What’s new at Zystrix? Read on… June 24, 2024 Hi ya, folks, I’m glad you could make it. In the USA a holiday called Independence Day is fast approaching -- July 4th to be exact. And this time we’ll cover some excellent budget pedals by DemonFX like the CK Compressor, the AT-DS Marshall in a box, the BE series BE-ODX. BE-ODX II, BE-ODX+, and the Revelation 4. And all can be had from Starlite Distribution. Oh, and the artwork that surrounds this page is invisible to cell phone users, but we’ll get a chance to see it. And, of course, and as usual, more free animations. And we’ll enjoy a few quiet TV moments in the living room of a vintage young couple with their three children. So sit back and relax. Welcome to Zystrix, the heartbeat of the universe. Where creativity and free-thinking have more value than conformity. Happy Independence Day

Did you know that calling the USA celebration of the indepen-

dence holiday July 4th or the 4th of July is a colloquialism for

Independence Day? Yup, it is, but that’s

OK. Independence Day is the national day

of the United States. The US Congress

voted to approve independence by passing

the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776. The

Declaration of Independence was ratified

by the Second Continental Congress on

July 4th, 1776 which officially established

the United States of America. Believe it or

not, it took only two days to ratify the US

Constitution. To ratify something that im-

portant in that amount of time nowadays

would require a miracle. Anyway, the origi-

nal thirteen colonies were then united independent states and

free from the tyranny of King George III, the

monarch of Britain. Independence Day in

the USA is often associated with fireworks,

parades, family reunions, cooking outdoors

including barbeques, pic-

nics, concerts, music,

and various ceremonies.

It’s my favorite time of

year. Oh, and don’t for-

get the occasional op-

portunistic politician who

dampens the entire

mood by droning on

about what she or he

feels about the holiday –

please, not again. So anyway,

in the spirit of a perfect cele-

bration, happy Independence Day to all! Salute.

Background Artwork

Unfortunately the artwork

that surrounds the edges

of this website is invisible

to many cell phone users.

The artwork for today is included

here on the left for your enjoyment.

Multiple copies are tiled together for

a cohesive and seamless back-

ground board seen all around this

page. Enjoy.

DemonFX Pedals No matter where a person falls in the pedal copy and clone debate, the following choices are simply great for sound vs price. Give them a serious listen when opportunity presents itself. I have no attachment to the DemonFX brand nor Starlite Distribution and I am not sponsoring their products or getting paid for any of this. I chose these pedals because I like them. I hope you do too. BE-ODX BE-ODX II BE-ODX Plus It’s not difficult to tell where the inspiration for these three pedals came from, and there isn’t a bad one in the bunch. If you like the heavy amp sound of a very distinctive British roar you’ll surely like these. All three pedals offer the same particular metal friendly British-type voicing with tight distortion. There’s no muddiness so they preserve your playing nuances, and they pack a serious punch. The tone shaping capabilities are exceptional and intuitive although some fiddling is required before it’s set-it-and-forget-it. The tube-like distortion sound is excellent but the voicing is distinctive and may not be for everyone. The gain can go from a subtle growl to full-blown roar, and all have an adjustable internal gain range trim pot. All pedals feature true-bypass, and the owner’s manual is included. I like the BE-ODX II because there’s the added option of the tight toggle switch. The BE-ODX Plus is basically a two channel amp setup with the bottom channel set to a less-gain rhythm sound. There are some pretty good deals on these pedals at a place called Starlite Distribution -- tell them Fred at Zystrix sent you. I found the BE-ODX for only $52.80 and free shipping. Click here to order the BE-ODX. I also found the BE-ODX II for only $55.80 with free shipping. Click here to order the BE-ODX II. And last, I found the BE-ODX Plus for only $74.80 and free shipping. Click here to order the BE-ODX Plus. ROCK. AT-DS by DemonFX And here’s yet another raging Marshall-in-a-box pedal who’s inspiration isn’t hard to figure out. Believe it or not, the original JHS AT+ circuitry idea was based on the MI Audio Crunch Box. I can’t honestly say I hear that sound in there, but the distortion is blues to crunch to grind to creamy, and there’s plenty of articulation without the low- end mush some pedals exhibit. And if more articulation is needed simply turn up the AIR knob for more sparkle and definition. After a little experimentation it’s easy to dial in the EQ for a set-and-forget tone. There’s also a handy 25/50/100 toggle switch that imitates the feel and voice of three different wattage Marshall amps. I prefer the 50 watt setting, but that’s just me. This pedal has the gain and versatility classic rockers would definitely appreciate, and the price is right. Give one a listen. Starlite Distribution also sells this pedal -- tell them Fred at Zystrix sent you. I found the AT-DS for only $52.80 and free shipping. Click here to order the AT-DS. Excellent. CK Compressor by DemonFX I was looking for a change from my old MXR Dyna Comp and so I bought this one without even hearing it first. It has a very smooth compression without obvious pumping and breathing unless you need that. The high end is well preserved and it also fattens up the sound. This pedal is a true bypass. I use this as an always on effect just because I prefer a slightly thicker and more even volume, however your tastes may vary. I found the CK Compressor at Starlite Distribution for $44.80 and free shipping. Click here to order the AT-DS. Nice. Revelation 4 by DemonFX If you like the REVV G4 pedal then you may like the Revelation 4 by DemonFX. Although it has a softer style of distortion when compared to the BE-ODX series or the AT-DS (all mentioned above), there’s plenty of tube style saturation and gain. This pedal is very similar to the Dark Flame by Joyo (see the review from May 27, 2024) but slightly more expensive. I found the Revelation 4 for $54.80 and free shipping. Click here to order the R4 from Starlite Distribution. Don’t touch that dial… Stay tuned next time… We’ll look at a free DAW plugin and continue on with the quest for big sound on a small budget. We’ll also look at a guitar pedal that’s a big sound at a excellent price. And, as usual, lots more animations and artwork downloads. Please have a safe and happy Independence Day. Tell everyone in the family Fred said hi. Maybe I’ll see you next time. Living Room Relaxation Zystrix Television channel 6 I don't approve of political jokes because I’ve seen so many of them get elected. Knowledge, art, and music for all…

ZYSTRIX POPULAR FREE DOWNLOADS Here’s a free download of almost one and a half hours of original neo-classical solo piano by Dangerous Neighbors. This full length album called Piano Top to Bottom consists of 18 original piano pieces with the final piece in two movements. There is a bonus track making 20 files total. This download comes in three format options: the first option is a single file MP3 containing all the tunes in one chunk similar to tape recordings. The second download option is a folder with all of the separate MP3 piano pieces named and arranged in album order similar to a CD or MP3 player. The third download option is similar to videos found on “ZooTube” with the names and times on the screen. There is also a fourth surprise version made only for “ZooTube” and it is edited down to less than 15 minutes long because of their telephone number required rule. Basically it just guides the listener here. To download any or all of these options simply click here. Enjoy. 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FREE BASS LOOPS SAMPLES DOWNLOAD ROYALTY FREE BASS LOOP SAMPLES FREE BASS LOOPS Over 200 samples are included in the collection Download the complete collection of 24-bit bass loops here. NOTE: This download size is approximately 369 Megs. Free Pendulate Synthesizer Presets Original Newfangled Audio Pendulate synth patches/presets Click here to download over 240 Free Pendulate Synth Presets (patches) Synapse Audio Dune Synthesizer Download Over 200 Free Synapse Audio Dune 2 and Dune 3 Synthesizer Patches and Presets Click here to download over 200 FREE Synapse Audio Dune 2 or Dune 3 synthesizer patches or presets. NOTE: This synth patch download is slightly over 1 Meg in size. Free Reverb Impulse Responses Choose from hundreds available in 48K 24 bit WAV format including new original reverbs. CabSpace Over 400 Guitar Isolation Booth Reverbs Download over 400 Free Zystrix Original Reverb Impulse Responses, and over 200 Free Zystrix Original BONUS Reverb Impulse Responses. Download all the Alesis MIDIVerb 4 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Lexicon MPX-1 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Alesis Wedge reverb impulse responses. Download over 50 Reverb Relics from the past. Click here to download free reverb impulse responses. Free Drum Samples Only Available from Zystrix Free Gong Samples and Sounds Free Snare Drum Samples and Sounds Free Bass Drum Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Cymbal Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Bells Samples and Sounds The Ultimate Original Drum Sounds List Download over 2000 original slammin’ rock bass drums. Download original Gongs, Cymbals, Broken Cymbals, and Bells. Download Over 200 Free Original Bass Drum Sounds and Samples. Download over 200 Original Free snare drum sounds. Click here to download Drum Kit Sounds. Dangerous Neighbors The SW Michigan Rock Band Power Trio. Free Rockin’ Music Downloads Download tunes from the 80s to today. Use the special codes on the Embalmed for Life page (see the DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS link below) and get free downloads for the complete album and the free horror audio book The Fluid - Embalmed for Life. Click here to download various music from the rock band Dangerous Neighbors. Download Free Synth Samples for Intros, Interludes, and Endings Listen to example #01 by clicking here (MP3 Sample) Download FREE professional quality stereo sample packs that slowly evolve over time. All samples are in 48K 24 bit WAV format and are about 20 seconds long or more. If you like suspense, psycho, outer space, or terror then this collection is for you. These range from paranoia to sci-fi, cinematic gore to strange industrial horror, and creepy creatures to insane laboratories. Click here to download all the synth Intros, Interludes, and Endings. DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS The Fluid, Embalmed for Life There are Free Audio Book codes for Audible downloads (must sign up). There are also free sample downloads of the book reading. There are free downloads of music samples. There is a free “Look Inside” download of the paperback. There is a free glossary of the largest list of mortuary slang in the world. The Free Dangerous Neighbors Album The Fluid, Embalmed for Life comes included as part of the audio book and parts are available here as a free download. The paperback book is available for sale at Amazon dot com. I have no control over these sales; because of the Amazon agreement I cannot offer complete paperback or complete audio books here. I’m sorry for any inconvenience. Click here for free audio books, book reading samples, music samples, etc. Take me back to the top of the page. Zystrix Privacy Policy THE FINE PRINT: Zystrix is a world leader in personal privacy and we take your privacy very seriously. 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