By Daniel Fisher, Director of Soundware Engineering As a programmer for high-end keyboards, I've become accustomed to being able to modulate any parameter of a sound from a long list of internal and external controllers whose response and tracking could also be manipulated. Usually, when I play with an effects processor, I find myself wishing that it also featured this same flexibility and control. Now my wish has finally been answered with a box called the FireworX Studio Multi-Effects Processor (list $2195). It's the newest and most powerful processor yet created by TC Electronic, the high-end signal processor company responsible for the Finalizer Plus, M5000, G-Force, and the legendary Stereo Chorus/Flanger foot pedal. After 20 years of manufacturing pristine, straight-ahead effects, TC has decided that
The architecture of this one rack space device features an 8x8 grid where you can place any of the following effect modules: Vocoder, Dual Pitch Shifters, Ring Modulator, Formant (vowel) Filter, Multi-Pole Resonant Filters, Reso-Chord Filters, Multi-Tap Delays, Reverse Delays, Phase Shifter, Distortions, Cruncher, Compressors, Limiters, Expander/Gates, Surround Panners, Stereo Enhancer, and more plus the Stereo Reverbs, Choruses and Flangers that have made the company famous. As if that weren't enough, FireworX has features that are so unique that at times it acts more like a synthesizer than just an effects processor. For example, you can insert a Synth module with a Sine, Saw Triangle or Square Wave, then add Pulse Width Modulation. Now make the Frequency track your MIDI Notes. Don't have a MIDI keyboard? No problem. FireworX has powerful Pitch Detection and Envelope Detection tools that allow it to follow your guitar lead, trumpet, voice, or even your vintage analog synth. Add two Envelope Generators, two ADSR Generators, two LFOs, plus White/Pink Noise and Fractal Noise Generators and you've got a synthesizer whose pitch and effects will follow you as you play. Now can you see the fireworks? As an example of its power, I was able to program it to recreate "On The Run" from Pink Floyd's "Darkside of the Moon" without anything else plugged into it! FireworX is the first processor powerful enough to be considered its own instrument. It also promises to be an excellent addition to your digital studio as it has so many professional level Input and Output choices. The I/Os include: AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF (RCA), TASCAM TOS-Link (coaxial), ADAT (optical), plus analog I/Os via balanced XLRs (at +4 or -10dB) which go to 24-bit, 48kHz A/D and D/A converters for uncompromised sound quality. If this small introduction to FireworX has your adrenaline pumping, call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more information and a price that will start the FireworX's Grand Finale! Master Index | Sweet Notes Index | Home | Back Page | Next Page |
