Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII Review (with Synthesizers)

Donald Jordan's review of the Generation Loss MKII.
The Gen Loss MKII is a gnarly lo-fi pedal that emulates the audio and mechanical failings of a VCR on it's last leg.
For a sounds only video of the Gen Loss MKII, watch here - • Chase Bliss Generation...
All synth sounds created using TAL Software's TAL-U-NO-LX, except where other synths pictured.
If you enjoyed this review and want to see similar content in the future, please like and subscribe.
Intro: 0:00
Wow and Flutter: 2:18
Saturation: 4:10
Noise: 7:08
Failure: 8:22
Models: 10:41
Ramping: 13:06
Aux: 15:39
Parallel Processing: 16:58
Sound Examples: 19:44
Conclusion: 25:40

[@scottsweatshirt9753]

Well, I’ve been following your content since stumbling upon the Caroline Kilobyte demos many years ago. No one on this platform puts synth gear and related accoutrements through their paces like you, sir. One of KZbin’s best kept secrets. Thanks for your dedication!

[@Bloom_Music]

Thank you, this means a lot!

[@dustinkidder2988]

One of the most in depth and helpful reviews ever! Thank you lol

[@subradial]

Very nice and informative video, subscribed, thank you! love all the sounds and textures coming out of this pedal, awaiting mine...

[@stephenalcaide1778]

Wow! Your presentation is awesome man. This isn't a review, this is a well produced documentary. Thank you!

[@rodnee2340]

I almost wish I never found this channel. You give such good reviews of equipment that is right up my street. That at this rate I could go bankrupt!

[@alexlifeson8946]

I fondly remember VCR porn movies having a distinct nostalgic analog tape sound. Today's porn is too commercial. Too clean. Too perfect. Nothing beats the analog feel of late 80s, early 90s porn. Except for the spray hair-dos

[@effyiew7318]

Around 19:26 you can clearly hear that it's not great to use parallel processing on this pedal as the wet signal is significantly behind the dry and not aligned, causing flamming. Probably because there's so much processing that's being done that the latency is too much. I'd say that if you want to use parallel with the sound, it's best to print it wet and time-align it and do it in a daw.

[@Bloom_Music]

Good call out! Absolutely, there are latency and phasing issues when processing transient heavy content. There was another section of the review where I used the pedal as a send in my DAW with latency compensation to get the phase locked in, but I had to cut it for time. I was able to get some punchy results doing this, but 99% of users won't be using the pedal this way, and that solution goes right out the window if you have any WOW or flutter engaged, so I decided to leave it out. But yes, as with any time based digital hardware effect, there are inherently latency and phase concerns.

[@ernestomartinez5296]

I mean this is subjective! Maybe I’d go for that! The weirder the better!

[@effyiew7318]

@@ernestomartinez5296 I actually bought a Generation Loss from Chase Bliss last week and Chase Bliss has a new firmware update that improves the latency and minimizes this flamming. If you have one already you can download it. All the new Generation Loss pedals shipping are now shipped with the upgraded firmware reducing the latency and flamming.

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

Love this video. After buying the pedal and using it for a while. I realize that I think I enjoy just watching demos more than actually using it because after you own the pedal you start to scratch your head and wonder exactly how you’re gonna use it in music production. For me at least.

[@martincarbow5491]

Awesome, Donald. Your clear and structured approach was immensely helpful for me to grab even some of the more tricky details of this complex pedal. Great comparison of different knob positions. Wonderfully musical synth parts. Objective naming of possible downsides. Fun to watch and to listen to. A wholehearted thumbs up! EDIT: Just bought the Generation Loss MK II…

[@caesarsheadache]

Outstanding demo 👏🔥🤘

[@RemitheDreamfox]

What a neat channel :D Very good content, I expected you to have a lot more subs

[@xisotopex]

some of these sounds bring back memories of of racing to the tape player to hit the stop button before it completely ate whatever tape it was playing, in a desperate race to turn off the player before the tape was ingested into the head and capstans of the player....

[@tendingtropic7778]

very cool video!

[@VolcaRock]

Awesome synth examples, that really sound like from the past. Great Pedal. There is only one big issue: the GENERAL BASS CUT - even if you choose no model. So it is hard to use the pedal for full mix, kick, bass and other deep frequencies... At the moment there is also a Bass Cut in the DSP Bypass. This will get fixed with a future update. Only true bypass is without bass cut.

[@Bloom_Music]

It sounds like you are aware, but Chase Bliss has acknowledged this and say they are working on a fix. It doesn't really bother me, as I like my lo-fi effects to have a frowney-face EQ curve anyways, but I agree that it shouldn't be there when the model is bypassed.

[@themidnightpiper9978]

We need this in Eurorack format.

[@Docdaman4]

When I first ordered this thing, I wondered if I had made a huge mistake. My bank account took a decent hit. But as soon as I hooked it up, I completely fell in love. I haven’t had many pedals, but of all the pedals I’ve owned, this one is HANDS DOWN my absolute favorite. I fucking love this thing. I use it with my Hydrasynth everyday.

[@Bloom_Music]

Yep, it will live on my pedalboard forever!

[@kitespongan]

What an absolutely polished video! Congrats! Generation Loss MK2 sounds right up my alley and around the corner, and maybe I missed it but are there any of those clicks and pops you’d often hear right after pressing record/ stop? Sometimes it sounds like a clicky short kick in succession, definitely mechanical but not the mechanical hum and buzz. ✌🏽

[@Bloom_Music]

The Gen Loss MKII has clickless switches, and I have not experienced any clicks or pops. For an example, you can hear me bypassing and re-engaging the pedal several times with no issues in the "Sound Examples" portion of the video. I am using it in SISO true bypass. I can't speak to the other bypass modes.

[@kitespongan]

Sorry I meant to express that I wanted to have this clicks and pops included! Hah, i think when you press or depress a mechanical switch on an old vhs/ cassette recorder they can often imprint a click or pop onto the tape. I like to use those sounds to make a kick or a tom for minimal clicks and cuts glitch stuff.

[@Bloom_Music]

@@kitespongan Ahhhhhh, sorry I misunderstood. Yes, you do get clicks and pops when cranking up the Failure knob, and those noises will be present, even when you aren't playing any sound through the input, so definitely some opportunity for sample fodder. The noises are random (you can't trigger them in any way), but it would be simple enough to sample for a few seconds and then pick out the best bits!

[@jameshumfry1256]

Yes 🙏👌

[@johnnymandez]

19:11 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@marcusstrymon693]

Its just a bid sad that you cant get wow from different tape speeds. There is only one type of wow speed, medium fast. Still randomized - but very slow playing tape wil have irryly slow wow, which is soooooo nice

[@firesailstudios1003]

Thanks! What are your thoughts on the new firmware update option addressing the latency when using parallel processing? Mine should be here before Christmas. Cheers!

[@Bloom_Music]

Honestly, the latency doesn't really bother me for my use case, so I haven't done the firmware update. But from what I've read in Chase Bliss's description, the update will reduce the overall latency by approximately half. This will naturally close the gap between the wet and dry signal for parallel processing, but they still won't be perfectly aligned. But unless you're trying to do some perfectly phase locked parallel drum processing (which this unit is not really intended for), this is a good option to get the latency down into analog territory, which is impressive. Props to Chase Bliss for listening to user feedback and making this change!

[@TheEleventeen]

⚜️x🤘🏻x⚜️

[@xisotopex]

is this kinda the same thing as the strymon volante?

[@Bloom_Music]

The Volante is a delay, so it's a very different thing. As far as Stymon goes, the Gen Loss would be like if the Ola and Deco had a baby??? Lol. You could get to some similar places with those pedals, but Strymon doesn't really have anything that emulates the noise, dropouts, and mechanical failures like the Gen Loss.

[@kitespongan]

True the Strymon pedal doesn’t have noise, but more of the cleaner slapback flange and warble sound. It can be more subtle and widen a track in the mix.

[@kitespongan]

I absolutely love noise / hiss and imperfections, BUT I have several plugins on desktop and iPad and even own a Nagra III reel to reel along with other tape recorders! Please convince me I need this too!! Seriously please!❤❤✌️

[@ukbloke28]

this is very cool. I love the track at kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKCrgYJsq5tsfNU - what is it?

[@Bloom_Music]

That track (and all the music in my videos) is something I wrote just for the video, to have something to process!

[@ukbloke28]

@@Bloom_Music I like it a lot, you should release a full length version! What did you play the riff on?

[@annother3350]

Its 450GBP though!!!

[@black-fira]

very cool, but not $400 cool.

[@Dolle_Man]

Subbed after 3 seconds! Sorry that I needed some time

[@Bloom_Music]

This is awesome! Thanks! ☺️