Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Grendel RA-99 Grenadier is new for 2020 and continues boldly into the sound territory of the original RA-9 from 2015. This is an original and excellent all-analog synthesizer from Rare Waves that implements parallel formant synthesis with a triple-VCF filter bank (1x LPF, 2x BPF). Voice-like vowel tones, stabby and juicy alien acid sounds, eerie drone incantations, filtered noise percussion, dark electro basslines, pitched Miami bass drums, wispy analog leads and more are at the producer’s fingertips. This synth uses CV-Gate control and gives you multiple v/oct inputs to creatively stack the CV sources from your sequencers to elevate its melodic potential. The accurate single VCO has voltage-controlled wave shape, a sub-octave square wave, and a pink noise source for furry warmth. RA-99 also features a pair of multi-function modulation sources that change from envelope generator to LFO by pushing a button. As envelopes, they can be either Decay or Attack-Release, with precise exponential curves. As LFOs, they have variable symmetry for triangle-sawtooth shapes, also pulse wave and clock outputs. LFO rate and envelope time can be voltage controlled. A pushbutton lets you assign either modulator to the main volume VCA. Both of RA-99’s modulators include bipolar attenuators to add animation to the filter bank, plus patchable modulation outputs to drive the synth’s other parameters. Its assembled in the USA by Rare Waves LLC (Texas). Grendel RA-99 Grenadier is designed and supported by Eric Archer.
The Grendel RA-99 Grenadier is new for 2020 and continues boldly into the sound territory of the original RA-9 from 2015. This is an original and excellent all-analog synthesizer from Rare Waves that implements parallel formant synthesis with a triple-VCF filter bank (1x LPF, 2x BPF). Voice-like vowel tones, stabby and juicy alien acid sounds, eerie drone incantations, filtered noise percussion, dark electro basslines, pitched Miami bass drums, wispy analog leads and more are at the producer’s fingertips. This synth uses CV-Gate control and gives you multiple v/oct inputs to creatively stack the CV sources from your sequencers to elevate its melodic potential. The accurate single VCO has voltage-controlled wave shape, a sub-octave square wave, and a pink noise source for furry warmth. RA-99 also features a pair of multi-function modulation sources that change from envelope generator to LFO by pushing a button. As envelopes, they can be either Decay or Attack-Release, with precise exponential curves. As LFOs, they have variable symmetry for triangle-sawtooth shapes, also pulse wave and clock outputs. LFO rate and envelope time can be voltage controlled. A pushbutton lets you assign either modulator to the main volume VCA. Both of RA-99’s modulators include bipolar attenuators to add animation to the filter bank, plus patchable modulation outputs to drive the synth’s other parameters. Its assembled in the USA by Rare Waves LLC (Texas). Grendel RA-99 Grenadier is designed and supported by Eric Archer.
