Description
Behringer have been on a roll with their authentic, yet affordable recreations of iconic synths – for the Behringer CAT they’ve recreated the lesser-known classic, the Octave CAT. Get those versatile late 70s mono and duophonic tones in a desktop format, at a fraction of the cost of an original!
Key Features
- Based on the original CAT SRM II circuitry
- Fully analog signal path with dual VCOs for mono and duophonic operation
- 4 variable and simultaneous oscillator shapes: Sawtooth, Triangle, modulated Pulse and Sub-Octave Square
- Independently control both oscillators in Duophonic/Paraphonic mode
- Filter design (low pass with peak/resonance) with self-resonance capability
- Filter can be modulated from 6 different sources with 2 modulation depth attenuators
- Dedicated and fully analog sine/square wave LFO
- 2 analog Envelope Generators for modulation of VCF and VCA
- White noise generator for expanded waveform generation
- External control inputs and outputs (High Note CV, Low Note CV, Gate, Filter etc.)
- USB and MIDI connectivity
Dual VCO Design
The CAT is capable of producing classic, fat monosynth tones but with its dual VCOs, waveform switches, and waveform sliders you can explore versatile Duophonic/Paraphonic tones. The keyboard control switch on the CAT allows you switch between “Mono” and “Poly” modes. In “Poly” mode VCO 1 covers the highest note played on the keyboard, while VCO 2 handles the lowest note allowing you to play two notes at a time.
The waveform switches on the VCO allow different waveforms to be patched in from the LFO. There are switches for each VCO with options including Sine, Square, Sample and Hold, and pitch modulation – controllable though the Modulation Depth knobs. VCO 2 can be sync’d to VCO 1 to act as essentially one oscillator. With just these tools there’s already plenty to play with and explore. However, there are also waveform sliders on each VCO which adjust the volume of each waveform – Sub Octave, Sawtooth, Square, Triangle, and Pulse. Emphasise one for a singular waveform tone or create your perfect mix. If that wasn’t enough to experiment with there’s a VCF filter section which allows you to explore some truly diverse sonic territory.
Connectivity
This modern-day recreation foregoes the keyboard that was present on the original, but thankfully this synth is MIDI compatible so you can plug in your favourite keyboard controller and play it like the original. The CAT works great as a standalone desktop synth, but if you want to incorporate it into a modular system you can! The CAT is CV/Gate compatible and the module itself can be transferred to standard Eurorack case.
