SubDecay... new things

[Chankgeez]

Awesome, thanks, Brian!

[ck3]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5TCnVy92Q4[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5TCnVy92Q4

Wowzers. Just when I thought there was no need for another synth pedal. Any word on a street price?

[ck3]

Two months later, and I ended up buying the product in the post quoted above. Subdecay produces quality, compact guitar synth options. The Virtruvian Mod was a fun ride back when I owned one, as was the original Noise Box, and there were even certain arpeggiating Starlight V2 textures that made my guitars sound electronic and otherworldly.

The Octave Theory is another fantastic and unique addition to the Subdecay lineup and perfectly captures the essence of 70's-80's octave/filter combo synths. Its controls are highly interactive, but also intuitive for the most part. Every modulation type seemed to have practical uses. I was able to instantaneously dial in all sorts of 80's Coldwave and Disco textures before transitioning to Prog territory from 12:00 forward on the central dial.

Results with various dirt options differed, primarily based on filter settings and the octave register being produced. The amount of bass can be thunderous. I could see this pedal potentially blowing guitar speakers at higher volumes when distorted, so an output level control was a wise addition.

Operating noise has been minimal other than some of the unfiltered octave signal faintly bleeding through when my playing is less precise. The monophonic tracking is glitchy in a good way and improves with use of a neck pickup, muting srings, and being mindful of vibrato technique and the amount of pressure applied when fretting notes. Some of the gobbledygook produced with power chords, octaves, and minor triads can actually be musical (in a warped sort of way). There were also interesting results with certain modulation modes when playing in the lower vs. upper register where lower notes produced upper octave tones and vice versa with higher ones.

At this point, I only did a test run with an electric guitar in E standard. The next series of experiments will incorporate instruments in the baritone range including E1 (aka bass range).

[Dandolin]

Great write-up seriously interested in this one (still loving the Octasynth)....

[UglyCasanova]

Yeah, nice write up! Looking forward to the test on baritone as I'm considering one for the bass board.

[ck3]

Thanks, guys. I'm guessing there's overlap between the Octasynth and Octave Theory with the latter offering more versatility. Tracking below E2 is hit or miss, and results tend to be more stable when using neck pickups and muted strings. Some of the glitchy trills produced with open strings in the lower register are mesmerizing. The Octave Theory would probably work decently with bass if you're using a pick and primarily playing in the upper register.

[Dandolin]

Yeah--that kind of mirrors my experience with the Octasynth--better tracking in the upper ranges of a bass, though overall better suited to guitar, but on a both a sweet zone of indeterminacy near E (80 hz) where glitch magick occurs....

[Chankgeez]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrOhQ7pnLUU ... b_www_attr

OK, Brian, requests: warmer & more oscillation

[sylnau]

OK, Brian, requests: warmer & more oscillation

This ^

And keep those filter mode.

[oldangelmidnight]

I love my Starlight v2 so I'd say yes.

[sylnau]

SubDecay Trem Coder... can't wait to hear about this one!!

[Chankgeez]

[Dowi]

Man I think I would lose all my remaining sight looking at those small writings.. BTW it seems to have unlimited sequencing possibilities



(too bad I barely use tremolo except for simple on/off square wave)

[Chankgeez]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-0YGL4BkGM[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-0YGL4BkGM

[Dandolin]

Digi controlled analog? Digi digi?