DeepMind 12 Live Q and A part 1
Part 2
Category Archives: Reviews
Elysia Character Discrete Class A saturation and distortion
The Elysia Karacter is a really interesting rack unit and not just because it’s a high quality distortion or saturation. The Karacter gives you a ton of tone shape characteristics and control in one simple 1u rack space. Control Voltage seems to be a buzz these days and for good reason. Control voltages give you extremely fast precise control over parameters and allow for easy interaction not just with modular gear but with various studio pieces. Karacter Gives you CV control which isn’t very common in units of this style. Lets talk more about the sound. There are a few modes of color to grab from this unit, the first of which is saturation. Continue reading
ZAOR Studio desk “Yesk” Review
ZAOR Studio Furniture YESK Production desk
review by Flux
The Yesk is the latest production desk from boutique studio desk manufacturer ZAOR. The Yesk is a three tier desk with a slide out keyboard tray perfect for 49-61 keys. the center console features two bays of 4U of rack space at a nice working angle. The construction is of solid wood and feels extremely sturdy. One of my personal concerns about this review was that I know I will be moving in semi near future, will this desk hold up after a tear down and rebuild. I can say that after putting the desk together and seeing the smart anchor system that it uses to assemble the individual pieces (it comes flat packed), I have no doubts it will fair well in the move. Build time was pretty short (under two hours with me basically half paying attention to the build and half paying attention to another project I was working on. I’d bet with some focus I could have pulled it off in about 45 minutes. The instructions are very well layed out and it is really only about 11 parts or so you need to join together. The only gripes I had during the build was that the adapters for the rack screws could have come preinstalled and that the bottom row of them are a very tight fit to the desk. Nothing really upsetting just nitpicking for the sake of this article really. Continue reading
Barton Writeable quantizer is a unique way to patch melody
Barton Musical Circuits
Writeable Quantizer
The writeable Quantizer(WQ) is an interesting module in that while it can function like a traditional sequencer, it is anything but traditional. What sets the WQ apart is that this quantizer doesn’t come with preset 1/12v divided scales like most quantizers do. Instead the WQ allows users to store voltages into a user defined “scale” and then quantize incoming voltages to those stored voltages. You can use traditional scale values and write those voltages to a traditional scale but what is the fun in that? Continue reading
Mode Machines OMF-1 Analog Rack Filter
The Mode Machines OMF-1 is an analog 19″ rack filter designed for use with a wide variety of sources. the preamp in this unit can handle signals from guitar (instrument level) input all the way up to eurorack modular levels. Far from just a basic Moog ladder filter clone, the OMF-1 adds a tap for the phase reversible single pole -6 db per octave slope (labeled FIZZ) phase reversible 4 pole -24 dp per octave slope(labeled Smooth), as well as extensiv modulation options. Also included in this circuit is a beautiful sounding overdrive. By sending signal into the filter and adjusting the preamp, you can overload the filter core (indicated by a red LED) to add additional harmonic content to the signal. The OMF-1 features a side chain input as well as CV and Gate inputs for external filter control. The modulation options are Follower (think Mutron bass filter) Attack Release and Attack Decay settings. the LFO has triangle and square waveforms with a rate control and dedicated depth control as well as the ability to self trigger the envelope (which essentially will act like a complex lfo shape). clocking in £666.00 direct from the mode machines site, this is an impressive all analog rack mount filter that truly has an impressive character.Take a listen to the video for plenty of sound demonstration. take a look at the Manual here
Korg Minilogue Review : An analog poly synth bargain
Using Instrument Level gear with your Modular (LineAmp from Animodule)
The Animodule Line_Amp has been out for just a little while and its a very small (2hp) module but I am continually finding nice little tricks with this module.
The Line amp is essentially a dual buffered multiple BUT it has a switch on it that when turned on will boost any signal times 3. This is useful for taking line level signals and sending them up to the Modular world audio signal level range.
Additionally what I have discovered is that by sending an output from the LineAmp back to its second input you can boost even further and bring instrument level sources such as an electric guitar or rhodes piano up to Modular levels.
Check the Video out for more info on this great eurorack modular synthesizer module 🙂
Buy one here— https://www.animodule.com/product/line_amp