https://www.crowe-sound-lab.com/
Yup. Crowe's little box (any model), when used properly, makes my desktop hydra synth go from sounding, respectably good, to sounding like it's one of those stupidly expensive analog synths I'll probably never own.
And considering I managed to nab a prototype at a mad discount and got my synth from zzounds with payments. I seriously maximized my price point to sound ratio.
I repeat though, when properly used. If you don't crank the volume going through it, you wont get the effect. I basically max out my synth's output volume till the sound gets distorted and then back it off till it just starts to cleans up. That's the sweet spot. Different types of sound will also react differently. Sending my kalimba through it, requires a lot less gain or I get too much distortion.
Very quick explanation for anyone who's curious: A thing called analog saturation and analog clipping, is why that little box makes the hydra synth sound so amazing. Analog saturation and analog clipping are emulated constantly but never reproduced inside the DAW the way the real thing acts in real life. Because real world physics have infinite resolution and my computer very much does NOT. Unlike the plugins, which are useful but certainly not magic, Crowe sound lab's analog gear is pure magic IMO. The simple beauty of what happens when you send sound through a pair of properly designed/aligned transformers. Clipping that is actually transparent at low levels and super forgiving at high levels (unlike when I accidentally clip my digital interface). The kind of clipping that can actually sound good on bass pads. And saturation that sounds like no emulation I've ever tried (and I've tried a good few). Saturation that actually makes your synth sound "fill in buzz word here about warmth/depth/wideness/musical/whatever bs".
The only downside is, you MUST use balanced lines. Input and output must remain balanced or the box simply wont pass signal. There's also a bit of volume loss when going through the box, so you need turn up your synth's output a bit more. It's the compromise for the gear being 100% passive and not costing an arm and a leg. If you think Crowe's gear is expensive though, you never looked into how much just an "analog saturation/clipper" can run you. Outboard gear is PAINFUL expensive. Like shake your head and walk away expensive. We're talking easily multi thousands of dollars for a SINGLE mono piece of gear. Nothing I can afford that's for sure. Crowe's stuff though, is not only stereo but built like a tank, made locally (not china), stupid easy to use and ACTUALLY does all the stuff the sales pitch says it does (again, when used properly). I basically have a set and forget setup with it on my hydra synth.
A true rarity from my experience. Anyhoo. Eeyup. That's one of those little secrets. If you know anyone who's into outboard gear or is just tired of always clipping their digital interface (which never sounds good), this is a great little piece of kit.
