Corry BanksA couple of years back I got a very cool demo of the Qu-Bit Chord module in its first public iteration at NAMM 2016. At the time Chord was a very different module with the same key feature, to provide an easy way to play chords within your modular environment. In its first showing it had 4 analog oscillators and a bit more complex interface as can be seen in the original BooyTechReport.com video below.
Since then, Chord came to market with a simpler interface and more stable digital oscillators. Needless to say, it became one of my favorite and most used oscillators to date. So, you can imagine my delight and excitement when I arrived at NAMM 2019 to learn that Qu-Bit was showing the new and improved version 2 of the Chord module. It’s not just slimmed down to half the HP but its got a entire host of new tricks up its sleeve.
So what’s different?
- Half the size! 14HP down from 28HP
- Eight banks of waveforms
- Full polyphonic mode
- Harmonize in minor mode
- Custom wavetable compatibility
- Expanded chord types
- Improved synthesis engine
As described by Qu-Bit…
Chord v2 is a plug and play solution for bringing musical polyphony to your system. It contains four oscillator voices, a multitude of waveforms, and intelligent tuning functionality. This new version features an expanded sonic palette and feature set in half the size of the original.
It features three primary modes of operation: Chord, Free Running, and Unison. These three modes allow the oscillators to be tuned as diatonic chords, run independently of each other, or be tuned to the same internal frequency for external v/oct sequencing through independent CV inputs.
The timbral possibilities of the Chord v2 bring its polyphonic tones to life. The module ships with eight banks of waveforms encompassing traditional shapes, vocal synthesis, organ emulation, and chiptune sounds. You can also load custom wavetables using the SD card slot on the front panel.
From harmonic drones to Switched On Bach, the Chord v2 is an unparalleled addition to any Eurorack modular.
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- Polyphonic oscillator
- Intelligent tuning system
- Independent output per voice + mix output(5 in total)
- Eight banks of waveforms
- SD card included
- Wavetables compatible with WaveEdit software by Synthesis Technology
- Depth: 23mm
Chord v2 is available now at Qu-Bits website – https://www.qubitelectronix.com/modules