Erica Synths Black Dual ASR EG: Modulatable, loopable envelopes
4,5 / 5,0 | 
This pair of Black ASR envelopes has much of the functionality of a Make Noise Maths in a smaller, darker package.
Black Dual ASR EG
Envelopes are a bit of a modulation utility that we don’t tend to get that excited about but with the Black Dual ASR, Erica Synths has packed in a load of useful functionality that could make it the envelope of choice for your rack.
ASR envelopes are simple. You get the Attack stage rising to a maximum and then it stays there for as long as you hold the Gate open and then you get the Release stage when you let go. It’s like using a regular ADSR envelope with the Sustain all the way up effectively removing the Decay stage.
While ADSR envelopes are great for long sweeping changes an ASR is perfect for Eurorack gated sequencing. Sequencers like the Black Sequencer tend to have powerful gating engines where they can create rhythmic variations and an ASR envelope is perfect for that making full use of that varying gate pattern. If you pump in a trigger input rather than a gate then the envelope becomes an AR.
Erica Synths Black Dual ASR EG · Source: Erica Synths
The Dual envelopes are normalised to the Gate input on envelope 1 meaning that you can fire both envelopes from the one gate. This is ideal for sending one envelope to a VCA and another to a filter on the same timing.
For control and modulation, you have CV inputs on the Attack and Decay stage of each envelope (it’s labelled Decay on the panel although it’s really Release, but these things are grey areas depending on the application). There’s a CV output for End of Cycle (EOC) and a loop mode to turn it into a Rise/Fall or Attack/Decay style LFO. It’s this functionality that mirrors the Maths and is all I ever use the Maths for.
You have unipolar and bipolar outputs depending on whether you are in free or looping mode and you can shorten the envelope time via a jumper on the back if you want greater knob resolution. You can also push the Loop into droning which is a bit unexpected but a cool additional feature. Using the jumper on the back gets you to a higher register.
The Black Dual ASR EG is a really useful module. I’ve done a full review video which you can see below. It’s replaced the Maths in my rack because it has all the functions that I would normally use on it in a much smaller and more understandable package.
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4 responses to “Erica Synths Black Dual ASR EG: Modulatable, loopable envelopes”
This can’t do 1/1000th what a maths can do.
“There’s a CV output for End of Cycle (EOC) and a loop mode to turn it into a Rise/Fall or Attack/Decay style LFO. It’s this functionality that mirrors the Maths and is all I ever use the Maths for.”
Sell your modular.
Thanks mate. What a boring world we’d live in if we all used the same modules in the same way.
Don’t be sad. You just don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.
Delete the website.
Ignore this toxic misanthrope. I agree this module is not a replacement for the full functionality of Maths, but the reality is that a large number of people only use it this way, so for some it is. And in general your videos are great so keep it up.