Some people using extra effects/dynamics units for their Elektron gear.
I was just about to buy an ultra cheap used distortion pedal Today without even thinking until I realized, ‘what am I doing?’… might be ok for an old 909 or something, but each of these machines already has distortion built in …which sounds fantastic to my ears.
For the moment I’m more than happy with the effects already built in to the boxes (I can’t imagine ever needing an effects/dynamics unit actually, bar maybe a compressor on down the line) but my question is, do the built effects start to wear off on people after a while?.. or do the certain sounds need beefing up or is that added element of tweak ability more inspirational?
Eager to hear people’s opinions on their particular choice of extra effects.
I have all sorts of FX units but the Elektron FX aren’t bad.
I use those units usually on the final mix and/or specifically on certain things…for example, I’ve found that I really like running my AR through the Strymon Deco.
If you’re looking for a great reverb, grab an Analog Four. A bit pricey for a reverb but they throw in a solid delay and a 16 osc analog synth with it.
One thing about the internal fx is that you can treat each member of the Trinity completely differently instead of sending it all through one effect unit.
I have some external FX that I because they either have something the Octatrack doesn’t (eg. diatonic pitch shifting), or they have functionality that is easier to use than the Octatrack equivalent (eg. self-oscillation on delay). As stated in the latest Octatrack effects thread, I use dark reverb and filter a lot and my ears are unlikely to tire of them. I also use the delay when I just want a basic delay synced to the sequencer. I haven’t dug into freeze delay though. I don’t use the modulation FX because I just don’t use them in general - you give me say a vintage MXR phaser, vintage Boss chorus, etc. they’ll all probably just gather dust in my house.
My current favorite external FX unit is the Eventide H9 Max. Very good MIDI implementation, has all the algorithms from all the Eventide stompboxes plus 3 H9 exclusives, and can share algos with up to 4 other H9s. Excellent value for the money.
I just joined Pedal Genie, it’s kind of like Netflix for effects pedals. I’m currently testing an EHX Freeze pedal from them with my A4 & Octatrack. It’s a good way to try out different external effects to see what you like.
They’re probably US-only, but maybe there are similar services available in the UK & Europe?
^ back when I got my eventide space, I almost got the H9 instead…but I ended up just going for the space…the H9 has more versatility for sure…I don’t find myself using all the million reverb options on the space so an H9 probably would have been better but…hindsight is 20/20…the space is a great pedal though so can’t find a reason to sell it
Wow, Pedal Genie looks cool! (EDIT, well, kind of. You have to have a wishlist of 10 pedals, then they send you one, but you can’t just pick a specific pedal and get it. I may check out the trial month for a buck though)
I’d love an H9- maxed out it does seem like a lot of bang for the buck.
Elektron buid in FX´s are not bad but external unit are exquisite like The Eventide Space or H9 but you are going for another set up lot more expensive which begins to need a good mixer and some I/O´s balanced to unbalanced convertion or D.I. boxes i use the Eventide Space in some things with success without the need of a mixer with the Octatrack or the Rytm but the Eventide as Balanced or Unbalanced option on it, and for just one or two external FX´s units the Octatrack mixer can work, IMHO
I got a kaospad3, so I can mangle whatever I want, with filters/fx that elektron-machines don’t have… besides, I like pointing with my fingers… its nice…
In my previous studio. I had a stack of compressor and multi-fx on the maininserts… just to colour the sound… or put “vinyl simulation” or tubesaturation-emulation on the whole mix… sounded awesome.
so I might do something like that on the main-outs of my octatrack. put everything in a nice/easy to carry crate… and voila… setup-for-livesets all done…
Just picked up a Red Panda Particle Delay. Very cool. Very weird. Used sparingly it can add some nice strange modulations and delays and pitch shifting. Up the level and you can go full glitchy weirdness. Fav!
Also been using the Moog MF Drive on stuff a lot, too. Has the nice ladder filter and the overdrive is super nice on leads and acid type stuff.
I have used the strymon timeline and big sky. These are great effects. But somehow I prefer to use them for vocals and guitar parts.
I found the elektrons to go well with small modular system for effects, like the Make Noise Echophone and some filters (also the erbe-verse looks great). Modular is really cool for live knob turning and stuff. And of course modulating your audio signals into crazy stuff. You can generate effect that do not even exist.
Crikey, clearly people have lot’s to say on this issue;)
I won’t get bogged down on extra gear now as I’m broke and still getting to grips with the machines, but I’ll refer to all your tips if I do decide to ad extra fx down the line. Got some (basic) effects in mixer… if I fancy some more variety for now.
The filter on electron machines are great I think, particularly on OT on a heavily distorted kick drum when you decrease the ‘width’ below the ‘base’ then mess with both knobs. I’m normally a straight up techno kind of person, but I think elektron is bringing the glitch out in me;)
Good plan - get to know your OT first. I took my time learning the OT and just using its FX before adding external ones, despite my love for the ones I mentioned.
all of my external FX units are carefully chosen because the elektron built in FX aren’t bad at all…however, if you have a lot going on in the mix, it isn’t very practical to try to get the last stage going through the A4 (for example)…that’s why I have like the eventide space, allows me a final touch of reverb on the whole mix…other things like the strymon deco…it’s a very unique pedal…strymon el capistan…I’m a sucker for tape delays…moog 104m super delay…one of the best analog delays around…etc etc…what can I say, I like FX …and I like the elektron FX as well
I wasn’t planning on getting an H9 until I heard about Eventide’s current promo. Normally you have to buy X or Y number of algorithms to “promote” your H9 to a Max but until April 1, that number is cut in half.
The two algorithms I plan to explore in detail the coming weeks are UltraTap (up to 64 tap delay, with some twists not available on TimeFactor’s multitap like a tremolo-like Chop parameter) and Resonator, which combines 4 comb filters with delay (choice of rhythm patterns) and reverb. You can get some faux granulator stutters, delay repeats automatically speeding up, etc. with Ultratap.
I’ll throw in another vote for the Kaoss Pad. It’s not the greatest effect unit out there, but I find it works quite well with the Trinity. P-locking the pad can yield some excellent and random results.
Yes, I contemplated getting an H9 Core or H9 and taking advantage of the Eventide promo to upgrade to max. I calculated how much each option would cost.
Then I spoke to my buddy that works at GC and he gave me a price for the Max I couldn’t refuse. Generally, it seems easier to get a discount on a Max than it is to get discounts on algos, which never seem to go on sale. You could get a Core for $300 or whatever, but then have to pay $20/algo x 15 (required number for Max upgrade) in addition.
Where the value gets really great is when I pick up an H9 Core and use it like a 2nd H9 Max thanks to the algo-sharing function.
And for anyone else reading this, note that a lot of Eventide algos are actually multi-effects. I posted two examples already :). Other better known ones are Mod Echo Verb (three FX in one just as the name says), MangleVerb (distortion + reverb, maybe mod too, but not sure), bunch of PitchFactor ones that throw in mod and delay in addition to pitch shift. I think some of the ModFactor ones throw in delay and/or reverb.
