VARI-WAVE OSCILLATOR
A small Eurorack oscillator that packs a punch: that’s the best way to summarise Cycle 5.
At its heart lies a refined high-stability triangle core voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), with performance matching or exceeding that of much bigger and costly oscillator modules.
Instead of a coarse frequency knob, a 7-position octave switch is provided. This in combination with a perfect fifth transposition switch and factory pitch tuning, makes Cycle 5 an exceptionally straightforward and musical VCO to use: simply centre the fine tune knob, and the module will be instantly tuned to reference C.
Meanwhile, its dual precision volt per octave inputs add a great deal of versatility. For example, one could be used for pitch sequencing and the other as a generic exponential FM input, or both sequenced together for transposition effects—the dual inputs serving as a built-in precision adder.
Sporting all the classic waveforms, ranging from sine wave, triangle, saw and square/pulse, as well as a hard sync input and low frequency oscillator (LFO) mode, Cycle 5 makes for a real workhorse VCO. The novel trigonometric waveshaper results in a very clean sine wave, ideal for sub bass duty.
Cycle 5’s highlight however, is its vari-wave feature. By adjusting the vari-wave knob, the waveform on the matching output will smoothly morph from sine, to triangle, saw, square and finally a very narrow pulse. The vari-wave parameter can be CV controlled, up to audio frequencies for some intense timbres.
Equally at home as a modest modulation companion to big VCOs, as being in the spotlight in miniature or polyphonic systems, Cycle 5 might just be the most multi-talented tiny analogue oscillator yet.
- High-stability precision analogue triangle-core VC(LF)O.
- Octave and perfect fifth switches—all intermediate frequencies can be reached using the front panel controls.
- Dual volt per octave FM inputs.
- Outputs: sine, triangle, saw, square/pulse (PWM) and vari-wave, smoothly morphing between all waveforms.
- Reset (hard oscillator sync) input.
- Wide frequency range: 48 mHz (20 seconds) to 3.7 kHz.
- Don't waste time tuning: pre-tuned for 0 V = C.
- Impedance-compensated outputs with dual-colour vari-wave LED.
- Trim potentiometers accessible from the front panel.
- Precision-milled 2 mm anodised aluminium front panel with high-resolution, non-erasable graphics.
- Bullet-proof design: polarised power header and MOSFET protection circuit.
- Includes 16-to-10-pin Eurorack power ribbon cable.
- Premium mounting hardware: black screws, black nylon washers and matching hex key.
- High-quality components and assembly; designed and made in Belgium.
6 HP | +12: 75 mA, −12: 70 mA | JORC5