Tiptop Audio CB808 Analog Cowbell Drum Module

Tiptop Audio CB808 is the Roland TR-808's analog cowbell sound generator in eurorack format. Its a low-cost module that brings back that classic cowbell tone and continues to expand your Tiptop Audio modular drum machine.

Just like the other drums in this series, adapting the circuit to the modular format has allowed Tiptop Audio to add some special features like pitch modulation, LFO (with control over rate and depth), independent accent levels, a high-powered gain stage and a dual-input pulse-shaper, all without compromising the signature sound of TR-808's spacey cowbell.

CB808 sound is generated by two square wave oscillators that go through band pass filtering and then get mixed together; it's a simple analog circuit with a very cool output. What makes the 808 cowbell sound so well known is that it doesn't feel constant, but rather slightly spacey. The internal pitch-modulating LFO that Tiptop added takes this effect even further but stays within the bounds of the 808 sound, keeping it very musical and easy to play with.

Compatible with all the other drums in this series, CB808 includes a high-powered output gain stage capable of producing hot signals that can be easily distorted if desired. On the inputs, Tiptop has designed a dual-input pulse-shaper circuit so you can trigger CB808 with trigger/gate signals from step sequencers, clock dividers or any other pulse/clock sources. This eliminates the need to shape pulses sent to the module and ensures the same stable sound at peak power, regardless of your pulse source. All these unique features make integrating this legendary sound generator into your modular synth easy, unleashing the power of real analog drums.

• Module controls
• LEVEL knob: master output gain level
• DEPTH knob: LFO modulation depth
• RATE knob: LFO modulation rate
• ACC knob: accent level control, affects loudness and attack levels
• Patch points
• ACCENT IN input: gate trigger input to trigger accent
• GATE IN input: gate trigger to trigger cowbell sound
• CB OUT output: audio output
• Physical specifications
• Size: 4hp
• Module depth: 36mm
• Power usage: 8mA @ +12V, 8mA @ -12V