3 knob Xeroghraph’s up on the website. I haven’t seen those in awhile
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Iron Ether Appreciation Society
- Thread starter Jared Lash
- Start date
I have been waiting for a few years for the 3 knob xerograph. I crapped myself when I saw the email. Maybe its my perception but the range on those seems better than on the deluxe.. Anyways. I'm stoked to have one again.
I feel like I'm dangerously close to buying yet another pedal I don't actually need. I already have a Xerograph Deluxe. There's nothing that this one does that the deluxe can't do, is there?
Got one coming too! With a Moog EP-3 ready to go. With the Subterranea ahead of it and a Polytope behind it. Can't wait! (Especially because there's a gig around the corner.)
Got the same question myself. I use the XD for both env and foot sweeps and can't really justify having a dedicated LP filter pedal alongside it because I def need that env, but some people seem to swear by the 3 knob in this thread.
Tonally how different is the 3 knob vs the XD?
Taylor Livingston
Commercial User
They're the exact same circuit, but just with or without the extra features. So I personally would not get the Xerograph if you already have the XD, unless you're doing some very complicated stuff where you need multiple filters at different points in your chain or something like that.
For people who hear a difference, it could be that they are comparing a modern XD with a very old Xerograph, pre-2016. That was when I redesigned all the pedals with higher-end input and output buffers with high-fidelity opamps instead of the common ones that most pedals use. It might be that some people actually prefer the sound of lower headroom and slight clipping, to higher headroom, lower noise and lower distortion.
But if you buy a modern Xerograph or Xerograph Deluxe, it's the same circuit.
Edit: with that said, it's not my place to tell people that their ears are wrong. I offer this info/my opinion but people might disagree with me! As far as I remember, the cutoff frequency range should be the same, but I'll try to measure sometime soon just to double-check.
For people who hear a difference, it could be that they are comparing a modern XD with a very old Xerograph, pre-2016. That was when I redesigned all the pedals with higher-end input and output buffers with high-fidelity opamps instead of the common ones that most pedals use. It might be that some people actually prefer the sound of lower headroom and slight clipping, to higher headroom, lower noise and lower distortion.
But if you buy a modern Xerograph or Xerograph Deluxe, it's the same circuit.
Edit: with that said, it's not my place to tell people that their ears are wrong. I offer this info/my opinion but people might disagree with me! As far as I remember, the cutoff frequency range should be the same, but I'll try to measure sometime soon just to double-check.
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Thank you for everything you do!
Whoa!!! Fancy lookin' FMerons in the shop!
I really dig that new look. I do wonder if the cut-off letter in the "Amp" label a mistake?
I keep going back and forth on the FMeron. I'm not sure if it's what I want, especially now that the Future Impact now supports more elaborate FM. But I will always appreciate the analog-esque workflow of a normal pedal. No menus, no software, etc.
...
Side note, Taylor's pedals have really been clutch for me since I got them. I've had the Subterranea and the XD on my board almost constantly since buying them. The Polytope too- it might be my favorite chorus. I really like the ability to do static detune like a synthesizer.
The only thing that would really complete my collection, I think, is more Oxide. Maybe a Divaricator. But definitely an Oxide.
I keep going back and forth on the FMeron. I'm not sure if it's what I want, especially now that the Future Impact now supports more elaborate FM. But I will always appreciate the analog-esque workflow of a normal pedal. No menus, no software, etc.
...
Side note, Taylor's pedals have really been clutch for me since I got them. I've had the Subterranea and the XD on my board almost constantly since buying them. The Polytope too- it might be my favorite chorus. I really like the ability to do static detune like a synthesizer.
The only thing that would really complete my collection, I think, is more Oxide. Maybe a Divaricator. But definitely an Oxide.
Taylor Livingston
Commercial User
No more so than that there are paint streaks and sanding lines in the metal.
I like to leave a little room for the engraving and finishing process to introduce some little variations - some might call them imperfections - because I think they're cool and make the pedals unique. I'm sure that doesn't appeal to everybody, but I just make things how I make 'em.
I guess I'd say that it'd be nice if specifically the labels were consistently (and completely) readable, but that's just a principle thing for me. But it wouldn't stop me from ordering.No more so than that there are paint streaks and sanding lines in the metal.
Taylor Livingston
Commercial User
You would've really not liked the etched pedals that I got my start with, then! Those were extremely chaotic.
But I hear you. This kind of feedback was one factor in why I stopped doing engraved pedals and started doing the faceplates about 5 years ago, which were all the same and "clean" and readable. But some people didn't like those and have kept asking me to bring back the engraving. And I missed them too. And when I started doing the engraved ones originally, some people were really mad that I wasn't doing the etched ones anymore, and felt the engraved ones were not chaotic enough.
In this case I didn't think it affected understanding what the controls do, but I appreciate hearing your feedback and I'll keep an eye on that A more carefully in future batches.
So far I haven't figured out an approach that pleases everyone all the time, but that's why I do different aesthetics from time to time. When I made the last few batches of the FMeron in pink sparkle, someone repeatedly emailed me to tell me they simply could not be seen using a pink pedal.
But I hear you. This kind of feedback was one factor in why I stopped doing engraved pedals and started doing the faceplates about 5 years ago, which were all the same and "clean" and readable. But some people didn't like those and have kept asking me to bring back the engraving. And I missed them too. And when I started doing the engraved ones originally, some people were really mad that I wasn't doing the etched ones anymore, and felt the engraved ones were not chaotic enough.
In this case I didn't think it affected understanding what the controls do, but I appreciate hearing your feedback and I'll keep an eye on that A more carefully in future batches.
So far I haven't figured out an approach that pleases everyone all the time, but that's why I do different aesthetics from time to time. When I made the last few batches of the FMeron in pink sparkle, someone repeatedly emailed me to tell me they simply could not be seen using a pink pedal.
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Yeah, you can't please everyone. I get that.
And the pink thing. Well, I don't get that. I have quite a few pieces of pink gear, and I have zero insecurity about it. But it pretty much always comes up whenever I see something in a really cool lightish red color and some other guy makes comments on it.
Safe to say, me not getting the FMeron last batch didn't have anything to do with it being pink.
FWIW, of all the FMeron designs I've seen, my favorite is probably either this new one, or this one:
I like that it's clean but also retains some of what (I consider to be) your visual style.
It would be cool to see how Taylor applies this new style to all the pedals he currently has in production.
Taylor Livingston
Commercial User
My goal for years has mainly been to get everything in stock without waits or pre-orders or things selling out in a half hour and being hard to get, and that's finally happening. There are more models in stock right now than ever in the last 10 years. And more on the way.
Once everything is in stock, I want to release new things. After all that, whenever current stuff sells out, I'm sure I'll do new finishes.
Once everything is in stock, I want to release new things. After all that, whenever current stuff sells out, I'm sure I'll do new finishes.
Wow, nice new toys in the shop! Btw @Taylor Livingston , things selling out in 30 mins is not bad! ,,, Things selling out in 30 mins to reappear in the classified for 1000$.. that's bad! So far i don't see this happening, means people love your craft!!
Is there a youtube about how these crazy boxes get built? Not one with the secret sauce, but like an etching and painting one.
Who knows, maybe the sub t will make a comeback!
Is there a youtube about how these crazy boxes get built? Not one with the secret sauce, but like an etching and painting one.
Who knows, maybe the sub t will make a comeback!
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Taylor Livingston
Commercial User
I haven't really ever documented the "making of" but maybe at some point!
The Subterranea got resurrected last year, but when I started building a new batch recently, I found a weird component issue that took forever to diagnose. Texas Instruments must have somehow changed the fabrication process for one of the CMOS ICs in some way that makes the new ones - same exact part number, same supplier - not function right in the Subterranea circuit. So at the moment I'm having to search for new old stock parts and test them all to find a batch that works right.
So anyway, there will definitely be more soon-ish, once I sort that out.
That may be the best thing I have read this year.
I love my Dubterranea and consider myself very lucky to have one but the people who own both still say there is a special something to the SubT. I have been dying to find out myself. The last Iron Ether pedal on my "must haves" list. I thought after scoring a Polytope and a Nimbus SE my pedal buying days were largely over but this changes things.
Still hoping for a top jack Oxide but since I already have a side jack Oxide I can live without them ever getting re-released.
