🏹 Intellijel Plonk 🏹 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the Intellijel Plonk Physical Modelling Percussion Synthesizer.

Intellijel are so well known in the Eurorack domain. They make very durable and inventive gear. Unfortunately their stuff is quite expensive, but hey, as a gear junkie I cannot ignore them. The Plonk is such a wonderful module. I always love these physical modelling synths because they are really dynamic and responsive and they feel like real instruments. In addition it has an incredible amount of sonic possibilities ranging from snare drums to synth basses to guitar strings and on and on. If you can afford it, I would definitely recommend this module."

❄️ Electro Harmonix Freeze goes Modular ❄️ 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the Electro Harmonix Freeze Sound Retainer.

The Freeze is one of those pedals I always fall back to. It is wonderful in its simplicity and very complex when actually listening to the sound it produces. It works great when performing solo since it gives you the possibility to record a snippet of your sound which immediately starts looping. When using a reamp box you can easily feed your modular stuff through it. Great stuff! I hope Electro Harmonix will produce a stereo version, that would be truly awesome."

🥢 Erica Synths Pico Drum2 🥢 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the Erica Synths Pico Drum2.

Erica Synths are such wonderful manufacturers. They make affordable, well made modules that are well thought out. The Pico Drum2 is no exception. It goes from subtle percussion to all out distorted techno. I was having a lot of fun with this one!"

0:00 - Pulse Drum
1:42 - Fold Drum 1
2:35 - Complex Pulse Drum
3:42 - Complex Sine Drum
4:29 - Space Snare
5:24 - Noise Crush
6:15 - Fold Drum 2
7:17 - Slap

🐋 Roland JX-10 (Super JX) 🐋 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the Roland JX-10 also known as the Super JX.

When I first heard this synthesizer I was blown away by the warmth of the sound. And to be honest, it still does. Once in a while I turn it on and indulge myself in its analog richness. I gives me strong associations with the Twin Peaks series, which I am a big fan of. It has a lot of cinematic qualities not present in other synths and it can even do some other nice stuff too. Released in 1985, this was the last analog synth from Roland until they recently released their JD series.

Thanks my love for playing so beautifully."

0:00 Pads
6:57 Brass
10:48 Bass
11:41 FX
15:41 Clavecimble
16:27 Hollow pads
19:36 FX

✈️ Alesis AIR FX ✈️ 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the Alesis AIR FX.

The Alesis AIR FX was released in 2001 and it wasn't much of a commercial succes. At the time I was very reluctant to go on stage with a laptop of any sort, so I was always on the lookout for performative instruments. This ticked all the boxes. Just put it between a sound source and an input and start sculpting your sound in the air. It looks great on stage, all tough it might be something of a insiders thing. Still, it is a bit of a mystery to me why nobody is using these kind of effects. Nowadays they sell for reasonable prices, so I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if mine broke."

0:00 Insert effects
8:32 Air FX as a sound source

🪚 Roland JP-8000 🪚 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the Roland JP-8000.

The JP-8000 caught my attention when I started digging into the whole super saw concept. As a relative newcomer to the dutch hardcore scene I was blown away by this fat, yet aggressive sound. The JP-8000 was the first to incorporate it and, although subtle, it's directness is unrivaled. And it is capable of so much more. I feel the sounds are dated, but still relevant. A bit contradictory, I know. I recently recapped the unit, but unfortunately, directly after this demo, the right channel went very dim. I guess I need to open it up again. Build quality is lacking a bit, but with a little tlc this unit is one of my favorites.

Thanks my love for playing so beautifully."

0:00 Strings
5:01 Bass
7:17 Pads
9:27 Arpeggiator
14:45 Lead & Organ
17:00 FX

🔁 Basimilus Iteritas Alter by Noise Engineering 🔁 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the Basimilus Iteritas Alter by Noise Engineering.

This beast just keeps on delivering. It is such a versatile unit that produces sounds from relatively gently pluck sounds to all out distorted gabber kicks. The possibilities are so vast and unknown it is just a matter of keeping twisting the knobs until you land on the spot you never know you were looking for. Noise Engineering has released the Basimilus Iteritas Alia to replace the Alter due to a lack components available. They apparently sound almost the same. When I'm looking for something special, this is the one!"

0:00 Skin Mode - Arp sequence
6:18 Liquid Mode - Arp sequence
7:44 Metal Mode - Arp sequence
8:10 Metal Mode - Perc sequence
10:35 Skin Mode - Perc sequence
12:04 Skin Mode - Kick drum
13:50 Skin Mode - Gabber kick

🔔 2HP Bell 🔔 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the 2HP Bell.

I love these small percussion modules. They are so well thought out. High quality sounds, good controls and easy to use."

🙏 Tiptop Audio RS909 🙏 🎧 (no talking) 🎧

video upload by Cutoff Frequency - gear stuff (no talking)

"This is a video demonstrating the sounds of the RS909 by TipTop Audio.

What can you expect from a modular rim shot? Well I was hoping for a high quality reproduction of the TR-909, which I got. It is a well put together sound module that cuts nicely through the mix. However, I was also hoping for some wildness, some creativity that goes well beyond the original. Unfortunately I didn't get that. The knob turning doesn't really inspire me to take the music to a new place. Still, a really nice rim shot though!

Artwork by a very young human being."

M-Audio Venom Review and Interview with Product Manager Taiho Yamada

A quick note: This review is long. You can jump to sections that interest you vs. reading it straight through if you prefer. This review focuses primarily on the synth engine for one single patch on the Venom. The Venom supports Multi mode with up to four multitimbral parts. Not only can you layer sound programs but you can set global parameters for the set. Be sure to see the Multi mode section of "Tips and Tricks via Taiho Yamada" at the end of this post. Taiho is the Lead Project Manager of the Venom and served as my contact during the review. I want to thank Taiho for his help and enthusiastic generosity. He is a true synthesist and the Venom is his baby.

Synth connections: Taiho previously worked at Alesis on the Andromeda A6. The DSP developer of the Venom worked on Radikal Technologies' Spectralis and the Accelerator. People that contributed to the presets via sound design include Richard Devine, Francis Preve, Mark Ovenden (Avid's AIR Instruments, ProTools VIs), Joerg Huettner (Waldorf, Access, Alesis), and of course Taiho Yamada.

*Don't miss the "Q&A with Taiho" section towards the end of the review. Also keep an eye out for "Taiho's Tips and Tricks" throughout the review in grey. You can find the consolidated list below the Q&A section.

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