L-1 Eurorack modules
L-1 Quad VCA
> L-1 is a modular synth company based in Belarus with a reputation for some solidly built, useful modules, including their tuner module.
As the adage says, you can never have too many VCAs so I thought I would take a look at their quad VCA (followed by a review of their Tube VCA), which seems like the best balance between rackspace (it’s 14hp) and ability.
Typical to the rest of the L-1 range, this module has a 2mm thick front panel, with black graphics. Nothing fancy here and in my opinion that’s a good thing, as required skill as a lexicographer can halt the musical process with some modules. Absolutely no head scratching needed.
The module is pretty straightforward but offers all you need from a VCA. It can be used as a straight audio mixer if you want and, if that’s your intended use, it comes up trumps with outputs for each channel, paired channels, as well as a summed output, so routing options abound. For complex routing of signals this can be really handy and will negate any need for splitters, mults or stackcables.
Each channel can be individually CV controlled, meaning you can set a mod source very easily and this module then becomes not just a third hand but a fourth, fifth and sixth too.
For an extra level of versatility there is a recessed strip of dip switches that can allow you to define whether you’ll use linear or exponential curves.
There aren’t many visual thrills but for an excellent quality, versatile set of VCAs you get great quality, solid build and all the options you could want from this kind of module. VERDICT 8.0
L-1 Tube VCA
> As with the other L-1 module reviewed here the 1Ж24Б is a solidly built module with a clean and easy to read fascia, perfect for a session in a dingy club or a darkened studio. Construction is excellent, with easy access to change the tube/valve should you need to.
When talking about VCAs in Eurorack terms we generally think of them less as amplifiers and more as modulation controllers, but the 1Ж24Б, while capable of those tasks, is definitely more of what, say, a guitarist might consider an amplifier.
It takes an input signal and passes it through a Russian tube, adding variable levels of gain and grit. I’ve used similar modules and they do have a tendency to sound harsh but not so the 1Ж24Б, which exudes warmth, like adding a distortion pedal in front of a high gain power section.
The break up can be gentle, but it does always colour the sound somewhat, right through to fairly blistering tones but always remains controllable, either by knobs or by CV, so it’s easy to add to your modular rig.
To finish things off, the two ins, CV in and the output are teamed with a switch which toggles between negative and positive clipping, which helps you define the range of the gain, a helpful tool, which keeps the signal chain neat.
I’m a fan of the utilitarian aesthetic and, with this module, it perfectly fits the thick, warm, saturated drive you might want from this type of module. Build quality is excellent and the sounds are sublime, if you like clear but gnarly overdrives. It works well in many situations but I can see it being the best tool for processing incoming audio, or for drone tones and beefing up ambient sections. Rob Redman VERDICT 8.0
As the adage says, you can never have too many VCAs…