713

Going great! I took it out for a guitar jam over the weekend with some buddies. It sounds nice on a lightly driven guitar, with some tasteful reverb. I’ve also been using it playing keys and as a looper, so lots of fun to be had there.

What I’ve found is I have to be careful with how much harmonic content goes through it, how wet, and how much activity. Too much and it ends up as mud. And, I tend to prefer certain algorithms (pitch up rather than up and down), but it’s all about dialing in what sounds good on the track. And trying different things

My next goal is to use it on a rhythmic element in a track. I’m going to experiment using the OT to live crossfade wet/dry drum loops. If that doesn’t work, I may try capturing cool snippets and layering them in the mix, but I prefer to do it all live in a single take. Because of the inherent chaos, I just acknowledge that it will require a few takes in order to capture the magic, but that’s all part of the fun :slightly_smiling_face:

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714

I still love my Microcosm. When it´s synced to midi, the time pot is very important for my workflow. I can change from slow ambient sounds to fast picking sound in the style of radiohead. It´s such an amazing pedal. And the looper, filter and modulation makes it a whole pedalboard.

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715

Hello microcosm users! I’m with it since a month now and I can’t get the hang of it…I mean all is fine (apparently)and I enjoy what comes out but to me it is like it’s very sensitive to input level. I switched from line to instrument level input, even if I’m with synths. But it’s in the middle of a chain and when I record a loop in it, it sounds like a LPF was applied to the sound. With line level input is more apparent. Better with instrument level. But it really blurs out sounds if they’re not at an enough high level. Is anything wrong with mine?
Thanks

716

There’s a LPF on the MC, is it engaged? If you have the Reverb at max or so, it sounds LPFed.

1 Like
717

Make sure you’re not having the filter knob closed :grinning:
Check with YT demos if yours sounds the same or not. Mine doesn’t sound like it was lowpass filtered but I do think some of the algorithms and the reverb are filtering out too much high end/clarity.

3 Likes
718

Can you specify whether the issue only occurs when bypass is activated and some amount of mix is dialed in? Or does the problem also occur when Microcosm is deactivated?

As has been said, check the filter knob. Also check effects level (shift and mix). You might also want to check the stereo settings. And then make sure the filtering is not part of the effect, as has been mentioned.

If you want to make sure, you could upload a dry sound file and a wet version of it with the filter like sound and a picture of your pedal settings. If we agree that it’s not part of the effect you used or knob positions, I can then run the dry file through my Microcosm and see if it sounds any different.

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719

I would also check you are on the latest firmware. One of the updates made a significant improvement to how the pedal reacts to line level sources.

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720

Thanks guys. About my settings… There is no filter (fully clockwise) and no mix. I speak for the recorded loop in pre-fx.
Also the pedal arrived a month ago brand new, so I would expect firmware v1.13 already installed (but I haven’t tried to check which version it is running on).
Later today I’ll try again and record audio files to be compared with your experience on microcosm.
Thanks a lot for your help so far
d^_^b

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721

Update: apparently I managed to get a consistent sound coming out from microcosm. With these last settings I get a 1:1 sound out of the looper compared to input sound. So far so good

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722

Is there a near software equivalent of the Microcosm, or can get 80% near similar results?.

723

I really like Arturia’s Fragments

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724

Thank going to have a look at that. I wish I could buy it, but I’m trying to restrict myself from buying stuff for this year and see if I can replicate what I’m missing in software despite the short comings.

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725

Maybe check Other Desert Cities.

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726

btw, I got that reccommendation from this thread which might give you other hints:

727

VenusTheory shows how to get closer to 80% (or more?)

Also have a look at Output Portal (still Arturia Fragments is good suggestion)

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728

Interesting, thanks for that. The plugin he’s recommending for the granular stuff is this one:

I will try this out. The litmus test imo is how easy/fun it is to dial in “Microcosm” sounds. That’s one thing these videos always miss imo. I’d say Microcosm’s biggest advantage is that it makes things sound great effortlessly, if you choose the right algo for the right input source.

I can see how people are frustrated by the lack of finer control, so the plugin might be better for them. I’m curious if the plugin could find a middleground.

3 Likes
729

Yeah thank you

730

Just sold my Microcosm. I had a really good time with it and it was integral to my first productions. But I felt like I‘ve outgrown it and was no longer curious to try what a sound would sound like with different MC algos.

I’m also more interested in building my own FX chains nowadays where I have more control over the individual building blocks. Other Desert Cities (plugin) also made me less interested in the MC, since it can give you the same vibes but probably with more variety.

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731

Question for owners: I get the impression I can get a perfect four bar loop out with midi sync, but that loop will then drift so I can’t cut back to the original beat…

That’s basically it right?
But I can get a loop?

Use case is to get a loop out from Digitakt/black box and use it to transition to a new project/different tempo.
Also I know the delay doesn’t self resonate, but what sort of feedback length do you get on the other effects with no loop running? Are they relatively short?

Currently using a Zen delay to do something similar…

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732

I have had the Microcosm for about a year and despite returning again and again trying to use it in my studio, I have done nothing other than shout at it. All those YT videos that called me like a moth to the flame…

Last night I put my lab coat on and spent an hour listening to a 909 closed hat and a Poly D, using it as on an AUX send on my mixer. Naturally, the shouting continued as it turned everything I sent to it into the predictable and embarrassing mush.

So I midi clocked to my most stable clock - an ERM Multiclock using Ableton to stop start. I realised the following, which I thought may be helpful to anyone who like me has it gripped by the throat, inches from throwing it off a towerblock roof.

  • The number one rule is whenever you change preset, midi clock goes completely out and does not resync. Don’t cycle through presets without stopping and starting your clock source. I found that it ‘may / may not’ stay synced after you change preset with the sequencer running, but most of the time it won’t.

  • Midi Clock may / may not start on time when it receives transport commands. Most of the time it does, but often misses it completely, which catches you out.

  • Midi Clock will stay in sync ‘most of the the time’, but often drifts. Alerted by chaos, I then notice the pulsing light has started flashing on the off beat.

That’s it. I hope that’s of use to someone. Mine experience remains truly awful. I am constantly nannying it to get its shit together, but I am certain they must be all the same.

10 Likes