Soma Warp Is Packed With 15 Crazy Effects
With a streamlined interface, 15 digital effects, and CV control, Soma Warp is a hardware effects powerhouse for both live and studio use.
Soma Warp
I have to admit, I was a little surprised when I saw the announcement for Soma Warp. A hardware effects unit with a focus on ease-of-use, Warp seems more like the kind of thing that Polyend would put out than Soma, which I associate with more left-field devices. There are definitely little Soma touches throughout, though that point to who made this.
So what is it? Warp is a black box hardware digital effects device with 15 effects algorithms, each with four different parameters. Warp has a streamlined interface that makes it easy to understand at a glance. There’s no screen, just a list of effects and parameters in columns, each effect with a dedicated control knob. You also get in and out volume controls, plus an overall mix knob. Simple and definitely useful for live performances.
15 Effects
Warp features 15 effects divided into three types.
First are the spatial effects, which range from reverbs to granular effects to experimental algorithms, with pitch-shifting, reverse and micro-loops too. Soma promises extremely long delay times, some stretching all the way to infinity, and self-oscillating feedback.
Next are the special effects, such as flanger, sample rate/bit reduction, and vintage tape simulation.
Lastly, there are dynamic effects and filters, including compressors, distortions and filters.
Although the number of knobs on the Warp is limited, you do get CV control over each column of parameters, “controllable via Eurorack systems and any CV source,” according to Soma.
Connects and Processing
The hardware effects box offers stereo in and out quarter-inch jacks compatible with both balanced and non-balanced connections, plus the four CV mini jacks.
All of the sound processing in Soma Warp is digital, with 24bit/48KHz AD/DA resolution and internal digital processing at 32-bit IEEE resolution.
According to comments on the YouTube demos, the unit is robust and would work well in live performance situations.
Pricing and Availability
Warp looks like a great effects unit from Soma. It reminds me of the no-nonsense rackmount effects units of the late 1980s, just in a tabletop format.
Soma Warp is available at Thomann* for $688 / £622 / €699.
More Information
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