Buchla/Tiptop 259T | A Legend Revived

I don't think this module needs any introduction in Eurorack. Don Buchla inspired countless complex oscillators before it inspired Serge Tcherepnin and digital FM pioneers like John Chowning who brought FM on a chip to Yamaha. The 259 is a landmark VCO. One could assume it would sound 'old' compared to modern gear like the DPO, Cs-L, Furthrrr, Brenso, Verbos CO and many more, but the 259 has a unique sound you will not find anywhere else and it will never grow old.

There's 50 years between the 259c and the Tiptop recreation. A lot has changed. The original featured eight vactrols, but the 259t has none due to Hazardous Substance Regulations (RoHS).
However, the response is exactly the same which is a landmark achievement.

Autotune wasn't finished yet, it relied on the forthcoming 300 series that never took off. Remote/local control relied on Easel programming card tech which is useless in its eurorack incarnation. Tiptop decided to add ART support, a proprietary protocol which supports autotuning VCO's.

Real Buchla 259's are extremely rare, they're mostly faithfully recreated clones. So I had no idea how the real thing sounds and the 1M $ question is obviously 'does it sound the same'. Spoiler alert: it does.
This video also concludes my 259 origin story, so it's episode 04 in the 259 playlist, and episode 09 in my Tiptop 200 series playlist. It's a bit confusing but it it makes sense to me.

Bottom line, it's a beauty.

[ChainsawCoffee]

I love it how so many "old" designs aren't old, they are foundations. Buchla, ARP, Moog, and more, the designs and sounds are still valid and valuable. It isn't retro, it's all fragments of a future we have yet to explore.

[BooHoogland]

Great video. Dying for some more serge too!

[andrewmarshall]

Fabulous sound design here!!! This osc is hot on my list to get next

[danryan]

When need to talk about the setting for 12:22-12:25 you got the perfect dubstep talking robot scream

[walrtbstudios]

Finally feeling ready for a proper complex oscillator, I was about to pull the trigger on this- then spotted an IME Hertz Donut Mk III for barely half the price. The 259t will follow in due course- it’s not going anywhere, but the HD was just too good an opportunity to miss!

[smartassrecords]

I got this complex osc, it really responds to audio rate modulation like not other as well .great videos too .

[banalytic]

thanks for this video... amazing sounds as always... really love the "easel-part"!!!

[HAntonRiehl]

Sounding great as always! My 259t arrives soon... looking forward to that experiment! -- I think the 261e is the current version of the complex waveform generator. There was temporarily a 259e complex generator which was a digital version of the 259, but that was replaced by the 259e twisted waveform generator, which is a complex wavetable generator. All of those oscillators are modules I hope to spend more time getting to know...

[elektrenai]

Ordered one today from Milk Audio in Rome.Been looking forward to this.

[johnnybisone]

That was rad as shit dude. My heart felt so full and inquisitive listen to your performance.

[tgiencke]

BTW I approve of the Buchla'ized Beads! I did the same thing with all of my MI modules to remember the easter eggs in the manuals. e.g. Beads should have Freeze & Seed - orange, Right Output - red, Pitch & Density - white. The one that blew my mind is Marbles' Rate & Spread - white!

[greencontact]

And this is the video we been waiting for.

[alexandermontagnet]

Hey! Sorry, I didn't know where to post this so that you would see it sooner. Would you still recommend the Plinky Synth?
Would you say it's even a great synth as a stand alone unit and/or if I don't rack it, but keep it next to my setup?

I just wanted your thoughts before I splurge on a few things. Thanks in advance for your advice and for all your incredible videos!

[ChrisMills-AmbientSpace]

Vactrols are elicit in the EU?
Buchla represents a wonderful set of mysteries that I would love to explore. The Benjolin also inspires some similar ideas as well.
Thank you for sharing this!

[BobbyMBoMor-zs]

I got two Vactrol 292's from the USA, I wonder why they didn't do a vactrol version like they did the 292

[andrewnancarrow]

Ok so I’ve been at this for a few years but still obviously a lot to learn… what exactly are you “striking” on the 529t with the envelopes at like 5:06 and beyond? Is there a VCA cv input on the module? To do similar to Cs-L, where would I patch a snappy envelope? Or just run though vca like vinca and strike it there as normal?

[justanotheryoutubechannel]

even if one exactly clones original schematics, parts choices will affect sound. In listening to OTHER TipTop Buchla modules, their spectral processor DESTROYS other maker takes for nailing that soaking wet rubbery sound as well as this module in another demo that's made me lust for an entire Buchla row. too bad all the modules are so big that you can't fill a row without at least one smaller mismatched module. Buchla just has an awesome organic sound, and the other demo I heard for this makes me want one. that, and I've figured out, I'm almost TOTALLY west coast kind of guy... thumpy LPG envelopes? ESSENTIAL! insane organic textures from sawtooth partials spectral processing (STILL into vocoders!)? check. distortion of signals... I mean "wave folding"? yep, I dig that and even frequency shifting? I was already into that when I heard doepfers FAT sounding shifter, not even realizing it was a buchla thing. you can keep the sequencer and mixer, but this VCO makes real anti-digital organic tones that maybe only other clones can. buh bye akemie's castle! never was really into FM anyways.

[andrewnancarrow]

Damn and I thought I was done buying oscillators with Cs-L…. Where am I gonna fit this thing?? 😂

[nemanjabecanovic]

I have DPO, and I am thinking to buy 259t. Which of those two have more solid and more large sound? Also, I know this is essentially West coast, and question is maybe seems out of the place but which one would be more proper for Moog like bass sound combined with ladder filter?

[dr.syntheo]

Looking forward to your ART video….you should try the triax8