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Tech

An Audio Effects Module That Processes Sounds With Actual Dirt, Epidemiology

Sounds within.
Image: Martin Howse

I sometimes try to make the point that pedal- and rack-based effect modules are pretty dumb because just look at the endless things you can do with audio information in its rawest forms on a proper computer thanks to code. I still think that, but I'm also pretty biased as someone that really likes doing things with code and will also never make or perform music that requires stomping on things.

I might be somewhat less inclined to make my usual points about digital music, however, thanks to audio processing alchemist Martin Howse. Howse's whole thing is in utilizing a sound signal's surroundings to process that signal, an idea influenced by psychogeophysics. For example, his ERD/ERD "Earth Return Distortion" units utilize literal dirt to condition an amplifier circuit.

According to Create Digital Music, Howse has already sold out of his initial manufacturing run of 40 units, and now has a waitlist for the next batch. A second variation, the ERD/SIR (remember SIR?) makes sounds from "coded contagion and infection simulations and 8 bit processor models." You can hear what each of the units actually sounds like above.