When the Bestie was getting teased I did wonder if it was going to be a different beast with Thyme-like effects and looping with multiple ins to make it more of a performance mixer thing. Would have been cool.
it can be set to do a really beautiful subtle swimming texture machine under everything else. kind of like sound-on-sound slow flowing tape delay just rippling softly underneath the main signal. i wish i backed up my sounds before i sold my last one but i couldnt figure it out. i doubt its even very hard. just send a midi cc or something
i would experiment with very subtle changes and low depth lfos (use the shift +lfoshape to make them less extreme)negative feedback setting, analog speed mode, set to mono, use the quantized speed knob increments to match the pitch of the input signal, and the fine tune knob to sort of flange according to the spacing knob, coarse shouldnât be nudged very far from its original position, (maybe enable freeze mode? i think this sound im trying to remember had it enabled but im not sure how continuous sound would be fed in that way, so maybe not) and turn up levels to like 12 oâclock, spacing as low as possible before extreme flanging. im thinking from memory but it was something like that. i know you can get very nice normal delays that just constantly get feed an input signal which is slightly modified with time and minimal robots
not very helpful i guess but i never really used the thyme in extreme ways. you just need to spend time with it, is the point. very deliberate small movements. careful meticulous setting and read the visual manual if you arent fully familiar with the structure and all of the shortcuts/secondary functions, and robot modulator functionality
also
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Good to know it can do subtle! Thanks
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this one reminds me of reznorâs Bones and All ost:
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A lengthy live streamed exploration of the Thyme + from @Gaz that provides a detailed look at the unit:
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I just got my Bastl Thyme+, here are my first impressions:
first impressions
I had preordered it originally but then cancelled the preorder as I started to doubt the device and also tried to emulate what it could do with software. Honestly, unless someone can make an exact replica that aspect is hard. Iâd wager that the closest plugin I have Fabfilter Timeless 3, with its handful of modulation sources and parameters, but even that wonât get the same type of sound, but close enough probably. But even then, I ended up getting bit by GAS again and ended up ordering it again.
I donât normally talk about packaging unless itâs really notable, like the Dirtywave M8. This is another exceptional box. Comes with a 8x11 glossy colored printed cardstock print that acts as a quick reference sheet one one side and on the other a nice quick start guide. Comes with two stickers, a TRS-A Midi adapter and obviously power plug. The whole unboxing experience was pretty nice and in line with Bastls other offerings in Eurorack and the Microgranny Monolith.
Build quality is very good. No wiggly knobs, the 1/4inch inputs feel nice, the case feel nice. The knob caps also feel very premium- again, if youâve used any of their other devices like the Microgranny Monolith or their eurorack modules youâll know the build quality here, itâs very good. Metal case but PCB panel- my one nit pick here is that the top panel attracts finger prints fairly easily.
As far as dimensions goes the length is as long as a Digitakt, the height (including the thymes knobs) is as tall as the Digitakt (excluding the Digitakts knobs) and itâs about 60% the width of a Digitakt. Nice compact size but very usable interface, nothing feels too small or too large here.
And onto the important stuff:
It does sound very good. I donât have a lot of experience with hardware delays. I donât own any pedals or anything. The hardware FX units Iâve used in the past with Delay have been the Oto Bim, Analog Heat +FX, Make Noise Mimeophon, and some multi Fx eurorack modules I donât feel like mentioning. I will mention the Moog Matriarch though as its delay is definitely special.
This is definitely a digital delay. They are definitely proud of it being a digital delay, or rather, a digital emulation of an analog tape delay. In the best way possible itâs sort of a âcrappyâ emulation of analog tape delay as itâs not trying to really be authentic to analog tape delay, but rather be proudly digital and really showcase the aliasing and artifacts that digital provides. In this regard itâs very awesome.
But calling it a delay is underselling it by a lot. By being able to modulate almost every knob you essentially get a toolset to create, of course swirling ping pong delays but also choruses, phasers, and flangers. You can set it so each knob is being modulated in stereo and it makes really insane effects, from metallic comb filter type stuff to feedback fighting for presence in the left and right ear. Having several LFO shapes but also an envelope follower, CV, and a one shot trigger really ensures youâve got a complete set of tools to create super unique textures. You can even more the shapes which includes slew limiting the random LFO which is very nice.
The tape speed can have its sample rate reduced which is a really good sounding sample rate reduction, though it doesnât go all the way down to zero. You can also change its mode so that the aliasing gets filtered with an LPF and it also has linear interpolation applied as well. When modulating this knob in stereo you can make a really cool tape warble effect.
Thereâs an indicator if youâre driving the input too hard, the LED next to the input gain knob turns red. Honestly, itâs quite a pleasant clipping sound and Iâm pretty sure itâs indicating the clipping happening on the analog stage, cuz itâs not are hard digital clip. So even in this regard you can make it work like a distortion.
My minor gripes I have with it:
Noise. Itâs definitely noisey. If noise bothers you, donât bother with this. Itâs not a harsh noise and it sounds more like a tape hiss than anything. From the original Thyme videos, that one sounded more like a Ground loop type noise which is awful. In this case itâs not bad and it definitely gets drowned out by the input signal but itâs there when things are quiet. Iâm pretty sure itâs analog coming from the DA converter (it doesnât seem to loop within the delay path) but it would have been nice if there was a way to toggle it on or off. I knew this would be a thing going in, it doesnât really bother me but it needs to be mentioned.
Another thing is that it doesnât have a power switch. This is pretty common with pedals and other FX units as far as I can tell. I donât get it though. I shouldnât have to unplug my gear to turn it off.
But overall, this is a really cool FX unit. I havenât really messed with the sequencer yet but itâs sound is definitely up my alley. I was worried its character would be way too in your face and it would be kind of a one trick pony which was why I canceled my initial preorder. But it actually feels like the opposite. Thereâs a lot of possibilities outside of being a simple delay.
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I got a hold of a Thyme+ recently, and really like it. Itâs solidly built, sounds great, and the modulation features are really clever and capable. Itâs great.
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I just canât get my Thyme+ to respond to midi clock (or anything else, but clock is most important) and wondering what Iâm doing wrong! Perhaps I got my TRS A/B adapter mixed up, but itâs the only adapter I have here and Iâm genuinely 99.9% sure it came with the Thyme+ (there was a move of equipment recently). The box is set to channel 1 (hold down first preset button when powering up).
Iâm also wondering if itâs related to another issue, which is âPlayâ wonât work / start flashing. I think this has to do with not getting any clock signal.
Has anybody else had difficulty with midi or clock? Are there any troubleshooting steps Iâve missed? Thanks for any help.
Excellent write-up of your impressions, thank you.
I had one of the original ones, and it has this almost tonal noise/hiss (like the breathiest of whistles) that was always present but easily drowned out by any audio input, but it was forever catching my ear when all else was quiet. Do you think that the noise on your unit might be similar?
Iâve had no issues. Iâve synced it with my Octatrack (actually, used it exclusively with my Octatrack as a send return effect) and it always just works.
Obviously making sure you have the correct adapter is important but more likely than not you do as MIDI TRS-A is much more common unless youâve got a lot of Roland and Polyend gear. Another thing is maybe your MIDI cable and/or MIDI TRS adapter are not functioning properly.
And just to make sure, not wanting to sound patronizing but make sure you have the Thyme+ set to the correct Clock source. Hold the Shift button and press the Tap button. Itâll cycle through the Freeze, Link, and Sync LED lights on the left hand side. Make sure the Light is lit up for âSyncâ which will be MIDI clock mode.
Other than that, thatâs all I can think of. Hopefully that helps and itâs not your unit.
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Iâll record some examples later though I feel like what youâre describing is probably accurate.
I was wrong in that initial write up, the noise is definitely on the input and going through the audio path, I can get it to sound phase-y by tweaking some settings. But turn the mix knob all the way to Dry and itâs still there and depending on the settings can get more pronounced with the feedback loop and turning up the other digital tape heads.
Yes, the noise I experienced was affected by tape speed and tape mode (hifi/lofi), which changed its tone and texture; it wasnât the hiss from input gain, but did change with output volume levelâŚ
I was hoping that the new version would resolve that particular issue, but have missed the Thyme ever since selling it.
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Yeah, I did a quick test on my lunch with that and thatâs exactly what I noticed. Volume in levels didnât change the loudness, volume out levels did. I could muffle the noise with a low pass filter but when going to a dry signal it would appear again.
But this is clearly their intention with the noise. I just wonder if itâs actually the digital engine or something cuz clearly itâs a deal breaker for a lot of people and the biggest complaint people have with it. Again, I donât mind much cuz I knew what I was getting into but I can see why people would have an issue with it. Itâs definitely a noticeable amount of noise, though in my opinion it is pleasant and drowns out with an incoming signal.
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Just a wild guess, maybe the noise is there to make no input feedback loops possible, similar to the noise of analog circuits? No input feedback needs something to start it and the noise in the circuit would make it possible.
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There is probably something to this, and Bastl loves feedback loops given their other devices and eurorack modules. I just cranked up the feedback and fucked around with some things and you can definitely get really crazy drones and atmospheric sounds with just the Thyme itself. And of course it can have a midi keyboard plugged into it and used as a karplus strong synth.
But still, if the noise was digital and added at the beginning of the chain youâd wish that there was an option to turn it off. As the analog input knob doesnât increase the noise and itâs definitely being inserted right at the beginning of the signal path.
I do very much like it though. Really weird and bizarre effects box with tons of possibilities for sound design.
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Thanks Oldman. Yeah Iâm pretty dman sure itâs set up right to receive midi. Iâm now in touch with Bastl. In the meantime, Iâm so itching to have it synced up - it was most of the point for me! Likewise with the OT.
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Ordered one. Kind of fascinated by this thing. Iâm thinking itâll scratch an experimental itch while I wait for the S-4 to get its shit together.
It pairs well with the S-4 ngl
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Anyone use both Thyme+ and Empress Echosystem and can offer a comparison?