Superbooth 20HE: Empress Effects EuroBuro - Modular Within Your Modular!

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"When we first saw the Empress FX Zoia at NAMM a couple of years ago we were very impressed by the complexity and wildness of something so open ended. Euro Buro is a eurorack conversion of the original Zoia. It adds a number of different features including 4 cv inputs and 4 cv outs.

Within the module itself is 80 different sub modules that can be combined to create your own unique functions, fx, utilities and much more.

In this demo we take a look at building an LFO CV mixer and a stereo panner and also adding some reverb. Nick also asks some pertinent questions about DSP usage…."

Empress Effects EuroBuro

Superbooth 20HE: Tiptop Audio - Z5000, ZVERB and ECHOZ

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"At Superbooth this year Tiptop Audio would have been presenting their latest line of effects modules. Z5000 Multi-Effects, ZVerb and EchoZ. All of these modules are 8HP in size and offer a mono input to stereo output. Each module also contains 24 different effects algorithms that cover a range of different effects. We missed them last year at Superbooth so we are happy to showcase them here in our SB at home edition…

Z5000 - The original Z5000 was released all the way back in 2008, oh how things have changed in the last 12 years… Eurorack is currently awash with different effects module, but with Tiptop Audio’s heritage developing algorithms for their ZDSP platform the new Z5000 has some good legs to stand on; giving you a bunch of TTA’s favourite reverbs, delays, modulation, harmonization and pitch modulated effects.

ZVERB - is a collection of all new algorithms developed by Tiptop, these range from typical reverbs to more complex effects combining delay and pitch shifting too. All the effects are grouped by decades, so if you’re into gated reverbs you’ll find them in the 80s bank…

ECHOZ - covers a whole range of different delay effects, from dirty tape saturated delays to pristine digital delays and modulated delay madness….

All of the effects have CV control over 3 of the parameters."

Superbooth 20HE: Patching Panda - Moon Phase and Ephemere

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"Patching Panda were kind enough to hook up with Nick over the interwebs to show off their new stereo multimode filter Moon Phase. With 8 different combinations of filter types you can use the filter to enhance the stereo width of your modular patches.

As well as the Moon Phase We also got a look at their new dual channel CV looper Ephemere. This is a high resolution recording interface for your CV signals. You can record up to 4 seconds of CV and then loop this back, change the playback speed and scan through the recorded CV. When nothing is patched to the input the you can use the input knob as an offset/cv generator and record pot movements into the module."

Superbooth 20HE: This Is Not Rocket Science Fenix 4

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"We first took a look at the This is Not Rocket Science Fenix 4 at Superbooth last year. The Fenix 4 is a development of the original Fenix synthesizer made by the employees of Synton, a Dutch synthesizer manufacturer that went out of business in the early 80s. After crossing paths with some of the original designers and getting hold of the design files for the Fenix 1 and 2, This is Not Rocket Science decided to take on the mantle of developing the Fenix 4!

The Fenix is a bit of a swiss army of modular techniques, if you want a taste of what the original can sound like then go check out Aphex Twin’s classic Fenix Funk 5….

More information of the Fenix 4 at This is Not Rocket Science."

Superbooth 20HE: Elektron Overbridge 2.0 With Cenk

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"No show would be complete without talking to Cenk at Elektron, and as Elektron have just announced Overbridge 2.0 we thought it would be only right and proper to get a full run down of Overbridge with Cenk.

Overbridge is a very ambitious endeavour from Elektron. It gives you the full screen editing ability of a plugin for all the compatible Elektron devices but it also aggregates all the audio i/o of each device as well.

In this video Cenk had the Digitakt, Digitone and Analog Heat all set up to demonstrate the capabilities of Overbridge."

Superbooth 20HE: Verbos Electronics Shows off Their Latest Modules

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"With Mark Verbos just about to have a child, Verbos Electronics still found the time to hook up with us and show off 3 modules for Superbooth Home Edition. Owing to the system we set up with Mark to shoot this piece, Nick had a quick chat with him and then Mark showed off the modules.

The three modules we took a look at were the updated Amp & Tone, Foundation oscillator and a fixed filter bank and noise generator. Amp & Tone is an updated Filter and VCA design. Foundation Oscillator takes its cues from some of their larger VCO modules and packs it into a smaller footprint and the Noise & Filter is a simple 4 stage fixed filter bank and noise generator.

If you’re interested in picking up some of Verbos Electronics modules then visit their site to find out some more information."

Superbooth 20HE: Erica Synths Fusion System 2

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"Erica Synths are well known for their Fusion modules which give you vacuum tube designs in the Eurorack world. The Erica Synths Fusion System 2 is a full vacuum tube eurorack system that has been redesigned from the ground up.

The Fusion System 2 is a 104HP Eurorack system that encompases three new Fusion series modules – Fusion VCF3, Fusion Modulator (already available) and Fusion VCA/Waveshaper/Ringmodulator (available from June 5th). With an all analogue CV path and 63 patch points the system gives you everything you need to start designing your own sounds.

We spoke to Girts to get an idea of the system but also some wider questions about how Erica Synths are able to release and manufacture so many different instruments!"

Superbooth 20HE: Bastl Instruments MIDI Looper and Stereo Filter Prototype

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"Bastl Instruments are always working hard to bring something new to their booths at trade shows. However obviously this year we weren’t able to visit their booth so we caught up with them in a virtual booth to check out two new products, the tiny little MIDI Looper and a new stereo filter module.

The MIDI Looper has 3 channels A, B and C that can take MIDI information in and loop this, this can be note data, and also CCs etc. Notes can be quantized, manipulated to be played back slower, or quicker using an in built time-stretch function. You can also transpose entire loops and use an analog clock to sync the MIDI Looper to your eurorack system. Although the system is not meant to be a sequencer you can store some loops on the device itself.

We also took a look at a new prototype stereo filter module built in close collaboration with Casper electronics."

Superbooth 20HE: Retrokits RK006 - A Tiny Little MIDI Hub!

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"The Retrokits RK006 is a tiny little multi functional MIDI interface. It has USB, 2x MIDI inputs and 10x MIDI Outputs. However as all the MIDI Outputs are on 3.5mm jacks these can also perform as analog trigger/gate/clock or they can do DIN Sync/Sync 24.

The RK-006 is about 7x5x1cm in size (3x2x0.4″) which is very small indeed. You can order it with either just a USB dongle option or with all the MIDI cables to make full use of the MIDI i/o straight away. You can use it as a MIDI Merge and THRU box, per port MIDI filtering and multiclock processing, a USB host: HUB support, SMF playback and a USB device with Individually addressable OUT & IN ports. The small size however does mean that all your 5 pin MIDI DIN cables will need 3.5mm adapters…"

See previous posts here for more.

Assembling BYTE 16hp drum sequencer

Published on Apr 24, 2020 Ghost In Translation

No audio demo in this one, just the build video. This is the first post to feature BYTE.

"This is my 2nd iteration of BYTE.

Front panel made of PCB, 16hp, 9 leds, 8 pushbuttons, 4 rotary encoders. The brain is a Teensy (4.0 / 3.2).

It follows the Eurorack physical format, this is 3U and 16HP. But it is powered by USB/5V.

No patch cable, it communicates with other modules via MIDI over a jack in the back."