Reviews | Dreadbox Hades Bass Synthesizer

INCLUDES
AUDIO

Dreadbox Hades Bass

Synthesizer 219
Dreadboxs new bass synthesizer, Hades, offers serious low-end
punch. Si Truss goes underground...
CONTACT WHO: Dreadbox (Nova Distribution) WEB: www.dreadbox-fx.com www.nova-distribution.co.uk KEY FEATURES I/O: Main 1/4-inch
jack out, MIDI in, power in. 3.5mm patch-bay. In: Pulse Width, VCA, VCF, CV, Gate. Out: Env (AD/RS), Mod, LFO, 1V/O. DIMENSIONS: 225 x 160 x 75mm

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 Dreadbox Hades Bass Synthesizer | Reviews

THE PROS & CONS

+
Two sub oscillators
add serious
low-end weight

Extra snappy filter

is great for punchy
bass sounds

Drive circuit
adds extra grit
and presence

-
Not the most
unique monosynth
on the market

Two-stage VCA
envelope is a
touch limited

by a pair of sub oscillators, pitched VCA envelope is a touch limited, the

one and two octaves below the
primary osc, each with a level control
for dialling it in. Beyond that the
Hades packs a low-pass filter, two
envelopes a two-stage attack/
release envelope hardwired to the
VCA and a three-stage patchable
envelope and a triangle wave LFO,
which is hardwired to the oscillator
pitch but can be re-patched
elsewhere. The only other controls
are a VCA level knob and the
aforementioned Drive control. All
this is housed in a solid metal
chassis with smart-looking wood
panel ends and a MIDI input, power
three-stage filter/patchable env is
more versatile than it might first
appear. Here, the second stage can
be switched between Decay and
Release modes, and a level rotary
allows for intensity adjustments.
Dreadbox describe this envelope as
extra snappy and coupled with
the filter its certainly well suited to
adding attack and punch to bass
sounds. The LFO, meanwhile, ranges
from a slow chug all the way up to
almost 1,000Hz, allowing for basic,
gritty modulation effects.
Patch panel

W
hen a instrument that values grit and
synthesizer weight over subtlety or nuance.
is named At its heart, the Hades is a fairly
after the straightforward analogue instrument.
Greek god It features a single oscillator,
of the switchable between square and saw
underworld wave shapes, with a glide control
and features a big, prominently and a pulsewidth control for the
positioned knob labelled Drive, it square wave. Theres a big oscillator
doesnt take a genius to work out the tune knob too (being a classic-style
sort of sonic territory its aiming for. all-analogue synth, the Hades takes
It comes as little surprise then, to a good five to ten minutes of
find that Hades a semi-modular, warming up before hitting its correct
analogue bass synth from Athens- tuning, but after that seems pretty
based outfit Dreadbox is an stable). This main oscillator is joined
input and single -inch mono
output along the rear.
This straightforward nature is not
to say that the Hades is merely some
lumbering simpleton, however. While
its signal path might not offer much
that we havent seen on countless
monosynths before, the elements
here are all finely tuned to create
tight, powerful bass sounds. For
starters, the two sub oscillators are
great for dialling in full, frequency
spectrum-filling bass tones, and the
Glide setting can create some lovely,
slinky legato sounds. On the
envelope front, while the two-stage
Where the Hades goes beyond
standard monosynth territory is its
Eurorack-friendly patch panel. Here
we get 3.5mm outputs from the
patchable envelope, LFO, mod wheel
(with control rotary) and a 1V/Oct
pitch tracking output. Below these
are a bank of 3.5mm ins for CV,
gate, filter cutoff, VCA level
(overriding the AR envelope) and
pulsewidth. Its not exactly the most
complex patch panel on a synth of
its kind for internal reworking, the
MS-20 is far more flexible, and
Moogs Mother-32 offers much more
for Eurorack fans but thats not to

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 Reviews | Dreadbox Hades Bass Synthesizer

THE ALTERNATIVES

Arturia
MicroBrute
240
With a sequencer,
keyboard and similar
patching options, the
MicroBrute is
destined to be the
Hades biggest rival.
www.arturia.com

Moog Minitaur
420
When it comes to
analogue compact SUB OSCILLATORS The two sub
oscillators are pitched one and two
PATCHABLE ENVELOPE The three-
stage filter/patchable env is described
DRIVE Cranking the Drive rotary adds
a nice touch of dissonant grit great
PATCH PANEL The Hades micro
patch panel allows the signal flow to
bass synths, the octaves below the main osc, which
allows for some serious added weight.
as extra snappy and is great for
adding punch to sounds.
for adding presence to bass sounds. be re-routed or patched up to external
modular/semi-modular gear.
Minitaur still rules
the roost. But at
200 less and with
say its not appreciated. With two heart its a pretty standard solid and very likeable bass synth.
little to differentiate
mini patch leads in the box, it monosynth. Also, given its spec and Its sturdy, smart looking and capable
them spec-wise, the
instantly adds an extra dimension of price point, the Hades faces some of creating powerful and characterful
Hades gives it a run sound design possibilities, and we pretty stiff competition. While the bass sounds. I can see it becoming a
for its money. can see modular fans quickly aforementioned synths from Korg studio workhorse the sort of
www.moogmusic. becoming attached to that extra and Moog are both more expensive instrument you regularly turn to for
com snappy envelope. than the Hades, its 220 street bread-and-butter bass sounds
If I were to be critical of the price puts it directly up against the whenever a track needs a solid,
Hades, it doesnt really bring a lot Arturia MicroBrute, which features unfussy foundation. If youre on the
new to the table. Its 3-pole filter is a both a keyboard and sequencer. hunt for something unique, deep and
bit unusual and, though patchability All of these points, however, subtle, this probably isnt it, but for

Moog makes it slightly more flexible, at its overlook the fact that the Hades is a a reliable source of power and grit,
the Hades would be a smart choice.
Mother-32 In all, its a welcome addition to the
450 affordable end of the analogue synth
Arguably the most market. Sometimes theres nothing
Eurorack-friendly wrong with keeping it simple!
compact synth, the DRIVE & FILTER
Mother-32 is a
patchers dream. Bass synths tend to live and die on the quality of their
www.moogmusic. filter, and fortunately the Hades comes up trumps here. FM VERDICT

8.4
com The filter is a 3-pole (-18dB/oct) low-pass design with
cutoff and resonance controls. Its capable of creating
restrained, brooding subs and snarling, resonant
squeals. Its well complemented by the Drive circuit too.
Both the Drive and VCA are built around OTA
(operational transconductance amplifier) designs, The Hades is a fairly
and cranking both results in some lovely mid-range straightforward monosynth,
rasp thats great for adding presence and character to but its well-designed and
bass sounds. packs some serious
low-end punch.

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