Joy of Synths #19b Voltage Research Lab 2

VRL2 announced, feelings, in this non-musicians guide to creating sounds for podcasts, videos, and sampling for music using analog synthesizers.

May 15, 2024

Voltage Research Lab 2

This deals with the Voltage Research Lab 2, announced May 14, 2024 by Pittsburgh Modular (link to PM VRL2 site with full specs). This newsletter is a second part to Joy of Synths #19 May 1, 2024, which should’ve been #18. The May 1st newsletter dealt with the Voltage Research Lab, released in 2019.

PRICE, OR JUSTIFY MY LOVE

My initial assumption was the VRL2 would cost $1,500, basically $1000 for the top part and $500 for the controller. Its actual cost is…. $1999.99. In contrast, the original VRL (2019 Kickstarter link) should’ve retailed at $1599.99. Alas, a limited amount made it beyond the initial fulfillment of Kickstarter orders.

VRL2 is $400 more than VRL1. Don’t feel cheated. This new rendition is larger with a more complex controller. VRL2 has two updated oscillators. One uses the center clipping functions of the experimental module “Harmonic Interpolation Flamingo,” which sold in limited run for $175. The original VRL had one Primary Oscillator that sounds amazing, and a second oscillator that was for modulating the Primary Oscillator. It wasn’t a duplicate of the Primary Oscillator.

The VRL2 also adds the Local Florist Module (I think that was $299) and a bucket brigade delay called Echos. (VRL1 also has an analog delay). So if I were able buy the Local Florist and Harmonic Interpolation Flamingo modules, the number would be around $474.

RARETIES

To be fair, you can’t buy a VRL1 off the shelf. It’s a rare instrument that appears to have been placed in black boxes and wood panelling in Pittsburgh. The VRL2 is expensive and will not be rare as they are producing this through economies of scale in an overseas location.

So if you think there’s magic to boxing something in Pittsburgh, well, sorry to bring this to your awareness. Pittsburgh Modular is assembling their limited run modules in Pittsburgh and all their recent instruments -so far- are coming fully assembled and boxed overseas.

PLAY TIME

If you can deal with the learning curve, the Voltage Research Lab 2 should allow for months of play time and discovery. In contrast, some synths are what they are and don’t allow for a lot of sonic exploration because they are designed to produce a tone playable in a musical scale.

To that point, the VRL2 will likely be unpredictable but more controllable for musicians than the VRL1.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY? Wait…

Unfortunately if you preorder you are committed to the instrument. I believe givebacks come with a 15% restocking fee and return shipping costs. Consider this before buying on impulse.

As time moves forward YouTube will have play throughs and reviews. I don’t think folks will unlock everything there is possible to do with a VRL in a short turnaround time of content creation. So you’ll get the first blush of excitement, not the pall of regret after becoming under or over whelmed by instrument over time.

In my case, I bought the Stylophone Gen R-8 synth in 2019 on impulse. It took another instrument to make use of the Gen R-8 as a modulation source. And I can’t quite remember that other instrument’s name.

Point being, you can buy a lot of affordable synths and still feel like there are more sounds to explore. The Voltage Research Lab 2 is a pathway to discovery with a fairly steep learning curve if you are new to synths.

So is VRL2 a good first synth? Maybe not. I side with more affordable $199.99 synths. Is it a good second synth? Yes, as the VRL2 has so much going on that will keep you from collecting bargain synths that somewhat repeat themselves. Meaning, your first synth should be cheap enough to test the waters. If you like it, then dive into the deep end. If not, it’s only $199.

All said, it’s good that Pittsburgh Modular updated the VRL and the price point will keep them in business to continue focusing on new ideas and circuit designs.

2 synthesizers next to one another on a red table — Voltage Research Lab and 3 Tier Rack side by side. Let the cross patching begin!

Wires that form the words "Joy of Synths"

END NOTE

Next issue of Joy of Synths releases on June 1, 2024 and focuses on starting with analog sound synthesis. We’ll continue that series through Summer 2024 newsletters.