Make Noise Pressure Points
Touch-activated analog sequencer with pressure expression
20 HP Eurorack module
Pressure Points is a touch-controlled analog performance controller that generates gate signals, pressure-sensitive control voltages, and up to three tuned voltages per stage by sensing the resistance of a human finger across copper touch plates. It functions like a hand-played analog sequencer offering four stages of preset voltages, expressive pressure modulation, and expandability for larger controller configurations. Its musical character is deeply tactile and expressive, rewarding technique with nuanced, responsive control over synthesis parameters.
Features
- Four touch plates generate Gate and Pressure CV outputs when played with bare hands
- Pressure-sensitive control voltage proportional to finger contact area and pressure
- Three rows of tuned voltage potentiometers (X, Y, Z) per stage for preset control voltages
- Tuned Voltage Out X ranges 0 to +8V; Tuned Voltage Outs Y and Z range 0 to +5.5V
- Top row (X) can function as gate signal source: full CW is Gate On, full CCW is Gate Off
- Individual Gate and Pressure outputs per channel (1-4) plus combined Gate and Press bus at Channel 4
- Gate and Press outputs normalized to combined bus output at last position in chain
- Active Stage Indicator LEDs for visual feedback
- Digit Trimmer for adjusting touch plate sensitivity to finger size, moisture, and installation angle
- Touch Sensitivity Adjustment Potentiometer (Digit Trimmer) accessible from right side of module
- Chainable with up to four units via 10-10 Pin Chain Cable
- Expandable with BRAINS module for clock-driven stage sequencing
Controls & Jacks (39)
- Channel 4 Pressure Out/Combined Pressure Output — Pressure control voltage output for Channel 4; combined pressure when chained
- Channel 1 Pressure Output — Pressure control voltage output for Channel 1
- Channel 1 Gate Output — Gate signal output for Channel 1
- Channel 2 Pressure Output — Pressure control voltage output for Channel 2
- Channel 2 Gate Output — Gate signal output for Channel 2
- Channel 3 Pressure Output — Pressure control voltage output for Channel 3
- Channel 3 Gate Output — Gate signal output for Channel 3
- Channel 4 Gate Out/Combined Gate Output — Gate signal output for Channel 4; combined gate when chained
- Stage 4 Gate — Gate output for Stage 4. Fires a gate signal when Touch Plate 4 is pressed.
- Stage 1 — Illuminates when Touch Plate 1 is active, indicating Stage 1 is selected.
- Stage 2 — Illuminates when Touch Plate 2 is active, indicating Stage 2 is selected.
- Stage 3 — Illuminates when Touch Plate 3 is active, indicating Stage 3 is selected.
- Stage 4 — Illuminates when Touch Plate 4 is active, indicating Stage 4 is selected.
- X1 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out X when Stage 1 (Touch Plate 1) is active. Range is 0 to +8V.
- X2 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out X when Stage 2 (Touch Plate 2) is active. Range is 0 to +8V.
- X3 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out X when Stage 3 (Touch Plate 3) is active. Range is 0 to +8V.
- X4 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out X when Stage 4 (Touch Plate 4) is active. Range is 0 to +8V.
- X Out — Tuned voltage output for the X row. Outputs the voltage set by the active stage X knob.
- Y1 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Y when Stage 1 (Touch Plate 1) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Y2 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Y when Stage 2 (Touch Plate 2) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Y2 LED — LED indicator near the Y2 knob. Provides visual feedback of the Y2 voltage level.
- Y3 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Y when Stage 3 (Touch Plate 3) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Y4 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Y when Stage 4 (Touch Plate 4) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Y4 LED — LED indicator near the Y4 knob. Provides visual feedback of the Y4 voltage level.
- Tuned Voltage Out X — Tuned voltage X output (0-8V)
- Tuned Voltage Out Y — Tuned voltage Y output (0-5.5V)
- Z1 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Z when Stage 1 (Touch Plate 1) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Z2 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Z when Stage 2 (Touch Plate 2) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Z2 LED — LED indicator near the Z2 knob. Provides visual feedback of the Z2 voltage level.
- Z3 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Z when Stage 3 (Touch Plate 3) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Z3 LED — LED indicator near the Z3 knob. Provides visual feedback of the Z3 voltage level.
- Z4 LED — LED indicator near the Z4 knob. Provides visual feedback of the Z4 voltage level.
- Tuned Voltage Out Z — Tuned voltage Z output (0-5.5V)
- Z4 — Sets the voltage that appears at Tuned Voltage Out Z when Stage 4 (Touch Plate 4) is active. Range is 0 to +5.5V.
- Digit Trimmer — Adjusts touch plate sensitivity to compensate for finger size, moisture, playing technique, and installation angle
- Touch Plate 1 — Touch-sensitive plate to select Channel 1, generate gates, and generate pressure control voltage
- Touch Plate 2 — Touch-sensitive plate to select Channel 2, generate gates, and generate pressure control voltage
- Touch Plate 3 — Touch-sensitive plate to select Channel 3, generate gates, and generate pressure control voltage
- Touch Plate 4 — Touch-sensitive plate to select Channel 4, generate gates, and generate pressure control voltage
How-To Guides
- Tactile Keyboard
- The New Bongo
- Folding Under Pressure
- Preset Storage Controller
- Latched Toggle Switch
- One-Shot Sample Player with Splice Selection
- Pressure-Slewed Giant Modulation
- Touch Gate Mixer
- Row X as Extra Gate Bus
- Momentary Touch Modulation
Explore the interactive Pressure Points panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.
