Figured I’d start a discussion on favorite effects on synths. It’s a ton of fun to run SQ-80 through the Hologram Microcosm using its granular function. The built in reverb really smears the grain clouds creating a dope ambience.
How are y’all using your effects? Good combo’s?
I was a guitarist before I got into synths (unless you count the SK-1 I grew up with) so I’ve got quite a few pedals lying around. I run a lot of things through Strymon Mobius - Boss DD-500 - Neunaber Immerse Mki. My favorite to do this with is probably the MEGAfm since it has no onboard effects and really benefits from them.
I also crank my Neutron through a WMD Geiger Counter.
Howdy! I’m new and before posting I thought I’d go through what’s here and engage.
There’s no doubt that Ensoniq’s stuff sounds great, even today. I owned a Mirage for a few years and used friend’s ESQ1 and EPS (16?).
I don’t know the Microcosm personally but I’ve heard it on the Tube and it got great depth and sound. I can imagine the SQ80 goes off through it.
I run a Micro freak through a Strymon Volante which is great fun. There’s a Nano Overlord in between if I need more gain but the EQ is really handy and the extra stages go nuts.
The strymon stuff is amazing! I’ll have to look it up. I plan to eventually get a MicroFreak <3 I’d love to hear your playing.
Strymon are incredible in the way they mix the technology with the practical to make very useful things that sound superb. Highly recommended.
The Microfreak is bonkers, I’d actually recommend some kind of limiter after it to protect things in certain situations.
You may be interested in the Minifreak, with polyphony of 6 I think, and effects and more. Totally nuts I imagine!
You’re very kind to ask but I don’t record anything from my hardware when fiddling, not that you could listen to at least. I tend to put bits into current Ableton projects but it’s mostly just for my mind health.
The projects are my engineer itch being scratched and that just about does me. Occasionally I play bits to a couple of friends but it’s not art. I take a few photos here and there for that itch, and try not to be technical with it.
Thanks for asking though. I hope you get a chance to give those units a go together, it’s great fun.
I understand the sentiment about using your jams for mental health. It helps me a lot. I tend to just quickly load up a daw to capture a sample when a sweet spot is reached but I don’t do much with them. Sometimes it’s nice when I’m bored to go through my projects and hear the memories of how much fun I was having that day :)
