Metasonix

Metasonix is an audio equipment manufacturer based in Lakeport, California. Founded by Eric Barbour in 1998, it specializes in vacuum tube equipment.[1]

Metasonix TM7 Ultra-Distortion Scrotum Smasher

Eli Crews, writing in Electronic Musician in 2008, wrote that "Eric Barbour of Metasonix has a colorful approach to design, employing an all-tube audio path in his quest for unusual and sonically extreme products."[2]

Background

Barbour worked as an applications engineer for the Russian vacuum tube manufacturer Svetlana Electron Devices.[3][4] He was a staff editor and co-founder of Vacuum Tube Valley magazine[1] and contributed to Glass Audio magazine.[3][5]

Products
Metasonix S-1000 "Wretch Machine" synthesizer

Metasonix produces audio effects and synthesizers using atypical vintage vacuum tubes. Metasonix modules are considered high-end in pricing and consume large amounts of power to create highly distorted sounds.[6] Its products include the TM-7 Scrotum Smasher,[7] the TM-3 voltage-controlled oscillator,[8] the TM-6 filter,[9] the TX-1 Agonizer,[10][11] the TX-2 Butt Probe,[12] the TS-21 waveshaper,[13] the S-1000 Wretch Machine,[14] and the G-1000 Fucking Fucker guitar amplifier.[15] Metasonix also sells a drum machine based on vacuum tubes, the D-2000.[6]

The Metasonix TM-7 Ultra-Distortion Scrotum Smasher features control options based on distortion and power with intentionally vulgar names: Smash, Scrotum, Double Scrotum, Mega Scrotum, and Scrotum Up Ya Ass.[16] Audio Geek said of it, "The TM-7 is basically a mean, angry guitar preamp made of three vacuum tubes. Plus a feedback loop which makes the preamp unstable. There is nothing else like it."[17]

References
  1. Grosse, Darwin (2004) Interview: Eric Barbour of Metasonix Creative Synth (via archive.org)
  2. Eli Crews for Electronic Musician. August 1, 2008 Quick Pick: Metasonix TM-7 Scrotum Smasher
  3. Barbour, Eric (January 4, 1999). The Cool Sound of Tubes. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine IEEE Spectrum
  4. Associated Press (Mar 1, 1998). Sound of vacuum tubes gets audiophiles glowing. 'Eugene Register-Guard
  5. Wheeler, Tom; Richards, Keith (2007). The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps, p. 53. Hal Leonard Corporation, ISBN 978-0-634-05613-0
  6. Peter Kirn for Created Digital Music. April 28, 2015 Metasonix Have Made an Immoral Drum Machine from Vacuum Tubes
  7. Crews, Eli (August 1, 2008). Quick Pick: Metasonix TM-7 Scrotum Smasher. Electronic Musician, Volume 24, Issues 7-12
  8. Robair, Gino (January 1, 2004). Metasonix TM-3. Electronic Musician
  9. Robair, Gino (October 1, 2006). Metasonix (TM-6 review). Electronic Musician
  10. Robair, Gino (October 1, 2006). Metasonix (TX-1 Agonizer review) Electronic Musician
  11. Anderton, Craig (May 2005). Metasonix TX-1 Agonizer. Keyboard Magazine
  12. Robair, Gino (September 1, 2007). Metasonix TX-2 Butt Probe (review). Electronic Musician
  13. Robair, Gino (November 1, 2000). Metasonix TS-21 Hellfire Modulator (review). Electronic Musician
  14. Robair, Gino (September 1, 2007) Bizarre Hardware. Electronic Musician
  15. http://www.metasonix.com/G1000ownermanual.pdf
  16. "Metasonix Debuts The TM-7 Ultra-Distortion Scrotum Smasher". Synthtopia.com. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  17. "Metasonix TM7 Ultra-Distortion Scrotum Smasher". Audio Geek. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
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