I was just messing with this last night. I'll explore more today and get back. Are you just looking at it for playback or for more mangling and manipulation?
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Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread
- Thread starter ttasselm
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I was just messing with this last night. I'll explore more today and get back. Are you just looking at it for playback or for more mangling and manipulation?
All of the above would be good tools to add to the toolbox, but for now its sampling dope synth sounds and using them as patche presets in the microfreak.
I have some in mind to sample, it would be less work and much easier to cop those tones than creating new patches.
hit me up with tips and tricks, I still need to RTFM on that machine, I tend to be VERY lazy in that regard. I just plug it in and tweak, shows how smart of a move that was.
I had a schedule set up to work my way through the manual but got bored as %?&*, so I got about as far before the the sequencer, ARP section.
Samples can be up to 24 seconds long in 16-bit / 32kHz / mono format, with a total of 3.5 minutes’ worth of total sample storage space
Ugh. Trying to add a new sample to the Microfreak from an Ableton export, from scratch. This process is so clunky.
I have little experience with other dedicated samplers but the workflow seems limited and clunky. It’s useable, and the sound quality is decent. The envelopes are often click-y on the microfreak so I can’t quite tell what’s from the sample vs the device. Polyphonic mode starts to get some lo fi clipping. There’s some fun to be had exploring the start/end/loop points as you can get them very tight. I didn’t have success trying to get a smooth sustained sound from a short Moog bass sample but my sampled sound might’ve been the issue. Regardless, I could always hear the volume and timbre change at the loop point. With a compressor after the output I could minimize this.
I haven’t explored the granular sounds which also use the samples. Maybe later. Updates to follow.
As of now, I wouldn’t buy one as a sampler or sample player if I wanted something sophisticated. It’s probably not bad compared to my old Novation Circuit.
I have little experience with other dedicated samplers but the workflow seems limited and clunky. It’s useable, and the sound quality is decent. The envelopes are often click-y on the microfreak so I can’t quite tell what’s from the sample vs the device. Polyphonic mode starts to get some lo fi clipping. There’s some fun to be had exploring the start/end/loop points as you can get them very tight. I didn’t have success trying to get a smooth sustained sound from a short Moog bass sample but my sampled sound might’ve been the issue. Regardless, I could always hear the volume and timbre change at the loop point. With a compressor after the output I could minimize this.
I haven’t explored the granular sounds which also use the samples. Maybe later. Updates to follow.
As of now, I wouldn’t buy one as a sampler or sample player if I wanted something sophisticated. It’s probably not bad compared to my old Novation Circuit.
Agreed, I tried a few today, the workflow sucks and the synth sounds are not up to par when used on the microfreak.
Would try the granular mode also as an alternative.
For a sampler I still use my old SP404sx, quick easy the end.
For more complex stuff I dump it in Live.
Include shipping costs in the price?
That sucks but it’s good you have a backup. That’s my reason for moving to touchstyle—if a finger hurts too much, I just use another. But still, ugh.
I hopped on over to Perfect Circuit today. They had an Erica Nightverb on hand to demo so I plugged in a Microfreak and noodled around. I can’t say I was blown away by it, but it was nice. There are probably more flexible sound design tools out there for the money, but I’m still considering it. It has a few features I like, particularly the morphing between presets at a user definable rate.
What I was surprised by was the Zen Delay. I’ve considered it for years but always held back based on a few gripes I read on other forums, including noise issues. I can’t say I found the unit noisy based on the time I spent with it in the shop and with headphones. Some complaints I saw mentioned how some of the engines were overly distorted, but anyone complaining about that must’ve been avoiding the filter settings. I found the filter lovely and capable of providing a good range of sound design options on the repeats. If they had a unit in stock I would’ve walked out with one today, without hesitation.
What I was surprised by was the Zen Delay. I’ve considered it for years but always held back based on a few gripes I read on other forums, including noise issues. I can’t say I found the unit noisy based on the time I spent with it in the shop and with headphones. Some complaints I saw mentioned how some of the engines were overly distorted, but anyone complaining about that must’ve been avoiding the filter settings. I found the filter lovely and capable of providing a good range of sound design options on the repeats. If they had a unit in stock I would’ve walked out with one today, without hesitation.
I picked up a MyVolts Ripcord which in theory should allow me to power the Soma Terra via a USB battery or wall plug. Sadly neither seems to supply enough juice to get things going. Time for customer support.
Fortunately the Microfreak already runs on USB power so I plugged it into a battery brick and played synth on my porch last night. It’s getting warm this week here in SoCal and my building retains a ton of heat well into the night, so jamming on the porch is nice once the sun goes down.
Fortunately the Microfreak already runs on USB power so I plugged it into a battery brick and played synth on my porch last night. It’s getting warm this week here in SoCal and my building retains a ton of heat well into the night, so jamming on the porch is nice once the sun goes down.
Out of curiosity, have you ever checked out any of H. Anton Riehl's stuff (for example, with Nireus)? He shreds the Terra.
I have not but I’ll take a look.
The Terra is a blast. I’m still sorting out how to navigate it, particularly the pitch transposition keys. Part of what I enjoy about it is that I don’t understand it and need to just explore and listen and react. That said, sometimes diving into the manual and tutorials isn’t a bad idea
Lumbar MRI today. I opted to go in head first so I could listen to the machines. They put headphones on me and I got a weird blend of elevator classical and machine noise. I have mixed feelings about them being out of tune with each other. Overall, probably not worth $1,200 ticket price, but still an entertaining 20 minutes.
I finished the No Dogs in Space podcast series on Krautrock and learned a bunch about bands I didn’t know much or event anything about. Today’s listening is Amon Düül 2.
teasing @monsterthompson
Erica Synths Intros Graphic Resonant Filterbank & Expander Modules
Erica Synths has announced two new modules, the Graphic Resonant Filterbank and a companion module, the Graphic Resonant Filterbank Expander.
www.synthtopia.com
teasing @monsterthompson
Erica Synths Intros Graphic Resonant Filterbank & Expander Modules
Erica Synths has announced two new modules, the Graphic Resonant Filterbank and a companion module, the Graphic Resonant Filterbank Expander.www.synthtopia.com
I have a type.
Oh I like that.
I could easily picture myself just playing boxes like this... Strega, Elmyra, Quadrantid Swarm, etc.
i like the fact that those knobs look like the ones they used on gibson guitars in the 70s (or so).
