2hp Pan (c. 2010s?)
Seven inputs, two outputs, and a stereo field you can map with patch cables — all in 2HP.
Overview
You know that moment when you're elbows-deep in a Eurorack build, scanning the case for one last HP to squeeze in something useful, and you think: "If only someone made a panning mixer that didn’t eat half my panel real estate"? That’s exactly where the 2hp Pan — officially the TXn – 2hp Panning mixer — steps in. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t have faders or level controls, and it won’t generate a single volt of its own. But what it does, it does with surgical efficiency: it takes seven signals and lets you place each one spatially between two outputs, using nothing but the physical layout of the jacks as a kind of tactile panning interface. This isn’t a mixer in the traditional sense — no knobs, no attenuation — just pure, passive panning logic baked into the placement of the patch points. And it does it all in a 2HP slot, which, in Eurorack terms, is practically free.
The module is a remix — a compression job, really — of Jesper Särnesjö’s open-source ‘nearness’ module, which originally occupied 3HP. 2hp took that design and squeezed it down, preserving the core idea: the closer your input is patched to one of the two outputs (top or bottom of the panel), the more prominent that signal becomes in that output. It’s a brilliantly simple concept that turns cable placement into an expressive tool. You don’t need CV, you don’t need power-hungry circuitry — just patch, listen, and adjust by moving cables a few millimeters. It’s the kind of module that feels obvious in hindsight, which is often the mark of good design.
And yes, it’s sold as a DIY kit — PCB and black anodized aluminium panel — for £17.99 (exc VAT), which tells you something about its intended audience: builders, tinkerers, minimalists who appreciate clever circuit reuse and space-saving hacks. It’s not a finished, boxed unit you’d buy off the shelf; it’s a component for those who solder their own modules and take pride in a clean build. The fact that it pairs well with the TXo in oscillator mode (as noted in the product context) suggests it’s meant to be part of a tightly integrated, low-footprint system — maybe even a portable or travel rig where every HP counts.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | 2hp |
| Model | TXn – 2hp Panning mixer |
| Width | 2HP |
| Depth | 19mm |
| Power consumption | +12V: 25 mA, -12V: 26 mA, +5V: 0 mA |
| Weight | 25 g |
| Physical dimensions (panel/store item) | 128.5 × 10 × 4 mm |
| Panel material | black anodized aluminium panel |
| Jack hardware | knurled nuts |
| Number of inputs | Seven inputs |
| Number of outputs | Two outputs |
Key Features
Seven-in, two-out panning matrix
The core function is right there in the layout: seven inputs, two outputs (top and bottom), and a spatial relationship defined by proximity. Patch an input near the top output, and that signal dominates the top channel. Move it toward the center, and it balances more evenly. Go low, and it shifts to the bottom. It’s a passive summing and panning system, so there’s no active mixing — just resistive division based on position. This makes it incredibly lightweight in terms of power and complexity, but also means you’re relying on the source levels to be reasonably matched. It won’t boost or cut — what you put in is what gets panned, just distributed.
Patch-point panning control
There are no pots, no encoders, no CV inputs. The panning is entirely determined by where you plug in. The seven inputs are arranged vertically between the two outputs, so their physical position on the panel maps directly to their stereo placement. It’s a tactile, almost architectural approach to panning — you’re literally building a spatial mix with cable placement. Some users might find this limiting, but others love the immediacy. It turns patching into a compositional act, where moving a cable isn’t just rerouting a signal, but repositioning it in space.
2HP compression of a 3HP design
This module is explicitly a remix of the open-source ‘nearness’ module by Jesper Särnesjö, shrunk from 3HP to 2HP. That one-HP saving might seem trivial, but in Eurorack, it’s significant. Cases fill up fast, and modules that reclaim even a single HP are valued. The fact that 2hp achieved this without sacrificing functionality speaks to thoughtful layout and component selection. It’s a reminder that in modular synthesis, density isn’t just about fitting more features — sometimes it’s about doing the same thing, but more efficiently.
Designed for system integration
The module doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s meant to work in concert with others — particularly the TXo, especially when used as an oscillator. Pairing multiple TXos with the Pan module lets you sum and spatialize several voices without needing a full mixer or complex routing. It’s a minimalist’s solution to stereo imaging: no automation, no envelopes, just direct, hands-on control. The design also aligns visually and functionally with TELEX expanders and monome modules, suggesting it’s part of a broader aesthetic and technical ecosystem — clean, understated, and utility-focused.
Historical Context
The 2hp Pan was created as a space-saving remix of an existing open-source design, the ‘nearness’ module by Jesper Särnesjö. Rather than reinventing the wheel, 2hp optimized the layout to fit into 2HP instead of 3HP, catering to the growing demand for ultra-compact Eurorack solutions in the 2010s. This kind of open-source remixing was (and still is) common in the modular community, where designers build on each other’s work to refine and miniaturize utility functions. The Pan module didn’t emerge from a corporate R&D lab — it grew out of a culture of shared schematics, DIY builds, and panel layouts traded online. Its existence reflects a moment when Eurorack was expanding rapidly, and builders were hungry for modules that did one thing well, without wasting space.
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.