Monowave
Encyclopedia
The MonoWave is a monophonic 2U 19" rack synthesizer
by Modulus Electronics, UK.
user/fan meeting. Because its attraction to some synthesizer players at the event, the project was started with 5 beta test units to test the software and hardware
. By spring 2002 the serial production of a 25 piece limited run started. About a year later all units were sold.
Late in 2005, after many attempts at designing new products, Paul decided to close Modulus Electronics and its website (modulus-music.com).
In order that people could still enjoy the Monowave he worked with Elby Designs to create a kit version of the monowave, with the same features. The software was released at the same time under the GPL license, in the hope that others would continue to develop its features.
oscillators with 256 different waveshapes selectable individually. There is also a unique de-res, a function to lower the digital waveshapes' sample resolution, to give a sound very much like the famous German PPG wave synthesizers from the eighties. The signal of these oscillators and their suboctave signals are mixed together and then feed in the pure analog part of the synth:a 24 db lowpass filter a la Moog synthesizer
. and a VCA
. Both of them controlled by their own ADSR envelopes.
Depending on the EEPROM
software, it may either have an arpeggiator or a midi velocity to wavenumber function.
The MonoWave has no patch memory. It can be played by ingoing MIDI signals from software, sequencers
or MIDI keyboards
.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
by Modulus Electronics, UK.
History
This synth was first shown 2001 by its inventor Paul Maddox on a PPGPalm Products GmbH
Palm Products GmbH was a highly-regarded manufacturer of audio synthesizers. Founded and owned by Wolfgang Palm, PPG was located in Hamburg, Germany and, for 12 years from around 1975 to 1987, manufactured an acclaimed and eclectic range of electronic musical instruments, all designed by Palm.-...
user/fan meeting. Because its attraction to some synthesizer players at the event, the project was started with 5 beta test units to test the software and hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
. By spring 2002 the serial production of a 25 piece limited run started. About a year later all units were sold.
Late in 2005, after many attempts at designing new products, Paul decided to close Modulus Electronics and its website (modulus-music.com).
In order that people could still enjoy the Monowave he worked with Elby Designs to create a kit version of the monowave, with the same features. The software was released at the same time under the GPL license, in the hope that others would continue to develop its features.
Features
It features two digitalDigital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
oscillators with 256 different waveshapes selectable individually. There is also a unique de-res, a function to lower the digital waveshapes' sample resolution, to give a sound very much like the famous German PPG wave synthesizers from the eighties. The signal of these oscillators and their suboctave signals are mixed together and then feed in the pure analog part of the synth:a 24 db lowpass filter a la Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
. and a VCA
Variable-gain amplifier
A variable-gain or voltage-controlled amplifier is an electronic amplifier that varies its gain depending on a control voltage .VCAs have many applications, including audio level compression, synthesizers and amplitude modulation....
. Both of them controlled by their own ADSR envelopes.
Depending on the EEPROM
EEPROM
EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory and is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices to store small amounts of data that must be saved when power is removed, e.g., calibration...
software, it may either have an arpeggiator or a midi velocity to wavenumber function.
The MonoWave has no patch memory. It can be played by ingoing MIDI signals from software, sequencers
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
or MIDI keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
.
External links
- http://www.vacoloco.net/synths/monowave/ - the MonoWave pages, on Pauls own website.
- http://www.till-kopper.de/monowave.html - bi-language page by a MonoWave user, manuals author and beta-tester.
- http://www.elby-designs.com/monowave/monowave-about.htm - Monowave kit at Elby Designs.