NAMM 2022: Cre8Audio unleashes West Pest West Coast semi-modular synthesizer

NAMM 2022: Cre8Audio has revealed another semi-modular monophonic desktop synthesizer, the West Pest, following the release of its East Beast synth – announced at Superbooth 2022 earlier this May.

While the East Beast uses East Coast synthesis, the West Pest (as the name gives away) is a unit that follows the style of West Coast synthesis. It is inspired by the Pittsburgh Modular’s Voltage Research Lab synthesizer.

A key feature of the West Pest is its wave folding/shaping function, which amplifies incoming waveforms, folding them in on themselves. This creates a softer punch compared to allowing the waveform to clip or become distorted.

The key driver behind the wave folding feature is Pittsburgh Modular’s Dynamics Controller – an original invention that combines a filter, an envelope generator and a VCA.

There is also a new digital multi-mod and multi-function tool that lets the West Pest’s users add synced LFO, decay envelope, random voltage generator modes and MIDI-controlled modulation to their sound.

There is a range of impressive connection capabilities in the synthesizer, which allow the West Pest to be used as a performance tool, too. Users can hook it up with other instruments via MIDI, and control voltage. There are function keys and an integrated sequencer and arpeggiator. The device comes with 18 Eurorack compatible patch points.

The West Pest, according to Cre8Audio, is a “perfect match” to the company’s East Beast semi-modular synthesizer, which offers complimentary features. The East Beast was unveiled at Superbooth festival in Berlin in May and also includes Pittsburgh Modular filters and similar clock, sequencer and oscillator wave features.

NAMM is running from 3-5 June 2022. For more updates ahead of the festival or during the festival, visit our NAMM round-up page.