What's the word on the Electrix Warp Factory?

Shim · 10th May 2008, 05:40 AM

I just saw one of these for $150 on my local craigslist, and i'm very interested to see what kind of mangling it could do to drums etc. I did a search, but no one had anything terribly specific to say about the unit. I'm doing my best to avoid making low budget purchases so that i don't have a studio full of impulse-buy crap......but i always fail miserably. So what makes this little guy desirable? Or not?

rasp · 13th May 2008, 08:34 AM

I never owned one personally, but I had a friend I used to write music with who owned one.

The build quality ov the Electrix FX isn't so great but I recall the warp factory sounding great for really twisted, evil vocals.

I can't say for drums though. A lot ov live PA noize/digital hardcore artists use the electrix units.

For $150, I'd rather get an Ensoniq DP4 if you just want something to mash up drums.

Meriphew · 13th May 2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasp

The build quality ov the Electrix FX isn't so great

I own an Electrix Filter Factory and an Electrix MoFx unit, and they're both built rock solid.

Reptil · 13th May 2008, 10:07 AM

I used the filter factory for a while.

+++: good solid midi (solid clock), build quality good (never broke, was on the road a lot), extreme sounds possible, I like the knobs
---: overall nasal sound (IMHO - compared to moogerfooger, doepfer lowpass etc.)

perx · 13th May 2008, 11:31 AM

The warp factory is nice vocoder. I like my old roland vocoder more, but I still turn to the warp factory quite often for either vocoded speech, singing or just putting drums or audio through it.

And it doesnt cost much either. :-)

rasp · 13th May 2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meriphew

I own an Electrix Filter Factory and an Electrix MoFx unit, and they're both built rock solid.

Perhaps I'm mistaken. I thought they were made ov plastic but now that think about it, they weren't. My bad.

johnnie red · 13th May 2008, 06:21 PM

they're all built pretty solid. years ago i owned the filter factory, warp factory and their vocoder. of those three, the filter is really the only one i liked. i've since sold them all since i have other analog filtering that i prefer. the idea behind the warp factory is fantastic. all those knobs for several effects chained together. i just never liked the quality of the effects. very cheap sounding like mediocre plugins. there are many, many, many products out there that sound a whole lot better, but very few have the interface the warp factory has.

andrewsc · 13th May 2008, 06:26 PM

I've owned a warpfactory. IMO its not a "real vocoder" and if you're looking for a real vocoder you may likely be disappointed. It has a vocoder like aspect to it, but the controls are limited and not conventional - its more like a zany formant filter since you can't shut off that part which can sound very silly. Its a sort of one trick pony, so if you happen to like that trick ..maybe its worthwhile. I don't think you can combine "any 2 signals", I think its more like you're stuck with the internal carrier. When you hear it a few times you can pick out the sound anywhere, maybe a bit too unique like "digital gnome voices" or something. It's fairly digital / grainy sounding IMO. Build quality is certainly not an issue. its built like a tank or more like a fire-engine - big and red. I'd look for a modern digital synth with a real built in vocoder as an alternative. I'm not a big Alesis Ion fan, but it's inexpensive and has a vocoder with more standard parameters that sounded ok from what I can remember.

johnnie red · 13th May 2008, 06:26 PM

eh of course i'm confusing the warp factory with the mo-fx. i remember not disliking the warp factory as much as the mofx, but still the same criticisms applied. felt like it could've sounded better.

jbuehler · 13th May 2008, 07:07 PM

The supposed soon to be re-released versions are metal.

The originals on ebay (I have seen one metal re-release version I guess was a pro-type on ebay) are all the plastic case but still heavy duty.

I wouldn't want to drop them but in a rack I wouldn't worry about the build quality.

T71 · 13th May 2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbuehler

The supposed soon to be re-released versions are metal.

The originals on ebay (I have seen one metal re-release version I guess was a pro-type on ebay) are all the plastic case but still heavy duty.

I wouldn't want to drop them but in a rack I wouldn't worry about the build quality.

All versions are cast metal, including the knobs. I have a Filter Factory and Warp Factory sitting in front of me. There are no "pro" versions.

Meriphew · 13th May 2008, 10:50 PM

Yeah, the originals are metal too. I don't think there are going to be any more made. I think Electrix is done (unfortunately).

Monkey Mouse · 14th May 2008, 01:28 AM

I picked up all of the Electrix boxes (except for the repeater) and still have/use them in my studio.

Metal case with (I'm assuming) metal knobs, the full size boxes do not have wall warts - the 1/2 size ones do.

Honestly, the WF goes unused - use the FF and MoFX much more.

Shim · 14th May 2008, 04:43 AM

Thanks for all of the replies everyone! Oddly enough, the unit sold the same day that i posted this thread..... I have a hunch someone was paying attention. Looks like it would've been an iffy buy though, it sounds a little too inflexible for what i'd want to do with it. I will keep my eyes peeled for a filter factory though, unless i actually have the dough for a Sherman one day.

sleepwalker · 14th May 2008, 08:58 PM

I love it, and I love the Filter Factory. For $150 or less, they're no brainers. If you go over $200, I'd save up and spend $500 on something better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shim

Thanks for all of the replies everyone! Oddly enough, the unit sold the same day that i posted this thread..... I have a hunch someone was paying attention. Looks like it would've been an iffy buy though, it sounds a little too inflexible for what i'd want to do with it. I will keep my eyes peeled for a filter factory though, unless i actually have the dough for a Sherman one day.

Bhang · 14th May 2008, 10:38 PM

The Warp Factory is fantastic. Built like a tank with more options than most hardware vocoders (formant filters anyone). I have the mo fx and filter factory as well. All are of top notch build and sound every bit as good.

piotr · 1st July 2008, 10:50 PM

Hi,

I am looking for the electronic (pdf) version of the Electrix Warp Factory manual.
It looks like the Electrix site is down, and I remember they had the pdfs available for download: does any of you guys have the pdf? If you do, could you share?

Thank you,
p.

T71 · 2nd July 2008, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piotr

Hi,

I am looking for the electronic (pdf) version of the Electrix Warp Factory manual.
It looks like the Electrix site is down, and I remember they had the pdfs available for download: does any of you guys have the pdf? If you do, could you share?

Thank you,
p.

I saved them for a day like this.

Index of /~tristan/Electrix Manuals

piotr · 2nd July 2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T71

I saved them for a day like this.

Index of /~tristan/Electrix Manuals

Hi T71!

And like this, you save the day!

Thank you!

Long Live Gearslutz!

p.

10th May 2008, 05:40 AM	#1
Shim Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 45	What's the word on the Electrix Warp Factory? I just saw one of these for $150 on my local craigslist, and i'm very interested to see what kind of mangling it could do to drums etc. I did a search, but no one had anything terribly specific to say about the unit. I'm doing my best to avoid making low budget purchases so that i don't have a studio full of impulse-buy crap......but i always fail miserably. So what makes this little guy desirable? Or not?

13th May 2008, 10:07 AM	#4
Reptil Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Uterèg statsie woar! Posts: 8,698	I used the filter factory for a while. +++: good solid midi (solid clock), build quality good (never broke, was on the road a lot), extreme sounds possible, I like the knobs ---: overall nasal sound (IMHO - compared to moogerfooger, doepfer lowpass etc.) __________________ Chuck Norris does not sleep, he waits. "Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken." Unknown Dolphins are being brutally massacred. Totally unnecessary. Please sign this petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/golfinho/petition.html

13th May 2008, 10:50 PM	#12
Meriphew Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle USA Posts: 2,045	Yeah, the originals are metal too. I don't think there are going to be any more made. I think Electrix is done (unfortunately). __________________ www.myspace.com/meriphew

14th May 2008, 10:38 PM	#16
Bhang Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 91	The Warp Factory is fantastic. Built like a tank with more options than most hardware vocoders (formant filters anyone). I have the mo fx and filter factory as well. All are of top notch build and sound every bit as good. __________________ Gear FreQ

1st July 2008, 10:50 PM	#17
piotr Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 137	Warp Factory PDF Manual needed Hi, I am looking for the electronic (pdf) version of the Electrix Warp Factory manual. It looks like the Electrix site is down, and I remember they had the pdfs available for download: does any of you guys have the pdf? If you do, could you share? Thank you, p. __________________ Labor Camp We Are Working All The Time!

13th May 2008, 08:34 AM	#2
rasp Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 132	I never owned one personally, but I had a friend I used to write music with who owned one. The build quality ov the Electrix FX isn't so great but I recall the warp factory sounding great for really twisted, evil vocals. I can't say for drums though. A lot ov live PA noize/digital hardcore artists use the electrix units. For $150, I'd rather get an Ensoniq DP4 if you just want something to mash up drums.

13th May 2008, 11:31 AM	#5
perx Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 386	The warp factory is nice vocoder. I like my old roland vocoder more, but I still turn to the warp factory quite often for either vocoded speech, singing or just putting drums or audio through it. And it doesnt cost much either. :-)

13th May 2008, 06:21 PM	#7
johnnie red Gear Head Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 66	they're all built pretty solid. years ago i owned the filter factory, warp factory and their vocoder. of those three, the filter is really the only one i liked. i've since sold them all since i have other analog filtering that i prefer. the idea behind the warp factory is fantastic. all those knobs for several effects chained together. i just never liked the quality of the effects. very cheap sounding like mediocre plugins. there are many, many, many products out there that sound a whole lot better, but very few have the interface the warp factory has.

13th May 2008, 06:26 PM	#8
andrewsc Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 161	I've owned a warpfactory. IMO its not a "real vocoder" and if you're looking for a real vocoder you may likely be disappointed. It has a vocoder like aspect to it, but the controls are limited and not conventional - its more like a zany formant filter since you can't shut off that part which can sound very silly. Its a sort of one trick pony, so if you happen to like that trick ..maybe its worthwhile. I don't think you can combine "any 2 signals", I think its more like you're stuck with the internal carrier. When you hear it a few times you can pick out the sound anywhere, maybe a bit too unique like "digital gnome voices" or something. It's fairly digital / grainy sounding IMO. Build quality is certainly not an issue. its built like a tank or more like a fire-engine - big and red. I'd look for a modern digital synth with a real built in vocoder as an alternative. I'm not a big Alesis Ion fan, but it's inexpensive and has a vocoder with more standard parameters that sounded ok from what I can remember.

13th May 2008, 07:07 PM	#10
jbuehler Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 800	The supposed soon to be re-released versions are metal. The originals on ebay (I have seen one metal re-release version I guess was a pro-type on ebay) are all the plastic case but still heavy duty. I wouldn't want to drop them but in a rack I wouldn't worry about the build quality.

14th May 2008, 01:28 AM	#13
Monkey Mouse Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 99	I picked up all of the Electrix boxes (except for the repeater) and still have/use them in my studio. Metal case with (I'm assuming) metal knobs, the full size boxes do not have wall warts - the 1/2 size ones do. Honestly, the WF goes unused - use the FF and MoFX much more.

14th May 2008, 04:43 AM	#14
Shim Gear Head Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 45	Thanks for all of the replies everyone! Oddly enough, the unit sold the same day that i posted this thread..... I have a hunch someone was paying attention. Looks like it would've been an iffy buy though, it sounds a little too inflexible for what i'd want to do with it. I will keep my eyes peeled for a filter factory though, unless i actually have the dough for a Sherman one day.

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