Review: AudioThing B00GA, the latest Hainbach collaboration, is a plugin that turns microsounds into beautiful, weird rhythms and drones.
When you think of electronic rhythms, you immediately recall various XOX drum machines, such as the Roland 808 and 909, among others. Well, there are many other ways to create these, also experimental ones. Here is one fresh from the developer table.
AudioThing and Hainbach have teamed up once again and released a new plugin and iOS app, B00GA. In this, the output is rhythmic, drone-like, and occasionally melodic, and it’s not a rhythmic machine per se.
The plugin is available for macOS, Linux, Windows, and iOS. I tested it on macOS, and thank AudioThing and Hainbach for the possibility to test the plugin in advance. Here is my review.
AudioThing B00GA Review
B00GA is a new virtual instrument inspired by the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Word Generator 8006A. Please what? OK from the beginning.
The HP Word Generator 8006A is a piece of test equipment designed initially for logic circuit testing, telecommunication duties, and interface simulation.
Their primary use in test equipment music is in “pinging”, causing other devices, like filters or lock-in amplifiers, to resonate and play rhythmic patterns. Hainbach discovered the secret musical, rhythmic soul of the HP Word Generator 8006A through testing.
The AudioThing B00GA isn’t a detailed emulation, but rather an inspired take on the concept of the original HP test equipment.
Like the original, the B00ga uses two sequencers, each with 16 steps. One is dedicated to the pulses, and another to the noise generator.
Pulses & Noise
Pulse section plays back a small snippet (a fraction of the beginning) of the samples. AudioThing delivers it with various factory pulses, which originate from Hainbach’s and AudioThing’s sound labs.
According to Hainbach, they will add more pulse libraries to it via plugin updates, like they do with the Noises plugin. Alternatively, you can import your own pulse samples.
You can tweak them with volume and pitch controls. A creative and engaging feature is the Xfade knob, which allows you to smoothly crossfade between the first eight samples of your selected bank. Manually or also clocked randomly.
This way, you can have a different sound per step, which brings a lot of flexibility into play. Depending on your sample configuration and settings, the randomized Xfade can also achieve melodic sequences.
In contrast, the HP Word Generator 8006A appears to be a relatively primitive device. Here, you can see how the original concept has been translated into the modern era with the feature possibilities we have today.
It would be nice to have more control over the random part so that you could randomize only a portion or all eight words. Currently, all eight are shuffled, which can sometimes yield very crazy results. More subtle results would be welcome.
The noise generator offers control over the volume, clock, tone (filter), and attack/decay envelope with variable shape. The clock sets the internal rate and creates various noise timbres.
Left low-frequency damped results and right high-frequency bright noises. There’s also a random mode that automates this, assigning a different noise setting to each step.
Envelope shaping and filtering parameters enable a wide range of noise characteristics. However, it would have been nice to have other noise colors on the table. In version 1.0, you are limited to one.
8006A-Style Sequencing
The two sequencers trigger pulse and noise. Free running and host with sync option are available for the overall clock. You can also use the keyboard to start them and repurpose it as a weird experimental Synthesizer.
Here, the clock speed adjusts to the played keys. The lower the note, the lower the rate, and vice versa. Unlike the original hardware, the plugin allows you to save up to eight patterns and advance them using the slider.
There is no pattern chaining mode where the patterns continue automatically—a welcome feature for update 1.1.
The sequencer is simple: step on (trigger) or off (no trigger). Forward and pendulum (forward/backward) modes are available. You can program the on/off events either manually or with the convenient random function.
The random cycle feature is enjoyable, as it randomizes the on/off events for each new cycle. This yields consistently new results and also generates fascinating, harsh textures, utilizing different playing techniques.
The sequencers play a fundamental role in this experimental instrument. Yes, they invite you to create rhythms and melodies, just as with any sequencer on the market. However, the B00GA sequencers also have an experimental soul.
If the clock rate is set high (up to 5kHz), the pulses and noise merge into a massive, high-pitched drone Synthesizer. Using the free clock option and MIDI, you can trigger these sequences even with your keyboard.
Talking of MIDI. You can choose between different MIDI settings: MIDI to rate, to pulse pitch, noise clock, or to start. This gives you a very bizarre, raw, and nasty playable Synthesizer.
Additionally, you can activate a soft clipper that prevents excessive overload. Check this setting if you love working with heavy feedback. If that’s too rough and brutal, you can tone it down with the built-in multi-FX section.
Multi-FX
AudioThing B00ga features a multi-FX processor with four distinct effects that are freely rearrangeable with drag and drop. The first is a lovely, dense tape echo based on their Space Echo emulation, Outer Space.
Then, you have the Octave Filter, a test equipment classic and the little star of the plugin. It’s a passive bandpass filter modeled to sound like the original duck-green passive filter with a signal blending option.
It mangels/filters the sounds in a very raw and ear-candy way. Hi Carlo (AudioThing), could you please create the Things Octave Filter? I need this for other signals.
Phaser is a classic swirling phaser effect inspired by vintage analog units, such as those from Musonics and others. Since it can self-oscillate, it can quickly become its own “alarming” sound generator.
The fourth and last is a vintage-inspired spring reverb for adding depth and space to your sounds. B00GA often sounds raw, sharp, and industrial.
The option to further refine the B00GA sounds with these four is invaluable. They are somewhat like red wine in a beef ragu. They enhance everything and give it the final touch, not in one way but in many, as colorful as a bouquet.
Sound Design (+Free Sounds)
I was able to work with AudioThing B00GA for a few days beforehand. During this testing period, a sound library (Maschinenwörter) comprising 30 new sounds was created, which I am offering for free download. Donations are always welcome.
B00GA looks rather “unexciting” at first glance. After a while, however, you’ll appreciate the plugin’s beauty, which unfolds from its odd but inspiring idea, simple operation, and quirky raw character.
With just a few clicks or touches, you can create click rhythms or, just as quickly, a bizarre drone from scratch. If you prefer a more romantic Lo-Fi sound, set the clock to lower settings, and you get a crackling texture orchestra.
It harmonizes particularly well when used in combination with various other instruments. I enjoy using it as a clicking background generator. Also usable to spice up existing patterns with clicks and chirping sounds.
It’s not a preset player-style instrument; it’s made for live experimentation. That’s how my sounds were created, step by step. An onboard random function kicks off your experimental soul with a new starting point at every button press.
AudioThing B00ga Review Conclusion
AudioThing B00GA is not a replacement for a TR-808, 909, or any other rhythm machine. It can stand alone as a rhythm generator or drone synth, but is also perfectly satisfying as an odd add-on for other drum machines.
The sounds you get out of it before the multi-FX unit are raw, clicking, and unpolished. Send it through the multi-FX processor and infuse it with vintage, sparkling flavors.
It’s as if the chirping rhythmic patterns, or drone walls, had been sent through the walls of historic laboratories, power plants, or factories.
B00GA is one of those perfect plugins where you could easily say, ‘you don’t need it,’ but it’s fun and inspiring to play with.
I have no negatives, except for a few features that are currently missing: pattern chaining, additional noise options, more detailed random settings, and further customization.
AudioThing B00ga is available now for an introductory price of 39€ (Black Friday price) instead of 69€. It runs as a VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, and AAX on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel), Linux, and Windows.
B00ga is also available for iOS with AUv3 plugin support for an introductory price of $12.99 instead of 19.99. AudioThing also launched its Black Friday sale, offering discounts of up to 85% off for a limited time.
More information here: AudioThing
AudioThing plugins are available from my partner.
Be the first to comment