I found most of the presets a bit thin and missing something. I’m used to Moog mono synth richness. My Prophet 6 is not as interesting, but has a more characterful powerful sound at its heart. I want to love the Muse, but my ears and intuition are struggling.
So glad you’re featuring Pittsburgh. They’re making some of the only truly new designs in analog synthesis. (For example, generating harmonics through center-clipping.)
Good that you got the Solar 42 in there. I'd love to have one. All the other synths in the list are sort of what you'd expect. The Solar is genuinely branching off in another direction, beside innovative, it's made for exploring. I could dive deep in to that. Thanks.
Robin, you have a special talent for understanding and reviewing synthesizers. Your observations and insights have been greatly appreciated. Thanks for your dedication, your channel and your hard work. Keep it going. Deeply grateful . 🤓
Thanks for taking the time, man. Been out of the synth game for decades and used to have tons of analog classics. Doing more piano now, but I'm amazed at where the technology has gone and how mind-blowing the possibilities are. You really haven't helped me decide where to start, but that's because there are so many choices. Highly informative, again thanks.
Nice review. Only great synths for sure. Imho there isn’t any bad synth today but there is bad use. I know a lot of great musicians who have great synths but they don’t always go deep enough with what they have under hands. I think they all have so much to offer if you take the time to look deeper. Oh and I agree about the name of the Take 5 😁
Really great presentation! You brilliantly place these synths into a very helpful perspective. The best overall presentation I’ve seen in a long time. Thank you!
I have the PolyBrute, for about a month. At first I thought maybe it was not the right fit for me. Now I am convinced that it is the most stunning instrument that I have ever played.
It is always a pleasure to listen (and watch) your auditions. I find it very interesting, well presented, clearly explained even for non EN native speakers. Thanks for that and pls keep going.
Absolute masterpiece this video is Robin. Your insight into every synth here was elegant. it should be the most watched synth video this year. Thank you xx
What a great video, I was drawn to the Muse like a moth to a flame, yet anxious I'd lose my own creativity in the presets which sound undeniably great. Then you introduced us to some fascinating more left field synths further down the list and I saw sense. Hurray! I already own a Vermona Perfourmer and Lyra 8 which I've no way explored enough. Buying a Muse would have been a direct reversal from the no patch memories/analog/experimental direction I'm in and I'm happy I found my way to your channel.
Yeah, that is a thing. But I'm trying to release one of these a month and I hope to update them, which i guess means doing a whole new video, every 6 months. So much can happen in a year and we dont just buy at christmas :D
Brubeck's Take 5 was definitely not elevator jazz... it was an enormous leap for music in 1959... also how many commercial tunes can anyone name that are in 5/4?
I dont think anything starts off as elevator jazz, it just becomes that was. I'm a huge fan of Burt Bacharach, Andy Williams, and the whole lounge movement but it does often end up as lift music. As for 5/4 I can take you on a tour of Radiohead, Gorillaz, Taylor Swift, Muse and Nick Drake if you like :D
@@MoltenMusicTech "I dont think anything starts off as elevator jazz" - True of jazz indeed, but Eric Satie wrote what he called 'furniture music', which is very much the same thing: it's only the lift had to be invented later. :)
It really is the golden age of synths isn't it? The amount of choice available nowadays is crazy. My most recent one was the Muse, which I have for about a monthm now, and I'm still playing it for a couple of hours every day. Truly an inspiring machine it is! The other synths are awesome too of course :)
Great list, sound reasoning and well put. I was shouting and laughing at the screen after you exclaimed "What about my favorite synth?" I have been lusting for the Mantis and Solar42f all year then mashed he G.A.S pedal and ordered the Solar42f. I fear I will order a Mantis before it arrives. 😅 🐏🐺
Be strong! Force yourself to read the manual before you can order. Sometimes that can help keep me realistic, sometimes i find after i read the manual i realize it’s not really something i need.
The Solar 42 is another this year that snuck up on me as a particularly interesting synth. It certainly isn't feature rich like some of these but it's unique and fun looking. And man does it sound great.
You have many valid points and from what I have seen before finishing the video I have decided I need to subscribe to your channel thanks for sharing your knowledge and keeping it in layman terms.
I’m about to grab a Moog Muse and you’ve only reinforced my decision. About 2 months ago I finally bit the bullet and bought an Alesis Andromeda. I took it apart and cleaned out the Pots and replaced the milky Screen with a blue “negative” screen. It is an over the top synth! I am shocked and disappointed that I waited this long! It wasn’t cheap but it’s ALIVE. Truly a masterpiece!
Excellent video (as always!) and Thank You so much for describing the Solar 42 so poetically! I bet if you reached out to Arseny that he would probably send you one for your feedback and for a video (I don't know though, but it couldn't hurt to ask). I have the 42F which is what they are making now, even for orders placed earlier, and it has some more tweaks! They are a heavenly playground for Ambient nuts such as myself and I could lose hours and hours of myself in exploring it!
My top synth would possibly be Melbourne Instruments Nina. Now the Arturia Polybrute 12 could match the Nina and depends if you what the keyboard on the PB12. I’d say the Nina beats the PB12 on multi-timbrality being 4 as to 2 on the PB12 and the Nina retains the Morph feature. If you can’t afford the Nina the Delia is a ‘cheaper’ option. For pure mental experimentation the Gamechanger Motor Synth - however I would say this should not be your first synth.
I wish they hadn’t put different features on the Delia that were not on or releasable in firmware for the Nina. I have and absolutely love the Nina but have FOMO on some of the Delia’s non-Nina features. Haha.
@@chrisstaubyn Hi from Brazil :) I have done with Roland Mc 909 16 álbuns since I started it around 2007 til now these days . monkeyrevolution1.bandcamp.com/ any good everyone ?
I reached a gear saturation point two years ago and found my favorite all in one synth has really been my Virus TI2 keyboard in spite of the quirks and limitations. I mean 16 point multi-timbral, awesome sound, effects, best arpeggiator ever, tons of synthesizer models from wavetable to vowel synthesis, nothing can really touch it.
I had one Access Virus TI2 keyboard and did not fall in love at all with as I did with Roland MC 909 . Hi from Brazil :) I have done with Roland Mc 909 16 álbuns since I started it around 2007 til now these days . monkeyrevolution1.bandcamp.com/ any good everyone ?
What on Earth did I say that makes everyone think I’ve never heard of Dave’s Take Five? I referenced it quite deliberately because I know exactly what it is - it’s so weird 🤣
I have to hand it to Arturia, they really do have their own design language. I remember when the BeatStep and KeyStep came out and everyone was doing black… and here’s these bright white chassis? But they are now iconic. I think the Polybrute has a similar approach. Love it or hate, it is very unique, and absolutely identifiable on stage from the back of a club. And from what my ears are telling me, the word “iconic” will probably hold true in the future for this synth.
I really enjoy your commentary. I try to love life and smile a lot :D My personal preference is hybrid synths; I am just not wowed by analog oscillators given what can be accomplished otherwise. Honestly I still think Arturia's coolest synth is the MiniFreak, and it is only 600 buck and includes the plugin/programmer. I think Dave Smith's best design was the Pro-2. I wish my Pro-12 (I own both the 02 and the 12) had the dual filter path of the Pro-2 and the modulation sequencer. Maybe the DSP chips on it just couldn't handle it. Given what we are seeing from Arturia, a dual filter path with the Prophet and SEM filters *should* be a thing in the next Sequential flagship synth; I don't know if it will be, but if they want more of my money, that is what it will have to be. I actually prefer an Iridium (desktop for me) over the Quantum 2; if I had room I would own a Iridium KB, but I have no place for it or any of the other big synths (for now - yes I would have to build a new house). Same for the Third Wave thing; it just cries "buy me in KB format" but I can't fit it. It would be cool if you made a video like this for desktop modules. I supported Fred's Lab Manatee on Kickstarter and it is a really cool, all-digital module. Also the Beetlecrab Vector is just crazy-interesting and deep; I am still learning it; it is definitely not for beginners.
Having been a synth tech for 36 years, it will be interesting to see how long these new analog synths' potentiometers, faders and switches last before they become intermittent and noisy.
@@DevMcLaughlin Back in the days of the original synth, the 1970's, dirty pots started to show up in a couple years. During my years as a synth tech working on mostly digital keyboards, it was usually just the main volume pot that wore out. The rotary pots either wore out from use, or had cracked cold solder joints that just needed to be resoldered. The new generation of potentiometers are much batter than those made in the 1970's. Fader type pots often wore out, probably because dust and dirt can easily drop into them. That dirt creates friction that damages the carbon resistor material.
Yes, it has not only polyphonic aftertouch, but an option for tracking both the speed with which you press the keys, and the depth you press them, so you can program the sound to change based on the depth you press the keys down as well as the speed.
I agree that you want to exclude Behringer for whatever personal reason you want, but don't try to tell us that it's because Behringer doesn't bring any new technology to music (you're quite right about this) because that's not he market niche, but let's not forget that all brands have the same problem, even in the innovation market niche there is no innovation anymore. This year 2024 is the most boring since 2016. No brand has released anything that is ahead of our time, all the things on that list are reverse engineering recovered from the technology of the past, similar to how Behringer does it. Thanks for your videos, congratulations on your channel.
@@s.gharavi1614 Yes, I know, I have things like Jupiter 6 ($12k), Prophet 5, MS20, 808, Waldorf Wave... Behringer gives me the ability to have replacements for my most precious instruments, for me it is much more profitable and complete, the rest does not worry me much, I know that even these replicas, being rarities, will be appreciated in the future, I already went through the experience of my TB-303 that I bought in a second-hand appliance store for $50, because it was a piece of shit bass companion for guitarists that nobody wanted. And now we see it for $4000 with the case and no signs of use. History always repeats itself, Behringer makes replicas, but nobody else seems to do those things as well, complying with the laws and rights. 👍
@@s.gharavi1614- agree. Behringer is getting a lot of new people into hardware synths. Which is a good thing for the more expensive synth manufacturers.
Excellent, thank you 🙏. I’d love the Solar 42, unfortunately I just can’t justify 2 grand. All the best !! (I’m mulling over the Digitakt 2, what do you think ?)
On the DV247 website it says this Gemini has 2 LFOs. I can only see 2 LFOs on the pic image, so why have you said there's only 1 LFO ? Nice video by the way, i thumbed up.
It is not so much the synthesizers I love, but way more your storytelling and happiness. You could sell a fridge to an eskimo, or any synth to us gear nerds. Thanks a bunch.
@@MoltenMusicTech Take 5 sounds great but I really didn't like the keys on it. Would prefer better keyboard for a bit higher price. Plus some knobs are encoders and some aren't. I'd love to have all encoders on it.
The SOLAR 42F is one of those things that make me think "really?" do I need a piece of hardware with all of its quirks and tuning issues (and there are issues - like when tuning one oscillator others go out of tune which is just weird) to do that? But... it is just so cool... haha. The Lyra-8 was like that; it took a while but I caved and bought one :p
@@MathHammer it also doesn't have MIDI or the ability to really save your setting (akin to Modular / Eurorack in a lot of ways) but it's got so much unique character. It's definitely not an instrument for everyone, but for those who click with it, it's out of this World (I have one and I'm still exploring it, and will be for quite some time yet)!
An idea along the lines of "Best Cheap Synthesizers of the Year" would look at recent price drops of older gear due to new releases, like the second hand price of the Digitakt falling after release of the Mk2. "Best Hand-Me-Down Synthesizers of the Year"?
Nice idea, but difficult as it would vary so much depending on the territory and availability and then the amount of research required to measure the pricing - although you could probably pop over the Reverb and list the synths in order of price... so who knows - your best bet is to go and make it!
It made the long list but it’s another really expensive synth and there’s only so much room. For PPG sounds what does it have over the Quantum? Tricky isn’t it.
So,, what are your thoughts on the Minilogue xd. Is it still a Good synth,does it still hold up in 2024? It seems like a Basic bread and butter subtractive synth. The reason I ask,, is I am contemplating on getting The Module version. Thanks!!!
Im sorry to say this, but to the average listener, of familiar song recordings, i don't think most people would be able to tell the difference between one synth or the other. Which brings me to the point, to a recording artist, maybe searching for that uniquely distinct sound, its important, but as a cover band musician, all these sounds aren't actually necessary, since most of the audience doesn't appreciate the differences. most know Moogs, Rhodes, DX7s, Hammond, Strings and acoustic grand. in most cases, most Yamaha;s Rolands and Korgs cover the main sounds and audience doesn't really know or care. But thank you for the description of the different units, i just think these are for Studio use, but not road use.
You are absolutely right, none of this matters a jot to the listening public. If you are a gigging musician then you need a Montage or a Kronos or a Nord Stage Piano to reproduce the sounds you need to match the music you are making - that's all totally correct. However, synthesizers have become instruments and adventure playgrounds for electronic travellers and what interests us is the way the electrons interact, the way the voltage interplays and how the textures meet with stresses and strains in richness and starvation. For me it's the instrument that inspires the music more than imagining music for which I need a specific sound. There are other "Best of" lists that can tackle stage pianos and performance synths and I hope to give those a go at some point. But, yes, your points are completely valid :D
@@MoltenMusicTech Thanks for taking the time to reply to a not so complimentary message i posted. Yes, for the creativity, i get it, i just feel the differences are so very slight, hardly discernable to most listeners. I feel this is at the engineering level of distinction, between each. I appreciate and applaud your knowledge and keen ear. I know a lot of non-musicians who work with keyboard sounds as if using computers. The tekky guy with the home studio. also have seen guys who painstakingly try to exactly replicate tribute band music to the finest degree for gigging purpose, again, lots of effort no one really appreciates. I do get it. its PERSONAL triumph. And for that, you get A plus! Keep rocking.
3:30: Frankenmoog. A totally new and revolutionary synth made from the famous Moog oscillators, famous Moog ladder filters and famous Moog VCO is yet another Moog. The best and the worst at the same time that happened to them is the Moog, the Moog and the Moog. At its price, I'll get a Yamaha Montage or Iridium, thanks. We can't sit forever with the "authentic analogue" sound of 1970. They were avant-garde back then. I want avant-garde sound now. And no, I don't need Prophet 5, Juno-6, OB-X (name one, just _one_ virtual VSTi synth manufacturer who doesn't waste resources onto the "most exact reproduction" of it). 1980s OBX with the 1980s cross-modulation added. Thanks, but no, thanks. Minifreak is fine, but it's 10+ years old. Taiga modular? Always respected them, but never had a technician to set it up for me. Heck, name one, just one new synth with the bona fide additive oscillator. No, those on eBay don't do it, I don't have a technician to replace its drying caps. Number of new synths in 2024: a hundred, perhaps. Number of new, unusual, principally new sound synthesis techniques: zero. 50 years ago, the originals of the 2024 replicas were not the synths for rich white old nostalgic folks. In 2024, the industry figured out, where the money is. Let's see what old crap they'll recreate in 2025... 46:17 "It's a synthesiser of a generation" that makes no music any more. They _collect 5-digit priced synths_. Ah, what a sound so they make! Ah, ah, ah! And what do you do with that sound? Enjoy it in private? And a whole industry works to satisfy this avarice. Are all engineers already dead? Is anyone innovating the synth sound any more? Give me a synth that sounds "oh sh!t wow!" in 2025, not the clone of the one that sounded "oh sh!t wow" 55 years ago, even if with a multi-track sequencer added! I'm only 62 years young, I'll make good real music on it.
I've never understood people who are unable to enjoy an synthesizer as an instrument. They've been making guitars the same for a hundred years and no one is bored yet. I think the Muse pulls together everything Moog is about and delivers it in a way that more people can enjoy - people who haven't had access to their synths before. There's an infinite sound palette available from the manipulation of analogue oscillators and so finding something completely new and different, just for the sake of it, is not particularly inspiring in my view. There are a lot of great software synths out there that can do things hardware never dreamed of - but they don't interest me because of the lack of physical, consistent and intentional manipulation. Iridium is essentially a hardware software synth and while it sounds good it doesn't really inspire me as an instrument. The big ones like the Montage, Kronos and whatever the Roland one is are fabulous stage machines for replicating all types of sound, but they are not interesting as an immersive instrument - at least in my view. Synths are for playing and enjoying - no one is deluded enough to believe they are going to become recording artists or that becoming famous is the reason behind buying into music gear. It's a hobby, a fascination, and safer than spending your money on motorbikes and casinos.
@@MoltenMusicTech Robin, thank you very much for replying to my rant. I think that at some deep level we feel the same: the synth, playing it, making music on it is a beautiful hobby. And I love synthesisers as much as you do. What I have to disagree with is that 'an infinite sound palette available from the manipulation of analogue oscillators' is really infinite, and is enough for everyone. I toyed with these new AI music generators: Udio, Suno, some others. I should mention that I compose only instrumental music, and never use sampled sounds, except to mangle them beyond recognition in a granular or wavetable oscillator. I only _synthesise_ sounds on synths. These AI tools aren't useless: they may suddenly produce a novel musical idea which I, may luck have it, develop into a new piece. Now, I have a very interesting chunk of music from one of these AI tools. I wanted to re-create the sound on the synth, and have been failing miserably, nothing even came close. It starts with a simple low C chord, C1-E1-G1-C2; what's truly unsimple is the sound itself. It's still haunting me since May when I randomly obtained it from the AI thing. I get back to it once in a while. I tried Iridium, I tried all-in-one soft-synth engines Halion and Falcon, but it's just unyielding. The closest I got was by using the additive oscillator in the Falcon, but reproduced only low harmonics of it. Perhaps I could tune multiple of the same additive oscillators, but higher harmonics are not in the musical ratio to the fundamental; it's a lot of work with the spectroscope and guitar tuner to get them right, and I'm not even sure that I'll end up close to the sonic quality of it - I'm not desperate enough yet. And I want this sound. No no no, I WANT THIS SOUND!!! I'll try my best to share it with you, but YT is not too kind to web links in comments. I entirely agree that there is a huge sonic space accessible to analogue or FM synths (almost all the 'new' ones are one of these types). But there's also even larger space unavailable to them. One cannot clone an authentic sax, trumpet or, heaven forbid, violin sound using these, if only as a counterexample. It's not that I want a realistic sax from the synth. But, similarly, there are sounds with equally unique sonic qualities that exist only in my imagination or, recently, have been reified by the AI. The 50-year-old inventions cannot make them. And access to this huge and rich sonic space is badly wanting, at least speaking for myself. In our music, the sound is as important as are melody and harmony. I agree that mass-produced synths must be easily playable by everyone, the ease of control is crucially important. But, on the other hand, I do expect sonic innovation from the higher 4-digit priced synths, but don't see it. The same 'oh s!!t wow, what's that?' which people experienced in the 70s hearing Moog and Buchla. But alas, on no occasion in the last two and a half decades I exclaimed that. The last time I did was when I heard (and purchased on the spot) the Yamaha FS1R, in 1999. The synth became a thundering commercial failure: a 1U box with some 3 thousand parameters and only 6 buttons, 4 rotary encoders and a 2-line LCD to program all this stuff, and without software to control it from a computer - Yamaha is renowned for the absence of any (I wrote it for myself, thanks to the tome of documentation that came with it, but how many musicians could?). Few were produced, in 1998‒2000 only. I handle this ageing synth as if it were made of thin glass. They go on eBay as high as 3‒6 grand. No hardware or software synth has reproduced the novel oscillator tech which it uses in the 27 years since; very few people are perhaps even aware it exists. Or, 'fraid, existed. The latest Montage can repro some of its sound, but not the main juice. Holy flying cow, did the humankind last invent a new way to synthesise sound 27 years ago? Whither we're heading?
Now. It’s not well enough known but the pronunciation of Moog as Mow-guh was an April Fool’s joke by Mr Robert M himself. The ‘right’ way to pronounce Moog is as it was said from 1968 until about 2004 when Mr Moog thought he’d have some fun with a journalist interviewing him early in April. Moo-guh. That’s how you say it. The ‘Moog Muse’ name is poetry. Mow-ugh Muse just falls flat. That’s one clue. There are other product names as clues as well, I’ll leave it up to anyone who cares to find out which as an exercise! Products that were created by Bob M himself.
@@MoltenMusicTechTried it in a shop yesterday but only in standalone situation. It's amazing. Keys feel great. I'm not sure about ease of use as a controller for vst instruments. I tried Sequential Take 5 and Hydrasynth at the same time. Both of them have crappy keyboards, imho.
Oh ok. The hydra synth has polyphonic aftertouch which makes it a bit different. I think if the keyboard is vital then it’s best to invest in the controller that best suits you
I just don't have any space left for new gear in my (trying to keep it compact) setup. Maybe there's just enough space for a Taiga desktop, albeit the more cramped format.
I own a Novation Summit, Pro-3 and Osmose...I would put them all in any top 10! I cant imagen a 2024 top 10 without an Osmose, the only real exciting change in a decade of 'another subtractive' synth being launched...
Maybe youd consider making a 5 best experimental synth video...... For that I'd pick.......Solar 42f, Moog Matriarch, Syntrx II, Black Sustem ii, and korg ARP 2600M.
I do know this, which is precisely why i said it the name sounded like it?... big conversation about it further down. So you're saying the synth was in fact named after a 1950s jazz standard? It was also the name of a biscuit and of course a phrase used to give performers a break... i'm failing to see the connection between any of these things and a synthesizer.
A pity you don't add Behringer synths in your review cause THEIR CLONES ARE MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL BECAUSE THEY ADD EXTRA FEATURES! AND SOUNDWISE THEY SOUND A BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE ORIGINALS, SO WE CAN TALK OF A NEW SYNTHESIZER IN FACT.
But if i was including clones or replicas then I'd have to include the Rev4 Prophet 5/10, the OBX8, the Dinsync RE-303, Michigan Sound Works and the whole catalogue of Black Corporation modules before i get to any Behringers.... and according to you they dont sound like the originals so they are something that sounds a bit like something good - doesn't look like "Best" material to me. Behringer make some great synths but price and sound alone are not really enough, for me, to put them on a "Best" list. Most of them follow the Model D format which I find clumsy despite sounding great. Even the Neutron and Proton are a bit crowded and un-beautiful in my view. The Poly D, MonoPoly and MS5 on the other hand look and sound great and at least one would feature in a "Best budget synth" list, probably the 2600 as well. And despite offering increase polyphony, an ocassional effect and MIDI they don't really bring anything new. I hope that clears things up for you.
@@MoltenMusicTech I try to avoid videos with chatter about synthesizers, so once again I make sure that it is best to additionally specify the phrase "no talking" in the search query.)
I feel that it would be difficult to express an opinion in synth sounds alone - most synths sound great, and so, perhaps, talking about why you like a partcular synth is a better way of doing that. Are you going to base a purchase decision purely on filter sweeps alone or does the opinion of someone you feel is trustworthy have any value? There are plenty of synth sound demos out there for you to find, I'm not sure someone collecting them together as a "best of" video would be that successful because there would be no explanation as to why. Personally I value both sound demos and opinion - i like to read reviews etc - and my job is share my view and fortunately many people find that helpful.
@@MoltenMusicTechPlenty of audio only synth reviews exist across TH-cam a dime a dozen, that guy is welcomed to go find them if that’s what he’s looking for, the overwhelming majority of everyone else is here for the value of your words, opinions and years of experience in the world of music and these beautiful synthesizers. Don’t change a thing. And thank you for helping further reinforce my decision on the Muse.
Moog muse can't be captured in recordings unfortunately so it's useless until you play it in person... no one is sure why this is, but the Muse sounds flat to most people on digital recordings despite sounding gorgeous to those who own it.
If you want a Mini-Moog, buy a Mini-Moog or maybe an AJH Synth MiniMod Keyz Modular. I think people should be aware of the latter. It is priced like the modular synth that it is, though; much more than the Taiga. I would not call the Taiga a Mini-Moog other than it is monophonic. It is more like a West Coast patchable synth with hybrid East Coast additions.
Yeah. Taiga is Pittsburgh making what Pittsburgh makes. Which is always just whatever they’re really interested in. Not an answer to a famous instrument or a specific ‘market niche.’
I think suggesting the Behringer Ub-XA being a synth that brings nothing new to the market is possibly a complete misunderstanding of the instrument and a sign someone hasn't even investigated it's capabilities....
It’s literally a clone of a synth from the early 80s so. Seems like a fair statement to me. I don’t hate Behringer or anything, I just think people who have been using synths for any amount of time are not going to see Ub-XA as anything new.
The Muse sounds gorgeous. I haven’t heard a demo that hasn’t left me loving the sound.
I found most of the presets a bit thin and missing something. I’m used to Moog mono synth richness. My Prophet 6 is not as interesting, but has a more characterful powerful sound at its heart. I want to love the Muse, but my ears and intuition are struggling.
@@abulka If it doesn’t appeal to you, I would just ignore the Muse then
So glad you’re featuring Pittsburgh. They’re making some of the only truly new designs in analog synthesis. (For example, generating harmonics through center-clipping.)
Good that you got the Solar 42 in there. I'd love to have one. All the other synths in the list are sort of what you'd expect. The Solar is genuinely branching off in another direction, beside innovative, it's made for exploring. I could dive deep in to that. Thanks.
They're up there in price but awesome! Check one out if you can!
@@TangoDelta70 Yes. Just encourage me! Please. Damn. LOL.
And the new Solar 42F with the additional features is even more compelling! Sold me on it for sure and very happy to have just received it.
Robin, you have a special talent for understanding and reviewing synthesizers. Your observations and insights have been greatly appreciated. Thanks for your dedication, your channel and your hard work. Keep it going. Deeply grateful . 🤓
Thanks mate
Thanks for taking the time, man. Been out of the synth game for decades and used to have tons of analog classics. Doing more piano now, but I'm amazed at where the technology has gone and how mind-blowing the possibilities are. You really haven't helped me decide where to start, but that's because there are so many choices. Highly informative, again thanks.
Nice review. Only great synths for sure. Imho there isn’t any bad synth today but there is bad use. I know a lot of great musicians who have great synths but they don’t always go deep enough with what they have under hands. I think they all have so much to offer if you take the time to look deeper.
Oh and I agree about the name of the Take 5 😁
Really great presentation! You brilliantly place these synths into a very helpful perspective. The best overall presentation I’ve seen in a long time. Thank you!
I have the PolyBrute, for about a month. At first I thought maybe it was not the right fit for me. Now I am convinced that it is the most stunning instrument that I have ever played.
I had the same feelings. At first I wasn't convinced but now I'm more and more delighted.
It is always a pleasure to listen (and watch) your auditions. I find it very interesting, well presented, clearly explained even for non EN native speakers. Thanks for that and pls keep going.
Absolute masterpiece this video is Robin. Your insight into every synth here was elegant. it should be the most watched synth video this year. Thank you xx
What a great video, I was drawn to the Muse like a moth to a flame, yet anxious I'd lose my own creativity in the presets which sound undeniably great. Then you introduced us to some fascinating more left field synths further down the list and I saw sense. Hurray! I already own a Vermona Perfourmer and Lyra 8 which I've no way explored enough. Buying a Muse would have been a direct reversal from the no patch memories/analog/experimental direction I'm in and I'm happy I found my way to your channel.
For a second there I thought you were doing an end-of-year roundup and I was totally disoriented. Thought it was December. Phew.
It’s a time zone thing.
Yeah, that is a thing. But I'm trying to release one of these a month and I hope to update them, which i guess means doing a whole new video, every 6 months. So much can happen in a year and we dont just buy at christmas :D
I can’t afford anything else if they drop something cool and groovy, windswept and interesting before 2025.
Brubeck's Take 5 was definitely not elevator jazz... it was an enormous leap for music in 1959... also how many commercial tunes can anyone name that are in 5/4?
I dont think anything starts off as elevator jazz, it just becomes that was. I'm a huge fan of Burt Bacharach, Andy Williams, and the whole lounge movement but it does often end up as lift music. As for 5/4 I can take you on a tour of Radiohead, Gorillaz, Taylor Swift, Muse and Nick Drake if you like :D
@@MoltenMusicTech according to ChatGPT, there are no Taylor Swift songs released in 5/4.
except this one - th-cam.com/video/AIFnKqIeEdY/w-d-xo.html
@@MoltenMusicTech "I dont think anything starts off as elevator jazz" - True of jazz indeed, but Eric Satie wrote what he called 'furniture music', which is very much the same thing: it's only the lift had to be invented later. :)
What a fabulous synopsis…great job, thank you!
It really is the golden age of synths isn't it? The amount of choice available nowadays is crazy. My most recent one was the Muse, which I have for about a monthm now, and I'm still playing it for a couple of hours every day. Truly an inspiring machine it is! The other synths are awesome too of course :)
Why is studio electronics never in these lists???
definitely so great now.
Great list, sound reasoning and well put. I was shouting and laughing at the screen after you exclaimed "What about my favorite synth?" I have been lusting for the Mantis and Solar42f all year then mashed he G.A.S pedal and ordered the Solar42f. I fear I will order a Mantis before it arrives. 😅
🐏🐺
Be strong! Force yourself to read the manual before you can order. Sometimes that can help keep me realistic, sometimes i find after i read the manual i realize it’s not really something i need.
The Solar 42 is another this year that snuck up on me as a particularly interesting synth. It certainly isn't feature rich like some of these but it's unique and fun looking. And man does it sound great.
Fantastic video! Thanks for the great explanations!
You have many valid points and from what I have seen before finishing the video I have decided I need to subscribe to your channel thanks for sharing your knowledge and keeping it in layman terms.
I’m about to grab a Moog Muse and you’ve only reinforced my decision.
About 2 months ago I finally bit the bullet and bought an Alesis Andromeda. I took it apart and cleaned out the Pots and replaced the milky Screen with a blue “negative” screen.
It is an over the top synth! I am shocked and disappointed that I waited this long!
It wasn’t cheap but it’s ALIVE. Truly a masterpiece!
Excellent video (as always!) and Thank You so much for describing the Solar 42 so poetically! I bet if you reached out to Arseny that he would probably send you one for your feedback and for a video (I don't know though, but it couldn't hurt to ask). I have the 42F which is what they are making now, even for orders placed earlier, and it has some more tweaks! They are a heavenly playground for Ambient nuts such as myself and I could lose hours and hours of myself in exploring it!
You're gonna love Mantis when you get your hands on it 😊 it is MEGA
My top synth would possibly be Melbourne Instruments Nina. Now the Arturia Polybrute 12 could match the Nina and depends if you what the keyboard on the PB12. I’d say the Nina beats the PB12 on multi-timbrality being 4 as to 2 on the PB12 and the Nina retains the Morph feature. If you can’t afford the Nina the Delia is a ‘cheaper’ option. For pure mental experimentation the Gamechanger Motor Synth - however I would say this should not be your first synth.
I wish they hadn’t put different features on the Delia that were not on or releasable in firmware for the Nina. I have and absolutely love the Nina but have FOMO on some of the Delia’s non-Nina features. Haha.
@@RolandFrasierEPICagreed. Since Delia is primarily digital, I'm still hoping some features will make their way to NINA.
@@chrisstaubyn Hi from Brazil :) I have done with Roland Mc 909 16 álbuns since I started it around 2007 til now these days . monkeyrevolution1.bandcamp.com/ any good everyone ?
I reached a gear saturation point two years ago and found my favorite all in one synth has really been my Virus TI2 keyboard in spite of the quirks and limitations. I mean 16 point multi-timbral, awesome sound, effects, best arpeggiator ever, tons of synthesizer models from wavetable to vowel synthesis, nothing can really touch it.
I had one Access Virus TI2 keyboard and did not fall in love at all with as I did with Roland MC 909 . Hi from Brazil :) I have done with Roland Mc 909 16 álbuns since I started it around 2007 til now these days . monkeyrevolution1.bandcamp.com/ any good everyone ?
Oh man I wish I could hear Dave Brubeck again for the first time. You’re gonna love it
What on Earth did I say that makes everyone think I’ve never heard of Dave’s Take Five? I referenced it quite deliberately because I know exactly what it is - it’s so weird 🤣
@@MoltenMusicTechyou just talked about it like you’d heard of it but never heard it. It’s a fair assumption
so it seems :D
Very much enjoyed the show, Take 5 on my list so good to see your approval
Enjoyed watching this ! 😎🎶
I have to hand it to Arturia, they really do have their own design language. I remember when the BeatStep and KeyStep came out and everyone was doing black… and here’s these bright white chassis? But they are now iconic. I think the Polybrute has a similar approach. Love it or hate, it is very unique, and absolutely identifiable on stage from the back of a club. And from what my ears are telling me, the word “iconic” will probably hold true in the future for this synth.
The white metal chassis with the faux wood detailing is indeed very pretty/distinctive.
I really enjoy your commentary. I try to love life and smile a lot :D
My personal preference is hybrid synths; I am just not wowed by analog oscillators given what can be accomplished otherwise. Honestly I still think Arturia's coolest synth is the MiniFreak, and it is only 600 buck and includes the plugin/programmer. I think Dave Smith's best design was the Pro-2. I wish my Pro-12 (I own both the 02 and the 12) had the dual filter path of the Pro-2 and the modulation sequencer. Maybe the DSP chips on it just couldn't handle it. Given what we are seeing from Arturia, a dual filter path with the Prophet and SEM filters *should* be a thing in the next Sequential flagship synth; I don't know if it will be, but if they want more of my money, that is what it will have to be. I actually prefer an Iridium (desktop for me) over the Quantum 2; if I had room I would own a Iridium KB, but I have no place for it or any of the other big synths (for now - yes I would have to build a new house). Same for the Third Wave thing; it just cries "buy me in KB format" but I can't fit it. It would be cool if you made a video like this for desktop modules. I supported Fred's Lab Manatee on Kickstarter and it is a really cool, all-digital module. Also the Beetlecrab Vector is just crazy-interesting and deep; I am still learning it; it is definitely not for beginners.
Having been a synth tech for 36 years, it will be interesting to see how long these new analog synths' potentiometers, faders and switches last before they become intermittent and noisy.
My grandmother is 6 years going without any problems!
My subsequent 37 is also 6 years old and going as strong as the day it was unboxed. What sort of timeline you usually start seeing dirty pots?
@@DevMcLaughlin Back in the days of the original synth, the 1970's, dirty pots started to show up in a couple years. During my years as a synth tech working on mostly digital keyboards, it was usually just the main volume pot that wore out. The rotary pots either wore out from use, or had cracked cold solder joints that just needed to be resoldered. The new generation of potentiometers are much batter than those made in the 1970's. Fader type pots often wore out, probably because dust and dirt can easily drop into them. That dirt creates friction that damages the carbon resistor material.
Nice one Robin, top stuff 👍🏾
Excellent, thanks! It seems you understated the touch capability of the Polybrute 12's innovative new keyboard.
Quite possibly
Yes, it has not only polyphonic aftertouch, but an option for tracking both the speed with which you press the keys, and the depth you press them, so you can program the sound to change based on the depth you press the keys down as well as the speed.
I agree that you want to exclude Behringer for whatever personal reason you want, but don't try to tell us that it's because Behringer doesn't bring any new technology to music (you're quite right about this) because that's not he market niche, but let's not forget that all brands have the same problem, even in the innovation market niche there is no innovation anymore. This year 2024 is the most boring since 2016.
No brand has released anything that is ahead of our time, all the things on that list are reverse engineering recovered from the technology of the past, similar to how Behringer does it.
Thanks for your videos, congratulations on your channel.
Behringer is great. And I own a ton of top tier synths.
@@s.gharavi1614 Yes, I know, I have things like Jupiter 6 ($12k), Prophet 5, MS20, 808, Waldorf Wave...
Behringer gives me the ability to have replacements for my most precious instruments, for me it is much more profitable and complete, the rest does not worry me much, I know that even these replicas, being rarities, will be appreciated in the future, I already went through the experience of my TB-303 that I bought in a second-hand appliance store for $50, because it was a piece of shit bass companion for guitarists that nobody wanted. And now we see it for $4000 with the case and no signs of use.
History always repeats itself, Behringer makes replicas, but nobody else seems to do those things as well, complying with the laws and rights. 👍
@@s.gharavi1614- agree. Behringer is getting a lot of new people into hardware synths. Which is a good thing for the more expensive synth manufacturers.
I keep a Wavestate on a riser just above my controller keyboard on my desk for doodling.😁🎶🎹🎶Play On
Great video!
Missed the Pro-3 from Sequential on your list. A monstrous mono with the best sequencer. 😍
Excellent, thank you 🙏. I’d love the Solar 42, unfortunately I just can’t justify 2 grand. All the best !! (I’m mulling over the Digitakt 2, what do you think ?)
The DT is great if you want a very creative sampler with a fantastic sequencer 👍
Great video! I would put the Murmux Adept on this list.
What a time to be a skint synthesist...! But yeah, some incredible instruments there, thanks for a good watch 🙏
😂. Too right!!
Totally agree cost of living and all that with all these beauties dangled before us 😢😢
MicroFreak is almost as featurefull as the MiniFreak. And much cheaper.
On the DV247 website it says this Gemini has 2 LFOs. I can only see 2 LFOs on the pic image, so why have you said there's only 1 LFO ?
Nice video by the way, i thumbed up.
According to the specs there’s one “main lfo”. But there’s another one tied up in the performance control section. It’s not very clear to be honest.
Air dryer and hair fryer - sorry I mean hair dryer & air fryer! I like it - you're a poet Robin!
It is not so much the synthesizers I love, but way more your storytelling and happiness. You could sell a fridge to an eskimo, or any synth to us gear nerds. Thanks a bunch.
Terrific list Robin - if you had to chose between the Take 5 and TEO 5 - in terms of versatility of sound - which one would you go for?
My heart would say Take 5 and my head Teo-5..... I think the TEO is more versatile but i prefer the filter on the Take 5 and the look, if im honest.
@@MoltenMusicTech Take 5 sounds great but I really didn't like the keys on it. Would prefer better keyboard for a bit higher price. Plus some knobs are encoders and some aren't. I'd love to have all encoders on it.
take five elevator music? WHAT!!!
Dave Brubeck is the master of elevator sounds
th-cam.com/video/vmDDOFXSgAs/w-d-xo.html
@@MoltenMusicTech
@@MoltenMusicTechwell if Dave Brubeck is the master of elevator sounds, then Kenny G is the god almighty.
Don't you blaspheme the original smooth operator
Lovely list! they're all so different, but all quite cool. Lovely! But that SOLAR 42F drone machine? Wow!!!
The SOLAR 42F is one of those things that make me think "really?" do I need a piece of hardware with all of its quirks and tuning issues (and there are issues - like when tuning one oscillator others go out of tune which is just weird) to do that? But... it is just so cool... haha. The Lyra-8 was like that; it took a while but I caved and bought one :p
@@MathHammer it also doesn't have MIDI or the ability to really save your setting (akin to Modular / Eurorack in a lot of ways) but it's got so much unique character. It's definitely not an instrument for everyone, but for those who click with it, it's out of this World (I have one and I'm still exploring it, and will be for quite some time yet)!
thank you a meaningful review ... with are rare this days
Pittsburgh synths have always sounded the best to me, great list. Itd be tough to disagree with any of the picks.
Have you tried the Deepmind 12. Its definitely a Behringer synth and not a clone imo
Yes, it's also very old - i'm trying to keep things a bit current if i can.
Thank you!
An idea along the lines of "Best Cheap Synthesizers of the Year" would look at recent price drops of older gear due to new releases, like the second hand price of the Digitakt falling after release of the Mk2.
"Best Hand-Me-Down Synthesizers of the Year"?
Nice idea, but difficult as it would vary so much depending on the territory and availability and then the amount of research required to measure the pricing - although you could probably pop over the Reverb and list the synths in order of price... so who knows - your best bet is to go and make it!
Beautiful synths, I would have liked to hear them a bit more.
I like your vibe and your shirts
Cool list. I like the Arturia PolyBrute 12 the most. Solar 42 just released a new model called the Solar 42f.
My vote is for 4 Plasma Voice's hooked up to a NiftyKEYS eurorack case-keyboard.
you're a rather good poet
Hey Robin. Did you ever finish building the Dekard's Dream??
Why didn't the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave make the list ?
It made the long list but it’s another really expensive synth and there’s only so much room. For PPG sounds what does it have over the Quantum? Tricky isn’t it.
Soma Terra... Brilliant.
Still nothing to compete with Synclavier... ;-)
So,, what are your thoughts on the Minilogue xd. Is it still a Good synth,does it still hold up in 2024? It seems like a Basic bread and butter subtractive synth. The reason I ask,, is I am contemplating on getting The Module version. Thanks!!!
Yes, it's brilliant and would appear on my best budget synth list
Behringer Deepmind 12 is not a remaker.
Roland Gaia 2 is a digital Synth, but it is good. And Korg Minilogue is a portable synth, a good choice too.
but it is really really old when considering exciting current synths. There are many good synths, but i only have room for 8 ish.
Im sorry to say this, but to the average listener, of familiar song recordings, i don't think most people would be able to tell the difference between one synth or the other. Which brings me to the point, to a recording artist, maybe searching for that uniquely distinct sound, its important, but as a cover band musician, all these sounds aren't actually necessary, since most of the audience doesn't appreciate the differences. most know Moogs, Rhodes, DX7s, Hammond, Strings and acoustic grand. in most cases, most Yamaha;s Rolands and Korgs cover the main sounds and audience doesn't really know or care. But thank you for the description of the different units, i just think these are for Studio use, but not road use.
You are absolutely right, none of this matters a jot to the listening public. If you are a gigging musician then you need a Montage or a Kronos or a Nord Stage Piano to reproduce the sounds you need to match the music you are making - that's all totally correct. However, synthesizers have become instruments and adventure playgrounds for electronic travellers and what interests us is the way the electrons interact, the way the voltage interplays and how the textures meet with stresses and strains in richness and starvation. For me it's the instrument that inspires the music more than imagining music for which I need a specific sound. There are other "Best of" lists that can tackle stage pianos and performance synths and I hope to give those a go at some point. But, yes, your points are completely valid :D
@@MoltenMusicTech Thanks for taking the time to reply to a not so complimentary message i posted. Yes, for the creativity, i get it, i just feel the differences are so very slight, hardly discernable to most listeners. I feel this is at the engineering level of distinction, between each. I appreciate and applaud your knowledge and keen ear. I know a lot of non-musicians who work with keyboard sounds as if using computers. The tekky guy with the home studio. also have seen guys who painstakingly try to exactly replicate tribute band music to the finest degree for gigging purpose, again, lots of effort no one really appreciates. I do get it. its PERSONAL triumph. And for that, you get A plus! Keep rocking.
I have the sub 37. Would the mini freak or the TEO -5 be a better accompaniment?
Minifreak would give you something very different, the teo 5 would give you similar vibes to the 37. So it depends on what you’re trying to do.
@@MoltenMusicTech would the Korg multi-poly be more of the same?
The korg has wavetables and waveshaping along with emulated analogue and so can offer some different tones - it looks great.
Just flicking through, and I know it matches your shirt, but I would go for a more subtle nail colour whilst playing moog devices.
Sanchez
Funny, I didnt think about boybands when saying "Take Five", but the classic jazz song from Dave Brubeck...
3:30: Frankenmoog. A totally new and revolutionary synth made from the famous Moog oscillators, famous Moog ladder filters and famous Moog VCO is yet another Moog. The best and the worst at the same time that happened to them is the Moog, the Moog and the Moog. At its price, I'll get a Yamaha Montage or Iridium, thanks. We can't sit forever with the "authentic analogue" sound of 1970. They were avant-garde back then. I want avant-garde sound now. And no, I don't need Prophet 5, Juno-6, OB-X (name one, just _one_ virtual VSTi synth manufacturer who doesn't waste resources onto the "most exact reproduction" of it). 1980s OBX with the 1980s cross-modulation added. Thanks, but no, thanks. Minifreak is fine, but it's 10+ years old. Taiga modular? Always respected them, but never had a technician to set it up for me. Heck, name one, just one new synth with the bona fide additive oscillator. No, those on eBay don't do it, I don't have a technician to replace its drying caps. Number of new synths in 2024: a hundred, perhaps. Number of new, unusual, principally new sound synthesis techniques: zero. 50 years ago, the originals of the 2024 replicas were not the synths for rich white old nostalgic folks. In 2024, the industry figured out, where the money is. Let's see what old crap they'll recreate in 2025...
46:17 "It's a synthesiser of a generation" that makes no music any more. They _collect 5-digit priced synths_. Ah, what a sound so they make! Ah, ah, ah! And what do you do with that sound? Enjoy it in private? And a whole industry works to satisfy this avarice.
Are all engineers already dead? Is anyone innovating the synth sound any more? Give me a synth that sounds "oh sh!t wow!" in 2025, not the clone of the one that sounded "oh sh!t wow" 55 years ago, even if with a multi-track sequencer added! I'm only 62 years young, I'll make good real music on it.
I've never understood people who are unable to enjoy an synthesizer as an instrument. They've been making guitars the same for a hundred years and no one is bored yet. I think the Muse pulls together everything Moog is about and delivers it in a way that more people can enjoy - people who haven't had access to their synths before. There's an infinite sound palette available from the manipulation of analogue oscillators and so finding something completely new and different, just for the sake of it, is not particularly inspiring in my view. There are a lot of great software synths out there that can do things hardware never dreamed of - but they don't interest me because of the lack of physical, consistent and intentional manipulation. Iridium is essentially a hardware software synth and while it sounds good it doesn't really inspire me as an instrument. The big ones like the Montage, Kronos and whatever the Roland one is are fabulous stage machines for replicating all types of sound, but they are not interesting as an immersive instrument - at least in my view.
Synths are for playing and enjoying - no one is deluded enough to believe they are going to become recording artists or that becoming famous is the reason behind buying into music gear. It's a hobby, a fascination, and safer than spending your money on motorbikes and casinos.
@@MoltenMusicTech Robin, thank you very much for replying to my rant. I think that at some deep level we feel the same: the synth, playing it, making music on it is a beautiful hobby. And I love synthesisers as much as you do.
What I have to disagree with is that 'an infinite sound palette available from the manipulation of analogue oscillators' is really infinite, and is enough for everyone. I toyed with these new AI music generators: Udio, Suno, some others. I should mention that I compose only instrumental music, and never use sampled sounds, except to mangle them beyond recognition in a granular or wavetable oscillator. I only _synthesise_ sounds on synths.
These AI tools aren't useless: they may suddenly produce a novel musical idea which I, may luck have it, develop into a new piece. Now, I have a very interesting chunk of music from one of these AI tools. I wanted to re-create the sound on the synth, and have been failing miserably, nothing even came close. It starts with a simple low C chord, C1-E1-G1-C2; what's truly unsimple is the sound itself. It's still haunting me since May when I randomly obtained it from the AI thing. I get back to it once in a while. I tried Iridium, I tried all-in-one soft-synth engines Halion and Falcon, but it's just unyielding. The closest I got was by using the additive oscillator in the Falcon, but reproduced only low harmonics of it. Perhaps I could tune multiple of the same additive oscillators, but higher harmonics are not in the musical ratio to the fundamental; it's a lot of work with the spectroscope and guitar tuner to get them right, and I'm not even sure that I'll end up close to the sonic quality of it - I'm not desperate enough yet. And I want this sound. No no no, I WANT THIS SOUND!!! I'll try my best to share it with you, but YT is not too kind to web links in comments.
I entirely agree that there is a huge sonic space accessible to analogue or FM synths (almost all the 'new' ones are one of these types). But there's also even larger space unavailable to them. One cannot clone an authentic sax, trumpet or, heaven forbid, violin sound using these, if only as a counterexample. It's not that I want a realistic sax from the synth. But, similarly, there are sounds with equally unique sonic qualities that exist only in my imagination or, recently, have been reified by the AI. The 50-year-old inventions cannot make them. And access to this huge and rich sonic space is badly wanting, at least speaking for myself. In our music, the sound is as important as are melody and harmony.
I agree that mass-produced synths must be easily playable by everyone, the ease of control is crucially important. But, on the other hand, I do expect sonic innovation from the higher 4-digit priced synths, but don't see it. The same 'oh s!!t wow, what's that?' which people experienced in the 70s hearing Moog and Buchla. But alas, on no occasion in the last two and a half decades I exclaimed that. The last time I did was when I heard (and purchased on the spot) the Yamaha FS1R, in 1999. The synth became a thundering commercial failure: a 1U box with some 3 thousand parameters and only 6 buttons, 4 rotary encoders and a 2-line LCD to program all this stuff, and without software to control it from a computer - Yamaha is renowned for the absence of any (I wrote it for myself, thanks to the tome of documentation that came with it, but how many musicians could?). Few were produced, in 1998‒2000 only. I handle this ageing synth as if it were made of thin glass. They go on eBay as high as 3‒6 grand. No hardware or software synth has reproduced the novel oscillator tech which it uses in the 27 years since; very few people are perhaps even aware it exists. Or, 'fraid, existed. The latest Montage can repro some of its sound, but not the main juice.
Holy flying cow, did the humankind last invent a new way to synthesise sound 27 years ago? Whither we're heading?
Now. It’s not well enough known but the pronunciation of Moog as Mow-guh was an April Fool’s joke by Mr Robert M himself.
The ‘right’ way to pronounce Moog is as it was said from 1968 until about 2004 when Mr Moog thought he’d have some fun with a journalist interviewing him early in April.
Moo-guh. That’s how you say it.
The ‘Moog Muse’ name is poetry. Mow-ugh Muse just falls flat. That’s one clue. There are other product names as clues as well, I’ll leave it up to anyone who cares to find out which as an exercise! Products that were created by Bob M himself.
Jackanory
Any thoughts on Osmose as a mpe controller for sw synths?
i understand it to be awesome. As with all MPE controllers it's a very different feel to a real piano.
@@MoltenMusicTechTried it in a shop yesterday but only in standalone situation. It's amazing. Keys feel great. I'm not sure about ease of use as a controller for vst instruments.
I tried Sequential Take 5 and Hydrasynth at the same time. Both of them have crappy keyboards, imho.
Oh ok. The hydra synth has polyphonic aftertouch which makes it a bit different. I think if the keyboard is vital then it’s best to invest in the controller that best suits you
Sample the cockerel and use it in a Krell patch.
i still wait for the modal carbon x to come to earth from another dimension
I just don't have any space left for new gear in my (trying to keep it compact) setup. Maybe there's just enough space for a Taiga desktop, albeit the more cramped format.
I own a Novation Summit, Pro-3 and Osmose...I would put them all in any top 10! I cant imagen a 2024 top 10 without an Osmose, the only real exciting change in a decade of 'another subtractive' synth being launched...
Honestly I always forget it borrowed a synth engine from Hakken and see it as a controller
Super Gemini is the GOAT
Seems he was most excited about MiniFresk
Maybe youd consider making a 5 best experimental synth video...... For that I'd pick.......Solar 42f, Moog Matriarch, Syntrx II, Black Sustem ii, and korg ARP 2600M.
Do you mean that they are good for experimenting or that they are experimental forms of synthesiser?
I thought "Take Five" was a rather recognizable Dave Brubeck / Paul Desmond song name.
Exactly. I'm genuinely surprised he didn't know this.
I do know this, which is precisely why i said it the name sounded like it?... big conversation about it further down. So you're saying the synth was in fact named after a 1950s jazz standard? It was also the name of a biscuit and of course a phrase used to give performers a break... i'm failing to see the connection between any of these things and a synthesizer.
Worst synthesizer name in history...
A pity you don't add Behringer synths in your review cause THEIR CLONES ARE MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL BECAUSE THEY ADD EXTRA FEATURES! AND SOUNDWISE THEY SOUND A BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE ORIGINALS, SO WE CAN TALK OF A NEW SYNTHESIZER IN FACT.
But if i was including clones or replicas then I'd have to include the Rev4 Prophet 5/10, the OBX8, the Dinsync RE-303, Michigan Sound Works and the whole catalogue of Black Corporation modules before i get to any Behringers.... and according to you they dont sound like the originals so they are something that sounds a bit like something good - doesn't look like "Best" material to me. Behringer make some great synths but price and sound alone are not really enough, for me, to put them on a "Best" list. Most of them follow the Model D format which I find clumsy despite sounding great. Even the Neutron and Proton are a bit crowded and un-beautiful in my view. The Poly D, MonoPoly and MS5 on the other hand look and sound great and at least one would feature in a "Best budget synth" list, probably the 2600 as well. And despite offering increase polyphony, an ocassional effect and MIDI they don't really bring anything new. I hope that clears things up for you.
For me nothing can beat the polybrute 12, bit i'm not and in the case of talking about it.
you missed groove synthesis 3rd wave
No i didn't, it just didnt make the list :D
No love for the ubxa? Great list though.
Thanks! I think I made that point at the beginning of the video?
@@MoltenMusicTech Yes you did :) My bad. Great content and the way you tell a story really pulls you in. :)
I hope it doesn't change till tomorrow...
No Dreadbox Murmux!
Nope
It is a high price, What about Delia synth from Australia?
They are many more synths 😀
Doesn't really count as it's eurorack, but that Intellijel Atlantix is a very nice sounding synth.
23:15 "Lifestyle synthesizer"
In my opinion, the version of the review without talking would be more successful. As a musician, I want to listen to synthesizer music, not speech.
How do you envision someone would make such a video?
@@MoltenMusicTech I try to avoid videos with chatter about synthesizers, so once again I make sure that it is best to additionally specify the phrase "no talking" in the search query.)
I feel that it would be difficult to express an opinion in synth sounds alone - most synths sound great, and so, perhaps, talking about why you like a partcular synth is a better way of doing that. Are you going to base a purchase decision purely on filter sweeps alone or does the opinion of someone you feel is trustworthy have any value? There are plenty of synth sound demos out there for you to find, I'm not sure someone collecting them together as a "best of" video would be that successful because there would be no explanation as to why. Personally I value both sound demos and opinion - i like to read reviews etc - and my job is share my view and fortunately many people find that helpful.
@@MoltenMusicTechPlenty of audio only synth reviews exist across TH-cam a dime a dozen, that guy is welcomed to go find them if that’s what he’s looking for, the overwhelming majority of everyone else is here for the value of your words, opinions and years of experience in the world of music and these beautiful synthesizers. Don’t change a thing. And thank you for helping further reinforce my decision on the Muse.
Ha, thank you
The only thing in life I want now is a noire Arturia Polybrute 12 :)
Ha! I have that same lava lamp ☕️
I want to like the muse, but can’t it’s too buzzy and distorted to me
I would put many soviet synths on the list and perhaps Tiracon 6V from GDR....
Cool, wasn’t really looking at all time greatest 😁
@MoltenMusicTech Perhaps not but I would if I was making a list.
Moog muse can't be captured in recordings unfortunately so it's useless until you play it in person... no one is sure why this is, but the Muse sounds flat to most people on digital recordings despite sounding gorgeous to those who own it.
😂
We all know the Waldorf Q is the best synth ever. Fact!
If you want a Mini-Moog, buy a Mini-Moog or maybe an AJH Synth MiniMod Keyz Modular. I think people should be aware of the latter. It is priced like the modular synth that it is, though; much more than the Taiga. I would not call the Taiga a Mini-Moog other than it is monophonic. It is more like a West Coast patchable synth with hybrid East Coast additions.
Yeah. Taiga is Pittsburgh making what Pittsburgh makes. Which is always just whatever they’re really interested in. Not an answer to a famous instrument or a specific ‘market niche.’
Спасибо, интересно.
i spent too much on elevator
No mention of the Behringer Proton? My Neutron doesn't care, either.
Most musical opener ever! 😂
i thank you, please talk to my agent for bookings
noted
Ps. That muse. I'd forgotten it sorta since the main hype.
Fecking glorious!
@@MoltenMusicTech Incoming copyright strike from Rick Wakeman?🎹🎶
I think suggesting the Behringer Ub-XA being a synth that brings nothing new to the market is possibly a complete misunderstanding of the instrument and a sign someone hasn't even investigated it's capabilities....
It’s literally a clone of a synth from the early 80s so. Seems like a fair statement to me. I don’t hate Behringer or anything, I just think people who have been using synths for any amount of time are not going to see Ub-XA as anything new.
the Muse looks like a good synth but at that price I want poly aftertouch.
Deberías hacer un libro 👍