Kassia Lemieux and Dan Rouleau put Montreal on notice with their circuit-bending and refinishing of audio electronics under the moniker Screwed Circuitz. Then, in 2022, the duo founded Days of Yore to develop creative tools with aesthetics inspired by mid-20th-century consumer electronics built into furniture. Their product line includes adventurous pedals, high-end spring reverbs, and the unbalanced Passive Matrix Mixer (PMM). When a box from Days of Yore arrived at my door, I knew what it was but had no idea what to expect. I transferred the PMM from its packaging to a table, where it was illuminated by the warm glow of late-afternoon sunshine filtered through the curtains. I paused to admire the walnut frame with its natural finish and the cherry-topped control plate gilded with shiny gold knobs. In that moment, the absence of control labels enhanced its allure. The vintage-furniture vibe is strong, but the minimalist design adds a touch of modern elegance.
The angled front panel of the Passive Matrix Mixer includes five control knobs and five toggle switches on each of the five vertical channels. All of the knobs are nicely spaced apart. There are no group or master controls because every mono input signal is summed into every channel. Knobs in the top row control the level of input 1 on each channel. Knobs in the second row control the level of input 2 and so on. The switch below every knob on the PMM is not simply a mute. In the down position, the potentiometer behind the knob is electronically bypassed to prevent unnecessary signal loss from its reactive impedance in the passive circuit. For best results, always begin with switches in the down position and activate individual switches only as needed.