NLC1059 Vactrol PiLL (White Magpie)

This is a simple circuit that is capable of making a wide variety of sounds. With a sequencer it can be used as a crude VCO, but fed other signals, such as from envelope generators and LFOs, it will sound like anything from a baboon with the squirts to a cheesy 80s video game laser cannon.

The name is drawn from the two main components that define the function and characteristics of the module. One is the vactrol which is a light controlled resistor, these have an interesting effect whereas there is always a time delay whilst the resistor changes its value – this is a good thing and has been exploited by many synth designers, notably Don Buchla. The PiLL is from a PLL – phase locked loop, this is a special purpose IC which contains number of subcircuits and usually used in radio and digital control circuits. It contains a VCO, logic gate and a phase detector = all fun stuff.

full kits include everything you need to build the module

On Demand Info

These kits and assembled modules are offered on demand, click the link to learn more.