Review: Industrialectric Echo Degrader

Coming hot off the heels of the NAMM show we got the second part of our series with synthesizer guru Alessandro Cortini! Back with the Abstrakt Electronics Avalon (which is a Roland 303 clone) Alessandroruns the sequencer through Canada’s own Industrialectric Echo Degrader which in Alessandro’s words is “a f@%d up delay” aka perfect for Pedals and Effects!

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Alessandro explains that the Echo Degrader is more of an “envelope follower” than most delays which are usually associated with filters. For that reason the Echo Degrader is very receptive to dynamics, so the harder or softer you play the Echo Degrader is more influenced by your unique playing style.

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The Echo Degrader also has in depth oscillation control in that you can have something delay infinitely without breaking up. The delay can act as a sort of looper where you can stack melodic ideas without worrying about the previous phrase breaking up. There is also a Degrade knob where you can also control the delay break-up, it’s very cool and lo-fi to the point where it can sound like a scratchy pot when adjusting the knob but its actually controlling the extent of the tape breakup sound! You can smash the signal way way down, you get a really cool lo-fi crushed sound, like an analog Particle. Words can only explain so much, it needs to be heard to be believed. It’s a really unique delay and Alessandro shows us his continued expertise in all things synths and modulation.