I was trading emails with Eli (Mr. Mystic) regarding the IDUM and then we transitioned into discussing ‘the soon to be announced at SuperBooth 2023’ “Ruins” Quad Video Oscillator. It appears as if this is finally coming out! He said that I could share the info here.
"We have had this video module in the works for quite a few years now. The parts shortage during the pandemic delayed things as well as various bits of the video standard changing in the Eurorack landscape causing us to need to make a few design changes. Now that parts are starting to show up again we are hoping to make this module happen by the end of the summer.
The module is called “Ruins” and it is a quad video oscillator based around discrete transistor and CMOS based circuits. It’s designed to be lofi and affordable so it is definitely not as clean and perfect as most of the LZX modules that are comparable but it has quite a bit of character. Each oscillator has a 4 inputs and 2 outputs, a direct inject input that breaks the feedback loop and allows external signals to be filtered by the channel, an FM input with a terrible transistor-based attenuverter, a “Flip” input which drives an XOR gate in the feedback loop of the oscillator, and a sync input. The two outputs are the “soft” triangle-ish output and the “hard” square-ish output. The module takes RCA sync in the back like most of the new LZX modules and it seems to work fine at the higher resolution sync speeds. This is nice because each oscillator can switch between vertical lines, horizontal lines and a slower unsynced LFO speed without repatching the sync input.
Again, this module is not designed to be clean or predictable: waveshapes change depending on the speed, slow transitions between low and high are noisey, oscillators that are not patched together still cause visual distortion in the other oscillators, the FM input also clips the video output at certain settings. However this module is capable of making some compelling grit that is difficult to achieve with LZX gear while still working competently to provide some extra utility oscillators in spots where maybe you don’t want to waste a prismatic ray on boring horizontal lines or slopes.
I’m shooting to have this module out by the end of the summer and would like it to cost around $500. I am debating doing a pre-order when I have a batch of actual, working production prototypes in hand and know that I can push the “go” button on a full production run without any other delays. This is mostly because this would be my first video module and I honestly have no idea what the demand will be like and also with the more expensive video components I imagine that production is going to be much more expensive than what I am used to now. Honestly working on this module was much harder than I expected even though I expected it to be quite difficult and it has discouraged me from continuing to work on video but if it does well I could be convinced to make some other video modules afterwards."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr9GwjnPr3_/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAHn4h0B-fD/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Rhc1cB4nQ/
I like noise too. I’m definitely interested.
