Tags: Analogue effect units

Notes: Classy stuff from the London label's debut collab with one of our favourite synth brands. Classy stereo delay with analogue filtering and creamy valve distortion. Perfect for studio or live use.

Supplier's Notes:
Ninja Tune - an English independent record label based in London and Erica Synths have teamed up to create a custom dub delay effects unit, the Zen Delay.

Features
Controls: delay time, feedback, delay mod (5 presets), tap button, dry/wet, bypass switch, filter cutoff, resonance, drive, input level, filter mode

Inputs
Stereo In: 2x standard jack

MIDI In: standard MIDI socket

CV In: standard jack

Outputs

Stereo Out: 2 x standard jack

Delay times: 1-5000ms with 1/8...x8 of clock/tap rate in beat mode

Inspired by a trip to Berlin's trailblazing music hardware trade show Superbooth, Coldcut's Matt Black and longtime friend Dr Walker (Liquid Sky artist collective / Air Liquide) envisaged the exciting possibilities of a custom hardware effects unit. The result is the creation of the Zen Delay i the first-ever hardware effects unit produced in collaboration with an electronic music label.

Bringing together the best of the digital and analogue worlds, the Zen Delay is a BPM-synced stereo delay line, combining extreme feedback ranges for dub and experimental lo-fi effects with a multi-mode 24 dB synth filter and valve overdrive.

Created and manufactured by Erica Synths, the unit is housed in a metal case with Erica Synths' signature bakelite knobs and a valve circuit for extra analogue warmth. While sonically versatile, it is incredibly easy to use each function has a physical knob that you can play around with without diving into manuals or scrolling through menus on a tiny screen.

Crafted in close collaboration with DJs and producers, the Zen Delay was uniquely developed with both live and studio use in mind and is suitable for many different performance situations, musical styles and instruments. While most delay devices are designed as 'stomp boxes' for guitarists, the device is equally powerful in the hands of electronic music producers, artists and DJs, adding a unique, warm and powerful sonic character to drum machines, loops, vocals, synths, samples or any other source. Even full tracks or a live stereo mix can be enhanced by the combination of analogue and digital circuitry, breathing new life into iPad performances and giving traditional digital synths and drum machines a huge kick.

The Zen Delay is a product of our expertise on vacuum tube designs, our powerful, custom DSP platform and the great sound of our filter ICs made and developed in Latvia. It by far exceeded expectations in terms of how it sounds and feels when played. - Girts Ozolin

The Zen Delay is the analogue delay unit I've been waiting for. Stereo warmth, tone and texture. Perfect for live abusage, and studio madness love it - The Bug

The Zen excels at the sort of extreme dub possibilities Coldcut love. Feed it back! - Matt Black

For years I have dreamed of a state-of-the-art stereo valve dub delay for my MPC that perfectly masters all sound aesthetics from "badass" to "psychedelic hypnotically trashed" and now, have a look! There it is... the Zen Delay! - Dr Walker

Power: 12v (power supply for worldwide use is included)
In/Out levels: 3.2v peak to peak
DAC
114 dB dynamic range

-100dB THD+N

ADC
108 dB dynamic range

-98 dB THD+N

Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 5 cm
Weight: 870g

Notes: Gorgeous analogue goodness in this all-rounder, featuring overdrive, filter, envelope, LFO and a nice retro spring reverb among others processing options. Tons of character.

Supplier's notes:
Today's digital effects and plug-ins can create almost perfect room simulations. However, when it comes to characteristic and charismatic reverb, analogue effect-processors are yet to beat. The reverberating sound of a spring is so lively and unique that its sound is almost impossible to recreate in the digital domain. In addition to this, Retroverb Lancet is not just a spring reverberation system - it is an analogue multi-effects-processor. It offers overdrive, filtering, VCA, envelope and LFO to manipulate the spring sound and create different sounds like auto-wah, tremolo, distortion, delay, gater and of course reverb.

The typical spring reverb sound is generated by a Belton/Accutronics type 4 spring tank with 3 individual springs. It can be placed pre or post the VCF/VCA section and equalized by the Tone parameter.

The Crash function generates the popular thunder effect that occurs when kicking an amplifier with spring tank. You don't have to kick Retroverb Lancet you simply can achieve this effect by pressing the Crash button. It also can be triggered by a Gate voltage.

The multimode filter works as lowpass or highpass with a slope of 24 dB per octave or as bandpass with 12 dB per octave. It is followed by a voltage controlled amplifier. The filter and amplifier can be modulated individually by different sources.

The Retroverb Lancet offers 3 internal modulationGorgeous analogue goodness
in this all-rounder, featuring overdrive, filter, envelope, LFO and a nice retro spring reverb among others processing options. Tons of character. sources:

Envelope follower: the envelope follower converts the amplitude characteristic of the audio input signal into a control voltage.
Envelope generator: the envelope generator can be triggered by the input signal itself, a second audio signal or a gate voltage. Depending on the trigger source it works as Attack-Decay or as Attack-Sustain-Release envelope.
LFO: the LFO offers saw up and saw down, square, sine as well as sample&hold. Additionally it can use the envelope generators settings as waveform. It can oscillate freely or reset by different trigger sources.

The Retroverb Lancet also offers a CV/Pedal input which can be feed by external control voltages or can be used with expression pedals.

Notes: Beautiful combo of vintage tech and modern features from Benidub's boutique analogue phaser unit. Six-stage stereo processing with real-time switching to 12-stage mono mode. Excellent playability with large controls.

Supplier's Notes:
Old school mojo with a modern twist on versatility and sound quality
PHASE is an analogue optical phaser, featuring 12-stage in mono and 6-stage when used in stereo. You can switch between the two modes with the "Mode Select" control any time. We made it completely clickless, allowing you to flawlessly switch mode during your set! This unique control provides even more playability and a wide range of phaser tones.

100% analogue audio path for subtle-to-extreme true phasing colours and tones

Unlike many other phasers in the market, designed after guitar-frequencies needs, Benidub's PHASE has been built with a "studio" oriented design in mind, making it the best phaser for either producers and musician. From studio-standard headroom to balanced connections, everything is designed to improve sound quality while granting a smooth and precise excursion along a wide frequency spectrum.

Features

100% Analogue
As any other BENIDUB device, Phase is precisely built with high quality components for a complex and organic sound. The optical-based design not only ensures the best signal/noise ratio for a phaser circuit but also provides the iconic old-school timbre we all love.

Versatile Routing
PHASE can be used as a 12-stage mono or a 6-stage stereo phaser. We designed it as a playable feature, allowing you to switch between the two modes with the Mode Select, clickless control. Not just a "setting", but a tool to build new phasing effect possibilities.

Performance Oriented Design In A Sturdy Case
While designing PHASE we kept our easy-to-use, performance oriented philosophy. PHASE comes in a tank-built enclosures with every control you'll ever need on board, making it an extremely playful stompbox.

Specifications
1. Input L:

1/4" Balanced or Unbalanced jack. The "main" mono input of the unit.

2. Bypass:

Turns off the out of phase signal, thereby stopping the phaser effect.

3.LFO Depth:

Sets the amount of modulation.

4.Input:

In INSERT mode, you got the usual 50/50 dry signal. In AUX mode, you got the full wet signal.

5. Mode Select:

On MONO you get 12 stages. On STEREO you get 6-stages per channel. The stereo mode can be used with a mono input to generate a mono-to-stereo output.


6. Power Input:

12VDC, 500mA, center positive, 2.1mm*5.5mm barrel connector.

7.LFO Mode:

In LINEAR mode, all the 12 (6+6) stages will receive the same modulation. In MIRRORED mode, the first batch of stages modulation will be inverted.

8. LFO Rate:

Sets the modulation speed.

9. Centre frequency:

Sets the frequency that the phaser will revolve around. The Centre Frequency determines where the middle of the comb-filter will be on the spectrum.

10. Feedback:

The feedback knob controls the amount of phase-shifted signal that gets fed back to the phase-shifting circuit.

Notes: You've heard of parametric EQ, now meet the paranormal filter. Filter on steroids with experimental six-band EQ, delay and loads of LFO modulation. A powerful, creative take on a filter box.

Supplier's Notes:
Dementor Paranormal Filter is a powerful analogue filter with infinitive of option to modulate the sound, it's perfect to create field soundlandscape and introduce in the dark side of the sound with noise and harmonics feedback sounds.

The Dementor is a unique filter, EQ and delay that takes your signals and makes sure to add spice and character to your sound.

You send one or two signals through the machine by using the two independent signal inputs with level control. The special filter features cutoff and resonance control is LFO controlled - in fact, it's three LFOs for cut-off, resonance and time modulation. You also get an experimental six-band EQ called Nuances (not a usual EQ!) with level control and feedback. The echo/delay, is also LFO controlled.

Dimensions: 20 × 30 × 10 cm