The desktop FX unit combines analogue pre-gain, germanium diode emulation and a waveshaping algorithm with hands-on control for studio and live applications.
Erica Synths has released the Xenodrive, a stereo distortion unit developed in collaboration with 112db that delivers three distortion types in a compact desktop format.
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The Xenodrive covers ground from subtle harmonic enhancement to full-blown sonic annihilation. It features analogue pre-gain, germanium diode distortion emulation and a custom waveshaper algorithm developed specifically for it. Twelve hands-on parameters provide detailed sound-shaping control, whilst save and recall functions let you store settings for instant access during live performances or studio sessions.
Built in a premium aluminium enclosure, Xenodrive matches Erica Synths’ lineup of compact desktop units that fit comfortably on any setup. The true stereo signal path ensures your spatial information remains intact, whether you’re processing synthesizers, guitars, drums or entire mixes.
Full MIDI control over all parameters makes the Xenodrive particularly valuable for producers and performers who want to automate distortion changes or trigger presets via external controllers. A configurable footswitch input adds another layer of live performance flexibility, allowing for hands-free preset switching or parameter control when you’re away from the unit.
The collaboration with 112db—known for their software processing tools—brings algorithmic sophistication to a hardware format. Rather than simply replicating vintage gear, the Xenodrive’s waveshaper algorithm offers something that sits somewhere between classic distortion topologies and digital sound design.
For electronic musicians, the Xenodrive slots naturally into modular or desktop synth rigs, adding grit and character to pristine digital sources. Guitar and bass players will find the germanium diode emulation responds dynamically to playing dynamics, and mixing engineers can use it as a parallel processing tool for adding controlled aggression to individual elements or bus groups.
The unit’s design prioritises immediate tactile control over screen-based operation. In an era where most distortion and overdrive effects live inside plugins, there’s something refreshing about hardware that encourages experimentation through physical interaction.
Whether you’re chasing warm tape-style saturation, aggressive transistor clipping or completely unhinged destruction, the Xenodrive provides the tools you need, without forcing you into a single character. That versatility, combined with MIDI recall and true stereo processing, positions it as more than just another distortion pedal in a different box.
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