Home | ER-101 | ER-102 | ER-301 | Wiki | Contact

Did you get rid of some OSCs after getting the ER-301?

#1

So here’s another general 301 question while I’m waiting for the module:

Did you ditch some of your sound sources after getting it?

In my big rig, I have 6-7 Oscillators plus 2 Rings and a Vermona Perfourmer which is already a lot of sound sources, not even counting the Elektron boxes. With all the sampling and file storage power the 301 offers, I wonder If I will ever use all of those modules together.

And I thought some of your are/were probably in the same situation. How many voices does your system have and how many of them are provided by the ER-301?

#2

I really thought I would ditch some modules after getting the ER-301 - but what actually happened was that my relationship with them changed, I think for the better. I still have pretty much everything, and probably a little more besides.

Now instead of inevitably feeling ‘short’ of something i.e. “I wish I had one more channel of…” I found it a really liberating release from the constraints of hardware, but still with almost all the benefits.

Simple example, need an envelope with EOR - use Maths, need an envelope but don’t need the EOR - use the ER-301.

I need to make more use of this, but I have found recording voices and freeing up the sources after recording to be really liberating too. Again, it’s another way to overcome the natural limitations of hardware.

Finally, I learned patching techniques in the ER-301 that I have then since used in hardware modules which results in a new lease of life and a revealing of aspects of them I never knew existed.

Overall it’s been a hugely positive experience.

Oops, forgot to add which oscillators I have:

Digital Complex: Hertz Donut mk][
Digital Wavetable: 2 * Piston Honda mk][
Analogue Complex: Endorphin.es Furthurrrrr Generator
Analogue Mono: Birdkids Bateleur
Digital Modal Voice: 2 * Elements
Digital Waveguide: Mysteron
Analogue Drum Voices: Mutant Bassdrum, Snare & Hihats

Between these I can create pretty much anything I like, I rate them all very highly.

#3

i fiddled with the idea but lastly felt the same as @kel…
after listening to how good the phase mod sounds on the 301 i thought i might get rid of one of my digital dual complex vcos but…fact is i love them too much :smiley:
my vcos:
1)makenoise dpo
2)IME hertz donut mk1
3)IME hertz donut mk2
4)IME zorlon cannon mk2

#4

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

These are my OSCs/Sound Sources:

2x Dixie 2+
2x Instruo Ts-L
2x Mangrove
1x Just Friends (not always used for audio)
1x Verbos HO
2x Rings

#5

I haven’t ditched any of mine (and I have a ton) as they’re just a different colour option. But, I use them all less as it’s easier (and more fun!) to create great textures with the grains, slicers and loopers.

Actually - what I tend to do frequently is record waveforms from many an oscillator in my system into the 301… and it’s more fodder for the internal tools.

#6

This is exactly what I had in mind.

#7

I have found the Galbanum Architecture Waveforms far more convenient than recording my own, not that it’s that hard, it is a little fiddly but… 25,000 just sat there already waiting to be used:

https://www.galbanum.com/products/architecturewaveforms2010/

I know I said it before, but I really am very keen on the wavetable unit coming out… :smiley:

Patience, I know… :wink:

#8

so confused, “OSC” is http://opensoundcontrol.org/introduction-osc

But it seems like the OP is talking about oscillators?
Why would it be abbreviated that way, and in all caps?

#9

My preference is to use the ER-301 to handle things surrounding playing back audiofiles, looping, and recording. This may change if a wavetable oscillator surfaces, as I don’t have anything like that currently. I’ve thought about getting a Piston Honda though, especially since you can process audio with it. Currently using 2 Mangroves for the main voices in my system (and have thought about adding a third).

#10

yep - OSC for Oscillator. This abbreviation (one of many) has been used for eons, long before Open Sound Control came into existence.

#11

i didn’t ditch any of my oscillators either. on the contrary, i’ve recently bought a Verbos Harmonic Osc that i’ve tried to ‘clone’ a while ago in this thread and i couldn’t be happier. i got rid of the Morphagene though and i miss it sometimes.

so, currently i’ve got:

  • DPO
  • E352
  • Shapeshifter
  • Piston Honda II
  • Waldorf NW1 (on the verge of getting rid of this one, but reluctant)
  • telharmonic
  • benjolin
  • Verbos HO
  • Folktek Conduit (osc is not everything it can do but still)
  • Folktek Matter
  • just friends (i mostly use it for modulation though, not audio)
  • mysteron
  • plonk
  • akemie’s taiko
#12

I haven’t ditched any either, though I don’t exactly have a huge modular rig to start with. Interesting to read that no one who has responded really has either.

In my system it allows me to do more with the oscillators I do have. For example if I dial in a good sound on the Shapeshifter, I can sample the waveform and play it using one of the sample players in the 301, and then free the Shapeshifter back up to create a new sound.

#13

(I’m also a hoarder)

#14

So to the ones with quite a few Oscillators, how is your workflow when recording a track? Do you also use the 301 to free up your modules for additional voices like the guys with smaller setups? Or do you at some point focus on the 301?

I image there would be a lot of stuff going on.

#15

I focus mostly on something other modules I have can’t do — sample playback / mangling, recording, effects, extending sound palette with things unique to the 301. i can’t recall using it to free up voices. i also put my 301 into my new 12U/104HP portable case for live performances and traveling, and it’s going to be busy there, including recording everything (:

#16

How do you like these compared to the Adventure Kid single cycle waveforms? Worth the money? Having a large amount of waveforms that well organized seem worthwhile in of itself.

#17

I really like them a lot, they are a little different, but I am not sure I could quantify that exactly, at least not without considerable work - it’s just a gut feeling.

Yes, the organisation of them is worth a lot, and just the sheer comprehensiveness, there’s pretty much everything you can imagine in there. The possibilities explode when you realise you can combine them in interesting ways, e.g. FM, sort of additive, etc…

I bought them in a sale so even more good value for money.

Also, the AKWF are tuned to D+2c - which isn’t exactly a problem per se, especially in the ER-301, but it is a little odd. I don’t want to put them down though, they are still a great resource.

When the wavetable unit is available, combined with the ability to chain individual samples into one big sample, it’s going to be off the charts!

#18

I did let my Qu-bit Nebulae go, and I became less interested in the Morphagene or 4ms sampler thingie. (I still have a Phonogene for nostalgia sake.)

#19

Me too! The moment grains dropped in 0.2!

#20

I’m a couple of weeks away from my ER-301 ship date, but I’ve been planning around it. It’s part of a pretty big shakeup to my modular system – I’m merging cases, and have let go of several modules that I feel are more situational and which the ER-301 can fill in for.

In terms of VCOs, I simply have too many given the minimal number of voices I tend to use in recordings. I kept them all for the sake of diversity but I think the ER-301 – as well as leaning a bit more on some software synths that I still love despite my modular fixation – is going to make letting go of some of them easier.

Plans change of course, but this is what I’m planning to keep:

  • SynthTech E370 (beta test unit; otherwise I would find the E352 more appropriate to my needs… except I love using a second oscillator as a source for phase modulation or expo FM of the first)
  • Plaits (extremely versatile)
  • Tides 2018 (shifting more to using it as a modulator than VCO)
  • 2x Rings (I use them as a sort of filter/effect more than “VCOs”)

And VCOs I plan to sell:

  • Warps (honestly, I shouldn’t have bought a second one after I sold my first one, but I was kind of nostalgic for it. A great module for a small case, it’s not as important when you’ve got analog wavefolders and better options for TZFM / PM)
  • Hertz Donut mk2 (it may come down to issues of “feel”)
  • Kermit (I don’t love working with it, but I love its fizzy sound character. I sold one, then had to buy a second one because I missed the sound. If I can imitate it with other modules I’d like to do so; I have some hope for the ER-301.)
  • Double Helix (I have mixed feelings on this one; I love its character but it does fall generally under the “too much stuff” umbrella.)

I’m also waiting to see if I’ll want to sell my Chronoblob or hang onto it – a question that will probably come down to the issue of open feedback loops. Or maybe I’ll trade it up to a Z-DSP :wink:

In my last several recordings I’ve been acting as if that gear is already sold, and have been doing fine – so I expect all of this will happen :slight_smile: