The British Noise Electronics Cascading FET Amplifier Eurorack Module is a powerful tool for those looking to add analog saturation and distortion to their Eurorack setup. This module is made up of four cascading JFET amplification stages, each of which can be used separately, giving you four nice and clean analog saturators for your system. When cascading these saturation stages, it can lead to an enormous amount of gain and allows you to dial in the amount at each stage, giving you unparalleled control over the level of distortion and gain.
One way to utilize this module is to use it to process your drums. For example, you could put your kick drum in and remove it at stage 2, giving you a fairly crispy sound while still maintaining some dynamics and boosting the sub. Then, you can take out the same kick at stage 4, creating a totally distorted copy and cut the sub while boosting the air to add more bite. You can then use an external mixer to blend the two together parallel and achieve the desired sound.
Another great feature of the Cascading FET Amplifier Eurorack Module is that channels two and four both have a shared Air & Sub band EQ that would be at home on any mastering channel strip. These EQs share the same knobs, making it easy to use the module in a stereo configuration. You can use stages one and two for the left and stages three and four for the right. With the use of the buttons, you can even reverse the knobs' position on stage 2, allowing you to boost the sub or air on one while removing it on the other.
Overall, the British Noise Electronics Cascading FET Amplifier Eurorack Module is an excellent option for users looking to add analog saturation and distortion to their Eurorack setup. With its four cascading JFET amplification stages and extensive level of control over the amount of gain and distortion, this module can help you achieve a wide range of sound.
Example Usage
If you're new to the world of analog saturation and looking to experiment with the British Noise Electronics Cascading FET Amplifier Eurorack Module, a great starting point would be to use just one of the four JFET amplification stages. This will give you a subtle saturation effect that can add warmth and depth to your sound. Try running a simple synth line through the input jack of the first stage and adjust the gain to your liking. You can then experiment with removing the audio at any of the stage outputs to see how the saturation changes. As you become more comfortable with the module, you can start cascading the stages for more extreme distortion effects.
An intermediate-level usage example for the British Noise Electronics Cascading FET Amplifier Eurorack module would be to use it to add some grit to a synth lead sound. Connect the synth output to the input of stage 1 of the module and patch the output of stage 2 to an external mixer. The EQ controls can be used to adjust the air and sub frequencies to taste. Dial in just enough distortion on stage 1 to add some character to the sound, then adjust the gain on stages 2 and 3 until you achieve the desired saturation. Finally, use stage 4 to add some extra dirt and texture. By blending the four stages together with the external mixer, you can create a unique and dynamic lead sound that cuts through the mix.
Further Thoughts
If you're looking for a way to add some serious grit and character to your recordings, the British Noise Electronics Cascading FET Amplifier is definitely worth considering. One creative usage example would be to use the four individual JFET amplification stages separately to create four unique analog saturators. This allows you to dial in the amount of gain at each stage and control the level of distortion. For example, you can insert a kick drum at stage 1 and remove it at stage 2 to get a crispy sound while still maintaining some dynamics and boosting the sub. Then you can remove the same kick at stage 4 to get a totally distorted copy and cut the sub while adding more bite. Finally, blend the two together in parallel using an external mixer. With the use of the Air and Sub band EQ on stages 2 and 4, respectively, this module can be used in a stereo configuration for further creative options.