Erica Synths - Resonant Filterbank (Desktop)

The Resonant Filterbank is a desktop take on Erica Synths' Eurorack module of the same name, now in stereo and with a good deal more onboard. The basic premise is the following: ten fixed bandpass filters, each tuned to a set frequency from 29 Hz up to 11 kHz, with a fader for every band. Push a fader up to boost that slice of the spectrum, pull it down to scoop it out. It works a bit like a graphic EQ, but because each band can resonate, it colours a sound far more than a flat EQ would.

Under the analog filters sits a layer of digital control, and this is what takes it past a static filterbank. There are 20 LFOs and 20 envelope followers on board, enough to set individual bands moving on their own or have them track the dynamics of whatever you feed in. Alternate configuration modes turn the bank into a morphing multimode filter, and there are spectral analyzer and dynamic spectral compressor modes too. So it can sit still and shape a sound, or breathe and shift along your sounds.

When you turn the resonance up, the bands start to ring, at which point the Filterbank stops being a processor and becomes a sound source in its own right which is handy for no-input, feedback-style patches with no external signal at all. An analog gain stage lifts incoming signals by up to +24 dB, so guitars and other line-level instruments are fair game alongside synths, drum machines and a modular rig. Settings save to recallable snapshots, and since every parameter answers to MIDI CC, you can record fader moves straight into your DAW and play them back as well.

A very cool hands-on filterbank for the desk, nice for careful EQ work and ringing, self-playing textures alike.

Features:

• Desktop stereo analog filterbank with digital control
• Ten analog bandpass filters at 29 Hz, 61 Hz, 115 Hz, 218 Hz, 411 Hz, 777 Hz, 1.5 kHz, 2.8 kHz, 5.2 kHz and 11 kHz
• Filter slope of 17 dB/decade
• Dedicated fader per band for hands-on boost or cut
• Advanced configuration modes: morphing multimode filter, spectral analyzer, dynamic spectral compressor
• 20 independent LFOs and 20 independent envelope followers for animating bands and other parameters
• Self-oscillation at high resonance for use as a standalone sound source and no-input setups
• Analog gain stage boosting incoming signals up to +24 dB
• Works with synths, drum machines, modular gear, guitars and other line instruments
• Recallable user snapshots and presets
• Full MIDI control with MIDI CC support (record fader movements in a DAW)
• Stereo L/R in and out on 6.3mm jacks
• 5-pin MIDI In and Thru, USB-C
• Aluminium case