As of today both the ECR-1, our convolver module, and our GR-1 granular synth are back in stock. If you order from our webshop we can ship the same day (weekends excepted). On top of that we also offer express shipping.
GR-1’s tested and ready for their boxes
ECR’s ready to receive their knobs
More about shipping: it seems that COVID-19 is still somewhat affecting transit times, but it’s very sporadic now. And mostly it seems that overseas shipping (outside of Europe) is 1 to 3 weeks. Express overseas shipping seems 2-3 days.
The GR-1 has seen a bunch of small but important firmware updates. We’re now at v2.3.3 and this seems like the most stable version to date. If you are a GR-1 user you are highly encouraged to upgrade. See the chapter “Firmware updates” in the manual for more information.
A lot has happened since the last post. Here we’ll summarize, and we’ve also saved up a juicy firmware update for the GR-1. Read on.
The Corona crisis has influenced some shipping times and shipping costs. Overseas transit times (Europe to Americas, or to East Asia) are about 6 weeks because almost everything is moving as sea freight now instead of via passenger flights. Shipping inside Europe seems to have remained nearly the same. The postal service has also started charging extra for overseas shipping. However, we will not charge you extra for the standard postal service.
Furthermore, we’re producing at full speed again. We hope to eliminate the waiting line for the GR-1 early in the summer. Later on in summer the ECR-1 will follow and will ship directly in the week your order is placed.
ECR’s and GR’s all packed up.
ECR-1 boxes up close.
We’ve added sound demos for the ECR-1, see below. These show what the ECR-1 can do in a conventional sense, but also in more creative ways. The ECR-1 downloads page was added too. On this page you’ll find resources for reverb responses.
GR-1 Firmware 2.3 adds many features to improve workflow. Editing presets, and making your own performances is now much quicker. Browsing through sample libraries and menus is now also much more zappy. It adds better hands-on controls to fine tune parameters directly, and also to change the matrix without menu diving. Last but not least grains can now be up to 5s, which is why we threw in some free grain stealing! Check the full release notes here. See the new 2.3.1 manual, as always, in the GR-1 downloads section. At the bottom you’ll also find a bunch of new GR-1 patches, kindly donated by a new user.
As usual, the GR-1 update procedure works with downloading the firmware file to USB stick or by hooking your GR-1 onto your router with a LAN cable.
We’ve also added a showcases and testimonials page for the GR-1 with various links to songs and albums GR-1 users have recently made. Enjoy!
That’s it guys. Hope you enjoy all the new presets, albums, audio snippets and firmware. Until next time!
Much has happened in the recent weeks. Almost too much to summarize in such a news post. Here it goes..
Corona & scams
First, the bad news. The ongoing Corona pandemic has now had its effects on almost everyone and everything. We went through significant delays with respect to purchasing parts, but they seem over (!). Yes! For now.. For our own work force, here in The Netherlands, we’ve decided to send everybody home who’s even feeling mild symptoms, and to work extra hygienically. All design and administrative work is to be done from home, preferably. We expect to keep shipping at a moderate rate for the coming month at least. We’re reducing the estimated lead time on GR-1 units from 4 weeks to a conservative 2 weeks.
Scammers had advertized the GR-1 for a whopping 28 USD, lol. Thanks to our efforts, and that of our users, these guys have now given up. Once again, you can only buy the GR-1 from us, PCA, KMR and Schneiders. No one else!
GR-1 Granular synthesizer
The GR-1 Granular synthesizer. Factory lead time ~1 week.
The ECR-1 Convolver module is in production now. Our beta testers have reported back. We’ve fixed the problems they encountered and made the controls even more responsive than they were, adjusted audio input levels and added a few more “Shift” functions like previewing the processed sample including envelope and pitch bend, and fast forwarding when turning the encoder. Expect to see it in the webshop early April, priced 499 EUR including VAT.
GR-1 Firmware 2.2, new video, and sound packs
The GR-1 has just received a major update last week. Firmware 2.2 adds new tape mode that allows you to do vinyl scratching. It has new modes of cloud generation (more “punch” when triggering notes), and it has proper multi-timbral MIDI support, and much much more.
It’s the biggest update in over a year, and this version has been tested to destruction and back for the best possible user experience. Check the release notes, it’s quite the list: RELEASE_FW_2.2.0.txt. We’ve also done a bit of work on the GR-1 manual and added mini tutorials on how to easily modify and save performances and patches: User-manual-GR-1-v2.2.0.pdf.
We believe this firmware turns the GR-1 into more than the machine we always wanted it to be. We thank everyone for their patience and suggestions, and of course the beta testers!
The new famous Youtube synth reviewer Loopop has also done a new video on the GR-1 as well. This shows some of the 2.2 features too.
Loopop’s official review of the GR-1
Loopop gives a solid hands-on overview of the GR-1 basics, but for GR-1 users that want to know know how to get the most of our machine’s functions, check out the latest sound packs here (firmware v2.2 required):
SpringPack2020.zip : Spring 2020 sound pack, from our in-house sound designer, including creative sample work, granular glide, and slightly detuned LFO modulations
OneCell-2.zip : Sound pack from user Sef Spee, including creative use of scan mode and LFO quantization
In the last months there have been a couple more sound pack uploads too. You can always have a upload to and download from our patch sharing page: gr-1-downloads/ , near the end of the page.
We’ve not been sitting still. For our GR-1 customers we decided to make video’s: a tutorial and a new teaser for 2019. The tutorial covers some of the more in-depth features that weren’t covered before, including the new multi-timbral mode. Enjoy, and watch and learn 😉
We also produced a brand spanking new set of patches for the GR-1, 32 to be specific. We designed these patches to show how versatile the machine really is. Anything from field recordings to samples of classic bass synthesizers are usable for many musical applications. There are very lush sounding ambient tracks and pads in there, and just as many glitchy and noisy drumtracks. You can check some excerpts from this pack on Soundcloud:
The new sound pack is completely free and ready to go from our GR-1 downloads page: GR-1 downloads.
In terms of actual product development we’ve not been sitting still. We’re still updating the GR-1 firmware every month or two. And our new Eurorack Convolution Reverb module, the ECR-1, has now reached the stage where it is actually usable by a non-developer. It has a small full-color display mounted and has all the buttons, pots and audio/CV in and outs it needs.
The current prototype of our Eurorack Convolution Reverb module, the ECR-1.
You can also look at the convolution reverb thread on Muff Wiggler if you like to know more. Cheers!
The last 2 months we’ve been busy with a large rewrite of the GR-1 firmware. The new version 2.0 makes it multitimbral, and adds many new features and improvements. The new engine allows you to stack up to four patches, assign patches to MIDI channels and/or to play mode, record audio to one patch in real-time and play chords and solos with the others.
GR-1 firmware 2.0 running four part multitimbral.
Get the upgrade, and the new manual, from our GR-1 downloads page. Credits and thanks to the beta testers who worked to quickly track down the bugs!
In a few weeks we’ll start a new video campaign on Youtube. Of course we’ll cover all the new features.
The GRC-1 MIDI controller is still in heavy development, and we hope to have the first model ready in autumn. As said before, the GRC-1 will offer hands-on controls for everything to do with multitimbral and more. The GR-1 at this moment only offers multitimbral controls via GUI menu’s and secondary button functions.
Production: at one point production was going so well we were almost 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Then problems with component stock and a mistake with PCB assembly hit us.. and now we’re delayed a week again. In any case, you can keep track of the progress in our GR-1 production schedule. We try to update it weekly.
It’s been a while since we wrote a news update. First of all: Happy new year!
GR-1 production:
Due to a miscalculation on our side, we’re a good week behind, and we took a week off during the holidays. But the good news is the production is still running full steam. We’ll update the time table @ tastychips.nl/gr1schedule accordingly. We expect to build up the first stock late March..
ECR-1:
Our Eurorack Convolution Reverb (code name: ECR-1) is still in the pipes. You may have recognized it from our previous update. So far the software is largely finished, but we may want to add various bits and bobs, where you can cross-fade from one impulse response to the next. The mechanical stuff like the front plate, the right knobs, and getting the whole assembly line in order will probably take a few months more. We’re still thinking 400 EUR retail price.
Multi-timbral GR-1:
The GR-1 is being prepared for version 2.0. This will effectively make it multi-timbral! A lot of users and people interested in the GR-1 expressed their interest in this feature, so we decided just to go for it. For those of you who want to know: yes, this allows you to stack several patches (timbres) on top of each other. It will also allow you to record a sample into one patch and play the others simultaneously!
Below you can see the first impression of the main screen. It displays 8 parts, while the engine is running all of them in real-time. LFO’s, scanning and effects are now separate per part.
Now there’s something special to mention here. While the GR-1 itself allows you to use the new engine, the controls are quite limited. And we didn’t want to have any deeper or longer menus. So, to make the best of it we are designing a new USB-MIDI controller especially for this purpose. It can also do a lot more than just unlock the multi-timbral potential. Stay tuned.
Lastly, we’re considering a “drop-in” replacement of the GR-1’s Raspberry Pi computer. Since multi-timbrality requires it do some heavy lifting, more processing power is very welcome. We’ll probably announce this in a news update or two. See you then! 🙂
Just a post to inform you of what’s going on in the world of Tasty Chips.
First of all, the GR-1 production schedule. We’ve been on time for the last 5 months. We’re still good, but we’re 1 week behind now. We’ve identified some of the slowdowns in the assembly&test program, and solved them. We should be able to produce unhindered for the rest of the year at least.
We’ve open sourced the old Sawbench hardware! Since it was always a DIY project, a schematic is welcome. We’re still selling the DIY kits, if you’d like to try. In a way this is our thank you to the open source community that fed us, and helped us to grow. Sawbench github is the place to visit of your DIYing this or perhaps making a clone.
One more thing: feel free to visit our forum to ask for help with these. Just know that we ourselves cannot supply information indefinitely to people wanting to clone parts of it. We have a business to run. Which brings us to our next topic:
Innovation! We’re producing a new Eurorack module. It’s the first of its kind: A true-stereo convolution reverb with display. On the photo you can see a prototype, of course based on the Raspberry Pi (although we may switch to another Single Board Computer later on).
ECR-1 prototype: the first Eurorack convolution reverb!
Some features:
Load your own responses from USB stick
RECORD your own responses from the inputs, and SAVE to USB stick
Up to 40s impulse response
128×128 full color display
up to 4 responses
envelope shape
parameter read-out
WAV name
Separate Dry and Wet controls
Attack and Release controls
Input gain control
Stereowidth control
Predelay control
Audition feature to replay your responses
The software is about 90% finished. The hardware does still need a bit of work, but prototype on the photo does actually record and replay at HIFI 48 kHz quality.
After a few months of silence in the mailing list, here’s an update.
You may have been aware of our GR-1 production schedule tastychips.nl/gr1schedule. On this page our GR-1 production schedule can be found along with all additional information concerning payment and delivery. The good news is that we we’re very much on track and didn’t have to change it for almost 4 months. We’ve received a large amount of casings and foresee no obstacles for the rest of the year.
IMPORTANT: if you have pre-ordered the GR-1 and your unit is ready, you’ll be mailed by us with a payment request. If the payment is not received within 30 days your unit will go on to the next in line. We’ve made exceptions in the past, but really cannot do so anymore since the waiting list is quite large. We expect it to shrink from 6 months down to 4 months, in the future, though.
GR-1 Firmware 1.5.2.2 has been out for a while now. This is a stable version of 1.5 and can be found on our downloads page tastychips.nl/downloads/. 1.5 includes grain window modulation and note pile-up, to get the best out of the engine’s polyphony: truly a very useful feature for which a lot of users had been waiting. Loads of improvements were made as well: MPE and MIDI clocking support is more complete, the menu’s are more user-friendly, LFO’s can be quantized, slowed down to periods of many hours with a high degree of accuracy (ambient overlay galore).
Furthermore, we’re proud to say we’ve started work on an hardware expansion for the GR-1. The features will have to remain secret for a while, but we can already say that some features from the menus will be directly accessible through this device. This will function to make the GR-1 experience even more intuitive and prolong its market life.
To our patient and loyal customers we’d like to extend our gratitude, also for their suggested features and bug reports.
In other news, it’s now possible to share your patches and performances to this same page! If you choose to upload, we’ll verify your work and will put it up for download, with due credit, of course.
Firmware 1.5 is scheduled for September. Beta testers are always welcome. Mail us at info@tastychips.nl.
It’s been a while since we did an update here. So here it goes.
First off: we’ve now shipped practically all of the GR-1 pre-orders from last year. The last of the December pre-orders are now waiting for their future owners. If you are one of these guys, and haven’t received your unit yet, please check your mail box for our “finalization” email. Inside are payment instructions and a request for your postal address. Once the parcel is sent you’ll receive a track & trace email.
Secondly, and not unimportant… Many of our users have said to be very happy with their new machines, praising the GR-1’s power and ease-of-use! Thank you guys. It’s so good to hear we have lived up to expectations and have correctly realized our vision.
You may have noticed in our schedule, that we’ve got a quiet summer. Indeed we’ve been set back a good month due to one of our suppliers moving their factory to a new address during these summer months, and another supplier suffering their own set of delays. Please rest assured that we are _totally_ committed to the GR-1 project and to improving both this synth itself, and our service. Hence, we are professionalizing and building up as many new supplier relations as we have to, in order to streamline future production. Demand for the GR-1 remains high, and we’ll be busy with fulfilment of preorders for the remainder of 2018. We’ll keep the schedule updated regularly.
In case you haven’t noticed, in the last months we’ve released several GR-1 instruction videos, and a new one today. More will be coming up, we still haven’t explained all the features of the latest 1.4 firmware..
You can subscribe to our Youtube channel if you haven’t already: youtube.com/tastychips.
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