Eric!
Commercial User
Bubble Chamber is the dubstep LFO pitch-tracking crazyparty, and the Tetravox is the four-voice synthesis, if I'm not mistaken
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The Iron Ether Xerograph Low Pass Filter & more!
- Thread starter Kwesi
- Start date
Bubble Chamber is the dubstep LFO pitch-tracking crazyparty, and the Tetravox is the four-voice synthesis, if I'm not mistaken
Taylor's clips sound killer. They're the same ones that are on IO's website, right?
Also, am I to understand that the Xerograph in the clips is the "regular" one, without any optional envelope features?
Also, am I to understand that the Xerograph in the clips is the "regular" one, without any optional envelope features?
Eric's clip was using Behndy's custom five knob Xerograph with all the envelope options.
BTW Eric, that was an awesome clip of the self-oscillating xero. What were you feeding it?
BTW Eric, that was an awesome clip of the self-oscillating xero. What were you feeding it?
Eric!
Commercial User
While I'm still anxious to use the Bubble Chamber when it is completed, I'm really enjoying my tricked out Xero. I've had some feedback for Taylor but haven't really shared my thoughts here.
I will say this. In terms of what the standard production model was designed to do (static low pass filter for dub like tones or synthy combos using an expression pedal to sweep the cutoff frequency) it is incredible. A flawless execution in my mind.
It's nice that the Moog labels the Frequency knob (though either through being an approximation or just parallax it never seems exactly right to me), but that's a minor quibble. In fact, the biggest criticism I could give Taylor is that the super bright LED and the faint knob lines make it hard to see exactly where you are in the knobs range.
But honestly, other than that it does EXACTLY what it is supposed to and does it well. Small, true bypass, standard 9V powered and great sounding.
As an envelope filter, it is also very good. Though the Chunk is a 2 pole only LPF, the tonal similarities between the Xero and the 00Funk are very strong, both in the basic character (modern and synthy) and the range of settings. The Chunk is a bit more tweakable but it's also harder to dial in than the Xero. Both also sound great with dirt and are perfect for the classic octaver/fuzz/filter combo.
Taylor and I have talked about the down sweep (which absolutely clamps down and doesn't let sound pass through) and it is one feature of the Xero that I currently don't use. The slow attack is also a bit laggy for my tastes.
That said, I'm stoked with this little box. It actually exceeded my expectations and that doesn't happen often with pedals. And it looks great too.
I will say this. In terms of what the standard production model was designed to do (static low pass filter for dub like tones or synthy combos using an expression pedal to sweep the cutoff frequency) it is incredible. A flawless execution in my mind.
It's nice that the Moog labels the Frequency knob (though either through being an approximation or just parallax it never seems exactly right to me), but that's a minor quibble. In fact, the biggest criticism I could give Taylor is that the super bright LED and the faint knob lines make it hard to see exactly where you are in the knobs range.
But honestly, other than that it does EXACTLY what it is supposed to and does it well. Small, true bypass, standard 9V powered and great sounding.
As an envelope filter, it is also very good. Though the Chunk is a 2 pole only LPF, the tonal similarities between the Xero and the 00Funk are very strong, both in the basic character (modern and synthy) and the range of settings. The Chunk is a bit more tweakable but it's also harder to dial in than the Xero. Both also sound great with dirt and are perfect for the classic octaver/fuzz/filter combo.
Taylor and I have talked about the down sweep (which absolutely clamps down and doesn't let sound pass through) and it is one feature of the Xero that I currently don't use. The slow attack is also a bit laggy for my tastes.
That said, I'm stoked with this little box. It actually exceeded my expectations and that doesn't happen often with pedals. And it looks great too.
Nice summary Jared.
I actually have found both 2 and 4 pole and slow and fast attack settings all very useful in the various songs I use the filter with (which has increased since receiving the Xerograph).
I actually have found both 2 and 4 pole and slow and fast attack settings all very useful in the various songs I use the filter with (which has increased since receiving the Xerograph).
2 and 4 pole switch is nice, especially if you want to do something with a bit more subtle filter sound using the 2 pole. And I like the slow attack, but if playing quick staccato notes (say Rocco style sixteenth note funk) the envelope ends up affecting several notes. It's like the envelope filter equivalent of my old Frantone Sandwich compressor. Definitely an interesting effect.
The only real disappointment to me is the down sweep.
One more note. People invariably compare the Xero to the Moogerfooger, but as a static or swept filter I think it sounds much more like the Robot Factory Brain Freeze and as an envelope filter it sounds MUCH closer to the Chunk than the Moog in either case.
I haven't found a use for the down sweep either.... in fact, not really I can tell what it does.
I've got to try this. You are definitely right about the Chunk being hard to dial in. I swear I had to readjust settings every time I turned it on. It's so particular.
Eric!
Commercial User
Just ordered mine, got expression fast/slow switch and clean blend, now begins the waiting game.
My xerograph deluxe has just arrived. I'm trying to get how the knobs/switches/ep-2 interact. Not so easy, but it's better this way, because I can see what a wide range of sounds is available. This pedal is extraordinary for sure. Thank you Taylor.
old-fashioned said:
A couple of hints: the expression pedal is going to be most effective with the sens turned all the way off, the freq knob sets the lowest point of the sweep and the range knob on the ep2 sets the highest point, the up/down and slow/fast switches are only active when in envelope mode ( sens is turned anywhere but off). Hope this helps get you going!
Thank you, that was very useful info.
So if it's the "envelope mode" when the sensitivity knob is activated what would you call (or how would you name) the mode when sensitivity is off?
How do you use the range knob set on the EP-2? I can't see why I would use it to limit the sweep range -since I can control it with my foot. For now I use it full clockwise exclusively. Am I missing something here?
If the sensitivity is off, the Xerograph is either a fixed/static low pass filter (which can be useful for genres like dub or to thicken a track if used for recording with a parallel clean blend) or a swept low pass filter/wah when used with an expression pedal.
The range knob can be useful if (A) the sweep is too large for the pedal (ie, beyond a certain treadle range there's no change in the effect) or simply if you want to constrain the sound to a particular range - for instance if using it as a pseudo wah.
