Exay-One - Astrax

Exay-One steps onto the Eurorack scene with their debut module, Astrax, an unusual and cool-looking analog 4-channel interpolating scanner/panner. On one side, it functions as a Scanner, letting you smoothly morph between four separate input signals — be they audio or CV — into a single output. Imagine a crossfader with four points of origin, giving you granular control over the blend as you sweep through your sources or modulations.

On the other side you'll find the Pan section. Here, a single input signal is distributed across up to four individual outputs. While it handles standard stereo panning perfectly well, it's also terrific for quadraphonic duties. This allows you to position a sound source across four spatial points—front, back, left, and right — making it a great tool for immersive, quad setups and for injecting movement into a static mix. There are also attenuverters and offset controls to tame or exaggerate modulation depth. Of course, interpolating scanners have many use-cases, for instance, if you patch in a stepped CV signal you can make it function as a sequential switch, where the module will jump between signals rather than morph smoothly from one to another.

As we mentioned, Astrax has quite an unusual and compelling look to it. The module's faceplate incorporates deliberate cut-outs that expose parts of the PCB beneath, letting you peek into its guts. These open channels are where the LED indicators live, providing immediate visual feedback on the signals it’s currently handling. If you want some more inspiration of what this interpolating scanner is capable of, we suggest you take a look at the excellent demo videos on Exay-One's website! Overall, a terrific module that we like :)

Features:

• Two independent 4-channel bidirectional voltage-controlled interpolator sections (Scanner and Panner)
• Fully analog signal path
• Handles both audio signals and CV
• Scanner: Blends four inputs into one output
• Panner: Distributes one input across up to four outputs
• Includes attenuverters and offset controls for precise CV input adjustments
• Exposed PCB design with visible LEDs for signal monitoring
• Reverse polarity protection