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Desmodue
Published on 01/02/09 at 04:24
16 notes and 8 multitimbral parts, just the big brother of the Dark Star. The configuration is that of a gaggle of "true" analog: 2 VCOs - Multimode VCF - VCA - 2 LFOs - 2 ADSR envelopes, with virtually a button depending on where a front 3U, it must accommodate all that. Front which is adjustable for use in rack or set: all beast but he had to think ... Two more funny and clever tricks, an assignable joystick X and Y to any parameter and a key called "Sound Wizard" who "created" patches more or less random depending on how we rule. The all-metal casing and the electronics in there are really serious. Aesthetic "military utility," we like it or not, in any case it is simple and timeless.
The VCO provides a continuous waveform variable sawtooth square, whose duty cycle can be modulated, plus 3 other unmixed alas: a sinus, a noise generator and a "form", in fact the tooth Saw "pretreated" by a set of fixed filters. Let us add to all this a ring modulator. The multimode resonant filter is but a "12 dB / octave. The VCA also provides the amplitude the "panning" and other tremors. The modulation capabilities are very comprehensive. No onboard effects if not a chorus and phasing (not simultaneously) that work without stories. Arpeggiator "as before" ... In terms of connectivity is the abundance: 6 audio outputs, 2 audio inputs that go through the chain VCF + VCA taking joystick external (?) Without forgetting the indispensable taken MIDI.Mais lacks an entry for a pedal "hold "....
UTILIZATION
Who knows the old synths (analog subtractive synthesis) we are on familiar ground, and the ergonomics of the beast is very good, the menus are reduced to their simplest expression. The display uses 8-character alphanumeric LED: it's rustic but reliable and visible day and night. For the MIDI there is something very annoying (to put it politely): You can filter messages after touch, modulation wheel, pitch bend, velocity, etc. ... but not the program change. As this machine only works with another equipped with a keyboard you get the picture: a change of program synthesizer on "master" is considered as dry and it's not necessarily what you want .. . Perhaps the latest version of the software allows ... nothing is less certain. The manual is sketchy and in English only, just useful in case of doubt and for the table of MIDI codes.
01/02/2009 ADD:
1) The joystick is full of opportunities but it is poorly placed to the right, then we would rather expect the left to fiddling while playing with his right hand. We understand better why they have added a jack joystick drive!
2) An old Kawai K1 bought 3 in 1 / 2 AF turned on the keypad ideal because you can filter what comes out on the MIDI including program change. Another interest of K1 (additive synthesis "raw" unfiltered) can send their audio outputs on the audio inputs of the Red Sound as a VCO further.
SOUNDS
As usual, the original sounds are zero to 2 or 3 close, but now we can not turn they are in PROM. Lots of weird noises like squeaks of aliens into madness, croaking frogs on LSD and other electronic beep beep.
On the positive side it is possible to program sounds very close to the old synths of the 70 ~ 80, "pre DX7" what. It seems that the manufacturer has targeted the "pageant" pure and hard, leaving aside the comfort qu'apportent such integrated effects or more complex filtering methods. But this instrument has a very recognizable sound and clean, it will not sound "Moog" since without lowpass 24 dB / octave, but it's not unpleasant and certainly it has the merit of originality sometimes somewhere between the old style Korg MS20 or first Oberheim polyphonic. Thanks to the playable it is possible to double the sound by slightly changing the parameters: oscilloscope with 4 + 2 filters and 4 LFOs stacked there is no shortage of resources. There are only 8-voice polyphony but you can have sounds very impressive that way.
01/02/2009 ADD: Auxiliary audio inputs allow things very interesting too. In this case the 4 raw waveforms (of roughly 200) of K1 each with its own ADSR envelope and mixable live (only "gadget" of K1) can add or replace the waveforms of the VCO internal, and there before he made the rounds of possible combinations ... The worst is that it often sounds good, the Red Sound can become less "sharp" with other waveforms, or K1 almost "analog" through the VCF.
Like what two machines not really "worship" can make a whole that is much better than the sum of its parts, and certainly not intended by their manufacturers.
Needless to say it's a very typical instrument "search", so fans of realistic sounds go your way, even those who seek a "clone" of a particular mythical instrument.
OVERALL OPINION
Pros: ergonomics, construction, a very particular sound, the bargain price.
Cons: a very particular sound, it lacks a reverb. The side "Pageant" and the price nine demented enough (650 pounds) have certainly calmed everyone! Price also probably due to a homemade (in the good sense) and positioning "elitist", like these amps sound-equipped with 2 lamps and a single volume knob that cost 10 times the price of more ... So it was a commercial flop only 250 copies were manufactured, the coup is already a collector's item!
So it's a device that has the qualities of its defects, it will never be the instrument of all, you love it or hate it but it leaves no one indifferent. At first listen rather disappointing (see above) should really "go inside" to enjoy. At the price where it is currently negotiating a shot to try, I personally do not regret it at all!
01/02/2009 ADD: Harness the K1 it left over (see above) and using all (6 outputs + 2 auxiliary inputs, treated or not) it becomes quite monstrous issue sonic possibilities. Solution in my opinion much better than a standard keypad: Cheap and 2 complement each other (by accident) really well. It still works correctly, no reliability problems. Come on, a big point more for its multiple audio inputs and outputs.
The VCO provides a continuous waveform variable sawtooth square, whose duty cycle can be modulated, plus 3 other unmixed alas: a sinus, a noise generator and a "form", in fact the tooth Saw "pretreated" by a set of fixed filters. Let us add to all this a ring modulator. The multimode resonant filter is but a "12 dB / octave. The VCA also provides the amplitude the "panning" and other tremors. The modulation capabilities are very comprehensive. No onboard effects if not a chorus and phasing (not simultaneously) that work without stories. Arpeggiator "as before" ... In terms of connectivity is the abundance: 6 audio outputs, 2 audio inputs that go through the chain VCF + VCA taking joystick external (?) Without forgetting the indispensable taken MIDI.Mais lacks an entry for a pedal "hold "....
UTILIZATION
Who knows the old synths (analog subtractive synthesis) we are on familiar ground, and the ergonomics of the beast is very good, the menus are reduced to their simplest expression. The display uses 8-character alphanumeric LED: it's rustic but reliable and visible day and night. For the MIDI there is something very annoying (to put it politely): You can filter messages after touch, modulation wheel, pitch bend, velocity, etc. ... but not the program change. As this machine only works with another equipped with a keyboard you get the picture: a change of program synthesizer on "master" is considered as dry and it's not necessarily what you want .. . Perhaps the latest version of the software allows ... nothing is less certain. The manual is sketchy and in English only, just useful in case of doubt and for the table of MIDI codes.
01/02/2009 ADD:
1) The joystick is full of opportunities but it is poorly placed to the right, then we would rather expect the left to fiddling while playing with his right hand. We understand better why they have added a jack joystick drive!
2) An old Kawai K1 bought 3 in 1 / 2 AF turned on the keypad ideal because you can filter what comes out on the MIDI including program change. Another interest of K1 (additive synthesis "raw" unfiltered) can send their audio outputs on the audio inputs of the Red Sound as a VCO further.
SOUNDS
As usual, the original sounds are zero to 2 or 3 close, but now we can not turn they are in PROM. Lots of weird noises like squeaks of aliens into madness, croaking frogs on LSD and other electronic beep beep.
On the positive side it is possible to program sounds very close to the old synths of the 70 ~ 80, "pre DX7" what. It seems that the manufacturer has targeted the "pageant" pure and hard, leaving aside the comfort qu'apportent such integrated effects or more complex filtering methods. But this instrument has a very recognizable sound and clean, it will not sound "Moog" since without lowpass 24 dB / octave, but it's not unpleasant and certainly it has the merit of originality sometimes somewhere between the old style Korg MS20 or first Oberheim polyphonic. Thanks to the playable it is possible to double the sound by slightly changing the parameters: oscilloscope with 4 + 2 filters and 4 LFOs stacked there is no shortage of resources. There are only 8-voice polyphony but you can have sounds very impressive that way.
01/02/2009 ADD: Auxiliary audio inputs allow things very interesting too. In this case the 4 raw waveforms (of roughly 200) of K1 each with its own ADSR envelope and mixable live (only "gadget" of K1) can add or replace the waveforms of the VCO internal, and there before he made the rounds of possible combinations ... The worst is that it often sounds good, the Red Sound can become less "sharp" with other waveforms, or K1 almost "analog" through the VCF.
Like what two machines not really "worship" can make a whole that is much better than the sum of its parts, and certainly not intended by their manufacturers.
Needless to say it's a very typical instrument "search", so fans of realistic sounds go your way, even those who seek a "clone" of a particular mythical instrument.
OVERALL OPINION
Pros: ergonomics, construction, a very particular sound, the bargain price.
Cons: a very particular sound, it lacks a reverb. The side "Pageant" and the price nine demented enough (650 pounds) have certainly calmed everyone! Price also probably due to a homemade (in the good sense) and positioning "elitist", like these amps sound-equipped with 2 lamps and a single volume knob that cost 10 times the price of more ... So it was a commercial flop only 250 copies were manufactured, the coup is already a collector's item!
So it's a device that has the qualities of its defects, it will never be the instrument of all, you love it or hate it but it leaves no one indifferent. At first listen rather disappointing (see above) should really "go inside" to enjoy. At the price where it is currently negotiating a shot to try, I personally do not regret it at all!
01/02/2009 ADD: Harness the K1 it left over (see above) and using all (6 outputs + 2 auxiliary inputs, treated or not) it becomes quite monstrous issue sonic possibilities. Solution in my opinion much better than a standard keypad: Cheap and 2 complement each other (by accident) really well. It still works correctly, no reliability problems. Come on, a big point more for its multiple audio inputs and outputs.