Synth-pop pioneer Vince Clarke, in collaboration with Analogue Solutions, has announced the release of the Imaginator VCX-378 – a new module that he describes as ‘a practical writing tool’ that can generate musical patterns, based on user-controllable variables.
Housed in a 36 HP-width Eurorack module, the Imaginator VCX-378 has a front facia-located one-octave ‘keyboard’ — with each ‘note’ having a push button and associated LED — alongside two Quantize sections, Octavize and Transpose sections, a Velocity treatment, plus internal (Sequencer) and external (Midi/Clock) clocking, as well as a full MIDI interface.
In most cases, users will want to sync to their sequencing software by sending the Imaginator VCX-378 a MIDI note clock. The Imaginator VCX-378 references these notes and uses this information to clock the musical patterns it produces. The resulting patterns can be used ton control soft synths or hardware synths.
Here’s an intro to the module from Vince Clarke himself:
“For full operation of the unit, I suggest you make yourself a nice cup of tea and watch the user video,” says Clarke. “Thanks for watching… and now I must get back to my day job.”
Here’s the video manual:
The Clarke Imaginator is available now, for £349, from the Analogue Solutions site.
It’s a Eurorack module… with no CV other than a clock input? Odd.
Yeah, it’s really weird. A Euro module that would rather be a Max patch, according to their reference setup. Nifty little MIDI box, but no reason this couldn’t have been ‘rack optional.’
But is it eurorack?
I see only one minijack input..
Maybe there’s some expander coming later with more eurorack connectors?
Bra – did you even read the headline, read the article, or watch any of the videos?
It’s definitely a Euro module.
Hey pull the reins there, bra! Don’t be a kook, Jert. This ain’t a paddle battle, it’s a conversation. Tommy’s comment may seem bogus but maybe he’s been raked over one too many times. The Imaginator looks pretty rad, though.
Modular can haz something besides bleep and bloop?!? Woot!
The automatic Vince Clarke. Well, to whom it may concern.
I have great respect for his work, but do not aim to copy him. So….
I like what this box seems to be doing, but If they’re not going to give it CV outputs, I think I’d prefer it as software.
Typical talking video. We want the real stuff in action guys!
This thing is definetly not a music writer. It seems like a very poor equipped sequencer.
i´m totally underwhelmed by this module 🙂
i use DroidBeat Synth for android or BitWiz Audio Synth for ios for this “type ” of thing
i respect Vince Clarke to much to copy him
It may be the beginning of a series of Eurorack modules only geared towards controlling MIDI synths but can be sync’d to modular gear. The Eurorack is a great platform to host non-CV tools. It’s readily available, cheap, has a lot of casing options. Why not also use it for other stuff? or are some of the modular synthesists here are nothing more than ultra-conservatives? 😉
PErsonally, I’d definitely consider a set of MIDI modules that I could use to sequence hardware synths creatively without using a computer.