Kilpatrick Audio Phenol Synthesizer Video Overview

phenol

Kilpatrick Audio has shared a series of videos, embedded below, that demonstrate the various features of the Phenol Synthesizer:

The video series covers the Phenol synthesizer’s oscillators, filters, voltage-controller amplifiers, envelopers, LFO, adder, divider, MIDI to CV functions and mixer.

Specifications:

  • Banana patch system with colour-coded jacks and voltages compatible with Kilpatrick Format and other modular systems
  • Two analog VCOs – triangle, ramp and pulse outputs
  • Two analog filters (low pass and high pass)
  • Two analog VCAs with level control
  • Two envelope generator / LFO combos with many unique features
  • An LFO with sine and random output
  • Internal MIDI to CV converter with DIN and USB MIDI interfaces
  • Built-in MIDI sequencer / looper
  • Compact mixer with digital delay with over 330ms of delay time
  • Digital pulse divider – divide MIDI clock or LFO output to create 4 musical time divisions
  • Buffered mixer / mult / inverter with level control
  • External audio input allows a stereo input to be patched like an oscillator signal – process your drum machine or other source through the system
  • Rear panel connections / controls:
    • USB-B port for USB MIDI connection to a PC / Mac
    • Headphone and line outputs (1/4″ jacks)
    • Power button
    • DC power input – 2.1mm coax – centre positive 24VDC
    • Ground banana jack
    • External input (1/4″ jacks)
  • Approx. dimensions: 15.8″W x 8.8″L x 2.5″H (including feet and knobs)
  • Weight: 5lbs (2.27kg)
  • Universal input power supply (100-240V) included (shipped with North American plug)
  • Designed and made in Canada using high quality parts
  • Warranty: 1 year

The Kilpatrick Audio Phenol Synthesizer is priced at US $849 and is expected to ship in June. See the KA site for details.

9 thoughts on “Kilpatrick Audio Phenol Synthesizer Video Overview

  1. Great looking and sounding device. Boring ass demo. Why are modular demos so boring? I get that people want to hear the oscillators plain, but come on. Show us what what can be done with just this unit, when a master is at the controls. Give us something to aspire to, and you we will give you our attention.

    1. There are musical demos too for Phenol.

      Technical videos like this are useful too for the people really interested in the synth.

      There are a lot of technical demos in the modular world, that is true, but the people who actually use them are specially interested in the technical aspects of the modules when looking for something new, they know how to use them for their own musical taste.

    2. yeh i dont understand why people dont do more contextual demos where they A-B what the unit sounds like in the mix, and solo, and so on… also in the context of some actual music, because its really helpful – but also its more enticing if you are trying to sell units, or show what they are really capable of

      if you are trying to give a lecture, then its different of course

  2. Sure but as these units will be shipping shortly after a 6 month wait since Kickstarter campaign. I think they are producing some instructional videos for people who are like me purchasing their first piece of modular gear, and will need something like this to get started.

  3. Anyone knows how will this interact with an Analog Keys/Four from Elektron?

    These are banana conectors, not 3,5mm mini-jacks. Can this be used with Eurorack modules?

  4. I would just for once like to hear them do a tune – an actual bit of *music* – on one of these snazzy little synths. Instead, all you ever get is somebody making boops and beeps and generating a lot of noise. And I’m not just referring to the above – which is a technical demo.

    Go to Youtube and the so-called performance pieces sound a lot like the above. It’s always some twit with a zoned-out expression endlessly tweaking knobs while sonic garbage comes out of the speakers. (“Man I’m really expressing myself! What? You think it’s noise? Well…you obviously don’t “get” electronic music!”)

    Can any of these people actually play anything? Or do they just do that aleatoric nonsense in the hopes somebody will think them “boldly innovative” and ” courageously experimental” ?

    If I want to hear a 2-year old’s tuneless noodling I can turn my sister’s kid loose on my lab wave generator and call it a day.

    1. In all fairness that selection of video’s are there to augment the actual release manual for beginners, explaining basic functions and patching to get people up and running.
      You can view them all in context right here http://www.kilpatrickaudio.com/?p=phenol-manual.
      Perhaps it would be helpful if you actually looked at them within their intended contextual framework before making comments about “aleatoric nonsense” but I digress.
      10 brownie points for the vocabulary used though 😉

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