Alter Y is the pedal version of Alter 2 eurorack module featuring four 1/4" jacks in addition to 1/8" as well as buffered switching that allows for trails.
Though it functions the same as other pedals, this pedal is a little different. Most pedals are made for guitars and then artists may choose to use them in different ways. We made this pedal to work with either standard ¼” jacks (for both input and output) or 1/8” (3.5mm) jacks for use with anything else. For those who like to use CV (control voltage) for any eurorack format, cv keyboard, or pedals which output cv (eg. expression or sequencing), all four of the main knobs have cv inputs (mix, x, y, filter) so you can control your knobs without touching if the desire strikes you.
These pedals accept guitar, line or eurorack levels.
The enclosure is very thick, gold plated PCB (it’s very, very tough).
Included power is standard for most pedals (2.1mm, -tip)
We wanted a broad array of effects in each X and Y pedal so each is a mashup of effects which we thought complimented one another when used together. Running X into Y or vis versa creates some powerful changes.
Part one A quick run through all the algorithms the FolkTek Alter X & y 01:00 Alter X Algorithms 03:03 Alter Y Algorithms
Part Two Long take of each algorithm with knob tweaking (without prior preparation) 04:55 Alter X 1 - long delay 11:42 Alter X 2 - tight, notated granular delay 15:00 Alter X 3 - huge plate reverb 20:03 Alter X 4 - shimmering reverb 24:14 Alter X 5 - distortion and multi-filter 27:39 Alter X 6 - pitch delay 33:15 Alter X 7 - stutter glitch
36:12 Alter Y 1 - analog delay 39:46 Alter Y 2 - reverb with infinite capture and LP + HP filters 43:13 Alter Y 3 - choral reverb 35:57 Alter Y 4 - palindrome reverse delay - backward/forward repeat 48:23 Alter Y 5 - time stretch 50:21 Alter Y 6 - pitch shift (notated semi-tones) 53:18 Alter Y 7 - time stretch glitch
55:40 outro
"This is a quick edit from an hour-long session of me going through all the presets/Algorithms of the FolkTek Alte X & Y one by one and tweaking their knobs. I made it primarily for me to be able to easily find an Algorithm. Each Algorithm/Patch is identified by the position of the light and up to this point I was counting the presses from preset 1. Used my trusty Korg Monotribe with a simple pattern that does not change throughout the video. Had to change its output volume on one of the patches. I am sure I will have more videos with these pedals that show more of what they can do and make use of their CV inputs. Hope you find it useful and if you have a FolkTek Alte X & Y would love to hear how you are getting on and any tips quirks to watch out for."
"Recorded some videos covering all the alter X and Y algorithms and than had a couple of quick jams with both
This was a quick post. Will edit one soon covering all the effects soon but initial impressions are that this are amazing sounding and creative boxes although the Folktek Alters build feels a little cheap.l but hopefully not an issue for a desktop effect"
"I backed the Folktek Alter Guitar pedals & desktop effects XY Indiegogo campaign more than two years ago and just received it. It was a long wait but I did not mind. I had this picture in my head of pairing it with the FolkTek Mescaline for the two years I have waited but as soon as I started playing I realised this is probably not the best approach as the Mescaline has a full and rich sound that lives less room for the Alters to express themselves. I can do with something more basic to get to experience the Alters's capabilities. I had fun just messing about it and will soon have more sensible paring that will allow me to explore it better. In this video, the Folktek Mescaline goes into the Folktek Alter Y in mono and the Y goes into the Alter X in stereo. No additional processing.
"The widely loved and highly regarded effects of Alters 1(X) and 2(Y) were
originally in eurorack format but we've decided to extend the processing to both
guitar pedal players and studio musicians.
There are two different
pedals, each with the same design but with 7 effects unique to each.
There
are two versions of the pedal which are physically identical except the name
"Alter X" and "Alter Y". Internally each has an entirely different set of 7 DSP
effects meticulously designed over the course of a year by Arius Blaze (Folktek)
with digital programming by Nico Raftis (Macro Machines).
For the
guitar player, Alter has relay-based buffered bypass with true stereo 1/4" ins
and outs. Also utilize the CV (control voltage) over the effects controls with a
CV source and/or a CV expression pedal such as the Moog EP-3 expression
pedal.
For the synth player who wants a desktop effects unit, use the
1/8" or 1/4" ins and outs and utilize the CV over all main effects controls.
CONTROL
common with both Alter X and Y: - Buffered relay-based bypass over 1/4"
inputs. - Controls for mix, X, Y and filter as well as clock bitrate. -
All effects have a variation of a filter which may change effect to effect. -
Touch-based effect change by touching the gold hexagon. Effects indicated by
lighted control panel. - X and Y control various rates, feedback and time
over the different effects. - Clock control adjusts the rate which controls
the DSP which can drastically change the effect. In doing so it does slightly
lower the quality of the output signal but the results are fantastic. This clock
is not for synchronization. - Mix, X, Y and filter all have CV control
inputs. - Trails on the guitar side. - Each control level or cv input
is visualized on the control panel. - Powered with included 12v negative
tip supply. - Dimensions: 6" x 5" x 1 3/8"
X Pedal Effects: -
long delay - tight, notated granular delay - huge plate reverb -
shimmering reverb - distortion and multi-filter - pitch delay -
stutter glitch
Y Pedal Effects: - analog delay - reverb with infinite capture
and lp + hp filters - choral reverb - palindrome reverse delay -
backward/forward repeat - time stretch - pitch shift (notated
semi-tones - time stretch glitch"
"2018 Folktek Resonant Garden Standalone Synthesizer With Strings, Eurorack Patchable.
The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense sound scapes.
The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic pre-amp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways. In essence, the garden is a large microphone designed to pick up vibrations.
EFFECTS
There are two Alter 1 designs and 1 Alter 2. Each Alter 1 has seven different DSP effects which is selected by touching the copper hexagon:
1; long delay (capable of near infinite feedback looping)
2; tight, notated granular delay
3; huge plate reverb
4; shimmering reverb
5; distortion and multi-filter
6; pitch delay
7; stutter glitch
Alter 2 has the following effects:
1; analog delay
2; reverb with infinite capture and lp + hp filters
3; choral
4; palindrome reverse delay - backward/forward repeat
5; time stretch
6; pitch shift (notated semi-tones
7; time stretch glitch
CONTROL
On each of the Alter sections, the following is present:
- control for the gain of the mic pre-amp or any incoming audio.
- controls for mix, X, Y and filter as well as clock.
- all effects have a variation of a filter which may change effect to effect.
- X and Y control various rates.
- clock control adjusts the rate which controls the DSP which can drastically change the effect. In doing so it does slightly lower the quality of the output signal but the results are fantastic. This clock is not for synchronization.
- mix, X, Y and filter all have CV control inputs.
- Each control level or cv input is visualized on the control panel.
ACOUSTICS
Each garden panel is equipped with a contact mic. A contact mic is designed to pick up vibration. The mic pre-amp is specifically designed to deal with the frequencies of the contact mic by boosting certain frequencies and dulling others in order to optimize the sound quality. The mic pre-amp has a gain control so the level can be adjusted according to how you intend to play."
"First session with Folktek Resonant Garden alone, no external effects nor EQ.
One patch only and three different, very simple, FX set up combinations. Every set up has been
played with fingers, violin bow, flumi (gummy gong mallet) and two different Buddha Machines
on both Gardens (metal spring trees) and on the instrument surface itself.
I also played with different effects parameters (later in the description).
Patching of the three Alter (FX) elements (Alter I left and right, Alter II in the center):
Alter II out into Alter I (first on the left) input, Alter I out into Alter I (second one
on the right) input, Alter I output right into GO:MIXER.
00:00 COMBO I: Alter I (left) Effect 1, Long Delay (Control X: Delay Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: LPF) Alter 2 Effect 1, Analog Delay (Control X: Delay Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: LPF) Alter I (Right) Effect 1, Long Delay (Control X: Delay Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: LPF)
03:30 COMBO II: Alter I (left) Effect 6, Pitch Delay (Control X: Delay Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: Damping) Alter II Effect 6, Pitch Shift (Control X: Pitch, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: LPF) Alter I (Right) Effect 1, Long Delay (Control X: Delay Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: LPF)
08:08 COMBO III: Alter I (left) Effect 6, Pitch Delay (Control X: Delay Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: Damping) Alter II Effect 4, Palindrome Delay (Control X: Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: LPF) Alter I (Right) Effect 1, Long Delay (Control X: Delay Time, Control Y: Feedback
Filter: LPF)"
"The Folktek Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid instrument. See/read more on Folktek.com
In these first videos, the cv functions are never used and there is no external processing. Videos to come will cover the use of cv as well."
"The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense sound scapes. From its inception in 2006, the original garden has gone through many changes and refinements; micro garden, luminist garden and illuminist garden and finally this latest and likely final version.
The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic pre-amp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways. In essence, the garden is a large microphone designed to pick up vibrations."
EFFECTS
There are two Alter 1 designs and 1 Alter 2. Each Alter 1 has seven different DSP effects which is selected by touching the copper hexagon:
1; long delay (capable of near infinite feedback looping)
2; tight, notated granular delay
3; huge plate reverb
4; shimmering reverb
5; distortion and multi-filter
6; pitch delay
7; stutter glitch
Alter 2 has the following effects:
1; analog delay
2; reverb with infinite capture and lp + hp filters
CONTROL
On each of the Alter sections, the following is present:
- control for the gain of the mic pre-amp or any incoming audio.
- controls for mix, X, Y and filter as well as clock.
- all effects have a variation of a filter which may change effect to effect.
- X and Y control various rates.
- clock control adjusts the rate which controls the DSP which can drastically change the effect. In doing so it does slightly lower the quality of the output signal but the results are fantastic. This clock is not for synchronization.
- mix, X, Y and filter all have CV control inputs.
- Each control level or cv input is visualized on the control panel.
ACOUSTICS
Each garden panel is equipped with a contact mic. A contact mic is designed to pick up vibration. The mic pre-amp is specifically designed to deal with the frequencies of the contact mic by boosting certain frequencies and dulling others in order to optimize the sound quality. The mic pre-amp has a gain control so the level can be adjusted according to how you intend to play.
Alter Y is the pedal version of Alter 2 eurorack module featuring four 1/4" jacks in addition to 1/8" as well as buffered switching that allows for trails.
