SUPERBOOTH 2023 in Berlin: Of course we from the DelayDude team couldn’t miss that and therefore started our tour for AMAZONA.de exclusively through the fantastic synthesizer fair. Continue reading “SUPERBOOTH 2023 DelayDude Highlights”
This year’s Superbooth was a complete success and there were numerous live acts, vintage gear, VIPs and several launches.
Sunny days at the FEZ in Berlin: The Superbooth inside of the building, partly in tends and outside area, sprayed some kind of the character of a festival. And the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant. Continue reading “Superbooth 2022 – A review”
The Seymour Duncan Andromeda is a rather lee pedalboard-friendly digital delay that throws extensive features in the ring to fight for its space on the pedalboard. Continue reading “Seymour Duncan Andromeda”
Because of the numerous requests regarding my favorite delays, I tried to figure out my top delays and I want to start this three-part series with my favorite tape emulations.
The order of the delays within the respective group or video is no ranking for I am unable to tell which of them I like best. Thus, the presentation is according to the alphabetical order of their names.
Check out the reasons why I have chosen these delays here.
0:03 Echosystem Continue reading “My favorite tape emulations”
Many times, I have been asked about my favorite delay pedals and I must confess, that this question is soo hard to answer to.
Nevertheless, after a long time of thinking and trying, I figured out groups of my favorite delays regarding the categories analog delays, digital delays and tape emulations. Continue reading “My favorite tape emulations”
The Korg Volcas are pretty flexible devices that received a little firmware-update last year.
But there are also unofficial firmware versions for the Volca FM and the Volca Sample, which I have tested as well.
Similar to the installation of the official updates, the update mode must be activated while the Korg Volca is started. Therefore, you have to keep the buttons Func and Play pressed while you switch the Volca on. Now, you can connect the sync-in jack of the Volca with the audio-out of the computer.
The volume of the computer ought to be quite loud, but not maxed. I mostly use a level of 80%.
By using an adequate media plays, the firmware can be played back as an audio file via the computer. In this case, it is important to deactivate all further sounds (like emailbox or likewise). Otherwise, you will get an error message.
After the update is finished, the Volca needs a re-start.
For the velocity function is a decisive characteristic of inspiring FM sounds, a FM synth actually is supposed to provide such a feature.
Unfortunately, Korg has not implemented this feature by now.
Alternatively, you could complement this function for external keyboards via using a specific Retrokits RK-002 midi cable.
The unofficial Firmware 1.09 add the velocity function to the Volca. The keys of the internal keyboard do not send velocity information, but by connecting an external keyboard, the respective data can be sent to the FM.
Another interesting feature is the patch changes note on/off. While it is deactivated, a played tone can be sustained, even though you select another sound. Until now, the sound has been stopped in this case. Now, a fluent transition between different sounds is possible.
Besides, there have been new control change orders added. For example, the free assignment of the mod wheel, various chorus settings, the loading of patches and pattern as well as subdivisions of the tempo.
The firmware runs quite reliably. Only some posts on the internet revolve around the problem, that the Volca switches itself of with this firmware. The reason is a flat battery or the power supply does not provide enough current. The FM needs more than 100mA to work reliable. The unofficial firmware might need a little more current; thus, you should keep the capacity of your power supply in mind.
All of these new features can be deactivated in the global menu. Ant those, who don’t like the firmware anyway, can downgrade the Volca to the official firmware easily. The Korg Volca support website offers a free download of this file.
Regarding the Volca Sample, the process of the installation of the Beta 7 firmware update is identical. You can replay all samples chromatically as well as using the “sequencer channel” to select all of the 10 sounds via the midi keyboard. As with the Volca FM, you can also activate velocity.
It can be selected just like pitch and note triggering via part or pattern.
New control changes for reverb, mutes, pattern-changes, reverse and so on have been implemented. Besides, there are also to new reverb algorithms.
Many of these new parameters can be changed directly in the live mode. It is not necessary to enter the global setup and re-start the device. By keeping the func button pressed, you can select a respective function through the sample pot.
Another interesting feature is the SAMP. It assigns 100 samples to the midi keyboard. Thereby, you can use all samples at the same time or rather program them via midi.
Thus, the Sample becomes a fully adequate sampler.
Of course, you can play polyphonic samples as well. Similar to the Digitakt, you can adjust the probabilities of a trigger. The standard setting is set to 100%. By reducing the probability, each pattern becomes a diversified part of the song.
Last but not least, there is the drone mode. It allows to set the decay of all samples to the maximum and thereby enables you to create some kind of infinite mode while you are looping.
This unofficial Beta 7 firmware runs stable and reliable. Because of the numerous features, I really recommend this type of firmware.
And it also applies in this case: if you don’t like the new firmware, you can go back too the official Korg firmware easily and for free.
This is a comparison of the legendary Fulltone Tube Tape Echo with the amazing Empress Echosystem.
0:11 bright setting /tape mode
0:45 dark setting / old tape
1:21 bright setting / Echoplex
2:09 in the mix / multi mode
gear: Fender Stratocaster,Evidence Audio SIS Cables, Fender Tweed Champ, Celestion G12M, Shure SM57, Cubase.
This is a stereo comparison of the brilliant Crazy Tube Circuits Echotopia with the amazing Empress Echosystem.Find out more about different settings and how both of them may sound in the mix.
Please, use your headphones!
0:11 bright setting /tape mode Continue reading “Crazy Tube Circuits Echotopia vs. Empress Echosystem”
This is a comparison of the Empress Echosystem with the Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy. The Echosystem provides a Deluxe Memory Boy algorithm, which I chose for the first three soundfiles in this video. Find out if the analog bucket brigade device algorithm with slightly increased saturation gets also close to the sound of the Deluxe Memory Boy.
For the Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy is a mono pedal, I chose the single mode for the Echosystem.
0:11 vibrato/ DMB algorithm with vibrato Continue reading “Empress Echosystem vs. Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy”
This is a stereo comparison of the most versatile delays at the moment. Enjoy the comparison of the Empress Echosystem with the Strymon Volante. Please use your headphones!
0:11 drum/Echorec Continue reading “Empress Echosystem vs. Strymon Volante”
This is a comparison of the Empress Echosystem with the Eventide Rose. For the Rose is a mono pedal, I chose the single mode for the Echosystem.
Find out more about different settings of these delay pedals and how both of them can sound in the mix.
gear: Fender Stratocaster,Evidence Audio SIS Cables, Fender Tweed Champ, Celestion G12M, Shure SM57, Cubase.
0:09 brightest setting / digital mode Continue reading “Empress Echosystem vs. Eventide Rose”
In this last part of my Empress Echosystem review, I would like to present further sounds of this outstanding pedal. Continue reading “Review: Empress Echosystem – Part 3”
In this second part of the detailed Empress Echosystem review, I would like to make you learn more about some of the marvelous sounds of this great delay pedal. Continue reading “Review: Empress Echosystem – Part 2”
This is a stereo demo of the amazing Empress Echosystem.
Please, use your headphones!
For the Echosystem is an incredible extensive delay, I won’t even try to present all of its brilliant functions.
I only present my 7 favorite settings instead.
0:08 tape mode (Echoplex/ Space Echo) – left/right Continue reading “Empress Echosystem – my favorite 7 settings”
The Empress Echosystem is an extensive equipped delay (or rather two delay engines) in a compact enclosure. I think, that this pedal is able to create almost every kind of sound. Continue reading “Review: Empress Echosystem – Part 1”
You must be logged in to post a comment.