 2 , and through-zero phase modulation 3. This last input has a dedicated attenuator (PM potentiometer F ) and a unipolar Amount input 7 that controls the amount of modulation sent to PM input 3 .
The Banshee Reach can be operated as an LFO by pressing the LFO button B. In this mode, the LFO amplitude and polarity are displayed. A positive voltage is indicated in green, and a negative voltage in red.
Sync input 6 can be set to either soft sync mode or hard sync mode. You can switch between the two modes by pressing LFO button B for 2 seconds. In hard sync mode, the Hard Sync LED C lights up.
In hard sync mode, the rising edge received at Sync input 6 resets the generated waveform to its starting point. In soft sync mode, the rising edge at Sync input 6 inverts the generated waveform, reversing its direction. Soft sync results in a softer output with fewer harmonics compared to hard sync.
Pulse output 9 provides a pulse waveform that is modulated by PWM input 5. If nothing is inserted into PWM input 5 , the pulse width is 50%. A negative voltage can reduce the pulse width to a minimum of 1%, and a positive voltage can increase it to a maximum of 99%.
Banshee Reach has a jumper on the back for selecting square or pulse waveforms for the Vari output.
With its Disorder function, the Banshee Reach also functions as a unique noise source. Digital controls generate a fast random signal that modulates the analog core. Each output sounds different, and Varishape output 12 and Shape control the timbre of the generated noise. The Shape A and Sub E potentiometers affect the sound generated by Vari output 12 .
To activate Disorder mode, press and hold the Octave/Disorder button K for a few seconds. In Free Tuning mode, the Octaver button K will blink briefly. In Octave mode, the Octaver button K will temporarily stop blinking.
The Coarse knob I affects the average frequency of the VCO, and the Fine knob J affects the amount and type of random signal that modulates the analog core. All inputs function as usual, so you can modulate both frequency and waveform inputs.
In LFO mode, enabling Disorder adds randomness to the LFO frequency. The amount of randomness is set using the Fine potentiometer J.
You can save the module's state at any time by pressing and holding the Sub button G for 2 seconds. All LEDs will blink for 1 second to confirm the save process. This operation saves the following parameters at boot-up: • Sync mode • LFO mode • Sub octave type • Disorder function activation • Octaver mode (and associated tuning) Saving the current state in Octaver mode allows you to start the system at the same coarse frequency, as octave changes are performed based on the position of the Coarse potentiometer I.
