‘Effectology’ expert Bill Ruppert is back, with the latest in his series of videos that look at using effects pedals as a sort of modular synthesizer.
In his latest video, Ruppert explores the possibilities of granular synthesis, with Electro-Harmonix’s Superego Synth Engine. No keyboards, samplers or midi pickups were used.
For more info and pedal settings, see the EXH forum.
At the 2012 NAMM Show, Korg introduced the Mini Koass Pad 2 and the Kaossilator 2.
The Mini KP-2 offers performance effects and on-board MP3 playback, while the Kaossilator 2 offers 150 built-in sounds and Dual Loop Recording.
In this official video, Korg USA’s James Sajeva takes a look at both the Mini Kaoss Pad 2 and the Kaossilator 2 and compares their features.
At Musicmesse 2012, BOSS has announced the VE-5 Vocal Performer, a compact personal effects processor and looper.
The VE-5 inherits effects from BOSS’ VE-20 Vocal Performer pedal, including reverb, delay, double/harmony, and dynamics processing. Also on board is realtime pitch correction and special effects processing via the TONE/SFX category. A built-in phrase looper lets users capture vocal performances with effects and loop them on the fly for exciting real-time presentations.
Musikmesse 2012: Vox introduced the VOX Lil’ Looper, a new hardware looping effects pedal. It offers two independent loops and sound on sound recording, to let you build up complex audio sequences.
Features:
This video, via Adam Pietruszko, takes a look at some synthesis techniques using a ring modulator, in this case a Moog Moogerfooger Ring Modulator.
The Moog Moogerfooger MF-108M Cluster Flux is marketed primarily as a tool for delay-based audio effects.
But, as this demo by Moot Booxlé shows, the Cluster Flux is fully MIDI-controllable, and can be used as an analog synthesizer, in its own right. No other sound source or processing (besides some reverb) was used in this piece.
This video, via gear4music1, demonstrates the ZVex InventoBox – a unique kit that lets you design and build custom effects pedals, without soldering.
The InventoBox comes with two different channels so you can build either one or two different devices into the same box. All of the necessary components are included to make it easy for you… there’s a variety of potentiometer values and switches all ready inside the box, quickly accessible through tiny sockets which accept standard experimenter socket wires or included cables. The unit is easily opened by hand to make fast modifications to the circuitry.
See the ZVex site for details.
Sunday Synth Jam: Josie Charlwood performs her live looping arrangement of Gorillaz‘ Feel Good Inc.
Technical details below.
At the 2012 NAMM Show, Muse Research and Development debuted a new entry-level Receptor, called Receptor VIP (Virtual Instrument Player).
The Receptor line is designed to let you use standard virtual instruments in a rack-mount module.
Receptor VIP makes use of an new user-interface inspired by the MuseBox, and includes a simple front panel hardware interface to find and manipulate your virtual instrument and effects presets quickly.
Sporting a new 2U rack-mount design, the Receptor VIP is ideal for customers who need more power and channels than a MuseBox, and the Receptor VIP provides a lower-cost alternative to the top-of-the-line Receptor 2+ PRO and PRO MAX models.
The Receptor VIP model will replace the existing base model Receptor 2+, and will ship in March with a MAP price of $1,599.
2012 NAMM Show: Line 6 announced that their Pod HD multi-effects products are getting a free firmware update.
The update expands the sonic palette of all POD HD multi-effect processors, and enhances integration with the James Tyler Variax and DT25 orDT50 guitar amplifier rig.
For all POD HD multi-effects, the update includes two brand-new HD guitar models, the world’s first HD bass model (with eight mic model choices) and a new vintage-voiced mic preamp model: