Eurorack Pitch Quantizer Module Comparison

Martin Doudoroff

This is a pretty exhaustive and up-to-date basic comparison of all your pitch quantizer module options for Eurorack. Some additional tools of potential interest are listed at the bottom.

Related discussion thread: Eurorack pitch quantizer comparison (ModWiggler forum)

Latest

2024-05-15 added Instruo Dail
2024-04-09 added dnipro qTone
2023-06-30 added Tenderfoot QQ2
2023-05-01 updates and corrections
2022-04-09 added Ladik Q-040 and Blue Lantern Quad Mk2
2022-01-20 added Flame Tame Machine (historical)
2022-01-19 added Bastl 1983
2020-10-31 added Monome Crow and Der Mann mit der Maschine DROID
2020-02-19 added Shakmat Bard Quartet
2020-02-19 added Tenderfoot Quad Quantizer
2019-10-22 added Kassutronics Quantizer
2019-09-29 errata
2019-09-29 added Mungo w0
2019-09-26 added more performance data from producers
2019-09-25 errata
2019-09-24 reworked transposition column, errata, first stab at accuracy column
2019-09-23 rough draft
Show full revision history

Notes

The Channels column is the number of input voltages the unit will quantize for you. The Derived Parts describes the additional outputs that some units will create for you (intervals, chords, arpeggios, etc.)

The Nominal accuracy column is a simple calculation of the resolution of the DAC against the output range of the quantizer. There are many other factors that may relate to the accuracy of a quantizer, but this is a baseline. Note that a cent is 0.83 millivolts, so quantizers above that value lack the resolution to be accurate within a cent.

As with all sophisticated modules, the devil is in the details. In particular, how each of these work is beyond the scope of this comparison, but critical for your workflow. All this comparison can do is help you survey the options and identify the modules you need to research more carefully. (You may find that some of these modules are pretty whacky.)

If you’re looking for microtonal quantization, use your browser’s search feature (usually command+f/ctrl+f) to find “micro” on this page.

Product		Shipping	DAC resolution / nominal accuracy	Channels	Derived Parts	Triggered Quantization	Trigger Ouput	Input range	Output range	Scales	Transposition	Approx. Price (USD)	Additional Notes
2hp Tune 2016 2 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	???	1		No	No	0 to +5v	0 to +5v	8 preset	Dedicated	100
ADDAC 207 Intuitive Quantizer 2012 10 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	???	4	three intervals	Yes	Yes	-5v to +5v	0 to +10v	7 basic scales with pure, equal, Bohlen-Pierce, Just or “exotic” temperament; active notes are directly editable/playable with keyboard-style buttons; v/o scaling enables 24-note and 48-note microtonal scales, etc.	(default) CV option	430	tuning mode bypass Buchla voltage support tracking compensation adjustments one assignable CV
ACL Sinfonion 2018 42 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.15 millivolts (less than one cent)	5	four-part chord generation, arpeggiator	Yes, with delay comp	Yes	-10.24v to +10.24v	-2v to +8v	comprehensive modes and scales with equal temperament, just intonation, or quarter comma meantime; active notes are directly editable/playable with dedicated buttons for each channel	Dedicated	1000	all parts share root and scale while having independent active scale notes extensive sequencer for coordinating clocked or cv-based state changes extensive CV modulation matrix detune, glide and pitch bend support bypass multiple Sinfonions can be patched in a master -> slave configuration tuning mode
Bastl 1983 2018 7 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	???	4			Yes			equal temperament and just intonation, with some low level micro-tuning capabilities (see documentation); available notes can be set by MIDI		290	listen inputs enable the quantizer to keep four oscillators in tune quad quantizer features are just one alternate mode for this MIDI-to-CV interface
Blue Lantern Quad Quantizer Mk2 2020 6 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	???			Yes (only)		0 to +10v	0 to +5v	9 preset scales		120	tuning mode
Der Mann mit der Maschine DROID MASTER 2020 8 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.31 millivolts (less than one cent)	8	Yes	Yes	Yes	-10v to +10v	-10v to +10v	implements twelve degrees out of the box	CV option	420	multipurpose module that is user configurable through a text file (something like a script language)–a broad array of quantization scenarios can be created, possibly including microtonal
Dnipro qTone 2024 6 HP Web site >		No	???	2	No	Yes	No	-5v to +5v	-5v to +5v	12TET, 16 user-defined scales (automatically saved)	CV option	220	two assignable cv inputs for scale, glide, shift or transpose
Doepfer A-156 Dual Quantizer 2012 8 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	8-bit: within 39.06 millivolts (beware)	2		Yes	Yes	0 to +10v	0 to +10v	~27 possible scales	Dedicated	160
Erica Synths Pico Quant 2018 3 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	12-bit: within 2.44 millivolts (within a few cents)	1		Yes	Yes	0 to +10v	0v to 10v	8 preset scales editable with web interface; includes support for quarter tone (microtonal) scales	No	135	cv-controlled glide tolerance adjustment
Expert Sleepers Disting (various editions) 2014 4 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	24-bit: within 0.01 millivolts (less than one cent)	1		Yes, with delay comp	Yes	-10v to +10v	-10v to +10v	fifteen basic scales by default; can load user-configured scala files (including microtonal); available notes can be set by MIDI	Dedicated	190	multi-function device (quantizer is one of many modes) slew/glide MIDI support
Flame Chord Machine 2 2017 12 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	12-bit: within 2.44 millivolts (within a few cents)	1	four part chord and one arpeggio	Yes	Yes	0 to +10v	0 to +10v	huge list of scales; active notes set manually with keyboard-style buttons (?)	(default) CV option	370	state progression sequencer tuning mode
Flame Tame Machine 2010 14 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Discontinued	???	1		Yes	No	0 to +4.8v	0 to +5v	28 presets and seven user slots	Dedicated CV or manual	350	cv-controllable scale selection from five banks of seven preset slots includes clock and idiosyncratic sequencing features
Industrial Music Electronics Argos Bleak 2017 15 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	12-bit: within 1.95 millivolts (within a few cents)	2	two intervals	Yes	Yes	0v to +8v	???	15 basic scales	CV option	470	dedicated internal vibrato LFO glide octave shifting tuning mode bypass preset sequencer
Instruo Dail 2024 4 HP Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.31 millivolts (less than one cent)	1		Yes	Yes	-10v to +10v	-10v to +10v	user-programmable scales; available notes set by MIDI; 19 preset scales	CV option	300	programmed scales can span multiple octaves even spacing option for smoother arpeggios from LFOs various MIDI functionality enabled through included 2HP expander
Instruo Harmonaig 2017 18 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.31 millivolts (less than one cent)	1	third, fifth and seventh (chord)	No	Yes	-10v to +10v	-10v to +10v	14 ionion and harmonic minor modes; active notes directly editable/playable with playable keyboard-style buttons	It’s complicated	335	intervals created automatically, manually, or with cv analog slew per output
Instruo Quad Performance Quantizer 2017 10 HP Modular Grid >		Discontinued	???	4		No	Yes	???	???	available notes set by MIDI	No	620
Intellijel Scales 2019 8 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.31 millivolts (less than one cent)	2	one interval	Yes, with delay comp	Yes	-10v to +10v	-10v to +10v	35 scales arranged in banks, directly editable/playable with playable keyboard-style buttons	CV option	290	built-in transposable sequencer one assignable CV
Intellijel uScale 2 2012 6 HP Modular Grid >		Discontinued	16-bit: within 0.15 millivolts (less than one cent)	1	one interval	No	No	0 to +10v	0 to +10v	up to 144 user scales defined in banks with the playable keyboard-style buttons	CV option	230	cv over interval
Kassutronics Quantizer 2019 10 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes (DIY/builder)	no DAC employed	2		Yes, with delay comp	Yes	-5.33v to +5.33v	-5.33v to +5.33v	defined with the playable bracelet-style buttons	CV option	TBD	instead of simple triggers, outputs variable-length gates
Ladik Q-010 Easy Quantizer 2014 4 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	???	1		No	No	0 to +5v	0 to +5v	sixteen basic scales	Dedicated	75	cv controlled octave switcher
Ladik Q-040 Quad Quantizer 2021 4 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	???	4		No	No	0 to +5v	0 to +5v	semitones		70	one channel can be set to octaves or quints
Monome Crow 2019 2 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.23 millivolts (less than one cent)	2	four (whatever you script up)	Yes	Yes	-5v to 10v	-5v to 10v	any scale can be scripted (including microtonal)	CV option	200	multipurpose module that is user configurable through a script language–a broad array of quantization scenarios can be created, possibly including microtonal
Monome Teletype 2015 18 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	14-bit: within 0.61 millivolts (less than one cent)	1	four (whatever you script up)	Yes	Yes	0 to +10v	0 to +10v	any scale can be scripted (including microtonal)	No (requires expander)	480	expanders are available to add additional CV inputs and CV outputs, theoretically adding additional channels or derived parts
Mungo w0 2013 12 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	20-bit: within 0.02 millivolts (less than one cent)	1		No	No	-10v to +10v	-9.5v to +9.5v	user-defined, arbitrary scales, including microtonal and non-uniform	No	500	“swiss army knife” signal generator capable of many functions, including loadable lookup table
Ornament & Crime 2016 14 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes (DIY/builder)	16-bit: within 0.15 millivolts (less than one cent)	2 or 4 depending on mode	ASR, chords, or neo-Riemannian transformations depending on mode	Yes, with delay comp	Yes, depending on mode	-3.5v to +6.5v	-3v to +6v	100+ baked in scales (editable in UI) including microtonal	Yes, depending on mode	300	assignable cv varies by mode hackable source code alternate firmware readily available from professional builders also available in 8hp uO_C form factor (recommended!)
Shakmat Bard Quartet 2020 10 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.15 millivolts (less than one cent)	4		Yes	Yes (shared/assignable)	-3v to +7v	-3v to +7v	Active semi-tones are selected with playable keyboard-style buttons; available notes can be set by MIDI (with expander)	Yes, pre- or post-quantization (selectable)	390	select between eight different module states with knob or over CV save/recall 80 states per note micro-detuning feature arpeggiator Hz/V and 1.2V/Oct support expander available
Sonic Potions Penrose 2015 6 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes (DIY)	8-bit: within 39.06 millivolts (beware)	1		Yes	Yes	0 to +10v	0 to +10v	Active semi-tones are selected with playable keyboard-style buttons	No	95
Synthesis Technology E102 Quad Temporal Shifter 2012 14 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Discontinued	14-bit: within 0.61 millivolts (less than one cent)	1	3 time shifted outputs (shift register)	Yes	No	-6v to +6v	-6v to +6v	Chromatic	No	300	Shift register features tuning mode
Tenderfoot Quad Quantizer 2019 12 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	12-bit: within 2.44 millivolts (within a few cents)	4		Yes	Yes	-3v to +7v	-3v to +7v	12 baked in scales, ephemeral user scale	Dedicated	215	cv selection over preset scales
Tenderfoot QQ2 2023 12 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	???	4		Yes	Yes	-3v to 7v	-3v to +7v	44 baked in scales, edit at any time (ephemeral)	Yes, pre- or post-quantization	310	cv selection between four active scales each channel can have its own scale cv octave switching
TipTop QuantiZer 2018 10 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.08 millivolts (less than one cent)	1		Yes	No	0 to +5v, 0 to +10v, or -5v to +5v (selectable)	0 to +5v	Major, minor plus 24 semi-tone-based user scale (defined with keyboard-style buttons)	CV option	299	clocked state sequencer with transposition glide support tuning mode TipTop SyncBus support
Toppobrillo Quantimator 2012 8 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Discontinued	12-bit: within 1.22 millivolts (within a few cents)	1	2 (triad/chord or shift register)	Yes	Yes	0 to +5v	0 to +5v	32 scales	Dedicated	230
Tubbutec uTune 2017 8 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	16-bit: within 0.15 millivolts (less than one cent)	2		Yes	Yes	0 to +10v	0 to +10v	microtonal scale editor built-in	CV option	300	extensive MIDI I/O including sending microtonal MIDI out tuner assignable CV dual channel expanders available
WMD Arpitecht 2017 12 HP Modular Grid > Web site >		Yes	14-bit: within 0.43 millivolts (less than one cent)	1		Yes	Yes	0v to +5v	-1v to +6v	16 scales; active notes selected via note mask selection	Dedicated	300	extensive rhythmic pattern-based arpeggiation and glide features triad (chord) expander

In addition, these modules don’t really belong in the above comparison but have been pointed out as being of potential interest:

• Cycle Instruments Tetrachord (four part arp/chord melody mill with sophisticated macro and cv control)
• Elektrofon Klang (four part chord generator)
• Qu-bit Chord (chord-generating quad-oscillator with parametric front-end)
• Qu-bit Chord 2 (chord-generating quad-oscillator with parametric front-end)
• Flame 4VOX (chord-generating quad sequencer)
• Mutable Instrument Plaits (oscillator with chord generator)
• Mutable Instrument Braids (oscillator with chord generator)
• Bastl Instruments Popcorn (sequencer that can be used as a quantizer)
• Mutable Instruments Marbles (random source that can be quantized to a user-supplied voltage table)
• 2hp Arp (arpeggio generator)
• Klavis Caltrans (pitch manager)
• Alyseium Q-Linear (pitch manager)
• Bastl Instruments 1983 (pitch manager/MIDI interface)
• Mazzatron KEYS-1 Keyboard Quantizer (transposer)
• Doepfer A-173-1 and -2 (transposer)

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