The story of CRIC with Future Sound Systems

[@GregorVuga]

Between this and the Voltage Lab 2 I really love that talented people are pushing analog synths from rehashed tropes into new sonic possibilities.

[@DivKid]

Well said, great to have people pushing things forward

[@cooksoni.a]

I really wish more people would take this kind of approach. It's good to see people doing new things instead of rebranding the same stuff over and over again, and it sounds awesome

[@cardboardmusic]

Totally agree. We seem to always have another version or another version - usually smaller (too).

[@JoseOcampo-g5m]

Company B: are you talking about me? Company K: are you talking about me? Company R: are you talking about me?

[@cooksoni.a]

@@JoseOcampo-g5m The majority of them honestly lol

[@mikegeary8056]

COOL. Love this and love the philosophy behind it. Analogue that’s capable of digital type sounds is my favorite.

[@DivKid]

Yeah I really like that space, hyper flexible, modern technology that goes sonically beyond what the 'default' of the circuits might suggest.

[@MichaelDowComposer]

So true about the stuck old wave shapes. Triangle is a triangle is a triangle. I remember first getting my JP-8080 and loving (obviously the supersaw) but also the variable saw and triangle shapes, and the feedback oscillator. the JP-8080 doesn't get enough love for it's other wave shaping capabilities beyond the SS!

[@DivKid]

Yeah 8080 screams supersaw at people but though this isn't the first time I've heard of the triangle shaping and feedback oscillator I don't think I've seen them mentioned say 5 times. I haven't used an original to try those things.

[@mbessey]

I love me a deep modulation matrix. I have a SYNTRX, and you can do some really weird stuff with it. This is probably right up my alley, too.

[@DivKid]

me too, not had much time on the SYNTRX 1 or 2 but have enjoyed my time on them and anything else I can get my hands on. Most notable a pair of VCS3s at university which was great!

[@SoundsMick]

Awesome video! So cool to seeing the early prototypes and hearing their thoughts on it. I agree this instrument is very unique and forward-looking.

[@DivKid]

Couldn't agree more!

[@bitegoatie]

These guys have been good for a long time now. It's a pleasure to see them bringing out a coherent, playable instrument making use of their particular approach to designing sound tools. There are just a few designers pushing analogue tools into new territory. These guys being in that small group put them on my radar a long time ago. I did not see the pin matrix coming, but why not? I wish it had a gentler price tag, because I have been sick and therefore (being in the US) poor for years, but the price is not at all out of line for small-company instruments. Cric looks like a delightful synthesizer to play and to get to know. Thanks to Ben and the boys for the interview and introduction.

[@MichaelDowComposer]

Great video, looks a lot of fun

[@DivKid]

Absolutely.

[@asynchronicity]

Super fascinating conversations. Thanks!

[@DivKid]

A pleasure to be able to chat, thank you.

[@andrewnancarrow]

Kudos to Finlay for making this… but I’d expect nothing less from the guy who brought us the eurorack Gristelizer… amazing stuff!! An updated, truly modern yet still fully analog homage (in a sense) to the VCS3!! Yet most definitely its own thing altogether…. incredible!

[@RichardQuirkmusic]

Congrats FSS and great video Ben.

[@DivKid]

Thanks Richard, a synth I can see you really rinsing!

[@GenocidePanda]

the form factor is so sick

[@DivKid]

absolutely

[@Orangetronic]

its such a glorious machine!

[@DivKid]

absolutely

[@BlueWolfSe7en]

Wow! Congratulations Finlay this is awesome! Great vid as always Ben 🙂

[@DivKid]

Cheers mate! A pleasure to see Finlay on the two occasions to bring it together.

[@geusensdriesmusic]

I’m in trouble… It sounds glorious

[@MarkRoss-v4y]

Very high on my wish list

[@DivKid]

I'm very excited about it

[@cardboardmusic]

One thing that dawns on me, looking at this, is that a matrix may make playing longer live sets (with different compositions) easier. It's certainly easier to note down (remember) a matrix and then set it up for the next piece and continue. Whereas with cables all over the place, it's a little more difficult to remember (note down) what's patched and where, and then move to another composition. Very impressive.

[@DivKid]

Yeah noting a matrix out on a grid is going to be much simpler. Still it's the old school photo of the equipment to reset it if you want to note all the knob positions and things.

[@futuresoundsystems]

100%, this was a huge consideration when designing this. Thank you for your comment!

[@dimensionalineage]

Cool stuff, Ben. I quite prefer the prototype model in portrait configuration, recalling Analogue Solutions’ Quartz series. Striking visage, while functionally saving on footprint real estate via the skyscraper form factor of “build upwards”, imposing monoliths of circuits. I do prefer the prior black on white physicals versus what I would scornfully characterize as “Tascam Blue”. Still, a handsome instrument. An attractive stand-alone semi-modular box, spacious layout, the mixable waveforms and apparent mangling options. Way cool. Why indeed should pulse width be the only waveshaping function. Kudos. Has anyone ever heard of pink noise as a color? Oy... white only. Sigh. Tough life.

[@DivKid]

I said people would want one. However it's not the nicest to use and it doesn't really feel right in use, not like you might think. I also liked it when I first saw it, less so after trying it. The colour is pretty different to Tascam blue, though in a sea of black and grey studio gear I get the comparison. It's not going to be for everyone. I'm sure Finlay & Jamie are well away of all the noise colours, there's the filter to adjust those colours from white and also the function generators as filters if you want to get more creative with repurposes things.There's also noise modulating an oscillator function generator or triggering the function generator with the noise for other sounds and effects.

[@dimensionalineage]

@@DivKid Great refreshingly candid response, if a bit surprising. I don't believe that Cric or similar (somewhat) unconventional synthesizers will *ever* be for everyone, but I understand the crux of your statement. Many Cheers~

[@temporoboto]

💙

[@jgchodakowski]

Instant like and I haven't even watched it yet

[@DivKid]

haha thanks! Was nice to see CRIC and FSS a year ago and then this year for the release.

[@ichigen511]

I instantly liked your comment and I just started watching

[@DivKid]

I instantly liked your reply before reading

[@keythinwatford7153]

I'm still grappling with mine. One day a nice sound and 2 knob turns and it's gone so start again. I've yet to connect it to a sequencer or outside modular. It's a keeper and I need to much more time with it.

[@davidhrivnak]

I've definitely been there before, and really deep synths like this one almost always feel like that at first, but they usually end up becoming your absolute favorite synths once you've gotten to know them. Congratulations on getting one!

[@DivKid]

Yeah what David said, time is rewarded with such instruments and I really do enjoy that learning process and journey with an instrument.

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

I was just thinking recently that the matrix modulation concept is under rated/used in modern modular synthesis. I can imagine a future time where eurorack has a pin matrix module that you can use to get your patch spaghetti out of the way. I also love that the waveshaping is a prominent feature. making the triangle or the sine wave assymetric to add harmonics is a great feature, and I wonder if it is built in phase distortion?

[@DivKid]

Future Sound Systems do make a pin matrix module for Eurorack already, available in passive and active versions. CRIC doesn't have phase distortion but you can get close to those tones and lots of very 'digital process' synthesis types with the range of options on it. My videos on the Recombination Engine and Timbral Sculptor modules will show a good range of those, as they're the backbone of the CRIC audio path. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKqVZKiQiNiXgrssi=B52759Q4w4BRvpwC kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn6xZYuYjd54mdksi=OnBKdnp-K4ujzkex

[@Pspiralifemusicandedu]

@@DivKid Ah cool! Thanks for the info :)

[@daneguitarist1]

I was curious if there is a more direct route to voice my divkid complaints

[@DivKid]

There's a void you can shout into, it's 10 meters forward of wherever you're standing.

[@daneguitarist1]

@DivKid hahahah

[@hausenuk]

Electro MONSTA!! :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIrLnYWYaKeel9k

[@DivKid]

Yeah it's great seeing Finlay on the CRIC.

[@andrewnancarrow]

East and west coast have fully merged with Cric

[@DivKid]

indeed, no limits to the coastal option. West Country Synthesis as FSS say :)

[@andrewnancarrow]

West Country synthesis! Being of Cornish heritage myself I absolutely love that 😊

[@DivKid]

Yeah they first had that on a sticker (as far as me seeing it), love it!

[@daneguitarist1]

if you dont think i have uk friends that would sooooo bring you flowers from me divvy you obviously grew up in a different household and we are obviously not brothers who chose different paths

[@DivKid]

where are you friends now? They're not here with flowers, so I don't believe you have friends with the ability to hold living matter of the floral varieties.

[@daneguitarist1]

@DivKid oh Amber Farndon from Somerset could sooooo hold living matter And richard bazley from the same area And my crazy friend from manchester .. actually hes maybe in jail.. I'm gonna leave him out of this hahah

[@DivKid]

Either your instructions are unclear, they don't fear you, or care for me enough. As There's Ambert, Richard or Crazy on the doorstop with a pretty bouquet.

[@daneguitarist1]

@@DivKid I love them...... and you... in that order ... and in 'that' way