Ritual Electronics - Aranea

Aranea from Ritual Electronics is a superb 5*5 Matrix Mixer.

Aranea from Ritual Electronics is a rare species because most other matrix mixers are 4 by 4. The general layout is dead simple and follows the same clear and functional aesthetics seen in their previous modules. You can never really go wrong with a matrix mixer as they are a serious and truly modular sound design tool.

The general layout of the Aranea follows that of a classic matrix mixer. It features five input lines (left side) that mix into five output columns (at the bottom), creating up to five different mixes from the same inputs. Each of the 25 knobs acts as a bipolar attenuator with a 1.2x gain (!). At the middle position, it stops the signal completely. This is achieved by custom designed potis and immensely important. Turn it left to invert the phase, or right to keep the phase the same. There’s also a handy AC/DC switch, which means that the Aranea is equally capable to handle CV as well as Audio mixing duties.  As feedbacks are an imporatant component of matrix mixing, there is also a (soft)limiter engaging at 14 V pp to tame these. Of course you can also intentionally drive your signals into limiting/distortion.

Aside from the outputs below each column there are also 4 special combination-outputs between the main ones. There are combined outputs for columns A+B and D+E, and diagonal outputs (either from top left to bottom right or vice versa). With so many ways to route your signals you can come up with quite a few uses for it. It could serve as the main control center for a large patch, create complex feedback patches or as a way to experiment with additive and FM-synthesis by routing multiple sines through Aranea. Obviously it can also serve as a simple multi-channel audio mixer too!

This Aranea is so simple …and so complex. It has so many use-cases. If there is space in your rack, this module by Ritual Electronics is a top recommendation.

Features:

• 5x5 active matrix mixer
• Handles both audio and CV
• 5 inputs, 5 main outputs, and 4 special “combo-outputs”
• 25 Attenuverter knobs with phase control and 1.2x gain
• Soft limiters on outputs
• AC/DC mode switch