Back to navigation


Elevate Your ART: Eurorack Synthesis, Evolved





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Since its inception, Eurorack modular synthesis has remained synonymous with the future, representing a space of infinite possibilities where mortal and machine converge, transcending the limits of nature and sound. Tiptop Audio founder Gur Milstein devised the ART system to answer the question that’s pained Eurorack synthesists at Sweetwater and the world over: what comes next? ART comes next, and Tiptop Audio’s ART Analog Bundles provide seasoned synthesists and newcomers alike a comprehensive entry into the evolved ecosystem of ART-fueled Eurorack sound, supplying unmatched levels of control, expression, and performance for stage and studio settings. Each bundle’s foundation comprises a triptych of ART ATX1 analog oscillators alongside a MIX7 analog summing mixer, a Z2040 4-pole voltage-controlled filter, and an ART Control Path voice dynamics module. Because ART utilizes digital control signals that transmit detailed information, including pitch values, velocity, voicing priority, polyphony, pitch-bend, per-voice gate signals, and more, expressive, performance, and compositional possibilities are virtually limitless. Where the two bundles differ is your manner of control: MIDI or CV. This ART Analog Bundle features Tiptop Audio’s ART V/Oct Quantizer and Converter module as its central nervous system, allowing for 4-channel monophonic, multi-mono, polyphonic, and chord-based playback that includes multiple modes and scales, as well as a converter to effortlessly transform your 1V/octave CV signals into near-zero-latency ART information.





Note: ART signals are transmitted digitally and are not interchangeable with 1V/octave CV signals. ART inputs will not respond to CV signals, and MIDI usage is only possible when using ART signals in the ART mode. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer with any questions or concerns regarding the ART system or Eurorack compatibility.





Related Videos: ART Eurorack Modular Analog Bundle - S1 CV-controlled System





NOW PLAYING:


Welcome to ART





Understanding the ART signal





Intro to Eurorack Synthesizers with Daniel Fisher





Modular Synthesis ? Where to Start? - Daniel Fisher


ART V/Oct quantizer and converter





Tiptop Audio’s ART paradigm was developed to expand the compositional and performance possibilities of the Eurorack platform by introducing vectors of expression that ART’s innovative, detail-heavy digital control signals exclusively support. With Tiptop’s ART V/Oct Quantizer Eurorack module, a 4-channel link between standard 1V/octave modular synthesis and ART has been forged, shepherding positive, negative, and bipolar CV voltages into the realm of polyphonic, multi-scalar synthesis. At just 8HP, this dual-purpose converter and quantizer lets you directly compose with the ART oscillators’ distinctive sonic shades by connecting any Eurorack CV outputs to the ART quantizer. Whether you want four independent mono channels or up to four voices of polyphony, Sweetwater’s synthesists can confirm this ART module’s flexibility inspires them to reimagine the limits of modular synthesis by eliminating the voicing barriers of traditional setups. Each 1V/octave input includes an accompanying Gate input for note on/off, joined by seven onboard scales comprising Major, Minor, and five additional modes to expand the compositional scope of your ART experience across a 10-octave range.





ART ATX1 VCO analog multi-mode oscillator





Tiptop Audio’s ART ATX1 VCO serves as the foundational voice of any ART-infused Eurorack setup, boasting an analog architecture, four continuously variable waveforms, and a slew of sonic sculpting tools. But what has Sweetwater’s synthesists most eager to explore is its triptych of playback modes. From a singular input, the ATX1 can operate in ART, 1V/octave, or LFO capacities, each of which is indicated through color-coded LED feedback. What’s more, the ATX1 accommodates detail-heavy MIDI information, granting an unprecedented level of depth, control, and expression with ART-mode performances. Whether you’re new to Tiptop Audio’s ART ecosystem or simply looking to expand your Eurorack array to include ART capabilities, the ATX1 effortlessly bridges the past and present of Eurorack modular synthesis.





ART control path voice dynamics





For all the creative potential the ART platform offers, a solid foundation is necessary to explore this exciting terrain, and the ART Control Path Voice Dynamics module serves as an all-in-one tool for crafting detailed ART voices. Its comprehensive architecture includes dual analog ADSR envelopes, each of which features its own velocity CV jacks alongside gate inputs to synchronize with the gate outputs of your ART oscillators. Control Path also includes a VCA that’s internally connected to the righthand envelope, but it can be used with additional modules through its EG output. Sweetwater’s synthesists have found this to be incredibly useful for sound design ? specifically, patching the lefthand envelope to a filter module, then patching that module’s output to the ART Control Path’s VCA input. Of course, the patching possibilities are nearly limitless, and Tiptop Audio’s decision to outfit the module’s all-analog architecture with the iconic envelopes found in the OBX, as well as an SSI2164 VCA, augmenting its distinctive character. Finally, the 8HP module includes a pair of delay trimmers, safeguarding you from any issues that could result in your envelopes falling out of sync.





MIX7 eurorack analog summing mixer





With a total of seven inputs ready for all your Eurorack signals, the Tiptop Audio MIX7 analog summing mixer offers big creative potential. It's a summing mixer for any and all signal types you'll find in your modular synth rig ? audio, CV, trigger, and gate, the MIX7 is ready for them all. Your audio signals will remain pristine, thanks to low-noise op-amps, and your modulation options will be limitless once you experiment with mixing CV signals. Synthesists at Sweetwater agree: the Tiptop Audio MIX7 Eurorack summing mixer offers a lot of opportunity.





Z2040 4-pole VCF





Along with the oscillator, the biggest defining characteristic of any subtractive synth is the filter, and Tiptop Audio's Z2040 4-pole VCF module is a perfect way to inject your Eurorack synth with tons of personality. At its simplest level, this 4-pole lowpass filter delivers the creamy sonic shaping and fat resonance many of us here at Sweetwater seek out when building modular rigs intended to invoke a late-'70s/early-'80s Sequential Circuits vibe. The Z2040 gets even better when you patch in CV or audio signal to its four modulation inputs, which provide everything from standard FM control to gain, resonance, and FM signal modulation, making it an ideal VCF for complex synth systems.





Discover the ART of next-gen synthesis





What is ART? In short, it’s the next stage of Eurorack’s evolution. More expansively, it’s the brainchild of Tiptop Audio founder Gur Milstein, marking a groundbreaking, open-spec control signal technology that expands the sonic scope of modular synthesis possibilities. Utilizing ART-capable modules allows synthesists and sound designers to explore complex modular terrains, including polyphonic Eurorack synthesis and inventive modular arrangements through paired gate or velocity outputs. Because ART modules utilize Eurorack signal levels for both oscillator audio and CV/gate controls, alongside sharing the same power connectors, these can be seamlessly intermixed with standard Eurorack gear via 3.5-millimeter patch cables. Unlike the Eurorack-standard 1V/octave model, ART signals transmit multiple dimensions of information with near-zero latency, including velocity, modulation, and pressure values, as well as precise pitch information.





At its core, the ART signal replaces the prohibitively tricky, time-consuming, and creatively stifling method of tuning modules with 1V/octave CV. Select ART modules feature innovative connectors that utilize Tiptop Audio’s custom-developed Polytip patch cables, directly enabling polyphonic performances via lightning-fast transmission of detailed information between modules. So, why create with ART? This framework unlocks the full potential of the Eurorack modular architecture by solving the artistic, harmonic, and structural woes that were an inevitable outcome of the space’s nascent technological limitations. In other words, ART expands Eurorack without compromising the spirit that’s inspired countless musicians for decades, producing exciting vectors to summit the previously insurmountable heights of modular synthesis.





Tiptop Audio ART Analog Bundle Features:


Comprehensive bundle provides everything needed to explore the ART paradigm and expand your Eurorack array with unprecedented expressive possibilities


ART V/Oct quantizer/converter module lets you dive into the ART ecosystem straight from your existing Eurorack modules via CV for monophonic, multi-mono, polyphonic, and chord playback


ART system uses digital signals that allow for multi-mono and polyphonic playback, supplying detailed information like velocity, pitch, MIDI CC, and more for unparalleled performances


Each ART signal is accompanied by a per-voice gate signal to maximize expression without compromising multi-voice clarity as you weave ART throughout your Eurorack setup


Trio of analog oscillators supports immense monophonic and polyphonic compositions while accommodating ART, 1V/octave, and LFO signals for seamless interoperative integration


Control Path module includes ADSR envelope generators and gate/velocity information for all-in-one voice-building


MIX7 summing mixer and Z2040 VCF enable advanced sound design with plenty of headroom and distinctive aural character for comprehensive ART-fueled synthesis