Bastl Instruments

Aikido VCA mixer - Bastl Instruments

Aikido is a performative quad VCA mixer with flexible submix routing and two styles of integrated envelope followers. Clever normalization allows ready-to-go si

 

Aikido VCA mixer

Aikido is a performative quad VCA mixer with flexible submix routing and two styles
of integrated envelope followers. Clever normalization allows ready-to-go sidechain
compression, expansion, and rapid routing experimentation.

Clickless mute switches and level faders make for immediate performability, while dedicated
attenuverters on each channel make Aikido a powerful and flexible quad VCA. 

The main mix output is accompanied by individual VCA outputs with patch-programmable
cascading mix routing. 

The Side Chain envelope follower offers 3 different response curves, while the Spectral
Follower can be set to focus on treble, mid or bass frequencies.

General features:

  • 4 VCA channels, each with:
    — clickless mute with light indication
    — level fader with 6dB boost
    — CV input with attenuverter
    — input (DC coupled)
    — output (DC coupled) cascaded mixing
  • Mix output (AC coupled)
  • Side chain envelope follower
    — input (normalized to A input)
    — output (normalized to CV inputs)
    — switch to select response time
  • Spectral envelope follower
    — input taken from Channel D output
    — patchable output
    — switch to focus the follower to low, mid, or high frequencies
  • Backside jumpers
    — select whether direct VCA outputs are pre/post Mute
    — cascaded mixing input and output (joins 2 Aikidos to 8 channel mixer)
    — main mix input and output (for chaining the normalized MIX outputs), chainable with BUDDY

Specifikations

  • 11 hp
  • PTC fuse and diode protected 10pin power connector
  • 24 mm deep
  • current consumption: +12V <120 mA, -12V <120 mA

User Guide and manual for Bastl Aikido PDF (bastl-instruments.com)