Ill-Studio, the Paris-based studio by Thomas Subreville and Leonard published a book called ‘Incomplete Inventory’ in 2019, which contains over 300 photographs capturing part of the endless collection of analog and digital machines from the DEEWEE collection,
I dive into the catalogue and dig into the instruments and gear that was photographed for the book by Maxime Verret.
This Blck_Noir is a “CR-78 inspired voice hybrid drum generator with filter and effects”. So it’s an analog drum synth for what’s called a ‘Eurorack’.
A Eurorack is a modular synth form, loved by amateurs and pros because these are compact hardware modules, with 3.5 mm mono jacks and uses cables for patching signals. You’ll find a large Eurorack in the control room of the DEEWEE studio.
So the Blck_Noir analog drum synth is inspired by the Roland CompuRhythm 78drum computer, which the Dewaeles own as well.
You can still order the Blck_Noir for about $399 / €335
Here’s some extensive information about the module:
Endorphin.es’ Blk_Noir is a 7-voice analog drum synthesizer in eurorack modular format. Though it uses Roland’s CR-78 as a point of departure, Blk_Noir is inherently darker, harsher, and deeper. Its discrete analog circuits are blended with unhealthy doses of spectral animation and digital noise, adding to its brooding character. Its voices consist of kick, snare, closed and open hats, tambourine, cymbals, and a metallic membrane. Kick, snare, and tambourine voices enjoy their own dedicated outputs, while open/closed hi-hats are summed through their own output alongside a cymbal/membrane output.
There’s also a summed master stereo output, which houses a resonance filter for a little extra flavor. Additionally, the module boasts an effects processor with 8 wicked algorithms for advanced sonic depravity. Combined, these features make Blck_Noir one of the most formidable percussion modules in all of eurorack. While it is suitable for dark techno and EBM, its comprehensive capabilities and inherent open-endedness mean it can easily find its way into any electronic music genre.
BLCK_NOIR FEATURES
- 7 analog drum voices
- Voices include bass drum, snare, tambourine, closed/open hats, metal, and cymbal
- Digital noise with spectrum animation
- Discrete analog sound generation
- Uses inductor coils in lieu of op-amps
- Integrated effects processor
- Aux input
- Firmware via audio
- Drums are suitable for all genres