Endorphin.es EVIL PET is a new compact MPE polyphonic granular Synthesizer and multi-FX processor with built-in radio FM tuner and reel-to-reel recorder.
A few years ago, we asked about hardware granular synthesizers/processors; nowadays, we have a vast selection. In the last 2-3 years, numerous hardware synthesizers/processors capable of granular synthesis have come onto the market, including one from Roland.
The year 2025 is slowly drawing to a close. The last two months are almost here, and how does one end the year? With a new granular Synthesizer, of course! Endorphin.es has just unveiled EVIL PET, a new granular synth/processor for on-the-go.
Endorphin.es EVIL PET
Evil Pet is a new granular synthesizer/processor packaged in a pedal with tactile mechanical keys, a 2.42″ monochrome OLED display, and knobs familiar from DSI/Sequential synths.
The origin of the instrument’s name is unknown. Perhaps the Endorphin.es developers have an evil pet, or maybe it’s because the device musically shreds audio like a vicious pet?
At least, we know why they dress it glossy, strinking ping: ” to give instant allure and coziness the moment you bring it home”. One thing is guaranteed: the device fits perfectly into Sarah Sommer’s setup, which is entirely pink.
Evil Pet is a creative sound design hub that can be an 8-voice polyphonic granular Synthesizer, a granular FX unit, a radio FM tuner, a reel-to-reel recorder, and more.
There are four ways to feed the granular engine with audio sources. The most obvious are the two 6.3mm mono audio inputs, which allow you to route a stereo signal into the engine. This is the way to go for guitarists and synth players.
Then, you can use the tiny built-in microphone on the front panel to instantly record and process audio. A micro SD port also allows you to import audio sources.
The fourth and final alternative is the most spontaneous and creative one. You can launch the built-in FM radio and capture and process live radio audio. Evil Pet has 512 MB of RAM, giving you a maximum 10-minute buffer size.
Hands-On Granular Engine
Endorphin.es has embedded a granular engine in Evil Pet, which is very hands-on and controllable via the interface – part instantly with the knobs and part by pressing an additional shift key.
Evil Pet has an 8-voice granular engine fully tweakable with classic parameters: position, size, pitch, grains and spread, cloud, detune, and shape via shift pressing. Additionally, you have a digital oscillator (sine, triangle, saw, square) that can be layered with the processed audio.
From here, the grain stream is shapable with a multimode resonant filter with various types (dual LP/HP, lowpass, highpass, bandpass, comb).
A modulation engine with an assignable ADSR envelope and three multi-wave LFOs, including an envelope follower, brings in dynamics and motion.
Further, you can refine your granular textures with a built-in multi-FX processor with selectable saturator FX (distortion, sample rate reducer, bit crusher, flanger, chorus, and feedback), and reverb (plate, reverse, room) with shimmer.
Interestingly, they didn’t implement a delay processor. Also onboard is a random button that instantly generates random parameter settings except for the mix and volume.
Connectivity
On the backside, you have stereo connectivity on 6.3mm mono jacks, an expression pedal input, MIDI in and out/thru, a phone socket, and a power supply input (9-18VDC).
No USB, so no USB noise. I assume the firmware is updated via the microSD card slot on the front panel.
Endorphin.es Evil Pet First Impression
I’m a big fan of granular synthesis. However, no hardware interface has yet entirely convinced me. That’s one reason why I still use my iPad live. At first glance, Endorphin.es has launched an instrument/processor that looks significantly more intuitive and accessible than anything I’ve tested so far.
From the day-one demos, the synth/effect looks like a lot of fun, and it’s capable of creating beautiful, atmospheric, glitchy textures. I’ll be reviewing the Evil Pet in the near future to see if my first impression is correct.
Endorphin.es EVIL PET is available now for $479/479€.
More information here: Endorphin.es
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