My favorite effect is a toss up between Analog Tape Echo and Spring Reverb. The new Nomad Factory Echoes plug-in emulates some classic Tape Echo boxes. I have a Boss DM100 (not actual Tape) and often use Fabfilter’s Timeless both which I highly recommend. I love the detuning effects you can achieve as you mess with the delay time.

“ECHOES faithfully models the greatest delay effects of all time, PLX-1 based on* Echoplex® 1, PLX-3 based on Echoplex 3, OILCAN based on Tel-Ray® Oilcan Delay, EHX-DM based on Electro Harmonix® Deluxe Memory Man, and ADM-2 based on Boss® DM-2 Analog Delay.” – nomadfactory.com

For more info: nomadfactory.com/echoes

In my continual effort to make my music studio into an 80′s time machine I picked up a Boss DM-100 bucket-brigade analog delay and chorus. Similar vintage units have been used on vocals by the Stray Cats and Richard 23 of Front 242. You could spend a lot more on new tape delay pedals such as the Moog 104Z but they aren’t as noisy and sleezy. In fact, a quick forum search on the DM-100 shows this unit is quite coveted. I like that the DM-100 has the input and outputs on the front which will make it quick to get drum machines and iPads through it and back into Ableton. If your not familiar with this type of device watch the video above at 20 seconds in to be impressed. If you want to stay in the box check out Audio Damage’s DubStation or Fabfilter’s Timeless plug-ins.

“The DM-100 uses is together with the compact DM-2 Boss’s first BBD based delay. The DM-100 is also making use of the Roland FCF (Frequency Controlled Filter) to produce its delay sound. The FCF gradually rolls of higher frequencies as the delay time increases. With the mode switch the user can choose whether to use the Delay Machine as a delay or chorus. The intensity of the chorus is adjusted with a control on the back and the effect can be turned on or off with a footswitch (not supplied with the DM-100).” – bossarea.com

For more info: bossarea.com/dm100

Moog Music is about to release an iPhone/iPad App called Filatron. It’s a Sampler with a Filter, LFO, Feedback Generator, Delay, XY Pad and Moog GUI. You can also use the mic in for live input. Like the recent Minimoog Voyager XL I have mixed feelings on this release. On one hand Moog should be applauded for moving itself somewhat into the future. On the other hand it goes against the analog purity that was Bob Moog design. I guess it’s good we can have both.

“There’s no question this could be a gateway drug to Moog’s genuine analog gear for the mass market on iOS.” – Peter Kirn, Create Digital Music

For more info on Filatron head over to Create Digital Music who has the full scoop: click here

Oh by the way here’s another leak this time via Synthtopia. A rack mount Little Phatty for $799:

“The Moog Slim Phatty is reportedly priced at $799. This is about $700 less than the Little Phatty keyboard, making it a pretty killer price for a real analog Moog synth!” – Synthtopia

For more info: moogmusic.com

Six Delays in September from Calvin Cardioid on Vimeo.

From the great CL516 blog Calvin Cardioid shows off his Boss DD-3, Moog MF104SD, Eowave Spacebug, OTO Biscuit and more. I really liked this video. There’s something nice a zen about it.

“Six Delays in September… I’m just playing common synth patches in mono with one hand, while the other tweaks the pedals.” – cl516.blogspot.com

For more info: cl516.blogspot.com

PSP Audioware from Poland was one of the early great VST plug-in makers. One of their plug-ins Nitro is in my top 10 of all time. They have updated there very good delay plug-in the 84 up a number to 85. $39 upgrade until August 8th then it jumps to $99.

“PSP 85 successor of the PSP 84 which became the favorite delay plug-in for some of you. PSP 85 is the product of our eternal fascination with the endless possibilities offered by variable sample rate delay lines. PSP 85 benefits from aggressive algorithm optimization and adds numerous significant new features while retaining full preset and bank compatibility with our renowned PSP 84 delay. The plug-in comes with sixty wild and twisted new presets designed to highlight its exciting new attributes, in addition to a supplementary bank containing more ‘bread and butter’ PSP 84 factory programs.” – pspaudioware.com

For more info: pspaudioware.com/plugins/delays/psp_85/

Chris Randall has released an updated version of his nice stereoizing delay, pitchshifter, modulator named Discord. This plug-in always reminds me of the effect Meat Beat Manifesto used on breakbeats on their early albums.

“The pitch-shifter consists of three separate algorithms: a “vintage” mode (the original Discord algorithm, modeled on the Eventide H910 and H949), a “clean” mode for more modern shifting sounds, and a “granular” mode for experimental effects. Each mode has its strengths, depending on the input material, and Discord3 has a broad palette of capabilities as a result. The P1 and P2 algorithms have full control over the buffer (window) size of the shift effect, for fine tuning the shift to the input signal, or for stranger sound effects. At the extremes of the six-octave shift range, some truly strange aliasing and artifacts can be had with this control. Now, to be clear, if you’re looking for a nice, clean diatonic pitch shifter for fine surgery and re-pitching the full program, you need to look elsewhere. Discord3 is a tool for sound design, barberpole shifting delays, and special effects; think Eno, Visconti, Bowie, or Dirty Mind-era Prince and you’ll be on the right track.” – audiodamage.com

You can read the Discord 3 manual: click here

Available for instant download for $59: audiodamage.com

I love early Soft Cell demo tapes. There was a CD compilation called Science Fiction Stories (Discogs link) that had a collection of these early Soft Cell treats. If you like that super analog, detuned, noisy madness than you will love the new Analogue Systems rs440 delay. Liquid Sky music fans would also get along with this unit too. If your still reading and get what I am talking about AND lust as I do for such sounding things then watch the above video and find $325. Got the cash? Here’s the link: bigcitymusic

“Analogue Systems has just released a brand new module, the rs440 BBD Analogue Delay. This is an awesome sounding delay, utilizing a Panasonic 3011 BBD chip. Analogue Systems has done a great job keeping the price down on this voltage controllable delay. There is some clock noise at longer delay times but the use of a low pass filter after can easily rid you of it. Actually, the clock noise is pretty fun. You can use it as an effect!” – bigcitymusic

For more info: www.analoguesystems.co.uk

Nitro is one of my all time favorite plug-ins. It mangles audio in a high end way better than any other plug I own. To be honest if I had a $399 ready to blow I would buy Nitro instead of Komplete. It’s that great of an effect. If you’re a [k] fool go buy yourself some karma and go legit with Nitro. The deal’s at Audiomidi.com: click here

“It offers many filter types derived from analog prototypes in addition to other useful processing blocks such as phaser, bit-crusher/downsampler, waveshaper and interpolated delay blocks. These can be connected to each other using virtually any routing scheme. The advanced control signal generators are capable of modulating most of the processing parameters, making this plug-in an essential tool for sound design and experimental purposes.” – www.pspaudioware.com

More info about Nitro: www.pspaudioware.com

Here’s a clip of a new song I am working on called “We Will Get Wicked” which will end up on my next album. A man speaks to a woman letting him know his dirty plans for her. I imagine those plans take place sometime early in the morning on a weekend night.

“And it’s something we must go through.” – The Horrorist

I know this music maybe isn’t for everyone but we can all appreciate the drums of from the Vermona DRM1 MKIII firing all full force. The snare (with analog Bucket Delay full up) and clap are panned hard left and right making a sweet stereo spread. The nice synth that plays behind the breathing section is a Korg MS20 I borrowed from a friend. The MS20′s nasal filter really shines there. My favorite part of the song is when the breathing echos every 8 or 16th time they appear. I know it’s a bit Kraftwerkesque but I think it appropriately fits in a song about sex. Part of the reason they echo so nicely is that I use a TC Electronic Powercore’s Chorus/Delay plug-in. Take a listen:

Download audio file (We_Will_Get_Wicked-The_Horrorist.mp3)

Remember that music is only the soundtrack for a real life. Now go and find yourself someone to torture.

Related post: The Horrorist – Born This Way

Ever since I saw André Michelle’s software physics demos I knew the concept would make it’s way into audio applications. Bouncing balls attached by strings colliding with walls, creating sounds all said to me: glitch sequencer. Audio Damage’s Dr. Device has kinetics built into it so you can start flinging filter and delay nodes around. Audio Damage does not offer demos so until today when Chris Randall posted the above video I wasn’t sure how cool this feature was. The good stuff starts at 7:55.

I expect a few years from now we will see sequencers that look like realistic rivers which you can drop objects/sounds into. You would control the flow of the water instead of tempo. The wind, sky, roads or even a heard of buffalo could be other “tracks”. Finally we will have a productive use for super expensive Nvidia graphics cards. And of course we will control all of these elements by reaching out and touching them on our screens. I can’t wait!

Check out André Michelle’s physics demos:
http://lab.andre-michelle.com/tag/physics/

To see more videos from Audio Damage head over to their new video channel on Vimeo:
www.vimeo.com/audiodamage