Erica Synths DB-01: 12 patching ideas

video by Richard DeHove

"A look at some of the obvious and not so obvious things you can do to get a variety of sounds. Especially important is the use of LFO phase shifting, something which was introduced in firmware 1.07. It has a dramatic effect on the sound in both note reset mode and pattern sync. At the end of the video I get in some random noodlings just for fun.

0:00​ Filter tracking
0:53​ Filter envelope click
1:26​ Random filter modulation
2:14​ Vibrato
3:10​ LFO filter phase
6:33​ Drone mode
7:03​ Sync mode filter phase
11:17​ Bandpass filter
12:30​ Gated chop
14:14​ Clocking the gate
14:50​ Pitch envelope drums
15:41​ FM percussion
17:38​ LFO noise drums
21:28​ Random noodling

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

Richard DeHove DB-01 posts

Erica Synths DB-01: How to make a "Super-16"

video by Richard DeHove

"How can you make a 16-step pattern into a 32 or even a 128-step pattern without creating multiple bars? Just use the "cycling steps" feature. There are various "cycling step" options available such as 1/2 2/3 3/4 or 7/8. By adding just a few you can make a very simple 16-step pattern into a much more complex and varied "Super-16".

0:00​ What is a "super 16" ?
1:20​ Display and/or erase cycling steps
1:50​ Analysing a super-16 pattern
2:33​ Slight issue
4:10​ Make a super-16
6:25​ Add modulation"

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

Richard DeHove DB-01 posts

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"

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/"

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"

Two Erica Synths DB-01s: Dirty Noodles

video by Richard DeHove

"Was setting up to attempt some gentle ambient bleeps on the DB-01 (yes, really!) when the B3K bass overdrive begged a moments attention. Before I could say 'this wasn't the plan' the second machine was on, both were in keyboard mode, and the droning began. Anyone with non-programmable synths knows you have to capture the moment before a single twiddle vaporizes the sound forever, so here it is. Effects on the right-side synth are the B3K into the Vahlbruch SpaceTime delay. The left unit goes from the GEB-7 bass EQ into the DD-8 delay. Both then get a touch of Fabfilter Pro-R reverb (on the 'Huge Synth Space' preset). No other effects. Drums come from a single pattern on the Norand Mono. Good headphones or speakers will reward with some very heavy bass.

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

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/"

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"

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/"

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