Sounds from the Edge: Hexinverter Mutant Rimshot Brings Classic Rimshot Sounds to Modular

The Mutant Rimshot is an analog rimshot and clave percussion synthesis module inspired by analog drum machines of the past

08/20/2024

Riga, Latvia, August 20, 2024 — Erica Synths announces availability of the latest, recently redesigned Hexinverter module for Eurorack: Mutant Rimshot. Following the successful re-launch of other Hexinverter modules including Mutant Hot Glue, Mutant Brain and Mutant Machine, Mutant Rimshot retains all the functionality of the original module including its all-analogue signal path, while adding additional features.

The Mutant Rimshot is a rimshot and clave percussion synthesis module inspired by analog drum machines of the past. Like the other Mutant Drums, Rimshot is capable of going above and beyond vanilla sounds. The module contains expressive CV options, an external input and a multi-mode analog filter - allowing users to create unique percussion sounds in a modular synthesizer set up. 

Mutant Rimshot features

Three oscillator modes

Rimshot HI mode imparts classic rimshot sounds
Rimshot LO gives a lower pitch range; the filter on this setting can impart low tom and kick drum sounds.
CLV (Clave) mode uses just one of the oscillators, bringing a brighter, higher percussive sound.
A switch on the back lets the user select between original and extended pitch modes. Original mode can allow rimshot sounds modeling those of classic machines (in Hi mode), whereas extended mode gives a wider range of pitch, at the expense of classic accuracy.

Three filter modes

Use lowpass or highpass filter modes for classic sounding rimshots
Highpass and bandpass can give a wider range of clave and rimshot sounds, as well as completely different percussive elements (especially when turning the resonance up!)
VCF IN lets the user blend the clave or rimshot with other sounds. Adding filtered noise can bring a more acoustic sounding rimshot, or pseudo-snare type sounds.

Novel decay and filter mod controls

The MOD DECAY envelope controls the decay of the VCA envelope
The VCF MOD attenuverter allows users to modulate the filter cutoff with the MOD DECAY envelope
Alternatively, a switch on the back lets users modulate the filter cutoff with the pitch-controlled internal VCO, for filter FM style percussive hits.

A mainstay of electronic drums
A mainstay of electronic drums, the rimshot has a woody, staccato character that helps it cut through a drum mix. The clave, which recreates the sound a pair of wooden claves make when struck together, has a higher and brighter tonal quality. Mutant Rimshot is inspired by the rimshot found in the legendary 909 drum machine; a triple bridged-T oscillator coupled with a state variable filter. The clave sound is achieved by using just one of the oscillators.

As with the other Mutant Drums, Rimshot has been designed from the ground up to be fully integrated into a Eurorack modular system, with plenty of controls and CV inputs. Voltage control of pitch allows adjustment of the fundamental oscillator over approximately two octaves. Other parameters such as voltage controlled filter cutoff and resonance are present, allowing for distinctive and extreme percussive sounds.

Retaining Hexinverter legacy
In September 2022 Stacy Gaudreau, founder of Hexinverter Électronique, announced closing down the operations. Following their announcement, Erica Synths in cooperation with Hexinverter Électronique 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. Erica Synths believes that the effort and innovation incorporated in Hexinverter Électronique eurorack modules are far too great to prematurely become history and has therefore taken over the manufacturing, sales, and support of several Hexinverter Électronique modules. While retaining all functionality of Hexinverter Électronique modules, Erica Synths redesigned the hardware of modules and provides support for reissue modules only.

To learn more about the Hexinverter Rimshot, priced at €160, please visit the Erica Synths shop: https://www.ericasynths.lv/shop/

About Erica Synths
Erica Synths team of visionaries, engineers and musicians have been working hard to bring you modules and instruments that will set your modular system apart from mass in terms of how it sounds, looks and functions.