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The IR-200 enters the Impulse Response pedal market with Celestion and offers huge synth power in a compact form.

The effects giant is turning into a big year for Boss, not only is it celebrating its history with anniversary pedal editions and enhanced reissues, but it is also entering bold new territory with the Eurus GS-1 guitar and EV-1-WL wireless expression pedal, its now making another debut with an amp and cab simulator effects pedal, the IR-200.

The IR-200 offers players the flexibility for recording and can transform your pedalboard into a mobile rig for stage and rehearsal. But Boss has also taken the step of partnering with speaker icon Celestion here.

The IR-200 boasts 144 BOSS and 10 Celestion Digital IR cab and mic combinations, and users can import up to 128 of their own WAV IRs via the IR-200 IR Loader software for macOS and Windows.

In addition, there are eight guitar amps to choose from to offer go-to platforms from “classic clean, tweed, and class A to vintage and modern high-gain”. There are three bass amps as well. Players can then choose to use the IRs only or go fully mobile with the amps sims as well.

Two custom DSPs provide class-leading IR performance with support for mono and stereo files, up to 32-bit floating point/96 kHz resolution, and up to 500 ms length for natural bass response. Players are also able to use two IRs at once and feed signals to different destinations.

SY-200 Synthesizer

The IR-200 is a signifier release in itself, but Boss are clearly on a roll this year and have added a whole other new pedal to the 200 series. The SY-200 makes a lot of sense to us, bringing Boss’s acclaimed synth technology to the 200 series, a line up of pedals that we think hits the sweet spot for form factor and features.

Boss are leaders in synth guitar and bass processing and this addition to the SY line sits between the classic stompbox SY-1 and SY-300 for a manageable size with plenty of feature scope.

Here’s what they say about it:

“Offering a universe of rich, analog-inspired polyphonic tones in a small footprint, the SY-200 makes it simple to weave BOSS’s expressive guitar and bass synth technology into all of your musical journeys. Building on the fun, instant-gratification experience of the acclaimed SY-1, this blue inspiration machine features an expanded sound set, more tone-shaping possibilities, and 128 memories for storing your sonic creations.

Two onboard footswitches provide deep real-time performance control, and you can take things even further with external footswitches, an expression pedal, and MIDI.”

Features:

• Advanced BOSS polyphonic guitar synth technology in a streamlined 200 series pedal
• 12 analog-style synth categories with many variations in each (171 sounds total)
• Three adjustable parameters for customizing sounds
• 128 memories for saving and recalling sounds
• Fast sound creation with hands-on controls and large display
• No special pickup required—play rich, dynamic synth tones with any guitar or bass
• Latency-free performance for unrestricted musical expression
• Assignable Memory/CTL 1 switch for memory change, hold, pitch control, and more
• Blend synth and normal guitar sounds with independent level controls
• Parallel send/return loop for easy integration with other pedals on your board
• Selectable modes for globally optimizing the synth engine for guitar or bass
• Supports extended control with up to two external footswitches or an expression pedal
• Full MIDI I/O provided with space-saving 3.5 mm TRS jacks (connection cables available separately)
• Micro USB jack for firmware updates
• Runs on PSA-series AC adaptor or three AA-size batteries

We believe the development of pedals to allow self-contained rigs for players is one of the most exciting developments for guitar in recent years; providing a whole new way to develop your rig and tone. And the connectivity here could enhance that further. In addition to a mono input, there’s mono or stereo outputs, and an effects loop, allowing the IR-200 to integrate with your mono or stereo pedal setup.

Players Two IRs can be used at once, and it is possible to feed independent signals to different destinations, such as a stage FRFR cab or a venue PA. While two onboard footswitches are available for memory selection while performing, players control various functions with external footswitches, an expression pedal, or MIDI.

The IR-200 and SY-200  available for $399.99 / £351 / €399 and $299.99 / £307 / €349 respectively.

At Superbooth 2021, Haken Audio has introduced the EaganMatrix Module, a 22 HP Euro format module that puts an advanced polyphonic modular matrix synth engine into your Eurorack system.

The EaganMatrix Module is a full-featured EaganMatrix Sound Engine for Eurorack, and can be controlled by control voltages and/or MIDI.

The EaganMatrix is a highly-respected synth engine, originally created for the Haken Continuum and also the engine for the upcoming Expressive E Osmose. The synth engine supports a wide range of synthesis methods, including Subtractive Synthesis, Physical Modelling with Modal Filter Banks, FM, Spectral Sets with Micro Analysation, including Waveguide with Feedback and Feedback Delay Networks.

It was also designed for responsive expressive control and supports multidimensional control, MPE and MPE+ MIDI.

EaganMatrix presets are edited by using a cross-platform editing program, the Haken Editor, above.

The EaganMatrix takes advantage of the subtle and dramatic musical possibilities provided by CV signals as well as MPE and MPE+ MIDI. The freedom of its internal matrix design and internal deep modulation structure allows for deep integration with your patched CV inputs. This allows complex sound modulation to be assigned and mapped to the detail of your control voltages.

The EaganMatrix Module can act as a sound source, a sound processor, a CV source (via connection to an external Control Voltage Converter), a MIDI source, or a customizable combination of all these capabilities.

Features:

• Advanced polyphonic synth engine with multidimensional expressive control
• Polyphony: Nominal 1, Maximum 8 – Direct CV note control is limited to 1 voice at a time, but higher polyphony avoids voice stealing when EaganMatrix presets have long decays, and higher polyphony is often useful for MIDI input.
• Control via integrated CV I/O, MIDI, external CV (with Haken Control Voltage Converter)
• 4 Per-note CV Inputs: W, X, Y, Z
  • Gate (W) — Triggers at 1V, with max range -10V to +10V
  • Pitch (X) — 1V per octave, with programmable offset for Middle C
  • Timbre (Y) — Function depends on EaganMatrix preset; voltage ranges 0..5V, -5..+5V, or 0..10V, with programmable offset
  • Loudness (Z) — 0..5V, -5..+5V, or 0..10V, with programmable offset
• Robust implementation of MPE and MPE+ MIDI
• Cross-platform (Mac and PC) Haken Editor may be connected to create and customize presets
• 4 Global CV Inputs: i, ii, iii, iv
  • Functionality depends on EaganMatrix preset; these CV affect all voices (notes from WXYZ and Midi); each global CV has selectable voltage range 0..5V, -5..+5V, or 0..10V, and programmable offset
• 2 Analog Audio Inputs: Left and Right, or Mono
• 2 Analog Audio Outputs: Left and Right, or Mono Sum
• -12dB switch selects between Eurorack Level and Line Level
• MIDI over USB – Allows bidirectional MPE and MPE+ connection to other devices; allows connection to the Haken Editor for editing and archiving EaganMatrix presets (USB-A cable included with purchase)
• Universal 3.5mm Midi In (Type A, Type B, and TS) – Allows connection to other MIDI devices without need of computer or USB (adapter to 5-pin DIN Midi In included with purchase)
• Type B 3.5mm Midi Out – Allows connection to other MIDI devices without need of computer or USB (adapter to 5-pin DIN Midi Out included with purchase)
• i2c Port for Communication to optional Control Voltage Converter – (a switch selects between 3.5mm Midi Out and i2c functionality)
• 12 Switches, 1 Rotary, and LED Matrix – A menu system allows stand-alone operation without need of computer, and provides monitoring for notes being played and CV input levels

Here’s a demo of a Slim Continuum being used to control EaganMatrix. Starting at about 15:00 in, there’s an in-depth discussion of the Editor and synth engine:

The EaganMatrix Eurorack Module is now available to pre-order for $799 USD.

VCV Rack is an open-source Eurorack-style modular soft synth with a great community behind it.

VCV Rack 2.0 will offer VST plugin support, but not in the free version.

Change is afoot with the imminent arrival of version 2, which will offer a new UI, a dark mode for those light-night patching sessions, an improved browser, and import/export, duplicate and randomise module selection options.

Most notable, though, is the addition of VST plugin support, though this only be offered in the new paid-for Studio Edition of VCV Rack 2.0. This will cost $149, though this price will be reduced to $99 during the launch sale. Support for other plugin formats is set to follow.

The good news is that a free Community Edition of VCV Rack 2.0 will also be available, though this will be restricted to standalone operation.

VCV Rack 2.0 is coming in November. In the meantime, you can check out a new set of nine analogue-modelled drum modules, VCV Drums, which is available now priced at $30.