LZX Industries Announced Vidiot – Standalone Super Compact Patchable Analog Video Synthesizer

LZX Industries is best known for their video Synthesizers in the Eurorack format. Today, the young company is taking a new step forward and announced the Vidiot, a standalone super compact patchable analog video Synthesizer. Vidiot is based on two analog discrete-core VCO, one dedicated to horizontal pattern elements, and the other dedicated to vertical pattern elements. Each oscillator comes with three waveshapes: sine, triangle and square and features dedicated sync inputs as well as bypass switches. Beside the oscillators, it includes a noise generator with two noise outputs for television static and snow effects. Than you have dual concentric control knobs that provide CV level and offset in the same footprint as a single knob. All this is powered by a luminance processor that can process per example process the grayscale range of external video or internally generated patterns.

More advanced features can be found in the shape generator and in the full featured modulation routing of the Vidiot. Handy is the routing because you don’t need to patch the most important features to modulate them. To colorize external video per example, it comes also with an colorizer with a dedicated controlled section for Red, Green and Blue.

I’m honest and I must say that I don’t have a lot of experience with these devices. I have played with some modules in the Raw Voltage Modular Store Vienna (Europe reseller of LZX industries modules) and I was quite impressed what you can do with these modules. I’m pretty sure that these little box will be super powerful for creating own visuals. I’m very curious to hands on one of the first devices and to check what I can do with it. If you are an Eurorack user and have interest to add some visuals to your sounds, than maybe check out this little box.

A Complete Visual Instrument

Features: 

• Video Oscillators: 2 analog discrete-core VCOs, one dedicated to horizontal pattern elements, and the other dedicated to vertical pattern elements. 3 waveshapes from each oscillator: Sine, Triangle and Square. Dedicated sync inputs and bypass switches.
• Noise Generators: 2 noise outputs include ultra wide spectrum white noise for television static and snow effects, and an ultra low frequency noise for flickering motion resembling candle light.
• Dual Controls: Dual concentric control knobs provide CV level and offset in the same footprint as a single knob.
• Luminance Processor: Process the grayscale range of external video or internally generated patterns, with dedicated voltaged controlled sections for Brightness, Contrast and Detail.  Keyer controlled functions include negative and solarize effects. Dedicated video output

• Shape Generator: Symmetry knob controls the mix of horizontal and vertical VCO outputs.  Three two dimensional shape outputs: Circle, Diamond and Crosshatch
• Modulation Routing: Dual 8 position rotary switches select modulation sources for the Luminance Processor and Colorizer, enabling quick access to most of the instrument’s features without patch cables.
• Colorizer: Colorize external video or internally generated patterns, with dedicated voltaged controlled sections for Red, Green and Blue.  Keyer controlled functions include full color negative and selectable single color negative effects.  Dedicated composite video and 1V RGB outs.
• Key Generators: 2 hard key generators with adjustable threshold levels, each dedicated to the Luminance Processor and Colorizer effect sections.

Also in the box is: 

• 16-page User Manual
• Vinyl Sticker
• 12VDC 1A Power Adapter
• Video RCA Cable
• 2 Patch Cables
• Official Vidiot Birthday Party Hat

LZX Industries Vidiot is now available for pre-order for $669USD (first batch) and  fulfilment is estimated for December 2017.

More information here: LZX Industries Vidiot