TL;DR: Hell Modular has announced two new 5U modules at SynthFest France 2026, injecting fresh blood into a format often dominated by Moog clones. The VCO706 East Coast VCO offers a stable, performance-oriented analog oscillator, while the VCF1002 is a faithful recreation of the distinct 24dB lowpass filter and VCA from the legendary 1975 PPG 1002 synthesizer.
- Two new, non-Moog-clone 5U modules: an East Coast-style VCO and a PPG 1002 filter/VCA recreation.
- The VCO706 prioritizes stable tuning and aggressive sync sounds in a classic, performance-focused layout.
- The VCF1002 module packs an audio mixer, noise source, the distinct PPG lowpass filter, and a discrete VCA into one panel.
- The PPG filter is noted for its clarity and musicality at high resonance, unlike the saturated sound of classic ladder filters.
- Pre-orders are open now, with the VCO priced at 666€ (ex. VAT) and an estimated 6-week delivery time.
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A New Hell for 5U
While the Eurorack world churns out new modules with the frantic energy of a caffeine-addled squirrel, the 5U (or “Dotcom”) format has often felt like a more stately, conservative gentleman’s club. The walls are lined with portraits of Moog and the air smells of vintage oil. It’s a wonderful place, but sometimes you crave a different vintage. Enter Hell Modular, a German company using SynthFest France 2026 as a platform to announce not one, but two new 5U modules that pointedly are not Moog clones. This is noteworthy. In a market segment where “authentic recreation” is often the highest praise, Hell Modular is offering something else: a neo-vintage performance oscillator and a faithful resurrection of a legendary, non-Moog filter. It feels less like a tribute act and more like a new band playing original material on classic instruments.
The two modules—the VCO706 East Coast VCO and the VCF1002 PPG Lowpass Filter—represent a deliberate push to expand the 5U palette. As developer Cornel Hecht notes, the goal is to combine classic character with modern precision. In an ecosystem that can sometimes feel like a museum, Hell Modular is trying to open a new wing. For those of us who love the solidity and playability of 5U but sometimes wish for a different sonic signature, this is a very welcome hell indeed.
The East Coast VCO706: Stable, Aggressive, Classic
Let’s start with the sound source. The Hell VCO706 East Coast VCO is described as a “performance oscillator,” which in my book translates to: it’s meant to be played, tweaked, and relied upon. The core promise is a fusion of that lively, organic 1970s analog VCO character with modern stability in tuning. Anyone who has spent an afternoon coaxing a vintage oscillator to stay in pitch across five octaves will understand the appeal of this marriage. It’s the romantic chaos of analog, but with a reliable partner who remembers to take out the trash.
Spec-wise, it’s a straightforward and powerful design. A single, 1V/oct trackable core delivers the holy quad of waveforms: saw, rectangle, triangle, and sine, all available simultaneously at their own outputs. It spans from LFO duties up into audio range, with dedicated pitch and interval controls. The inclusion of pulse-width modulation (with a dedicated attenuator) and hard sync are the key features for sound designers. That hard sync, in particular, is highlighted as a path to “aggressive, sharp sounds,” and the module even provides a sync output to act as a master in a sync setup. Two CV inputs with attenuators round out the package. It’s not trying to be a digital wavetable monster; it’s aiming to be the best-in-class analog voice you build your system around.
The PPG VCF1002: Clarity and Character
If the VCO is about reliable character, the VCF1002 is about legendary, specific character. This module is a fascinating piece of synth archaeology. It’s a faithful recreation of the core signal path from the 1975 PPG 1002 synthesizer, cramming an audio mixer, a noise generator, the iconic 24dB lowpass filter, and a discrete VCA into a single 5U panel. This isn’t just another filter module; it’s a curated slice of a very particular history.
The magic, of course, is in the filter. The PPG 24dB lowpass is explicitly not a Moog ladder filter clone. While the Moog filter is beloved for its warm, saturated throatiness, the PPG filter is renowned for its clarity and “character.” The distinction is crucial: this filter is said to remain musical and defined even at high resonance settings, providing a “sharp, defined edge” that made the original a secret weapon for cutting leads and precise, deep basses. It’s the difference between a roaring tube amp and a surgically clean transistor amp—both incredible, but for different songs. The included discrete VCA, modeled on the original, completes the voice, with a gain control that invites drone exploration. This module isn’t just a filter; it’s a distinct vintage voice in a box, now accessible to the 5U world for the first time in decades.
Who Is This For, and Why It Matters
So, who is the target audience for these modules? Firstly, the existing 5U enthusiast looking for something that isn’t another 901 or 921 oscillator clone. The Dotcom compatibility ensures easy integration, but the sonic offerings are fresh. Secondly, the PPG filter module is a siren call for anyone interested in the early digital-hybrid era of synthesis (think Wolfgang Palm, early Tangerine Dream) but who wants to work within an analog modular format. It’s a bridge between worlds.
Beyond the specific users, Hell Modular’s move is significant for the 5U ecosystem. As the source text notes, while Eurorack explodes, the number of dedicated 5U manufacturers has dwindled. New blood is vital for any format’s survival. By offering modules that are both high-quality and historically interesting without retreading the most well-worn path, Hell Modular is doing exactly what the doctor ordered: providing compelling reasons for people to stay in, or even enter, the 5U space. It proves there are still untold stories and unmined sonic territories in the big, beautiful format. Pre-orders are open now, with the VCO706 priced at 666€ (before VAT and shipping) and an estimated 6-week lead time. The price of admission to a new kind of hell seems, frankly, quite reasonable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these Hell Modular 5U modules compatible with my Dotcom/MU-format system?
Yes. The manufacturer specifically states the VCO706 is “fully dotcom-compatible,” and the power and mounting standards for 5U are generally consistent. You should have no issue integrating these into a standard MU-format cabinet.
What makes the PPG filter different from a Moog-style ladder filter?
The classic Moog ladder filter is known for a warm, saturated, sometimes “throaty” sound, especially as resonance increases. The PPG 24dB lowpass filter, recreated here, is noted for its clarity and definition. It maintains a sharp, musical character even at high resonance, rather than compressing or farting out, making it ideal for precise, cutting leads and tight basses.
Can the VCF1002 module function as a complete voice?
Almost. It contains a mixer, noise source, filter, and VCA. You would need to provide an oscillator (like the VCO706) into one of its audio inputs to have a complete, classic analog voice chain. The built-in VCA allows for amplitude control, making it a incredibly compact voice core in a single module.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to see if my 5U case has a spare 6U of space and my bank account has a spare 666 units of currency. The coffee can wait; this kind of planning requires a clear head.