Noise Engineering continues to revive beloved and now-unavailable modules from their back catalog, thanks to their updateable firmware platforms. But Sinc Legio is more like a sequel, with internal modulation, new algorithms, and stereo chorus atop the original’s formula of phase modulation, hard sync, and wavefolding.
In short, we may have just gotten the perfect Noise Engineering oscillator — in the most compact package possible.
Noise Engineering’s firmware-swappable modules are easy to recommend – that’s the 10HP Alia oscillator platform, 10HP Versio effect platform, and 6HP Legio stereo oscillator/effects platform. That’s worth mentioning because I see tons of people struggling with budget, figuring out what module they want, and not having quite the right combination for a particular idea or performance. This is a great way around that in that you can swap tools around, so changing a skiff from functioning as a bassline-maker to an effects processor is easy and free. And you still have enough physical consistency with layout to intuitively find functions and train muscle memory even when swapping different firmware. Legio is the most affordable and slim of these, so it’s a logical place to start.
These modules have also been a means for the manufacturer to bring back modules that they had to discontinue because of chips becoming obsolete or other engineering reasons. Sinc Iter was an early classic, and part of what helped put Noise Engineering on the map, with wavemorphing and stereo phase modulation at its center.
But it was due for some new twists, and that’s how we get Sinc Legio. It already promises to be Terminator 2 to Sinc Iter’s Terminator. I just gave it a quick try, and it completely revitalizes the portable skiff my Iter lives in.
Sinc Legio is Terminator 2 to Sinc Iter’s Terminator.
Features:
- Morph
- Timbre (controlling the internal modulation oscillator in Warp and Op modes or wavefolding in Fold mode)
- Warp algorithm: phase modulation, with the modulating oscillator mixed with the output and Timbre controlling modulating oscillator
- Op algorithm: phase modulation with the possibility of external patching, where Timbre controls the phase modulation index
- Fold algorithm: Noise Engineering’s infiniolder for complex sounds
- Phase modulation input
- Stereo operation
Two-op FM (or more with external inputs), supersaws, and super stereo are all easy to produce here.
What Sinc Legio brings to the table versus the original Sinc Iter:
- Musical frequency range (Sinc Iter went from 1Hz up beyond human hearing – interesting, but not as manageable in practice!)
- Multiple oscillators (or, to be clear, internal modulation oscillators) so you can create complex waveforms without external modulation
- New algorithms: three harmonic sound waveforms, with more parameters (versus the original fairly barebones Noise, Plain, and Super – the last adding mono chorus)
- Stereo chorus
If you do have an original Sinc Iter, though, that’s different enough that – good news, a) it’s likely to retain its value and b) it’s very possible you won’t want to sell it. The design of the Iter lends itself to modulation – because of the waveform options and frequency range – so it even should pair well with the Sinc Legio. I’m happy, though, with just the Legio – this is a lot to explore!
Pricing and availability: In stock in black and silver. Shipping from Noise Engineering and retailers starting today; MSRP US$310.
Hey, their demo is hot – nicely done!
Product page:
Sinc Legio is available from Perfect Circuit:
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Sinc Legio Stereo Oscillator (Black) [Perfect Circuit]
Though the whole point of course is you can buy any Legio and install this firmware:
Noise Engineering @ Perfect Circuit
Oh, PS it’s worth revisiting the “world of…” sites for each of these platforms, as they’ve packed them full of not only the firmware updates and manuals, but also extras like faceplate templates, patch books, and even resources to create your own custom firmware (on the DIY-friendly Versio):
https://noiseengineering.us/pages/world-of-versio
https://noiseengineering.us/pages/world-of-alia
https://noiseengineering.us/pages/world-of-legio
Previously: