Quad Voltage-Controlled Resonant Bandpass filter (VCRBPF) / Waveshaper / Distortion / FSU unit

v3.2 Available for order – USD$350.00 + S&H

T-Shirt!

ordering info

2-2010 – A small cache of housings (brand new!) have been obtained and are in stock, so the r3.3 Quad PB is available on a build-when-ordered status.

Quad Plague Bearer r3.3

8-5-2009 – Short run of rev 3.2 currently in production.

These have the rev3.2 PCBs and the VC Gain CV jack.

8-15-2008 – Jack Options

I’ll learn how to write one of these days – I’ve mentioned this everywhere except here. The jacks shown in the pictures, or otherwise mentioned, are just the default option. Many have asked for alternate styles – if hey can fit, I’ll put them in. The three styles that I know will fit are: 3.5mm mini jack, 0.08″ tip jack, and banana jacks.
8-2009: 1/4″ jacks also fit – but only without multiples. Just one for each I/O.

7-8-2008 - v1.1 Available!

A cache of enclosures has been found, so v1.1 is now available. Differences from v1.0:

  • Minor PCB revisions
  • PSU changes
  • Patch panel is all 3.5″ mono phone jacks

6-19-2008 - New Samples!

We (plural for real this time) finally got around to pluggin some equipment into this thing! Here are some samples of us running
a bass and a guitar through this thing – He played them while I tweaked yon knobbies. The recordings were accidentally done at 22kHz
’cause I wasn’t paying attention and used the default recorder on Leviathan, my ancient battle-worthy laptop. I’ll do better next time.

Bass 1 2:06
Bass 2 3:03
Bass 3 1:23 Deep n’ Dirty
Bass 4 0:32 Fuzzy
Guitar 1 1:00
Guitar 2 0:58 Decent distortion
Guitar 3 0:33
Guitar 4 0:59 Crushing distortion
Guitar 5 1:00 I call this sample the “screamer”
Guitar 6 1:59 WE LOVE THIS ONE. Hellish distortion, towards the end it sounds almost like something is trying to talk to you in the background.

5-13-2008 – Meet the Plague Bearer.

front view

It is designed to infect, corrupt and pervert a signal beyond recognition. It contains four Voltage-Controlled Resonant Bandpass filters that were designed with the goals of maximum signal alteration and maximum parameter controllability. Each filter has controls for varying the high and low corner frequencies of the passband, as well as variable gain and an input attenuator. Each section of the Plague Bearer can be used as a filter, an oscillator, a noise generator, or even as a resonance oscillator!

Depending on the settings, the filter can be a lowpass, highpass, single-bandpass, or multiple-bandpass. Adjusting the resonance point can cause the filter to self-oscillate in many ways: By adjusting the controls to just below the point of oscillation, and then applying a pulse, square, or other abrupt-edged input signal waveform will “ring” the filter. A simple “click” on the input can give a percussive output sound – from bass drum to bell to a harsh metallic clang; Crank the controls up and this beast will scream like a banshee! The oscillation can be damped or continuous. Chain a couple in series and get accumulating feedback – the build-up can be slow, fast or instantaneous. White Noise is easy to do – you don’t even need an input signal! Turn the input all the way down, and then slowly turn the gain up. You can adjust the “color” of the noise with the frequency controls. Daisy-chaining multiple filters can give a “comb” or multi-phase noise. About phase-shift characteristics: A single filter can give a STRONG chorus effect if so desired, useful as a sub-oscillator or just to “fatten” a sound

The Plague Bearer’s patchbay is designed to fit the most patch options possible in the small space available. Each filter has four Input/Output (I/O) connections: High CV, Low CV, Signal In, and Signal Out. Each of these has two jacks, one 3.5mm phone jack for external signals to avoid floating grounds, and one 0.080” tip jack for internal patching between filters. Each pair is direct-connected as a multiple – NOT a summing node! I have found this setup to be the most fun!

For maximum flexibility, the Plague Bearer can run off two 9V batteries or a 12V.A.C. wall wart (U.S. wall wart included with unit*). The batteries are mounted externally in an unobtrusive location for ease of replacement. The power source is selected via the power switch.

Version 1 units are mounted in an extruded aluminum enclosure with aluminum panels. These enclosures are some of the best I have ever come across! This initial run will be of only FOUR (4) units! I’ll do another run in this style only if I can get more enclosures. I am constantly searching for more enclosures so, we’ll see!

Other views:

front left view front view front right view
back left view back view back right view

And the sound clips:

I tried to pay a little more attention as I recorded these this time. By the way – “playing around” means varying sweep rate, tweaking multiple controls at once, etc…
I thought about cleaning up the sound files but decided to put them up in all their nasty glory. WARNING there are sudden amplitude spikes sprinkled throughout!

  • Single Channel
    • Triangle signal:
      Control
      0:17
      Raw signal, 0-1kHz sweep
      Triangle1
      5:05
      Slowly turning knobs individually then playing around
      Triangle2
      3:14
      Same as Trangle1 but 1kHz-10kHz swept input signal
    • Square signal:
      Control1
      0:10
      		 Raw signal, 0-1kHz sweep
      Square1
      4:12
      		 Slowly turning knobs individually then playing around
      Control2
      0:06
      		 Raw signal, 1-10kHz sweep
      Square2
      1:09
      		 Slowly turning knobs individually then playing around
    • Saw signal and CV applied ( I had MUCH more fun here ):
      Control
      0:07
      		 Raw signal, 65Hz saw
      Saw1
      4:12
      		 Slowly turning knobs individually then applying square, triangle and sine waves to the High CV then Low CV
      Saw2
      2:20
      		 More CV fun! I varied the CV rate as well (still knob tweakin’ most of the time)
      Saw3
      3:17
      		 Yup, same here. I beleive I also varied the Signal frequency here.
    • Specific sound generation:
      Percussive
      1:40
      		 Using a very slow square input (<10Hz) and “ringing” the filter
      Noise1
      1:00
      		 A really quick noise example – no input signal.
  • All 4 channels in series:
      Carnage1
      7:25
      		 All channels in series, tweaking knobs, usw.
      Carnage2
      9:20
      		 I threw the works at it here, kind of long but it shows a lot of the phase-shifting and chorus-like effects.

*I only have U.S.-style wall warts, so I do not include one in overseas orders unless requested.

How to order:

Send flight an email via the contact page. We accept Paypal, credit and debit (via PayPal of course). The email address is also the PayPal address.

All orders must be pre-paid.
Price does not include shipping – email me with your location to get it calculated.

Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery

Dimensions: 6.25″ H x 6.5″ W x 3.5″ D. Weight: 2lbs.

Ships from Seattle, WA 98115 United States.