SB2021: Xaoc Devices Zagrzeb 1979 Stereo Four Pole VC Filter

[feelingthin]

The pings sounded good! Where did you buy yours? Or was it commissioned for a demo?

[fastlanestranger]

I finally received my Zagrzeb and racked it yesterday. I will most likely never drone without it now. Ran an LFO into the spread and immediately fell in love. Also I’ve never been a fan of self-oscillation and really appreciate that this thing doesn’t go there. It’s wonderful and might be my first double purchase.

[joey]

my review

[feelingthin]

my review

The feedback patch sounds good! I'm excited for mine to show up.

[Wavtekt]

Hmmm ... seems rather pricey for a stereo filter that doesn't self-oscillate and track v/oct ...

[fastlanestranger]

I like the fact that it doesn’t self-oscillate.

[ronnieb]

Hmmm ... seems rather pricey for a stereo filter that doesn't self-oscillate and track v/oct ...

Since when does self oscillation have anything to do with the price of a filter?
I think it’s fairly safe to assume it’s a design choice as opposed to just cutting corners to make a few quid.
You want sine waves? …buy Odessa

[Wavtekt]

Hmmm ... seems rather pricey for a stereo filter that doesn't self-oscillate and track v/oct ...

Since when does self oscillation have anything to do with the price of a filter?
I think it’s fairly safe to assume it’s a design choice as opposed to just cutting corners to make a few quid.
You want sine waves? …buy Odessa

v/oct tracking using tempco resistor / matching transistors / digital temperature compensation / v/oct tracking trimming are costly to implement compared to one that don't.

This is a fact.

You can use a resonance switch to choose whether you want the filter to self-oscillate or not, but unfortunately this is not included in the design. Mono to stereo image phase shifting network is a nice addition though.

There are better choices out there ...

[Kosmikos]

I really like how this filter sounds. However I was watching this video, and there seems to be some clipping during the filter sweeps. Anyone can confirm whether it’s a case of they all do that?
I can see this as being an interesting character/feature, but I’m not sure I’d want it always on.
Here’s the video, check it out at 0:50:

[proxy]

my review

Your demo / reviews are always so pure and full of genuine energetic charge, trying to make cool sounds while you're at it and having fun / surprising yourself with the sickness of the sounds. Your Stereo Dipole video and the sounds you ripped out of it convinced me I (eventually) need it, and you've swung me on this as well! My MW thread on my struggle to pick filters viewtopic.php?t=250015 on here shows how much I've struggled and you help bring focus to the GAS.

[Underglow]

I really like how this filter sounds. However I was watching this video, and there seems to be some clipping during the filter sweeps. Anyone can confirm whether it’s a case of they all do that?
I can see this as being an interesting character/feature, but I’m not sure I’d want it always on.
Here’s the video, check it out at 0:50:

Zagrzeb user here. IMO, the clipping above is probably due to a hot signal. There is of course no input attenuation so one has to mind that.

I could be wrong on this, and I hope someone corrects me if I am, but my understanding is that any illumination of the resonance control, when it is positioned at zero, indicates an input signal that is past the device’s own clipping point. When I gain stage accordingly, there is plenty of headroom left over for full-resonance shenanigans sans any audible clipping.

[BaloErets]

Hmmm ... seems rather pricey for a stereo filter that doesn't self-oscillate and track v/oct ...

Since when does self oscillation have anything to do with the price of a filter?
I think it’s fairly safe to assume it’s a design choice as opposed to just cutting corners to make a few quid.
You want sine waves? …buy Odessa

You can use a resonance switch to choose whether you want the filter to self-oscillate or not, but unfortunately this is not included in the design. Mono to stereo image phase shifting network is a nice addition though.

There are better choices out there ...

A resonance switch requires both space and circuitry and the panel which is very well designed is tight enough as it is. Not all filters need to self-res as a standard even if it could be an option. That is a design choice.

There are better choices out there... for you indeed. For another person it's the perfect filter.

[studioutopia]

Zagrzeb is a beautiful counterpoint to Belgrad. I love the bandpass options, the resonance is sweet but not abrasive. It is fat and warm and the stereo image it creates is useful, but not "over-the-top stereo effect". I really love it.
Regarding V/Oct and self-oscillation... I have a lot of really amazing analog VCOs that track great and oscillate, and I-ō47 and Belgrad are all I really need for pingable filters when I want to play with that... those capabilities are optional and don't really contribute much value to me in judging the quality of a filter - but that is just my opinion.
I think Zagrzeb is a wonderful character filter, and it is very unique when compared with the rest of my collection of filters.

[Kosmikos]

I really like how this filter sounds. However I was watching this video, and there seems to be some clipping during the filter sweeps. Anyone can confirm whether it’s a case of they all do that?
I can see this as being an interesting character/feature, but I’m not sure I’d want it always on.
Here’s the video, check it out at 0:50:

Zagrzeb user here. IMO, the clipping above is probably due to a hot signal. There is of course no input attenuation so one has to mind that.

I could be wrong on this, and I hope someone corrects me if I am, but my understanding is that any illumination of the resonance control, when it is positioned at zero, indicates an input signal that is past the device’s own clipping point. When I gain stage accordingly, there is plenty of headroom left over for full-resonance shenanigans sans any audible clipping.

Thanks. The intro does mention using a mix of Dixie II+ outputs, and the resonance is high when clipping shows up, so that would make sense.

[FletchNYC]

With QPas, I love to send it a stereo signal, and then take the left channel out of the low pass, and the right channel out of the band pass. Does this module work well in that way also? Mixing the outputs?

[fastlanestranger]

With QPas, I love to send it a stereo signal, and then take the left channel out of the low pass, and the right channel out of the band pass. Does this module work well in that way also? Mixing the outputs?

You can definitely run the left and right out of different filter models, yeah. Unless there's something specifically technical you're referring to that I'm not understanding. But I enjoy doing this to get a bit of flavor from each.

[FletchNYC]

With QPas, I love to send it a stereo signal, and then take the left channel out of the low pass, and the right channel out of the band pass. Does this module work well in that way also? Mixing the outputs?

You can definitely run the left and right out of different filter models, yeah. Unless there's something specifically technical you're referring to that I'm not understanding. But I enjoy doing this to get a bit of flavor from each.

Awesome. Good to know. Thanks!

[FletchNYC]

Has any changed their Zagrzeb panel to black, and can confirm if the frequency knob has to be removed to achieve this?

[funksy]

I don't have a Zagrzeb, but have changed the panels on other Xaoc modules with that style of knob, and you definitely need to remove it. You'll need to remove all the knobs, and any nuts on potentiometers and jacks.

[FletchNYC]

I don't have a Zagrzeb, but have changed the panels on other Xaoc modules with that style of knob, and you definitely need to remove it. You'll need to remove all the knobs, and any nuts on potentiometers and jacks.

Thanks. For the big knob, did you just use your hands, or can you recommend a tool?

[funksy]

I don't have a Zagrzeb, but have changed the panels on other Xaoc modules with that style of knob, and you definitely need to remove it. You'll need to remove all the knobs, and any nuts on potentiometers and jacks.

Thanks. For the big knob, did you just use your hands, or can you recommend a tool?

For me, the big knobs were on tightly enough that I needed to use a flathead screwdriver to get it started. I covered the tip with some fabric or something to prevent scratching the panel.

[thread]

Make sure there isn't a tiny screw going into the side of the knob. My Odessa & Belgrad do, for instance. Kamieniec doesn't! Don't have a Zagrzeb tho.

[FletchNYC]

Great - thanks for the advice everyone. I appreciate it!

[FletchNYC]

zagrzeb_mockup_black_mg.png

Any chance you all could post your alternative black panels to modular grid, along with your silver ones? It may seem a small thing, but if I can see a module in my rack in my preferred color, it actually can impact its appeal, and increase the likelihood that I purchase it.

[ronnieb]

zagrzeb_mockup_black_mg.png

Any chance you all could post your alternative black panels to modular grid, along with your silver ones? It may seem a small thing, but if I can see a module in my rack in my preferred color, it actually can impact its appeal, and increase the likelihood that I purchase it.

They are all on there?
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/xaoc-devi ... lack-panel