Hi Zack, thank you for the modules, the parcel has arrived and they look and sound great!
Ectocore
A breakbeat sample mangler for Eurorack that streams, slices, sequences, and effects samples from SD card in real time.
$429
USD
4.9
45 reviews
Details
Ectocore is an algorithmic sample mangler for Eurorack, based on the open-source zeptocore by Infinite Digits. It streams audio directly from the included SD card, chopping, slicing, sequencing, and effecting samples in real time.
Check out the fantastic intro video by The Sound Convergence on Youtube.
Fill the card with anything
Use the browser-based Ectocore Sample Manager to prepare sounds without installing an app. Each of the 16 banks holds up to 16 samples, with no limit on sample length. Slice evenly, find transients automatically, or place slices by hand. Kick, snare, and transient markers can send pulses from the trigger output as playback crosses them.
The included SD card arrives with sounds from Pete Cannon, DivKid, Moe Shop, and others. Replace them, rearrange them, or fill the card with vocals, field recordings, melodies, breakbeats, or whatever else deserves to be pulled apart.
Let the sequence wriggle
The Amen knob runs a looping sequencer inspired by runglers and Turing machines. Turn it clockwise to move from straight playback toward repeating patterns and fresh permutations. Jump controls how likely the playhead is to move elsewhere, and whether it returns after the jump.
Break sets the probability that effects will fire. Grimoire selects one of seven mappings built from 16 real-time effects, while the shifted controls add volume, saturation, distortion, a DJ filter, gating, pitch shifting, and beat repeat. The useful part is that Ectocore can stay recognizable for a while, then become completely unreasonable with one turn.
Put it in the rack
Amen, Break, and Sample accept configurable control voltage, so Ectocore can follow precise modulation or react to triggers from elsewhere in the system. The 2 PPQN clock input keeps playback synchronized and automatically repitches samples to the incoming tempo. Clock output can divide or multiply the pulse, and the trigger output can follow kicks, snares, detected transients, or random events.
Ectocore is open source. Firmware, hardware files, and the code it inherited from the zeptocore are available in the Infinite Digits _core repository.
Videos
4 videosSpecifications
- Width: 8 HP
- Stereo audio: 16-bit, 44.1 kHz
- Sample storage: included SD card
- 16 banks with up to 16 samples per bank
- No sample length limit
- Browser-based sample preparation with even, transient, and manual slicing
- Kick, snare, and transient markers for trigger generation
- Amen looping sequencer inspired by runglers and Turing machines
- Jump probability control with return and non-return behavior
- 16 real-time effects arranged across seven Grimoire mappings
- Master controls for volume, saturation, distortion, DJ filtering, gating, pitch shifting, and beat repeat
- Amen, Break, and Sample CV inputs
- Configurable unipolar 0 to 5 V or bipolar -5 to +5 V CV response
- Optional reset input configured through the sample manager
- 2 PPQN clock input with automatic tempo matching
- Clock output with division and multiplication
- Trigger output modes for kick, snare, transient, and random events
- Open-source firmware and hardware
Sold Out
Documentation
Ectocore Guide
Ectocore is an 8 HP Eurorack version of Infinite Digits’ Zeptocore: a stereo sample mangler for slicing breaks, combining effects, sequencing transients, and staying locked to a modular clock.
Demo
Ectocore streams stereo audio from its SD card and reshapes it in real time. Use the large Break control for immediate variation, select sounds from 16 banks, and move through curated combinations of slicing, gating, filtering, distortion, and other effects.
Highlights and effects
- 8 HP Eurorack module.
- Stereo 44.1 kHz audio streamed from SD card.
- 16 sound banks with voltage control over sample selection.
- 16 curated FX combinations selected by the Grimoire control.
- Algorithmic sequencing for generating new sample-slice patterns.
- Transient-specific triggering for kick, snare, and other detected events.
- Clock input and output with synchronized playback.
Source code and schematics
Ectocore is based on the open-source Zeptocore device by Infinite Digits. Explore the canonical
_core source repository
or open the
Ectocore v1.0.1 schematic directly.
Rungling and sequencing
The internal looping random sequencer is inspired by runglers and Turing machines. It can continually generate related slice patterns, balancing repetition with controlled mutation.
Transient sequencing
Ectocore can identify and expose transients so external triggers can address musically useful events such as kicks and snares instead of advancing through a sample blindly.
Stay in sync
Clock input keeps Ectocore aligned with a patch while automatic pitch adjustment matches the sample to the detected tempo. Clock output can pass the synchronized pulse onward to the rest of the system.
Firmware and sample tools
Use the store’s Ectocore firmware selector to choose the current clock and latency build. The existing quick-start and sample manager remains available for preparing the SD card and managing sounds.
Acknowledgments
Ectocore grew from the open-source Zeptocore platform and a wider community of hardware, firmware, and music-software work. Read the full project history and acknowledgments.
Customer feedback
Reviews
I like this approach just fine; load up samples, throw CV at it, let it do its thing. Generates endless variations with dizzying complexity and surprisingly good taste, even with no modulation applied. Hands down the most fun I’ve had with drums in the modular.
I have 2 Ectocores which I absolutely love.
I love my Ectocore.
Same. I love my Ectocore! I'm not the best with timing, but to me, it sounds locked in and grooving
It's an absolute blast to modulate with the wobblebug.
I've heard that a few times. Haven't had a ton of issues with BPM drift yet. The latest firmware update notes says that it's mostly been fixed. I'm crossing my fingers that it's true!
It is my favorite module in my rack
You wrote an incredible codebase and I think it would be a real shame if more eurorack implementations that utilise it didn't exist.
With the latest firmware it can work really well depending on how it’s clocked and source material for breaks. Super fun when it’s been massaged into place
Ectocore is a great module and I love it!
It’s working fantastically, so amazing work!
i really love seeing the descriptions of things at the bottom of the web-interface, it's fun just to play the ectocore synced to a clock output
I have so much fun with it.
I’d love to feature your fantastic Ectocore module.
Love it already.
Cheers and thanks for this awesome module!
I wanted to ask you a few questions about my Ectocore, which I’ve been getting some good use from and enjoying very much
damn, that's so sad to hear, I had so much fun with that module...
I just loaded into the rack and it is so amazing, so thank you for all the hard work.
I really love your module and the zeptocore!
I picked up an ectocore before they sold out and I love it so much I just bought another one off perfect circuit!!
I love it.
First of all, I really love the Ectocore, and all the work you've put into it!
Mine crashes every single time I boot it up. How do you install the non-overclocked firmware
I flashed the new firmware and it works perfect no issues at all. Everything that was wrong was fixed it’s eat now.
Own TWO of them I love it so much, one for breaks one for 'other things'. I've ran a bit of everything through it so far, both with fast clock and with slower clock for melodic stuff. While I've seen a bit of drift I've never had it freeze, and the latest firmware seems to fix most of the drift issues I had experience. HIGHLY suggest it, I've literally been looking for (and attempting to recreate) this in euro for 5 years.
I own the ectocore and I think it slaps. I have had it freeze once or twice and have had it act a little irregularly, but compiling the newest firmware helped a lot and development seems very active.
I love it! Have definitely had sync issues but new firmware helps.
Owner of an Ectocore. It’s brilliant. So easy to prepare samples with the web app. I’m slicing vocals, melodies, kitchen utensils. birdsong, and anything else I can think of. Intuitive and inspiring. I would buy a second one but it’s not cheap.
its so much fun!!!! timing with default samples is really tight now - you did it!!
Even though I've only scratched the surface so far, I can already tell this is a one-of-a-kind module--one that I absolutely *need* at least two of in my rack!
Hi Zack, the Ectocore works great now that I have lowered the amount of samples on my card!
Tons of fun—I’m really impressed!
I loaded up the first bank with the amen breaks flac files from Norns and it works perfectly!
It's an amazing tool.
i think the trig out section is brilliant. i used to try and patch up different ways to trigger external drums using breaks all the time over the years in both software and hardware, using envelope followers, side chaining, etc. the fact that ectocore has ways to do this natively is mindblowing to me.
Thanks again for all the help and the awesome product!
The default panel on the Ectocore looks killer to me!
Ectocore has been a blast to build.
Also in another news, got an ectocore, which makes all sound instantly interesting.
The Ectocore has a little bit of a learning curve but it is so much fun!
The product that he and you have created is an incredible device!
It has been a crazy month but I'm getting a few brief moments to breathe out and enjoy some more Ectocore.
Ectocore is awesome. :)
-Having So Much Fun With It!
you're so welcome, this is a beautiful device, really happy to help :)
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