Post by pol on Feb 10, 2024 20:34:38 GMT
I have a reasonable sized synth collection but, until this purchase, no "West Coast" synth. I have to say I mostly bought it because I loved the sound on a few YouTube videos, but also like synths with limited controls, wanted the patch bay, and it was a reasonable price...
First of all, I absolutely love the sound, sweeping the waveshaper is a bit like sweeping a filter but different. Like most Analogues, bass sounds are a breeze (mostly used for that in songs I've completed with it), but it can do some nice drone/pads and leads too. Weird shit can happen, especially when you start messing with the patch bay, spent a few hours with headphones on at home and away just fiddling 😁. Taking it on trips is great as a sturdy metal case.
The form factor is a minor issue, basically has to sit on a table top. Most of my keyboard less synths are in 19" racks... Volcas have their own rack and drum machines have a (small) shelf unit... The Westpest shares this table with my vocal processor, the AE, Neutron, MPC1 and a mixer, so it works out OK.
I was/am so impressed with the Westpest I considered the East Beast but feel that machine would not add much to my armoury, and I have no table space left either!
It links up pretty well with the AE, does need the Master/Power/4 IO as there are a few things to watch for but feeding the audio into the AE's filters is nice. Using the Pest's patch bay you can have the actual and filtered sounds at the same time. Got to do this in a song one day 🥴
I wouldn't suggest this as a first synth, as not normal controls and not as versatile as a "regular" synth, but certainly would recommend to anyone looking to widen their sound palette with a 2nd (or more) synth, especially if cost is a major consideration. So glad I have one.
PS I have sampled one of its luscious pad like sounds, keep meaning to see if playing it in chords would be good. I also sampled one of its "growls" which opened a song a couple of years ago.
First of all, I absolutely love the sound, sweeping the waveshaper is a bit like sweeping a filter but different. Like most Analogues, bass sounds are a breeze (mostly used for that in songs I've completed with it), but it can do some nice drone/pads and leads too. Weird shit can happen, especially when you start messing with the patch bay, spent a few hours with headphones on at home and away just fiddling 😁. Taking it on trips is great as a sturdy metal case.
The form factor is a minor issue, basically has to sit on a table top. Most of my keyboard less synths are in 19" racks... Volcas have their own rack and drum machines have a (small) shelf unit... The Westpest shares this table with my vocal processor, the AE, Neutron, MPC1 and a mixer, so it works out OK.
I was/am so impressed with the Westpest I considered the East Beast but feel that machine would not add much to my armoury, and I have no table space left either!
It links up pretty well with the AE, does need the Master/Power/4 IO as there are a few things to watch for but feeding the audio into the AE's filters is nice. Using the Pest's patch bay you can have the actual and filtered sounds at the same time. Got to do this in a song one day 🥴
I wouldn't suggest this as a first synth, as not normal controls and not as versatile as a "regular" synth, but certainly would recommend to anyone looking to widen their sound palette with a 2nd (or more) synth, especially if cost is a major consideration. So glad I have one.
PS I have sampled one of its luscious pad like sounds, keep meaning to see if playing it in chords would be good. I also sampled one of its "growls" which opened a song a couple of years ago.