Echolocator delay on synth, drums, voice and shortwave (no talking)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"First up Erica Synths sent me the Echolocator. That's particularly good of them because I know and I'm sure they know that I would have bought it anyway. After all, I'm the man who bought the Zen delay three times. For delay pedals in general I'm up to about 25 delays bought in the past few years and about 22 sold :D

Here I use the Echolocator with the DB-01, Acidbox III, LXR-02, Tecsun PL-660 radio and the US War Department training film number 471 on triodes and tubes.

No presets are used on any of the examples, it's all live twiddling. The idea throughout is to show the range of real time 'playing' with the delay. Just like the Nightverb I haven't used the presets or programmed any myself, it's so fast to dial in the sound you want it seems better to match things exactly to whatever you happen to be playing. The only thing I think is missing (at least I can't see it) is a WYSIWYG mode where the machine instantly reverts to the current knob positions. The only 'second layer' functions you need to remember are BACK+FREEZE to mute the delay, and BACK+TAP TEMPO to sync to an incoming clock.

Despite the length of this video I've only touched on some of the interesting effects. For example adjusting the compressor makes a huge difference to the feedback; whether the filter is in series or in the feedback loop; playing with the freeze function, and modulation with pitch shifting. So more on all that in later videos. If there's anything in particular you think I should cover please let me know.

Finally, if you notice a slight difference in the video color and position between takes it's because I had to change cameras halfway through.

0:00 Basic synth
3:09 Sparse drums
5:28 Beam me up
6:07 Filter options
8:39 Blippy drums
12:38 Freezy drums
13:34 Long feedback synth
15:11 Drum jam
16:34 Shortwave
18:36 Human voice

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Never mind the polysynths here's the wet reverb (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"It feels like the good old days of punk to replace a poly synth with a mono. Sure it's never going to do everything a real poly can do, and yes of course it's going to be drenched in reverb because that's the trick, but nuts to those expensive polys, we're improvising.

Star of the show is the Erica Synths Nightverb. It's ideally suited to the job because it has excellent tone-shaping controls. But any reverb that can go 100% wet will do. Synths are the DB-01 and LXR-02 drum machine. Using a drum machine and a reverb to replace a poly synth is especially satisfying. In fact the LXR has some useful features for this: you can cue up separate tones on each voice and then use the faders as a tone mixer, and you can assign velocity sensitivity to some or all parts.

It's a bit rough and digital at times, but bollocks to that.

0:00 DB-01 pad
0:52 Sweet LXR-02
1:47 Testing tones
3:52 Runs
4:27 Dirty digital

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Nightverb: Drone and freeze demo (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Here's the Erica Synths Nightverb paired with a DB-01 and Gamechanger Audio Light pedal; then with a DB-01 and Zen delay. In both cases I'm testing drone and freeze settings. The knob position of the Nightverb reflect the actual values. I'm still getting used to the freeze and in hindsight would probably have been better used with some more pad-like chord, but live 'n learn guvna. Routing-wise the Nightverb is always at the end of the chain. When using the freeze function its useful to have a second effect in series so the contrast between the frozen reverb and the dry sound isn't too jarring.

Headphones will help hear some of the beautiful grit and superlow bass.

So after a couple of weeks use what's my opinion of the Nightverb? Well, have you ever used one of the 90s digital synths that has just a single knob or slider to change parameter values? They're a colossal pain to program and feel like they're trying to force you into just jumping between presets. Then compare that to a knob-per-function synth. That's where I am with the Nightverb: Reverb that you play, an instrument that can be tweaked to suit the moment, backed up then cranked. After all, one of the main advantages of hardware over software is that you can do "real time automation" as you play, and it's fun. In fact in all this time I still haven't saved a single Nightverb sound :)

As usual there is no processing in the DAW other than once or twice where I manually adjusted the volume. But there's no effects, compression or limiting etc. Sometimes there's a little high-frequency which is from the Zen. There is no sound source connected to the Acidbox, it's generating it's own sound from high resonance and the LFO. Let me know if there's anything else you want to see and hear.

0:00 Storm (Acidbox & Zen)
1:55 Pinger (Acidbox & Zen)
3:18 Ripper (DB-01 & Light)
6:43 Sleepytime (Acidbox & Zen)

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: / richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Nightverb: First day noodlings (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Beware the title: 'First day noodlings'. This isn't a collection of pristine patches or sweetly controlled tone-perfect spaces. It is literally me with the Nightverb on day one twiddling the knobs trying to understand the various interactions and calibrations. But I figure that will be of interest to some. And since my daughter always laughs at how "incredibly niche" my channel is, well, surely it can't hurt.

I'm honored to have Nightverb serial number 0006 sent to me gratis by Erica Synths. Technically that should earn the "paid promotion" tag, and yet, saying that on this random hodge-podge doesn't seem quite right. And since I'm almost qualified as a member of the Erica Synths 10% discount club I think I've earned a pass on this one. Of course the truth is I would have bought this anyway if Erica Synths hadn't sent it to me, so at least this way I didn't have to sell anything - yay!

But about the Nightverb. It's armoured, beautiful and alive with grippy knobs. Reverb has never been so much fun or so fast to program. About halfway through the video I learn that 'late reflections' combined with 'infinite feedback' equals noise - but that's what day one gets you. Give it a few months and I'm sure all this will look painfully awkward. I also had the gain quite high and neglected to touch the low and high damp controls at all, but there's only so many parameters I can deal with fresh at one time. More videos to come of course.

I'm looking forward to pairing the Nightverb with the Zen Delay and Acidbox III though for this first outing I thought it should stay pure. Of course there are absolutely no DAW effects, EQ or limiting. I can certainly see cases in the future where a delay after the reverb could make for some interesting creations. Even so, just with the trusty DB-01 I did enjoy the pseudo poly-synth effect going 100% wet. Likewise the pre-delay with early reflections and feedback gave a good industrial delay. So much more I could say but I'll leave that for a talkie video.

If there's anything specific about the Nightverb I can answer, or a particular sort of audio demo you'd like to hear, let me know and I'll try to cover them in a second video.

0:00 Poly from mono
2:34 Bass riff 1
4:30 Squelchy
6:16 Fairy interlude
6:54 Drummy thing
8:52 Bass riff 2
11:20 Pixie dance
12:43 Bass riff 3
16:04 High arp
18:54 Growler

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: / richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Acidbox III Fully cranked

video upload by Richard DeHove

"The Erica Synths Acidbox III stereo filter with everything cranked. Team it with a DB-01 and you've got a Polivoks filter going into another Polivoks filter. Both resonances on full, input saturation full and then an added 20dB of input gain on top. Why be subtle?
A few normal DB-01 patterns are mangulated at the start before forgetting about any sort of input at all and just playing latent noise and resonance through a Shiftline Astronaut pedal. We end somewhere among the Krell on Altair-4.

0:00 The setup
1:06 Pattern one
1:40 +20dB input gain
2:52 Pattern two
4:23 Pattern three
5:00 Control input config
6:12 CV input
8:33 1950s sci-fi
9:58 On Altair-4 (no more talk)

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

How to make guitar feedback - on a synth

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Who doesn't like a bit of guitar feedback squeal? A great sound which has no easy synth equivalent. Yet maybe here we come close. An Erica Synths DB-01 goes to an EHX Oceans 11 reverb which gives the required feedback starter sound, which is then torn up and given bite by a Fairfield Circuitry Roger That, and at the end for a different flavor, a Dark Glass B3K. With some careful twiddlings the ear-splitting awfulness is quite playable and ready for friends, family to enjoy.

0:00 Guitar examples
0:40 Synthy things
2:05 Reverb starter
2:48 Feedback squeal
4:20 Ear killing highs
4:50 Darker & dirtier
7:20 B3K playable filth

Guitar clips at the start are from the Dead Kennedys and The Partisans.

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Nine splendid Strymon Timeline transmogrifications (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Six of the Strymon Timeline's 12 delay modes are featured here, most from the less used "back of dial" zone. The Erica Synths DB-01 provides the raw material to transform. Both machines are running at 74bpm synced from the ERM MIDI Clock on the right. The DB-01 is going straight into the Timeline and from there straight into the DAW. Absolutely no other processing of any kind.

The Timeline is now more than 10 years old yet is still one of the top choices for delay. Since it was so famous I avoided it for ages thinking others must have surpassed it in the meantime. Yet it seems with all its fine flavors and excellent ergonomics it's still very hard to beat. I've churned so many delays it's painful to contemplate but this one looks like staying. I only wish I'd waited just a couple more months and got a midnight edition one instead of the awful greenish bug-guts color.

0:00 Ice presets (2)
1:30 Ducking presets (2)
3:12 Swell preset (1)
4:10 Tremolo preset (1)
4:58 Filter preset (1)
5:48 LoFi presets (2)

Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

The DB-01 turns two: An interview with its designer, Girts Ozolins

video upload by Richard DeHove

"It's just over two years ago that the DB-01 was released into the wild. Gritty, aggressive and surprisingly deep, it may well eventually join the ranks of classic synths. Founder of Erica Synths and designer of the DB-01, Girts Ozolins, explains how the machine came to be, how it was designed and dives into history, engineering and future. Along the way we also get an insight into some of the design philosophies of Erica Synths.

0:00 Origins of the DB-01
2:24 Sequencer integration
4:16 The design process
11:00 Links to the 303?
13:20 The drive circuit
14:28 A happy surprise
15:35 The preset debate
17:30 Testing the sound
19:50 Latvian production
22:30 DB-01 component changes
23:00 Verion 2 ?

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free"

The Boss DM-2W: A simple delay perfect for synths (no talk)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Glorious random noodlings with the Boss DM-2W Wazacraft delay pedal and the Erica Synths DB-01. To some an 11-minute no-talking video with a three-knob delay pedal might seem excessive. Well, maybe so. But for delay pedal nuts (like me, and probably you if you're also reading the caption) it's only just enough. Even then I didn't use the delay time input, direct out or do much knob twiddlings The reason is that this pedal sounds beautiful and makes you want to play music, not twiddle knobs.

There's no hint of line-level input issues (as you get with some pedals) and there's plenty of wet level to play with (unlike the Boss RE-202 which is a bit quiet imo). The nearest competitor that I've used extensively would be the famous MXR Carbon Copy. I had both the standard issue, then the deluxe version, but I think the DM-2W is a better fit for synth, not as dark and a more pleasant feedback tone.

I am biased though since the original DM-2 was the first pedal I ever bought. That unit sat on top of a whole series of synths starting with the Korg Mono/Poly. I played live with it many times, always fearing I'd mismanage the feedback and blow something up :) The new version seems equally dangerous! Not sure what happened to the OG pedal in the end, I even went on a hunt through some old boxes a few weeks back, but no luck. I'm sure it's out there somewhere still going.

The audio here is just as you see it: The DB-01 going through the DM-2W with no other effects or processing.

0:00 Pattern 1
0:45 High feedback
3:25 Heartbeat
3:55 No tap tempo here
4:12 Adjusting the tempo
4:40 Pattern 2
5:10 Ambient noodle
6:10 Pattern 3
8:17 Pattern 4
9:15 Pattern 5

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove
Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free"

Erica Synths DB-01 tutorial: Ten tips about patterns

video upload by Richard DeHove

0:00 Undo / reload / restart
0:56 Copy and paste patterns
1:50 Delete pattern
2:26 Random pattern
3:30 Pattern start move
4:30 User scales
7:00 Filter modulation
8:17 Modulation "poking"
9:00 First and last step
11:44 Chaining patterns

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove

A DB-01 noodle: Gates as ghost notes

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Ghost notes (or grace notes) are little extra hits or embellishments that add a subtle extra feel or layer. With the DB-01 the CV gate input and CV VCF inputs are perfect for this. Here I use the Fractio Solum by Noise Engineering to provide the gate signals. The LFO into the VCF CV is from the Erica Synths Drum Modulator dual LFO. Both are synced to the same clock as the DB-01. To give the programmed notes on the DB-01 a bit of extra initial envelope the internal LFO is set to reset with each note.
There are three audio examples. The effect is reasonably subtle so if you watch the actual notes on the timeline versus the audio "hits" then the ghost note effect is more obvious. You can also see the trigger light on the Fractio (the white cable) to see when the gate is firing. Pattern three has an odd 4/3 gate timing which produces somewhat off-beat hits.
I think the main value in the ghost notes is to create variations of standard patterns that can help maintain interest and movement. And they're fun to play with :D

0:00 Intro blather
0:25 Pattern one
1:00 Add an LFO
2:23 Pattern two
4:02 Pattern three

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Strymon DIG delay with a DB-01 synth

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Anyone on a quest for the perfect delay will eventually try a Strymon. There's a lot of choices but I settled on the DIG digital delay. It has most of the usual features for a mid-to-high level delay such as tap, filter, and mono or stereo input. The dual-function knobs are a bit annoying, but bearable. Overall the unit has a really solid and sure feel. Here I'm testing it with the Erica Synths DB-01 synth, which it pairs with most happily.
The first half of the video has a fair amount of talking, the second half is all audio.

0:00 Intro blather
0:20 Stereo to mono input
1:02 Basic specs
2:50 Secondary functions
3:26 Audio starts - Ping Pong
4:50 Tap input choices
5:54 The filter
6:62 Feedback
7:40 Modulation
9:54 Unsync delay 2
10:35 Unsync repeats
11:46 Series, ping pong and parallel
13:09 Jam - ping pong
14:00 Jam - in series
14:57 Jam - ADM mode
15:48 Jam - 12-bit
17:04 Jam - ADM mode
18:18 Jam - Ping pong
19:35 Jam - 12-bit
20:39 Jam - 24-bit
21:05 Jam - Filter sweeps
21:40 Jam - Feedback fun

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Driving a second synth with the DB-01

video upload by Richard DeHove

"The DB-01 is usually stuck in the bass realm, but simply driving a second synth by MIDI can add an entirely new feel to a bass sequence. Here the DB-01 is driving a Vermona PerFourMer MkII. The DB-01 is going through a Boss RV-6 reverb, the PerFourMer through the Erica Synths Zen Delay (which seems to suit it so well). The second DB-01 makes a tiny cameo appearance with an effect sound. No other effects or processing than what you see.
Although the DB-01 is very happy driving other synths via MIDI or CV, it is surprisingly unhappy driving a second DB-01. Not only could I not get one DB-01 to drive the other, using CV seemed to somehow corrupt the pitch and I had to do a complete unit reset.

0:00 Intro blather
0:15 Basic pattern & setup
0:50 Added revern
1:09 SFX sound
1:27 Vermona sounds
1:39 Pattern starts, talk ends
2:25 Zen delay

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Hardcore Krell with the DB-01

video upload by Richard DeHove

"When I explained to a friend that I was doing a Krell patch on the DB-01 they summed it up as: "Blips and bloops with added bass and distortion". That sort of hurt but actually seems quite accurate. The nature of a Krell patch is absolutely blips and bloops. At least using a DB-01 you avoid the next level of modular insult which is 'a $10,000 fart machine'.

On a more positive note, this little project does highlight that the Erica Synths DB-01 is a very fast and capable generative machine and an able sequencer.
(No other effects or processing of the sound other than what you see.)

0:00 Krell blather
0:37 Patch setup
2:30 Bass starter
2:48 Lead starter
4:14 Random but not krell
5:45 Random playback
6:32 Envelopes via LFOs
8:13 Krell time
10:41 No effects
10:55 Pause to sparsify
13:00 Lead VCA tweaks
14:00 More pitch control
17:37 Krellish
18:00 External CV crazytime

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

LXR-02 tutorial - Part 8: Euclidean triggers

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Part eight of a guide for the Erica Synths LXR-02 drum machine. This is with firmware 1.2. In some ways this is less of a tutorial and more of a fun exploration with the LXR-02 paired with a DB-01 Bassline and then a Vermona PerFourMer MkII with a Zen delay. The Euclidean triigers come from the LXR-02's pattern generator. In the first example one channel is dedicated to running the DB-01. The interesting sude effect of the triggering is that it adds sustain to the DB-01 sound. This means switching it on and off gives a very different quality to the sound. In the second example four channels of the LXR-02 trigger four different sounds on the Vermona PerFourMer. The fun comes from switching between channels on the LXR-02 to create rythmic variations. The Zen delay gives some extra complexity and dirt on top.
0:00 Technical setup
1:12 DB-01 pattern
1:44 DB-01 triggered
2:37 Changing the pitch
3:37 Euclidean jam
5:44 PerFourMer MkII setup
6:39 PerFourMer sounds
7:20 Fiddling with triggers
9:10 Zen delay
10:08 Overdrive
12:00 Kick fiddlings
13:00 More drive!

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

LXR-02 tutorials by Richard DeHove

Two White Tape delays in series with a DB-01

video upload by Richard DeHove

"The White Tape delay by Donner is a cheap, simple, dual delay. The left and right channels are totally independent with their own rate, level and feedback. The units handle line level well and were very happy with chewing on the Erica Synths DB-01 Bassline.
The delays themselves are not overly exciting in any way, the mix doesn't go very high (certainly not 100%) and in keeping with the "tape" idea tend to be a bit low-fi. But as a pair of cheap and cheerful stereo-ish delays in series they do an excellent job and delivering somewhat dubby-sounding thickness.
In the second half of the demo I switch the DB-01 into drone mode and let the FM control the pitch, modulated by the S&H LFO. This is where the two delays seemed most happy giving real thickness but without the drenched fuzziness of a reverb.
0:00 Overview babble
1:24 Weedy pattern
1:48 Full feedback
2:09 Full mix
2:40 In series
3:44 Delay times?
5:23 Seasick droning

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Finding Throbbing Gristle on a DB-01

video upload by Richard DeHove

"What happens when you push audio-rate CV modulation into the DB-01 ? All sorts of interesting squawks and overtones. Here I experiment with feeding the audio output of a Schlappi Engineering Interstellar Radio into the filter and pitch CV inputs of the Erica Synths DB-01. After a short blab session explaining the basic parameters I switch to a slow FM drone and the Throbbing Gristle fun begins. For fans of the 20 Jazz Funk Greats album, the end of this video attempts to channel the memory of the wonderous Hamburger Lady.
The effects used are what you see: a Boss GEB-7 bass EQ, then into a Donner White Tape delay, and finally a Boss RV-6 reverb on the 'delay and reverb' mode. No DAW effects used except for some very gentle limiting on the master output.

0:00 Intro blabbing
2:20 Pattern noodling
4:50 Setting up the Gristle
6:00 Daisy the Cow
6:40 Throbbing begins
9:00 Maximum Gristle

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Two DB-01s: Jam and patch breakdown

video upload by Richard DeHove

"A little noodle with two Erica Synths DB-01 Basslines. One doing a rubbery sustained bass, the other a more randomized overdriven lead. Both are just 16-step patterns but manage a high degree of variation.
After a short play I go through the fundamental elements of each sound to show how it's made. Hopefully it may serve to give you a new idea or two.
There's a Fabfilter Pro-L2 limiter on the master output just to catch any unexpected horrors, but otherwise the only effects you hear are what you see.

0:00 Intro noodle
1:58 Lead patch analysis
6:42 Bass patch analysis
11:04 Beautiful VCAs
11:30 Outro noodle

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Two DB-01s and a pod-load of CV

video upload by Richard DeHove

"The Erica Synths DB-01 sends and receives CV and includes a handy attenuator, so a little experimentation with CV can really extend the sound design possibilities. Here both DB-01s and a pod of Euro clocks and modulators (two Erica Synths Drum Modulators) are synced together. One DB-01 is the master feeding pitch CV into a mult and then into the second DB-01. Both units are getting filter CV inputs from the Drum Modulators. The main machine is sometimes going through a Microtubes B3K for extra overdrive goodness, and the second DB-01 get washy with an Earthquaker Devices Afterneath V3 - which also accepts CV. Hopefully this little demo gives you some ideas. A little CV goes a long way.

My site: https://richarddehove.com/ Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Norand Mono and a DB-01 - noodlings (no talking)

video upload by Richard DeHove

"Both the Norand Mono and the Erica Synths DB-01 are best known for furiously zipping along through 16-step patterns, although both can easily move into very different realms. While fiddling with the filter and resonance on the Norand (and applying envelopes separately to both) I came across an interesting effect where they sometimes seem to split off into two voices. I couldn't quite decide whether it was spooky, or had a sort of Arabian flavor. The DB-01 seemed a natural fit so I added a very simple drone-mode pattern. Both machines have an added touch of Valhalla delay in Reaper but are otherwise as you see them here.

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"