Recovery Seven Sisters is a new percussion Synthesizer for desktop and Eurorack based on the Syncussion and Syndrum synths.
Drum synthesizers have a long tradition. Many, including the TR-808 and TR-909, came from Japan in the 1970s and 1980s. Many developers, regardless of hardware or software, offer these cheaply as clones, replicas, or emulations.
A developer is now bringing back the sound of late-70s drum synth instruments in two new hardware releases.
Recovery Seven Sisters
Seven Sisters is a new percussion Synthesizer that aims to capture the sound of the Pearl Syncussion, Pollard Syndrum, and others. Whether it is a replica of these classics or inspired by them is unknown.
It offers seven independent voices; six are playable simultaneously, and one is switchable. Each voice has limited parameters, including pitch and decay controls. The voices do not have a deep feature set, so super-advanced sound design is not the aim of this drum synth.
It uses multiple oscillators, noise generators, filters, and more at its core. The developers promise that these can create sounds that go beyond the classics. But you don’t have access to these oscillators, etc., only pitch and decay or volume, which are very minimal.
You can trigger Recovery Seven Sisters using the buttons at the bottom of the units. Alternatively, you can use the trigger inputs at the top. All sounds come out of the same dual-mono audio output, so there are no individual outputs. MIDI is also not available.
Eurorack
The Seven Sisters drum synth is also available as a 10HP drum voice for Eurorack. It has seven presets, and one voice can be played at a time.
Interestingly, the Eurorack module offers more control over the sounds. You can tweak each preset’s volume, decay, pitch, and filter. However, you can only play one sound at a time and not all seven like in the desktop Recovery Seven Sisters.
Further, you have a trigger input, four CV inputs for controlling the parameters, and dual mono outputs.
First Impression
At first glance, this is a somewhat strange drum synthesizer release. The drum timbres sound very solid, but the control options are far too limited, especially on the desktop. With only pitch and decay, it’s almost a rompler. The Eurorack is slightly better, as it offers a filter option.
If you need one-press drums with this characteristic, it might be interesting. But it’s the wrong choice if you want to get deeper into drum synthesis.
Recovery Effects Seven Sisters is available now for pre-order for an introductory price of 288,95€ without a power supply or 302,95€ with. The Eurorack module is available for 220,95€.
More information here: Recovery Effects
Is there really no cv control over the mode? So you can get one sound at a time only? Hmmm
You’d have the decay of voices cut off as they get interrupted by CV changes. The desktop has 6 playable voices at once.
How does the BIA or Plaits do this then? Cutting the decay is fine and can sound great!
This is Graig from Recovery Effects, here.
The review states it is unknown whether the Seven Sisters is a replica or inspired- The idea of the Seven Sisters was to create a hardware unit that captures the essence of the Syncussion and Syndrum, while adding additional oscillators and sound sources to make them more complex and interesting. The original units only have a single oscillator per voice. Needless to say, it’s not a replica.
The Seven Sisters starts with some of the most useful settings I’ve put together on my own Syncussion unit, and the controls are based around what is most useful in a compact, playable setting. There is a small attempt at creating a conventional kick, snare, and hats, but the definitive goal was to create the most interesting starting points I’ve found on my own units. Depending on the voice, you’ll find the parameters are not quite as simple as pitch and decay. For example, the pitch control on Voice 1 is also manipulating the noise oscillator. On Voice 5, there is a filter control that works with the pitch. These combinations go even further with the Eurorack unit and offer 3 settings per voice, plus volume, in a wide range of settings that will scratch any Syncussion itch you have. Plus, all of the parameters are controllable over CV. Compare this to the original Syncussion units or Behringer reissues that have 2 playable voices and no options for CV. The Seven Sisters Eurorack module not only offers CV control over every parameter, but retails for only $29 more than the Behringer unit.
The Seven Sisters also shines at being a great performance module for stage. The desktop version not only can be triggered, but unused triggers can be played manually. Along with the simple and powerful controls, this makes the Seven Sisters extremely interactive and fun to play.
Hello Graig, this is not a review but just the news 😉 Thanks for the extra info. The description on the web and the demo just say pitch and decay, that’s why I wrote only pitch and decay in the article.
Hello Graig, this looks very fun, will be picking one up. Cheers!