RK5 Dual Lowpass Gate

Vacuum Tube Dual Lowpass Gate

Ever wondered if someone had invented the lowpass gate before Don Buchla did in 1970, what it might have been like? Especially in the 1950s when there were no “integrated circuits” or such? No one had the nerve or the hallucinatory drugs to think such a thing up. But it would have been easy. A cathode follower using the right tube, plus two linear resistive optocouplers (in those days they existed but used incandescent lamps and responded very slowly), and a few capacitors and resistors. Simple, yet it was never done. It was a miracle they had limiters in this days, and they weren’t very “good” limiters either. Tubes limit your choices but give good sound effects along the way.

Since part of our remit is to explore an electronic-music history that didn’t actually happen, one inevitable product would have been a lowpass gate. Our version is a dual unit, dead simple Sallen-Key filter with just input, output and CV input for each channel. The tube used is a “high-perveance” dissimilar dual triode, the 17JK8. It was apparently intended for use as a “cascode” RF front-end amplifier in cheap consumer FM radios. It must have been moderately popular because although we’ve never seen an example of its actual use, it is a commonplace NOS leftover item. We found it was ideal for use directly on the +-12 volt rails in a Euro modular as the plate supply, thanks to its high perveance and low plate resistance. Each channel uses one triode and two Silonex LED-based linear optoresistors. Because of the dissimilar triodes and differences in the opto devices, the two channels will sound slightly different and won’t match or track perfectly. If such a device had existed before Buchla, it would have been like that anyway. So it has “forgiving” distortion and a very slow decay time due to the high circuit impedances. Plus, some samples don’t cut the signal off completely down to negative infinity dB. Again, this is just what you would have gotten in the 1950s. It’s brute force, baby.

All specifications are approximate and may vary from sample to sample. Tube used: 17JK8 dual triode. The RK5 uses only 100 mA (200 mA briefly during cold power-up) from +12v and 2 mA from the -12v supply rail. We deliberately run it colder than usual for maximum lifetime. It should work with most available Euro power supplies, even the ones too small to run other Metasonix RK modules — but no guarantees, buy one and you’re a “pioneer of electronic music”. Input impedance (audio) is 100k ohms and output impedance is 3k ohms. (Do NOT attempt to drive a 600-ohm load.) The CV input requires a 3 mA driver; voltage needed is +2v or less for minimum gain and +5v for maximum gain (about 0.95).

(If the non-matching of the two channels and slow response bothers you, we can make a special custom unit with a matched dual triode and matched dual 5C3/2 Vactrol elements. It will be very, very expensive because the components have to be matched by hand—and many will have to be discarded. By the company owner, because no one else knows how to do it. Try the standard version before going down this road. It’s a rough dirt trail that will probably destroy your tires. OCD can be a terrible condition.)

The Metasonix RK-series of vacuum-tube modules is intended for use in any "Eurorack" standard modular synthesizer system. All RK-series modules are 8HP (40.7mm) wide and fit in any Doepfer(tm), Analogue Systems(tm), Monorocket (tm), or other compatible cabinet. They are powered entirely from the cabinet's internal +-12v dc power supplies, using Doepfer compatible 16-pin power connectors. Their circuits protrude behind the panel less than 31mm (1.2 inch). All vacuum tubes are NOS (new old stock) types from classic American and European manufacturers that are run very conservatively for long life, and are readily available from distributors. The 17JK8 tube protrudes from the panel for visibility and cooling, less than 40mm (1.58 inches), and unquestionably fits inside a Doepfer A-100 suitcase cabinet lid or into a Doepfer mini case or Monorocket case cover. All audio inputs and outputs and CV inputs/outputs are 100% compatible with other synthesizer modules. Each RK-module is fully protected against reverse supply voltage, overvoltage, undervoltage, or incorrect hookup to external equipment. So don't worry! As with all our products, the RK series is totally handcrafted in Northern California, USA.

http://metasonix.com/index.php/rk5-dual-lowpass-gate-new