Erica Synths - PICO DSP

Here's the awesome PICO DSP from Erica Synths. I start with a male vocal counting to 20 (cheers to Taylor Deupree for that tip it's really obvious to hear what FX are doing to a basic spoken voice) then some drums then some poly synth stuff. Finally I built a patch with the PICO RND and DRUMS modules to finish. It's a stunning little module to add some splashes of colour and space to things. Grab yourself one :)
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/ divkid

[@Jesslayc]

Damn....i think you've convinced me that this should be my first Eurorack module to start expanding my Mother-32...

[@MatthewMouras]

I was debating picking up a zDSP from tiptop, but this little guy does most of what I want, is cheaper, and takes up far less space. Thanks for the video.

[@ben-rosfeld]

Same story here

[@RobinRimbaudScanner]

So confirmation good things can come in small packages! Excellent overview Ben.

[@synct]

:'D

[@eighth_wave]

Awesome demo. The reverb and delay are great and the bitcrush/overdrive are sick; instant Unit Moebius knobs!

[@DivKid]

Nice, cheers.

[@objectaudio7433]

Wouldn't off given this the "time" of day. glad you made the video, hidden scapes. im getting one

[@DivKid]

Glad to show it's potential.

[@peakssound]

wow. the small profile is perfect. will probably get this now...

[@DivKid]

Yeah I'm thinking about running a couple.

[@reptilespantoso]

nice one. this is now on the list. thank you Ben

[@DivKid]

Great!

[@Flohr]

Damn sounds awesome. The Rand looks super useful as well.

[@DivKid]

yeah it's great.

[@precarious333]

Great demo! Really nice module! May have to pick one up. And nice loops, especially that melodic one.

[@DivKid]

cheers! Quick synth patch for that melodic one. Didn't have much time to get on with the video but I like how it turned out.

[@GMS267]

You should be taking comissions for these demonstrations. It's a rather flexible little module. Particularly the bbd-like delay section without the clock noise. Super, smashing, great.

[@DivKid]

Hey, I'm working with manufacturers regarding videos as they send requests through regularly. Thanks! :)

[@sunilsolanki]

Omg. I really need to stop watching your videos! Everytime you make me want to go out and buy things! I wonder how many modules have been purchased directly because of watching your excellent demos? You are THE modular enabler!

[@DivKid]

haha sorry for your bank account ... love your friendly neighbourhood enabler.

[@SergiuMuresanMusic]

You are brilliant mate. Good job an all you do.

[@DivKid]

Nic done, thank you Sergiu.

[@BlueWolfSe7en]

That's a lot of power in just 3HP! Estimated £130 mark I believe, cheap as chips! Sounds alright too!

[@DivKid]

totally bonkers for what you're getting. Great sounding little module.

[@morphlex]

Not bad at all for such a small module. I'm getting one for my mobile rig.

[@DivKid]

I'm thinking one per case! Wicked little things.

[@davidsimons1377]

Or midi violins if you've got a cold haha! Love the melodic clangy demo btw. Reminds me of a BBC radiophonic workshop theme for a geographic documentary I saw once. Very nice.

[@DivKid]

haha nice reference to some radiophonic workshop stuff. Happy to be giving off that vibe.

[@jedgould5531]

Golly I wish the effect switch was controllable.

[@seansnyder7744]

this video was all it took for me to buy one :D

[@davidsimons1377]

I was wanting the black hole but might get this instead as a no brainer at this price. Some of the fx seem unique----like that pitch shift delay for example. Just wish I could afford this + a voice + drums. (Cue violins!!!!!!)

[@DivKid]

mini violins playing ... PICO DSP is great and quick so I still use it even amongst bigger FX units. I haven't had the Black Hole DSP to be able to comment.

[@slashess69]

I know this is quite old but I'm looking for my first little multi-effect and i'm a bit stuck between this and the newer Milky Way from Endorphins. The only thing holding me back from the Milky Way is that i've heard there's some digital noise issue going on still with it, what's the noise floor like on this? Sounded good on my monitors over here but just wondering if you or anyone else who has owned one of these DSP's could chime in.

[@palmsout]

Happy Nerding FX AID sounds better to my ears than most of the Erica or Endorphins DSP stuff. Geared mostly to reverbs, but HN keeps adding more and more and updating firmware is super easy.

[@SalmanSuhail]

palmsout ooooo thank you for this so much. Had never heard of them but you’re right it sounds so much better.

[@TroyBlackford]

Nice tip!

[@Alessamusic]

DivKidVideo, what's your take on comparing the PICO Dsp with the Black Hole DSP, in terms of cost and features!?

[@DivKid]

I don't have a Black Hole DSP to compare unfortunately, liked what I heard at a friends with it though. If you don't need much CV the PICO DSP does a great job.

[@nalaeel219]

I’m sure Alessa knows a lot about black holes considering she has one……..more than one.

[@brianrodman1033]

The drum loop that starts around 6:40 sounds ace. Can always count on you to make use of some good Amen breaks/D’n’B/jungle style percussion.

[@nalaeel219]

Your moms an ace

[@pizzamanmep]

Might be a dumb question but how does the knobs feels on this module? Are they similar to lets say Korg Volcas...? I hate having a module with knobs that feel cheap.... :-/ Also how easy is it to get the parameters you want considering the course is short?

[@DivKid]

yeah they're actually just the shaft that a knob would sit on. Same as Volcas and other "mini-pots". But in this size I don't think you can expect any more. Most knobs would overhang past the width of the module.

[@pizzamanmep]

Thanks for the quick answer! Really appreciated :)

[@DivKid]

no worries ask any questions anytime.

[@LeemLovesArt]

just got a dsp for free second hand ...making a high pitch winey noise ...any suggestions on a repair

[@MarkoDeLaVoota]

got to get me two of this

[@DivKid]

I'd like a second one. But there's the new FX module announced at Superbooth which is essentially two of these in one.

[@MarkoDeLaVoota]

DivKidVideo even better 👍🏻

[@racalik]

@DivKidVideo I can't get a flanger/chorus fx from connecting an LFO to the delay time, as I'm getting a somewhat stepped behaviour there. It's like PICO has pre-programmed steps of effect values and cannot change it gradually. Would you be kind enough to confirm this?

[@Vurt72]

The reverbs sounds good, don't care for the dist/overdrive sound.. Does this module start at the last used program (im guessing not).. This is annoying with digital modules especially when you have a lot of them.. I Have to keep track of like 4 now that doesnt save which program i was on (edit: no, 3).

[@DivKid]

Hey, just selected a mode and flicked the case on and off a few times and it remembers the setting.

[@Vurt72]

Oh that's really good then, it's ahead of my ZDSP amongst others haha. Might get one :) Thanks!

[@DivKid]

Z-DSP is stunning! Halls Of Valhalla still makes me smile. But yeah ... remember settings on power down can't be sniffed at.

[@krakou2]

Can you estimate the loss in dbs when wet is engaged?

[@DivKid]

not sure, you'd have to speak to Erica Synths.

[@dianplankgas9821]

the video for a Waldorf NW1 tts to wavetable is now on the air. Do you have it, know it? great module.

[@DivKid]

I don't have an NW1 so no plans to do a video.

[@kitespongan]

Yo Ben, sweet demo. Any idea when these come out in the States? Could you compare the Erica DSP to the latest ES Disting as far as multi effects? I'd like to add another Disiting to my rack, but the DSP seems more capable for delays and verb. I'm sure they'd pair together nicely.

[@DivKid]

I haven't used a new Disting (nor the old mk1 I have much to be honest) so I can't comment. RE getting into the states I'd ask the stores you use themselves.

[@joseph.nicolaus]

thanx!

[@pavelraver662]

is it possible to sync delay time with external clock?

[@DivKid]

no, just by ear and manual adjustment

[@jamesblobb7115]

Wait, so this is module does stereo effects? I thought eurorack was all in mono, considering the mono cables (sorry, noob here).

[@DivKid]

HI James, no worries RE noob questions we all start somewhere so just keep asking and learning. I'm still learning loads from the range of people and devices which is part of the appeal ... anyway onto your question. Yes this does mono input and stereo output. Rather than stereo cables it's a separate left and right output. So one mono in to two mono outs. There's a few stereo modules starting to crop up now with mixers supporting stereo environments. You can also patch in stereo yourself if you have enough modules to do the separate left and right audio channels.

[@jamesblobb7115]

Ok, then I get it. Thanks for the answer mate!

[@DivKid]

no worries, happy to help.

[@brianlee6709]

Ben, What are your thoughts on the Pico RND?

[@DivKid]

it's great. Got a pair of them and want more. Loads of awesome in a little module.

[@brianlee6709]

DivKidVideo I had to let my woggle go to reclaim some hp for other things, but still need some random flavor in the sauce! Been planning on a pico rnd.

[@DivKid]

I really like the PICO RND definitely a good buy.

[@Gavinshortall543]

Thinking of getting this as my first eurorack module to go with the neutron, is there anything else like this or still worth it? Thanks Ben.

[@TroyBlackford]

As someone who owns a Neutron, I'd question if this module was a great choice to pair with it. On one hand, it has a couple types of reverb, and a different *sort* of delay mode than the Neutron, but the Neutron has built in drive and delay, and I don't know that you'd want to get a $150 minimum Eurorack case if your only intention was to put a single $145, incredibly narrow module in it. If you were planning to fill out a whole case with several modules, this would be a great choice for one of them. If you are honestly wondering if you need to go past just this module, you'd be better off with a compact multiFX unit in pedal or rack form, I'd think. Neutron could handle it. I might be misunderstanding your intention, but just thought I'd throw that out there if you meant what I thought you did.

[@inf0tr8r]

fx aid

[@jank-official]

Can you sync any of the delays to a clock?

[@DivKid]

no, there's no clock input.

[@crashcadet]

Can this Sync to a clock?

[@DivKid]

No, there's no clock syncing for the FX.

[@Larry30102]

I’m super late to comment! What no electric guitar examples? 😆 I’m sure guitar would be well represented with this effect. It’s cheap, small and more than serviceable for my rack. I’m sold. Many thx. Hopefully you get a commission.

[@yvastel8153]

Wait. You can use it as an LFO?

[@DivKid]

LFO? Which bit gave that impression? It's an audio FX processor not a CV source. You can plug LFOs into the CV input.

[@yvastel8153]

Yeah. Sorry. I think I just misheard it and got overexcited. I was sleepy and was shopping for (in need of) an LFO. The only store close to my area only has a bunch of pico modules and lack of stuff I needed.

[@DivKid]

Ah ok I see. If it's PICO modules there's the PICO EG that will do looping envelopes so that will do LFOs for you.

[@yvastel8153]

Hey thanks, man! I'm fairly new to modular synths, so every advice is much appreciated.

[@DivKid]

No worries, feel free to comments any time and I'll be sure to reply.

[@dianplankgas9821]

Sounds very nice, and the loop is sweet, sticks nice.Got my own Channel now, so i can respond and subscribe.Like your video's a lot, they are informative, good listening and i likethe models you talk about, till later.

[@DivKid]

Thanks! I'll check out your channel.

[@cidst8]

6 6 6

[@DivKid]

the number of the beast six six six the one for you and me