RIP BIA: A Lovesong to the Basimilus Iteritas Alter / 2016-2023

Today Noise Engineering announced that the Iteritas line of Eurorack modules is being discontinued, and that no further stock of Basimilus Iteritas Alters, the infamous drum synth, will be produced.
As a testament to its power, its versatility, and its simple strange beauty, I offer this humble tribute to one of the most iconic sounds in modular synthesis.
This isn't a demo video--there are plenty of examples on KZbin if you're interested in how the module works:
• Inspiring Modulation (...
Thanks to Kris and the whole Noise Engineering team for speaking with me about career change, creative process and all kinds of other cool things. That interview will be shared in the coming weeks so don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to this channel!
Wanna hear more BIA?
/ bilijie
Or buy stuff at bilijie.bandca...
Also Spotify if you must

[@NoiseEngineering]

What a lovely homage. Thank you for this!

[@Bilijie]

So what’s the retirement party plan?

[@CinematicLaboratory]

Probably the best and most entertaining video of BIA I've ever seen.

[@Bilijie]

Hi praise indeed coming from you!

[@hami]

What a superb homage to an amazing module. I feel very privileged to own Basimilus Iteritas Alter serial #1

[@Bilijie]

How’d you manage that?

[@AndrewPRoberts]

Good thing it's BACK AND BETTER

[@HarisCupina]

in two day's I am getting my new born BIA, will celebrate once in my hands. Great vid!!!

[@SkyshifterBass]

I absolutely love my bia. Definitely want to get my hands on the Alia as well.

[@eduardolopez1082]

Man, I remember when this happened, and at the time I was into the ambient territory, so I had no intentions of getting this. However, I understood why the BIA was such a loved module, but that being said, here I am - glad I found myself with the line of NE modules, and bought the new version of BIA with intentions of Melodic House/Techno. I can't wait.

[@quantum_ocean]

Basimilus Iteritas Alia is the successor to the Basimilus Iteritas Alter. It was developed to sound nearly identical, with added features and new firmware

[@Jos3p0]

This video got me so jazzed up about the BIA. I ended up buying one of the last new stock units from Sweetwater thereby marking the start date of my transition into the physical modular realm after having spent so much time in VCV Rack. My fate has been sealed. Kick ass video and props to Noise Engineering for making such an incredible piece of hardware!

[@0xRemedyx0]

rip your wallet :)

[@bobbychaos]

Great video, well done 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@kirkyoung4147]

What a fantastic video. I sadly have never owned a BIA... But my LIP is very near and dear to me

[@peterkeys88]

this was fun, thanks for giving the beloved BIA a sendoff

[@absis1080]

I love this video ❤ bia is 💣

[@jamierenouf8340]

Love this video. Great content on what has been a classic module for some time.

[@djsyndicate0001]

Great video! BIA is a powerhouse!

[@AndyVonal]

Awesome! still in love with mine... looking forward to acquiring more from NE - innovative and inspiring module makers!

[@SorchaSublime]

And the BIA rises again with the Alia series

[@Qwiv]

Nice vid and cool tribute.

[@vertigev]

Great video ❤

[@michaelkonomos]

Good news!

[@corticallarvae]

I still own both of them BI and BIA

[@maerisrael]

gorgeous elegy.

[@Bilijie]

TY!

[@TeddyCoke]

holy effing cow this module is ace

[@joystickcan]

well done !

[@BlackMan614]

I just bought the new version. It is awesome. I am on the fence about the firmware update to change the sounds to the other 2 modules, but at least its available, i guess.

[@Bilijie]

I got one tooo! Tried all the firmwares, and the one I’ve got loaded now is Incus. Highly recommend for caustic metal sounds

[@netako]

That sounds insane.

[@acfpv]

What a banger of a first video. Hope you put out more content. I’ve seen ppl make less of a techno track with a rack 4 times this size. Dunno if that speaks of the BIA or yourself as a musician (probably both). Well done ! 👍🏻

[@Bilijie]

Thank you that is super kind. I think one of the common pitfalls of gear acquisition is wanting to use everything all the time, which can lead to cluttered mixes and/or option paralysis. In a space with many interesting choices like eurorack, I find thoughtful curation and parameters to be even more vital to both the creative process and the listener experience. And yes more videos to come!

[@shufflephunk]

truly said, I think I had the most fun when I just had the erbeverbe :- )@@Bilijie

[@lucagunther5405]

Long live BIA!

[@mitdemall]

This is one of my favorite modules :) But i have to say most of the time i need to pair it with a filter to get its wild character under control ;)

[@Bilijie]

So true. What do you use?

[@kvmet]

​@@Bilijiesad you never got a reply here. My favorite is Steve's MS22.

[@williamlynn3149]

i love mine dearly and am sad to see it leave the market

[@magjo665]

it's not leaving, this is a plain lie, will be available with exactly the same sound and controls in basimilus iteritas alia.

[@aikighost]

@@magjo665 its very close but not 100% the same the new BIAlia has an env out that the original BIA didn't have, so a slight improvement.

[@Lalaland.001]

amazing showcase, I'll do one next year on it's forst year anniversary on BIA day. What repair did you have to get done on yours, just curious???

[@Bilijie]

Ah just the trigger jack was busted!

[@Existence_denied]

I wish someone is nice enough to Open Source the Eurorack Mutable instruments did with Plaits

[@prospectnyc]

Instant NIN. It will be missed.

[@symbiat0]

Is there an equivalent / similar / replacement module for BIA ?

[@Bilijie]

Good question.. not a full on replacement but Tymp Legio achieves similar, though less aggressive sounds. I’ve used a few of the stranger drum modules… among them SSL Thundrum is pretty crazy FM and fully analog for that clang and dive bomb kicks, Plaits can do mode switching but is more polite, plenty of good kicks out there too like Crater. But nothing has that gruesome edge plus the cv controlled percussion mode in a single module like BIA to my knowledge.

[@TheCALMInstitute]

Maybe like the ALM Taiko modules?

[@Tofu_Pilot]

Nope

[@thebobbybabbitt7703]

I think the Bassimilus Iteritas Alia is essentially just a BIA on the Alia platform

[@symbiat0]

@@thebobbybabbitt7703 Yes, I saw the announcement a few months back when they brought it back on Alia. In fact, I have one on order - they had a special deal over the holidays where they will throw in a free distortion module if you buy a module so I pulled the trigger on the BIA. It was supposed to arrive yesterday but it’s USPS so 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@song-mode]

when is that interview dropping?

[@Bilijie]

Just dropped!

[@song-mode]

@@Bilijie sweet! will check it out,

[@midiotsavant]

Oh snap! Wait a second. It's not really gone. Noise Engineering just repackaged it in a new version with the Alia line. But not before causing a "got to get the original version before it's gone forever" rush. Great way to move all your old stock of the OG module before reintroducing basically the same module in a new skin very shortly thereafter. Douchey marketing.

[@Bilijie]

It’s completely different hardware from my understanding. The original XMOS chip has been end of life’d by the manufacturer of those chips. The new chips are based on Daisy I believe. I’m sure sound comparisons will be made but I don’t have the new one to say for sure.

[@SorchaSublime]

@@Bilijie New sound but old functionality, and as long as the sound is at least as good as the BIA at the same things it will be an apt replacement.

[@greencontact]

Why!? I didnt have time to get one... 😭(great video by the way!)

[@shane_l8085]

It's back with an updated version.

[@VJFranzK]

why going away??

[@snörre23]

Why did they discontinue it ?

[@Bilijie]

XMOS chip that powers the whole Iteritas line reached end of life by the chip manufacturer, and reconfiguring for another chip would be time consuming, expensive while not quite sounding the same.

[@Tharsismusic]

This video makes me want to fire my system up instead of do housework!

[@Bilijie]

I call that “productination”!

[@averagepainter]

i'm a little bit ashamed to say that it always was my go to base drum. nothing more.

[@Bilijie]

No shame there! It’s a very versatile kick drum

[@xnaut_g]

I got a new one

[@nomdeplore7604]

almmost edged but you oversold it. I'll buy one if I can.

[@CalebWilliams-k4b]

got a used one for sale, starting bid 1 million dollars. worth every penny!

[@LuvWatches]

Fortunately, the BIA was replaced with the BIA.

[@MrStanley85]

BIA is dead long live the new BIA :D

[@HatredPrime]

Dead at age 7.

[@evwaldron]

Wonder how long until Behringer makes a clone... LOL