![]() ![]() Loops are also an important ingredient in what makes Microcosm special. It is quite easy to get lost by turning knobs when a loop plays, and slowly pushes it towards an atmosphere. In fact, it is quite easy to register a simple loop through Microcosm and build a complete, rich and evolving arrangement simply by changing the parameters. While you can connect an expression pedal and perform some filter sweeps, the way it reacts when you start turning multiple knobs while making it feel like an instrument as much as an effect. This level of interaction and depth also means that Microcosm feels right at home on a desk as it does a pedal desk. When you put several delay lines on top of each other, and the more they are repeated, they create new and increasingly complex rhythms until you reach complete chaos. While Repeats controls the number of times each press is heard. Turning up the activity increases the number of “cranes” or delay lines. A simple example of this would be in the pattern effect, which is a rhythmic delay with several presses. They are also very interactive – that is, changes you make in Activity can affect the way the Repeats control behaves. In short, they are macro controls that are not mapped to a specific parameter, and instead control a number of things depending on the effect you have selected. “In general, Activity gives you” more “or” less “of what each preset does, and Repeats controls how long the effect lasts.” The manual breaks it down pretty well, though: (You can access the secondary controls in light gray by holding down the Shift button.) I say relatively because, while it’s pretty obvious what “mix” does, the “Activity” and “Repeat” controls are a bit vague. ![]() The eight knobs on the left all have relatively clear primary and shift functions. These lights also show value levels, the direction of audio playback and are how to navigate the global menu. Each effect lights up when selected, and the four lights above the center footswitch (which turns the pedal on and off) indicate which particular preset of the effect you have selected. The single encoder on the right navigates through the various presets. There are a number of buttons, lights and knobs on the front that may seem a little intimidating at first, but it’s easy to figure things out once you get started. (This turned out to be a real gift from my power supply to the cheap pedal board introduced a lot of noise.) On the plus side, the Hologram Electronics includes a power adapter in the box, which almost no pedal manufacturers make anymore. This is quite unusual on synths and other guitar pedals and means you may need a TRS to dual TS cable to connect your equipment. My only complaint here is that the stereo input is a single TRS connector as opposed to separate right and left. Around the back you will find the necessary audio inputs and outputs, along with 5-pin MIDI in and out / through, and an expression pedal jack. ![]()
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