A New Modular Format Arrives - The Kilpatrick Format Synthesizer

A bold move by Kilpatrick Audio. Make room euro, we have a new format in town. See this post for an image and list of modular formats.

"Introducing the Kilpatrick Format

The Kilpatrick format is a new kind of modular synthesizer system for players that demand something better, different and inspiring. Designed by Andrew Kilpatrick, the Kilpatrick format represents a new generation of modular music making by offering the right combination of look and feel, playability, excellent circuit design, and the perfect blend of old and new concepts that make the system easy and fun to use.

Whether you're an experienced synthesist, or looking to get into synthesizers or modular systems for the first time, the Kilpatrick system has something to offer you. The clean design is easy to learn, but also offers experienced users an uncluttered layout that gets right to making great sounds.

Kilpatrick Format Features:

4U (7") panel height - each panel offers close to 30 in. of panel space
Simple plug and play module installation - rearranging a system or adding new modules is easy
Universal use of banana cables for patching of audio, CV and pulse/gate signals - high quality cables are available in a variety of colors and lengths
Color-coded jacks indicate different signal functions and direction
Separate analog and digital grounds used for low noise signal returns - plenty of power available for digital modules
Total cabinet depth of less than 3" permits table top or rack mounting
High quality brushed anodized panels are rugged and feature clean, futuristic graphics
All modules and systems are hand-assembled and built-to-order in our downtown Toronto workshop
Kilpatrick format products are only available directly from Kilpatrick Audio"

"K1 Mixer Interface

Kilpatrick Format Mixer and MIDI Interface - 1 Space

The K1 Mixer Interface module is a combination of a high quality five channel audio mixer and MIDI to CV converter. The mixer is designed for high level signals from other modules and offers both an AUX send for use with effects, and dual stereo outputs on banana and mini jacks, as well as a headphone amplifier with dedicated volume control.
Mixer Section

The mixer circuit incorporates high quality low-noise inputs on banana jacks. Three mono channels and one stereo channel all contain input level indicators and input level controls. The stereo channel offers an AUX send level control which sends a post-input level blend of the left and right channels to the AUX output.

The mono inputs offer level controls, a post-input level AUX send, as well as a pan control. Channel 5 offers a CV input for panning instead of a pan control.

The master output contains a stereo level control and a pair of banana jacks suitable for connection to other modules or daisy-chaining several mixers. A pair of mini jacks offer line-level signals that can be output to external audio equipment. Signal level indicators show the levels at the output jacks and sense the levels after the MASTER volume control. A ground jack provides access to the analog ground on the system.

A dedicated heaphone amplifier provides a stereo output on a mini jack with a dedicated level control. This output can also be used for powered speakers or stereo recorders that work more conveniently with stereo mini cables.
MIDI Interface Section

The K1 also contains a small but useful MIDI to CV converter. Built on the success of the K1600 MIDI Interface, the MIDI to CV converter on the K1 supports a number of useful MIDI to voltage conversions, plus a MIDI THRU jack for daisy-chaining. Outputs can be assigned to note, control change and pitch bend messages. Note playing modes include single (mono) mode, split keyboard mode, two-voice polyphonic mode, which is expandable up to 16 voices with additional modules, Arp Odessey-style duo-phonic mode, and single (mono) mode with velocity output on the second CV output jack.

Outputs are programmed by pressing the SET button to select the output mode to program and then sending a MIDI message to the unit. The MIDI channel, output type and other parameters are stored automatically in the module and restored at power-on."

"K2 // Pitch Oscillator

"Kilpatrick Format Analog VCO - 1 Space

The K2 Pitch Oscillator is a fully analog voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with a traditional sawtooth core and waveshapers that provide sine, triangle, ramp and pulse outputs. Two different pulse modes offer either standard PWM pulse shaping or a unique multi-pulse mode that generates different timbres by producing multiple narrow pulses. Both modes can be pulse width modulated.

Front panel tuning is accomplished with coarse and fine tuning controls. Additionally a range switch allows a second coarse control to be added to the tuning signal allowing two ranges of tuning, or offering even more tuning range.

A special blend mixing section allows mixing of sine, triangle, ramp and pulse outputs. Two controls blend between sine and ramp, and triangle and pulse waveforms. These two signals are fed into a voltage controlled blending circuit which can be control with the BLEND MIX control or input control voltage.

Inputs include a calibrated V/octave input, linear and exponential CV inputs with bi-polar input level controls, a PWM input with level control, and a sync input which can be used to hard sync the oscillator with input pulses from another oscillator. Outputs are provided for the blend mix circuit and also separate outs for sine, triangle, ramp and pulse outputs."

"K3 // Digital Effects

Kilpatrick Format Digital Effects Processor - 1 Space

The K3 Digital Effects module contains two different digital effect units in a single module. The top REVERB / DELAY section produces high quality reverb and delay effects, all processed at 24 bits. The lower ITTI BITTI section produces lo-fi effects such as bit crushing and sample-rate reduction, wavefolding, distortion and signal multiplication. Reverb and delay effects are geared towards audio signals, whereas the ITTI BITTI effects can be used for both audio and low frequency control voltage signals.
Reverb / Delay

The REVERB / DELAY section provides high quality stereo reverb and delay effects with a dedicated audio DSP. A mono input and level control are used to feed audio into the processor. The output generates a left and right channel which create expansive reverbs and stereo delays. Three controls allow the reverb mix, delay mix and delay time to be controlled. The delay time can also be controlled with a voltage to create pitch shifted and sped up / slowed down effects. Two reverb algorithms and three delay algorithms are selected with the main PROGRAM control.
ITTI BITTI

The ITTI BITTI section occupies the lower half of the module. It generates low fidelity audio and CV effects using non-oversampled 12 bit analog converters to create a number of interesting types of distortion and digital processing of both control voltages and audio signals. It creates digital multiplication of two signals, sample and hold with sample-rate and bit depth reduction controls, wave folding with adjustable drive and break points, and a digital distortion effect which creates harmonically rich timbres from simple waveforms. The sample rate of the system is internally generated, or can be fed from a pitch oscillator or other source of pulses."

"K4 // Envelope Modulator

Kilpatrick Format Envelope Generator / LFO - 1 Space

The K4 Envelope Modulator combines two envelope generators and two LFOs into a single module. Each section supports a number of different uses in many types of patches.
Envelope Generator Section

The two identical envelope generators can operate in one of three modes: attack / hold / release, attack / release, and auto-repeat mode. Both a gate input and manual trigger button can be used to start and stop the evelopes, and the up and down times are voltage controllable. The outputs generate both a variable voltage and a pulse which activates during the release phase of the envelope.
LFO Section

A dual LFO section generates periodic signals of various speed and amplitude. The speed can be controlled by a voltage as well as by the panel control. The output level can be adjusted over a wide range including the ability to internally clip the output to max and min values.

Both channels of the LFO section can be synchronized together and the phase of the second channel can be adjusted ahead or behind by up to 180 degrees. This can be used to generate waveforms which have a known phase shift between them."

"K5 // Filter Amp

Kilpatrick Format Quad Filter / VCA - 1 Space

The K5 Filter Amp is a quad VCA and low-pass filter combination. Four identical channels offer manual or voltage controlled wide-band VCA, and also a low-pass filter section with controllable resonance. Both circuits operate in tandem with the same CV and input signal, but producing two simultaneous outputs.

The K5 uses high-quality, low-noise VCA circuitry throughout. The response is designed to smoothly track the input signal for optimum fades for use with an envelope generator or other type of modulation source. The LEVEL control can be used to tweak the response to suit the type of CV control and input signal.

The low-pass filter output has a resonance control which adjusts the response from slight peaking around the cutoff frequency, to extreme settings. The filter is not designed to self-oscillate but it does produce percussive pitched bursts when fed with very low frequency pulses."

via Kilpatrick Audio