Bastl Instruments BUDDY

4-channel stereo mixer with boost up to 20 dB - Eurorack

• Four-channel Eurorack stereo mixer optimized for hybrid setups
• Channels A and B for mono or stereo Eurorack sources, with a slight boost of +6 dB
• Channels C and D feature line preamps up to +20 dB and stereo TRS jack inputs
• Direct connection of desktop units without adapters
• Clean boost with low-noise NE5532 op-amps and smooth overdrive
• 10 Vpp Zener soft clipping in the mixdown stages
• Chainable via jumpers on the back to add channels without losing inputs
• Compact 5 HP form factor

Bastl Instruments Buddy is a four-channel Eurorack stereo mixer optimized for hybrid setups. Channels A and B are designed for Eurorack sources—mono or stereo—with a slight boost, while channels C and D are line preamps that boost the signal up to +20 dB and feature stereo TRS jack inputs for directly connecting desktop gear without additional adapters. All channels use the high-quality, low-noise NE5532 op-amp—the same one found in the Dude—for a clean boost that can also provide a smooth overdrive even on clean stereo signals.

Eurorack stereo mixer for hybrid setups with desktop units

With Buddy, your modular system and desktop gear work together seamlessly without level issues. You can use your Eurorack as an effects processor: Buddy brings your desktop gear up to the correct level and serves as the ideal mixer for aux sends. Similarly, you can use external stereo processors with your Eurorack voices, with Buddy bringing their levels back in line with the modular system.

Stereo mixdown and attenuator for line-level devices

Buddy also functions as a stereo mixdown module for all your stereo and mono voices. Thanks to the stereo mixdown attenuator, you can also lower the level to send the signal to line-level devices.

Channels A and B for Eurorack sources

Channels A and B are DC-coupled, with an input impedance of 100 kOhm and a gain of x2, equal to +6 dB. The left input is normalized to the right channel, so a mono source is routed to both sides of the stereo mix.

Channels C and D with line preamp up to +20 dB

Channels C and D are AC-coupled, with an input impedance of 10 kOhm and gain up to x10, equal to +20 dB. They accept a 3.5 mm TRS stereo jack or two 3.5 mm TS mono jacks. Using solderable jumpers, you can convert them to DC-coupled and route the left input to the right channel.

NE5532, soft clipping, and cascading

The low-noise preamplifier is based on the NE5532 op-amp, while the mixdown stages incorporate a 10 Vpp Zener soft clipping circuit. Multiple Buddy units can be daisy-chained via jumpers on the back panel, using the L/R inputs and outputs, to expand the number of channels without sacrificing inputs: the mixdown signal is sent to the output jumpers only when the Buddy’s outputs are unconnected, so you can configure the mixdowns via patch cables.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Bastl Instruments
• Model: Buddy
• Type: 4-channel stereo mixer, Eurorack format
• Channels A and B: DC-coupled, input impedance 100 kOhm, gain x2 / +6 dB, left input normalized to the right channel
• Channels C and D: AC-coupled, input impedance 10 kOhm, gain x10 / +20 dB, input: 3.5 mm TRS stereo jack or 2 x 3.5 mm TS mono jacks
• Solder jumpers (C and D): switch to DC-coupled mode, normalize left input to right channel
• Clipping: 10 Vpp Zener soft clipping in the mixdown stages
• Op-amp: Low-noise NE5532
• Output impedance: 1 kOhm
• Chaining: rear jumpers for L/R inputs and outputs; mixdown sent to output jumpers only when outputs are unconnected
• Width: 5 HP
• Depth: 30 mm (with power cable connected)
• Power connector: 10-pin, protected by PTC and fuse
• Current draw: +12 V <27 mA, -12 V <27 mA