Analogue Solutions has announced the Colossus AS250 Quartz range of add-on expanders.
Analogue Solutions is effectively parsing out the Colossus AS200 Slim into quarters to enhance existing Colossus systems or other modular synthesizers while also allowing for piecemeal purchase benefitting those wishing to build a complete Colossus system over time to spread the cost.
Analogue Solutions Colossus
The easiest way for electronic musicians to get their music onto Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, Tidal, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pandora, Twitch & much more! Click the banner above or the Go Button to save 7% off of your signup! GO!
Drawn And Quartered
As a range of add-on synth expanders, each Colossus AS250 Quartz has a specific set of general features and is named accordingly: AS250-VCO – comprising a bank of 12 voltage-controlled oscillators (OSCILLATOR 1 through to OSCILLATOR 12), plus two noise generators (NOISE GENERATOR 1 and NOISE GENERATOR 2), RANDOM VOLTAGE GENERATOR, SAMPLE AND HOLD, and a 31 x 15 ANALOGUE PIN MATRIX ROUTING panel; AS250-Scope – comprising four discrete voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCA 1 through to VCA 4), four envelopes (ENVELOPE SHAPER 1 through to ENVELOPE SHAPER 4), two low frequency oscillators (LFO 1 and LFO 2), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) OSCILLOSCOPE as standard or CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) OSCILLOSCOPE optionally available, and TOUCH KEYBOARD CONTROL / SEQUENCER; AS250-VCF – comprising eight voltage-controlled filters (with FILTER 1 through to FILTER 4 each of a SEM-type 12dB multimode design and FILTER 5 through to FILTER 8 each of a Moog-type 24dB low-pass design) with an associated VCA each, four envelopes (ENVELOPE SHAPER 1 through to ENVELOPE SHAPER 4), two spring reverbs (REVERBERATIONS 1 and REVERBERATIONS 2) with three real mechanical springs each, two RING MODULATORS, two SLEW LIMITERS, and a 31 x 15 ANALOGUE PIN MATRIX ROUTING panel; and AS250-Seq — comprising a 64-step analogue SEQUENCER (capable of operating in four different playback modes), four backlit moving-coil SIGNAL METERS, two JOYSTICKS, two MULTIPLES, MAIN MIXER, and two SUB MIXERS.
Each expander in the Colossus AS250 Quartz range features extensive patching capabilities with almost all parameters connectable via dedicated 3.5mm jack sockets, which when used in combination with those 31 x 15 ANALOGUE PIN MATRIX ROUTING panels — patch using (included) 3.5mm mono mini-jack leads to/from the synth circuits themselves to any matrix channels to be used, then patch using (included) red (10 k?) and black (0 ?) pins accordingly — allow signals to be easily split and sent to multiple destinations with minimal cabling. “It is impossible to test every combination of patch,” proclaims Analogue Solutions Founder Tom Carpenter, before adding: “Some patches might produce unusual but still interesting results, or you could get something not mixing or buffering in quite the way you expect.
All voice and modulation circuits involved in the construction of Colossus are 100% analog. In fact, Analogue Solutions even went so far away from digital technology that they avoided any MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) connections. Those who desire MIDI can turn to third-party MIDI-to-CV boxes or Eurorack modules to solve that riddle. That said, there are digital elements to the sequencer control involved in the AS250-Seq expander that are unavoidable, which makes the no-MIDI decision somewhat over-baked.
Each expander in the Colossus AS250 Quartz range is on the big side. Think large knobs controlling metal shaft potentiometers, multi-turn vernier-VCOs, and panel-dominating pin matrixes constructed from Swiss-made broadcast-quality signal routers. Reality has it that the Colossus concept is a no-expense-spared super-synth. Indeed, it is fair to say that high-quality-constructed synthesizers such as the complete’Colossus AS100 Classic or Colossus AS200 Slim, incorporating engraved wood cabinetry only come around once in a decade, comes at a cost. Thanks to the introduction of Colossus AS250 Quartz — effectively splitting Colossus AS200 Slim into quarters to create a range of add-on expanders enhancing existing Colossus systems or other modular synthesizers, piecemeal purchase benefitting those wishing to build a complete Colossus system over time to spread the cost is now an option.
