Erica Synths

Erica Synths Black
K-Phaser £190
Rob Redman gives Erica Synths a round of applause for
reminding us what’s great about phasers
CONTACT WHO: Erica Synths WEB: ericasynths.lv KEY FEATURES I/O: 8 all pass fi lters, Built in LFO, Resonance control, Detune/spread
T
he phaser is one of those
modules that gets less
attention than it deserves but
Erica Synths have decided to
give it some love, in the form of the
Black K-Phaser.
This latest addition to the Black
series modules packs a lot of tone
into its 10hp and shares the same
design ethos, with a black fascia with
jellyfi sh graphics. Unlike some
modules out there with graphics, the
Erica Synths designs are always
subtle, leaving the control labels
clearer to see. The panel is dominated
by the large Phase knob, which gives
direct manual control over the phase
position, although most users will
really broad range, allowing the Black
K to run from almost imperceptibly
slow to mind bogglingly fast. So no
matter what your patch needs are, it
will cater to them.
Similarly, there is a wet output,
enabling the output to be sent
elsewhere for further processing,
while the main output can continue
on its way. This adds some extra
versatility to the tones that the Black
K-Phaser produces.
When it comes to these tones,
they really are juicy, for want of a
better word. I’m a big fan of phasers,
as they can add anything from subtle
movement to wild jet scream effects
to a more static sound. This particular
model adds more than most, with a
resonance attenuverter control and a
detune, here labelled as spread. This
detune acts on the eight fi lters that
make up the phaser and it sounds
wonderfully rich, although not thick in
the same way detuned oscillators do.
It feels more like detuned harmonics
and it adds a textural element that
isn’t too in your face but has a
defi nite impact on the output.
The Black K-Phaser retains the
classic tones you’d expect from a
module of this nature, while adding
extra character and useful controls
and outputs to an already good value
and solidly built device.
undoubtedly use CV for this. CV can
be applied directly to the phase itself,
or to the inbuilt LFO which can be
fi ne-tuned with the attenuverter. The
LFO is switchable between ramp and
triangle wave shapes. It’d be nice to
see some extra options here but if two
were to be chosen these are the most
useful. One welcome feature here is
that the LFO can be output
separately, so this can add some extra
modulation to other parts of your rig
or patch, keeping time with the
phaser. I wish more modules offered
this, as it helps keep a patch clocked
with menial cable clutter. The rates of
the LFO are as important for a phaser
as any other use, so it’s good to see a
THE PROS & CONS
+
Wide rate range
Plenty of CV control
Good value
-
Limited LFO shapes
FM VERDICT
8.0
For bringing your synth
tones to life with rich
phasing, the Black K-Phaser
is a great option – and it’s a
good modulation source too
Erica Synths Black
K-Phaser
£190
Rob Redman
gives Erica Synths a round of applause for
reminding us what’s great about phasers
CONTACT
WHO:
Erica Synths
WEB:
ericasynths.lv
KEY FEATURES
I/O:
8 all pass fi lters, Built in LFO, Resonance control, Detune/spread
T
he phaser is one of those
modules that gets less
attention than it deserves but
Erica Synths have decided to
give it some love, in the form of the
Black K-Phaser.
This latest addition to the Black
series modules packs a lot of tone
into its 10hp and shares the same
design ethos, with a black fascia with
jellyfi sh graphics. Unlike some
modules out there with graphics, the
Erica Synths designs are always
subtle, leaving the control labels
clearer to see. The panel is dominated
by the large Phase knob, which gives
direct manual control over the phase
position, although most users will
really broad range, allowing the Black
K to run from almost imperceptibly
slow to mind bogglingly fast. So no
matter what your patch needs are, it
will cater to them.
Similarly, there is a wet output,
enabling the output to be sent
elsewhere for further processing,
while the main output can continue
on its way. This adds some extra
versatility to the tones that the Black
K-Phaser produces.
When it comes to these tones,
they really are juicy, for want of a
better word. I’m a big fan of phasers,
as they can add anything from subtle
movement to wild jet scream effects
to a more static sound. This particular
model adds more than most, with a
resonance attenuverter control and a
detune, here labelled as spread. This
detune acts on the eight fi lters that
make up the phaser and it sounds
wonderfully rich, although not thick in
the same way detuned oscillators do.
It feels more like detuned harmonics
and it adds a textural element that
isn’t too in your face but has a
defi nite impact on the output.
The Black K-Phaser retains the
classic tones you’d expect from a
module of this nature, while adding
extra character and useful controls
and outputs to an already good value
and solidly built device.
undoubtedly use
CV
for this.
CV for this. CV
CV
can
CV can CV
be applied directly to the phase itself,
or to the inbuilt LFO which can be
fi ne-tuned with the attenuverter. The
LFO is switchable between ramp and
triangle wave shapes. It’d be nice to
see some extra options here but if two
were to be chosen these are the most
useful. One welcome feature here is
that the LFO can be output
separately, so this can add some extra
modulation to other parts of your rig
or patch, keeping time with the
phaser. I wish more modules offered
this, as it helps keep a patch clocked
with menial cable clutter. The rates of
the LFO are as important for a phaser
as any other use, so it’s good to see a
THE PROS & CONS
+
Wide rate range
Plenty of CV control
Good value
-
Limited LFO shapes
FM
VERDICT
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
For bringing your synth
For bringing your synth
For bringing your synth
For bringing your synth
tones to life with rich
tones to life with rich
tones to life with rich
tones to life with rich
phasing, the Black K-Phaser
phasing, the Black K-Phaser
phasing, the Black K-Phaser
phasing, the Black K-Phaser
is a great option – and it’s a
good modulation source too
Reviews | Erica Synths Black K-Phaser
84
FMU380.rev_modules.indd 84FMU380.rev_modules.indd 84 23/01/2022 16:2323/01/2022 16:23