Neutral Labs Scrooge

Scrooge from Neutral Labs is a curmudgeonly conduit for complex beats and rhythms, sequencing five voltage-starved voices to create glitches, growls, and all sorts of analog audio artifacts. Turn to Scrooge for percussive malfunctions and malformed utterances, using its intuitive and deep step sequencer to summon shattered crackles and unstable oscillations. While this desktop version provides Scrooge a place to lay its weary head, it may also be installed in a Eurorack system, and even operated entirely passively when sequenced externally. Between hypnotic scratches and squeals, Scrooge screams "Bah Humbug" at so-called normal drum machines, instead insisting on its own ghastly dreams of glitchy bliss and coincidental genius.

The five voices of Scrooge are composed of CMOS chips and additional analog circuits in varied arrangements, providing independent characters from each voice. Rather than powering from the power supply, these circuits scavenge for spare power from external or internal control signals, enabling transcendent and complex behaviors through carefully crafted neglect. Collectively these voices can be understood as bass drum, hi hat, snare, digital bell, and bass line generators, though make no mistake: Scrooge is no ordinary drum machine, and excels at disregarding uncreative expectations in favor of bespoke and broken realities.

Adjust the tone and timbre of each voice with two voice-specific parameters each, and dial in a final mix with the handy volume sliders. Each voice features an independent direct output, and can also be routed to one or neither of two main outputs for processing through multiple effects, stereo operation, or live mutes and cueing. In addition to these audio tracks, there is an additional sequencer track for controlling other gear. Modulate these tracks with two selectable mod tracks X and Y, which can be selectively sent to each voice to create voice-specific fluctuations in timbre, pitch, and more. The Mod tracks may be superseded by external voltages when a signal is connected to the relevant Mod input.

Scrooge's sequencer provides 64 steps for each of its eight tracks, which can be stored into flash memory as sixteen banks of eight patterns. Whether synchronized to its internal clock, an external source, or via MIDI, this sequencer is capable of highly complex interactions. Steps may be addressed independently or in CTL ALL mode to adjust multiple steps simultaneously. Adjust the voltages sent to voices with Scrooges three Step Knobs, each providing multiple controls depending on the current control mode. Adjust and mangle step voltage level, probability, microtiming, waveshape, gate length, and ratchets to derive truly unique sequences as they activate the voices of Scrooge. Deeper functionality like randomly generating sequences, adjusting track length, and more are also available.

Scrooge rewards open minded experiments and thoughtful accidents alike. Whether using it with its powerful and unique sequencer or sending external voltages into its poke inputs to pursue passive possibilities, the sounds of Scrooge emerge from a world beyond the conventional drum machine. If your rhythmic material is falling flat, take some time with Scrooge from Neutral Labs, and you're sure to wake up with a revolutionized attitude towards the beats of glitchy futures.

Scrooge Features

• Analog glitch drum machine with unique step sequencer
• 5 analog voices provide varied sounds from nearly-normal percussion to otherworldly artifacts
• Voices are passive circuits activated by the sequencer or external voltages at Poke inputs
• Volume control and two knobs per voice with voice-specific functions
• Can be operated without power when controlled externally
• Two selectable main outputs and direct outputs for each voice
• Additional sequencer track for controlling external devices
• Two modulation tracks can be selectively routed to voices
• 64-steps per sequencer track
• Control steps individually or with grouped functions to control step shape, amplitude, probability, and more
• Parameter locking
• External clock and reset input
• MIDI input for transport control
• Desktop-style powered enclosure
• Eurorack case compatible