BASSGRID Terminal RE

[Benedict]

I saw this pop up. I have just started a Trial. I can't say I know how to feel right now.

[rackextension]https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... er-effect/[/rackextension]

The Company Name suggests a very specific market instead of a broad tool. Fair enough.

The Device is HUGE and opens with no controls - but their massive Logo.

It also opens with a Seq Track - annoying for an FX unit. While I MAY want to Automate it, I would want that at my discretion not immediately cluttering my project.

The Damager is pretty well named, it is not kind.

Saturation is (thankfully) less intense.

Then I don't seem to be able to find ways to control levels internally. There are many ways to Boost level but not seeing any to Cut or otherwise reduce all that Gain except for Compression and the final Limiter. That feels like it may be a problem for me as I am not one who wants to run everything at 11.

There is a Master Level that can be used to pull back the overall result be that doesn't help internally. Also, it makes it effectively impossible to tell if it really sounds better as a result of the processing or just a massive db boost.

There doesn't seem to be any Oversampling which generally doesn't bother me a lot but at high gain (which this seems to do by default, it does bounce back at 44k).

Saturation Density is interesting. Things do seem to sound Thicker.

Putting a Selig Gain after Terminal and sliding back a subtle 12db offsets the 9.5db of Drive in the Saturation unit alone. Then the sense of thickness is understandably a lot less dramatic. I got the impression this was supposed to be a Mastering Tool. I'm not so sure that is the case now.

The Compressor makes an interesting claim at 0ms Attack time. With really long times on both A & R, it can be nice on Pads without introducing lumpy/pumpy.

Filters, filter with a good handful shapes (not easy to choose). Every Filter can be nice in the right situation so I am not a pedant about filters. They do seem polite which is probably good here.

Switching the unit In/Out either with Internal or external switching can be a bit rough. With these big level differences, some smoothing wouldn't go astray.

There are NO CV In or Outs on this which seems somewhat odd with a pair of LFO and all those controls we might want to er, control.

None of the FX are bad at all but I do wonder if this is unique code/DSP or just IDT (Ujam Gorilla) wrapped. Not that that is bad per se, just not really super-useful (for me at least) all locked inside this huge form-factor. Many of the units would seem way more usable to me if they were stand-alone (with Gain Knobs after the process please).

[DaveyG]

It does seem to be a device that is a bit at odds with the Reason ethos. An all-in-one multi-effects with no patchability.

[bxbrkrz]

Pretty impressive for a (first?) Re.
Congrats BASSGRID.

[Benedict]

Aah I see. that makes more sense of it. It is meant as a multi-fx to jam on any sound and make it really over-loud and chewy in that EDM/Rap way.

It is definitely managing that in your vid. there is a lot of work gone into making this and no bout it will please its target audience. It is more like VST thinking than Reason thinking but that is a thing many find annoying about Reason so if it helps, great. if the modules get extracted, I could be interested in some.

[Spryx]

Its pretty damn impressive for a first release. First RE I've bought I think in 2 years. Also FWIW, the 'Gorilla' engine is not available to individual developers. At least not yet last time I checked.

[JiggeryPokery]

Also FWIW, the 'Gorilla' engine is not available to individual developers. At least not yet last time I checked.

Sorry, but what are you talking about?

https://gorilla-engine.com/

[bxbrkrz]

[Spryx]

Also FWIW, the 'Gorilla' engine is not available to individual developers. At least not yet last time I checked.

Sorry, but what are you talking about?

https://gorilla-engine.com/

Try to apply and tell me how far you get?
My last response was:

We appreciate your interest in Gorilla Engine (GE). We’re in an early rollout phase right now, during which we will grant access to a handpicked selection of customers only. We are currently in the process of making sure that the SDK and documentation live up to customer expectations and are scheduled to make Gorilla Engine more publicly available towards late 2019/early 2020.

Which I believe is still the case.

[JiggeryPokery]

Sorry, but what are you talking about?

https://gorilla-engine.com/

Try to apply and tell me how far you get?

About 10 devices based on it in the Shop.

Edit: OK, I saw your subsequent edit - that's news to me. They've given it out to plenty of developers. Skrock, turn2on, Softphonics, DNA, J Chris Griffin, to name just a few. Most new products that aren't Players are Gorilla-based. Hell, even Quartet was made in Gorilla.

I wonder if their reply might be referring more the VST side rather than RE side? RS have been desperate for new devices, even if many of them are just reskinning the basic FX modules (Softphonics in particular was guilty of this).

[Spryx]

Try to apply and tell me how far you get?

About 10 devices based on it in the Shop.

Edit: OK, I saw your subsequent edit - that's news to me. They've given it out to plenty of developers. Skrock, turn2on, Softphonics, DNA, J Chris Griffin, to name just a few. Most new products that aren't Players are Gorilla-based. Hell, even Quartet was made in Gorilla.

To be fair, it was a while ago I requested access. They could have released it the general public by now, but I figured I might at least get a newsletter when they do.

[Benedict]

My understanding (from reading between the lines) is that if you go straight to Ujam as a peanut Dev and ask, you probably get nowhere. However, if you come at it through the RE Dev portal, you are in. I know of several REs in the shop that are pretty straight Ujam Gorilla. Not terrible as such. This RE has some more controls for some things so their take is worthwhile - but not for me in that form.

[moofi]

I truely like the saturation section, even think it´s the cleanest sounding saturation avaible to date via Rack Extensions and the LFO because you can customize the waveform. Then it´s doesn´t have an LFO output and spending, even if it is on sale 50 Euros for the Saturation alone in a huge box with the rest I might hardly use, not to mention the visual overload, it´s not really my cup of tea. I would gladly buy the individual saturation module though. Dev, any chance?

[nickb523]

I would gladly buy the individual saturation module though. Dev, any chance?

That saturation is a straight reskinned Gorilla Engine module and it's available on several devices in the shop. Here is another version of that exact module without the hodgepodge of additional fluff -

https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... ration-fx/

Notice the similarities in controls and ranges? - They might look a bit different but I assure you they sound identical.

[moofi]

Thank you very much for the tip
Then unfortunately they do not sound identical. While being pretty close the terminal implementation sounds punchier. Somehow they seem to have slightly different EQ curves or something. Gonna check the other implementations you mentioned.

[...]

https://www.reasonstudios.com/shop/rack ... ration-fx/

Notice the similarities in controls and ranges? - They might look a bit different but I assure you they sound identical.

[joeyluck]

First, is an assumption being made this is created with GE? I'm impressed either way. I forgot about this and their other REs. Mutation Collider and Filter X1 also look incredible. I'm going to have to trial them soon.

[nickb523]

First, is an assumption being made this is created with GE?

Jeez, I give up!

The only reason I answered this is because the user specifically asked for that saturation in a separate device. The Turn2on device is 100% the same one. The perceived difference is either down to placebo or that there is something else in the chain such as compression or limiting that you may not be able to see on the GUI.

[moofi]

Not placebo. Simply turn the threshold and you can hear the difference quite well. Then it definitely could be some invisible chain ingredient like you mentioned. Gonna experiment a little more.

[...] The perceived difference is either down to placebo or that there is something else in the chain such as compression or limiting that you may not be able to see on the GUI.

[joeyluck]

First, is an assumption being made this is created with GE?

Jeez, I give up!

The only reason I answered this is because the user specifically asked for that saturation in a separate device. The Turn2on device is 100% the same one. The perceived difference is either down to placebo or that there is something else in the chain such as compression or limiting that you may not be able to see on the GUI.

Lol what I'm asking is based on this thread. The OP only wondered if it was made with GE and then the conversation turned to GE access. So my question is in regards to trying to make a comparison based on an assumption. Unless I missed something... You're saying it's 100% the same one.

[nickb523]

I never read the whole thread THB. I simply knew of the device and when moofi asked for that saturation in a separate box I answered.

Anyhoo, it is indeed a GE device. It's a big ol' hodgepodge of all the GE modules in their vanilla form stuffed into an 8U rack. Which I suppose is great if you are into that sort of thing.

[joeyluck]

I never read the whole thread THB. I simply knew of the device and when moofi asked for that saturation in a separate box I answered.

Anyhoo, it is indeed a GE device. It's a big ol' hodgepodge of all the GE modules in their vanilla form stuffed into an 8U rack. Which I suppose is great if you are into that sort of thing.

I'm impressed So do you know the dev? Are these also made with GE?





Those displays are some of the best I've seen along with degree of control of the filters and the custom drawing for LFOs. Seems really cool.

[nickb523]

I'm impressed So do you know the dev? Are these also made with GE?

Nah I don't know the dev.

The filter is just a collection of the same old individual GE filters. Looks like it allows chaining of 3 of them wrapped in a futuristic skin.

Mutation Collider is actually the coolest one there. I'd say that one is actually good, creative use of the underlying GE tech - Quite well done and useful. At least it's not another bloody reskin.

[Quarmat]

Got them both during a sale this spring. Mutator collider is very fun: XY mixer that can really sparkle some cool ideas. I used it on the Tobtok remix. I put 4 synths in it and sweeped from one to another while they were paying the same chords and the result is a synth evolving in incredible way. For the Terminal effect, I am not an expert, but it sounds powerful and characteristic to me. Not to be used on everything but I find a use for it when I want some nastiness. The built-in limiter is also nice.

[strangers]

I recently demoed this developers REs and was pleasantly surprised. At first, I was going to rule them out just for the ridiculous size and flashy look but glad I didn't. Whether they are or aren't a basic tool with a shiny wrap they're to the point, efficient and aid in the creative process. They're definitely better than some of the REs I purposely avoid that may or may not be a simple module disguised by a [insert your choice of words here] GUI.

I didn't really care for Mutator Collider but I did really like the X1 Filter. Ended up buying that one actually. I'm still demoing Terminal RE and leaning toward buying it. Do I need it? Probably not. Does it simplify some processes? Yes and enough that I'm considering buying it. I agree with Quarmat in that it does have some characteristics that I can't pull out of other REs that, in my opinion, are boring, uninspiring or don't enhance sounds in ways I'm looking for.

Hoping to see more by these guys.