Hexinverter Electronique

Notes: The Mutant Hot Glue is a versatile bus mixer for analogue effects chain design. The included analogue compressor offers series or parallel compression and a sidechain input, making it particularly well suited to drum processing. The voltage controlled distortion is based on ideas borrowed from the guitar pedals responsible for a lot of yesterday's acid style techno sounds, but improved over the guitar equivalents, and made specifically for synthesizer and drum processing. The distortion can be used in its default position, normalized to the effects send, or like every other part of the module, broken out and used elsewhere in your modular system.

Features

4 Channel Mixer with Effects Send

4 input channels, each with their own level and effects send control
Channel A mixer bypass switch and dedicated output for easy sidechain compression
Channel B is dual input, but shares level/send controls (for dual output modules, like the Mutant Hihats)
Channel C+D summed output
Main mixer output normalized to compressor input

Hi-Fidelity Analogue Compressor

Soft-knee compressor based on the same family of premium audio ICs used in some 500 Series studio gear
Dedicated threshold and compression ratio controls
Gain control dials in up to +40dB of compressor make-up gain
Compressor sidechain input for creating pumping effects
LED indicator actively displays the amount of compressor gain reduction

Voltage Controlled Analogue Distortion

A classic distortion topology reborn for modular analogue synthesizers and drum processing
In/Outputs are conveniently normalized to the module's send and return jacks
Blend control lets you adjust the mix of distorted and clean input signal
Fast responding CV input allows for complex modulation patterns and even modulating with audio signals

By default, the 4 channel mixer's output conveniently feeds into the compressor's input, giving access to easy New York style parallel compression by way of the compressor blend control. The dedicated output and mixer bypass switch for channel A allow you to use it as a sidechain source for the compressor. An effects send and return allow you to create complex effects routings within your modular system. With the number of excellent DSP and other effects modules on the market today, this makes it easy to combine modules to great effect, all within the eurorack modular domain.

Redesigned by Erica Synths in close collaboration with Hexinverter. Minor alterations were made in mechanical assembly and digital controls to address Erica synths manufacturing routines and chip shortages, but the analogue signal path is 100% identical to the original version.

In September 2022 Stacy Gaudreau - the founder of Hexinverter Electronique, announced closing down the operations. Following their announcement, Erica Synths in cooperation with Hexinverter Electronique saw a way for their incredible and truly unique music instruments to keep on inspiring musicians and finding a home in countless studios to come.
The effort and innovation incorporated in Hexinverter Electronique eurorack modules are far too great to prematurely become history. Erica Synths will take over the manufacturing, sales, and support of several Hexinverter Electronique modules. While retaining all functionality of Hexinverter Electronique modules, Erica Synths redesigned the hardware of modules and will provide support for reissue modules only.

Technical specifications

Width: 24HP | Depth: 30mm
Current draw: +70mA, -70mA @ 12V

Notes: Building on the familiar dual VCO core arrangement of Carrier and Modulator, Mindphaser is a complex oscillator which departs from this bit of ancestral DNA with a modern toolkit focused on searing, phase-modulated leads, percussive basslines and other-worldly effects!

A diverse palette of intermodulation and harmonic experimentation is offered through the Modulation Bus, its unique Waveshaper and the dedicated Thru-zero Phase Modulation Bus. An intuitive interface provides colour-coded visual feedback and responsive indication while performing in dimly-lit environments.

Two precision analogue oscillator cores

Precision, wide-range V/oct ramp cores, each ranging from deep subsonic to supersonic frequencies (ramp cores, and not triangular, deliver the ideal waveforms for analogue phase accumulation in the TZ-PM Bus)
Each core generates fundamental waveshapes which interact and mangle one-another through the complex Modulation Bus and TZ-PM bus
Simultaneous waveform outputs for each base shape
Dedicated button to toggle between RAMP or SAW for each core, inverting the phase of the ramp output
V/oct, linear FM and exponential FM inputs which are all independent of the TZ-PM functionality. The Carrier's FM occurs inside the core itself, separate from the TZ-PM bus.
DC-coupled linear FM

Carrier

The heartbeat of Mindphaser, focused on audio-rate generation. Drives the WAVESHAPER and TZ-PM bus. This core's frequency range spans the audible spectrum.

- An external hard SYNC IN forcibly resets the core, useful for punchy sequences, percussive basslines and drum synthesis -- or to sync to another VCO.

- Coarse and fine controls conveniently span the audible spectrum. Ranges further with external CV.

Modulator

An extremely wide range oscillator, spanning from deep LFO frequencies all the way up to supersonic sound! Four base waveforms and diverse internal routing options form a versatile palette of modulations for the CARRIER to feed on.

- Activating hard SYNC on the Modulator locks its core to the Carrier's heartbeat. The effect can be dramatic. Try this while phase modulating!

- Octave RANGE switch lets you quickly flick up and down between octaves. All the way beyond audio-rate and LFO speed octaves. Perfect for experimenting with different PM sidebands and taming the wide frequency range of the Modulator.

- Manual PW (Pulse Width) control and dedicated CV input for PWM.

Waveshaper

This isn't a classic waveshaper! Developed anew from the ground up, this waveshaper is focused on deep harmonic experimentation and audio obliteration. Each waveshaper parameter is capable of being "turned up to 11".

FOLD up to 5 octaves above the fundamental Carrier frequency. A ceiling forms at maximum, imparting additional harmonics.

FEEDBACK the waveshaped and phase-modulated audio through a signal path internal to the waveshaper.

AMPLITUDE modulation spans thru-zero, allowing for full-range ring modulation effects with bipolar CV or audio signals.

CLIP the final stage of amplitude with the switch to introduce a last stage of harmonics before the complex signal exits through the final OUT.

Switchable inverting attenuators on each CV input, for quickly inverting the behaviour of your modulation. The indicator illuminates red to tell you the attenuator has been inverted.

Two distinct waveshaping modes

A press of the shape switch toggles Mindphaser between RAMPOID (green) and TRIANGULAR (yellow) waveshaping modes.

These modes have a remarkable effect on the behaviour of wavefolding and overall character of the final complex OUT, in addition to TZ-PM Bus character.

RAMPOID mode folds more asymmetrically, with raucous, buzzing harmonic artefacts as you sweep and introduce TZ-PM

TRIANGULAR mode folds more symmetric, splitting the complex sine wave at its peak centre of the waveform. TZ-PM character is less raucous, and more smooth.

TZ-PM Bus

Thru-zero phase modulation in the ANALOGUE realm! Unlike its digital counterpart, analogue TZ-PM has its own character we've come to expect from analogue circuitry!

A dedicated, voltage-controlled phase modulation bus completely separate from the Mod Bus
Modulator's SINE wave normalled to the PM SOURCE input
SOURCE input allows you to modulate phase with any signal you patch in
Dedicated voltage-controlled INDEX (amount)
Manual phase lets you zero in (or not!) on the base phase before introducing modulation
Independent of the Linear FM circuitry in the Carrier core

Mod Bus

The internal modulation powerhouse, normally fed by the Modulator core, but external signals are patchable as well.

Select from the PULSE, RAMP/SAW or SINE output of the MODULATOR, or inject your own SOURCE to the bus.

Voltage-controlled INDEX behaves like a macro control when combined with various amounts and polarities dialled in at each CV destination.

Internal sends include the Carrier's classic Linear FM, Amplitude, Feedback and TZ-PM Index, with variable amounts and polarities!

Modulator waveforms internally feeding the Mod Bus behave unipolarly, for predictable modulation of every Mod Bus destination, without external patching. By patching in one of the Modulator's bipolar waveform outputs manually (or any external signal), you can override this behaviour.

Dimensions
30 HP
24 mm deep

Current Draw
110 mA +12V
100 mA -12V