intellijel/planar-2

Planar²

Intellijel

A precision 2D joystick controller providing vector control of two independent output sets (quadrant-based A–D and axis X/Y), quad crossfading/panning/routing of audio, CV gesture recording and playback, and two CV inputs with selectable Cartesian/Polar/Scan automation modes.1151

Capabilities 5

CV Sourcecv-source
Outputs X and Y provide 0–10V unipolar or ±5V bipolar CV from joystick position; outputs A–D provide 0–10V unipolar CV when inputs are unplugged.1151
LFOlfo
Joystick movements can be recorded up to ~4 minutes and looped for complex LFO-like or one-shot envelope-like playback, optionally synced to external triggers.1151
Manual Controllermanual-controller
1151
Mixermixer
Four audio inputs are vector-mixed via internal VCAs with joystick position crossfading between them; summed MIX output available.1151
Quad Pannerquad-panner
Joystick position crossfades a signal to four outputs for quadraphonic panning, or routes it through four different processors.1151

Jacks 15 (7 in / 8 out)

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (7)
A INmixedAudio or CV input routed through an internal VCA to the A output or MIX; normalled from nothing. IN B is normalled to IN A if nothing is plugged into IN B.1151
B INmixed1151
C INmixed1151
CV 1cvFirst CV input; controls X-axis (Cartesian), rotation (Polar), or timeline position (Scan) depending on MODE setting. Has paired attenuverter.1151
CV 2cv1151
D INmixed1151
TRIGGER INtriggerSyncs recording and playback start/stop times to incoming triggers; when nothing is connected, recording and playback begin immediately on button press.1151
Outputs (8)
A OUTmixed0V to 10V1151
B OUTmixed1151
C OUTmixed1151
D OUTmixed1151
GATE OUTgate≤5VOutputs a gate signal, either manually via the Manual Gate button or automatically when the joystick is in motion (when SENSE is on). Gate is high (+5V) while condition persists.1151
MIX OUTmixedSummed output of all four internal VCAs (A–D); useful as a 4-input vector mixer/crossfader output.1151
X OUTcvOutputs a CV corresponding to joystick X-axis position (or recorded/CV-controlled value); switchable between unipolar 0–10V and bipolar ±5V via Polarity switch.1151
Y OUTcvOutputs a CV corresponding to joystick Y-axis position (or recorded/CV-controlled value); switchable between unipolar 0–10V and bipolar ±5V via Polarity switch.1151

Parameters 13

NameTypeRangeBehavior
ABCD buttonbuttonThree-state button (identical behavior to XY button) governing how A/B/C/D and MIX outputs are affected: LIT = joystick/recording + CV IN; FLASHING = joystick only; UNLIT = CV IN only. State saved to memory approximately every 30 seconds.1151
CV 1 Input attenuverterknobScales and optionally inverts CV 1 input. Fully clockwise = full effect; noon = no effect; fully counterclockwise = maximum inverted effect.1151
CV 2 Input attenuverterknob1151
Joystickmenu_settingTwo-axis precision joystick that controls X/Y CV outputs and/or ABCD/MIX VCA levels. Movements can be recorded and played back. Can generate gate signals when SENSE is on.1151
LOOP buttonbuttonThree-state button: UNLIT = one-shot playback; LIT = continuous loop; FLASHING = play-once then re-arm for next trigger. Toggle on/off with quick-press; toggle between LIT and FLASHING states with press-hold.1151
Manual Gate buttonbuttonSends a gate to GATE OUT for as long as it is held; independent of the SENSE switch. Manual gates are recorded during recording sessions.1151
MODE buttonbuttonCycles through three CV input modes: Cartesian (CV1=X, CV2=Y), Polar (CV1=rotation, CV2=radius), and Scan (CV1=timeline position, CV2=linearity). Indicator LEDs show current mode.1151
PLAY buttonbuttonStarts/stops playback of recorded joystick movements. Four states: UNLIT = no recording; PULSING = recording present but stopped; LIT = playing; RAPID FLASH = waiting for trigger. Long-press (>1s) while lit erases the recording.1151
Polarity switch XswitchSets X OUT voltage range: UNI position = 0V to +10V; +/- position = -5V to +5V. Also affects recorded and CV-summed X values.1151
Polarity switch YswitchSets Y OUT voltage range: UNI position = 0V to +10V; +/- position = -5V to +5V. Also affects recorded and CV-summed Y values.1151
RECORD buttonbuttonStarts/stops recording of joystick movements and gates. Press-release to start; press-release again to stop. Supports punch-in/out by holding during playback. Maximum record time ~4 minutes. Glows red while recording.1151
SENSE switchswitchWhen on (up), automatically sends a high gate to GATE OUT whenever the joystick is in motion; gate goes low when joystick stops. When off, only manual gates via Manual Gate button are possible.1151
XY buttonbuttonThree-state button governing how X/Y outputs are affected: LIT = joystick/recording + CV IN summed; FLASHING = joystick only; UNLIT = CV IN only (joystick/recording disabled, virtual center). State is saved to memory every ~30 seconds.1151

Firmware history 7 versions

VersionReleasedNotes
1.32024-04Added boot toggle for ramped looping at loop boundaries. Vastly higher sample rates for looper, controls, and all CV I/O. Improved X/Y filtering for smoother response. Fixed ramping behavior. Saved state (modes/toggles) reset on update.1151
1.2.42021-10Fixed an error in CV mode behavior and scaling.1151
1.2.32021-10Minor adjustment to Sense detection.1151
1.22021-10Added support for Intellijel Gx/Qx Gate Expander module with positionally-dependent gate outputs. Extended loop time to ~4 minutes (8x increase). Noise reduction on inputs and outputs. Other bug fixes.1151
1.022019-07Fixed shortened loop times.1151
1.012019-02Fixed mixer bleed and looper glitch.1151
1.02018-07Initial release.1151

References 2

  1. [1151]
    Intellijel Planar² Manual v1.3manual
    verified 2026-06-08
  2. [1152]
    Intellijel Planar² product pageproduct_page
    verified 2026-06-08