West Pest is an affordable and experimental semimodular synth | Engadget

It is solely been a few weeks since Cre8Audio unveiled its first self-contained synth. However the firm is again already with a companion to the East Beast, known as the West Pest. Because the identify implies this can be a West Coast model synth, made to enhance the Beast’s east coast taste. 

Identical to the Beast that is an analog semi-modular synth inbuilt collaboration with Pittsburg Modular. It has a 20-point patch bay, a one octave keyboard, a 32-step sequencer, an arpeggiator and a “digital multi-function software” that may be an additional envelope, LFO or a random generator. 

In truth the 2 have extra in widespread than not. Bodily they’re practically an identical, however with barely completely different management layouts and graphics. They usually’re each simply $250, which is stunningly inexpensive for an analog modular synth. 

After all what separates the West Pest from its sibling is its core sound and design options. Its foremost oscillator is described as “buzzy” and as a substitute of a filter to shave off harmonics, it has a wave folder so as to add extra. Reasonably than a standard envelope and filter combo, the Pest has a Dynamics Controller module, that mixes the features of an envelope generator, VCA, and a low go filter, which sounds more-or-less like a low go gate. And there is a generative sequencing operate for getting actually unpredictable together with your bleeps and bloops. 

West Coast model synthesis has loved one thing of a resurgence these previous couple of years. Small corporations like Erica Synths and large gamers like Korg have dabbled just lately. And the OG of the shape, Buchla, got here roaring again in 2020 with an up to date tackle the enduring Music Easel. So it will make sense for a corporation like Cre8Audio trying to make a splash with it is first couple of synths to present it a strive too.

The West Pest is obtainable to preorder now for $250 and needs to be delivery “imminently.”