ABYSS 2 Review
You can read my review of Abyss 1 here: https://www.databroth.com/blog/abyss-review
Dawesome have just updated Abyss with Abyss 2. Abyss 2 adds custom color palettes, new effects, a sequencer, and updated modulation. You can read my full review of Abyss here: https://www.databroth.com/blog/abyss-review, this review will cover everything new. Abyss presets are backwards compatible with Abyss 2 with only minor sonic changes due to new architecture. Abyss 2 does not overwrite the original Abyss so none of your projects or old presets will be compromised.
The UI has been updated with a bit of a darker look and paneled regions for each section. The gradient has also been updated with more visual feedback for node settings. Some controls have been rearranged as well. I like the simplicity of the original Abyss and it looks like that has been maintained in this update.
The big new feature is custom palettes. Abyss 2 allows you to import any sample or collection of samples as an entire palette of nodes which can be placed onto the gradient. These nodes can be modified with the same spectral controls as the original nodes (straight, detail, noise, organic). Unfortunately, the node distribution is somewhat evenly spaced, so you don’t get that lovely cluster of nodes that the Abyss 1 palette has, but this palette is still available in abyss 2.
I suggest really experimenting with various samples to discover which ones lead to good results, then build a full custom palette to work with and just lock it in. The variation from sample to sample can sometimes be somewhat underwhelming and subtle, but there’s also some very wonderful surprises. I suspect a personalized custom palette will be something that takes awhile to build as you collect the best results. There’s also a little “favorites” section for nodes, so you can mix and match you absolute most favorite tones from different palettes, gradients, or presets.
Next major update is likely the effects. Abyss 1 had four effects and you could basically just pick presets and mix their wet/dry. Abyss 2 borrows a similar effects system to Love 2 and Hate, with the same mix view and pretty graphics for the sliders, but also a gear icon to adjust the internal settings per effect. You can load up to four effects total, with two instances of each effect available at any time. There are well over a dozen different effects to chose from, though due to backwards compatibility, a couple effects are a bit redundant.
There’s a bunch of delay and reverb options, I’m also very glad to see grains and loophole which add some nice variety to the mix. Also there are a few different modulation effects including a pulse gate which can achieve some really cool textures and a new tape effect that I hope gets added to Hate. Finally saturation, OTT, EQ, and a maximizer round things out providing nice mix utilities. It’s amazing just how much some simple mixing effects can provide for a synth.
In the same department as effects, are the new engine effects. Unlike the FX section, these are per-voice and more so part of the synthesis. Syntify comes from Novum and adds some gritty overtones to the signal. Brute seems to behave like a feedback loop, and adds some interesting and heavy texture. Velvet is an almost unison like stereo effect with a smeary chorus-like vibe.
Finally the new sequencer borrows a bit from Kontrast’s sequencer, but with some unique visual design. Each sequencer lane is sectioned off to its own tab. The steps are arranged in a 4X4 grid with some unique UI design for different lanes. Like Kontrast this sequencer is capable of polymeters. I think the sequencer really rounds out Abyss 2. It is nice and simple, but allows for a wider range of musical use cases.
It’s worth noting that each step in the velocity and gate lanes can actually be modulated. This allows you to create more dynamic patterns and variation.
You can also combine the sequencer with the pitch quantizer to keep everything in key. Apply some randomization and loophole and you get into generative sequencing territory.
There’s other details here and there, the setup area has been updated to keep consistent with other Dawesome products. The LFOs have new quantize and and smooth controls, and the envelopes have a slow mode for super long attacks and decays. Actually, it’s easy to miss, but the LFOs and envelopes also get large views that fill up the center panel for easier editing. As well as other tiny details here and there, I think this update really adds a lot to an already amazing synth. Abyss was already an interesting and unique synth, and now it’s a full on sample exploration tool. I’m sure with time people will uncover secret techniques to get new sounds, perhaps some trick for creating the ultimate palette.
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