We folks in this here U.S. of A. invented the electric guitar and rock 'n roll. But for the invention of wild electronic music gear, we must stand in awe of Europe. This time, Belgium in particular. Belgium Aren't they famous for fine beer and chocolates? Yes, and also for giving the world Herman Gillis, who, in turn, gave the world the mighty, mighty Sherman Filter Bank.
The Sherman Filterbank is essentially a synthesizer minus the oscillators. No, this is not a keyboard! This is an ultimate-level analog filtering and distortion unit, which can be used in remix applications, live performances, DJ rigs, studios, and, okay, keyboard rigs.
For those who missed the meeting, filtering is kind of like super bass and treble controls, but way, way, way more extreme and controllable. Modern music of all genres is using this effect. It can give a techno-electronic edge to anything that you out through it, or instantly make your expensive synthesizer sound like a piece of low-fi junk. (If you need an explanation as to why you'd want to do that, this box isn't really for you.)
As for the guts, there are 2 independent low pass, band pass, and high pass filters with resonance, frequency, and ADSR controls. The second filter has a 6-octave switch and is synchronizable with the first filter. There's also a versatile envelope generator that can be triggered by the incoming signal, by a second source, or by a gate, and an FM input that can be routed to various sections of the machine. A VCA overdrive provides the distortion and has an independent AR generator as well. If all this wasn't enough to whack up any sound you put through it, a ring modulator rounds out the feature list.
This box is actually kind of rare. As of 1997, only 500 of these things were around, and those were only in Europe. In a world where difference is hard to come by, this is a tool that will give you a leg up on those who don't know about it. It's for dance music, electronica, hip-hop, hardcore, and other extreme music makers. You folks in the 80's tribute bands don't have to worry about this box. There's nothing that will interest you here. But if your favorite MTV show is "AMP," this is for you.
Features
Independent low pass, band pass, and high pass filters with resonance, frequency, and ADSR (positive - negative) controls. These are switchable between parallel or serial.
The second filter has a 6-octave switch, and is synchronizable with the first filter.
ADSR generator for these filters with an external output for use with more filterbanks or modular systems, triggered by the incoming signal, by a second sounds source, or by a gate.
FM input for the filters, internal or external audio, LFO, or CV.
VCA overdrive with AR generator also.
Ring modulator input, internal or external audio, LFO or CV.
Sherman has IMPROVED its original, classic Sherman Filterbank
The global look has remained the same, but there have been added several strong functions. To summarize:
There are 5 extra NEW SWITCHES, 1 extra INPUT (for footpedal), 2 extra new LEDs, a NEW COLOR (silver-grey) with an improved (long-lasting) varnish layer.
The inner electronics have also been adapted to achieve an EVEN BETTER SOUND QUALITY.
New packing-boxes (silver, with photo on upper side), new flashy stickers (silver), and new adaptors (with Sherman-logo).
All this with the famous solid SHERMAN QUALITY and the well-known thorough and speedy AFTER-SALES service (repairs).
What's New About the Sherman Filterbank 2
There are 5 extra switches and 2 extra LEDs, and on the back panel there's one pedal input jack. A reworked front-panel lay-out and the gray metal color.
The pedal input (we will deliver footpedal separately) allows foot control of freq1and bypass/effect switching. (This footpedal is especially designed by Sherman.)
A 5mm big green LED indicates "Effect on" on the FB 2.
A 3-way switch on the input stage allows Hi boost as well Hi cut (both boosting high frequencies at input).
Another 3-way switch allows "Sensitrig" (which makes the triggering twice as sensitive for, e.g. clean string pad filtering) and "Limit," which leaves the filters more "breathing room" for self-oscillation if the input stage is extremely overdriven.
A 3-way switch has 2 general transpose functions: +1 Octave and + Quint which works nice with monophonic signals, and has a specific dirty character.
A 3-way switch for the really powerful and quite revolutionary "Tracking" function — a monophonic pitch follower, that tunes filter 2 to the incoming pitch, and makes filter 1 slave of filter 2 via the harmonics switch. E.g. in position 2, filter 1 will be pitched one octave higher than filter 2, but still following the pitch. This extra switch activates the "tracking" in a normal or deep "track low" position, with stunning basses as result.
The "revolutionary" aspect of this function is that never before any similar system enhances "on the spot" harmonics and creates new harmonics with fat analog circuits.
An extra white LED indicates when the tracking system is "locked on."
At last there is an 3-way function switch in the LFO section, allowing sawtooth wave shape OR AR retrig; this forces an LFO restart from the AR trig with pumping grooves as unavoidable result.
