Back to navigation


Seize and Sculpt the Sound of the Fourth State of Matter





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Gamechanger Audio is no stranger to cutting-edge sound design, bringing a mad scientist element to the world of Eurorack, much to the delight of Sweetwater’s premier synthesists. Light, lasers, and plasma are common sonic-sculpting tools for the Latvian innovators, but you can now transform the fourth state of matter directly into sound with the Plasma Voice Synthesizer Eurorack module. Coming in at 3U at 16HP, Plasma Voice boasts a multimodal architecture, deploying digital synth engines to modulate the proprietary plasma tube driver. At the same time, CV values of the analog VCF and VCA are digitally attenuated. Extensive interfacing controls and CV connectivity are accompanied by detailed MIDI operation and multi-CV capabilities for unmatched sound design with its versatile sound bank. Toss in a 2-band boosting and cutting EQ and a drive circuit to take Plasma Voice’s temperature to scorching values.





Related Videos: Plasma Voice Synthesizer Eurorack Module





NOW PLAYING:


PLASMA VOICE OVERVIEW | GAMECHANGER AUDIO





Intro to Eurorack Synthesizers with Daniel Fisher





Modular Synthesis ? Where to Start? - Daniel Fisher


Harnessing lightning for Eurorack





Those familiar with Gamechanger Audio may be aware of the company's previous plasma-fueled devices, but the guitar, Eurorack, and rackmount permutations utilize plasma as a medium of distortion (an impressive feat in itself). Plasma Voice differentiates itself by way of GCA’s proprietary plasma tube driver capable of producing sound entirely on its own. Digital synth engines comprise a complex nexus of sound-shaping elements, modulating the sample pitch, sub-octave, pulse-width, and frequency of the tube driver’s sound, alongside cross-mod wavefolding, and envelope time-stretching. High-voltage electrical discharges between two electrodes housed within xenon-filled tubes are converted to analog audio signals with a meticulously designed rectifier circuit. The end result is a collection of 49 electrifying sounds spread across seven banks: Bass, Lead, Pluck, Drum, Metal, Static, and Spark. Of course, these are just your building blocks. Sonic control runs far deeper with Plasma Voice.





Tone crafting and sound shaping





If digitally-controlled plasma wasn’t enough of a curveball, the module’s VCA and state-variable VCF both feature analog circuitry whose internal control voltages are also digitally controlled. The 12dB/Oct filter includes both low- and highpass options alongside a resonance amplifier, while the 2-band EQ lets you selectively cut or boost frequencies in the Bass and Treble ranges. You’ve also got a soft-clipping drive circuit perfect for gritty leads, snarling basses, and voltage-controllable expression. Pitch can be toggled in octave-sized increments, and you can even adjust the central pitch value to suit your sonic exploration. GCA spared no effort in providing expressive tools beyond external modulation sources, spanning five Trigger modes (trigger, gate ,loop, oscillate, and on/off) and seven Accent modes (accent, duck, starve, CV freeze, pitch jump, reverse, and burst).





Modular connectivity with MIDI, CV, and endless detail





Armed with 49 distinct presets, Plasma Voice all but demands that you push the boundaries of each one into previously unexplored sonic terrain, and the module’s comprehensive CV connectivity makes for detailed, evocative, and evolving tones, especially with the creative versatility of the module’s multi-CV assignment possibilities. Those looking for key-based control will be delighted to learn that Plasma Voice supports a bevy of MIDI information, including note, velocity, and CC values, as well as pitch- and mod-wheel control, Channel 10 General Percussion Key Maps, PC bank and sound changes, and PC settings changes. A 3.5mm MIDI input accommodates virtually any control source, and Gamechanger Audio includes a 5-pin DIN MIDI converter to help get you started.





Gamechanger Audio Plasma Voice Features:


16HP, 3U module delivers a first-of-its-kind synthesizer that uses digital synthesis engines and an electromagnetic discharge detector to convert plasma to sound


7 selectable sound banks house a total of 49 presets that can be near-endlessly modulated, manipulated, and explored for distinctive synthesis


Soft-clipping drive circuit delivers distortion in gritty, flexible shades


Onboard 2-band EQ lets you cut and boost bass and treble frequencies independently for detailed tone-shaping


State-variable VCF includes 12dB/Oct lowpass and highpass filter options with a resonance amp to increase sound-crafting control


Output VCA and VCF both feature digitally controlled analog circuits to provide iconic synthesizer stylings with modern, detailed control


Comprehensive MIDI and CV control means complex, nuanced sound design with deep interoperative opportunities in virtually any setup


5 trigger modes and 7 accent modes provide heaps of expressive possibilities native to the module’s proprietary plasma tube driver


Included 5-pin DIN to 3.5mm TRS MIDI adapter ensures streamlined connectivity with external devices and controllers