The following is the official press release, just in:
Strymon shapes first foray into Eurorack effects with feature-filled Magneto module
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, USA: having turned heads and opened ears at The 2018 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, powerful processing effects developer Strymon is proud to announce availability of Magneto — illustrating its first foray into the Eurorack small-format modular market with an aptly-subtitled Four Head dTape Echo & Looper module packed with powerful features while maintaining intuitive playability, perfect for creating expansive soundscapes and evolving, otherworldly tones — as of March 5…
As implied by the Four Head dTape Echo & Looper legend blazoned across an attractive yet functional front panel that is instantly recognisable as springing forth from the Strymon stable, Magneto is a stereo multi-head tape delay that also functions as a looper, phrase sampler, vintage spring reverb unit, phase-aligned clock multiplier, chaotic oscillator, zero-latency sub-oscillator, and more, with extensive CV I/O.
"All sounds are solely from the Moog Mavis, running through various delays and reverbs (see index below).
0:04 Unboxing
1:35 Parts overview
2:22 Mavis through MXR Carbon Copy and Strymon BigSky, unpatched
3:02 Mavis through Carbon Copy and BigSky, self-patched
3:46 Mavis sequenced with a Make Noise 0-Ctrl
4:28 Mavis with a small case of Eurorack modules
Each example was recorded in one take with no overdubs. In the last example with the small case of Eurorack modules, the notes are a random non-repeating sequence from Ableton, running through a Hexinverter Mutant Brain MIDI to CV interface. Audio from the Mavis in this example is processed by a Strymon Magneto."
Moog Mavis with Strymon StarLab and Magneto
"Some sounds from the Moog Mavis processed by a Strymon StarLab reverb in the first example, and a Strymon Magneto delay in the second example (see index below). Sequences sent to the Mavis are random notes from Ableton, sent to a Hexinverter Mutant Brain MIDI to CV converter.
0:04 Mavis through Strymon StarLab
2:59 Mavis through Strymon Magneto
All sounds are solely from the Moog Mavis. Each example was recorded in one take with no overdubs."
Here are some patch notes:
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Patch 1:
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- I have a drumbeat in VCV going to Magneto.
- I'm modulating the Speed, the Loop, the Repeats, and the Spring reverb of Magneto with S&H from VCV Rack.
- I also have a sequence in VCV, sequencing the Basimilus, which is then going back into VCV for some delay.
Patch 2:
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- I'm triggering and modulating the Basimilus from VCv Rack, sending it to the Mimeophon.
- From there it's being copied once to the mixer, and once to Magneto.
- I'm modulating the Speed, Spring reverb, Hold, and Revers functions of Magneto with S&H from VCV.
- This is then going through Freak set to wave folder and saturation model for extra grit.
Patch 3:
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- I have the clock outputs of Magneto triggering the Basimilus and a couple of hats in VCV Rack so by changing the speed, the rate in which they're being triggered also changes.
- This is going into Magneto and I'm modulating the Hold, Revers, and Spring reverb with S&H.
- I also have the send and return of Magneto going to a bandpass filter on Freak, and I'm modulating the cutoff point.
- In VCv Rack, I have a drumbeat to accompany the chaos.
Patch 4:
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- I have a sequence in VCV Rack sequencing the Basimilus.
- Magneto is set to Loop mode and I recorded a few seconds of this sequence onto it.
- I'm also sending Magneto through Freak in low pass mode, and the Mimeophon for some delay and reverb.
- In VCV I have S&H modulating the Revers function of Magneto, the Shift, and also the cutoff point of Freak.
- I also have a Hi-Hat sequence running in VCV Rack.
Patch 5:
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- I have Magneto self-oscillating with the repeats all the way up.
- The CLK 1 output of Magneto is triggering the Play function, and I have also a clock from VCV Rack, clocking Magneto.
- I have an AD envelope in VCV controlling the Wet so it's like controlling a VCA, and I have multiple S&H signals coming from VCV modulating the Shift function, the Speed (so the pitch), and the amount of Spring reverb.
- I'm sending Magneto into Microcell with the Mix all the way down so I'm just using its reverb, but I'm modulating its amount from VCv Rack.
- I have also a copy of the left channel of Magneto going into the 2HP Freez for some extra glitch.
- In VCv Rack I have some drums playing, and I'm sending the Snare drum to a short modulated delay."
Voices:
Rings, sequenced by Hermod, brightness modulated by Make Noise Maths - - Pico DSP
Plaits, played live - - Pico DSP
Morphagene, splice & morph modulated by Mutable Instruments Marbles
Neutron sequenced by Hermod
The continuous pad is a sample granulated into QuBit Nebulae 2
Sequencers: Hermod & Make Noise René 2
Clocks:
Hermod - - 4MS Rotating Clock Divider and dispatched to René X, Y, Marbles and Strymon Magneto
Drums:
Rossum Assimil8or. 3 tracks sequenced and modulated by Hermod and 2 tracks in stereo mode are sequenced and modulated by René.
1010 Music Bitbox for extra percs & loops
Effects: Strymon Magneto + Erica Black Hole DSP 2
Mixers:
Lifeforms System Interface (Plaits, Rings, Morphagene. Strymon Magneto in send effect)
WMD Performance Mixer (Assimil8r, aux output from Plaits, even output from Rings, Bitbox)
"STRYMON MAGNETO
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Here's a series of clips going over some of the basics of the beautiful Strymon Magneto - 4 Head Tape Delay Module:
1. REVERB
The reverb by itself
2. DELAY
Each delay by itself, feedback on head 4, and then head 1 and 4 together.
3. SHIFT MODE
Listening to how the heads create melodic accompaniment in shift mode. This mode is a simple switch on the left. Not a press and hold alternate mode. So it's immediately accessible mid performance. Nice touch.
4. QUANTIZE SHIFT
Here an arpeggio is created with heads 2, 3 and 4 in hold quantize mode, and then the tape speed is turned down, then up to hear pretty far out pitch changes.
This can be played via CV at 1V/Oct.
5. TRANSPORT
The delay is established , and then looped with the transport, reversed, and then paused and resumed.
I've been done a lovely favor and this module has been left in my care for the next two weeks. I haven't been able to find one of these for myself and have been seriously interested in what it's capable of.
Right out of the box I was not immediately delighted. But with a little study and some acknowledgement of how the device works I've come to see it as completely inspirational.
Things to explore:
- Playing it as an instrument via cv
- Creating feedback loops with the send and return
- Overdubs
- Cutting samples and using it as a looper
I haven't done these things yet, but as a delay, reverb (which you can set the dip switches and convert magneto into two independent effects of you like - but the stereo output --which I'm not positive you will be able to hear here-- is so beautiful that as cool as that is, you're gonna want stereo) are peaceful, authentic, warm, and so deeply textured that once you understand the way the delay times are distributed it becomes immediately absorbing and just superb.
I love this thing.
It's only day one and I'm already very sad that I'm going to have to give it back.
I hope this morning exploration illustrates this module clearly for you, and helps you see what it does, how it sounds, and inspires and informs you.
A month or so ago I visited a friend's farm and took some shots that I really loved with the Fuji X-T30. I decided to pair these with an outdoor ambient experiment featuring the looping mode on the Strymon Magneto 🎧
The Sequential OB-6 is fed into the Monsoon (Mutable Clouds Copy) for a bit of texture, then into the Strymon Magneto in sound-on-sound looper mode. The dry signal is fairly low and the loop is quite long (I believe more than 30 seconds). The loop is slowly decaying and degrading. It's such a slow degradation that my previous performance is a bed under the final performance when it starts. I was going for something lazy, hazy, and noisy.
For some polish, the CXM 1978 is run in an effects loop from the modular on a static and drifty setting. It was a joy to perform this. I just had to be careful not to play any dissonant notes which would then be looped indefinitely 🤯
I performed and filmed the jam on my back porch. I have been loving setting up outside and creating with the sounds of nature around me🌱
Speckle Park/ Blue Sky Beef farm 🐄 https://www.instagram.com/speckleparkbeef
📺 Check out my current music releases 🌗 https://postmodernmachine.com/
"This video shows a few of the sounds you can get with the Strymon Magneto which is Strymon's first eurorack module, an emulation of a four head tape delay with spring reverb. The Magneto can go from clean delays to saturated old crinkly tape in a broken warbly tape machine. The Magneto also has looping and sampling modes where the tape transport can be controlled with buttons or cv gates.
"Strymon DSP and Sound Designer Pete Celi gives a preview of Magneto Four Head dTape Echo and Looper, and talks about why we decided to get into modular."
"Interstellar Space Machine.
Create expansive soundscapes and evolving, otherworldly tones. Add layers upon layers of harmonic and rhythmic complexity within an enveloping stereo field. Infuse your rack with vintage warmth and retrofuturistic soul.
Tape Delay, Looper, And More.
Packed with powerful features while maintaining intuitive playability, Magneto is a stereo multi-head tape delay that also functions as a looper, phrase sampler, vintage spring reverb unit, phase-aligned clock multiplier, chaotic oscillator, zero latency sub-oscillator and more, with extensive CV I/O.
Transform Your Modular.
Turn simple monophonic signals into complex orchestrations. Create new oscillator tones using self-oscillation. Add rich stereo dimension to your sound, and enjoy the inherent warmth and sweet, subtle distortion characteristics of magnetic tape. Magneto transforms even the smallest rack into a fully expressive, immersive instrument.
Vintage Vibe.
To capture the full experience and complexity of a vintage tape echo machine, every last tape system attribute was relentlessly studied and faithfully recreated. From the sought-after natural saturation and soft clipping of magnetic tape when driven hard, to hands-on real-time controls for tape age, tape crinkle, and mechanical wow and flutter, Magneto delivers a rich multi-head delay experience that adds life and vibe to your sound.
Play It Like An Instrument.
Every function, control, gain stage, and signal path component in Magneto works together to respond musically and smoothly, even during the wildest live modular improvisations. All this is combined with a luxurious spring reverb to take the sound of your modular setup to a new level, and your sonic explorations into far-out territories."
1. "Magneto is being clocked by a Tempi, and Magneto's clock outputs 2, 3, and 4 are sent to a Morphagene's shift input, a Noise Engineering's algo input, and Ch4 of Maths which is modulating the decay of the envelope on the arpeggio. Kick is from a self-oscillating Dave Smith DSM01 filter. Sequenced with a Winter Modular Eloquencer."
2. "Some more experimenting with the Strymon Magneto under voltage control. The pad is from a Make Noise Morphagene, and both synth voices are from a DPO. Reverb is from a Strymon BigSky."
"No amazing composition here, just some beat processing.
Just started recording video while I was having fun with the Strymon Magneto.
I haven't seen too many videos of this amazing module actually being patched.
You can hear both dry and wet signals.
About the patch: Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter -> WMD/SSF MMF -> Strymon Magneto. Magento is receiving cv and gate from Make Noise Maths & Tempi. Wogglebug is providing some uncertainty to Maths. Malekko Varigate 8 is sequencing BIA and providing master clock."
"Sempervirens - always flourishing or vigorous. (of plants) evergreen
Sound on sound performance with Felt Instruments Blisko and Strymon Magneto. Inspired by the recent forest fires here in California, specifically the sempervirens sequoias, which manage to flourish even in fire.
Felt Instruments makes beautiful virtual instruments in VST format. Here I am using their newest suite of instruments named Blisko, which incorporates Viola, Violin, and Cello recorded and modified in interesting ways. They are MPE compatible and that adds an extra layer of expressiveness. It feels like you are playing an actual physical instrument, as opposed to the normal multi-sample experience.
I am using my iPad as a screen for my computer to show the VST. The Analog Heat is acting as an audio interface for my computer, so I can send the audio from the VSTs to my eurorack. I use Strymon Magneto to make sound on sound loops and then feed that into Clouds in looping delay mode. The bass is from the Moog Subharmonicon.
Apologies for the lower than usual video quality. I didn't realize I wasn't shooting in 4k and this ended up being the best take. Sometimes you just have to let things be."
"I fell in love with the refined sound and unique interface of the Modal 008 polyphonic analog synth at Perfect Circuit a couple years ago. I finally found a good deal on one. It sounds amazing, but once you get outside the synth's signal path, a little effects processing goes a long way. So one of the effects processors I wanted to introduce the Modal to was the Strymon Magneto virtual tape delay module. The Magneto introduced a whole new dimension to the Modal's sound. In this clip, I experimented a bit with the pair, modulating the Magneto with the Xaoc Batumi and Cwejman D-LFO. The beats are courtesy of the Vermona DRM3-Mk2, sequenced by Elektron Machinedrum. It was filmed on an iPhone X with a Moment 1.33x anamorphic lens."
"A look at the new Strymon Magneto Eurorack module at NAMM 2018. TL;DR - we want one!
From Strymon's webiste
"To capture the full experience and complexity of a vintage tape echo machine, every last tape system attribute was relentlessly studied and faithfully recreated. From the sought-after natural saturation and soft clipping of magnetic tape when driven hard, to hands-on real-time controls for tape age, tape crinkle, and mechanical wow and flutter, Magneto delivers a rich multi-head delay experience that adds life and vibe to your sound."
Spotted the first video in the playlist above on discchord.com. The Playlist contains 21 videos. You can use the player controls to skip around. Descriptions for each are below. All videos feature various gear so you should be able to get an idea of some of the capabilities of each featured. You can check out Jay Hosking's music at https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/.
Note, more will likely get added over time. The following playlist is as of this post:
1. Jam w/ Vermona PERfourMER MkII, Elektron Analog Rytm MkII, OTO Bam, Styrmon Big Sky, Fugue Machine
A live, semi-improvised performance, all on hardware, and inspired by some pretty tough news that has me sentimental.
I loved the Elektron Analog Four MkII so much that I picked up the Analog Rytm MkII. My feelings on the Rytm are mixed. On the one hand, it's missing that spontaneity and spark of units like the Arturia DrumBrute Impact and Teenage Engineering OP-Z, with no readymade performance effects, roller bar, or global randomization, and a slower workflow. On the other hand, I really like its analogue sound engines, any unused tracks can be converted into impressive analogue mono synths, it does beautiful things to samples, and like all Elektron boxes it integrates the effects into the sequencer really nicely.
As for the Vermona PERfourMER MkII, I'd been pining over it for ages, and it was fun to finally tinker with it. The Perfourmer definitely excels in the mid- and high- range, and I love how the independent voices making really interesting voices for chords.
Vermona PERfourMER MkII + OTO Bam — Three synths (left chord note, right chord note, melody)
Vermona PERfourMER MkII + Strymon Big Sky — Bass chord note synth
Elektron Analog Rytm MkII — Drums, samples, sample melody, punchy bass
Fugue Machine (iOS) — Sequencing
IK Multimedia iRig Pro Duo — MIDI out from iOS
Written and performed within a 24-hour period, and uploaded as is, with only a little sidechain compression on the Perfourmer (to emphasize the sound that the Rytm was already making), and compression/limiting on the master.
"I’m using the 4 clock outputs of the Strymon Magneto delay to trigger 4 random voltages from the Doepfer A-149-4 which are then sent to the Instruo Quad Performance Quantizer which sends the pitch CV and Gates to the 4 voices (Synth Tech E330 VCOs, Klavis Quadigy EG, Xaoc Praga VCA/mixer) and the Magneto provides delays and reverb of course."
"As we shelter in place we have a bit of fun with the KOMA Field Kit driving the Crank Sturgeon Pocket Gamelan (springs, wires, and contact mics). We also use the Mr. Grassi non-deterministic touch plate module to drive a gong via a speaker and contact mic connected to the Field Kit. Audio is sent through the Strymon Magneto and QuBit Prism modules. The solenoid of the Field Kit is controlled by an FM shaped LFO on the After Later Pique module.
0:17 Field Kit Solenoid + marbles exciting the Pocket Gamelan (audio thru Strymon Magneto)
0:56 Solenoid striking the springs of the Pocket Gamelan
1:45 Using Mr. Grassi to excite a gong via the Koma Field Kit (audio thru Prism & Magneto)"
::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::
"Is it possible for one to fall completely, madly in love with a module in those first initial moments? Yes, yes it is... and I did with this Strymon Magneto! I wanted to see what sort of pretty ambient thing I could come up with, immediately after unboxing, while limiting myself to only three modules. So here, the Mutable Instruments Marbles is sequencing the Mutable Plaits module, which is then going into Magneto."
"::| TO HEAR THE FULL RANGE OF FREQUENCIES, A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |::
Buchla Music Easel going into the Strymon Magneto Four Head dTape Echo Eurorack module (in Echo/Pitch-Shifting mode.) Both oscillators of the Music Easel are being sequenced by the Malekko Heavy Industry Varigate 4+ going through my Buchla-to-Eurorack module, custom made for me by Synovatron. No other effects or processing other than the Magneto (including the Spring Reverb.)"
Published on Jun 20, 2018 Rheyne
Tš-L, Morphagene, and Magneto Re-Published on Jun 21, 2018
"Sounds are from a pair of Instruo Ts-L VCO's, one through a Strymon Magneto, and the other through a uBurst (Micro Clouds). The Mageto's feedback, speed, and clock are controlled by a Make Noise Tempi and Winter Modular Eloquencer. Snippets of speech are from a Make Noise Morphagene (name that film)."
