What is a sonic decimator / alias generator?
The Frostwave Sonic Alienator is a bit-rate/depth reduction device, to add grit, aliasing and distortion to your pristine sounding recordings.
Useful for noise, grunge,electronica, rap, avante garde or anytime you want to put some character and controlled degradation into your recordings... |
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| PSSST - Scroll to the bottom of this page for an exclusive Frostwave Offer... |
If sound is a canvas the new Frostwave Alienator
is the blow torch...
THE FROSTWAVE SONIC alienator -
CONFIGURABLE ALIAS GENERATOR / SONIC DECIMATOR /
WITH ANALOG FILTER
>> WHAT IS
IT ?
It's a digital distortion box which can take a
pristine sound and give it a crunchy lo-fi digital
treatment.
It can take something polyphonic and make something
sound like it's coming out of the speaker of an
80's commodore 64 computer.
The Frostwave Sonic alienator is an enhanced alias frequency generator. By combining analog filter, sonic decimator and soft distortion drive circuitry in a configurable manner, the Sonic alienator is capable of producing an almost endless array of audio artifacts.
>> WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE?
The Frostwave Sonic Alienator Samples
+ MP3 sample one
+ MP3 sample two
+ MP3 sample three
+ MP3 sample four
>> USER REVIEWS OF THE SONIC ALIENATOR
"Just a quick note to express my love for your new Sonic Alienator
pedal. We recieved Page Hamilton's unit yesterday, and after playing
with it, I simply had to order one for myself. Thanks for making such
a fantastic unit! Within five minutes we had made ten sounds that we
wanted to use..... I can't wait to get mine and get going......"
Charlie Clouser (nine inch nails, Helmet, Rob Zombie, etc.)
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Sonic Alienator review by Nick Forte
Lately, I have turned to computer plug-ins for my fix of cutting edge sound
manipulation. Being a pedal junkie at heart, Im thrilled the folks at
Frostwave have been able to incorporate computer-esque effects in a compact
and wonderfully designed box with their new pedal, The Sonic Alienator.
The Alienator is an enhanced alias frequency generator, utilizing an analog
filter and a highly malleable distortion circuit. The pedal is sonically
complex but very easy to use. A wide array of strange and beautiful
harmonic audio artifacts can be instantly conjured by adjusting the
decimation wheel and the sample rate knob. While many recent digital pedals
have features like "decimator" and "lo-fi," they frankly sound cheap. The
Sonic Alienator never comes off digitally harsh; its sound quality is as
good as any top of the line computer plug-in.
While playing guitar, I gave the decimation wheel a spin and easily achieved
rich harpsichord tones, razor blade fuzz, and vintage video game drones.
Running a drum machine through the Alienator and messing with the sample
rate, filter, and different distortions yielded a suprising plethora of
morphed rhythms.
The only flaws of the pedal are the lack of a nice big footswitch and any
actual bypass, so when using the Alienator live, one needs to get creative.
I run it off an aux-send on my mixer. The Alienator is so great sounding Im
willing to overlook these flaws. It is a unique and valued addition to both
my computer music studio and my live performance.
Nick Forts debut solo album, "Pasted Lakes," was released by the Schematic
Music Company this spring.
This review was written initially for Grooves Magazine
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>> FEATURES OF THE SONIC ALIENATOR
Some of the features include:
- Continuously variable sample frequency (Analog generated clock)
- True analog Low Pass Filter with variable resonance control
- Selectable output pot function (output volume or wet/dry mix).
- Multiple decimation bit depth algorithms featuring: Binary and Magnitude decimation.
- 6 preset clip selections including waveform folding and bit swapping.
- Configurable effect orientation
- Soft distortion input drive for added harmonic frequency generation.
- Precise low noise design
FUNCTIONS
The function of control of the SA is listed below.
INPUT DRIVE
Input Drive controls the input gain for the SA and employs soft distortion circuitry for adding harmonic content to the input signal before decimation, bit rate reduction and filtering. Low input gain results in no distortion of the input signal.
CUTOFF
This adjusts the Analog Low Pass Filter cutoff frequency.
RESO.
This adjusts the amount of Low Pass Filter resonance. Resonance allows emphasis of frequencies near the cutoff frequency (useful for aa-ee-oo filter effects).
SAMPLE RATE
Sample Rate determines the frequency at which decimation occurs. This clock rate is generated by analog circuitry and is therefore continuously variable and not limited by digital word lengths.
CENTRAL ALGORITHM SELECT KNOB
Rotate the central dial in either direction to select the decimation algorithm and to select the preset clipping types. The dial may be rotated twice to access all of the algorithms available.
- non-flashing
Selects Magnitude Decimation(MD) depth
(1 bar=minimum MD, 12 bars=maximum MD).
- flashing
Selects Binary(BD) depth
(7 bar=minimum BD, 12 bars=maximum BD).
And Selects Preset Clipping types
(1bar=preset SWAPII, 6 bars=preset FOLDI)
OUTPUT KNOB AND JUMPER SETTING
The Output Knob can have one of two functions depending on an internal jumper position.
OUT SELECT jumper position description:
-vol
Output Knob will control the output volume (linear).
-bal
The Output Knob will control the mix between the effected signal and the dry signal.
>> WHY WON'T YOU FIND FROSTWAVE IN STORES?
Although we get many offers for international distribution, we have chosen to deal direct with musicians, DJ's and producers via this website that is run by our partners warm cola. You can order all of our gear online via our secure shopping cart.
>> WHY DO WE DO THIS?
So we can keep our handmade music devices well priced, and keep all our dealings in Australian dollars.... which means substantial savings for the majority of our international customers.
>> EVEN THOUGH OUR GEAR IS BUILT LIKE TANKS, WE GIVE YOU A THREE YEAR WARRANTY, JUST IN CASE...
The fact that we are in Melbourne Australia and that you are in New York, London, Tokyo, Olso or Moscow (or any other destination we have sent Frostwave to in the last 3 years) you will have the peace of mind that you will get complete support.... our excellent rating for customer support can be seen in our Harmony Central Reviews...
These customer support rating are from Frostwave's
Harmony Central User Reviews...
Customer Support: 10
out of 10
"Paul Perry is a really nice guy who's always been very responsive to any of the dumb questions I've asked him. He's responded by the next day, which is all I can ask from a person who lives on the other side of the world. I'm not the most technically savvy person by a longshot, and he's helped me to understand a few of the ins and outs of the box. He obviously is very enthusiastic about what he does for a living.
In addition, you get a three-year warranty, I believe."
Customer Support: 10
out of 10
"Handmade by Frostwave, which is based in melb. Australia. Spoke to the builder via email and he's really cool and friendly."
Customer Support: 10 out of 10
I purchased this over the net. It took about two weeks to get it (from Austrailia). I've had it a couple weeks. These people are way cool. Professional yet unpretentious (a hint of tannin and a strong bouquet). ROCK and ROLE DUDES!
Customer Support: 9 out of 10
"
They send me offers for other equipment and keep in touch with me. I've emailed them twice and they responded pretty quickly. One was a question about the order and they informed me up immediately. the other was a thanks for telling them how well it works."
Customer Support: 9
out of 10
"
Frostwave are very helpful and friendly. It's run by a guy who you can speak to directly. The company has the feel of a local business.
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>> HOW CAN YOU TRY A FROSTWAVE SONIC alienator RISK FREE ?
When you order Frostwave Gear from us we give you a 30 day money back
guarantee... if you don't like it, then ship it back and we will refund your
money.
This may seem a little over the top or too good to be true but
it's not.
We are a small operation that wishes to stay small and stay loyal to our customers
and the people who use our gear.
>> ORDER YOUR FROSTWAVE SONIC alienator
DIRECT FROM
THE FROSTWAVE WORKSHOP
Click
here to purchase The Frostwave SONIC alienator via our
secure shopping cart from Warm Cola and receive...
* A unit that has surpassed any customer expectations that we confidently offer you a
30 day money back guarantee. If you find it is not for you then send it back within 30 days and we will refund you the cost of the unit - no questions asked...
* The peace of mind knowing that your most precious sound creation tool is covered by Warm Cola's exclusive 3 year warranty.
* The added saving of purchasing in Australian Dollars,
which means a huge saving for those purchasing in most foreign currency's..
* As a Frostwave Customer you will be privy to some excellent offers on current and new products...
click here to view prices and shipping costs and to place an order.
>> Any questions, concerns, suggestions?...please contact us
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