2019-07-01_Computer_Music

play back at completely different speeds, which
can yield very strange results.
On top of this, Enso offers two different styles
of overdubbing that can be switched using the
Dub In Place control. The main difference
between these two modes is whether or not the
feedbacksignalpassesthroughEnso’seffect
modules.WithDubInPlaceengaged,effectsare
onlyappliedtotheoutputsignal,sotheaudio
onlytravelsthrougheachprocessoronce,atthe
endofthesignalpath.Whendisengaged,the
audiofromtherecordbufferpassesthroughthe
effectseverytimeit’sloopedbackin,increasing
inprominencewitheachcycle.Ensoalsohasa
Feedbackcontrol:withDubInPlaceengaged,
thisdictatesthelevelbywhichthevolumeof
theexistingsignalisreducedwhen
overdubbing;withDubInPlacedisengaged,it
adjuststheamountoftheoutputfedbackinto
therecordingloop,actingmorelikethe
feedbackcircuitona delayeffect.
Ensoalsogivesyoutheabilitytodividethe
recordingbufferintouptofourSectors,which
canbetriggeredindividuallyandcrossfaded
betweeneachother.Thepositionoftheseis
controlledbyEnso’s‘obloid’controls,which
allowvaluestobeadjustedbytapping,dragging
ormanuallyinputtingnumbers.Despitethe
flexibilityofthesecontrols,settingSector
positionsandlengthscanstillbeprettyfiddly,
particularlywhenyou’retryingtograba chunk
ofa loopontheflywhileoverdubbing.Extra
controlwouldbehandyhere– forexample,the
abilitytoautomaticallydividetherecordbuffer
intoquartersorcreateSectorssyncedtothe
project’sbeatgrid.
Thisminorquibbleaside,Ensoisa worldof
fun,andexcelsatreplicatingthewarpedsonics
ofold-schooltapemanipulators,makingit a
mustformodernproducersandguitarists
lookingtoembracea ‘musiqueconcrète’ethos
inthebox.Furthermore,whenplacedonanaux

return,it makesa greatheavy-handedtape

echo,particularlywitha healthydoseofthose

onboardeffects;andit’sanextravagantly

creativetoolforlayeringuprhythmicsynth

lines,drumloopsandfoundsounds.

Ensoisn’tthemostversatileplugininthe

world,butit’sdefinitelyanenjoyablestudio

gadgetthat’sguaranteedtoinspirefreshideas,

bothinthestudioandonstage.

Webaudiodamage.com

Verdict

ForCreativeandinspirationalworkflow

Authentictape-likesoundandfeel

Reversingandretimingloopsisfun

Onboardeffectssoundgreat

Designedforeasycontrollermapping

AgainstSectorssetupcanbefiddly

iOSversionrequiresanAUhost

Ensois a powerful– if ratheresoteric–

sourceofinspirationfortheexperimentally-

inclinedloopmerchant

8/10

Alternatively

ValhallaDSPValhallaDelay

NA»NA»$50

Withitslongdelaytimesandtape-

emulatingdelaymodes,Valhalla’s

latesthasa similarlyvintagevibe

SeratoSample

248 » 8/10 » $79

A sampler rather than a looper, but

with some similar capabilities when

it comes to slicing and repitching

Enso packs a trio of effects for

processing the audio from the record

buffer. The first is the Tape module: dial

in Saturation and Hiss to emulate the

lo-fi qualities of magnetic tape. After

that comes a band-pass Filter with

individual High-and Low-pass cutoff

sliders. Last is a Chorus effect, featuring

Rate and Depth parameters.

While none of the effects are

particularly complex in terms of the

controls they offer, when combined,

they do an excellent job of recreating

the character of recording to tape: Hiss

and Saturation can add extra texture to

sounds; the Filter can darken and ‘age’

the signal nicely; while the Chorus adds

a touch of ‘wobble’.

The effects are particularly good

when used with the Dub In Place

function disengaged, allowing them to

‘stack’ as the processed signal passes

through them repeatedly. Try dialling

in a little Saturation and Hiss, then

listen as they slowly ‘grow’ and take

over the loop; or add a little low-pass

filtering and hear the loop get darker

and darker with each trip round.

Tape tools

Tweaking the Play and Record Speeds on the fly is guaranteed to inspire out-there results

Enso’s three processing effects: Tape, Filter and Chorus

“Its workflow is based

on modern loopers; its

sonic behaviour is

modelled on that of

vintage tape machines”

July 2019 / ComputErmusiC / 91

audio damage enso / reviews <