Synthesis Technology - E560 Deflector Shield

The Synthesis Technology - E560 Deflector Shield is one of the highest quality digital audio effects in the eurorack modular world. Being used as a frequency shifter or phase shifter, it sounds delicate, with NONE of the digital artefacts that appear when modulating a digital effect with analog signals, which might be off-putting to a lot of users. A truly nice and well thought-out effect with morphing CV's.

The Synthesis Technology - E560 Deflector Shield is a triple-mode effects module: a thru-zero frequency shifter, a phaser, and a ring modulator. What sets the E560 apart from other DSP effect modules is the unique carrier wave morphing feature. Traditional frequency shifters and phasers use sine waves as the carrier/modulator, but the E560 has eight different carrier waves that can be continuously cross-faded to create never-before heard soundscapes. The eight carrier waves are specifically selected to give the widest sonic palette, from simple frequency shifts, to 64-note "pattern sequences," to extreme harmonic content.

There are three operating modes available: Shift, RM, and Phase.

SHIFT is a frequency shifter that can shift thru-zero with two simultaneous outputs (down and up). Like traditional frequency shifters, a sine carrier will generate a smooth shift but the E560's seven other waves will generate a vast array of harmonic content and even patterns of evolving timbral shift.

RM is a standard ring modulator (4-quadrant multiplying VCA) with a twist: the two outputs are always forced into quadrature (90 degree phase shift). The eight carriers can produce everything from tremolo effects to gating to high degrees of distortion.

PHASE is an E560 exclusive mode. The audio input is applied to an eight-stage all-pass network. The two audio outputs are in quadrature, but in turn phase shifted from 0 to 360 degrees relative to the input. Not only that, the "vector" the phase shift follows is the data in the carrier wavetable. The phase shifting can be linear (saw wave), traditional (triangle), or bouncing all over the place (64-random phase waveform).

Not only do you have full control over the chosen effect, but also the Wet/Dry mix, and applying either positive or phase-inverted (negative) feedback, this introduces peaking at certain harmonics or cancellation of those harmonics. Applying a slow LFO to the feedback CV can produce a wide range of constantly changing spectral content.

There are four CVs available to control the E560 in real-time. All four of the panel controls have a corresponding CV input, so that you can "turn" all 4 knobs at once by applying 4 CVs.

The E560 is another unique DSP-based module that has no equal in the modular world, in any format. If you're stuck in a musical rut and looking for a new module with a wide range of sounds, the E560 might be exactly what you're looking for.