Metasonix Dual-VCO with Suboctave TM-3
At last, a pitch source with tube power. And extreme sound. The METASONIX TM-3 is the only voltage-controlled oscillator on the market with an all-tube signal path. It consists of two thyratron tube sawtooth oscillators, which are wired in parallel but may be offset with their individual front-panel tuning controls. Furthermore, soft sync is available, to force oscillator 2 to track with oscillator 1. The waveform produced by the 2D21/5727 thyratrons is unique and distinctive--a very imperfect sawtooth. It's the kind of sound that screams "VINTAGE", because the only other instruments that produce it are vintage ones--the Mixtur-Trautonium, the Univox, and some 1950s electronic organs. Furthermore, there is a suboctave circuit, which adds a square wave one octave below oscillator 2. It includes short pulses an octave above, for a distinctive sound. And you can mess with the STABILITY control to get unique effects--because the suboctave divider is made of two neon lamps, and NOT a transistor flip-flop. Except for the CV driver, the TM-3 is all tubes. And unlike most other synthesizer VCOs, the TM-3 is so sensitive that it is easily used for FM sound effects--simply by driving either CV input with a line-level audio signal. Both inputs are DC coupled and highly sensitive. The result is a unique, and very extreme, form of signal distortion.
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User Reviews of the Metasonix Dual-VCO with Suboctave TM-3
- Submitted by Paul from Woodstock, VT (32 points) on Sep 23, 2006
- Wonderful...unlike any other VCO on the market (it's the tubes, y'all). Both inputs are CV, but any line level (slightly) boosted signal will work. I use it for its meaty and complex distortion, so depending on the instrument (active bass or analog synth) I have already (just purchased) a few settings that includes using a noise gate to quiet the oscillators and highlight the distortion. But just as well this unit will be fantastic for noise music as a sound source itself. In that regard I tried processing the TM-3 alone into a Korg KAOSS pad with and got freakin' unbelievably excellent disturbing results. For noisicians in a sense that its one of a kind distortion qualities are a result of these strange tubes, I suspect that it's OK to purchase ANY one of the TM series as a distortion box, with what it actually does (filter, oscillator, pre-amp) as equally important. HIGHLY recommended. Serial No. 73- no MIDI. I am very happy.
- Good Points: Basically everything, but most noteworthy is the rich, complex and intense distortion.
- Bad Points: Basically nothing- although the price may seem quite steep, what it does and how it does it is so one-of-a-kind that dollars truly are secondary.
- Price Paid: US$399.00
- Purchased At: Big City Music- Studio City, CA
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- Submitted by Ethan from San Francisco, CA (68 points) on May 14, 2006
- Beautiful sound all by itself. Very sensitive CV. You can use audio signals from guitars or any other instrument (I use Mandolin) boosted with a fuzz, distortion, or preamp to control the voltage of the oscillator. This results in unbelieveably rich and organic inharmonic distortion! I like to use 2 Aux Sends or Feedback Loops to control both voltage inputs. It only has 2.5 octaves of range but this is not a problem for me. I can play with this box for hours until my ears hurt as if I'd been at a concert. I don't have the midi option.
- Good Points: 2 CV inputs allow amazing flexibilty. BEAUTIFUL SOUND! Fantastic for NOISE!
- Bad Points: Nothing Bad unless BAD is a good thing.
- Price Paid: US$400.00
- Purchased At: Robot Speak SF
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