The Joy Of Feedback: Fjærlett

[@Hainbach]

Music & Soundpacks & more: patreon.com/hainbach

[@VarionJimmy]

Fjærlett is Norwegian for “feather light” (light as a feather). Suitable name. Edit: Not sure why I didn’t realise it until hours later but in Sweden (and probably Norway) the word for “feather” and “spring” (not the season) is the same. That’s probably why the chose the name, and that it’s light (sensitive) as a feather. Mondays make my brain slow…😁

[@rawjena5180]

In German both "feather" and "spring" are also one word: Feder 🙂

[@EntropicEcho]

@@rawjena5180 Dutch "veer" also means both things. :)

[@drumatix817]

That is correct. Fjäder is both feather and spring (the object, not the season, running - the action of movement, nor source of water) in swedish aswell.

[@gardosen2889]

A very good presentation of the Fjærlett! I'm happy to see it featured on your channel:)

[@ickebins6948]

Tinnitus-Generator 2.0 😁 Thanks for the video!

[@Hainbach]

Ha, true 😄

[@cnk1466]

so true! just because of that i sold mine but it's beautiful for sure.

[@rainchaser5389]

That’s a beautiful sound coming from an equally wonderful instrument. Thank you for sharing. 🤙🏻

[@JureJerebic]

And so the waiting time just went from 5 years to 15 years

[@Hainbach]

Like a Synthie

[@Sandy-dd4le]

Actually, it's now up to 2 lifetimes! Your grandkids might get yours if you order now

[@MYGAS21]

Feedback is so otherwordly and cosmic... I see two aspects to this: A) The slow attack, creepy and/or hypnotic element of the sound and B) The randomness of it as a process: There is SOME control but to the extent of how uncontrollable it is, it reminds me of John Cage and his I CHING compositions. When I made my first overdub recordings of my songs, my double cassette player would magically feedback in unexpected and magical ways: It was like the Great Spirit was part of the "band". This phenomenon made me accept my love for songwriting. THANK YOU so much HAINABACH for reminding me of my artistic roots....

[@spenzakwsx4430]

the session with the magnetic tape!! very inspiring!!

[@reggiep75]

I really could get lost for hours, with this, sitting on the floor of a dark room engaging in some form of musical meditation. Access to the springs is a must tho.

[@Hainbach]

Apparently I was just to shy - you can easily take the cover off.

[@fattyboombatty7736]

A few years ago, we did all we could to avoid feedback, now we embrace those lovely harmonics.

[@justinfreake4916]

one minute into the video and i've already put my name on the waitlist, cant wait to get my hands on this thing in four years lol

[@alexgrunde6682]

How long before some ghost hunters claim this thing detects paranormal activity?

[@TangoDelta70]

Glad I’ve been on the list for a while already! Fantastic video! Thanks for sharing!

[@sound.workshop]

fjaerlett is such a lovely design. Would love to get one someday

[@Hellotoarms]

It sounds lovely but given the scarcity I can't help but think that it could be recreated in aggregate using relatively inexpensive gear that most experimental music enthusiasts have in their studio already - spring reverb with a filter bank/graphic EQ plus possibly some sort of limiter in an aux->channel feedback loop using a mixer? I'd be interested to see a gut-shot to see if there's anything more than that in the circuit. Normally I would just try to buy the nice instrument but if you get on the waiting list now you will be lucky to survive long enough to obtain one of these things.

[@brentsmith9411]

Gamechanger Audio's Light Pedal has a feedback mode. Follow it with an EQ and you're set. It can also be controlled with an expression pedal.

[@Hainbach]

Yeah I say that in the video, too, and even do a demo patch in Ableton. Fjærlett is indeed a nice instrument but you can whip up something similar from regular gear.

[@stuartchapman5171]

I thought this the first time I heard about it, only just realised it has a spring reverb unit built in. I wonder what using a digital reverb pedal and eq pedal would do. I'm not in any illusion it'll sound the same, but great experimentation will often yield something interesting. I'm really into using my pedals for feedback mixing.

[@sweeterthananything]

a part of me enjoys seeing boutique devices like this *because* the opportunity for myself and others rolling our own version will often turn out quite unique in character. in this case, I feel like i almost certainly already *have* used a chain like this with some feedback before, if only as part of a delay feedback path. but that’s fine- like HB says closing the video, these things are quite special in combination, and spring verb is one of the rare items where the physical presence can matter sometimes. @stuartchapman5171 on the subject of feedback with digital reverbs, it’s often quite unpleasant in my experience unless at low wetness with a substantial 100% wet delay and a lot of high frequency rolloff-which quickly takes it further out of Instrument territory into Effect, but very worth experimenting with. results will also vary between algorithmic and convolution reverbs, in ways that are probably too complicated for me to sum up in a little statement. just try things.

[@surrealchemist]

I started with a guitar playing background and was a fan of Sonic Youth and other such experimental artists so I spent a lot of time in high school just patching pedals through while my guitar feeds back. Its great fun, and probably why things like modular synths appealed to me. I think at the time I had things like a phaser, a boss digital delay, distortion.

[@linnightl9277]

what a wonderful toy - I could listen to extended versions of what you were doing as background atmosphere while I work - I could also see it being used in a similar fashion for beds under EDM where DJs and producers want to get a little edgy. Also reminds me of 60s British Sci-Fi. Ha - I had a spring reverb in one of my first keyboard amps, when the dance floor jumped they were greeted with an almighty CRASH. I imagine there would be a percussive element with this instrument as well 🤣

[@sibeex]

Wonderful stuff as usual, thanks

[@michaelkonomos]

Yes! Feedback is something that it seems like I shouldn’t like but I do. Thanks 90’s.

[@Berk-lf6ge]

There is positive and negative feedback. Pick your favourite

[@FelixApan]

hainbach gone feedbach

[@The_Invisible_Hand_Of_CV]

Like in so many aspects of life, when you added tape, it got better.

[@loopinnerthe]

Just cant help thinking that replacing the spring with something (no idea what something) might give this little gem a new and extra edge... maybe a glass tube full of sand or a ferromagnetic material or ball bearings or some colloid that becomes liquid under certain vibrations or maybe just an open space and in there you can put whatever you like... paperclips drawing pins...maybe the transducers are on long wires and you can tape them to a central heating radiator or the car door or gong or a bell or an umbrella... dunno but its got me thinking... Thanks HAinbach for being amazing

[@MyReasonToPlay]

4:55 smack my spring up!

[@RogerWarszawa]

I love me some feedback 😍 I'll be giving this technique a go, for sure. I already have a Doepfer spring tank in my modular (plus a second one that I need to get around to installing, for stereo springy goodness!), plus I have a Fixed Filter Bank (which will have to stand in for an EQ) so I should be able to recreate this. Actually, I'm now wondering what stereo spring feedback will sound like 🤔

[@u2besam]

The last music part reminds me the Quake OST from Trent Reznor of NIN .. awesome!

[@father_jordan]

This is shockingly close to what I've been experimenting with in Reaper! I'm going to release a tutorial on it soon. This is an incredible physical version of the "managed feedback" approach.

[@amaximus167]

I went on the list a few months ago... ...buckling in for the wait...

[@wolfunplugged]

sounds lovely. I would have to wait 5 years. could you perhaps build meanwhile a sample library?

[@Terrible_Peril]

"with a bit of luck, his life was ruined forever. Always thinking that just behind some narrow door in all his favorite bars, men in stylish sweaters are getting incredible kicks from devices he'll never play."

[@id.unknown1283]

I got on the waiting list six months ago. I have to say I'm really looking forward to getting one.

[@ytsekr]

On the waitinglist since juli 2020 for this. Have not received mine yet.. Darn.. Sounds amazing.

[@fallenshallrise]

Would love to experiment with this device but in the meantime I got inspired by all the "you could just do this with stuff lying around" comments and patched together an Electro Faustus feedback looper into a Boss GE-10 and a EQD Ghost Echo and then limited the output with a BAT Quantum Mystic overdrive pedal - highly recommend some kind of gain pedal because the feedback levels can get wildly out of control. Really fun signal chain but I can't wait to try it with some different combinations and a real spring reverb tank at some point.

[@Rivenworld]

Oh Yes! I Like that! But then I'm the kind of guy that likes creating harmonics on wine glasses at parties.

[@Hainbach]

Same here buddy

[@Joshua_Griffin]

Feedback is my favourite. Stick vintage verb into a loop and play a single hit into it. Stick in a pitch shifter and you've got a beautiful drone going in and out of phase. Very wobbly.

[@curtishoffmann6956]

Play it in elevators. Just for fun.

[@Hainbach]

Ha!

[@LaurianeG.]

Will you give good... feedback to their product??

[@Hainbach]

Lol

[@LaurianeG.]

@@Hainbach I am terribly sorry. Me and my partner throw bad puns at each other every chance we get.

[@DauvitAlexander]

I've had my name down for one of these for AGES now!

[@haythemzakaria7006]

Thanks for the video,Hainbach. I bought mine second hand and I'm having a lot of fun with it. Just a quick question. It is curious that you did not remove the wooden protection which comes off easily with the elastic bands. I find that it allows a lot of possibility of interaction and play with the springs. For example, cut feedback by lightly touching one of the springs with your finger, etc.

[@Hainbach]

Oh I was so careful with the protection as the manual was so cautious about touching the strings. Never even thought to take it off, so I played it with the tape, which I really enjoyed.

[@gardosen2889]

@@Hainbach Feel free to remove the spring cover!

[@PaprTape]

I'm still waiting for mine😭

[@BrunoWiebelt]

schön dich zu sehen und spielen

[@ringsystemmusic]

Yay, more surprise Hainbach!

[@thirstyCactus]

I'm curious how that technique would sound using a plate reverb, or Ondes Martenot "Métallique" as the mechanical element.

[@Hainbach]

I will hazard the guess that it will sound beautiful. I have a Metallik Resonator and that love a feedback

[@Sheddak65]

very nice, how does it interact with room noise, like non plugged in music?

[@Hainbach]

You can shout into it for sure

[@gutterg0d]

If you play the tape around the spring, will the spring pick up the content of the tape? 😉

[@Hainbach]

Sadly its not a magnetic pickup.

[@CollectiveSoftware]

Playing the spring with tape string: extremely horror movie vibes

[@Bridge_Studios]

I've been on the Fjærlett waiting list nearly 4 years (since June 2020). I haven't heard a thing from them since the automated confirmation of being added to the list :/ Thankfully I have the Teaching Machines Wellspring unit keeping me satisfied in the stereo spring & feedback area 🙂

[@Hainbach]

Signed up around the same time as me then! So you should be up soon.

[@PabloOrtegaMusic]

Same here

[@Bridge_Studios]

@@Hainbach I hope so

[@Bridge_Studios]

@@PabloOrtegaMusic Hopefully we will hear from @gardosen2889 very soon

[@alfredvalley]

What! Your Multicassa has a whole extra column than mine

[@Hainbach]

It is the newest edition of- not familiar with previous ones

[@alfredvalley]

@@Hainbach That'll be it. It's a lovely device, I would never part with mine, even if it has one fewer voice :)

[@Hainbach]

Yeah it sound simply cool

[@JustPyroYT]

Oh thats cool! Interesting Concept :)

[@Animal_lives_matter]

When you can't get rid of distortion in your system, it becomes high priority to kill it When you have clean digital system free of distortion, you want distortion again You always want what you can't have!

[@Hainbach]

Clean distortion is what I go for these days - analog sounds, processed and edited digitally

[@gutterg0d]

The real trick here is that when you can't get rid of distortion, just integrate it into your workflow.

[@setharnold9764]

What an awesome little machine. Lovely noises. I'm probably more interested in a fifty dollar knockoff with no wait-list though.

[@majwilsonlion]

What is the MultiCassa that you are using? Is there a shop link? When I look on Leploop's webpage, they have an instrument with this name, but both the desktop and rack versions look very different from your version. Thanks!

[@Hainbach]

Oh it is the latest version I think, maybe write them?

[@sonikboom007]

Are they still unobtanium?

[@The-KP]

Oh my, feedback as musical instrument. My ears say "no," my mind says "maybe"

[@bombfog1]

Ive only been subscribed for one month so please forgive this ignorant question: do you ever make happy and bright sounds/music? All of the videos I’ve watched so far make me feel like I’m being hunted in a horror movie 😁

[@Hainbach]

I sometimes put in a little upbeat tune or so, but this instrument is rather tough to play uplifting 😄

[@egxrkin]

that Nagra gives it some texture is the it?

[@Hainbach]

Not as much as you would think, but it certainly has an extra bit of vibe.

[@confuseatronica]

the Scandinavian Design version of the Super Booper

[@bobbcorr]

I'm 900 on the list, and I got on the list three years ago. With 800+ more instruments to make before he gets to mine, that's about 116 years at the manufacturer's current rate.

[@Hainbach]

Oh my, that is crazy

[@bobbcorr]

So if you know of any available second hand, let me know :)

[@obsequious_obsolescence]

Sounds like my guitar pedal clones if they aren’t dialed in… but this is much more controllable!

[@ababyalbatross9016]

My favourite thing about this is how you are manipulating tape over the physical surface like an instrument, I know you showed how to replicate this kind of thing in a DAW but do you know of a good cheap/DIY way to replicate the physical aspect? Some kind of surface with a contact mic running into a mixer+spring reverb maybe? Curious how you would approach that.

[@Hainbach]

Spring reverb - graphical eq - Mixer. Then you are set!

[@kumoyuki]

is it tunable?

[@Smokeslikelightningband]

Metal machine music vibes!

[@benjamin_f_gates]

I might be misunderstanding how this little guy works, but is the sound at all affected by being played around loud amps/a drum set? The feedback springs look really sensitive to vibration

[@Hainbach]

I haven’t tried that but if you put it on a bass amp or a ton it will for sure interact

[@krakentoast]

Habe ich noch nie gesehen

[@jayverkamp8745]

I got side-tracked by the Nagra! Are you a sound mixer for film and tv? Did you work with me on an episode of Top Gear US that we shot in Germany?

[@Hainbach]

No I just love Nagras. Works of art and pleasure to work with.

[@jayverkamp8745]

@@Hainbach Awesome. Great machines! Great channel, Hainbach, love your audio device explorations! Keep on rockin'!

[@Animal_lives_matter]

Mesmerising

[@SurfaceDweller]

Awesome!

[@Schneekardinal]

This could be improved with a separate output for the eq.

[@Kruse1]

Anything more available do similar?

[@Hainbach]

Not really, but you can mix up something with a spring reverb, a graphic eq and any mixer.

[@musiqtee]

Cool, a 🇳🇴 feedback gadget…! But my 40 years of audio engineering is a mental drawback - I frantically keep looking for monitor aux’es to kill… 😅

[@johntait5141]

Ambient joys found

[@g3cd]

"The estimated wait time for new customers is over 5 years". @Hainbach When did you order yours? I had a Reverb notification running for that thing and didn't get a single result in 6 months 😭

[@Hainbach]

In June 2020

[@g3cd]

😱

[@DasDoktorchen]

Interesting box

[@artonion420]

Norsk sounds even better with Deutsch pronunciation

[@RalphFischer]

Wollt schon bestellen.Dereinst. Aber jetzt höre ich das Federleichte. Bin etwas underwhelmed, wie man so schön sagt.

[@Hainbach]

Ja es ist beschränkt - ich hab damals sehr mit mir gerungen weil ich wusste wie ich die sounds auch so herstellen kann. Aber war dann doch zu hübsch und praktisch als das ich widerstehen konnte.

[@zsteinkamp]

7:37 that spring noise is awesome

[@brunoscotti953]

Incredibly sexy device.

[@alexandermathar7780]

JAAUUUL!!

[@minimal3734]

Sounds like my Tinnitus.

[@Hainbach]

Yeah that is the first thing that feedback will emulate.

[@Chris-sv8ty]

shit like this is never worth the price

[@Joshua_Griffin]

omg lol I made a plugin that has the exact same interface. Each slider sends feedback to a different effect inside a feedback loop. Edit: mine sounds a billion times better sorry. I'll have to release the plugin now lol

[@Concreteowl]

Very cello like at times.

[@Concreteowl]

A liitle bit out of my price range regrettably. Maybe you could do one of your app things.

[@jpbuckle6845]

You will have whales 🐋 at your door

[@scubadudefrommaine]

Almost sounds like a Carnyx horn.

[@Hainbach]

I had not heard of that - thanks for the tip!

[@GhGh-yx4qj]

это элементарно

[@patience1353]

Supercool

[@WrathOfWood]

wow that sounds awful, I like it

[@RodrigoRiveraM]

Water pipelines in third world emulator

[@oliviersnake8152]

Thanks for the Video but very sad. A Moog Etherwave is so cute. The songs of this hardware are very bad.

[@jhonviel7381]

immigration will save electronic music! god bless net and yahoo!

[@NeilStarbuck]

This is just stupid.

[@sundaymorningmassradioshow8624]

its like an bastl casper dark matter

[@nilswastberg8956]

hainbach gone feedbach