Hardware effects anyone?

[rob_lee]

Love those Lexicons!

I have more lol just need another 8U rack for them, basically a Lexicon or Digitech for every synth. Can't beat the old 90's 2000's FX IMO.

There's something about those earlier Lexicons that always sounds like their reflections are based on stone or tile whereas most digital racks from others sound like metal plates and tanks. Both have their place, but Lexicon really nailed the former IMO.

It's just a shame their software won't work anymore (not supported) however I absolutely love my Lexicons mate I think I have a few MX300 too, basically all the same quality sound just different ins/outs etc

[excuse me please]

The Alesis Bitrman is definetively a nice multieffects unit. Being digital at heart, it can possibly be replaced with similar plugins within your DAW, but the immediacy and easy of use make it still desirable if you can find one, imho.

https://youtu.be/OvE9gdj6kgc

Bitrman applied on the RD-8 snare:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nOZ4qfulz7s

[BBFG#]

Love those Lexicons!

I have more lol just need another 8U rack for them, basically a Lexicon or Digitech for every synth. Can't beat the old 90's 2000's FX IMO.

There's something about those earlier Lexicons that always sounds like their reflections are based on stone or tile whereas most digital racks from others sound like metal plates and tanks. Both have their place, but Lexicon really nailed the former IMO.

It's just a shame their software won't work anymore (not supported) however I absolutely love my Lexicons mate I think I have a few MX300 too, basically all the same quality sound just different ins/outs etc

I had the LXP-1 back in the the early '90s. The closest I've found in software is the 2cAudio stuff. But really, just seeing your rack makes me want a real Lexicon again!

[rob_lee]

I had the LXP-1 back in the the early '90s. The closest I've found in software is the 2cAudio stuff. But really, just seeing your rack makes me want a real Lexicon again!

Love my rack mate, I have some amazing FX on my mixer too (Yamaha O1v96i) I think they're from the SPX or something but I run most of my analogs through the rack FX then in to the mixer for EQ etc.. I sample everything in to the Akai MPCX I'm building quite a fantastic Live Set here. Hopefully I can demo before the end of the year on YouTube

[Friendly Noise]

Strymon Nightsky begs to be tweaked live:

https://youtu.be/6u5FhtEhP3A

[Friendly Noise]

Some more examples of Nightsky here:

https://youtu.be/doGMuifRQT0

[kritikon]

One of the few hw FX I still use and have in the rack (I still call comps FX, though I guess some might not) but if you overdrive a VCA compressor you get a lush & creamy soft distortion. Done that on synth pianos - beautiful when done right.


Also - a bit knackered after it didn't like being in a damp cellar in Manchester for too long. maybe 1/3 of the algos don't work properly, but fortunately the main ones still do. Big downside is the preset times on delays and verbs - it's bigger brother the Vortex was definitely better. I now wish I'd bought one back in the day (and for the other stuff Vortex did).

I still have this in the rack, but will probably take it out - TBH it's too much of a PITA to use, despite it's capable of some quite unusual FX. Nice modular set up, and probably the peak of Digitech hw FX. It's posh reverb uses up all of the processing and can still hold up well - great wooden rooms & smaller spaces - studios etc, though not so great on halls etc. I used to use all 4 outs occasionally - the posh reverb has front and back stereo outs, but for what I do - just not necessary.


I have some others but they're pretty well in storage now. Not much competition with what's available ITB IMO.

[kritikon]

I still waver with this one & get it out every now and then. Love its sound, but again - impractical with the way I work ITB nowaday. I never really liked the harmonic enhancer type exciters, but something about the BBE made me moist back in the day. Great on busses when you overuse it too (can't do it on the master bus as it's too obvious) - you get a weird kind of syrupy effect where the music sounds like it's playing ahead of itself but too slowly, but really clearly - hard to explain. It's like a delay but you don't hear any echoes. Would be great on sci-fi sound tracks.

[kritikon]

And how could I forget - cheap as chips but I do still use it, and it's out on the desk (looking a bit rusty now though ) . I never played guitar and bought this specifically for synths - and it works superbly!
It can actually make even a Juno sound grunty (which takes some doing). If any synth player wanted to sound like JJ Burnel from the Stranglers - get something like this. Y'know - I might have to buy an acid yellow Behringer 303 to go with it - the perfect match...

[sokoleski]

The Lexicon MPX 1 I like a lot. It's quite modular and sounds dark and thick.

Has the ability to put other internal fx inside the delay... for yummy feedback travels.

The CPU is a bit limited, but I do like the sound character of it..quite unique !

[AnX]

[thecontrolcentre]

I'm really enjoying this one ...


Enjoy Electronics Reminder multi-fx unit
https://www.enjoy-lab.com/reminder

[vurt]

I'm really enjoying this one ...


Enjoy Electronics Reminder multi-fx unit
https://www.enjoy-lab.com/reminder

looks as good as it sounds too, very sleek!

[Robertovoid]

Strymon Nightsky begs to be tweaked live:

https://youtu.be/6u5FhtEhP3A

Nightsky is an awesome machine. I've been looking at it for quite some time now, as there are amazing features not available to big sky itself (e.g. the midi sequencer, which pairs greatly with any arp/synth/etc)

The only thing that is restraining me to get it is the price. It's a damn crazy huge price. It comes at the price of a synth.
And when it comes to multi HW, like my case, i prefer to have digital instances in ableton, where I can setup multiple FX per tracks

Having said that, coming to a cheaper world I just bought Hall of fame 2 and Flashback 2 from TC electronics to be used with my synth

Main reasons
1) they are cheap (110€)
2) You can save preset and manage them with the app
3) the delay has a tap tempo
3) both the bypass switch are actually working as expression pedal! (or modwheel). You can link several parameters to them like in a synth mod matrix. This opens up for very interesting use

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajCt4iREq_w


And I have an overdrive boss SD-3, which is always a good sounding OD classic and work greats on synths (but even the bass version, as someone was saying before, is more than great! especially with bass and drum machines)

If you don't want to invest a hundred bucks in the Boss, you can go for their behringer clone on, availables on amazon for 20bucks

[pixel85]

Hall of Fame 2 was on my list because I've been looking for a stereo reverb pedal. But somehow I don't like those reverbs. They're ok but nothing exceptional (especially Shimmer Verb). Also, I already have Flashback 2 which has the same modulation as HoF2 so I wanted to have something different (more variety). I can't afford Strymon reverbs so I had to search for another alternative.
Finally, after tons of research I purchased this little beauty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEpwAAl_mIM

Sound-wise, I like it more than Strymon reverbs.

GFI System is new to me. I'm shocked how gorgeous Skylar reverb sounds while it's made by someone who made previously only 2 or 3 other algorithm reverb pedals. Big respect for coding skills. It sounds like a nice little cloud. It's not overtaking dry signal even when the reverb level is high. Even Shimmer Verb sounds good (tbh I'm not a big fan of t his type of reverb).
It looks like I'm the second person to mention GFI System on KVR. Kinda surprising as their other pedals are also nice. They're really worth checking.

I can't wait to dip synths in this pedal