UVI dropped a V2 of their Ircam Prepapred Piano. Intro offer is $149 until November 21st ($299 regular retail). There's a randomization feature for triggering all kinds of exotic and unusual timbres. Of note, the Rain arpeggiator offers a multitude of split/dotted/chaotic patterns.
We probably don't have many V1 users, but the upgrade on this was basically nothing. They sent me a $39 upgrade offer with a $20 voucher. I wish Arturia would let me upgrade for $19. Also, UVI does maintenance upgrades throughout the year (free). Their major releases are stretched out, so you aren't paying annual fees to stay current.
coupleonapkins wrote:
As for the Eventide, running 2 programs at once for $900 that might sound slightly better than 2 duct taped used H9s together seems about right for where we are in peddle kulture today, and I guess coasting on the laurels of the past is the best option is easier for everyone involved.
Playing it safe keeps the heat on, after all
I’m an Eventide fanboy who at the same time doesn’t cut the company a lot of breaks. I’m still down on the dot9 pedals, which give a good user experience but at the cost of giving the user just one (pretty good, flexible, and useful) algorithm for that retail price. Seems like buying a few tracks off a Beatles album again in an extended digital format with special features, but not being able to get all your favorite tracks and paying a premium per song. I got a used Blackhole for Tubescreamer money and love it, but i just can’t bring myself to recommend it at retail. And I historically don’t buy new Eventide. Not that there isn’t value on some stuff, but the used market can give crazy deals.
So I don’t think I’m deluding myself that I’m coming at this skeptically. And I’m not ordering one right off. But I really like what I see so far.
The basic industrial background condition is that the H9 was built on hardware that is so old that it will soon be impractical to continue manufacturing with it. This drove the H9000 ARM architecture switch, too. So Eventide did the same for their pedal line, which is good for encouraging dsp development to be efficiently shared across their product line. And because the new ARM can do faster/more powerful without costing, they can put that in the box. And their plug-in DSP development has been going to new and interesting places.
What I’m getting from a cursory bit of attention paid to the launch is that they are giving all the H9 Max algorithms in extended/enhanced form (extra delay/reverb/looper time, extra controls, etc.), giving two dsp engines, giving flexible routing including allowing I/O to be used as loops for other pedals, enhanced analog I/O with crazy good +14 dBu headroom available. And all for barely more than a single H9 Max had cost. Oh, and new algorithms that I’m not even quite counting yet because polyphonic pitch is tricky stuff and you want to get it under your own fingers.
Eventide wants to make money and is recycling IP. This has been a constant for decades. But I think they’re offering a lot here to try to get people’s money. I’m gonna try to hold out to not pay full retail, but I’m pretty sure this will be replacing my Pitchfactor/Blackhole combo in the future.
At launch I would have liked a granular engine, all the Eclipse algorithms, VSIG, and a pony. But this seems pretty good. There are much bigger gripes to be had in the H8000—>H9000 switch, but that’s another topic.
[Bargains no longer abound for Eventide’s rack stuff, so one can’t easily look there for a value alternative anymore.]
For all the upgrades Eventide is offering for this new device, I, personally, would probably be better off buying a 2nd hand laptop, instead. I do adore the Pitch/Timefactor format because of the access of real knobs, and I have an Ultratap that I don't quite use enough (which is a great form factor for the cash), but I still prefer what Eventide is doing vs. the Roland/Boss fan service show, even if this new one doesn't seem like anything new sans all the upgrades. Most of the companies in this thread are completely capable of trying something new, but I suppose the market is trickier than ever, along with the fickle nature of gear people (it only gets more expensive, not expansive). It veers dangerously close to Kempering your pedalboard, which anyone in their lane of traffic totally should do if they have the means/wherewithal/etc., and yeah, it could have two ponies and would still be too much for my mirror. It also, for me, veers on the edge of homogeneity, but that's a whole other topic that exists in the veins of every page of this thread, but we can only hope it won't last for much longer.
Slightly on topic, IIRC: on the PRF forum, Ben Adrian mentioned that he wrote an algo for the DL4 MKII that replicated a malfunctioning artifact based on the Roland Space Echo in one of the stock presets, but Line6 had to update it via firmware after the fact because too many people complained that it "sounded broken". Sometimes there is just no escape (from the Planet Of The Apes), but I still wonder how many functionally working units of that Boss Tonebender actually exist vs. the number of DOA's I've seen second hand (plain user error? or just dead components?). So much for risks!
Again, I would still entertain a standalone Crushstation, but only if they could tweak it enough to peak into some kinda digital nightmare white noise annihilation that could stir even the hardest of grannies, or at least what a Frantabit can/could do (speaking of $900 pedals.... ).
I usually really dig Rainger’s ideas, but I can’t get into this one. Seems like a cheesy 90’s kids toy. The drive and chorus are pretty great, but that record scratch function just seems a bit dated and cringey.
Re: New gear announcements for 2022
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 1:55 pm
by D.o.S.
qersty wrote:don't they make electronic tampura boxes? i think al cisneros had one on his board at some point
Yeah the full fledged boxes are a thing, but they're not a thing in pedal form. Closest is the Dwarfcraft SOMMS (still have mine ) but those aren't in production anymore obviously.
Re: New gear announcements for 2022
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 3:16 pm
by Heraclitus Akimbo
Blood_mountain wrote:
I usually really dig Rainger’s ideas, but I can’t get into this one. Seems like a cheesy 90’s kids toy. The drive and chorus are pretty great, but that record scratch function just seems a bit dated and cringey.
I kinda like it, though maybe 'cause my inner 90's teen would have loved something DJ scratchy like that. Hated the sounds in that demo, would be intrigued how this would sound as a mild disruptor for ambient stuff (which is often how I use the finger interface on my mini Kaoss pad).
Re: New gear announcements for 2022
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 3:46 pm
by echorec
two software drops:
Bleass Monolit -- deep waveform synth (49 EU / $49 USD intro desktop offer or $15 iOS)
It's quite deep if you want to tweak, or you can just hit randomize over & over again---I got a Speak n' Spell, SNES sounds, and electronic bird chirps in my first 5 automations. There's a free demo for test-driving it.
pros: lots of parameters, built-in effects, incredible range
cons: you can't target the randomization or apply a mix lock. randomization does a wholesale change (same as all other Bleass plugins at this time)
The new Interstice delay is nuts (intro is 15 Euros/ $15 USD). It can do Bode-esque delays or give you echoes inside a watering can. I'm using it right now with the Ultratap plugin & it's spectacular for droning & exotic textures. You can do saloon pianos, mid-century lab sounds, and all kinds of cinematic stuff.
coupleonapkins wrote:Slightly on topic, IIRC: on the PRF forum, Ben Adrian mentioned that he wrote an algo for the DL4 MKII that replicated a malfunctioning artifact based on the Roland Space Echo in one of the stock presets, but Line6 had to update it via firmware after the fact because too many people complained that it "sounded broken".
I usually really dig Rainger’s ideas, but I can’t get into this one. Seems like a cheesy 90’s kids toy. The drive and chorus are pretty great, but that record scratch function just seems a bit dated and cringey.
Reminded me of the Radica U-Create Music, except the U is a sampler (and the basis for the Ezi&Aka The Blob). Also, it's usually around $50, still!
Also, this came up when I first searched for the U-Create (sadly, I have no catte to enjoy this type of device):
Aphex Twin did it first, maybe (but with sandpaper)/ HEY, whatameyesayin, THIS CATTE IS A GENIUS
Re: New gear announcements for 2022
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 9:10 pm
by coupleonapkins
ALAS I wanted to point out this TE horror (Nobukazu Takemura, call yr lawyers):
Blood_mountain wrote:
I usually really dig Rainger’s ideas, but I can’t get into this one. Seems like a cheesy 90’s kids toy. The drive and chorus are pretty great, but that record scratch function just seems a bit dated and cringey.
I kinda like it, though maybe 'cause my inner 90's teen would have loved something DJ scratchy like that. Hated the sounds in that demo, would be intrigued how this would sound as a mild disruptor for ambient stuff (which is often how I use the finger interface on my mini Kaoss pad).
Hey, fair enough. I’m sure there would be ways to integrate and make it work, I shouldn’t be so snarky.
There are much bigger gripes to be had in the H8000—>H9000 switch, but that’s another topic.
).
) but those aren't in production anymore obviously.
