Ferry Island Undertow & Beacon: 2D Wavetable LFO & Stereo VCA

TL;DR: Ferry Island Modular returns to Superbooth 2026 with two new Eurorack modules: Undertow, a 16HP 2D wavetable VCO/LFO matrix with 15 simultaneous outputs, and Beacon, a 4HP stereo pingable VCA/LPG with physically modeled Vactrol response. The Undertow is a genuinely novel modulation source, while Beacon brings organic Buchla-style pluckiness to a compact footprint.

• Undertow provides a 5×3 CV matrix with 15 unique LFO outputs, each interpolating between two wavetables for complex, evolving modulation.
• Beacon is a stereo VCA that can switch to LPG mode, with physically modeled Vactrol behavior and smooth OTA distortion for percussive sounds.
• Both modules will debut at Superbooth 2026, with availability expected shortly after the show.

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Undertow: A Modulation Module from Another Dimension

Ferry Island Modular, the plucky Finnish outfit that gave us the brilliantly bonkers Four Seas 4D wavetable oscillator last year, is back with a follow-up that leans hard into the weird and wonderful. The Undertow is a 16HP Eurorack module that the company describes as a “2D wavetable VCO and LFO matrix.” But let’s be honest: calling it an LFO is like calling a cappuccino “hot milk.” Technically correct, but missing the point entirely.

At its heart, Undertow is a modulation powerhouse. It takes two wavetable LFOs and runs them through a 5-by-3 CV matrix, producing 15 simultaneous outputs — each one a unique interpolation between those two source waveforms. You can think of it as a kind of vector mixer for modulation signals, but that undersells the sheer depth of what’s happening under the hood. The horizontal axis lets you morph between waveforms, while the vertical axis (implied by the matrix) adds another layer of complexity.

We at Noxal have a soft spot for modules that force you to think in new ways. Undertow does exactly that: instead of patching one LFO to one destination, you suddenly have fifteen interrelated signals to distribute across your patch. It’s the kind of module that rewards patience and experimentation — two things we’re never short of when the coffee is fresh.

15 Outputs of Chaos and Control

Let’s talk specifics, because the devil — and the delight — is in the details. Undertow offers five banks of wavetables, selectable from the front panel. Each bank contains a different set of waveforms, and you can morph across them horizontally. The modulation section lets you control waveshape type and mod amount, so you’re not stuck with static patterns. There are end-of-cycle outputs and clock inputs on both sides, meaning you can sync Undertow to your system’s tempo or use it as a master clock source.

All parameters have CV control with attenuators, which is crucial for a module this deep. Without attenuation, you’d be drowning in modulation. With it, you can dial in exactly the right amount of wobble, pulse, or chaos. The 15 LFO outputs are individual jacks, so you’re going to need a lot of patch cables. I recommend buying stock in a cable manufacturer before you commit to this module.

The real magic, though, is in the interplay between outputs. Because each output is a unique mix of the two source LFOs, you get a family of related but distinct modulation signals. This creates a sense of organic movement that’s hard to achieve with traditional LFOs. It’s like having a small orchestra of modulation, all playing from the same score but with their own interpretations.

Beacon: The Pingable Stereo VCA/LPG Hybrid

If Undertow is the brain, Beacon might be the heart. This compact 4HP module is a stereo pingable character VCA and lowpass gate, with physically modeled Vactrol response and smooth OTA distortion. In plain English: it can behave like a traditional stereo VCA, or switch into LPG mode for that coveted Buchla-style pluck.

The “pingable” aspect is key. Send a trigger or gate into Beacon, and it responds with the organic rise and decay characteristics of a Vactrol — but without the actual Vactrol, which means no temperature sensitivity or component drift. The module offers two different LPG responses from the same ping, giving you flexibility in how aggressive or smooth your envelope shapes are. Switch to standard VCA mode, and you get clean stereo amplification with character courtesy of the OTA distortion.

On the front panel, you get stereo in/out (L/R), two CV inputs, and controls for character, level, and LPG mode. That’s a lot of functionality in 4HP. We at Noxal appreciate modules that respect rack space without sacrificing usability. Beacon looks like it could be the missing link for anyone wanting Buchla-style percussive sounds in a Eurorack context without dedicating a whole row to it.

Market Context and Who Should Care

Ferry Island Modular is still a young company — their first module, Four Seas, only launched a year ago. But they’re already carving out a niche for themselves with conceptually daring designs. The Undertow is unlike anything else on the market. There are other multi-output LFOs (like the Intellijel Quadrax or the Xaoc Devices Timiszoara), but none that use a 2D wavetable matrix approach. It’s genuinely original, which is rare in a format that often feels like it’s running out of ideas.

Beacon, meanwhile, enters a more crowded field. There are plenty of stereo VCAs and LPGs out there, from Make Noise’s Optomix to the ALM Busy Circuits Jumble Henge. But the combination of pingable operation, physically modeled Vactrols, and OTA distortion in a 4HP package is compelling. It’s for the modular user who wants organic, playable dynamics without sacrificing precious rack space.

Who should buy these? Undertow is for the modulation obsessive — the person who spends hours patching and repatching modulation sources to find just the right movement. Beacon is for the rhythmically minded, the ones who live for plucky bass lines and evolving percussive textures. Both modules will be on display at Superbooth 2026, booth W475, and availability is expected shortly after the show.

And so we wait, coffee in hand, for Superbooth 2026 to confirm what we already suspect: that Finnish winters produce some of the most interesting modular designs we’ve seen in years. Now if only they’d make a module that brews espresso.