Tiptop Audio Z2040 4-Pole Voltage Controlled Filter

Tiptop Audio Z2040 is a great-sounding analog filter that gives a lush creamy character to any sound passing through its core. When paired with a snappy envelope generator, Z2040's 'rubber-like' frequency sweeps produce thick bass line and leads. When modulated at audio rate though its variety of synthesis inputs, Z2040 gets pushed to the extreme, becoming a growling beast as the forces of the incoming waves and their harmonics all meet at the module's point of interaction. Bounded within the upper and lower limits of the Z2040's spectrum, sounds can be tamed into smooth overdrive and saturation. When set with its resonance feedback fully on, Z2040 becomes a pure sine-core VC-oscillator that is ideal for making snappy percussive elements or whistling sounds. Tiptop Audio packed a lot in Z2040 while maintaining a carefully designed interface for maximum sonic playability.

Under the hood: the heart of Z2040 is a discrete design 4-pole low pass filter with a similar core to that of the SSM2042 filter chip used in the Prophet-5 Rev 2 synthesizer and its brother the SSM2044 used in famous early EMU samplers and PPG synthesizers of the 80s, both considered by many as 'the best sounding filter ever.'

Z2040's four modulation inputs are built to handle CV and audio signals, enabling deep modulation of the filter core and passing signals. A VC resonance input is provided to modulate and even clip the sine wave produced by the filter feedback loop. A frequency modulation (FM) input provides for dynamic filter sweeps and the unique VC-FM index provides modulation of the incoming FM signals. On top of that, Z2040 provides an audio VCA that can be configured to act upon the input or output of the filter.

• Size: 8hp
• Module depth: 42mm
• Power usage: 20mA @ +12V, 20mA @ -12V