Erica Synths Black Hole DSP2 (mega modular FX) *In Depth Eurorack Demo*

[@Jaysusitsme]

I bought this module off the back of this video, I have no regrets. Thanks Ben!

[@DivKid]

glad you're enjoying it Keith.

[@averagepainter]

HOW did they manage to make such a great module and NOT add a clock input, i ask you?

[@abcdef.fedcba]

Stalker reverb sounds really good.

[@pocketknifearmy]

You totally sold me this one. Looks like a great module for live perfomance. What I should mention is that, according to the Erica website, a double tap on the Patch encoder loads a preset for that effect. That function alone makes it worth it for me. Thanks for the great video!

[@RichardQuirkmusic]

that reverse noisy synth on 15 & 16 has sold it for me.

[@DivKid]

Yeah nice sounds.

[@zipnone1996]

what a thorough demo, awesome

[@DivKid]

cheers Zip.

[@roelweerdenburg]

Dammnn that effect on the drums on 15:25 sounds amazing.. Overall it really shines, had the BlackHoleDSP1 for a long time but wasn't really convinced. This seems much and much better.

[@killahkay2112]

the Loop was Sick to begin with .

[@DivKid]

yeah it's a loop from the Nebulae v2 library lots of glitchy stuff already which is why I made sure to show it dry first.

[@willmattwood]

@@DivKid Is it not the Graphic VCO? Such a crazy timbre... sound similar to the tone in the GraphicVCO/Natural Gate video.

[@DivKid]

"effect on the drums" you said. That wasn't the Graphic VCO.

[@shmi1964]

getting some strong Thom Yorke vibes from a lot of these sounds, especially the sounds at like 0:54 1:25 1:35! Great stuff as always!

[@wackenthaljef]

Really really easy to use great sounding module..thats what we need...exactly..

[@DivKid]

nice one

[@spiderlab2526]

Well I have owned this for ages (and how did I miss this vid?) and I have not given it the respect it deserves. Thanks Ben you've given me the confidence to use it more as a performance tool instead of just backing texture.

[@horatiopugwash9183]

Picked one of these up at Synthfest UK last year. Sounds fabulous, and is built like a tank. Great in-depth demo. ☺

[@jericho2x2]

was waiting for this demo! Great fx unit. Thinking about getting one.

[@DivKid]

nice one, thank you.

[@atkmodular904]

Sounds Fantastic! And what a truely In Depth Rundown. That Piano Part you played throughout just Screams Chris Clark (Warp), Especially at the point where you said we could all go out and start a Radiohead type Band, I see where you're coming from with that one too.

[@DivKid]

Nice one ATK. "start a radiohead covers band" haha, we should do that. Happy to reference some Clark/Warp in anyway too.

[@atkmodular904]

hah yea, I would imagine this module is probably going to end up in both Clark and Thoms' Racks, too. (both Eurorack Users i believe) You never know, they might even watch this video and be convinced to pick one up.

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Really good demo...hmmm...I'm now thinking of saving for a eurorack system...damn there's that GAS again. Amazing sounds coaxed out of this module.

[@DivKid]

Cheers Dilllip

[@sunilsolanki]

Sounds wonderful. I would. Love this in pedal form to take out to gigs without my eurorack

[@DivKid]

Yeah pedal would be nice, maybe it's time for a pedal based eurorack case? Ginko Synthese were designing one and Pittsburgh Modular had one at some point.

[@RichardPasquaCreative]

Thank you for another great review Div! Ive been looking into this module, currently using Z-DSP which I love but I a forever Eric Synths fan. Cheers!

[@DivKid]

I love the Z-DSP too. That's not going anywhere. But more than one FX doesn't hurt.

[@RichardPasquaCreative]

DivKidVideo lol, agreed!

[@DivKid]

:)

[@NateHorn]

Always love your demos - another great one, thanks!

[@MrStanley85]

I just ordered this puppy along with the black wavetable + expansion rom, the spring reverb and the new black modulator v2 - i guess i will be amazed by the tonal output of these four

[@Planeet]

Thanks, i'm sold! Placing an order now.

[@killahkay2112]

this isn't too bad for the price ... a couple of really interesting FX in there .

[@DivKid]

some unique stuff in it definitely.

[@gooneybird808]

Can I say...very expressive module

[@DivKid]

you can, you did.

[@js4135]

Amazing demo! 😀😁😊 THANKS!

[@cksample]

Now that I see this, I want Graphic VCO + this in one of those new 32HP 4ms pods.

[@DivKid]

ooooh nice! That would be a cool little pod. Mega drone machine prime for manual wiggling.

[@homeslice1479]

That shimmer feedback is AWESOME. What a great module! And stereo ins, too, unlike the new Tiptop Audio FX modules :( I really wanted to like those, too. But I have no use for a reverb that doesn't have stereo ins...

[@SectorSevenSlumz]

same!

[@els1f]

That last patch 😲

[@namesurname__]

Hi! Thanks for your amazing videos, great work. At the end of the video you have covered very interesting topic - following the envelope of the drums and inverting it to make that awesome ducking effect. Could you share please, using which modules have you achieved it? And maybe you have any suggestions on small all in one solution for this thing? Thanks a lot!

[@Koettnylle]

I've never used a eurorack effect without tap/gate function so i have to ask, how do you sync the delays to tempo? By ear only? Seems pretty crucial to me.

[@DivKid]

Yeah by ear only, which is a shame for some but I've used plenty of older delay units that I still like without clock so it doesn't particularly bother me.

[@darksparklermusic]

@@DivKid Sometimes it's good to get away from the rigidity of the clock. Especially with effects.

[@NickHchaos]

@@DivKid 2 real tape delays for the win..everything by ear..no use for these wimpy digital euro effects anymore.

[@SamplingPercussion]

@@NickHchaos Wow, TWO? You want a cookie now? Who cares. All of us have the trading power or the scratch for tape delays too. Big freakin whoop.

[@NickHchaos]

@@SamplingPercussion Huh? All of us eh? Well I didn't until recently. That's why I find your comment so odd since you seem to have construed it in a totally different way than was intended..simply offering a counter viewpoint to the notion that syncing a delay via automated control is "crucial," since I find the trade-offs more than worthwhile, and would encourage everyone who hasn't had the joy of using real tape delays experience it, that's all. Good day!

[@JohnnyCogs]

So many crazy #2 modules (sequel modules?) have been coming out this year. Any word on a Tides 2 video?

[@DivKid]

yeah some really nice updates. Tides 2 ... coming, not sure when at the minute though.

[@JohnnyCogs]

@@DivKid "Tides 2: Tidier, directed by DivKid, coming soon." Can't wait to see that one at the cinema.

[@whitenoisefromelectronicto1728]

How are you feeding the samples into the black hole?

[@erlandmusic]

Sounds great. This video really helps me decide between this and the Z-DSP. Care to share where you got that lovely kalimba loop (18:08)?

[@DivKid]

it's a default loop in the Qu-Bit Nebulae v2.

[@erlandmusic]

Cool. Thanks!@@DivKid

[@userfriendlysounds]

I hate to be that guy and ask....but I’ve been checking this out and obviously Z-DSP. To me Z-DSP sounded better. Maybe also seemed a little more versatile. What do you think? Cheers

[@DivKid]

There's absolutely no denying Sean Costello's code on that Halls of Valhalla card! you've got the two feedback paths and level inputs on the Z-DSP but the rest is very similar control wise.

[@terrybrown106]

What is the bottom middle knob for and what does it do? I see it's not labeled.

[@alexmccarthy75]

Wet dry mix. See the little water drop and "dry desert" icons?

[@terrybrown106]

Ok. Thanks. I'm new to modular synthesis ​@@alexmccarthy75

[@danieljackson3868]

Stalker Reverb, as in Tarkovsky's Stalker?

[@DivKid]

You'd have to ask Erica Synths where that one came from.

[@mikethemachian6542]

I don't suppose you can use Crush CV to do 1v/oct on the drone bank ?

[@DivKid]

I'd have to go and try it, but I don't think so.

[@villesorsa6697]

Gotta stop watching your videos, you are bankrupting me

[@DivKid]

Try to take a away a few patch tips for modules you own maybe? I like the envelope follower over the dry input (before the FX), invert and offset set, then put it into the dry/wet to create a side chain on the FX only.

[@billydalessandro]

Totally Legit, right!? 😎

[@distantfloats]

If it only had a clock input :(

[@VictorSteiner]

Crazy that you can only have 1 effect active at one time with those expensive fx modules :/

[@DivKid]

but you have 5 parameters you can voltage control over that effect.

[@VictorSteiner]

@@DivKid Still a lot for 1 effect. I got my ES-8 today and just tried it out with AUM on the iPad. There was someone on Facebook creating a USB-Midi controller with knobs that you screw into your eurorack. That way you can always re-assign 8 or so parameters of different or the same effect to those knobs and wiggle without buying 5 x500 euro modules. Looking forward to that eurorack midi-controller. This is it, there will be a version that can be mounted directly into the rack: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaLRfoOJipakqLs

[@DivKid]

controllers, iPads, laptops all integrated is a great thing. No one said eurorack was cheap.

[@VictorSteiner]

@@DivKid true, true ;)

[@stylabmusic]

Great demo man!!! Detailed and with a great set of sounds! I’m wondering how good it sits in a full track mix. I’m between getting a Z-DSP (i know it’s your favourite) or an Eventide Space, but getting a Black hole DSP 2 leaves some HP space & money for more modules on my rack. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Cheers!!!

[@DivKid]

I like all 3 of those mentioned. I've been using the feedback reverb a fair bit on this lately. In terms of fitting in a mix I record FX on separate tracks where I can so I've no problem getting things to fit into a mix particularly when EQ/comp/sidechain is at hand.

[@stylabmusic]

DivKidVideo Yeah man, I totally agree with you on the after recording process. I was focusing for about a year on having everything mixed in real time and also multitrack in one take, but I believe it’s time to go back to production. I’m sure I’ll enjoy & appreciate my system more. Thanks for the feedback!

[@chemicalBR0]

I just want a clouds mk2 :) (ive got a mk1 Erica DSP and it pretty much lives on the 4 stage reverb setting) with simple delay from time to time maybe i missed it while jumping through but does it still not do bpm sync delay? it's really the only thing i wished they added since the mk 1 I recently got hold of an Erica Bassline and its ace, you should check that one out if you can.

[@DivKid]

No clock input for tempo syncing the delays. I don't have the bassline, looks good though.

[@thetimefly]

no clock input???

[@DivKid]

No, the FV-1 Spin chip doesn't have the facility to clock sync FX like tempo locked delays etc. Tiptop did "hack" a way to do it with one of the Z-DSP cards but it's not something the DSP platform does.

[@thetimefly]

Thanks! Still sounds great @@DivKid

[@frederickbrummer5680]

Hate to be that guy, but you've misspelled "Eurorack" in the title.

[@DivKid]

be that guy, anytime. Good to correct this stuff.

[@zefsku3206]

It seems like "that guy" everyone always talks about simply wishes to suggest a potential improvement but is afraid to speak his mind because most people misinterpret constructive criticism. I love being "that guy", but most people don't like him. Always be that guy though, the right type of people really appreciate having him around.

[@Kkidzz]

Ben, thanks for this. Do you own Strymon's Magneto module? I searched your channel hoping to find a vid on it. Going to do a small build using my Blackbox SV-1 and a few other modules.The Erica and/or the Magneto would be great. Thanks.

[@DivKid]

"and" is the default answer I think :) Magneto is here but no videos on my channel.

[@martiner87]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoTCkp1on7-ar68 that sequence!!

[@everydaysame4880]

the problem with vids like this for me is that you dont hear the original sound so you dont know how much colour the unit puts on it..no good having a world class synth if its going through a colour unit..

[@DivKid]

I've just skipped into the first patch to see ... the patch starts dry. So you hear the dry sound just as you'd like. Then the dry/wet blend comes up so you can hear the effect added and we then play around with the parameters. I then skipped into "13:41 FX 06 Hellraiser Delay" and I actually state in the video "here's the kind of sound we have, lets listen to it dry for second" - specifically to let you hear it dry first. Before then adding the effect. I skipped through some more and it seems most patches are starting with a fully dry blend. Which is what you're asking for. The preview at the start of the video quickly skips through lots of the FX sounds as it's just a preview to the video. I appreciate some of the patches very quickly move to adding in wet FX sounds, so I appreciate the feedback.

[@everydaysame4880]

@@DivKid no what I'm saying is a synth sounds different going direct to sound card than into a unit , even if its dry it still detracts from the original sound..

[@DivKid]

ok then I don't understand. A good module should have a very good and accurate dry pass through. It's not looking running through some older or vintage units where just the input stage in the circuit is adding a character and sound. Have you had issues with some modules altering the dry sound?

[@ekoboydj]

ok im officially unsubscribing from this channel. is bad for my wallet