VCV Rack encoders plug-in released
New versions of ES-3, ES-5, ES-6 & ESX-8GT
All have been updated with self-illuminated jack sockets (as seen on the disting and ES-8), and are in general less deep. Otherwise functionality, and price, remains the same as the previous versions.
All are expected to be available February 2017.
New modules: ES-40, ESX-8CV and ESX-8GT mk2
We’ve just released three new modules:
* The ES-40 SPDIF Interface (£94.80) converts a standard S/PDIF input to five channels of expansion headers, which are used in conjunction with the Expert Sleepers ESX range of expanders.
* The ESX-8CV CV Expander (£130.80) is an expansion module for the ES-4, ES-40 or ES-5, adding eight CV outputs from one expansion header.
* The ESX-8GT mk2 Gate Expander (£54) is an expansion module for the ES-4, ES-40 or ES-5, adding 8 on/off outputs for use as gates, triggers, clocks etc. from one expansion header.
All are available immediately.
Expert Sleepers ESX-8CV & the Silent Way Voice Controller on Vimeo.
Expert Sleepers ES-40/ESX-8CV/ESX-8GT demo on Vimeo.
We’ve also announced the forthcoming ESX-8MD MIDI/DINsync Expander, expected to be available in the next couple of months.
Expert Sleepers Workshop at Rough Trade East
We videoed it, but sadly this is a single static camera pointed at the presenter - no view of the modular or screencast from the laptop. Still, if you want a general spoken overview of the Expert Sleepers software and hardware, as a change from reading specs or reviews, you could do worse than watch some of this.
Part 1. Subjects covered include:
- Basic software usage with a DC-coupled interface.
- Use of the ES-3 for audio.
- Use of the Voice Controller plug-in with the ES-3 module.
- Silent Way LFO and Step LFO plug-ins.
- Silent Way Quantizer & calibration files.
Part 2. Subjects covered include:
- The expander modules (ES-5, ESX-8GT, ESX-4CV).
- Using the expanders to trigger drum modules.
- Silent Way Sync.
- The input modules (ES-6 & 7).
- Recording and processing CVs in the computer.
- Polyphony.
- Max/MSP externals.
Two new Silent Way v2 reviews
Computer Music magazine (issue CM186) gave Silent Way five out of five stars in their review:
It takes a lot to blow our minds, but Expert Sleepers has done it again. If you own a modular hardware synth and you don't have Silent Way, you simply aren't getting the most out of your hardware. It's one of the most spectacularly useful pieces of music software ever made.
Sound On Sound have published a very thorough review in their January 2013 issue:
The control voltages generated by the software are, however, sample-accurate, and I found the sense of ‘connection’ with my old synths tangibly better when playing them in real time using Silent Way, as opposed to through my MIDI interface and a MIDI-to-CV converter. A few recordings proved that the synths were much quicker to respond and more consistent in timing. I typically have to audio-quantise analogue bass sequences to get them as tight as I like, but those generated by Silent Way needed no quantisation to feel solidly nailed to the beat.
