Odd question...
From the original Analog Industries archive. Some links and images from that era no longer resolve.
Dear Lazyweb: Name me a 3U (or less) true analog synth that is like 8.5cm deep or less. I have an odd-sized space to fill. I think that the Evenfall Mini Modular would work in this context; problem is they’re rare as hens teeth. Something of which more than six were made would be nice.
(And since everyone is on an accuracy kick lately, as if this site was actual journalism, by “six” I mean “a few.” You guys can be literal as fuck sometimes. There’s no doubt in my mind that without this mea culpa, the first post would be “Uh, Chris, there were exactly 42 Evenfall Mini Modulars made!”)
20 comments
Vermona M.A.R.S. and the M.A.R.S. Control!
- BMU
If the form factor (and price) is more important than being a "true" analog synth then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Waldorf Pulse. It's not fully analog but it definately has that vibe/sound IMHO. Three oscs, good filter, and decent mod matrix make a pretty flexible monosynth. The downside is that programming via the front panel can be annoying. I use a cheap MIDI knob box for that.
The Pulse is less than 3.5" deep? I thought it was deeper than that. Interesting. And cheap, too. Hmmm.
As for the M.A.R.S., that's another thought, although I find them to be on the thin side. The Pulse definitely doesn't have that problem.
-CR
the mars and pulse are totally different. the pulse is cool and quite capable. great for basses especially. i had a lot of fun w/mine. should've kept it.
a friend got amars a while back and gets really great sounds out of it. it's way more "techno" to me. i liked it. a lot of weird modulation routings and cross mod etc.
i think they'd both be useful.
I don't still have one to measure, but the Pulse is certainly fairly shallow. As far as I remember, there's a lot of spare space in the box, too - it has an external PSU, so it's basically one board with the knobs mounted on it, and a little I/O board with the midi/audio jacks. I did find programming a chore, though - compared with the Evolver, which is a much easier-to-use mod matrix.
when I think shallow , the first thing that comes to mind are those newish Cwejman modules.
http://www.cwejman.net/CWEJMAN_WEBB-MODULES.htm
http://www.analoguehaven.com/cwejman/modules/
the second thing I think is eurorack.
Studio Electronics SE-1X
http://studioelectronics.com/products_se1x.php
3u, 8" deep, Minimoog, juicy.
Custom Graphics available upon request.
I first thought of the SE-1X, too, but 8 inches and 8.5 cm are very different things.
I'd check out one of thise, if they ever make it to the states. not analog though...
http://asb.creamware.com/index.php?frame=005&group=4&lang=en&product=
cwejman s2
The SE1x is obviously far too deep. On top of that, I owned one for some time, and quite frankly, it isn't very good, IMO. No offense to SE, who make some cool things, for sure. It just wasn't for me.
I'm looking for true analog. The Pulse is about as far away as I'd get from that equation. The Creamware stuff is nice and all, but if I had a desparate need for a Prophet 5 or Minimoog sound, I'd buy a Prophet 5 or a Minimoog.
A Eurorack is too deep, and I don't particularly want to get back on the modular bandwagon. A semi-modular like the Evenfall would be best.
As for the Cwejman S2, didn't they discontinue that? Hard to find, and expensive for what it does.
There must be more! Someone have a Pulse they can measure? I can't find the dimensions online anywhere.
-CR
The Pulse's dimensions might be perfect for you. Here's a pic that illustrates how seriously shallow it is:
http://www.pawnplex.com/Musical-ins/Waldorf/index.htm
Also, it being 2u instead of 3 leaves an extra single rack space for something like a DSE poly evolver rack or one of those MAM MB-33 bass synth dealies.....MAM has some other fun toys as well:
http://www.keyboardmuseum.org/ar/m/mam/mam.html
Novation Bass Station!
... I'll get me coat...
Just removed the pulse from the rack. it is 7cm deep, unit only, not cables, power etc attached. it takes a wall wart style power supply.
hope that helps.
Nice. Thanks a lot. I think the Pulse is exactly the animal.
-CR
MAM MB 33....
Oh, if you can, get the Pulse+. It has an external filter input and CV in/out. It can do double-duty as a MIDI>CV converter. One thing I like to do is send the Pulse's tempo-synced LFO via CV to other analog/modular gear.
I am VERY happy with my Pulse + and recommend it without hesitation.
Relatively cheap considering the sound/quality/flexibility.
And PC users can get this: http://www.rekonaudio.com/VES_Pulse.php
thanks for that link Teledubgnosis. i never knew such a thing existed - that's fantastic.
just purchased it and my pulse can now live happily ever after.
Cool LowEnd,
tell me how it works out.
I've been bugging the developer (I don't just bug AD for changes) to hurry up with the Mac port that they've been advertising for 6 months now.
I've grown lazy in my old age, and and am much more interested in a GUI that I can assign to a midi controller than routing using the pulse's front panel.
Yeah, yeah, blasphemy I know.
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