Kilpatrick Audio is a Canadian manufacturer of modular sound synthesis equipment. The company was founded thanks to the efforts of Andrew Kilpatrick, a designer and engineer, in the beginning of 2010. Since his childhood the future engineer took interest in technology and all the intrinsic features. Studying at the art school gave impetus to Kilpatrick's future activity in the production of electronic musical instruments. Andrew shared with the press that as a child he used to play the violin but everything changed when he had the opportunity to learn how to play the electric guitar. So the capabilities of the hardware sound synthesis during music creation impressed Kilpatrick. When founding Kilpatrick Audio Andrew set out to create unique musical equipment (synthesizers, modules and guitars) which would reproduce great sound and incite new musical ideas. Also the company is famous for making and selling its products at a real and reasonable price.
The modular system by the company has its own Kilpatrick format which makes it differ from other similar products on the music market. The entire modular system organizes modules in such a way so that you could manage them intuitively. Kilpatrick Format introduced new design ideas and the best concepts of traditional modular synthesizers.
The company is known for its line of modular components for synthesizers in Eurorack format. These ones include enclosures, power supplies, as well as a complete set of modules and controllers starting with K4815 Pattern Generator followed by K4816 Pattern Generator (Buchla Format), K1600 MIDI Converter in 3 versions, K3020 Dual VCO, K3021 Master VCO (analog dual and single-channel oscillators which reproduce high-quality waveforms without distortion) and K2579 Step Sequencer.
K4815 Pattern Generator is a small 20HP Eurorack module which has almost unlimited potential and can manage a wide range of music applications. Unlike the step sequencer, where the musician selects each note in a sequence, K4815 generator creates these sequences by combining the scale (4 options), pattern (32 patterns are displayed) and sequence playback (64 variants offering as melody-like sequences as abstract or geometric ones) fixing rhythms and notes randomly (or rather automatically). Other parameters can adjust the length of notes and sequences, transposition, playback direction, etc. Being completely analog K4815 supports MIDI. The MIDI interface is accessible via the internal connector and is compatible with K1600 MIDI Converter. Analog connections operate with three inputs to work with analog clock, control playback and reset rhythm pattern playback. CV and Gate outputs are high-quality analog outputs for controlling VCO and envelopes, and a 12-bit digital-analog converter (DAC) will take care of accurate adjustment and offset of voltage and trimming which will facilitate competent integration with other modular equipment. K4815 also allows operating in X/Y mode which during playback generates MIDI control changes as well as various voltages which comes in handy as a source of modulation. As any sequencer K4815 also features a crucial component – clock – which is quite stable and generates a wide tempo range. The unit also supports an analog (5V) clock offering a Clock In connector or MIDI clock. When an internal or analog clock is used MIDI signals are generated automatically turning the system into a useful MIDI clock generator or converter.
K2579 Step Sequencer made a great contribution to the world of modular synthesis. Based on the success of K4815, K2579 has opposite possibilities offering musicians not a quick automatic rhythm creation but control over each note and a twonote polyphony. The module supports simultaneous input, output and control via CV and MIDI; almost all programming and parameters can be modified in real time. The unit is controlled with a fairly simple interface which includes LCD, 2 knobs and 7 buttons. 8 jacks allow CV/Gate outputs, input clock and signal reset patching. Up to 16 sequences (16 steps each) can be loaded simultaneously as well as chained offering manual control and a loop function.
Significant developments by the brand also included a line of modular synthesizers with a unique Kilpatrick Format: K1 Mixer Interface, K2 Pitch Oscillator, K3 Digital Effects, K4 Envelope Modulator, K5 Filter Amp, K6 Voltage Processor, K7 Entropy Sequencer, K9 Dynamic Filter, K10 Dual Envelope. Kilpatrick Audio modules are 1778 mm high, allow 15V power and Banana type jacks. Great attention is also paid to the method of power distribution in modules explained as a return-grounding system for analog and digital circuits.
Phenol, analog synthesizer, was demonstrated to the public in 2014. Based on modular synthesizer principles this model has absorbed all the creative potential, sound and practical experience of creating a modular synthesizer. Phenol was a Kickstarter project which collected a total of £70000 thanks to which it was possible to make the unit come true. It contains 2 VCOs (triangle, saw and pulse) with rich shades but minimal drift without obtrusive pursuit of analog effect, + input for external device, two analog 12dB filters, two VCAs and two digital envelopes, and LFO output for a sine wave (features random function). Plus, we should also mention 2 mixer inputs, a digital delay, Adder section (for a normal or inverse output for several signals) and a divider to create up to 4 possible digital outputs from one low-frequency signal (the digital divider breaks the signal into two, three, four or six ones in order to create more rhythmic options). If necessary, you can use the Sync In jack to synchronize the VCO with an external source or another Phenol’s VCO. The envelope section is the most represented one - each of the envelopes has 3 assigned switches, and can act as an LFO (in LFO mode operates as AHR or A/R). As for the control, there’s Third Control function routing the signal to one of the 3 operating modes. Gate Delay determines how long Third Control reacts to the incoming Gate In signal, and the Scale Quantize value is selected to quantize the signal on one of the 16 scales.
With the release of Carbon sequencer in 2015 more and more diverse and powerful functions became available which made it possible to considerably change the way music was composed and performed. The sequencer offered 6 tracks (each with its own arpeggiator) each featuring 64 steps; polyphony support. Sequencer steps could be randomly generated, edited interactively or recorded with the help of a MIDI keyboard step by step, as well as in real time without stopping the sequencer which also enabled flexible playback capabilities. Carbon is truly powerful in the variety of sequences: with the help of the pattern control you can activate and deactivate various steps and create new rhythms and motifs with just one knob. The concept of "scenes" allows you to quickly move between different parts of the composition without losing the beat or between a few variations of the same composition. The sequencer also included DAW software, has a powerful MIDI and CV interface (2 built-in MIDI outputs and 4 CV/Gate outputs + both mono and duo/polyphonic output support), as well as USB which allows you to connect the device to a PC or Mac to create music and share it. LIVE button allows live playback of outputs in any combination.
Andrew Kilpatrick says that he creates devices that would be pleasant both to ears and to eyes. Every project he’s working on is incredibly inspiring to him - even at nights he thinks about all the possibilities which his equipment would bring to the studios and onto the stage. He sincerely believes that their instruments will inspire you and give a new impetus to your journey through the world of music.
Indeed, today Kilpatrick Audio is selected by those who are looking for high-end audio synthesis instruments.