Quanalog Instruments — Boubou
Quanalog Boubou Manual (Website)
Quanalog Boubou Eurorack Drum Synthesizer Cheat Sheet
Module Size: 28HP
Voices: 5 (Kick, Lo Tom, Hi Tom, Snare, Hats)
Build: All-metal pots, switches, and jacks, black and gold panel
Quick Start
- Patch simple short triggers into TRIG inputs for normal drum hits.
- Apply CV or audio rate signals to TRIG and CV jacks for experimental sounds and dynamic variation.
- Use outputs independently or layer/feedback between voices using additional patching.
Channel Reference
KICK DRUM
- Outputs:
- Kick Out
- Inputs:
- Trig In – accepts triggers/gates/audio (standard: 5V trigger; accepts cv/audio: -5V to +5V)
- Tune CV – pitch (typical 0–5V; V/oct scaling not guaranteed)
- Decay CV – decay (approx. 0–5V)
- Knobs/Controls:
- Freq, Resonance – tuning the fundamental
- Click Freq, Click Mix – shape and mix attack click
- Volume – output level
- Overdrive – analog drive for harder sounds
- Compression (toggle/knob?) – soft, punchy, overdriven
- Special:
- Audio-rate at TRIG = wavefolder/bitcrushing FX
- Can self-resonate as sine oscillator (with Overdrive high)
- Classic 808/909-style sounds
DUAL TOM (LO/HI)
- Outputs:
- Lo Tom Out, Hi Tom Out
- Inputs:
- Trig In (per voice) – triggers (standard: 5V), audio/CV possible (-5V to +5V)
- Resonance CV (per voice) – tune/drum pitch (0–5V)
- Knobs/Controls:
- Freq, Resonance (per voice) – set tom pitch/body
- Retrig (shared) – controls volume of retriggered note (creates rolls/flams/“hand play” feel)
- Volume – per tom
- Special:
- Without trigger: become dual notch filters with CV freq
- Feed other engines for filtering/harmonic FX
SNARE
- Outputs:
- Snare Out
- Inputs:
- Trig In – triggers (standard: 5V), audio/CV (-5V to +5V)
- Decay CV – snare tail (0–5V)
- Resonance CV – snare pitch (0–5V)
- Knobs/Controls:
- Freq, Resonance – snare body/“spring” sharpness
- Decay – envelope length
- Volume – output
- Special:
- If Hi Tom Trig not patched, Hi Tom acts as resonance/body for snare (patching separates them)
- Wide sound range — snare, clap, noise hats
HATS
- Outputs:
- Hats Out
- Inputs:
- Trig In – open/close hat (5V triggers), CV/audio (-5V to +5V)
- Decay CV – envelope length (0–5V)
- External In – mix another VCO/sound for custom hats
- Knobs/Controls:
- Freq, Resonance – hat sizzle/character
- Decay – open/close time
- Noise Mix, Ext In Mix – blend noise/osc input
- Special:
- Acts as decay VCA for Ext In if noise turned off
- Can ring external VCO, create noise VCO FX
GLOBAL / SHARED NOTES
- Each section’s CV inputs:
- Pitch/Tune/Resonance CV: 0–5V
- Decay CV: 0–5V
- Trigger Inputs: Accept short pulses, gates, audio, step CV (-5V to +5V gives velocity sens)
- All voices can process audio as signal processors (filters, wave-shaping) if you patch audio to Trig/CV/Ext In.
- Natural accenting possible with gate/trigger length or step CV into Trig.
Summary Table
| Voice |
Trig In |
CV Pitch/Res |
CV Decay |
Audio In |
Output |
| Kick |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Trig |
Out |
| Lo Tom |
Yes |
Yes |
- |
Trig |
Out |
| Hi Tom |
Yes |
Yes |
- |
Trig |
Out |
| Snare |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Trig |
Out |
| Hats |
Yes |
- |
Yes |
Ext In |
Out |
All CV and audio inputs typ. -5V to +5V safe, 0–5V recommended for musical range, 5V triggers standard.
Tips & Tricks
- Low/Hi Tom unpatched behave as filters for other voices.
- Try patching section outputs to other section Trig inputs for experimental modulation!
- Adjust Retrig for flam/rolls (varied gate length triggers).
- Patch velocity or envelope CVs for dynamic hits.
- External In on Hats for custom cymbal/metallic timbres.
Further Reading