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Drone thingy
Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 10:50 pm
by JTurbide
I really should not be looking to buy more stuff but here we go. Any recommendation for a little drone synth/pedal. I see there's electro faustus' stuff, MFOS, mattoverse... Other cool companies/products ?
An MS20 would be cool but I don't want to spend much and I already have a nord electro so. The MFOS stuff looks like it could do some nice sounds
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 11:11 pm
by kaeth
If you're ok with one oscillator, Bastl Kastle is a nice little textural workshop.
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 11:53 pm
by Dandolin
that it is, and there are a lot of nice choices in this area
i'll throw up two of my faves - Marbeau Synth for the dirtier side of things
http://marbeausynth.com/
and Rucci if you're looking for something a little bit cleaner
https://handmadeelectronicinstruments.com/
i know somebody on here who'll likely put in a good word for Matty Mattoverse

Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 6:30 am
by D.o.S.
I dunno if they're still readily available but the Skychord Deses Parva was real nice, super simple, and cheap.
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 7:13 am
by Pepe
JTurbide wrote:An MS20 would be cool but I don't want to spend much [...]
A few years ago I had recommended the fantasic X-911, but the prices are pretty steep nowadays. I was lucky to purchase my examplar for a very good price three years ago:

Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:21 am
by Chankgeez
Dandolin wrote: Mattoverse

Yes, I dig that Mattoverse drone synth.

Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:25 am
by JTurbide
Cool stuff, marbeau stuff looks cool but all out of stock and not on reverb.
No skychord deses parva either. X911 is like a grand minimum from what I've seen
I think I like the MFOS WSG the most for now. If it helps, I prefer smooth ambient sounds than harsh ones.
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:49 am
by Dandolin
yeah, Kate Marbeau does batches (and I think Rucci still does too), so keep checking back, or shoot her an email if you're interested and can wait a little bit. In my experience, there wasn't too long a wait (tho she seems to mix it up in terms of which of her products she builds in each batch). I was able to acquire what i wanted of hers in the space of a couple of months....

Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:53 am
by JTurbide
Alrighy thanks. I'm looking at different stuff, something like the modal craft v2 might be cool too. I guess it could do some cool drones. Also really affordable. I should really not look at products over $200-250
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:21 pm
by dubkitty
I think I like the MFOS WSG the most for now.
i'm watching a demo and all i can say is "oh, god, here we go again." it's the Background Pad Generator of my dreams. seriously, i could do entire tracks just with that thing. "BRB, going to burn a fatty and turn into Cluster c.1971."
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:29 pm
by JTurbide
dubkitty wrote:I think I like the MFOS WSG the most for now.
i'm watching a demo and all i can say is "oh, god, here we go again." it's the Background Pad Generator of my dreams. seriously, i could do entire tracks just with that thing. "BRB, going to smoke a fat one and turn into Cluster c.1971."
Hahaha. It seems like the most musical of all the relatively cheap "drone/noise synth" I can find
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:31 pm
by dubkitty
can you supply clock via MIDI from an old Alesis HR-16?
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:57 pm
by JTurbide
I only see cv and trig inputs so my guess is no ?
Looks cool tho, there is also a few other MFOS designs that look cool. But yeah this one seems fun.
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 1:26 pm
by lordgalvar
Find a cheap beatstep to use as a master clock (has cv and midi)
https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/cv-ocd/
https://kentonuk.com/product/pro-solo-mk3/
bonus CV control for pedals (run a sequence, stepped LFO kinda thing)
Or use one of the outputs on the HR16 (like pan a rimshot to the left, other drums to the right) and get a simple envelope follower built/comparator built. You may actually be able to trigger the envelope with just the rimshot. Sometimes they put comparators on the trig inputs.
Or get a master clock kinda think (like the Koma with an LFO, Envelope, and IR controller) and sync it all from there.
Re: Drone thingy
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:01 pm
by K2000
The MFOS WSG look interesting to me too, although I haven't researched them deeply.
I have a small unit from Marbeau and Rucci and although they're not expensive - which is why I bought them - they are also fairly limited. You might decide it's worth spending a little bit more to get a mini synth with more features.