Tips for hardware FX-units.

Sup guys, saw a similar topic but i figured I'd create a new one to tailor it for my needs.

Im looking for a hardware multi-fx unit (not just reverb) to go together with my mostly analog setup. I want to get effects into my creative process rather than using them in the computer post-production.

Im want something lo-fi, warm, dirty sounding and im looking for reverbs, delays, wah-wahs, ring-mod, anything like that.
Ive been looking at the Ensoniq DP4 which seems to be praised and from what ive heard it seems like a promising candidate.
(Some people knocked the workflow but me using a MPC3000 and emax rack with a background in sp1200/s950 Im disciplined in slow workflow, so thats no huge factor )

Ive also heard a lot of SP303/404 stuff ive liked - is it possible to route the outs of the MPC>303>mixer without resampling? That would also be a great candidate.

So any tips would be great!


Ps. the discussion is about hardware units, not how cheap and great plugins can be, those answers are just waste of time.

I have a DP Pro in a similar setup to yours. I use it sometimes for effects, reverb, compression, etc. So a Dp4 sounds pretty much like what you are looking for. Be aware it really has some character to its sound... It's not a "clean" or "subtle" fx unit compared to something like an alesis midiverb. I think for a setup like yours, it adds a nice sound.

Something i personally dream of is to have dedicated hardware units for each EQ, Comp, Reverb, etc... But i realize that is a costly dream. The DP pro is pretty good for an all-in one deal.

As mentioned above, dp will "color" your sound, something like a midiverb is also very good if you want "subtle" fx that blend in very easy as opposed to "standing out with character"... Hard to describe.

jibber wrote:I have a DP Pro in a similar setup to yours. I use it sometimes for effects, reverb, compression, etc. So a Dp4 sounds pretty much like what you are looking for. Be aware it really has some character to its sound... It's not a "clean" or "subtle" fx unit compared to something like an alesis midiverb. I think for a setup like yours, it adds a nice sound.

Something i personally dream of is to have dedicated hardware units for each EQ, Comp, Reverb, etc... But i realize that is a costly dream. The DP pro is pretty good for an all-in one deal.

As mentioned above, dp will "color" your sound, something like a midiverb is also very good if you want "subtle" fx that blend in very easy as opposed to "standing out with character"... Hard to describe.

Great! Im actually looking for something that colors the sound, not gonna use it on every beat i just wanna mess the shit out of some samples

I bought a ACP88 8-ch compressor when i sold my s950 and its the shiiiiit if you're looking for a compressor. (cost me about 300 dollars, shipping included so i still had money left after i sold my s950). Very easy to use and lovely sound.

The OTO Machines stuff is worth a look. The biscuit is excellent for lo-fi processing.





http://www.otomachines.com/index2.php

marrelarre wrote:
Great! Im actually looking for something that colors the sound, not gonna use it on every beat i just wanna mess the **** out of some samples

I bought a ACP88 8-ch compressor when i sold my s950 and its the shiiiiit if you're looking for a compressor. (cost me about 300 dollars, shipping included so i still had money left after i sold my s950). Very easy to use and lovely sound.

I have recently bought a DBX160A that i am planning to buy another one or maybe two if i like it after using it for some time.

Roland SPs and MVs got some great coloring effects but leaning more to SP for their quick and realtime use and assign fx to a pad. The Mv just adds fx to a track and/or master out, not to pad like an SP so thats why they are more fun.

Gotta say that the Biscuit is also a synthesizer outside of being a fun bit-crusher (in case you didn't know)!

If you are you looking for a nice effects box and can afford an SP of your choice on top of that - GO FOR IT. The SP series is a lot of fun (the two I've owned - 202 & 404) as an effects box fasho but they are also great samplers. I think they are in damn-near-perfect contrast to the MPC's.

As far as multi-effects go... I really dig the Lexicon MX-400. A little bit of everything done decently, MIDI control plus you can also use it like a VST if you plug it in USB. This feature sounded useless to me at first but was great to have after tracking is all done. The MX series is still a great value without the USB thing though. Really like mine.

As the op alluded to, many hardware samplers allow external audio to be processed through their internal FX . I believe my asr10, asrx and akai s1100 allow this, and many others. Could be an option if space or budget are limited.

Wow sry for the late answers, been super-busy!

Thanks for all the great tips, im definately gonna google all your tips.

My biggest concern regarding the SPs are: can you use effects on external sources? meaning if i plug my MPC-outs into the SP - can it apply effects to that signal or do i have to resample it? If not thats a give buy in my book.

Any of these will do what you want, and more. ASR-X is quite cheap for what you get too.

marrelarre wrote:Wow sry for the late answers, been super-busy!

Thanks for all the great tips, im definately gonna google all your tips.

My biggest concern regarding the SPs are: can you use effects on external sources? meaning if i plug my MPC-outs into the SP - can it apply effects to that signal or do i have to resample it? If not thats a give buy in my book.

exactly.. the input on the back goes to the pad called ext source.. you push it and it lets the sound through (hold button keeps it pressed) and you can apply any effect in real time without sampling. this is how I use mine most of the time.

you can also click record and click an unused pad, then click record again to snag a snippet of the input sound with or without an effect on it... then apply additional fx to it to record onto another unused pad... to then add additional fx...


I like the sampler for easy generic samples like voice tags or crash cymbals... in conjunction with the mpc... and I run the master out of the mpc into the 303 for realtime fx for live shit.

ah just the topic on my mind lately as I am to looking for a decent hardware FX rack or box.

THe Otto is ok, but to me totally overpriced and not worth half the asking price, its cool and all but too pricey for what it is, and do not rate it. That and it is not great FX unit either really and you can do the same with a few guitar pedals for the 10th of the price.

Here is what I am wanting to get.

http://www.eventide.com/AudioDivision/P ... lipse.aspx

Its this or TC fireworx

http://www.tcelectronic.com/FireworX/

make sp series look like toys, and I know I owned em. But these units are not cheap, but then its very good stuff that lasts and sounds great. They are marketing towards guitarists for the first time now, so the marketing seems wrong for what I will do with them, but its just how they sell them lately.

If anyone knows anything better than these units then I am all ears!

bliprock wrote:...you can do the same with a few guitar pedals for the 10th of the price.

No you can't.

It wouldn't be my first choice as a multi-effects unit but it's untouchable for the stuff it does do. It'll probably also appreciate in value over time as they didn't make that many.

you wish it goes up in price Cos, but there wont be enough suckers for that though
Hmm what does it do I can not do in a pedal? bit crushing? I aint read the specs in a long time

bliprock wrote:you wish it goes up in price Cos, but there wont be enough suckers for that though

It's already gone up 50 quid in 6 months but £420 is a tough sell even though it's a badass bit of kit. I got mine for £300 which I think is a fair price considering the build quality, the sound and the inevitable cost of covering French workers who are always on strike.

bliprock wrote:Hmm what does it do I can not do in a pedal? bit crushing?

Stereo multi-mode analogue filter, sample rate reduction, bit inversion and manipulation, full MIDI, delay, wave shaper, pitch shifter, 8 bit hybrid synth. Trying to replicate it with noisy guitar pedals is a waste of time.

I can see you're already working out what you can sell to buy one, so here's the review(s) from SOS.


http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan11/a ... iscuit.htm
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may12/a ... cuit-2.htm