Patching Panda - Blast

Patching Panda's Blast — Thoughtful Kick Drum Science.

After a year of carefully studying the DNA of kick drums, from acoustic bass drums to analog classics like the TR-909, Patching Panda has created a module that brings methodical precision to drum synthesis. The result is an exploration of what makes kicks work in modern electronic music.

The architecture of Blast feels quite straightforward and should leave little guesswork left. It starts with a 15Hz-125Hz sine oscillator. This is followed by two envelope generators that shape amplitude and pitch independently, with decay characteristics specifically tuned for natural-feeling results. Where many kick circuits opt for simple curves, Blast's envelope system implements a snappy initial decay that gracefully transitions into a gentler slope - much like acoustic drums behave in the real world.

A distinctive Body parameter adds harmonics that reinforce rather than cloud the fundamental frequency. This interacts beautifully with the onboard compressor and soft clipping circuit to create that sought-after combination of punch and sustained weight.

Blast isn't limited to just traditional kick sounds. A thru-zero FM input opens up a path to metallic textures, while the amplitude modulation can create other forms of complex timbral variations. There's also an accent input that affects both volume and timbre which can bring subtle variations to repeated patterns.

Modulation options are comprehensive without being overwhelming. Key parameters accept CV control, and the 1V/oct input enables precise melodic bass patches.

A thoughtful detail — the compression stage of Blast includes soft clipping which helps your kicks stay punchy without ever getting harsh. The sum of all these these thoutful additions is what makes Blast feel like someone really thought about how people actually use kick modules.

Features:

• Analog Kick Drum Module
• Tunable sine oscillator (15Hz-125Hz)
• Independent pitch and amplitude envelopes with CV control
• Wave folding with dynamic response
• Soft-clipping compression
• Thru-zero FM input
• Amplitude modulation
• Accent input affecting all parameters
• Body control for harmonic enhancement
• Manual trigger button
• Multiple CV inputs for deep modulation options
• 1V/Oct input for melodic use
• Clean, punchy output