To me, the scariest looking synths are modulers, especially big ones. You've got a forest of patch cords, various different modules in different colors and styles and dozens of mismatched buttons and sliders. Many don't even have a keyboard and look more like some electronics project than a musical instrument. I'd especially call out Buchlas, which often have weird industrial desin and odd details. I await the modular lover outrage.
The night I discovered that my AN1X had a little ledge to hold my pencil I gained a serious reverence for whoever the lead engineer was. I didn't realize what it was for until I randomly placed a pencil there. Well done, Yamaha!
To me the scariest instrument is Elektron's kybd version of the MONO MACHNE. Scary since it makes one believe the control panel completely to the left(!) of the slim keyboard to break/fall off.
Glad to see you back with hardware.The software episodes are like living in a shoebox with the best VR glasses.Perhaps Nord should try a pearl maroon with spruce wood edges and around the controls.Have a great day.
The original DX7 used discrete tactile switches underneath a vinyl overlay, not membrane buttons. Membrane buttons are small metal domes that snap when pressed and contact between metal traces. They are harder to press and have a duller feel than tactile switches. Another form of membrane button eliminates the metal dome, have no tactile feel at all, and are easier to press. Both of those forms are super inexpensive, and much have inferior feel, imo.
I'd be putting the JD800 high up that list. The wonky left hand section gets my teeth on edge. It's got that bronzey-gunmetal panel too. Oh, and for extra horror it's got the oozing red glue...
I literally howled inside when you mentioned the Nord 😂 but I agree with you on these. It doesn't mean that it didn't hurt 😅. I would be interested in PC build episode because I also build my as well. I had AMD but now all Intel. I'm jealous of your RAM because I only have 64 gigs.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably do the build episode, once I save up my money. Yeah, 128 gig is nice, but some projects get really close to maxing me out, so I think the next step is Threadripper or a Xeon. Appreciate the comment.
While my FireWire eqe worked fine, I had trouble with my newer AMD build and USB interfaces. Never had that problem with my old Ark intel build. I had to resolve it by installing a dedicated usb pci card.
Not much to argue about here, although I put less into looks and more into functionality as I tend to operate almost all of my boards from my controller keyboard so I don't see them often.🤔🎶🎹🎶Play On
LOL, LOL, LOL! You are absolutely right, It's a pumpkin. I thought it was a little too on the nose, and other than the color, it's pretty well-laid out. Appreciate the comment.
@@Gerald_Danielthe first version with bigger knobs does not seem to have that issue… i might still buy one if i find a cool one for a good price… not that i have the rack space for it, but still 😂
@klinkske I consider my XT's knobs as big (or long). They are made of rubber & the shape you describd I'd indeed call conical. 🤐. However, you probably wouldn't regret it, though the operation is a bit fiddly despite the pots. There are just a few key synths in my life that redefined my hearing new back then. Beside Yamaha FS1r, the MWlI XT was one of them, which I had let the 30 Voice expansion installed before buying new. With 6voice unison you still have at least 5voice-polyphony, what leads to unbelievably assertive sounds. Otherwise it were embarassing if the MWlI had not kept up with its hybrid predecessor. There are some differences but certainly not in warmth, (even without voice expansion installed). To me that synth never gets old though it's in my posession since 2003.
As the proud owner of a Yamaha AN1x, indeed a beautifully sounding and powerful instrument: yeah, it looks like a dog. As I said before, I like colour in a synth. There are too many black keyboards and modules. So I like the colour of the Nords. But the controls, yes, those suck. But this is a cost-saving measure - even though Nords aren't exactly cheap to begin with. They can put everything on one PCB, and if the mod wheel and pitch... whatever that wooden thing is, are on the same PCB, it'll have to stay on the left. One thing, though, about that PC. I have its bigger brother, the 16-core 3950X, with a mere 32 GB of memory, and it's just such a beast. And yours is getting slow?! OK, I haven't done hundreds of tracks in my DAW, so I can't speak from experience. Maybe it's because I'm from a time where 64 kilobyte of memory was a lot. 🙂
I'm from that time too. I have an episode entitled "Composing Music in 1986 with an Atari Computer." It had 128K of RAM. I was thinking of getting a 5950X, but I am capping on my memory, since I use a ton of massive sample libraries for orchestral composition. I could just stream more from the SSDs and not load so much into RAM. Thanks for the comment.
I always thought the Sequential stuff from that era (MAX, 6 Trak, and 600) had almost a 70's look... for synths that came out in the 80s. Not that they aren't perfectly fine sounding instruments, just cosmetically kinda dated looking at the time, IMO... which is your point! Cheers!
Hah! As I was viewing the countdown, I thought, after the video, I should really comment about the AN1x. That UI is definitely not inviting. With the AN1x, the PLGs, the AN200 and now the Montage M, Yamaha continues their legacy of not including a decent hands-on interface for this exceptional technology.
Didn’t figure you for a pc guy. I probably should have considering your no nonsense approach. 2700x for me right now. No extra rgb. Case from 10 years ago.
Yep. 4 desktop PC's plus one PC laptop in my studio. The 2700x is a fine processor and also AM4, so you have a lot of upgrade options without going to a whole new system, if your motherboard will handle a higher power CPU like the 3900x or a top of the line on AM4, 5950x. Thanks for the comment.
It does vibe like it's big brother counterpart, but I can see why you like it. Not having the Metallic buttons helps. Don't miss my November 15, 2024 episode. I can't tell you what it is, but I believe you'll like it. Thanks for the comment.
I have a Prophet 2000 and you are not wrong on that one. It's a preset machine, because programming it feels worse than a DX7 somehow. You are wrong about the System 1/1m/8 though, when you see that green glow on stage, you know what you're looking at. My #1 is the JD-800 hands down. Nothing is uglier to me
To me, the scariest looking synths are modulers, especially big ones. You've got a forest of patch cords, various different modules in different colors and styles and dozens of mismatched buttons and sliders. Many don't even have a keyboard and look more like some electronics project than a musical instrument. I'd especially call out Buchlas, which often have weird industrial desin and odd details. I await the modular lover outrage.
Really good point. They do look scary. Don't turn your back on them, or the cable come alive and choke you from behind. Thanks for the comment.
The night I discovered that my AN1X had a little ledge to hold my pencil I gained a serious reverence for whoever the lead engineer was. I didn't realize what it was for until I randomly placed a pencil there. Well done, Yamaha!
🤣 Pretty sure this ledge was designed to hold a Yamaha SU10 or a QY100 but... hey, why not!
I think I disagree with the Max because I drooled over it as a broke teenager seeing it in Keyboard magazine when it was released. I still want one😂
I understand. When I heard the flexi-disc for the Sixtrack, Multitrack, and Max, I wanted one. Thanks for the comment.
As far as Moog goes, there is the original Grandmother
The reason the controls on the Nord are packed together is 'cause the electronics are the same as the rack version.
I love it. There's a LOT of scary looking synths out there. You could have done a top 50!
Indeed. Happy Halloween. Appreciate the comment.
To me the scariest instrument is Elektron's kybd version of the MONO MACHNE. Scary since it makes one believe the control panel completely to the left(!) of the slim keyboard to break/fall off.
Yeah. Looks like they just glued a keyboard to the tabletop module. I can see R&D, get me a tube of superglue. Thanks for the comment.
Glad to see you back with hardware.The software episodes are like living in a shoebox with the best VR glasses.Perhaps Nord should try a pearl maroon with spruce wood edges and around the controls.Have a great day.
"...pearl maroon with spruce wood edges..." That's hilarious. Always appreciate your comments.
The original DX7 used discrete tactile switches underneath a vinyl overlay, not membrane buttons. Membrane buttons are small metal domes that snap when pressed and contact between metal traces. They are harder to press and have a duller feel than tactile switches. Another form of membrane button eliminates the metal dome, have no tactile feel at all, and are easier to press. Both of those forms are super inexpensive, and much have inferior feel, imo.
I'd be putting the JD800 high up that list. The wonky left hand section gets my teeth on edge. It's got that bronzey-gunmetal panel too. Oh, and for extra horror it's got the oozing red glue...
Yeah, and that red glue plagues my D-70. The JD-800 is a great sounding synth, despite a few issues. Thanks for your comment.
I literally howled inside when you mentioned the Nord 😂 but I agree with you on these. It doesn't mean that it didn't hurt 😅.
I would be interested in PC build episode because I also build my as well. I had AMD but now all Intel. I'm jealous of your RAM because I only have 64 gigs.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably do the build episode, once I save up my money. Yeah, 128 gig is nice, but some projects get really close to maxing me out, so I think the next step is Threadripper or a Xeon. Appreciate the comment.
While my FireWire eqe worked fine, I had trouble with my newer AMD build and USB interfaces. Never had that problem with my old Ark intel build. I had to resolve it by installing a dedicated usb pci card.
Thank U so much Mr. Petro. U r god.
Clapton must step down.
I hardly think so, but thanks for the support.
I had a feeling the Nord Lead would make it on the list! I have to admit, the yellow is a bit much. The OG Nord Lead 1 is a bit prettier to me.
"These are the scariest looking keyboards" *shows pictures of desktop and rack units* - you scared me good there
Thanks for the comment.
Not much to argue about here, although I put less into looks and more into functionality as I tend to operate almost all of my boards from my controller keyboard so I don't see them often.🤔🎶🎹🎶Play On
Me too. Thanks for the comment.
What? No Waldorf XT(K) 😀 it s a pumpkin 🎃 and the later version with the cone knobs become gray and break in bits. Like they rot ☠️
LOL, LOL, LOL! You are absolutely right, It's a pumpkin. I thought it was a little too on the nose, and other than the color, it's pretty well-laid out. Appreciate the comment.
@@JeffreyScottPetro .. LOL the color is caused thru the hot sound.
@@klinkske Huh! The knobs? My world just collapsed same as me.🌀😱😨😰😭😂
@@Gerald_Danielthe first version with bigger knobs does not seem to have that issue… i might still buy one if i find a cool one for a good price… not that i have the rack space for it, but still 😂
@klinkske I consider my XT's knobs as big (or long). They are made of rubber & the shape you describd I'd indeed call conical. 🤐. However, you probably wouldn't regret it, though the operation is a bit fiddly despite the pots.
There are just a few key synths in my life that redefined my hearing new back then. Beside Yamaha FS1r, the MWlI XT was one of them, which I had let the 30 Voice expansion installed before buying new. With 6voice unison you still have at least 5voice-polyphony, what leads to unbelievably assertive sounds. Otherwise it were embarassing if the MWlI had not kept up with its hybrid predecessor. There are some differences but certainly not in warmth, (even without voice expansion installed). To me that synth never gets old though it's in my posession since 2003.
As the proud owner of a Yamaha AN1x, indeed a beautifully sounding and powerful instrument: yeah, it looks like a dog.
As I said before, I like colour in a synth. There are too many black keyboards and modules. So I like the colour of the Nords. But the controls, yes, those suck. But this is a cost-saving measure - even though Nords aren't exactly cheap to begin with. They can put everything on one PCB, and if the mod wheel and pitch... whatever that wooden thing is, are on the same PCB, it'll have to stay on the left.
One thing, though, about that PC. I have its bigger brother, the 16-core 3950X, with a mere 32 GB of memory, and it's just such a beast. And yours is getting slow?! OK, I haven't done hundreds of tracks in my DAW, so I can't speak from experience. Maybe it's because I'm from a time where 64 kilobyte of memory was a lot. 🙂
I'm from that time too. I have an episode entitled "Composing Music in 1986 with an Atari Computer." It had 128K of RAM. I was thinking of getting a 5950X, but I am capping on my memory, since I use a ton of massive sample libraries for orchestral composition. I could just stream more from the SSDs and not load so much into RAM. Thanks for the comment.
I always thought the Sequential stuff from that era (MAX, 6 Trak, and 600) had almost a 70's look... for synths that came out in the 80s. Not that they aren't perfectly fine sounding instruments, just cosmetically kinda dated looking at the time, IMO... which is your point! Cheers!
I think you nailed it. Thanks for the comment.
Hah! As I was viewing the countdown, I thought, after the video, I should really comment about the AN1x. That UI is definitely not inviting. With the AN1x, the PLGs, the AN200 and now the Montage M, Yamaha continues their legacy of not including a decent hands-on interface for this exceptional technology.
I appreciate your comment.
Didn’t figure you for a pc guy. I probably should have considering your no nonsense approach. 2700x for me right now. No extra rgb. Case from 10 years ago.
Yep. 4 desktop PC's plus one PC laptop in my studio. The 2700x is a fine processor and also AM4, so you have a lot of upgrade options without going to a whole new system, if your motherboard will handle a higher power CPU like the 3900x or a top of the line on AM4, 5950x. Thanks for the comment.
It's tiny, but I love my JX-03 Boutique version of the JX-3P. Curious to hear if you think it looks better despite having the same fonts and colors.
It does vibe like it's big brother counterpart, but I can see why you like it. Not having the Metallic buttons helps. Don't miss my November 15, 2024 episode. I can't tell you what it is, but I believe you'll like it. Thanks for the comment.
Prophet 2000 = Miami Vice
I love Miami Vice. Appreciate the comment.
The red Nord is gross to me too. My favorite is the Studiologic Sledge Black edition.
I have a Prophet 2000 and you are not wrong on that one. It's a preset machine, because programming it feels worse than a DX7 somehow. You are wrong about the System 1/1m/8 though, when you see that green glow on stage, you know what you're looking at. My #1 is the JD-800 hands down. Nothing is uglier to me
Surely the OSCar and the Minimoog should have made it to the list, both are brutish looking keyboards lacking any pleasing aesthetic lines
Perhaps. If I had mentioned the Minimoog, people would have shot me. The Oscar does appear in an upcoming episode.
Great video idea but couldn't watch it, too scary :(
LOL. Thanks for the comment.
The Moog Source looks like a cheap toy from yore.
Yeah, the Nord Lead is one ugly keyboard.