In this video, synthesist Federico Chiesa (OoraMusic) shares his view on the Echo Fix EF-X3, a modern tape echo machine that builds on the tradition of vintage effects like the Roland Space Echo.
The EF-X3, at its core, is a analog hardware tape delay. But it goes beyond old-school tape delays, with additional controls and options. Features include stereo ping pong delays from a mono source, analog BBD Chorus, Analog Spring Reverb, CV control and more.
Chiesa calls the EF-X3 “the best tape echo you can buy”. Find out more on the Echo Fix website. Check out the review and share your thoughts on the Echo Fix EF-X3 in the comments!
Topics discussed:
00:00 Introduction
03:48 Overview
07:15 Cv control
10:50 Different modes
19:00 As a reverb / chorus only effect
20:40 How the stereo panning make this thing amazing
22:40 Compared to the Space Echo
26:00 Example 1 : with Machinedrum // Dub
29:40 Example 2 : with Vermona Perfourmer and Make Noise 0-Control// Experimental, Melodic
At Superbooth 2023 (and not at Superbooth 2023), Liquid Sky introduced new Eurorack modules.
They planned on debuting two new modules at the event, but fate got in the way:
When our manufacturing partner in Riga sent the “zero series” of our modules 14 days ago for demo video productions and demoing the products at the Superbooth Berlin, we whimsically mused about placing 27 candles in the Cathedral Of Acid to ensure a smooth delivery.
Alas, fate played its tricks, and the modules failed to arrive on time. Consequently, our dazzling new “V4CO” and its accompanying “GLITHc” expander won’t be showcased at the Superbooth. If only we had genuinely lit those stoopid 27 candles in the fkkn Cathedral Of Acid!
They did share details on the new modules, though: The Liquid Sky d-vices V4CO is a dual 8 bit wavetable oscillator, each with separate subbass.
Features:
Hard sync
16 x 16 Waveforms – different for each OSC
Each module has a base (16 x 6) set and an unique set (16 x 10) of waveforms
Single outputs for each OSC / SUBOSC and mix output (w/o SUBOSC)
Analog VCA for each oscillator
Analog overdrive controllable via VCA
Audio / LFO Mode for each OSC
Waveform shuffle
REAL 8 BIT Sound
Detuning Function
8 Oktaven
Quantizer (Chromatic)
complex Waveform-LFO
The Liquid Sky d-vices GLITHc BOARD eXPENDR for V4CO is “a complex glitch lab”.
Features:
Real circuit bending (you actually manipulate the internal routing)
Bit-manipulation of
individual bits for Wave and Bank select
individual bits of actual wavetable
4 Logic functions: AND/OR/NAND/NOR
3 mini non consecutive sequencer for
BANK/WAVE Sequencing
manipulating Wavetables
Multiples
MIDI + 3 Thru
Pricing:
V4CO : €499 plus vat plus shipping.
GLITHc : €699 plus vat plus shipping
V4CO & GLITHc = €999 (Introduction set price limited to 100 units)
Preorders starts now for V4CO & GLITHc. The shipping date for the modules is September 1st, 2023.
At Superbooth 2023, Korg Berlin was sharing a preview of the Acoustic Synthesis_phase5, a prototype acoustic synthesis instrument.
In this video, synth designer and Korg Berlin CEO Tatsuya ‘Tats’ Takahashi shares a preview of the unusual synth with Reverb’s Fess Grandiose.
While most electronic musicians think about synthesizers as instruments that generate sound completely electronically, in the 1850s, the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz created devices that could synthesize sound electroacoustically, using an early type of additive synthesis. The Helmholtz Synthesizer was designed for scientific research, though, not musical performance.
The Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 builds on similar ideas, but seems closer to the work of Paul Vo, who created the Moog Guitar and the Vo-96 Guitar, instruments that implement forms of acoustic synthesis with guitar strings.
Like the Helmholtz Synthesizer, the Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 is based on electromechanical control of tuning fork, and lets you mix overtones to shape sounds. But Korg’s device is designed to be a musical instrument, so it can be played chromatically. Because it’s built around resonating tines, the instrument can have initial attack qualities similar to a Fender Rhodes. But it can also sustain notes indefinitely and it can feedback like an electric guitar.
While both the Vo-96 Guitar and Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 give you granular control over the harmonics of the sounds they generate, the range of sounds that the instruments can create is constrained by the physical qualities of the instrument. So the VO-96 can create a wide range of sounds, but they all sound guitar-like, and the Acoustic Synthesis_phase5 creates sounds that have a bell-like quality that’s similar to a Rhodes piano.
The phase5 is a prototype, so no details on specifications, pricing or availability have been announced at this time.
