Archive for August, 2023

Universal Audio expands its Guitar Effects lineup with 4 Compact Effects Pedals


Universal Audio has expanded its guitar effects lineup with four compact stompboxes offering studio-quality compression, reverb and tape echo emulation.

Universal Audio has introduced 4 new compact effects pedal that are slimmed-down, more compact, and yet still present players with top-quality sounds featuring UAFX’s superlative processing power and UA’s analogue modelling tech.

These UAFX pedals are smaller, more affordable, with simplified controls, and include the new Orion Tape Echo, 1176 Studio Compressor, Heavenly Plate Reverb and Evermore Studio Reverb single-footswitch stompboxes.

The Orion gives guitarists the rich, three-dimensional effects of a thoroughly emulated vintage tape echo.

 

Key Features:

  • Authentic emulation of a vintage Maestro Echoplex EP-III tape echo in a compact stompbox*
  • Perfectly captured analog preamp for fat, boosted tones and effects
  • Selectable Mint, Worn, and Old tape types for added color and texture
  • Wonk control for modulated repeats and vibey tape splice sounds
  • Selectable true/buffered bypass, preamp on/off

The Orion Tape Echo is priced £199/$219.

The 1176 Studio Compressor delivers the same punchy, expressive tones of the world-renowned hardware, in a compact stompbox.

 

Key Features:

  • Authentic emulation of the 1176LN Limiting Amplifier in a compact stompbox
  • Single, Dual, and Sustain modes for decades of classic guitar effects
  • Input, Output, Attack, and Release settings true to original 1176 hardware
  • Ratio knob includes infamous “all buttons in” mode for squashed, gritty textures
  • Parallel compression mode, true/buffered bypass

The 1176 Studio Compressor is priced at £189/$199

 

The Heavenly Plate Reverb gives you the sound of the 1950’s German-made studio reverbs responsible for decades of classic recorded guitar tones, in a compact stompbox, with Universal Audio’s tasting notes describing the ambience as “dense and moody”.

There are three core sounds to choose from: Vintage Bright, Vintage Dark, and Modern Full. Pre-delay, EQ, Mod and Rate controls present a fuss-free platform for dialling in your sound. The Mod Rate can be changed from slow to fast via the slider at the pedal’s top, and again there is the option to run this true bypass or in Trails mode.

 

Key Features:

  • Authentic emulations of three vintage studio plate reverbs sourced from The Plant Studio
  • Selectable Vintage Bright, Vintage Dark, and Modern Full plate settings for endless reverb textures
  • Mod, Pre Delay, EQ controls for detailed effect sculpting
  • Selectable true/buffered bypass, analog dry through

The Evermore Studio Reverb gives you the grainy ambient trails and mesmerizing modulations of the iconic late-’70s vintage digital hardware, in a compact, elegantly crafted stompbox.

 

Key Features:

  • Authentic emulation of a vintage digital studio hardware, in a compact stompbox
  • Bit-for-bit emulations of iconic Room, Small Hall, or Large Hall programs
  • Vintage-correct Bass, Mid, and Treble decay controls
  • Mod control for lush, grainy “early-digital” textures
  • Selectable true/buffered bypass, short/long pre delay, analog dry through

 

Both the Heavenly Plate Reverb and Evermore Studio Reverb are priced £199/$219, and they are available now. Find out details on the Universal Audio website.

 

 

Modular on the Spot Event in Seattle

Modular Seattle shared this recording of the July 29, 2023 Modular on the Spot event.

 

The event featured the following performers:

 

1:16 – Balance.Spring

25:34 – Casual Decay

46:28 – Chris Barth

01:09:33 – Demetrius Patin

1:28:53 – Planar Drift

1:54:01 – Technoware Passager

Modular on the Spot was founded in 2015 by Bana Haffar and Eric “Rodent” Cheslak. The events are free, outdoors and feature live modular synth performances.

 

Inside The Yamaha CS-80 Synthesizer


Composer and Synthesist Anthony Marinelli, in his latest video, talks with super synth tech Rob Rosen about the classic Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer.

The video features a demo of the CS-80 and its unique sound, along with a look inside the synth, revealing why it’s a monster to maintain.

Video Summary:

“In this video, we learn about the grandaddy of them all, the CS-80! It’s an amazing design inside and out. It functions entirely in the analog realm without any software intervention.

I’ll demonstrate the Yamaha CS-80 panel features and then Rob’s exclusive intimate and detailed tour inside the instruments begins. He starts by going inside the CS-80, “Under the Hood”, to explore miles of wiring, the rack of cards, master boards, below the keyboard, velocity, aftertouch, DAC, key code assigner, TSB boards, TKC boards, KAS boards, dedicated effects boar, output board and ring modulator.

Rob teaches us how the unique oscillator boards function, including how they regulate pitch and change waveforms, We’ll also deep dive into the sensors on each key that allow for polyphonic aftertouch. We’ll see the VCF’s and VCA’s and learn about the importance of regulating temperature to keep everything stable. Rob shows us how he matches the uniquely different voices in the CS-80 to make the instrument perform more consistently. We’ll learn why these instruments cost so much to build from scratch and what it takes to keep them thriving today.”

Topics covered:

:00 Intro

1:05 Anthony Plays he CS-80

8:01 A Trip Inside the CS-80

10:09 Under the Keyboad

18:49 Rob removes the boards

29:02 Preset Boards

29:29 Deckard’s Dream Revealed

32:05 Rebuilding a CS-80 from Scratch

35:55 Sliders and Knobs Boards

37:17 How Rob Learned to be a Technician