In his latest loopop video, synthesist Ziv Eliraz takes a look at the Poly Effects Hector, a new Eurorack module that puts a virtual modular system into your hardware modular synthesizer.
Hector is a 30 HP, 6 in 8 out module that offers 100+ virtual modules. These include Euclidean sequencers, a convolution reverb, effects, filters, powerful LFOs, a looper, a granular texture synthesizer, a macro-oscillator and more.
Eliraz gives an overview of the module, compares it with the guitar effect version of it called Beebo, does a walkthrough of a quad delay Frippertronics-style patch compares it to other options.
Topics covered:
0:00 Intro
1:35 vs Beebo
3:20 Patching
8:15 MIDI learn
8:55 Spotlight
10:25 This setup
12:15 Fripp patch
13:20 Latency
14:15 Mutable ports
16:05 Rings
16:50 Into Clouds
17:30 Marbles
18:20 Grids
20:10 Euclidean seq
21:15 Loopler EDP
22:20 Competition
24:45 Pros & cons
29:25 Outro
Pricing and Availability
The Poly Effects Hector is available now for $599 USD.
If you’ve used the Hector, leave a comment and share your thoughts on it!
YO DOG
If the touch screen on the beebo were just a bit more responsive and the CPu was a bit more powerful. But it has a ton of modules but a pretty sloth-y workflow. I really wanted to like it, its a zoia with a screen. But after struggling to noddle around with patches, I gave up. Dam touch screen.
I’ve got a ornament and crime and a disting, and with both of them, I find myself using them for the same thing all the time, because otherwise they’re sort of ‘mystery boxes’.
I’m not sure if anybody has gotten this sort of multi-function module right, yet. This looks kind of cool, but also looks like a computer in disguise and a big part of the joy of hardware for me is getting away from computer-y stuff.
I don’t think that this is really the same kind of “multi-function module” as O&C and Disting are, if only because those two modules give you a set function where this module (and the ER-301, Zoia, etc) allow you to chain multiple units together in linear (or non-linear) fashion.
In other words, nobody is going to cue the “YO DOG” comment for O&C or Disting.
I don’t quite understand why they would choose to have the software inputs on the right of the screen and the software outputs on the left of the screen, especially when their hardware inputs are on the left and their hardware inputs are on the right.
This sort of very odd decision/oversight makes me feel somewhat dubious about the entire project.
I’d assume that’s an artifact of it running the same firmware as their earlier Beebo pedal — guitar pedal signal flow tends to run right-to–left, so they went with that, and I imagine that having the firmware mirror-flip just the direction of control flow in the GUI when it’s running in a module could get tricky.
Yeh, stuff that made sense in a ‘guitar pedal’ format doesn’t really make sense in this format- it needed rethinking for modular use. Also taking off the buttons and 2 knobs that are on the cheaper pedal is a strange move…the pedal seems a better option in most use cases and when running modular style patches (rather than guitar effects) the unit is starting to look sluggish and underpowered….needs a V2 with a processor boost!!
Personally I would love to see a hybrid pedal/CV out format- that and a processor boost and I am in as the developer is very enthusiastic and talented and i have been impressed with all the updates…I just think its reached the limit for the hardware.
seems cool, but personally i use Drambo on iOS to incorporate into my modular rig.
This is really versatile with so much memory for presets and virtual modules. It reminds me of the Roland Aira digital eurorack modules, they had a similar but not nearly as in depth virtual modular in a module.
I love my PiSound and built two of them. I’ve always wished there was a eurorack version that could handle CV. Will check this thing out.