The second spawn of the Berlin Modular project
Bazille is a large polyphonic modular system with digital (PD
FM based) oscillators
multimode filters and plenty of modulation options. With so much connectivity to explore
patching in Bazille should keep you fascinated for many years – it’s definitely a “geek machine”! Bazille is a large modular system combining digital oscillators with analogue-style filters and modelled effects
with a flexibility that only modular patching can provide. After ACE
the second spawn of our ongoing Berlin Modular project
this one is a very different
much larger beast…
Ultraflexible modules
Bazille is highly unusual for a modular synth. Although the filters are traditional analogue models
the oscillators are unashamedly digital: They combine the two technologies that made digital synthesis affordable (and analogue synths suddenly unfashionable) in the
1980s – FM (frequency modulation
more correctly ‘phase modulation’) and PD (phase distortion). In Bazille
each oscillator panel has five distinct sections:
Pitch
Phase / FM
Phase Distortion
Fractal Resonance
and the Outputs
each with a modulation input. Since the 4 main oscillators have a frequency range which starts at zero Hertz
they can be used as synchronized or unsynchronized LFOs or also adopt custom shapes thanks to Bazille's mapping generators. The oscillators are also capable of all kinds of FM sounds by plugging an audio-frequency source into the phase modulation input. One of the most interesting features included in Bazille's powerful oscillators is an unusual process we call Fractalize (fractal resonance). This can be used to create very bold sounds from tame waveforms
with a similar result to the classic cutting sound of the sync effect.
Mapping generators
The pair of Mapping Generators can be used for a variety of purposes: To reshape modulation sources
to define per-MIDI-note offsets or to step through values e.g. for round-robin effects… There are 4 modes available
and both generators can have maps with up to 128 steps. They are very flexible
allowing custom shapes thanks to the drawing tools and presets accessible with a right-click of the mouse.
Multiplex
The little multiple" modules you can find in most analogue modular systems are simple mix/split devices. As Bazille’s output sockets can accommodate several cables
the humble multiple underwent a serious redesign
emerging as something so flexible that we had to rename it Multiplex. The 4 units are very “general-purpose”: They can be used as signal mixers
cross faders
ring modulators
amplitude modulators
and more…
Modulation sequencer
The onboard modulation sequencer lets you set up much more complex movements than are available with a regular LFO. It can be divided into 2
3 or 4 sections
two of which can also be used as a per-voice note sequencers (steps can trigger envelopes). Also present is a modulatable Rotate control
which lets you morph between up to 8 different sequences.
Alternative skin
Bazille ships with a larger but more compact skin called GearPorn which dramatically alters the user experience. Ideal for Bazille experts
the skin of choice for ambitious novices. To enable the skin
just right-click on Bazille's interface and select it from the menu.
Features:
modular
stereo
up to 16-voice polyphonic
4 digital oscillators based on phase distortion (PD) with FM and fractal resonance (FR)
4 self-oscillating multimode filters with up to 6 parallel outputs each
4 ADSR envelopes with Fall/Rise for the sustain stage
overall rate can be modulated
2 LFOs with 3 parallel outputs each
unipolar option
16-step morphing sequence per voice
with 8 snapshots and 4 output taps
2 mapping generators with up to 128 steps
comprehensive drawing tools
presets…
Maps can be used as oscillator waveforms
4 Multiplex modules for mixing signals
cross-fading
ring modulation
amplitude modulation etc.