Source Audio 2015 NAMM preview

[TheSleeve]

Something I just realized hasn't come up yet (I think) but I'm very very curious about:

Is there morph on the One Series? Since there's only one footswitch/preset, I somehow doubt so.

Currently there is no morph functionality on the One Series. The expression input is used to control a single parameter. However, with more advanced editing with the Neuro app, it might be possible to have some kind of functionality like this. We will certainly consider it!

 

[Adamixoye]

I am very glad you are keeping the SB2. I like the option of having everything available on the pedal. Look, I am using the Hub Manager now, I will use the next version to its fullest. BUT, I always have the option of just using the knobs and buttons. Funny thing is that the big Strymon and Eventide boxes have similar knobs and menus but get less pushback, why, because maybe they are rectangular?

The thing about the Eventide Factor series, compared to even their own H9, is that everything for editing the sound is right there with those 11(?) knobs. You don't need to access a single menu---menus help you set up other important things, like the proper input source, bypass type, function of the external footswitch, etc. But all the "sound" is in those knobs, you don't need to go any back page parameters (even setting up the expression pedal is easy and does not require back page programming). So I've never understood why people are intimidated by them from a user-interface standpoint.

I agree completely that I'll be sticking with the SB2 for a while, because I like the accessibility of those functions and knobs.

 

[TheSleeve]

Also, when can we expect some bass demos, particularly with the new effects, the Vertigo and Nemesis (not already covered by equivalent SB2 units)?

Now that we are back in Boston after the busy NAMM show, we're hoping to get some dedicated bass demos up on the website. We recorded a cool demo of the Aftershock on the NAMM show floor - after that one is edited, we'll post it. That should be in the next few days.

Whoa I love the sweeper setting. And crystal and degrade. Crazy stuff.

A question, though... I had the impression from earlier in the thread that the pedal can chain one delay into another. Is this going to be a back door thing?

It will be possible, with the editor, to have multiple elements of different delay sounds at the same time. For example, you could start with the bit crushing and sample rate reduction from the Degrade setting and add in some filters from the Sweeper setting - and perhaps throw in a little bit of wow and flutter from the Tape setting as well, all at the same time.

We will give you the tools - you can craft the sounds as you wish!

But to be clear, it's a single delay path (with 5 independent taps). The delay effects are not chained in sequence, but you can apply multiple effects at the same time.

 

[Adamixoye]

It will be possible, with the editor, to have multiple elements of different delay sounds at the same time. For example, you could start with the bit crushing and sample rate reduction from the Degrade setting and add in some filters from the Sweeper setting - and perhaps throw in a little bit of wow and flutter from the Tape setting as well, all at the same time.

We will give you the tools - you can craft the sounds as you wish!

But to be clear, it's a single delay path (with 5 independent taps). The delay effects are not chained in sequence, but you can apply multiple effects at the same time.

Oh dear goodness. I don't even like delay that much, but all of a sudden I must have this!

 

[nshuman]

It will be possible, with the editor, to have multiple elements of different delay sounds at the same time. For example, you could start with the bit crushing and sample rate reduction from the Degrade setting and add in some filters from the Sweeper setting - and perhaps throw in a little bit of wow and flutter from the Tape setting as well, all at the same time.

We will give you the tools - you can craft the sounds as you wish!

But to be clear, it's a single delay path (with 5 independent taps). The delay effects are not chained in sequence, but you can apply multiple effects at the same time.

That sounds awesome!

 

[Adamixoye]

It will be possible, with the editor, to have multiple elements of different delay sounds at the same time. For example, you could start with the bit crushing and sample rate reduction from the Degrade setting and add in some filters from the Sweeper setting - and perhaps throw in a little bit of wow and flutter from the Tape setting as well, all at the same time.

We will give you the tools - you can craft the sounds as you wish!

But to be clear, it's a single delay path (with 5 independent taps). The delay effects are not chained in sequence, but you can apply multiple effects at the same time.

Can you explain a little more about what you mean by the last phrase? I understand that you're not stacking delays upon delays. But the effects do have to have some "logical" order to them, correct?

Also, when I read the earlier sentence I thought that you were saying that you could have the delay effect "evolve" in time...from bitcrushing, to sweeping, to wow and flutter. Now that would be really cool. I suppose this is possibly something that could be done with an expression controller (HH3, Reflex, etc.)? "Sweeping" the type of delay effect over the course of a single delay?

 

[kurotenshi]

I have to say I understand SourceAudio's path given what @rsmith601 already explained.
To me, function wise the PRO series is perfect but they are to big (plastic to me is a faux question since I have personally thew a Behringer plastic pedal over a 4m room into a wall just to prove a point and it still works with an almost invisible crack), design wise the one series are beautiful but the functionalities are to hidden to my liking, the SB2 series are a nice middle ground but you need the HUB to get MIDI and finally the Nemesis seems like the closest to perfect they have ever done.
But the fact is there are all kind of people out there, and for the majority of them plastic is crap and more than the obvious knobs are too many. And, lets face it, we all love our gear and our ideas but SA guys got to feed themselves and their families so, in the end, the best product is the one that sells more and thus the one that suits the majority of people.

I take my hat off to the whole SA crew for:
1 - not selling out to the point of discontinuing less successful products
2 - being cool enough to listen to us and not look just at their own belly
3 - keeping the features available for those of us who are tweekers
4 - not taking the easy path but the quality path

 

[TheSleeve]

Can you explain a little more about what you mean by the last phrase? I understand that you're not stacking delays upon delays. But the effects do have to have some "logical" order to them, correct?

This is one of those instances where I hit the post button and then I immediately thought, "Hmmm, maybe I didn't explain that well enough."

Yes, the signal path is fixed. That is to say, the distortion, bit crush, filters, and so forth, occur in a fixed sequence which cannot be modified. We basically just give you the sliders and knobs that allow you to adjust how much of each of those effects you want to apply to the delayed signal. Some of these effects are applied to the entire delayed signal (all delay taps included), whereas other parameters can affect individual delay taps (level, pan, feedback, pitch shift... off the top of my head).

Also, when I read the earlier sentence I thought that you were saying that you could have the delay effect "evolve" in time...from bitcrushing, to sweeping, to wow and flutter. Now that would be really cool. I suppose this is possibly something that could be done with an expression controller (HH3, Reflex, etc.)? "Sweeping" the type of delay effect over the course of a single delay?

With something like the Reflex assigning its individual outputs to different effect levels in the Nemesis, yes, this would be possible. Without an external controller, no, it wouldn't work this way.

Hope that's more clear! I feel more confident about hitting the post button this time around.

 

[rsmith601]

I have to say I understand SourceAudio's path given what @rsmith601 already explained.
To me, function wise the PRO series is perfect but they are to big (plastic to me is a faux question since I have personally thew a Behringer plastic pedal over a 4m room into a wall just to prove a point and it still works with an almost invisible crack), design wise the one series are beautiful but the functionalities are to hidden to my liking, the SB2 series are a nice middle ground but you need the HUB to get MIDI and finally the Nemesis seems like the closest to perfect they have ever done.
But the fact is there are all kind of people out there, and for the majority of them plastic is crap and more than the obvious knobs are too many. And, lets face it, we all love our gear and our ideas but SA guys got to feed themselves and their families so, in the end, the best product is the one that sells more and thus the one that suits the majority of people.

I take my hat off to the whole SA crew for:
1 - not selling out to the point of discontinuing less successful products
2 - being cool enough to listen to us and not look just at their own belly
3 - keeping the features available for those of us who are tweekers
4 - not taking the easy path but the quality path

Thanks for the nice comments! It is interesting that as a company we have a propensity to make things technical and complicated (our comfort zone), but ultimately we only want to create things that will develop enough passion in enough people so that we can thrive long term. We know clearly that the wisdom of what our future products and features need to be comes through constant and creative interaction with the user community. When we started ten years ago we thought we had all the answers. Guess what? We were wrong!! We did not learn quickly, but we did learn ultimately.

 

[Adamixoye]

With something like the Reflex assigning its individual outputs to different effect levels in the Nemesis, yes, this would be possible. Without an external controller, no, it wouldn't work this way.

Okay...this is interesting enough, though! I imagine there are going to be some insane ways to use the Reflex.

 

[scotch]

You guys keep making such great sounding little boxes and keep up the great communication with end users & we'll keep telling our friends who makes the best pedals!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

So, I have had a look through this whole thread and didn't see anything on it; does the Universal Expression Controller have the ability to store pedal settings directly (other Source Audio pedals that it is applying the expression to) directly without the Soundblox Hub.

I will be getting the Manta Bass Filter soon and would like to have more than two saved presets, but am not sure I want to invest in a Soundblox Hub & a midi foot controller just for the one pedal (not including either an expression pedal and/or Hot Hand). Judging by the amount of cool sounds this pedal has to offer, I think 2 presets will be quite limiting.

 

[TheSleeve]

So, I have had a look through this whole thread and didn't see anything on it; does the Universal Expression Controller have the ability to store pedal settings directly (other Source Audio pedals that it is applying the expression to) directly without the Soundblox Hub.

I will be getting the Manta Bass Filter soon and would like to have more than two saved presets, but am not sure I want to invest in a Soundblox Hub & a midi foot controller just for the one pedal (not including either an expression pedal and/or Hot Hand). Judging by the amount of cool sounds this pedal has to offer, I think 2 presets will be quite limiting.

The Reflex (Universal Expression Controller) does not have a preset memory for saving the settings of external Source Audio pedals. It does, however, have an internal memory that allows it to save 128 of its own presets - basically the operating mode for all of its expression outputs, including the min, max, lfo depth, lfo speed, and shape parameters. Currently, the only device that will allow you to store additional presets for Source Audio pedals is the hub.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The Reflex (Universal Expression Controller) does not have a preset memory for saving the settings of external Source Audio pedals. It does, however, have an internal memory that allows it to save 128 of its own presets - basically the operating mode for all of its expression outputs, including the min, max, lfo depth, lfo speed, and shape parameters. Currently, the only device that will allow you to store additional presets for Source Audio pedals is the hub.

And plans to change that and have a single pedal add-on that can store more settings?

 

[Markus Bender]

The Reflex (Universal Expression Controller) does not have a preset memory for saving the settings of external Source Audio pedals. It does, however, have an internal memory that allows it to save 128 of its own presets - basically the operating mode for all of its expression outputs, including the min, max, lfo depth, lfo speed, and shape parameters. Currently, the only device that will allow you to store additional presets for Source Audio pedals is the hub.

But can I access or even store the presets in the Reflex using the Hub?
Or do I need to hook up the Reflex to a midi controller?

ATM I'm using my Orbital Modulator with the Hub and a Disaster Area DMC-2+ to step through the presets. Can I add the Reflex to various scenes with different presets all controlled by the DMC-2+ and the Hub?

 

[gastric]

But can I access or even store the presets in the Reflex using the Hub?
Or do I need to hook up the Reflex to a midi controller?

ATM I'm using my Orbital Modulator with the Hub and a Disaster Area DMC-2+ to step through the presets. Can I add the Reflex to various scenes with different presets all controlled by the DMC-2+ and the Hub?

My initial thought is that you already have a MIDI controller connected to the Hub. Simply use MIDI Thru on the Hub to to go the Reflex.

 

[FretNoMore]

MIDI program change seems clear, for calling up stored presets in the pedal.

In the NAMM sneak peek video you can see that the Reflex has a Multi-function in jack much like the SB2 pedals, which makes me believe you can also save the settings in a Hub scene.

 

[Adamixoye]

MIDI program change seems clear, for calling up stored presets in the pedal.

In the NAMM sneak peek video you can see that the Reflex has a Multi-function in jack much like the SB2 pedals, which makes me believe you can also save the settings in a Hub scene.

Yeah, this is what I'm assuming as well. Roger explicitly said that the Reflex had it's own separate MIDI channel changes, and you didn't need the Hub. But I assume you can also use it with the Hub via the Multi-function port.

 

[TheSleeve]

And plans to change that and have a single pedal add-on that can store more settings?

No concrete plans at the moment for this.

My initial thought is that you already have a MIDI controller connected to the Hub. Simply use MIDI Thru on the Hub to to go the Reflex.

Yes, if you already have a MIDI controller, you can use it to send messages to the Hub, and the Hub will then pass on PC messages (via its MIDI Thru port) to the Reflex.

In the NAMM sneak peek video you can see that the Reflex has a Multi-function in jack much like the SB2 pedals, which makes me believe you can also save the settings in a Hub scene.

Correct, and the multi-function jack will also let you connect the Reflex directly to any SB2 or One Series pedal for direct control. Regarding Hub scenes, see my comment below...

Roger explicitly said that the Reflex had it's own separate MIDI channel changes, and you didn't need the Hub. But I assume you can also use it with the Hub via the Multi-function port.

Correct and correct. The Reflex has its own internal preset memory where it can save 128 configurations. These configurations can be recalled by sending it a simple program change message from any generic MIDI controller -or- by recalling it in a Hub scene. The Hub is totally optional in this regard.

We are considering allowing the storage of Reflex preset data on the Hub as well, but that's still being hammered out in the lab.

 

[gastric]

...The Reflex has its own internal preset memory where it can save 128 configurations. These configurations can be recalled by sending it a simple program change message from any generic MIDI controller -or- by recalling it in a Hub scene. The Hub is totally optional in this regard.

We are considering allowing the storage of Reflex preset data on the Hub as well, but that's still being hammered out in the lab.

Reflex on the Hub similar to how the SB2 pedals currently work would be excellent and allow users to backup / load / share scenes that utilize the Reflex functionality, as well as access the Reflex directly via the Hub Manager software to program / edit / save / load / backup / etc. For those of us with the Hub that sounds better than menu diving directly on the Reflex and trying to figure out how to backup our Reflex patches (via MIDI? USB?).