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Chimera

Chimera module front panel: a black 8HP Eurorack panel with six large knobs (SURFACE, PITCH, DECAY, ENVELOPE, DENSITY, FX AMT), two small toggle switches for FEEL and FX, and twelve jacks in three rows for pitch, env, density, fx amt, surface, decay, VCA, FX, trig, accent, choke, and out.

Metallic Percussion Synthesizer

1Introduction

Chimera is WMD's first percussion synthesizer module for Eurorack. Built around a proprietary granular synthesis engine driven by metallic samples, it delivers humanistic shakers, drum machine tambourines, laser guns, and techno offbeats in just 8HP. The result ranges from impulse-rich rhythmic ticks to long, shimmering metallic tails, with post-engine effects to shape the sound further.

2Front Panel Overview

Line drawing of Chimera's front panel. Top to bottom: a SURFACE knob beside a PITCH knob, a DECAY knob beside an ENVELOPE knob marked minus on the left and plus on the right, two small toggle switches between FEEL and FX waveform labels, a DENSITY knob beside an FX AMT knob, then twelve jacks in three rows labeled PITCH, ENV, DENSITY, FX AMT; SURFACE, DECAY, VCA, FX; and TRIG, ACCENT, CHOKE, OUT. The WMD logo sits at the bottom.
Chimera front panel layout.

3Sound Controls

  1. SURFACE: Chimera features 11 distinct surface types that morph as the SURFACE control is altered. The SURFACE textures were derived from instruments captured with extremely sensitive microphones, preamps, and processors.
  2. PITCH: Shift the frequency of the metal texture here. The pitch control spans 5 octaves, and every pitch setting produces its own range of usable metal timbres.
  3. DECAY: Controls the length of the sound's decline in amplitude. Using the DECAY knob, you can obtain lightning-fast rhythmic ticks, long morphing granular washes, clanging hits, and everything in between.
  4. DENSITY: Increases the number of grains in the sample window. Low DENSITY settings create slow timbral fluctuations while higher settings make for ephemeral jangles and shimmery hits.
  5. (PITCH) ENVELOPE: Introduce rising or falling pitch decay with this control. A little negative ENVELOPE with medium DECAY yields shaky doppler effects, while positive pitch decay creates lazer gun excitement for the whole family!

4FEEL Modes

There are three ways to play the Chimera, selected with the FEEL switch:

  1. The first FEEL mode plays every triggered note with the same amplitude. This mode is great for syncopated strikes and hard hits.

  2. The second FEEL mode plays the first note of every four with a normal amplitude, the second and fourth notes play softly, and the third note is given a random medium volume. The attack time of all notes after the first are increased in this mode, giving 16th notes a shaking pattern.

  3. The last FEEL mode freely oscillates the Chimera's granular engine, so every strike becomes unique. When decay is at maximum, the amplitude control deactivates and the metal textures flow to infinity.

Two three-position toggle switches. The left switch is labeled FEEL and shows three waveform icons top to bottom: even square pulses, ramped pulses, and a continuous wavy line for free oscillation. The right switch is labeled FX and shows three icons: a smooth waveform for quality reduction, a stepped waveform for sample rate reduction, and a comb-shaped waveform for comb filtering.
The FEEL switch (left) selects playback feel; the FX switch (right) selects the effect type.

5Effects

  1. FX: Choose between quality reduction, sample rate reduction, and comb filtering with the FX switch.
  2. FX AMT: Changes the amount of the chosen effect, or the position of the comb filter.

6Inputs and Outputs

  1. TRIG: Hit it with some pulses! For extra fun, trigger the module using the handy trigger BUTTON.
  2. ACCENT: Adds emphasis to a triggered note. The ACCENT input also resets the rhythm of the second FEEL mode.
  3. CHOKE: Cuts the length and amplitude of triggered notes.
  4. VCA: This input lets you control the Chimera's master volume attenuator. Being totally separate from the DECAY dynamic, the VCA input lets you add externally controlled changes to your existing groove.
  5. OUT: The Chimera's audio output. Plug it in! By using this jack, you tacitly agree to use the module responsibly: only use it to create the illest breaks, most shimmering textures, grooviest backbeats, and otherworldy-est rhythms.

7More From WMD

Visit the Chimera product page for audio demos, videos, and more.

Visit the Chimera product page (opens in a new window)