StarskyCarr Tackles Polyend’s Trio of Trouble

Right off the bat, StarskyCarr brings forth Polyend’s shining new jewels—the MESS, Step, and Press. He gives us a gleeful introduction to these gadgets housed in sleek, brushed aluminium cases. While designed as guitar pedals, Starsky gleefully notes their adaptability for studio use, declaring they aren’t bound to guitarists alone. He reveals he’s about to plug in his gear, setting the stage for some serious studio antics.

StarskyCarr kicks things off with the Press pedal, an analog VCA compressor, lauding its transparency and finesse akin to an SSL Busch. It’s got tricks up its sleeve with a sidechain input, integrating a filter to keep frequency controls tight. He gives us a juicy demo, hitting the compressor hard and blending it with original signals for that New York style. It’s perfection in a box and makes light work of crafting cohesive mixes that might make any engineer weep with joy.

Next, Starsky dives headlong into the Step pedal, which he dubs not merely a drum machine, but a beats machine with depth. Featuring four tracks, each brimming with a multitude of sounds from kits and sequences, it’s a veritable playground for beatmakers. The pedal allows adjusting parameters for each step—pitch, volume, effects—giving creative control over every beat. Starsky is clearly excited about this surprising depth in such a compact form.

With over 70 onboard effects, the MESS pedal is an untamed beast unveiled by Starsky in his video. He highlights its potential for glitchy and experimental applications, inviting viewers to plunge into its multi-effect step sequencer labyrinth. Starsky’s demonstration, laden with other-worldly sounds, showcases how versatile and chaotic the MESS can be. The unit’s intuitive interface and robust construction make it a synth nerd’s treasure trove.