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Published on 01/05/06 at 06:02
Analog synth with 61 keys, relatively noisy. A joystick for pitch and modulation (screwed off). There are several outputs on the back, two main outputs (Hi & Low), one for each section (Synthesizer, Brass, Strings) ...
I have the Mk2 version with 32 memories, quickly filled! The backup is very simple. There is an effect that can be activated for each section, a flanger which has the power to enter into resonance. This opens interesting possibilities. Otherwise, for some strings, there is a chorus effect, very simple, non-editable but sounds very good round and analog. Once removed the chorus, sounds of church organ invalid by any feasible with a string section (!)
Polyphony is 8 votes for the party brass and synth. I think the game is based on a Strings octave divider. Therefore must be greater polyphony. But I've never tried.
UTILIZATION
Everything is on the front of the beast. A button -> a function. And there's too much. So even relatively easy to use for someone who starts in analog subtractive synthesis. There is a downloadable manual on the net, but it's so simple that I never use.
SOUNDS
This is the strong point of this synth in my opinion. This is a special synthetic, small (in terms of modulation, filters, options ...) but what happens to it does it very well! He who seeks to make a synth sounds fine, crystalline, or crazy sequences, the sounds of leads with portamento will be very disappointed. He can not do it.
The strength of this synth is that big sound. The strings section of the water comes to fabulous, all sweet and gentle, almost a little like a Solina (see try to plug a pedal Small Stone Strings at the exit, you'll be amazed ...), Brass Section Perhaps the most limited, but with its filters and VCO SSM, it still sounds very nice. As for the synth section, it has 2 VCO, the first with 3 waveforms, the second with only one (saw), but the two put together sounds very big. A low pass filter 24 dB / octave (always based SSM2044 - 4-pin), although effective resonance between easily. Section synth brass sounds excels in such Oberheim, or hot groundwater, but the bass are not ridiculous at all, or sounds solid leads.
Another highlight, the ability to play the 3 sections together. This gives a total of 8 voices with 4 VCO. So hello big big sounds!
He who seeks a synth with a sound as massive as the instrument will be served.
What I miss most, the possibility of all oscilios a note (Unisono mode), a portamento or glide function is sorely lacking for sweet solos, the expression is not his strong point, and It also lacks an arpeggiator.
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for almost 6 months, and I like it a lot! What I like most about this synth is his personality, his grain, his potato, a big sound that can be aggressive at will (very fast envelopes), but also very soft, but sweet. What I like is a little less height, weight (24 kg), that he heats easily and thus becomes a bit unstable, especially the lack of expression, the function Unisono, portamento. ..
It's a synth to play, not to make a great musical research. It is limited in its possibilities of modulation, which limits it a lot compared to a JP8, a OB8, a P5 or one CS80. But his big sound has not finished to surprise at concerts, and ease of use above all premium. When compared (in potato and) everything that is done in Virtual Analog, his warmth, his big analog sound knock it all quickly done well.
It is found for a reasonable price (700 Euros), this is correct, more expensive is not justified in my opinion.
If I had to buy one, I would take the mk1 version, which does not yet SSM filters. Mk1 version is equipped with the VCO SSM for 8 oscilliateurs, but all part VCA, VCF, LFO ... is completely made of discrete circuitry, as on the OBX. And there's really big ... But its guaranteed Mk2 is impressive enough ...
I have the Mk2 version with 32 memories, quickly filled! The backup is very simple. There is an effect that can be activated for each section, a flanger which has the power to enter into resonance. This opens interesting possibilities. Otherwise, for some strings, there is a chorus effect, very simple, non-editable but sounds very good round and analog. Once removed the chorus, sounds of church organ invalid by any feasible with a string section (!)
Polyphony is 8 votes for the party brass and synth. I think the game is based on a Strings octave divider. Therefore must be greater polyphony. But I've never tried.
UTILIZATION
Everything is on the front of the beast. A button -> a function. And there's too much. So even relatively easy to use for someone who starts in analog subtractive synthesis. There is a downloadable manual on the net, but it's so simple that I never use.
SOUNDS
This is the strong point of this synth in my opinion. This is a special synthetic, small (in terms of modulation, filters, options ...) but what happens to it does it very well! He who seeks to make a synth sounds fine, crystalline, or crazy sequences, the sounds of leads with portamento will be very disappointed. He can not do it.
The strength of this synth is that big sound. The strings section of the water comes to fabulous, all sweet and gentle, almost a little like a Solina (see try to plug a pedal Small Stone Strings at the exit, you'll be amazed ...), Brass Section Perhaps the most limited, but with its filters and VCO SSM, it still sounds very nice. As for the synth section, it has 2 VCO, the first with 3 waveforms, the second with only one (saw), but the two put together sounds very big. A low pass filter 24 dB / octave (always based SSM2044 - 4-pin), although effective resonance between easily. Section synth brass sounds excels in such Oberheim, or hot groundwater, but the bass are not ridiculous at all, or sounds solid leads.
Another highlight, the ability to play the 3 sections together. This gives a total of 8 voices with 4 VCO. So hello big big sounds!
He who seeks a synth with a sound as massive as the instrument will be served.
What I miss most, the possibility of all oscilios a note (Unisono mode), a portamento or glide function is sorely lacking for sweet solos, the expression is not his strong point, and It also lacks an arpeggiator.
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for almost 6 months, and I like it a lot! What I like most about this synth is his personality, his grain, his potato, a big sound that can be aggressive at will (very fast envelopes), but also very soft, but sweet. What I like is a little less height, weight (24 kg), that he heats easily and thus becomes a bit unstable, especially the lack of expression, the function Unisono, portamento. ..
It's a synth to play, not to make a great musical research. It is limited in its possibilities of modulation, which limits it a lot compared to a JP8, a OB8, a P5 or one CS80. But his big sound has not finished to surprise at concerts, and ease of use above all premium. When compared (in potato and) everything that is done in Virtual Analog, his warmth, his big analog sound knock it all quickly done well.
It is found for a reasonable price (700 Euros), this is correct, more expensive is not justified in my opinion.
If I had to buy one, I would take the mk1 version, which does not yet SSM filters. Mk1 version is equipped with the VCO SSM for 8 oscilliateurs, but all part VCA, VCF, LFO ... is completely made of discrete circuitry, as on the OBX. And there's really big ... But its guaranteed Mk2 is impressive enough ...