The CITADEL WAVE BARD is an experimental, stereo sample player eurorack module that empowers you to discover new rhythms and riffs through modulation and modularity.

Don’t make beats, let them naturally emerge! The Citadel Wave Bard is a semi-autonomous companion that keeps surprising you with fresh ideas. Get instant inspiration from the carefully crafted factory sound bank by none other than Oliver Torr, or load your own samples and remix on the fly.

All main parameters can be modulated and tightly sequenced by the surprisingly powerful CV and GATE pattern generator. Create groovy off-grid beats using the built-in LFO, which can be synced, reset, or left to run freely.

Beats & Melodies

Samples are organized in banks, which can be selected and sequenced using knobs or CVs from the built-in pattern generator and LFO. You can reverse your sounds with the LENGTH knob and the Wave Bard’s unique reversing envelope. It’s not just about the beats – Play melodic samples in quantized scales, and spice up the sound with built-in filter, delay or chorus/flanger effects. You can load not only your own samples, but also rhythms and scales with the web-based app .

Midi Inside Out

Citadel Wave Bard is not just a sound box—it’s a powerful MIDI controller and sequencer when connected via the USB port on the back of the module. Send finely curated USB MIDI data to your DAW or USB MIDI device, and discover new ways of playing and interacting through a modular interface. Citadel Wave Bard receives TRS MIDI via front panel and both sends and receives USB MIDI via the connector on the back of the module.

Two for One!

The Citadel comes equipped with a reversible front panel with WAVE BARD on one side and FX WIZARD on the other side. It also comes with our custom designed tool to make the panel switching as seamless as possible. You can load and try different Citadel/Kastle 2 present and future firmwares and updates with a USB port (on the back).

From Kastle to Citadel

CITADEL is a Eurorack reimagination of the popular Kastle 2 semi-modular desktop device. The CITADEL comes with a full 3.5mm patch bay that offers the flexibility needed in the eurorack format while maintaining the strengths of the Kastle 2 allowing it to stand on its own, and yet let it truly shine when patched with other modules. We’ve also added switches for hands-on control of the pattern generator.

The Citadel provides the basic infrastructure needed to integrate eurorack systems within the context of electronic music making: headphone output, TRS MIDI input and sync, tempo generator with divider/multiplier, USB MIDI (from the back of the module), stereo mixing, integrated LFO and Pattern generator and effects.

All that makes Citadel the perfect module for smaller and beginner systems while the fun and unique creativity of the Kastle 2 firmwares: the FX WIZARD multi-effect processor and WAVE BARD sample player will earn its place in larger setups.

Features

• 8 samples per bank (adjustable from 3 to 32 samples in the editor)
• 6 factory-loaded banks (up to 32 banks in the editor)
• user samples can be loaded via web-based app
• 89 seconds sample limit (mono), 44s (stereo) at 44kHz, or combination
• even more sample time available at lower sample rates
• stereo audio processing at 44kHz/16-bits
  
  
• PITCH knob with range of ± 2 octaves (4 octaves total)
  — PITCH MOD attenuverter knob for modulating pitch
  — NOTE input: quantized pitch with selectable scales (updates on trigger)
  — FREE input: continuous, unquantized pitch modulation
  — user-defined scales via web-based app
  — BANK+PITCH MOD to change quantizer scale
  — BANK+SAMPLE MOD for root note adjustment
  — BANK+LFO MOD for fine tuning
  — BANK+PITCH to change and preview octave
  
  
• SAMPLE knob to select 1 of 8 samples
  — hit the SHIFT button to trigger the selected sample
  — TRIGGER input to trigger sample playback
  — SAMPLE MOD input with attenuation and two modes:
  — PLAY: CV modulation directly trigger samples
  — CUE: CV aims at samples and playback waits for a trigger
  
  
• BANK input with attenuation to change sample banks using CV
  
  
• LENGTH envelope knob
  — turn right to adjust decay
  — turn left to reverse samples and add attack
  — during attack, samples don't retrigger
  — LENGTH MOD input with attenuverter
  — LENGTH MOD updates only at trigger
  — patchable ENV output of the envelope
  
  
• stereo delay or chorus/flanger FX
• resonant FILTER with Lowpass/Highpass modes
  
  
• LFO with triangle and pulse output, reset input, attenuverting modulation, synced or free
• Tempo generator with tap tempo, divider, and external clock input
• Pattern generator (tempo synced) with GATE and CV output, patch-programmable
• GATE generator contains RHYTHM patterns user-programmable via web-based app
  
  
• stereo eurorack-level DC coupled input with input gain (up to +6db), accepts up to -10V to + 10V
• input can be mixed at the output or run thru the built in effects
• DC coupled stereo eurorack-level output, -5V to +5V
• stereo headphone output capable of driving headphones up to 250 Ohm
• analog sync input
• analog sync output
  
  
• TRS MIDI Input (clock, notes, CCs, pitch bend)
• USB-C on the back of the module (firmware updates, USB MIDI in/out, uploading samples)

Technical Details

• 16 HP
• PTC fuse and diode protected 10 pin power connector
• 24 mm deep
• current consumption: +12 V: <60 mA (w/o headphones), <90 mA (w/headphones to max); -12 V: <20 mA
• Input Ranges:
  — FREE IN and NOTE IN: -0.2V to 7V
  — CLK IN, RESET IN, C IN, G IN: 0V to 5V
  — LFO MOD, BANK IN, SAMPLE IN, LENGTH IN, LFO RESET, TRIG IN: -5V to +5V
  — L/R IN: -10V to +10V
• Output Ranges:
  — CLK OUT, ENV OUT, CV OUT, LFO TRI OUT,LFO PULSE OUT: 0V to +5V
  — L/R OUT: -5V to +5V
  — Headphone output: 2Vpp (line level compatible)

Web-based App

Use the Sample loader app to load not only your own samples, but also rhythms and scales:
web app

Downloads

• quickstart guide pdf
• complete manual pdf
• calibration guide pdf
  
  
• latest firmware v1.5 zip
• how to update & release notes pdf
  
  
• press release pdf
• press kit drive

Video