Ahead of the 2019 NAMM Show, Erica Synths & Gamechanger Audio have announced the Plasma Drive – a ‘Tesla Coil-powered distortion effect’ for Eurorack systems.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

Plasma Drive gives you a new and previously unexplored method of achieving signal clipping in 16HP.

Instead of using LED circuits, transistors or vacuum tubes to produce overdrive, the Plasma Drive boosts audio signal to 3000V and transforms it into a series of continuous high-voltage discharges in a xenon-filled tube. In essence – you are playing a lightning bolt of electricity, and the electrical discharges produced by your instrument are instantly converted back into an analogue audio signal, producing a quick, responsive, and extremely heavy distortion with tons of unique character!

The Eurorack module Plasma Drive brings sounds of the Plasma Pedal to the next level.

As per Eurorack standards, we added CV control over distortion level and dry/wet mix, as well as octave up and 1 and 2 octaves down tracking oscillators that add even more harmonics to the original signal. Tracking oscillators can be switched on/off manually or via trigger signals.

The Plasma Drive module is powered via conventional eurorack PSU ribbon cable and the power consumption is around 150mA.

Features:

• Unique distortion effect
• CV control over distortion and dry/wet mix
• Assignable equalizer (pre- and post effect)
• 1 octave up & 1 and 2 octave down tracking oscillators

Pricing and Availability

The Plasma Drive is expected to be available Feb 20, 2019, priced at 310€. See the ES site for details.