Following on from the recent announcement of the East Beast, for Superbooth Cre8audio has announced a companion instrument focussed on the West Coast method. In true Cre8Audio style nomenclature, West Pest, is a new semi-modular desktop synthesizer following the same desktop form as the EB.
Designed in partnership with ace analogue engineer Richard Nicol of Pittsburgh Modular, West Pest is a powerful monophonic full voice, integrating imaginative sound-shaping tools with traditionally "west coast" concepts.
We'll be making a b-line for it at NAMM in a couple of days - stay tuned.
In the mean-time, here's the details in their own words...
West Pest's unique sound has been influenced by Pittsburgh's acclaimed Voltage Research Lab synthesizer.
The Pittsburgh-designed core oscillator technology has matured through the development of their SV-1 and later with Voltage Research Laboratory. This iteration's waveforms have been optimized to be run through West Pest's wavefolder.
Wave folding/shaping is integral to West Pest's foundation. Wavefolding amplifies incoming waveforms. Rather than clipping or distorting, the wavefolder circuit folds the waveforms back onto themselves, creating upwards of six folds to add vast harmonic complexity and depth.
West Pest's snappy, responsive articulation is accomplished by the "Dynamics Controller," Pittsburgh Modular's original invention. This unique concept is designed to behave like a traditional filter, a VCA, and an envelope generator, all at once. Upon note trigger, the filter opens fully and rapidly, producing a sharp, percussive attack. At release, the Dynamics Controller adds a ringing, resonant decay, resulting in a rounder, more musical sound. The Dynamics Controller is the product of years of research by Pittsburgh's founder Richard Nicol, and Chief of R&D Michael Johnsen. Inspired by the developments of West Coast synthesis pioneer Don Buchla, Pittsburgh Modular has modernized and evolved these concepts, taking them into new realms, adding wider range, consistency, stability, and resonance control, as well as an infinitely variable, ringing decay.
Going beyond these analog sound-sculpting tools, West Pest also includes a deep new digital multi-mod /multi-function tool concept to add more flavor to the Pest's production. The multi-mod lets users select between additional clock synced LFO, decay envelope, MIDI-controlled modulation, and random voltage generator modes.
West Pest's compositional and performance capabilities are as robust as its ferocious sonic engine. West Pest can be controlled via MIDI, control voltage (CV/Gate), and its function keys, which double as a keyboard controller. Also included is an integrated sequencer & arpeggiator that can also be controlled via MIDI and is externally clockable.
A semi-modular synthesizer, West Pest has basically 8 different patchable modules (Oscillator, wave contour, dynamics controller, LFO, multi-mod tool, MIDI to CV converter, step sequencer, and button keyboard) with a whopping 18 Eurorack compatible patch points to plug into itself and your other gear. As a starting point, West Pest comes intuitively patched internally to create a bold and flexible full synth voice. Using the patch points enables users to reroute internal signal flow, as well as use with external eurorack format modules and synthesizers. To promote experimentation, Cre8audio has included a set of premium Nazca Noodles patch cables. West Pest key features and other info:
Pricing and Availability: West Pest is imminently available with an estimated street price of $249.99 / €249.99
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