The LXR drum synthesizer was developed by Julian Schmidt, who has already made a name for himself with his label, Sonic Potions. Now, Erica Synths has teamed up with him to expand the synth under the name LXR-02 and officially produce it in series. The LXR was previously only available as a kit, meaning that users had to solder it together themselves. Now however, the device is available ready-to-use under its new product name LXR-02, and comprises a digital drum computer including a sequencer. It contains six instruments, each of which features 30 adjustable parameters, including emulations of warm analogue sounds as well as rougher digital sounds. In addition, the LXR-02 scores points with its compact, robust design and its clear user interface, which makes it ideal for use as a stage instrument.
The user interface of the LXR-02 consists of numerous buttons and knobs that often provide direct access to all of the functions. REC allows MIDI data to be recorded, which can be played back via PLAY, and each of the six voices has its own fader for volume control; in addition, the overall volume can also be adjusted. Each instrument is selected via the corresponding button, and then allows the user to edit its parameters via the display, the four knobs, and the data wheel. In Voice Mode, active steps can be set, while in Performance Mode, programmed runs can be triggered, and in Step Edit Mode, individual steps can be edited. These modes are operated via the 16 sequencer buttons. There are two tracks per voice for defining automations, so two parameter changes can be saved for each step.
The LXR-02 is suitable for all artists who are looking for a versatile and powerful drum machine with impressive sounds for their live performances. At the same time, it features 44.1kHz/16-bit audio quality, and there are two 6.3mm jack stereo outputs and a mini-jack headphone output on the back. The LXR-02 can be controlled from external sources via the MIDI input, in addition to which the drum machine can be synchronised via a clock or be used as a master clock, and reset commands can also be sent to it. The MIDI output allows the user to control external synthesizers. Incidentally, all projects are flexibly stored on an SD card included in the scope of delivery, and the USB port makes connecting the LXR-02 to a computer easy.
Founded in Riga in 2014 by Girts Ozolins, the firm has quickly imposed itself as a major player in the modular sector. Thanks to its close cooperation with musicians from the EDM scene, the modules and devices of Erica Synths convince with their musicality as well as their ease of use. The firm markets several series of Eurorack modules, each tailored to different applications. The Fusion series is based on tube circuits; the Pico series consists of space-saving 3-TE module; the Black series combines high-quality analog as well as digital modules; whilst the Drum series can be assembled to a modular drum machine. At the same time, the range of performance-oriented stand-alone effect units and synthesizers is gradually being expanded.
The core of the Erica Synths Drum Synthesizer LXR-02 consists of the ARM Cortex M7 processor, which also enables the effects that are on board. For each voice, there is an AD envelope with variable slope and an LFO. The latter can modulate up to three destinations - including pitch, envelope decay, filter frequency amount, resonance, and drive. Velocity can also modulate destinations, and the sample-based transient generator can be used to make the attack phase crisper. The FX section features more effects - among which are a detailed filter, a tube saturation, a hard clip distortion, a wavefolder, a ring modulator, and a compressor. It also features an extensive delay, ranging from 20 to 700 milliseconds and featuring an LFO for flanging effects. If even more sound variations are desired, users can morph between two drum kits. All voices are output via two Cirrus Logic CS4344 D/A converters.