Duber

IFM-Style Dual Resonant Bandpass Filter

Another DIY hit from the house of Vaux… or is it? I mean, is it? It sure doesn’t look like something we’d craft – case in point, where’s the abstract vector graffiti? What about the incomprehensible text? And I thought most of our wares were named after some sort of odd pun in Spanish that only about three people get without extensive explanation, literary references and the acknowledgment that in the long run it really wasn’t that funny to begin with. Yup – none of that’s here.

So what gives? Two things, I suppose. First up, this is a collaboration with Wisconsin synth wizard CrucFX, created over our shared love and inspiration taken from the wares of one Pete Blasser. Second, speaking of said Blasser character, this particular creature is a Eurorack port of his nigh-legendary Duber filter, as rendered in IFM style and consisting entirely of commonly-found, through-hole parts for anyone looking to either expand their IFM-themed racks, or save themselves some space in their kit while traveling, possibly with the added advantage of not having to explain what the rough-hewn wooden box with the spikes driven into it is to your friendly neighborhood security agent.

To further elaborate for those still reading and possibly without a clue about acronyms and name-checking, here’s your technical readout: It’s a dual (resonant) bandpass filter, hence the names. Du, as in dual, B as in bandpass, Er, as in filter. I’m sure someone well-versed in the lore of Peter B will undoubtedly tell me about some illustrated dream he had, or how it’s linked to the sound of ancient cave bears or something, but hey, for a mnemonic, it works. On the input, you have three choices via any combination of filter 1, 2 or a summed mix of 1 and 2. Each filter has the usual center frequency and resonance controls and the output has the same choices as the input. There’s also 4 CV inputs that can be pinged to begin animating the filters in some pretty funky ways. All said, it’s a pretty crunchy beast, not to mention unique. It’s definitely not for everyone, but for those interested in taking the plunge, it’ll definitely serve as a decent lab for exploration for a good second. Oh yeah, did we mention that there’s touch points on it as well? Because there totally is.

Also also, as it happens, this beast is totally DIY. If you want one, you’re gonna have to build it yourself. Or have a friend build it. Or buy one from a friend of a friend for an optimal, not-for-profit rate. At least on my end, I won’t be selling kits or leading workshops or anything like that – this is a straight labor of love as far as I’m concerned. If you’re looking for the quick and easy, CrucFX does have a slightly skinnier rendition of the same circuit on the vend and I’m sure he’d love your business, but in my hood, I’m providing only some files and advice free of charge.

https://vauxflores.com/electronics/duber/