Gear preview 2017

[jrfox92]

That looks like a really cool and easy to use design, but I'm not into that price at all.

SPOILER : show

100% of the reason is because I'm perpetually broke, I'm sure it's a fair price

[echorec]

Chemist update:

https://www.matthewseffects.com/products/the-chemist

pre-order price is $179, first batch ships July 15th

Modes:

* Cobalt -Chorus/Vibrato - Recreate classic, lush chorus tones, or turn the Reaction (dry) knob down completely for a mind-altering vibrato
* Lithium - Octave - Generate rich polyphonic organ textures using the +/- octave and dry controls
* Iridium - Phaser - Manipulate speed and resonance combined with the dry signal to create swirling sonic elements

[odontophobia]

Chemist update:

https://www.matthewseffects.com/products/the-chemist

pre-order price is $179, first batch ships July 15th

Modes:

* Cobalt -Chorus/Vibrato - Recreate classic, lush chorus tones, or turn the Reaction (dry) knob down completely for a mind-altering vibrato
* Lithium - Octave - Generate rich polyphonic organ textures using the +/- octave and dry controls
* Iridium - Phaser - Manipulate speed and resonance combined with the dry signal to create swirling sonic elements

just saw something about this. it looks cool.
but seriously are you gonna put up a preorder without a demo video?

[Gone Fission]

It looks like they just added the MS50 effects. This is after adding the MS70 effects to the MS50 so it looks like they might be functionally identical now?

Looking at the two PDF files, there's a lot of overlap now, but they're not interchangeable. I don't think the MS70 got any of the amp models found in the Fifty series. Since I don't own the MS50, I didn't realize so many of these modulation banks were already available in the sibling models. Just glancing over it, the MS70 got EQs, compressors, several tremolo/modulation effects, but no new reverb/delay algorithms. I've got a Tech 21 Leeds (Hiwatt) for direct recordings, so the '50 is a bit redundant for me personally. If the sounds in the MS50 are anything like those in the '70, though, I imagine it's a fairly useful pedal for the price.

So the MS-50 update seemed to give just about all of the non-bass algorithms of the fully-expanded MS-100BT, which had include most or all of the algorithms of the prior firmware version of the 70. (All the App Store stuff for the 100BT is now free, in case you missed it.) So dirts and amps as well as effect-y stuff to the 50. The 70 now has had its palate expanded beyond a few basic non-Chorus/Delay/Reverb offerings that it previously had augmenting the CDR functions. But not dirts. Just other modulation, dynamics, pitch, and general purpose stuff. But I think a few of the expanded algorithms may be unique in the series. Nothing like a new Eventide or Strymon sim, but some eqs and filters looked new to me.

I've never found the 100bt's dirts to be anything special, but I never dug in deep to make them work. The 70 and 50 can do MIDI control over USB with some DIY effort, which makes them a more gig-able proposition for really getting the most out of them. But I think the 100bt may have the more power to assemble longer multi-effect chains than the other two.

BTW, I have seen reports of the 70 update bricking the pedal in instances. Look into it before updating.

[resincum]

Anyone mentioned this yet?

I might get that so I can concentrate on tasty weird effects rather than essentials.

whoaa can you get freaky with assign functions on this thing?

[echorec]

but seriously are you gonna put up a preorder without a demo video?

Matthews did add a demo later in the day, but I guess when you've got >30,000 Instagram followers, you can open up pre-orders sans demoes. Although they're not alone in this trend, as the Shallow Water pre-order began a couple of days before the Knobs demo. I feel like at least a few other pedals followed a similar pattern in the last year. If you've got your audience built in, then I guess there's nothing to stop you. Anyway, here is the Chemist.

[youtube][/youtube]

[11A]

That Boss MS-3 looks excellent - only thing I'd be concerned about is how it handles fuzz pedals in those loops? More than happy to use boss stuff for delays/reverb etc but I can imagine fuzzes getting messed with which would defeat the purpose for me. Had problems with my EQD spires behind certain buffered peds for example...

[Gone Fission]

Yep, the loops in the MS-3 are post an AD, a DA, and a buffer. All in series sequence before another AD converter. Onboard effects can go before and/or after the loop block.

It has its limitations, though it checks quite a few boxes for the money. Probably not for me, tho I'm happy that Boss again realizes that people might want MIDI tempo sync between their effects and other devices.

[echorec]

Playing starts at 3:55.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdoVPpkm1k8[/youtube]

TC should've hired Matt Frewer for this.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpnsX-OAIC8[/youtube]

[echorec]

Pre-orders are open for this new Disaster Area controller.

http://www.disasterareaamps.com/shop/dpc-8ez-gen3

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCM8mlx2XY4[/youtube]

[Jwar]

The disaster area looks cool! I wish there was a display screen though.

[echorec]

A couple of new videos were posted for The River this week. The last major news was circulating in January, when updated enclosure pics made their way to several notable synth blogs (it was silver/red at the time). The first Soundcloud clips were actually posted more than a year, so honestly I can't even remember when this thing started to be discussed amongst the general public. Having seen several rumored polysynths disappear into obscurity (and considering that French manufacturer Baloran isn't exactly a household name), I was skeptical that this would ever inch toward a fully-realized production model.

Well this week, The River was presented at Synth Fest in France, so it seems to be progressing. It remains a bit of a fantasy synth for many people, however, as the final price is expected to be around €5,000 and the first batch will likely only be available to select European countries. Perhaps in the next year, they'll expand their distribution network and be able to deliver a $5,000 unit to North America.

For me, the most impressive feature might be 8-part multi-timbral operation. That would allow for layered sequencing and arpeggiations. Even in digital synths like the Nord Lead series, you don't see 8-part operation.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ErAR8WuwVQ[/youtube]

proposed features:

8 voices
2 VCO based on the Moog Source (more advanced)
Ladder VCFilter
VCO mod via Envelope
PWM & FM
Discrete LFO's & ENV's (2x)
Global Digital LFO
8x Multi-timbral
Arpeggiator & Sequencer per Voice
5 Octave Fatar TP/8S Keyboard
Analog Tri Chorus
Modulation matrix

The official company page is currently selling pre-assembled and kit versions of rack FX units.

http://www.baloran.com/store/index.php? ... y&path=167

[echorec]

Livin' the dream in 2017.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvCILlslxHw[/youtube]

[echorec]

These have been shipping to stores in small quantities, so I imagine a few more demos should be available soon. By late June to mid-July, they should be more readily available.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZgKpB5ZXRw[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP0xAUKTy90[/youtube]

[echorec]

re-uploaded below

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvtH1QxPgZk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKgT2ouJG7g[/youtube]