In 2019 the launch of the arbhar heralded a new generation of granular processing in Eurorack. Sampled audio could be chopped into tiny grains, scattered, shaped, re-pitched, reversed, and layered for an endless range of audio manipulation ranging from seamless frozen tones to mutated acousmatic madness. Each grain sounds with its defined specifications. When modulation is used, the “per-grain parameter” definition allows for true polyphonic layering.

With the introduction of firmware version 2 (2023) comes a complete rewrite of the entire codebase to implement both technical and conceptual improvements that will enhance the entire user experience of arbhar. We have ensured that the overall feel of the module has been preserved as much as possible. Advances in efficiency and expanded features will allow arbhar to explore many more sonic and musical spaces.

Meet the Lexer Method V2

arbhar | ˈɑɾˠuːɾˠ | noun (envelope) a containing structure or layer, a curve joining the successive peaks of a modulated wave

Granular processor Arbhar V2 Features
* Up to 88 sounding polyphonic grains between two granular engines
* Mono and stereo input configurations
* Six 10 second individual audio buffers
* 1 volt per octave pitch tracking
* On-board random pitch deviation and grain direction probability
* Scan Mode, Follow Mode, and Wavetable Mode
* Stereo pan, feedback delay, and reverb configurations
* Built-in condenser microphone
* Analogue input preamplifier and limiter
* USB import and export functionality
* Audio analysis with onset detection for automatic audio capturing
* User-definable configuration file for complete instrument customization
* Includes 2 HP passive CV Expansion module, 2 HP Passive USB Expansion module and 4GB USB flash drive

Designed in collaboration with Ben "DivKid" Wilson, the Instruo øchd packs 8 all analogue LFOs into a convenient 4HP package. Each independent core is free running with rates configured from fastest to slowest arranged from top to bottom, with a wide frequency range and CV-controllable global rate with attenuverter.

8 channels of active latching switches

Shush! With Stum it's easy to tame your audio and signals in a soft and gentle manner - four mechanical switches make it easy to quickly turn an incoming signal on or off, and an adjacent LED makes it immediately obvious whether signal is currently passing or not, so performing even in the dark is no challenge at all.

High quality and generously sized mechanical switches sit flat against the panel to prevent accidents, and give you tactile feedback when muting and unmuting, even an audible click - unlike in your output, where you can look forward to no clicks, no abruptly truncated transients and no signal passing when you least want it to. These mutes close and open fully, and in between offer a smooth and pleasant fade-in and fade-out transition thanks to the vactrols assigned to controlling the mute.

Fully analog and built with reliability and longevity in mind, the Stum will be the perfect companion for anyone seeking a small and reliable solution to control their incoming and outgoing signals without fear of clicking, actuation noise, bleed or other unpleasantness.

The module comes with the latching switches.

Push button, receive gate and trigger signal.

Okay, that's an oversimplification, but not by much. Altered States is a manual gate and trigger generator that allows you to generate gates and triggers, manually, by hand. The gates and triggers are not hand made, of course, those are made electronically by the circuit within, but you're in control of how and when they happen thanks to the buttons.

Operation is simple: the top button is latching, the lower button is momentary. Each button has three outputs: one which generates a gate when the button is depressed, one which generates a gate when the button is not depressed, and one that generates a trigger in response to the former. Use it to flip/flop between patches, trigger events coincident with turning something on or off, temporarily mute (or unmute) CV or audio, generate your own trigger patterns, the possibilities are limited only by your own creativity.

• Generates independent 5v gates in both button states (high and low)

• Generates a trigger upon button presses

• LEDs visually indicate the current state of any given output

All that, and in just 3hp - create syncopations, tap your way into rhythms, trigger events, flip/flop, trigger logic modules, and all of it by hand, giving you new creative options during performance. 

Did you know? During development, the module was called Pusher in reference to the Nicholas Winding Refn trilogy which takes place here, on Amager, where Herzlich Labs modules are hand-built in a torchlit cave on a saber-tooth tiger pelt, using hot rocks for a soldering iron.

OR? Or what, buddy?

Sometimes, you can’t have it all—it’s one or the other. That’s often the case with logic signals, like gates, clocks, and triggers, and mixing them can lead to unintended and undesirable side effects. The simple solution is the clever application of a bit of logic—OR logic.

An analog logic circuit designed for CV, clock, gate, and triggers.

Use it as a dual 3:1 logic, or leave Output A unplugged to use it as 6:1 logic.

It only passes the strongest current signal while blocking others.

It’s a passive design, so it draws no power from your case.

Trigger patterns, gates, clock, and all fall well in control with the OR. Use the fact that stronger signals take priority to your advantage and attenuate signals that you want to take less priority to build interesting patterns with this analog logic device.

Not experimental enough? Send audio through! You’ll get some very interesting harmonics as all negative waveforms are hard-clipped, and the strongest amplitudes will continuously take precedence over other inputs. You may just discover sounds no one had dared dream of.

What you do now is up to you—or is it?

Choppy waves. Calm waves. Square waves?

Listen, there's a reason why if you go out to the sea that the waves out there aren't square, okay? Nature doesn't like to expend energy like that. Nature prefers the path of least resistance. Nice, round sine waves. But not you! You like to expend energy on making cool wave shapes, don't you? Well, I have good news for you - while energy credits are not yet an option, you can expend money to get cool wave shapes right here, thanks to the modestly sized High Sea passive waveshaper.

It also works like a passive VCA, sort of, if you connect it in reverse. It's very temperamental, and likes some audio and CV sources more than others. Your results may vary - or surprise you. It's first and foremost a fun little waveshaper, the other part is more of a cute oddity the same way that a benign but conspicuous growth on your arm can be a good conversation starter at a party.

• Fold and bend wave forms into new, exciting shapes

• Create delicious harmonics where there previously were none

• Connect it in reverse to unleash it's powers as a VCA (terms and conditions apply)

• Passive design: draws no power from your case

The Pivot is a simple module, dedicated to doing one thing really well: panning and balancing.

The long and smoothly controlled fader makes it easy to strike the right balance between the input and the two outputs, which continuously share each their portion of the input signal. With input buffering and a dual-gang potentiometer, the signal for one channel will fully close at either extreme end and perform with perfect consistency when you need it most.

Use it for panning, wet/dry control, transitioning between different audio or CV destinations - or even just as an attenuator in a pinch. The Pivot isn't the most complicated panner and balance mixer on the market, but rock solid build quality, design and component choices make it a reliable companion in any performance setup.

Introducing the Cortisol Legend: a spiritual successor to one of my early designs, the Steroid Legend, it presents as 4hp of white hot saturation and hairy distortion, and features manual control over two op-amp driven gain stages, with a diode saturation control in the middle, giving you precise control over distortion ranging from smoldering saturation all the way into utter rail-to-rail fuzzification.

The First Aid Kit is here to be your first choice, regardless of whether you're picking out your first utility module, building a minimal system or expanding a large system, by offering a powerhouse toolbox built on the principle of "everything you need, nothing you don't."

Offering ten functions in just 8hp, you can feel assured that you are no longer likely to run into dead ends while patching, because you need just one more utility - no need to buy lots of specialized utility units either, which can be both costly and space ineffecient, as you get all in one with the First Aid Kit.