West Coast Synthesis at an Unbeatable Value

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Originally, I planned on using the 2 cre8 boxes to talk about east vs west, but I feel like the west pest isn't exactly the best fit for a video like that. But it 100% stands on its own as a worth-while collection of features, let alone is a killer choice for being the core of a eurorack system for a user who wants to explore west coast ideas.

0:00 Intro
3:32 Oscillator
6:02 Wave Folder
9:57 Dynamics Controller
13:53 LFO at Audio Rates
15:53 Multi Modulator / Randomness
17:52 Sequencer / Random Patterns
21:19 Conclusions

[maulsby]

I predict that Jorb will take over the synfluencer sphere in the coming years, here's why: he's the only Youtuber in this category who treats the space like a proper journalist. He's far from jaded and his enthusiasm and light-heartedness are literally palpable. Every time he expresses his gripes about a piece of gear he does so in the least dogmatic way possible and at the end of the con segment he has a good laugh about it. He's the only one as far as I can tell who thoroughly examines the landscape of documentation that currently exists about the products on the market and goes way out of his way to bring new information to light for the common good of the average viewer in this space. The guy is seriously a hero amongst us for this reason and a treasure trove of unique information and perspective, which he gives away freely with very minimal bias.

[RegebroRepairs]

BEWARE! It's a trick! It's really simple, just an oscillator and a Sustain/Decay envelope, but it still sounds awesome with so little. So after just two hours of playing with it you start thinking "Hmmm, a more advanced envelope and a good filter would be cool... it is eurorack compatible... more oscillators would be cool...maybe I should buy some more modules.... and start a rack"

So WATCH OUT! The West Pest is a gateway drug! You'll start buying other Cre8audio gear and will soon be stuck in the Eurorack drug!

[aptudo]

Man, plucky synth sounds are possibly my favorite type of patch. As I watched, I was already impressed by the heft of the oscillators and how paradoxically warm the wave folder was compared to the digital ones I’ve heard. But then the moment you started messing with the dynamics section and created a sharp attack, I was smitten. SO punchy! 💪

[azaleapark]

The value of your peculiarity has never been more evident to me than in this gem of a video. Obscure gear demos alone are worth a watch. But I also learned a few new things without any lulls or confusion. Good job engaging my curiosity.

[trillbill]

Great to see a company beat out behringer in price + utility without having to resort to stealing circuit designs. I have a neutron and it's great for what it is, but if this was out when i got the neutron, I probably would have went for this

[mattstillwaugh]

Being honest, I have no interest in the West Pest but I watched the whole video just to get my Jorb fix. Thank you for your intelligent, calming, and thoughtful

[Tomoroh_Hidari]

Just got this little bea...I mean Pest last Saturday and already been having oodles of fun, more importantly great sounds! Your video has been great to understand it even better and get more out of it! Thanks!

[budgetguitarist]

$250 is crazy cheap for sounds like this. Very cool synth. AND it has MIDI. I need to go rewatch the east beast video.

[EricRaymondSF]

Love the random wave function! Great tour of this synth. You nailed the essentials, and it really is compelling from a value perspective.

[soysos.tuffsound]

Great review, great sounds and you barely scratched the surface of all the things you can do with the patch bay.
I'm a big fan of all the clock divide and multily options in the sync'd LFO and random...

[sauce_aux]

Pittsburgh offering up some of their prowess for another to come in and hit the lower end of budgets. Lovely. I understand the cost of developing and producing products, but sometimes it really can be done well, and affordably. We are in a wonderful time for synths.

[_EightySix]

That thing has a specific house bass stab sound that I love. Sounds like it can do some Syncussion sounds.

[grlchild]

I think I'm going to get one and pair it with a QARV. You can throw a QARV in a little powered pod case for $340 total, and it provides almost everything you would want for the West Pest: looping slew limiter/function generators that can go to audio rates, VCAs, and attenuators. So for $600, you're getting every single component that would be in a West Coast synthesizer. The only thing missing from having a complex oscillator is that at audio rates QARV isn't 1V/octave, but honestly, I don't think that's a huge deal. Throw in a a $150 MS-70CDR for complex effect chains, and you have an epic sound design system for an incredible price.

[coconutlust]

Love your reviews and hope you will do more of them. You've carved out your own space that's different yet complementary to our much-loved synth dads like Nick Batt as well as to the younger guys like AudioPilz. Please keep making them, and also consider giving Jorb spins on older but not necessarily vintage stuff that's been out for a minutee.

[JulioAvalos]

Wow, I love the sound and the price is just right.

[liamquinn]

Totally agree with the cost effectiveness and mixing with other gear. I think am going to get one to pair with my Grandmother. Another LFO, wave folder, the multi and another oscillator will add so much more functionality to the GM. And it sounds lovely on its own too!

[georgem]

Oh no the dead pixel in your camera sensor during the intro 😭
It's on the F sharp of the synth on your shelves behind you and towards the right of screen

Lovely video as every Jorb 🙂

[ross_ykm]

getting to opt in to randomness in these different ways…yes! great vid, was already ‘in’, learning about these features here make that even stronger

[benbauer]

Great to see your review and hear your thoughts. I almost got one but I decided to wait. I was excited to see that Digitech delay pedal! My first delay pedal that iv had for 14 years.

[jammystraub]

Pittsburgh knocked it out of the park. I do hope the wavefolder makes it into a safari Eurorack module.