Tag: erica synths

Beginner Workshop with Girts from Erica Synths @SchneidersLaden

For our next Workshops for Modular Beginners, we are happy to welcome a special guest who will bring a newly developed synthesizer. Girts from Erica Synths will introduce the Bullfrog – a special semi-modular synthesizer designed to teach you synthesis. The Bullfrog was developed by Erica Synths and Richie Hawtin and will be available on 10th of August.

In order to provide a well-rounded understanding of the functionality of this synthesizer and sound synthesis in general, the Bullfrog comes with a comprehensive manual that explains analog synthesis in detail to accompany the learning process. Although the Bullfrog is a semi-modular synthesizer, it is a great device to learn about modular synthesis and synthesis in general.

Here are some more words about the synth: Bullfrog is a classical subtractive synthesizer – it consists of several “modules” for sound generation – VCO, NOISE GENERATOR – and treatment – VCF, VCA/DELAY, as well as “modules” that generate control and modulation signals to control them – ENVELOPE GENERATORS and SAMPLE & HOLD. The Bullfrog will not make the sound on its own unless it is patched – using eurorack patch cables to interconnect the “modules” or by inserting voice cards that create internal connections between the “modules” in a specific way and add extra functionality, like sampler/looper, sequencer, groovebox, etc. This approach better helps to understand functionality of a subtractive synthesizer and the principles of sound design with instruments like these.

We encourage anyone interested in our regular Modular Beginner Workshops to come by, don’t miss this special workshop!

Please check out the official Bullfrog website: https://bullfrog.ericasynths.lv/ 

No registration is required. If it gets too crowded, we’ll have to go on a first-come, first-served basis. See you on Thursday July 6 – 6pm at SchneidersLaden Showroom – Kottbusser Tor Berlin.

Header Picture: Erica Synths

Erica Synths Drum Modules available! +Special Edition exclusively @SchneidersLaden

SchneidersLaden already has the new Erica Synths modules available! And…it is even getting better:  ExCluSiVe SpECiaL EdiTiOn – Erica Synths drum modules! SchneidersLaden will be offering the new Erica Synths drum modules not only in traditional Erica-black but also in an exclusive elegant oyster-white color scheme. Last week Erica Synths came to SchneidersLaden to show what their Techno System is capable of and everyone in the room could witness the powerful sound of these drum modules (Video coming soon!).

Some of the modules are inspired by the iconic 909 – yes yes, of cause the Bass Drum, but also the Snare, Toms and more. For the work on some circuits Erica Synths teamed up with the experts from E-Licktronic, who are the inventors of the Nava and Yocto drum-computers, very accurate analog 808 and 909 clones. But the Erica Synths drum modules go at least a couple of steps further when it comes to sonic possibilities – all of them offer more parameters and a wider sound range, for example in the Bass Drum you will find a built in distortion circuit, tailored for the special harder techno sound that so many have been looking for.

Already available are the Kick, Snare and Toms with black frontplates – head over to the SchneidersLaden online shop to get your hands on them – To get them in white you have to be a bit more patient.

Workshop with Erica Synths // Thursday 28th June, 7pm @Schneidersladen

On Thursday 28th of June at 6pm we will start an evening full of new experiences and opportunities to learn new things!

  1. We start at 6pm with an introduction to modular synthesis that is suitable for beginners and for all those who are curious about sound synthesis. Everyone is welcome to join us, no previous knowledge required!
  2. At 7pm we are presenting an intense evening with a techno machine at the center of attention. Erica Synths will be showing what can be done with a modular synthesizer especially designed and engineered to be a performance oriented techno machine. Lots of artists perform with not much more than a modular synthesizer these days and it has proven to be an effective way of bringing live music to clubs and festivals. We will also talk about the philosophy of Erica Synths and where their motivation to make musical instruments comes from.

As we have limited capacity for this workshop please send an e-Mail to Timm to save your space for one or both workshops – we have to limit this event to 30 people.

Participation is free-of-charge as always!
Looking forward to seeing you there!!! The SchneidersLaden showroom team

ERICA SYNTHS with their creative product presentation @SUPERBOOTH18 from HerrSchneider on Vimeo.


Event Details

@our NEW event room: Schneiders VideoTheke -> Kottbusser Tor above the REWE supermarket

(use the door within the REWE entrance – ring the „schneidersladen” bell – and knock LOUD on our metal door on the first floor)

Erica Synths

Erica Synths

Girts presents his idea of a modular drum computer at Superbooth 2018. – A little spoiler: it is fantastic!

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In detail, the case shown contains the following new modules:

  • Bass Drum: An extensively equipped, analog Kick module with pitch control, an AD envelope for modulating the tuning and a drive circuit. The module’s sound is huge!
  • Snare: A hart-hitting circuit with several controls for shaping the body and rattling noise of sounds.
  • Toms: Three drums in one module. Low tom, mid tom and high tom can be independently tuned plus there is a decay parameter per drum.
  • Clap: The smallest of Erica’s analog drum modules. It has a very dense sound.
  • Hi-Hats: This module uses seven oscillators and a metallic noise source to generate sounds. Additionally, a digital synthesis system is implemented. – Very versatile.
  • Sample Drum: An audio player based on the technology of the Pico drums module, but with lots of additional controls and CV inputs. Thanks to new DA convertors, its sound is very clean and powerful.
  • Bassline: A bass synthesizer with two oscillators, which can be detuned. The audio generators are followed by a beefy low-pass filter and a VCA.
  • Mixer and Mixer lite: Two analog mixers with typical functionality plus booming drum compression.
  • Stereo Mixer: 4-channel mixer, which can also be used as an output interface.
  • Dual FX: This module is composed of two digital multi-effects with eight algorithms per channel. It is based on the Spin chip.
  • Dual Drive: Saturation / distortion module with full-bodied sound. The drive stages can be used in serial or in parallel.

For playing the modular system, a Drum Sequencer was used. – The last year’s Superbooth highlight from Erica Synths. It’ll be available at SchneidersLaden next week! (Tuna the cat is doing the final quality control as you read this lines.)

The other drum modules will become available over the next months. As usual with Erica Synths, the prices will be very fair.

“The knobs are amazing” – Erica Synths presenting their Drum Sequencer @Superbooth17

The long awaited Drum Sequencer by Erica Synths did get a lot attention at last years SUPERBOOTH17. Still being under development this presentation of the module is a great way to get an impression of the workflow of this module. And: “The knobs are amazing.”

Kodek plays some Dub inspired music, with the Drum Sequencer being the heart of his modular system. The all improvised performance proves this sequencer to be a really nice tool to create live music on the fly. Additionally some of the drum modules he uses are soon-to-be-released modules by this busy company from Latvia.

At SUPERBOOTH18 Erica Synths will play another Gesprächskonzert on Saturday at 3:40pm and you can find their Booth E245 in the Foyer.

 

NAMM 2018 – Erica Synths

Girts, head of Erica Synths, showed us a pile of new modules at the NAMM show 2018. First of all, he and his team designed a new version of the Graphic VCO. This module allows you to draw your very own waveforms and arrange them in wavetables respectively wavetable banks. On top of that, it is possible to morph between two waves and add effects like ring modulation, phase modulation, wave folding or bit crushing. Results can be saved and re-called at any time. A configurable sub-oscillator helps you creating fat basses. The sound quality of the Graphic VCO is surprisingly good. There are some videos floating around on the internet which demonstrate an early version of the oscillator’s concept. According to Girts, he threw the old model away and started from scratch. – A good decision. The new Graphic VCO features a resolution of 96 kHz, the wave resolution is 1024 points. You can do soft, bell-like sounds, all kinds of leads as well as aggressive basses. With morphing between waves, it is possible to create very lively results. Perfect for fat wobble sounds or slowly evolving pads. The Graphic VCO will be available in February 2018.

Graphic-VCO

Another interesting new module made by Erica Synths is the Resonant Equalizer. It features a fully analog signal path, consisting of twelve band-pass filters. Thanks to a digital control system, you can influence the filter’s levels and resonance parameters not only manually, but via control voltages as well. Girts showed us this feature with a simple sine sweep. – The results were quite interesting. The analog filter boards of the Resonant Equalizer will be replaceable to make different band-pass configurations available. Fun fact: Girts told us that it took him only three weeks to realize the idea of the Resonant Equalizer. – From paper to prototype. Very impressive! The release of the Resonant Equalizer is scheduled for May 2018. Around SUPERBOOTH18 time.

Resonant-EQ

Erica Synths also presented a new, fully redesigned version of the Black Hole DSP at the NAMM show 2018. It contains 24 effects with three editable parameters each, has an analog wet / dry control and a bit crusher available anytime. A preset setting can be saved for each effect. The Black Hole DSP2 will be available in April 2018.

Black-Hole-DSP-2

Girts also introduced us to a more advanced version of his Drum Sequencer. It provides an intuitive user interface focused on live performances. In addition to 16 trigger channels, twelve of which also have accent outputs, there is a CV / gate pair for adding a bass synthesizer to tracks. Two Sync-LFOs allow you to modulate drum parameters. Time signature, pattern length and shuffle can be set individually for each track. Trigger and probability options are available on a per step basis. Other features include instant pattern switching, solo and mute functions, step and tap record modes as well as synchronization via MIDI. 16 banks with 16 patterns each are available. Sequences can be linked to create songs.

erica 04_s

Complementary, Girts showed 909-inspired kick and snare modules at the NAMM show. Other circuits, including Tom, Clap, Rim Shot, Hi-Hat, Cymbal and sample-based voices plus a drum mixer, are currently in development. Girts hopes to have a complete drum rack ready in time for SUPERBOOTH18. Drum Sequencer, bass drum and snare are already in production and will become available in March 2018.

erica 01_s

ERICA SYNTHS: PATCHES, TUBES & DRINKS Workshop NOV 17th 6pm

riga_black_balsam_currant_

Come to Schneidersladen on Thursday November, 17th for a workshop with Girts Ozolins and Voldemars Johansons from Erica Synths. In this workshop we will cover a lot of topics ranging from designing tube modules, drone music, bbd delays, shift registers to generative patching. As this is really a lot, we will divide the workshop in three sections:

Part One: On the peculiarities of tube design. With an in depth presentation of the new tube FUSION SERIES by Girts. Part Two: also very helpful for creativity: Refreshments. Girts will hand out the praised Riga Black Balsam Liqueur. Part Three: Turning randomness into music.

A different view on patching a modular synth aka Analog Computers. Self generating patches by Voldemars Johansons on soon to be released PICO SERIES modules. More info about erica http://ericasynths.lv/ and Voldemar: http://johansons.info/.

The workshop will take place in our showroom at kottbusser tor above kaisers Nov, 17th 6pm for free, but .. please write an email to Thomas for registration – its limited to 15 participants-  (tc@schneidersladen.de)
Looking forward seeing you here !! the schneidersladen showroom team

ABOUT STROMKULT


STROMKULT is our platform for updates and news on SCHNEIDERSLADEN and SUPERBOOTH, selected electronic musical instruments and events related to modular synthesizers, sequencers, competent drum machines, analog modular systems, midi tools, controllers, converters and related products of all kinds. You can find all kinds of events related to these topic in our EVENT CALENDAR. Also on this site you will find lots of videos from SUPERBOOTH – the world’s largest trade fair for electronic musical instruments, news about events and workshops at SCHNEIDERSLADEN.

Herr Schneider started in 1999 with SCHNEIDERSBUERO as a sales and marketing platform for the smallest manufacturers and inventors of electronic musical instruments. Products were shown online, in our showrooms and at the original SUPERBOOTH – workshops and countless reviews have been featured in magazines all over Europe.

These very special instruments and tools are now often available from specialist dealers all over Europe and can be purchased directly from our webshop SCHNEIDERSLADEN worldwide.