The TS-21 Hellfire Modulator is an analog, tube-based distortion rack-module. The Hellfire has many useful applications for musical instruments but was designed especially for synthesizers! That is, you can use it to add some really gritty and unpredictable distortion to your synth and bass lines.

The Hellfire has 3 unique sections: a pentode preamp with VCA input stage, a metastable pulse-width modulator (PWM), and an LFO-controlled waveshaper/switcher based on a unique TV vacuum-tube. With about 5 tubes, this analog technology can give your sounds a unique and "aggressive" edge!

All input/output jacks and control knobs are located right on the front of the 2-space rack-mount unit. A small view-window is at the center of the unit through which you can see the tubes glowing. Distortion can be introduced during the preamp stage. The PWM and Beam controls can then be used to fold, distort and mangle up your sounds with unpredictable but surprising results. The built-in LFO creates a pseudo-panning effect with adjustable rate and stereo beam width using the L1, L2 and SPEED controls. For a gritty new take on analog distortion the TS-21 is an expensive but tempting offer.

John Athayde

May 22, 2011 @ 8:36 pm

This is one of those amazing units that is really hard to figure out a good use for. I have serial 009 and I've tried it on all sorts of stuff. It can make some really cool self generated noise, especially if you run it through a filter (filterbank, mutator, etc). Bass and synth are the best thing to run through this. It's one of those units that just does what it does and it's definitely a "turn the knob until you get it" kind of thing. You won't be able to replicate a setting, and that's what's great about it.

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