Erica Synths Xenodrive

Only the tough get into the garden

The Xenodrive from Erica Synths was developed in collaboration with the Dutch software company 112dB.com. It combines a live oriented workflow with the innovative features and high quality algorithms of 112dB. This desktop device focuses entirely on distortion, overdrive and waveshaping. In short, it is the perfect tool for sound design, ranging from subtle harmonic enhancement to total sonic destruction. With 12 hands on parameters and several additional settings in the menu, the effect can be shaped in great detail.

The signal path begins with the input stage, offering up to 24 dB of gain. This alone is capable of driving almost any sound source into distortion. Next comes a compressor that smooths out extreme level peaks. The third stage is a highly successful emulation of germanium diode distortion with drive and tone controls. The distortion journey reaches its peak with the waveshaper. This wavetable based waveshaper consists of two layered wavetables with 16 waveforms each, which act as a cutting pattern for the audio signal. The result is extremely powerful and rich in character. Using the shaper mix control, the waveshaper can be blended in or bypassed, allowing the original signal to remain recognizable if desired. And if that still is not enough, the waveshaper or overdrive stage is followed by a two band EQ with adjustable center frequencies and switchable resonance known as Scream. Whether this stage subtly refines the sound or pushes it even further is entirely up to you. At the end of the signal path, a noise gate effectively suppresses noise and unwanted background sounds between signal peaks.

With 100 preset slots, there is plenty of space to store even the wildest creations. The first 40 presets are factory programs, while the remaining 60 are freely assignable. Hidden within the menu is the Magic Mode, essentially a parameter randomizer that delivers unexpected results, all of which can be saved. Instead of abrupt preset changes, the Xenodrive offers preset morphing. Starting from the current preset, you can define how long it takes to transition smoothly to the next one, with times ranging from 0.1 to 10 seconds. Thanks to full MIDI implementation, individual parameters can also be controlled via a DAW or a master sequencer. Scream mode can be activated either manually or via a footswitch. The signal path is fully stereo, while mono signals are also accepted at the input. Anyone looking for cutting edge algorithms, fresh ideas and an intuitive user interface should definitely take a closer look at the Xenodrive.