Yeah, I know I'm late but... - Synths & synthesis forums

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Subject: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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Original Message 1/28 11-Jan-04 @ 06:05 PM - Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

Posts: 2003

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I finally broke down and got an Evolver....what a gnarley little beast!!! Definately one of the best instruments I've gotten for less than a thousand dollars. It took a little while to make frineds with, and I've still got a LOT of exploration to do with this thing, but I'm definately impressed with its sonic character, its mild unruliness, its sound for its size and price, and just the fact that as synths go...it's pretty fuckin wierd, and individual. Anyhoos...yeah, more analog!!!!!!! Analog is still the shit. Hybrids count.

Ape

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Message 2/28 12-Jan-04 @ 06:39 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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well how about a quick review guys? _ i think a few of you have it dont you?

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I had an idea for a script once. It's basically Jaws except when the guys in the boat are going after Jaws, they look around and there's an even bigger Jaws. The guys have to team up with Jaws to get Bigger Jaws.... I call it... Big Jaws!!!

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Message 3/28 12-Jan-04 @ 06:56 PM Edit: 12-Jan-04 | 06:59 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

Posts: 2003

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Here's one I did for another site. I'll have a follow up in a bit, too.

I just got a tool the other day and I'd recomend that others check this thing out.

Evolver.

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com

Amazing sounds, VERY easy to use once you get used to the display, and have an idea of how basic synthesis works. This tool is a very flexible, small, totally slick box. The interface is really simple, just a grid of practically arranged parameters eight rows deep and a button for each row, with a shift key to access the secondary function of each grid location, and eight endless rotary knobs, one for each paramter in the row. Also there are a couple other buttons, one for the Main functions Row, one for the Sequencer Access, a start/stop button, and a reset button. There's also a cheesy little three digit LED display, that I'm kinda starting to like because it's also very old-school, like the a digital alarm clock kind of feel.
It's essentially a four oscillator synthesizer with an external audio input. Two of the oscillators are VCOs (standard shapes) and sound very nice, warm and thick, and two of the oscillators are digital, and sound very similar to the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS, for those in the know. They also kind of remind me of my Waldorf Microwave, but are a little cleaner, probably due to a slightly higher bit-rate.

The lo-pass filters sound very Sequential Circuits, like a Pro One, very warm, but still plenty tough enough to get bad when needs be. Real VCFs and they do real VCF things, especially when you saturate, and overload them (which is not a bad thing). The hi-pass is digital and clean, simple, easy to use, works, nothing special, nor does it need to be.

The VCA is also pretty self explanatory and works nicely. Very punchy, but smooth when you want it to be.

There is a feedback section, and I'm still figuring this bad boy out, The explanation is in the manual, but like anything inside a synthesizer you really have to hear it and work with it a bit to figure out what the parameters mean in terms of real sounds and how each setting changes that. So far...it's wild, like a delay that's feeding back and getting pissed off. A VERY good tool for making noise.

Next there's a delay section. Dave called it cheesy, but I think it's pretty cool myself. It sounds good and clean, and the first tap has two feedback controls, one for post, and one for pre-filter, so there's plenty of room for illness there. Three taps in total, so plenty of room for fun.

Next four (FOUR!!!!) LFOs with LOADS of modulation routing capabilites, MIDI sync'able or free cycling.

I forgot to mention that there are also four virtual patch cable modulations that let you connect loads of stuff to each other to make this thing freak out nicely. Stuff like enveloples to LFO speeds, and LOFs to oscillators frequencies to the filters and feedback, all kinds of really messed up sound things that synth nerds like me love dearly.

There's a third DADSR envelope for assigning to any parameter you want.
First D is a delay.

Next are a bunch of MIDI functions, and the sequencers destinations, which bring me to the Sequencer in this thing. It is a four track 16-step sequencer that you can use to controll all kinds of things inside this beast. I guess it will aslo sequence external stuff too, but I haven't tried yet. It can run off of the internal clock, or external clock, as well as being gated in a few different ways, like an external signal.

So imagine the controls of Evolver in two modes, one is sound mode, the other in sequencer mode. In fact that's exactly what they are, and as soon as you press the sequencer button, those eight buttons alongside the parameter grid switch to selecting sequencer tracks in pairs, so button one handles the first eight steps of sequence track one, button two handles the second eight, button three-steps 1-8 of track 2, and so on. All of the sequences have variable lengths as well, so there's something for the math nerds to get happy over.

Hmmm....more MIDI stuff, which is cool. Dedicated modulation inputs with variable destinations for modwheel, breath, velocity, pressure, foot control, all with smoothing for whatever destination you want, in addition to access to most of those in the modulation matrix. Then we have the external inputs, allowing us to do all kinds of neat things from simple processing and filtering to use as a modulation source, or sequencer trigger, to things like feedback and delay times. VERY NICE. I'm going to try my bass out thorugh this thing shortly, and see how ill I can get. Already this thing has me mightily impressed, and I'm a picky bastard.

For all you cats using computers, check this thing out as a sound source. It's WAY thicker than anything your computer will generate. I'm still in the process of testing it against some of my other analog tools, and so far it holds its own nicely. Also, it's got character. It'll do the acid box thing, but it's way more than that too. Superb sound source sampling.

DJ's, this thing fits in your bag easily and will add all kinds of fun to your mixes by putting it into the effects loop, and filtering, delaying, distorting out your tracks, as well as adding all kinds of cool noises when you want to.

For five bills to your doorstep, anywhere in the States, and just a little more outside them, I'd call this thing a must have, myself. If you're just getting into synthesis and making your own electronic music, it'll teach you a lot. For the seasoned pro, this thing smokes, and is good to have on any gig. Great for leads, bass, atmosphere, percussion sounds, processing external audio, you name it, this thing does a good job at it. Dave Smith, founder of Sequntial Circuits back in the day, and pretty much THE dude who invented the MIDI standard that almost all of us electronic musicians use today, has used his genius once again to make a great tool for others to create with. Hats off.

By the way, don't think that just because somebody else has this box you should not because it is sufficiently flexible that no two are going to be used the same way. Go forth and make your own flavor.

Ape

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Message 4/28 12-Jan-04 @ 07:38 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

Posts: 2003

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Ok, here's a follow up:

I made friends with the box last weekend, and I tell you it is out of hand!!
The delay section is a secret weapon. By routing various sources to various parameters in it, you get some bad ass comb filtering effects, and just absolute wierdness. So cool. The distortion section is VERY potent. It's a nice distortion too, but just be very careful and lower your output for the patch or you WILL blow shit up. It's a lot of gain if you're using it at the output. You can also just route it to the input, and it sounds pretty beefy there too.

As for the audio input section, it works well. It has up to 24db (!!!) of gain, and sounds fairly clean. The distortion set to 1 will function as a noise gate too, so there also a help. I ran my bass through it, and it was an effect. I wouldn't say that the entirety of my tone came through in processing, nor did it when I put my Xbase through it. It colored it, but that what was I was expecting, just wanting to know what kind of color it would give it, and it was ok. It is not a preamp, it is an instrument. I wouldn't want to run my bass through this thing for a whole gig, but blended in alongside it, and just using it as flavor in that capacity would be well received, as well as just playing it as a synth, I'm sure.

For all you folks out there into acid boxes: I warn you here and now that this thing on its own sequencer or controlled externally, or in tandem will take you so far out there that you will transcend time and space. You will get lost in the continuum this thing is capable of creating. This thing will eat the 303 and 777 up like they are not even there. I'd even put this thing up against a Devilfish with full confidence, let alone putting one through the other, as the sequncer in this unit will also trigger via an audio gate.

There are other features that I have not yet explored, like the external editor/librarian that allows one to edit waves for the digital oscillators, as well as create patches visually. However, I'm already convinced that this unit is going to have a place in the history books as one of the best instruments ever made. Enojoy, folks. I know I am. ;P

Ape

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Message 5/28 12-Jan-04 @ 11:36 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Tom

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Wow, sounds like a killer synth.

Thanks for the review. it was useful.

Tom

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Message 6/28 06-Mar-04 @ 11:31 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

SCORPION2K4

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Yes that review is very helpful. Ive too been eyeing the evolver. I cant believe how much your getting for $500. The New Minimoog Voyager albeit a totally different beast just doesnt add up to the features that this synth can do. I heard that the evolver is a very good poor mans Minimoog. hehehehe

But im sure there is nothing relative between the 2.

I would like to give this one a try.

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Message 7/28 06-Mar-04 @ 11:56 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Bluescreen

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I have a bunch of Evolver audios on my site if someone's interested:
Evolver

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Message 8/28 06-Mar-04 @ 03:13 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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can I add that to our listings P (your review)

??

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Message 9/28 17-Mar-04 @ 09:09 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

Posts: 2003

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of course.

here's a track made with Evolver sounds, save for the pads, coming off of a DW-8000.

http://www.deepnow.net/paperstreet/tracks/ape/de-volved.mp3

Ape

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Message 10/28 17-Mar-04 @ 03:15 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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Hey P - I added the review in for you

if you go to your DT admin now you'll see extra selections in your admin selector for add/edit articles & reviews

go there if you want to edit or update the review or add any others.

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Message 11/28 17-Mar-04 @ 03:24 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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btw - I'd like to put it on the frontpage asap - could you check your review and add anything update wise before we do that mate?

let me know when you're happy to go.

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Message 12/28 18-Mar-04 @ 04:31 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

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K,
I went over it again, changed a few typos, added a few bits, and it seems pretty well ready to go. Hope folks enjoy it.

Ape

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Message 13/28 18-Mar-04 @ 10:39 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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excellent mate - I'll wack it up on the Front page then!

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Message 14/28 18-Mar-04 @ 11:17 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

milan

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hahaha.... cool track ape, made me grin :D

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Message 15/28 18-Mar-04 @ 05:52 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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agreed - superb stuff

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Message 16/28 19-Mar-04 @ 12:41 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

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Why thank you. I just got a message from Dave Smith himself. He approves of the write-up, and liked the tunes as well. Thanks for puttin the stuff up, K. Carry on.

Ape

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Message 17/28 19-Mar-04 @ 01:37 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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cool - see if you can scrounge the next model up then for a review -

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Message 18/28 20-Mar-04 @ 01:39 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

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He's still workin on it as we speak.

Ape

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Message 19/28 20-Mar-04 @ 04:47 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Bluescreen

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C3POs first encounter with the dark side:

MosEisley

;-))

The force is strong in the Evolver.

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Message 20/28 21-Mar-04 @ 12:26 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

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heh he - cool!

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Message 21/28 21-Mar-04 @ 11:01 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

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Cool stuff, VERY Evolver sounds. I like your site. You share cool stuff, and have some nice synths. Respect.

Ape

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Message 22/28 21-Apr-04 @ 09:05 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

craig

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Multitimbral Evolvers in a 1u rack are now being manufactured.. Pricey though at like $1300.. That synth is still on my list of "like to have someday"

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Message 23/28 20-Jun-04 @ 10:41 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Bluescreen

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I think this forum deserves a new contribution:

New Evolver-Demo:

Evo-Krassomat

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Message 24/28 05-Jul-04 @ 01:53 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

bastiaan

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That evolver and the poly evolver sound pretty awesome. Anyone going to get any of
these?

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Message 25/28 07-Jul-04 @ 02:21 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

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"We alreddy got one."

"Oh YESSS, itsa verreh nass!!!"

Ape

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Message 26/28 07-Jul-04 @ 07:57 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Bluescreen

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Some examples of Poly Evolver Combinations, means the Poly in multimode each of the 4 voices playing a different sound.
"1-finger-sounds", all modulations with modwheel, pressure, bender or velocity

http://www.trippler.net/files/Poly

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Message 27/28 18-Jul-04 @ 02:44 AM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Pongoid

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Well I finally shucked out the cash and got the editor. It's COOOL!!!. Works well, fast, simple, and fun.

Ape

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Message 28/28 18-Jul-04 @ 09:28 PM - RE: Yeah, I know I'm late but...

Bluescreen

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Yep, that's a very reliable and useful tool, especially for the editing of the sequences and the mod matrix.

Here's the ersults from my dumb sunday twiddling of Poly-Evolver patches:
Poly-Groove

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