Gain devices for FX loops or drum machines

[echorec]

Though these might be on the high side of the price range, boxes like the Elektron Heat and the OTO Boum are interesting. Combo-processors that include various versions of gain/grit/overdrive plus EQ/LP/HP filtering. I've heard the Heat in action and it's impressive, gives drums a little spice or alotta smash and always sounds good. The Boum also has a compression circuit in its chain.

Don't forget a bitcrusher/reducer of some kind. You might find an old Alesis Bitrman on the cheap which can compress and distort as well as phase/filter/frequency shift.

I've used the Analog Drive from Elektron with a Sub 37, but it was hard to really get any variety in a live setup. In a direct recording with external support, I imagine I could've found a little more wiggle room, but it wasn't anything worth keeping for my own needs. I discounted it for a friend, and he loves it on guitars.

The added features of the Heat are nice, but I already have filters and EQs, so the Heat feels a bit redundant for me. It seems like programming it and saving settings would take more time than just having a standalone dirt, that's being partnered with equipment I'm already familiar with.

I've got ring modulators and PLL circuits, so a bitcrusher isn't really a priority. If I got one, I'd probably go all out with a Geiger Pro. I had the standard model years ago, but it was insanely sensitive and impossible to recall settings.

Currently I have the Boum as a distant 3rd after the Bim & Bam. I imagine it's got nice sounds inside, but it doesn't really fit my workflow or my current needs. My spaceout time is divvied up something like this: 86% hardware synths, 10% soft synths, and 4% drum machines.

[ts50b]

In general I love ring mods, PLLs, and some muffs a lot on drums. I also really like the DBA Reverberation Machine and Deep Animation. The Deep Animation has a trigger in too, which can be fun if your drum machine has individual outs.

I also have an Elektron Analog Heat which I love, but even on it's fuzzier settings it's a lot more hi-fi than using any pedals

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

i couldn't imagine dropping the 7 bills on an analog heat unless maybe i really needed the interface too. even still i dunno.

i mean i scooped a digitakt and a drum brute the other day for about the same price as an analog heat.
gunna have a million times more fun w/ those two than the latter.

[Psyre]

i couldn't imagine dropping the 7 bills on an analog heat unless maybe i really needed the interface too. even still i dunno.

i mean i scooped a digitakt and a drum brute the other day for about the same price as an analog heat.
gunna have a million times more fun w/ those two than the latter.

Analog Heat doesn't send midi note data through it's midi out, so it's in no way an interface.

That being said it is absolutely amazing, and there's not really any programming, you find a setting you like? You press save. Super simple, super stripped down, super versatile. It's essentially a stereo Pretty Years without a mod matrix but with envelope versatility.

To OP:
So you aren't looking for a gain device for loops or drum machines? You may not have to turn down everyone recommendations if you clarify that by changing the thread title to analog synths.

Also from my experience, the elektron drive pedal is very characteristically different from Analog Heat.

[echorec]

To OP:
So you aren't looking for a gain device for loops or drum machines? You may not have to turn down everyone recommendations if you clarify that by changing the thread title to analog synths.

Well these were the first 4 words of the original post.

Since I use synths

"Turn down everyone"? I've addressed everyone, because I appreciated that they took a moment to post. I don't see any reason to be salty about that.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

i meant audio interface. it is a 2in/2out interface right?

sorry didn't mean to derail. back to your regular programming.

[Psyre]

To OP:
So you aren't looking for a gain device for loops or drum machines? You may not have to turn down everyone recommendations if you clarify that by changing the thread title to analog synths.

Well these were the first 4 words of the original post.

Since I use synths

"Turn down everyone"? I've addressed everyone, because I appreciated that they took a moment to post. I don't see any reason to be salty about that.

Whoops my bad for seeming salty. Seemed like you were trying to ask for drum machine dirt options but turning down (not ignoring) people's recommendations saying you wanted it for synths not drum machines. From my experience they prefer different flavors, so asking for one that works well with percussion hits and not liking it because you wanted it for synths came off odd.

This isn't the first time you havn't liked my typed tone, so I will be sure to soften what may come across as edginess when I reply

I can't recommend anything specific for synths and drums both as I havn't founder anything I use on both except the AH, but maybe instead of designated dirt you could consider tube preamps hitting red or mid-high end comps/limiters. With designated inputs like 1176's which at low ratios can really add a subtle depth to analog synths on tip of transformer hair. Obviously too far will flatten things though.


quote="Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D."]i meant audio interface. it is a 2in/2out interface right?

sorry didn't mean to derail. back to your regular programming.[/quote]

Ahhh most people assume it to be a midi interface. It technically can be a 2I/2O but only via over bridge which is a big fail right now and I find the latency when using it as the main card to cause too many artifacts to consider using it as such. Just to wrap that up

[echorec]

Whoops my bad for seeming salty. Seemed like you were trying to ask for drum machine dirt options but turning down (not ignoring) people's recommendations saying you wanted it for synths not drum machines. From my experience they prefer different flavors, so asking for one that works well with percussion hits and not liking it because you wanted it for synths came off odd.

This isn't the first time you havn't liked my typed tone, so I will be sure to soften what may come across as edginess when I reply

I can't recommend anything specific for synths and drums both as I havn't founder anything I use on both except the AH, but maybe instead of designated dirt you could consider tube preamps hitting red or mid-high end comps/limiters. With designated inputs like 1176's which at low ratios can really add a subtle depth to analog synths on tip of transformer hair. Obviously too far will flatten things though.

Well from my perspective, it's more courteous to discuss someone's suggestion, than to ignore them. I wasn't trying to disparage anyone's opinions. By addressing everyone's contributions, I'm genuinely trying to flesh out and solicit more views. (keep things evolving and moving toward a resolution)

....and I am fishing for either/or/both. I try to use my favorite gear in as many ways and with as many instruments as possible.

[WORMDIRT]

I hate(love) to say it but RAT! Seriously though the rat with very low gain compresses in a nice way, and the filter keeps a lot of high end character in there. Also, the behringer vintage tube drive adds some very cheap hair to synth gear

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

i meant audio interface. it is a 2in/2out interface right?

sorry didn't mean to derail. back to your regular programming.

Ahhh most people assume it to be a midi interface. It technically can be a 2I/2O but only via over bridge which is a big fail right now and I find the latency when using it as the main card to cause too many artifacts to consider using it as such. Just to wrap that up

ha oh elektron..... i'll never understand why they have such a hard on for over bridge

[ts50b]

i couldn't imagine dropping the 7 bills on an analog heat unless maybe i really needed the interface too. even still i dunno.

i mean i scooped a digitakt and a drum brute the other day for about the same price as an analog heat.
gunna have a million times more fun w/ those two than the latter.

I totally get avoiding the AH for the price. I got one used for a good price and I mostly use the tape saturation or power tube settings to bring more life into samples or soft-synths, which let me sell off a lot of synths and just use samples of them or comparable soft synths

[codetocontra]

I ran my Drumbrute through all my pedals tonight, Rat was the best. Ottobit Jr was really cool in the past.

[Derelict78]

[Psyre]

In honor of this thread I decided to run my wife's minilogue and my 707 through my Pretty Years (which was on exclusive 606 duty) I can't day i'd recommend it for analog electro instruments. I liked what it did as a flavor but there was definitely sme high end loss. Maybe because mine is a bad high end squeal offender, but I only preferred it for strange filter settings, not as a main gain device.
I have difficulty in using just about any "guitar" 0edals for drums or synth though. I vastly prefer the 19" formatted units with the exception of analog heat.

[echorec]

Update...

So I tried to acquire the Elements, but no dice. I'll keep checking eBay & Reverb for used models. I did score a Malekko Unity Wolftone (blue V2) finally after years of eyeballing them.

tonight I went OB-6 > Rubberneck (Malekko in the FX loop) > EQD Transmisser and it sounded amazing. That chain was giving me a lot of ideas for a film.

Then I switched an Adineko for the Transmisser and was doing a lot of lower-octave, single-note drone stuff.

I'm going to keep looking for more options, (because I'm a glutton) but I was thrilled with the initial results of the Wolftone. It has soooo much character and you get such a full-bodied bloom in the FX loop. It's got enough bite, that you can get a lot of gain, while dialing the VOL pot really low----this allows me to retain as much clarity as I need, without having to drive the pedal harder than I want to, in order to get optimal results. The Unity has been on my list for years, but it was worth the wait. In that $90-120 range, it's quite appetizing. I've seen the V1 (horizontal) model go for around $75, so it's definitely a bargain on the used circuit.

The Unity is adequate/good on the SR-120, but I think ideally I'd isolate it with a drum machine that had separate outputs. I'll need to test it with more drum machines and pedals, but on synths alone, it's proving to be quite invigorating.