it never fails, whenever your jams go off my two small children swarm my computer for a dance party, they always enjoy it. they pronounce vintage "wintage" just like you 🤣
Let me be one of the many people in the comments section to congratulate you on your SUPERB Jam!!!! It was top notch! I had an old DX FM synth, back in the day and no way could I approach either the sounds you were using here, or the over all feel of your track. 👍
Audio Pilz is living proof that is not gear that is used, but the head that uses the gear. Little known fact: The house track made (On and On by Jesse Saunders) used a Mattel Handsonic as the main drum machine (!)
@@sawtooth808incorrect 😂 he didn't use a mattel synsonic. Yes, he bought one and practiced with it, but that is not the drum machine used on On and On. Nice try, dude. 😂
I have one of these. And I love it. In the past I've owned pretty much every DX synth of worth DX5, DX7, DX7s, DX11, DX21, FB01, TX81Z, TX816, SY77 ( x 2 ), SY99 And now I have the OpSix which is great !
@@djkanyonyes, agreed! But just a little more quality would have been nice. Aftertouch is so powerful in fm synthesis. For me it don’t matter; for I use another keyboard for that matter, but it could have been just a bit more. 😄
i LOVE my OPSIX. For easy subs, just have a sine wave on the first operator, bring it down just passed the point you can hear it. then use an algorithm that keeps OP1 away from any modulators, and then build crazy complex wave folding/FM madness with a steady sub. Secret weapon for quick Subs when a song needs it in certain sections :)
The Opsix is a future classic, mark my words! It’s second to none for sound design, especially when you understand the user algorithms. I really hope Korg does a MKII and SE, but like, better than they did the Wavestate II and SE. Great video, as usual!
Your final thoughts are spot on - fantastic engine, but the form factor isn't enough of any one thing to really elevate it. The engine itself has always struck me as being made by films that really love synthesis - it's a playground and so powerful and creative.
I picked one up brand new for $399 international whateverbucks from a local music shop and I love it. When I picked it up though I did have to open the box and make sure it was actually in there because the box was so incredibly light.
Lightweight synths are getting out of hand. I had a Roland VR-09 for some years and one of the reasons I ended up selling it was it kept sliding all over the keyboard stand. Granted, I might have been a bit aggressive with palm glissandos and other shenanigans. BTW the VR-09 would be a great candidate for a Bad Gear episode but I’m afraid it does too many things and is maybe too vanilla for this show. But man, that iPad editor was frustrating… Plenty of annoying stuff on that keyboard.
Opsix is my favorite FM synth of all time. It's wayyyy more powerful than people think it is. I think we are only scratching the surface. Plus, like two days ago The Chemical Brothers were showing off some of their stage gear, and front and center was an Opsix
Yeah! My beloved OpSix made it onto Bad Gear! 😊 Yes, it‘s kinda sad that Korg cut some corners on the hardware, but it‘s such a powerful synth nonetheless. 6 OP FM is plentiful is it is, but having the other operator types opens up so much more. For example, i love to build a modulator construct with Ringmodulators and then use this to modulate a FM carrier. Use all this with the user algorithm and you‘ve got yourself a little polyphonic modular-like synth. Everytime i turn it on, i discover some new sounds and loose myself in it. I just love this synth!
@@oscarvanderburgh9915 I am pretty sure @AudioPilz will never review the Yamaha YRA-28B recorder, so I doubt this will ever happen to me ;) (That said he has reviewed all the synths I own (Update: except the Korg Volca Bass, I had not realized that the volca bass, mix and sample had not been reviewed).)
@@AudioPilz back in the day i had to use MAX in conjunction with a Peavy MIDI controller to control a DX7 with SysEx messages. A very clunky kludge. :/
I own the opsix, and despite its flaws (the envelopes being the biggest one) it's one of my favorite FM synths just for how easy it is to program. Would love an SE model. Excellent episode with some great grooves as always!
@@javiceres The DX7 envelopes have 4 rates and 4 levels. ADSR envelopes by contrast have 3 rates (AD and R) and one level (S). The practical difference is that complex envelopes let you make really nuanced sounds. This is especially important in FM synthesis because each operator has his own envelope, and changes in envelope dramatically affect the timbre of your patch.
You can use it without FM if you want! Each "operator" can be used straight up as an oscillator. 6 oscillators! Or 3 oscillators being run through 3 different separate filters (operators can be turned into filters, wave shapers, or FX!) that's without even touching the actual onboard filter and FX section
Until you start facing all the bugs it comes bundled with. I didn't expect this low quality software from Korg, no Undo, no bank organization, defective program change, mandatory access to user private documents, developers laziness in all its glory. Sharing "native" doesn't mean all "native" software products developed by KORG are even in the same feature or quality universe, but more like a weird multi-verse where everything went wrong. It's cheap, sure, and even more when I re-sell this license.
I had been secretly hoping for a Bad Gear episode on the Opsix! Yet another exquisite mix of meme-fueled roast and genius inspiration. I think I need to go power mine up now!
Hasn't this channel jumped the shark? The last real bad gear reviewed here was the SM Pro V-Machne. Bring back the MC303 level bad please! On a positive note, your jams are top notch.
I have two of these Professor.. bought the first for $500.. bought the second on the one day sale for $323.. once again you are extremely fair on your review explaining it's strengths and weaknesses.. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical and nervous about how this video was going to play out.. 🤘😁
I had the volca fm and upgraded to the fm2 with no desire to get the opsix. Then they had a huge fire sale in the states and it’s been the best sub $400 purchase in a long time. I’m pleasantly surprised how good it can sound. Great video as always and great songs you made with it.
opsix for life! i actually paid full price for it when it first came out and not mad about it. ive had it for some time and just scratched the surface. I had never thought about using it as a rythm machine! that first jam was awesome! it gave me some ideas!
I bought the OpSix module a few months back. It took me a while, but now it is one of my favorite instruments to perform with. Those slides and ratio knobs allow for massive changes in timbre. If I could, I would port the macro knobs for "mod attack/release" and "carrier attack/release" from the Volca FM and slap those on the front of the OpSix too.
Literally the best sounding synth ever! I own one and this to me is a classic it could never be bad gear. Your right about the keyboard but for me its fine... The should create another version of this with a full keyboard.
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx Like a lot of gear featured on here, it may be gear people have a lot of differing opinions on, not necessarily “bad.” I, for one, have gotten a LOT of use out of mine
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx it's almost like the point of this series is to address gear that has had a visceral/mixed reaction and try to be as objective about is as possible, not make a grand declaration that the gear is shit. All the criticisms in this video are fair in terms of calling it bad gear: amazing sound engine, streamlined and intuitive sound design, a terrible keyboard, no aftertouch, limited sequencer, no multi timbral patches. Those are all deal breakers for many people, hence 'bad gear'. I love my Opsix.
@@whahappend8222 I don't agree that the OpSix is bad gear. The same level of criticism would apply to any other electronic musical instrument. The Roland Jupiter 8, for example, not only had no aftertouch on its keybed, but no velocity either. So is that also bad gear? It's hard to imagine any synth or drum machine that wouldn't qualify, making the label meaningless, perhaps apart from the most expensive, such as the Arturia Polybrute, Waldorf Quantum, Moog One etc. A 'deal breaker' for most of us is price above a certain level, making those three synths 'bad gear' by your definition.
That topgun sound in the jam followed by the picture of the jet 😆.Such quality content. Every episode I always find myself rewinding the jams and thinking “man this guys a good music producer”.
Yeah, I've really been enjoying that jam in particular, too! I've listened through the jams a few times to understand what it's capable of better, and yeah, every time that lead comes in, I've listened to it at least twice to listen to both the lead itself and the context it comes in (the other more midground and background sounds in that section) that lets it stand out so well while still supporting it. I saw the channel pop up in my recommendations, and at first I was a bit turned off by the negativity implied by the name (I wasn't looking to be discouraged from something I was also excited about), but I'm so glad I did eventually click on it.
It took me an hour and a half to watch this video while pausing it at least 1000 times to read each and every little joke panel you jammed into it! It seems like it was more work to make the video compared to playing the opsix. Well, playing it is one thing. Understanding it is something completely different! You have done a fantastic job on the music, the video and the playing! I'm very impressed! Thanks for all of the hard work! I purchased the wavestate and the modwave. I wasn't going near the opsix with a 10 foot pole!😂
Phenomenal episode!! You really got the best out of it!! One day, some manufacturer is going to build what you suggest and we'll all be better off for it ❤
Finally a piece of gear I own makes it onto bad gear! Triggered! Love my opsix, agree on the keybed though. There is a Kickstarter project (from Tall Dog Electronics) to convert it into a desktop unit - never signed up to anything faster...
Oh damn, didn't expect my main synth to be on this channel! Love all the jams! #1 was super interesting for me since you've used the synth in a way I would never thought about - treating the faders as mixers and treating it as a drum machine. Great video, as always!
I was about to say this. Been following this channel for a few months now ( I know I’m late!!) but he always brings the best out of any gear and that shows it’s not about the gear indeed.. but the mind that wields it. I love this synth now. May actually add it to my arsenal. He went over everything I need and the bass, beats and synth sound really good. Better than most drum machines xD
I literally tune in every week for the cook up of a never heard before obscure sub genre. It cracks me up every time. Second is the killer meme arsenal. The glowing red eyes when he mentioned volca 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Classic material
This is my favorite modern synth. Fun to see you work through it :) I wish korg didn't botch the built-in keys and such so much, the engine is absolutely beautiful.
Your production (pun intended) values are always so off the charts... you're someone who I _WANT_ to listen regarding these topics because you know how to use them properly and you have chops for music composition that everyone should have. If anyone knows what to say about a synth, it's someone who knows what they're doing... :)
I got one of these during the huge US warehouse sale. I'm super happy with it, especially for that price. It might have been too expensive at launch, but I think that in the $300ish(new) range this thing is really fun
@@sub-jec-tiv it's way more than FM! It has ringmod, wavefold, filter (fm) for example. It's more like digital polyphonic modular, especialy with the user-algorithms. Amazing synth! I want one
I just got my OpSix, so far I love it, it’s the sound I was looking for without the vintage price. My only gripe is the keyboard but I’ve been spoiled by Roland weighted keys.
I never liked fm sounds and never thought id get an fm synth....until the day i tried an opsix in a store and fell in love with it immediately! Its been so much fun and easy to play and has taken my music in new directions. Sure its not perfect but no synth is. Youre second jam was sublime :) . You show arrives here early Saturday morning and has vecome my ritual weekend starter. Carry on sir. Hope you get your 100k trophy soon .
Got one during the blowout sale. Had it for several months and just was not jiving with it, even with how approachable Korg made FM synthesis. I feel like I spent so much time trying to craft good sounds instead of jamming.
It’s too bad I imposed a “No new synths” rule (I do have space for a Roland SP 404 mk2 which I will purchase at a later point in time to honor my late younger brother) because the OpSix looks a cult classic (in the vein of the DX 100 was with Detroit Techno
Just getting a chance to watch this episode, which is unusual. Wow you really made that FM sound analog! The kitty content was precious. I had not heard of this synth. FM is often too glassy for my palette, but you had me doubting that. Well done as always-the show and your original snippets.
BTW I'm sure that I'm not the only one who takes 30 minutes to get through these videos because I'm constantly pausing and reading all the A+ meme material. You've got an S tier team of meme generators. "The invention of Wave shaping" is particularly my favorite one of this bunch. Along with the one using that great photo of Jaime Carragher taking a selfie of a miserable Gary Neville witnessing the thrashing of Manchester United by Liverpool.
I like all your videos but this one is even better ! Very inspired pieces, effective demos of features and excellent sound choices in general. One of your best episode to my opinion. BTW, I am amazed by the frequence of your shows, considering the amount of work to discover prducts, write, play and produce such a quality show. 👍👍👏👏👏
Totally agree about the form factor. I have a WaveState and Modwave. They dont fit properly in my keyboard rack and take up a huge amount of desk space due to the nearly useless keyboard. A desktop, keyboard-less version would be MUCH better--I'd choose it even if the price was identical to the current one. As for the OpSix, it sounds great and it's pretty easy to use as FM goes. But I have the FM engine in the Kronos, the FMX engine in the Montage and many powerful VST options like Cherry Audio Sines or Arturia DXV. It's really hard for me to justify another very similar 6-op FM box--especially with only 32 voice polphony and a big footprint.
This is the only Korg I considered to buy in a very long time, after my Poly 800 in 1984, that one left me with a forever sour taste for the brand. This one was just right idea for an FM synth. A buddy of mine had a DX9 in the 80's and I tried making sounds with it, not easy. At this time, I had a Juno 106, all time easiest synth to handle. But the formfactor of the Opsix doesn’t fit for me, a desktop version, yes, then I would probably buy one. A very good review again as always. Keep it up! Bad Gear! Learning about stuff while smiling 😉
It's been about a year and a half since I bought an Opsix, my first ever synthesizer, and it is such an effective jack-of-all-trades that I am having difficulties finding a new synth that will give me another truly fresh experience like the Opsix did. I don't even use the FM capabilities that much, it works amazingly well as an additive and subtractive synth as well. Setting all oscillators to carriers allows to make suff like highly customizable organs, and I even made a marimba and a flute. And setting carriers to filter mode allows you apply several individually-behaving filters. I've only really used FM for electric pianos. So far the only synth which I feel will be another rabbit hole of discovery for me is one of Opsix's brothers, the Modwave.
Pilzzz , you knocked it out of the park on this one. And I noticed you did not talk about the plug-in version of it.I use that often to create patches and then import them into the hardware because it’s better with hardware. if I only had one synth maybe that would be it . I think the build is amazing I don’t know what anyone’s complaining about the controllers are great. They have just packed so much into it that they had to do it this way, or make a gigantic version with a lot more knobs and sliders and I think people don’t understand the power of the sequencer. There’s nothing like it in any synth. I’m going to make a vid or two showing off how unbelievably crazy deep it can be, but you did a really great job of showing a lot of those deep sounds. I started dancing in my pants hahah
Woo, my first non-microkorg (but every synthesist has one of those in a cupboard right?) synth to appear in an episode 😊 Did NOT expect it to be the weird-Borg in this intro though!!
The sequencer is very limited indeed. Kind of sucks. But you can do a LOT more with the sequencer if you don't use all the voices at the same time. Within each step there is considerable room to start another note later.
I'm saying it now. Future classic. This thing is so freaking powerful that just turning it on gives you an intelligence buff. Great synth, and the fact that Korg was clearing them out at insane prices just a few months ago is nuts! Can't forget about the Modwave and Wavestate too. Korg really knocked it out of the park with their reimaging of these oldies. These three synths may just be one of the most underrated 3 synths that have been brought out by a big company in the past 10 years, and for Korg, possibly their most underrated synths ever!
You've done it!! Herzlichen Dank und ich hoffe, Du hattest richtig Spass den zu entdecken. Habe ihn hier und werde ihn zum Desktopsynth umbauen. Diese Engine in diesem Gehäuse... eine Katastrophe. Dabei hat er einen eigenen Charakter, Tiefe und ist auch nutzbar ohne Ingenieursausbildung. Ich meine, ich habe hier auch den FS1R... geiler Sound in unbenutzbar (zweifellos ein Bad Gear).
I love this thing and your jams make want to get a second one :p ! And it has the crispness and brilliance I miss on the Digitone. Also much love for TNG memes & memes that talk to your female viewers ;) Best wishes - Jeanne
Counterpoint: after 20 models of indecipherable FM synthesis over 30+ years from Yamaha, Korg finally cracked that nut and made FM synthesis *FUN* 🎉 Kudos to Korg for making the OpSix small, affordable, and with so much tactile control.
The vst version "opsix native" is actually pretty nice, it has a very usable UI and a bunch of nice little shortcuts that are missing from a lot of other modern fm synthesis vsts.
If i were to get a hardware FM synth, it'd be the OpSix. The interface mKes sense, which i cant say for any ither hardware FM synth. Works just like FM8 and 6 operators are plenty IMO. Nice one, Florian 😊
@@doctorsynth1 Yes, the chaos pad as modulation source is sick, however the overpowered sequencer is the real kicker. On the other hand the Wavestate seems to be sonically more interesting.
It leaves me dumbfounded how you can pull this off every seven days. It takes me a month just to figure out most pieces of music gear work. You how I believe... You're a music MONSTER!
Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*
Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz
…..and here..we….go.
(brand new official Korg video)
th-cam.com/video/PAjAfP6fDZE/w-d-xo.html
you should make more drum and bass with the gear you review! would be cool to hear some bassy jungle or neuro
it never fails, whenever your jams go off my two small children swarm my computer for a dance party, they always enjoy it. they pronounce vintage "wintage" just like you 🤣
That's very heartwarming to hear! All the best!!!
Same here… kids dance party! All the best from Boston….
@@dracul74Boston Strong, baybee!
Go Celtics!
I got so many cosy feels reading this comment
Yeah, still wondering why "voices" is possible but not "vintage".
Let me be one of the many people in the comments section to congratulate you on your SUPERB Jam!!!! It was top notch! I had an old DX FM synth, back in the day and no way could I approach either the sounds you were using here, or the over all feel of your track. 👍
Thank you so much!!!
Audio Pilz is living proof that is not gear that is used, but the head that uses the gear. Little known fact: The house track made (On and On by Jesse Saunders) used a Mattel Handsonic as the main drum machine (!)
Yes top production for sure
Nice way to deal with FM. And again a great Jam and Video. Next video the Yamaha DX200 for some more FM power
@@sawtooth808incorrect 😂 he didn't use a mattel synsonic. Yes, he bought one and practiced with it, but that is not the drum machine used on On and On. Nice try, dude. 😂
I have one of these. And I love it. In the past I've owned pretty much every DX synth of worth
DX5, DX7, DX7s, DX11, DX21, FB01, TX81Z, TX816, SY77 ( x 2 ), SY99
And now I have the OpSix which is great !
Wow, that's a nice collection!
Did you keep them all, or sell and move on?
dude i think Opsix is the instant classic buired by weak Korg promotion of it. One the best synths i've ever heard in recent years
@@djkanyonyes, agreed! But just a little more quality would have been nice. Aftertouch is so powerful in fm synthesis. For me it don’t matter; for I use another keyboard for that matter, but it could have been just a bit more. 😄
@@AudioPilz It was. I sold them all years ago for stupidly low prices like £250 for the DX5 and £333 for the TX816 🤦♂
i LOVE my OPSIX. For easy subs, just have a sine wave on the first operator, bring it down just passed the point you can hear it. then use an algorithm that keeps OP1 away from any modulators, and then build crazy complex wave folding/FM madness with a steady sub. Secret weapon for quick Subs when a song needs it in certain sections :)
Nice technique!!!
its only a secret if you keep it to yourself lol
The Opsix is a future classic, mark my words!
It’s second to none for sound design, especially when you understand the user algorithms.
I really hope Korg does a MKII and SE, but like, better than they did the Wavestate II and SE.
Great video, as usual!
Thank you!!! Aaaaaand it dropped;)
The review by loopop illustrates the truth of your comment quite well.
Thank You great job and a pleasure to re-visit! I love my OpSix, and pretend it is the most musical Korg gear among recent Modwave,Wavestate and Opsix
Very well done Sir! Your original stuff is sweet btw! Love to hear a full release! Oh, and your appearance on Sonic State this week was awesome! 😊
Thank you so much!!! Shameless plug: full tracks and extended jams are available on Patreon;)
Your final thoughts are spot on - fantastic engine, but the form factor isn't enough of any one thing to really elevate it. The engine itself has always struck me as being made by films that really love synthesis - it's a playground and so powerful and creative.
Thanks!!! Yeah, that sums it up nicely!
I picked one up brand new for $399 international whateverbucks from a local music shop and I love it. When I picked it up though I did have to open the box and make sure it was actually in there because the box was so incredibly light.
Yeah, like a feather!
Don't sneeze in front of it if it isn't tied down, good to know if I buy one.
Lightweight synths are getting out of hand. I had a Roland VR-09 for some years and one of the reasons I ended up selling it was it kept sliding all over the keyboard stand. Granted, I might have been a bit aggressive with palm glissandos and other shenanigans. BTW the VR-09 would be a great candidate for a Bad Gear episode but I’m afraid it does too many things and is maybe too vanilla for this show. But man, that iPad editor was frustrating… Plenty of annoying stuff on that keyboard.
Opsix is my favorite FM synth of all time. It's wayyyy more powerful than people think it is. I think we are only scratching the surface. Plus, like two days ago The Chemical Brothers were showing off some of their stage gear, and front and center was an Opsix
Nice, I really have to give that a listen. Love the Bros.
Yeah! My beloved OpSix made it onto Bad Gear! 😊
Yes, it‘s kinda sad that Korg cut some corners on the hardware, but it‘s such a powerful synth nonetheless. 6 OP FM is plentiful is it is, but having the other operator types opens up so much more. For example, i love to build a modulator construct with Ringmodulators and then use this to modulate a FM carrier.
Use all this with the user algorithm and you‘ve got yourself a little polyphonic modular-like synth.
Everytime i turn it on, i discover some new sounds and loose myself in it.
I just love this synth!
😀😀😀The modulation possibilities are endless!!!
And with this, all of my gear has now been featured on this wonderful channel. Thank you for this. Tremendous jams in this episode.
Bad Gear Bingo!!! Congrats!!!
One day it happens to us all 😅😂😂
@@oscarvanderburgh9915 I am pretty sure @AudioPilz will never review the Yamaha YRA-28B recorder, so I doubt this will ever happen to me ;) (That said he has reviewed all the synths I own (Update: except the Korg Volca Bass, I had not realized that the volca bass, mix and sample had not been reviewed).)
i love my opsix! having hands on, real-time control of the levels and ratios of each operator is priceless! :)
Great UI indeed!
@@AudioPilz back in the day i had to use MAX in conjunction with a Peavy MIDI controller to control a DX7 with SysEx messages. A very clunky kludge. :/
Absolutely approved, the sounds seem to be MKUltra proof, can't go wrong with an onboard oscilloscope. Happy midsummer, great episode as always ❤
Thank you so much!!! Happy midsommar!!!
I own the opsix, and despite its flaws (the envelopes being the biggest one) it's one of my favorite FM synths just for how easy it is to program. Would love an SE model. Excellent episode with some great grooves as always!
Aaaaaaand, it just dropped;) Thank you!!!
What’s wrong with the envelopes? I’m curious
@@javiceres The DX7 envelopes have 4 rates and 4 levels. ADSR envelopes by contrast have 3 rates (AD and R) and one level (S). The practical difference is that complex envelopes let you make really nuanced sounds. This is especially important in FM synthesis because each operator has his own envelope, and changes in envelope dramatically affect the timbre of your patch.
This is my pick if I ever decide to get an FM synth. Those jams sounded insanely good.
You can use it without FM if you want! Each "operator" can be used straight up as an oscillator. 6 oscillators! Or 3 oscillators being run through 3 different separate filters (operators can be turned into filters, wave shapers, or FX!)
that's without even touching the actual onboard filter and FX section
Thank you!!!
Nearly hitting 100,000 subs bro. Very much deserved and should be ten times that. Brilliant channel.
Thank you so much!!!
Voltron activates when you have Wavestate,Modwave and Opsix together! Great jams, video editing is A+
Lol! Thank you!!!
I'll have to recommend the VST version, opsix native is kinda beautiful. Also I gotta say, I love that second jam. "Nice" indeed.
Thanks!!!
Until you start facing all the bugs it comes bundled with. I didn't expect this low quality software from Korg, no Undo, no bank organization, defective program change, mandatory access to user private documents, developers laziness in all its glory. Sharing "native" doesn't mean all "native" software products developed by KORG are even in the same feature or quality universe, but more like a weird multi-verse where everything went wrong. It's cheap, sure, and even more when I re-sell this license.
I had been secretly hoping for a Bad Gear episode on the Opsix! Yet another exquisite mix of meme-fueled roast and genius inspiration. I think I need to go power mine up now!
Thank you so much!!!
Hasn't this channel jumped the shark? The last real bad gear reviewed here was the SM Pro V-Machne. Bring back the MC303 level bad please! On a positive note, your jams are top notch.
Thank you so much!!! You know the drill, one person’s Bad Gear…;)
I have two of these Professor.. bought the first for $500.. bought the second on the one day sale for $323.. once again you are extremely fair on your review explaining it's strengths and weaknesses.. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical and nervous about how this video was going to play out..
🤘😁
Thank you so much!!!
I had the volca fm and upgraded to the fm2 with no desire to get the opsix. Then they had a huge fire sale in the states and it’s been the best sub $400 purchase in a long time. I’m pleasantly surprised how good it can sound. Great video as always and great songs you made with it.
Wolca
Thank you!!!
All of my main workhorse synths and drum machines-the nicest gear I've ever owned-have now been featured on the Bad Gear show. Garbage life forever!
Bad Gear Bingo!!!
opsix for life! i actually paid full price for it when it first came out and not mad about it. ive had it for some time and just scratched the surface. I had never thought about using it as a rythm machine! that first jam was awesome! it gave me some ideas!
Thank you!!!
You know what? I’m going to say it: the wedding rings with the sample engravings are cool.
Excellent video as always, Florian!
Thank you so much!!!
I bought the OpSix module a few months back. It took me a while, but now it is one of my favorite instruments to perform with. Those slides and ratio knobs allow for massive changes in timbre. If I could, I would port the macro knobs for "mod attack/release" and "carrier attack/release" from the Volca FM and slap those on the front of the OpSix too.
This turned out to be incredibly well timed 😀
I was blown away by the news!!!
Literally the best sounding synth ever!
I own one and this to me is a classic it could never be bad gear.
Your right about the keyboard but for me its fine...
The should create another version of this with a full keyboard.
You might be right here;)
Clearly displaying that he didn't bother to watch the video till it's conclusion, if at all.
He's tripping? I have and love the Opsix and there's nothing he said here that's controversial or untrue.
When I saw the Wavestate SE I immediately thought the Opsix deserves that treatment.
I second this!
And it has arrived. Though I would have wished for something like Opeight maybe or some more expression inputs.
Despite any downside, I’m continually amazed at the variety of sounds I can get out of mine. Plus, the price made it almost a necessary purchase.
👍👍👍
So not really 'bad gear' at all...
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx Like a lot of gear featured on here, it may be gear people have a lot of differing opinions on, not necessarily “bad.” I, for one, have gotten a LOT of use out of mine
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx it's almost like the point of this series is to address gear that has had a visceral/mixed reaction and try to be as objective about is as possible, not make a grand declaration that the gear is shit.
All the criticisms in this video are fair in terms of calling it bad gear: amazing sound engine, streamlined and intuitive sound design, a terrible keyboard, no aftertouch, limited sequencer, no multi timbral patches. Those are all deal breakers for many people, hence 'bad gear'. I love my Opsix.
@@whahappend8222 I don't agree that the OpSix is bad gear. The same level of criticism would apply to any other electronic musical instrument. The Roland Jupiter 8, for example, not only had no aftertouch on its keybed, but no velocity either. So is that also bad gear? It's hard to imagine any synth or drum machine that wouldn't qualify, making the label meaningless, perhaps apart from the most expensive, such as the Arturia Polybrute, Waldorf Quantum, Moog One etc. A 'deal breaker' for most of us is price above a certain level, making those three synths 'bad gear' by your definition.
That topgun sound in the jam followed by the picture of the jet 😆.Such quality content. Every episode I always find myself rewinding the jams and thinking “man this guys a good music producer”.
Thank you so much!!!
Yeah, I've really been enjoying that jam in particular, too! I've listened through the jams a few times to understand what it's capable of better, and yeah, every time that lead comes in, I've listened to it at least twice to listen to both the lead itself and the context it comes in (the other more midground and background sounds in that section) that lets it stand out so well while still supporting it.
I saw the channel pop up in my recommendations, and at first I was a bit turned off by the negativity implied by the name (I wasn't looking to be discouraged from something I was also excited about), but I'm so glad I did eventually click on it.
Love the sound of it... and yes, Volca this to the max.
I'd love to use that!!!
It took me an hour and a half to watch this video while pausing it at least 1000 times to read each and every little joke panel you jammed into it! It seems like it was more work to make the video compared to playing the opsix. Well, playing it is one thing. Understanding it is something completely different! You have done a fantastic job on the music, the video and the playing! I'm very impressed! Thanks for all of the hard work! I purchased the wavestate and the modwave. I wasn't going near the opsix with a 10 foot pole!😂
Thanks for watching!!!
Great work as always. Still amazed at how you can jam with anything. That bell is so 80's.
Thank you!!! DANGER ZONE!!!
Phenomenal episode!! You really got the best out of it!! One day, some manufacturer is going to build what you suggest and we'll all be better off for it ❤
Thank you so much!!!
What!? The OpSix has made it to Bad Gear! I have one of these and love it! The keybed is half azzed but the synth engine is FM greatness.
Really like the engine too!!!
From what I've seen the module seems to be more expensive than the keyboard. Maybe the module has some new features?
Finally a piece of gear I own makes it onto bad gear! Triggered!
Love my opsix, agree on the keybed though. There is a Kickstarter project (from Tall Dog Electronics) to convert it into a desktop unit - never signed up to anything faster...
Wow, really have to check it out!!!
'I'm not a fan of 37 keys' is yet again another stellar comment critique of a synth. Lovely stuff
😀😀😀
Oh damn, didn't expect my main synth to be on this channel! Love all the jams! #1 was super interesting for me since you've used the synth in a way I would never thought about - treating the faders as mixers and treating it as a drum machine. Great video, as always!
Thanks!!! the pseudo-multitimbrality is quite interesting on this one
Reminds me of some of the groovebox-style multi-engine voices from Tim Shoebridge and Sinevibes, great programming
I took comfort that the MS2000 appeared, not my MS2000b
This has been the main synth outside a midi controller in me and my partners setup, you reminded me why we feel in love with it in the first place ❤
❤️❤️❤️
As always , any “bad gear” turns into awesome gear in your hands
Thank you so much!!!
I was about to say this. Been following this channel for a few months now ( I know I’m late!!) but he always brings the best out of any gear and that shows it’s not about the gear indeed.. but the mind that wields it. I love this synth now. May actually add it to my arsenal. He went over everything I need and the bass, beats and synth sound really good. Better than most drum machines xD
It’s the best approach to a review. He shows the worst that the gear has to offer but still shows how it can be brilliant.
I'm getting an opsix because of this video it sounds so good i need it
The soap opera synth show from TH-cam, Love it ❤
Lol, that's quite fitting...
This soap leaves my ears clean and fresh!
@@voltijuice8576 Lol nice one
I literally tune in every week for the cook up of a never heard before obscure sub genre. It cracks me up every time. Second is the killer meme arsenal. The glowing red eyes when he mentioned volca 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Classic material
Thank you so much!!!
This is my new favorite channel, I've binged all your episodes of "Bad Gear".
Thank you so much!!!
This is my favorite modern synth. Fun to see you work through it :) I wish korg didn't botch the built-in keys and such so much, the engine is absolutely beautiful.
Thank you!!! Agreed!!!
Your production (pun intended) values are always so off the charts... you're someone who I _WANT_ to listen regarding these topics because you know how to use them properly and you have chops for music composition that everyone should have. If anyone knows what to say about a synth, it's someone who knows what they're doing... :)
Thank you so much!!!
I've been considering getting one for a while ... excellent content as always.
Thank you!!!
I got one of these during the huge US warehouse sale. I'm super happy with it, especially for that price. It might have been too expensive at launch, but I think that in the $300ish(new) range this thing is really fun
Nice!!!
Yo!
The last jam is CRAZY! How do you DO IT? Mad Respect.
The synth sounds super cool as I expected, seems pretty versatile too!
Thank you!!!
@@AudioPilz Yeah that last one is amazing, especially considering it’s 100% digital FM which sometimes sounds cold. Great job
@@sub-jec-tiv it's way more than FM! It has ringmod, wavefold, filter (fm) for example. It's more like digital polyphonic modular, especialy with the user-algorithms. Amazing synth! I want one
I just got my OpSix, so far I love it, it’s the sound I was looking for without the vintage price. My only gripe is the keyboard but I’ve been spoiled by Roland weighted keys.
The keys are really sub par
@@AudioPilz they are but I love the sound
Love my OPSix !
So much fun!
And the editor is awesome as well as the software version!
👍👍👍
It's a "dream machine" nothing more, nothing less.
👍👍👍
I’m waiting for a Korg NTS-1 review. It’s cheap and diy. Also great as a small fx unit.
Great suggestion, thank you!!! Already had that one on the show though...
Your ears must have been burning with that closing SE statement! Too bad the SE didn't come in looking like that gorgeous OG prototype. :-(
The prototype was just too good to be true!!!
I love all things FM! ❤ I can’t wait until you get your hands on a DX200. Truly the peak of hard to program FMness.
I really have to give that one a try!
I still have mine😂
I never liked fm sounds and never thought id get an fm synth....until the day i tried an opsix in a store and fell in love with it immediately! Its been so much fun and easy to play and has taken my music in new directions. Sure its not perfect but no synth is. Youre second jam was sublime :) . You show arrives here early Saturday morning and has vecome my ritual weekend starter. Carry on sir. Hope you get your 100k trophy soon .
Thank you!!! Working on it!!!
Got one during the blowout sale. Had it for several months and just was not jiving with it, even with how approachable Korg made FM synthesis. I feel like I spent so much time trying to craft good sounds instead of jamming.
That blowout sale was super tempting
It’s too bad I imposed a “No new synths” rule (I do have space for a Roland SP 404 mk2 which I will purchase at a later point in time to honor my late younger brother) because the OpSix looks a cult classic (in the vein of the DX 100 was with Detroit Techno
Just getting a chance to watch this episode, which is unusual. Wow you really made that FM sound analog! The kitty content was precious. I had not heard of this synth. FM is often too glassy for my palette, but you had me doubting that. Well done as always-the show and your original snippets.
Thank you!!!
2 out of the last three are in the studio. I think I'm honored? Or horrified... Love the channel. Congrats on the appearance on SonicTalk!
Thank you!!! Approaching Bad Gear Bingo!!!
Only 12 seconds into the video and putting the OpSix over Picard footage instantly makes the OpSix look competent and good
Engage!!!
👆(pause pause pause)🫰👉@@AudioPilz
BTW I'm sure that I'm not the only one who takes 30 minutes to get through these videos because I'm constantly pausing and reading all the A+ meme material. You've got an S tier team of meme generators.
"The invention of Wave shaping" is particularly my favorite one of this bunch. Along with the one using that great photo of Jaime Carragher taking a selfie of a miserable Gary Neville witnessing the thrashing of Manchester United by Liverpool.
I made this exact comment some weeks ago.. 😂 the memes hilarious and on point!
Thank you so much!!!
I like all your videos but this one is even better ! Very inspired pieces, effective demos of features and excellent sound choices in general. One of your best episode to my opinion. BTW, I am amazed by the frequence of your shows, considering the amount of work to discover prducts, write, play and produce such a quality show. 👍👍👏👏👏
Thank you so much!!!
Totally agree about the form factor. I have a WaveState and Modwave. They dont fit properly in my keyboard rack and take up a huge amount of desk space due to the nearly useless keyboard. A desktop, keyboard-less version would be MUCH better--I'd choose it even if the price was identical to the current one.
As for the OpSix, it sounds great and it's pretty easy to use as FM goes. But I have the FM engine in the Kronos, the FMX engine in the Montage and many powerful VST options like Cherry Audio Sines or Arturia DXV. It's really hard for me to justify another very similar 6-op FM box--especially with only 32 voice polphony and a big footprint.
I'd love a desktop version of that!
This is the only Korg I considered to buy in a very long time, after my Poly 800 in 1984, that one left me with a forever sour taste for the brand. This one was just right idea for an FM synth. A buddy of mine had a DX9 in the 80's and I tried making sounds with it, not easy. At this time, I had a Juno 106, all time easiest synth to handle. But the formfactor of the Opsix doesn’t fit for me, a desktop version, yes, then I would probably buy one.
A very good review again as always. Keep it up!
Bad Gear! Learning about stuff while smiling 😉
Thank you so much!!!
This actually makes me miss the Opsix…. Would love a desktop version
Same here!!!
@@AudioPilz as you said a smaller unit with a grown up sequencer would be a game changer 👌
There is a Kickstarter enclosure that might see a release beyond its initial run. It also works for the other shared form-factor Korgs
It's been about a year and a half since I bought an Opsix, my first ever synthesizer, and it is such an effective jack-of-all-trades that I am having difficulties finding a new synth that will give me another truly fresh experience like the Opsix did.
I don't even use the FM capabilities that much, it works amazingly well as an additive and subtractive synth as well. Setting all oscillators to carriers allows to make suff like highly customizable organs, and I even made a marimba and a flute. And setting carriers to filter mode allows you apply several individually-behaving filters. I've only really used FM for electric pianos.
So far the only synth which I feel will be another rabbit hole of discovery for me is one of Opsix's brothers, the Modwave.
Love the additive functionality
Having recently been focusing specifically on my FM synths, all the FM memes were especially hilarious 🤣
Thank you!!!
This is the most fun you'll ever have playing FM. This is an incredible Synth!!
Agreed!!! So approachable!
Thanks for this,too!
My vote for a future subject goes to the Soma Lyra-8.
It would be nice to hear the intro track on a Lyra. Especially the drums :)
Great suggestion, thank you!!!
@@AudioPilz Thanks! :)
The only channel where 10 minutes becomes 20 from pausing so many times.
Fantastic stuff.
Thank you!!!
6:53 You pushed it to the limit with this intro
Thank you!!!
Pilzzz , you knocked it out of the park on this one. And I noticed you did not talk about the plug-in version of it.I use that often to create patches and then import them into the hardware because it’s better with hardware. if I only had one synth maybe that would be it . I think the build is amazing I don’t know what anyone’s complaining about the controllers are great. They have just packed so much into it that they had to do it this way, or make a gigantic version with a lot more knobs and sliders and I think people don’t understand the power of the sequencer. There’s nothing like it in any synth. I’m going to make a vid or two showing off how unbelievably crazy deep it can be, but you did a really great job of showing a lot of those deep sounds. I started dancing in my pants hahah
Yeah, really missed including the plugin! Thanks for the heads up!
Woo, my first non-microkorg (but every synthesist has one of those in a cupboard right?) synth to appear in an episode 😊
Did NOT expect it to be the weird-Borg in this intro though!!
Resistance is futile;)
F*cking love the Opsix. I feel honoured it's finally featured
The sequencer is very limited indeed. Kind of sucks. But you can do a LOT more with the sequencer if you don't use all the voices at the same time. Within each step there is considerable room to start another note later.
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
I'm saying it now. Future classic. This thing is so freaking powerful that just turning it on gives you an intelligence buff. Great synth, and the fact that Korg was clearing them out at insane prices just a few months ago is nuts! Can't forget about the Modwave and Wavestate too. Korg really knocked it out of the park with their reimaging of these oldies. These three synths may just be one of the most underrated 3 synths that have been brought out by a big company in the past 10 years, and for Korg, possibly their most underrated synths ever!
yes i’d love to see my modwave on Bad Gear 🤩
Let's see if these still work in 10 years;)
You've done it!!
Herzlichen Dank und ich hoffe, Du hattest richtig Spass den zu entdecken. Habe ihn hier und werde ihn zum Desktopsynth umbauen. Diese Engine in diesem Gehäuse... eine Katastrophe. Dabei hat er einen eigenen Charakter, Tiefe und ist auch nutzbar ohne Ingenieursausbildung. Ich meine, ich habe hier auch den FS1R... geiler Sound in unbenutzbar (zweifellos ein Bad Gear).
Danke!!! Den FS1R such ich schon länger!!!
@@AudioPilz Hmm, ich komm leider nicht gerade jeden Tag nach Österreich... mal überlegen wie das ginge.
I like the "smooth operator" ! ❤
😀😀😀
@@AudioPilz I hope you are old enough to know the song. 🤣
Man, that thing sounds good as hell.
👍👍👍
I love this thing and your jams make want to get a second one :p ! And it has the crispness and brilliance I miss on the Digitone. Also much love for TNG memes & memes that talk to your female viewers ;) Best wishes - Jeanne
Thank you!!! Digitone is probably the most un-FM sounding FM synth
This cannal is a bit intense to watch but somehow I managed to hear little of the sounds of the Opsix and get an idea of it's soundscape, thank you.
❤️❤️❤️
Counterpoint: after 20 models of indecipherable FM synthesis over 30+ years from Yamaha, Korg finally cracked that nut and made FM synthesis *FUN* 🎉 Kudos to Korg for making the OpSix small, affordable, and with so much tactile control.
What we want now is 61 keys of Poly-Aftertouch OpSix for $1200.
Love the UI here!!!
But why did they discontinue it?
@@fortheloveofnoiseLack of sales due to it being the price of buying 3 of Behringers cool clone synths
The vst version "opsix native" is actually pretty nice, it has a very usable UI and a bunch of nice little shortcuts that are missing from a lot of other modern fm synthesis vsts.
I really have to give that one a try!
Honestly I love my OpSix, I'm actually surprised to see this on here lol
Nothing personal;)
If i were to get a hardware FM synth, it'd be the OpSix. The interface mKes sense, which i cant say for any ither hardware FM synth. Works just like FM8 and 6 operators are plenty IMO. Nice one, Florian 😊
Thanks!!! Great UI
Finale jam is a certified banger
Thank you!!!
Heck yeah. FM is my sickness.
I’m at the point now where I’m happy to see my own gear on your show!
😀😀😀
As owner of a Korg Modwave this episode feels like near miss. I wonder how long I will be spared. 😅
The impacts are getting closer;)
I don’t get the ModWave. I own an OpSix & a Wavestate, and used to own an EX-8000 - but the Kaoss Physics Engine is next level brainwave stuff.
@@doctorsynth1 Yes, the chaos pad as modulation source is sick, however the overpowered sequencer is the real kicker. On the other hand the Wavestate seems to be sonically more interesting.
Jam 2 is *chef's kiss* I love that bass line. Now I want my Minilogue to sound like this...
Thank you!!!
Running out of Volcas? What about the Volca-FM?🙂...
As long as we dont run out of fridays...thank you for your work...and the really great content❤
Thank you!!! Already had the Volca FM1 on the show
@@AudioPilz My bad nvm...😀
it's crazy, you make this video, and Korg announces a new version of the Opsix a few days later. A giant Opsix SE!!
It blew my mind!!!
I just bought one of these :)
Nice!
@@AudioPilz noo I lost my heart bc I added a smiley face. Seeing as I have you here I love your channel! Thanks for the great content!
Reminds me of 2010's sci fi movie reboots mostly. But that 80s Miami VIce sound in the jams hooks me every time...
Love them 80s tones!!!
The Opsix is a great synth. And yet, considering I’m part of the target audience and haven’t been able to pluck up the courage to buy one…
Waiting for the Behringer version;)
7:49 Opsix only blue banana danger bells orchestrated by special ops post ebm fps ost! 😅
😀😀😀
What! Even my DX11 has aftertouch.
I know this, because it says so in the manual. 😂
Lol
It leaves me dumbfounded how you can pull this off every seven days. It takes me a month just to figure out most pieces of music gear work. You how I believe... You're a music MONSTER!
Thank you!!! The "monster" part might be true;)
Mannnnn....this guy is not easy.....😂😂😂😂
I thought this was a good synth taking into account the price....
Peace and love❤❤❤
The pricing of that thing has quite a history;)
It is a good synth.