AXON 2 Review
Axon 2 has been updated to version 3, this review is still valid, but you can read my review of the updated features in Axon 3 here: https://www.databroth.com/blog/axon-3-update-review
Axon 2 is a bizarre FM Percussion Generator from Audio Damage. I hesitate to call Axon a “drum machine” as it does not have traditional sequencing, but instead a unique network system of triggers. This network system generates patterns procedurally rather than by drawing out individual step triggers, I’ll discuss this system more later. Each drum voice is simple, with a pitch envelope, amp envelope, tone, FM, distortion, and noise. The synth engine is nice and snappy, very percussive sounding and sharp, but can be used to create some tonal melodies as well. The most interesting thing here is the FM/AM sends and receives. Each drum voice can send or receive FM/AM to or from the other voices this means you could have a kick sound modulated by the hats, or the snare could cross modulate with other percussion. This interaction between voices really makes for a unique network of tones that play with each other rather than simply being static voices. After all this is a simple delay and mixer to balance things out a bit.
As for the network sequencing, each voice has a “threshold” control and matrix routing. The center most voice is basically the host, as it’s always triggering based on your daws transport settings. it starts with a “threshold” of zero, meaning it triggers once every 16th note (or division set by the rate menu). A threshold of 1 triggers every other 16th, 2 is every third, and so on up to 16. Where this gets interesting is when you connect the nodes in the network. When a node is connected to another, it sends a pulse every time it triggers, each node gets its own threshold, and in a sense, these compound off of one another. For example you can have one node trigger every other, then another node trigger every other off of the previous, making it trigger “every other other”, if that makes any sense. You can have multiple nodes progress other nodes, and create complex networks where different voices work together to trigger each other’s thresholds.
Between these two cross voice interactions, the thresholds triggering each other, and the FM/AM sends, the idea behind the name “Axon” reveals its self. These aren’t simply parallel sounds with parallel sequencing, these are all interconnected voices sending signals to one another like a neural network. The results are usually strange and unique, very glitchy IDM style stuff. The interface feeds into this styling with a sort of futuristic minimal sci-fi style display. It’s not overdone, and the vector graphics are incredibly clean. The interface just sets a certain vibe that feels unlike other plugins. Axon 2 is a great tool for generating percussing patterns, I’d recommend sampling from it, and reworking the concept into something a bit more predictable. I tend to argue against “randomize all” buttons, as I feel they are a great way to never really have personalized creative input over a plugin, but if there was any plugin I’d love to see some clever randomization with, it would be this one.
If you plan on purchasing AXON 2 from Plugin Boutique, please consider supporting me by using my affiliate link
AXON 3: https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/1-Instruments/64-Virtual-Instrument/6344-Axon-2?a_aid=61c378ab215d5
Upgrade from AXON 2: https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/1-Instruments/64-Virtual-Instrument/11966-Axon-3-Upgrade-From-Axon-2?a_aid=61c378ab215d5