The LXR-02 is remarkably compact – only barely larger than a KORG volca, smaller even than a Roland MC-101 or Boutique – but comes in a sturdy metal case with solid, stable controls. But let’s get back to the LXR-02, because while a unique controller could still be fun, the Erica-Sonic Potions creation is usable straight out of the box. Of course, this also reminds me of that crazy labor-of-love controller, the 60KNOBS Bastl Instruments made for the original LXR. The reason people are excited about the LXR-02 is that it takes the best ideas of the LXR – six dedicated voices with loads of parameters to tweak, a ton of modulation, and copious sequencing flexibility – and rounds out the package with faders and extra finish.Īnd that means when you use the LXR-02, even without knowing its predecessor, it has a wonderfully eerie sense of familiarity and inevitability. (Original LXR owners, being a DIY sort, you may see some improvements ported there, too – to the extent the hardware can take it.) The LXR-02 has the significantly beefier horsepower, thanks to evolving ARM platforms, and realizes a lot more of the potential of the original. So it wasn’t really ready for a primetime audience.
And to be fair, while the LXR was a darling of DIYers, it was only available as a kit and had some limitations and rough edges here and there. The earlier LXR’s basic architecture, layout, and concept are all on the LXR-02, but have been fleshed out. (He’s been at this for a long time, including on the John Bowen Solaris and Scope DSP.) How it started. But it is inspired by the earlier LXR from Sonic Potions, the project of independent researcher/developer Julian Schmidt, now in Schwärzelbach, Germany. The LXR-02 is really a new, ground-up instrument created by Sonic Potions in collaboration with Erica Synths. It’s one of those devices whose character shines no matter what.Īnd my God. I’ll say, though, even posting a few seconds of jams on Instagram I had people falling in love it sounds good through an iPhone mic. I’m still working on mine it’s hard to top this: Take a listen – Erica are unique in balancing their musical tastes with their hardware tastes, so they’ve done some stunning demos. It’s also got all the I/O you’d want – MIDI in and out, four assignable outs (two stereo pairs), headphone out, USB connectivity (with onboard MIDI), analog clock in and out, and SD card (for project data – no sample support, sorry). The LXR-02 not only sounds special and has a particularly versatile and direct architecture, but it has a completely flat UX that makes it fast to work with. On paper, there are machines that do more, but they tend to bury those abilities under a lot of hierarchy.
That accessibility matters, especially if the idea is to tweak, jam, and perform. Everything here is about giving you lots of flexible synthesis for sound, then making it stupidly easy to access, with surprising and empowering depth for modulating and processing sound. But the LXR-02 – before anything else – is a performance drum synth. You can buy deep, do-everything drum machines, and you can buy drum machines made to sold like old drum machines.
It slaps harder, plays easier, and does grunge, glitch, grime, and digital mayhem unlike anything else. LXR-02 is what the world needs now: a drum machine with its own personality and soul.
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