Bad Gear - A Tragedy???
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about Dreadbox Nymphes. Is this compact polyphonic analog synthesizer a worthy replacement for classics like a Roland Juno or the Sequential Circuits SixTrak it was inspired by? Is it on par with other Dreadbox synths like Erebus and Typhon and is the UI truly a tragedy???
Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:08 Overview Dreadbox Nymphes
01:39 Polyphony, Oscillator
02:01 Autotune Mode
02:08 Shift Modes: Pulse Width, Detune
02:32 More Polyphony Modes, Chord Mode
02:51 Lack of Multitimbrality and Sequencer
03:00 Filter, Self-Oscillation, HPF
03:12 Envelopes, LFO1
03:28 LFO2, Introduction to Menu Diving
03:36 Recalling a Patch
03:55 Routing Matrix
04:13 Mono Reverb
04:34 Mono Output, Rear Panel
04:48 Pricing
04:58 Hate
05:22 Jam 1 (Techno)
06:14 Jam 2 (Slow Arrangement)
07:09 Finale (Epic Stuff)
07:40 Verdict - เพลง
Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*
Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/audio.pilz/
Sounds great. You really can tease the best sounds out of bad gear . Now I must hear that reverb !!!😢
@@kenfusion --> He simulated after touch on the Venom synth, which has no after touch... sold me... now I am the proud owner of this only synth ever made by m-audio. Super Crunchy, which is why I will run this thing into the ground before i ever sell it for parts!
Hey, just wondering how you get the tempo sync working with the Canyon pedal and the Beatstep Pro drum gate. What sort of cable/adaptor is going from the BSP to the Canyon? TS/TRS? Any specific settings on the Canyon or on the BSP? Have been trying to achieve the same thing on either the Keystep Pro or Beatstep pro, but haven't had any luck.
@@3D6Space nice !
I I'll chec. Out your channel to hear it , like and sub . . Wich track should I try first ?
How did I gain such a vast knowledge of so many different synths? Using all of them? No, but I've watched every episode of Bad Gear.
That's what I call education!!! Thank you!!!
Me too! 👍
For real it's insane how this series is slowly building up my synth knowledge, the jams give me hella music inspiration too
I've definitely have picked up one or two synth playing techniques from Florian's demos
attaboy!!
WARNING: repeated viewing of this video & listening to Florian's jams within might turn you into a Nymphes-omaniac
Lol
Your modesty belies your supreme talent, every video has amazing production value and sick tunes my friend
Tip of the hat
Thank you so much!!!
Great value synth without going full Behringer!
Agreed!!!
I don't know if they still make those, but I had their Erebus module which had an external in, echo, midi to cv converter and a paraphonic double osc and all that for
@@AntonNidhoggrthat would be the Lil Erebus, the smaller DIY version of their most popular synth, the Erebus. It is back, for 400 bucks only, but I intend to rejoin my lil Erebus with it's older bigger brother, the Erebus V2 desktop synth, to sit next to my Typhon.
I find it entertaining that still to this day, I'm in synthesizer groups on Facebook and when someone posts one of your videos there's always a few people who are like "hmmmm, I don't get this channel, is it REALLY bad gear or is it not?.... I'll never understand it, not for me!"
I think if you are into modern synthesizers and not aware of this channel you are behind the curver brah
Thank you so much!!! I'm thankful for every piece of controversy that's left;)
Those are artificial intelligences who still can't understand the more subtle human characteristics. They should make a movie where a sentient artificial intelligence, tries, without a body of its own, to start a company and set up a factory to build robots for it to interact with the real world... but unbeknownst to the world at large. Maybe the AI would spend some free time on Twitter and in Facebook groups🤣
X Files had an episode about AI, they go to a sushi restaurant that is completely run by AI, no humans at all. Pretty funny.
What fascinates me about Florian is that he combines trolling with politeness, making overall truthful and respectful opinion. It's a rare gift. I actually learn how to phrase my thought after him.
Thanks bro!
Thank you so much!!!
I helped beta test the Nymphes, and yeah, there were some initial difficulties with the menu system (and yes, I accidentally changed the midi channel), but as you mentioned, once you get the muscle memory down, it's actually fairly easy to navigate. It's just not obvious at first. Probably not a synth for folks who get told to RTFM quite often.
But all that said, I really did enjoy programming it, and DAMN can it sound great. Fine tune the velocity and aftertouch mod of the amplitude and filter settings, add a little vibrato fade in and out, and with a good controller, it offers dynamic playability in a way that neither the Juno nor 6-Track could. Eine gerechte Bewertung von dir, and as always, a hilarious selection of memes. Danke and cheers!
Vielen Dank!!! Great insights!!!
Being retired, every day is like another. I lose track of what day it is sometimes, but I can thank Florian for reminding me when it’s Friday!
❤️❤️❤️Have a nice weekend!!!❤️❤️❤️
Man! This synth sounds sooo good! For me, it is nothing less than the Greek Oberheim. It oozes character in each single note. Gnarly but not too gnarly, wild but not too wild, noisy but not too noisy, yet 150% analogue (yes, rightfully with 'ue' 😂). Just listen to the (very good) jam sessions, the brass swell at 7:25, so vibrant in the low-end with a swift of noise (good programming Florian 👌)!!! That's the epitome of analogue sound. A diva for sure! But it sounds just so gorgeous! Perhaps the most underrated hidden gem at the moment. 🔥🔥🔥
Thank you!!! Really liked that one too!!!
I think 'character' is its strongest quality
@ajaxk7677 Yes, it definitely is! At the same time, it is the most important quality for a synth (to me). The only synth that excites me more in my collection is the OB-X8. Even though the Nymphes only has a single OSC, it is surprisingly lush, vibrant, and colourful. The UI is a disaster that we have to live with, I guess. The reverb is crap. If you need a chorus or any other fancy FX, just put a chorus on it (pedal or DAW). If you haven't tried one, try it. It will convince you if you have any passion for early 80s analogue sound.
7:15 jam is 🤌🤌🤌
Hands down the most characterful poly available for the price
This synth is top of my wish list. Glad it got the bad gear treatment.
That Voltron meme is an absolute classic :D
Definitely worth a shot! Thanks!!!
"Voltron"? ......Super Sentai TRIGGERING!!!....... Must not....... *&^%&*^%*.......
I’ve had one for a year and I still have no grasp of how to save or access presets, so I just treat it like my old Juno 6, no presets! It’s actually great for that and I’ve gotten some of that CS-80 resonant pad vibe that I can’t live without.
Once you get past the entirely unintuitive interface/menus, you'll find an awesome Juno+ poly. You probably know that already ;-)
@@patfinn2697 That does sound annoying. If synth makers could just write a decent manual that I can follow. I can read a sentence ten times over, and not understand what it is trying to tell me.
That honestly might have been my favorite sounding intro song yet.
Yeah, I liked that quite a bit too!!!
I swear to god dude your music made with synths I've had gas for has cost me soooooo much money! Awesome as always.
Nothing personal;) Thank you so much!!!
I've had this little box for a few weeks and I'm in love with the sound it produces. I tried to make a convoluted max for live companion with a touchOSC patch, and a preset selector with naming with it and mostly succeeded but ultimately I kind of like using the UI directly; assuming you add a few CC controls (like the amp ADSR). I feel like the interface would have benefited from just a little feedback when you reach the recorded parameter (assuming you're in catch mode but I consider the jump mode unusable), like just a led blink. Could even be a firmware update. I'm playing it by ear but for modulation it's not easy.
You also need to know that some controls are actually not accessible via the synth itself but only midi; notably LFO2 control of LFO1 parameters and controls from any source over reverb parameters (less useful). Dreadbox never released a full software for preset management but you can do it with sysex (and erase the factory ones if you need). Also interesting to know that the LFOs can become one-shot with the fade at maximum (with S&h this become a note randomizer, with others an additional enveloppe stage)
From what I understand the original goal was to release an abyss 2 or a synth similar to the typhon but it was 2020 with the chip shortages and this was the solution to still make something interesting despite this. I don't know if there is another poly in the pipeline but I would still love to see a poly typhon. Regarding the quirky interface it's not the only piece of hardware they make that kind of abuse the shift function; their eurorack line also has the same kind of quirk; as well as their pedals.
Great ideas!!!
Stellar work as usual! ,,keep rockin' the house!
Thank you so much!!!
Great sounding demos today ! That bass and timpani on the 2nd track was so amazing it made me turn on my own synths immediately...
Thank you!!!
That thing sounds amazing! I felt in love after the first few chords...
😀😀😀
Still want one, even more than before thanks to you, Florian. The best sounding demo I’ve heard. Hope Dreadbox lets you play with their other synths.
Thank you!!!
Me before watching: Oh no... takedown of another gear that I own?
Me after watching: I am inspired to use it again!
Happy to hear that!!! Thanks!!!
you should definitely do an episode of the Typhon. Its an awesome little synth. Would love to see what you can get out of it.
Typhon as a bad gear? Are you kidding?
@@galifettetv1238we could TRY to make an argument (love mine): USB hum, quirky (but lovable) sequencer, all those wave shapes in 1 knob (love it), osc2 could've been a sub instead of a top (fixable with mods), Triangle is not loud enough.
None of those (except maybe the triangle wave volume) are real problems, as you can solve all of the through the modulators (which are so damn clever and useful) and the effects are a treat. More manufacturers should marry analog and digital like this
@@Dekkie61 for sure. Just ilmagine if they took the screen and fx sectio n of the typhon to bring them in the nymphes!!
Also to help you putting the Typhon in a bad gear episod: no possility to apply both delay and reverb. No noise. No cv control or paraphonic mode.
Great suggestion, thank you!!!
@@galifettetv1238 i guess you could say is too boxy? lol. dont know. i just know that i would love for florian to tinker with it
JAM 2 IS A WHOLE VIBE OMG you make some excellent demos Florian
Thank you so much!!!
I love my Nymphes, it sounds amazing for the price, and it’s so much fun digging around for the guide every time I forget how to save a new patch
Yeah, it's like coming home;)
The Nymphes sounds fantastic (w/o the built-in reverb, anyway). I've found it more pleasant to use Tim Shoebridge's plug-in for Voltage Modular that provides a full knob-per-function GUI for the Nymphes.
Ah, nice! I have to check that one out!
Link?
Florian, you make me laugh so much. You actually do some of my favourite reviews.
Thank you so much!!!
I have the Nymphes since a few months and the review is spot on! A bizarre gui that should really have used a little screen (apparently the component shortage during covid caused this compromise), but after a while it is not too bad. I mapped the shift functions to my midi controller knobs and that helps a lot. It is probably best to limit all the other menu diving to designing a sound, then after saving the patch do only bother with direct and mapped controls.
In the end it sounds great, is well put together, portable, is barely more expensive than demon angel Uli’s copies, and has lots of character like all dreadbox products. And another semi affordable synth where it is easier to get good sounds out than from my microfreak.
It was recently in a super promotion of €288 at black friday, an excellent offer if you ask me. But nobody does ask me.
€288 is incredible value for what you get. I paid a bit more when it came out and that was well worth it!
Nice find!!!
Ah! Is this the first Dreadbox synth on the show? I was wondering when this time would have come
I had Medusa on the show which is half a Polyend - does that count?
@@AudioPilz Ummmh, I would classify this of the Nymphes as the first magnificent Dreadbox appereance
The biggest gotcha and oddity of this synth for me, is that in order to add velocity sensitivity for the overall VCA (the harder you hit a key, the louder the note is), you have to use the velocity to modulate the Sustain level of the VCA envelope. It's hard to explain quickly to those who don't know the Nymphes menu system, but it goes against how the menu system works, is nowhere in the manual, and support didn't seem to know about it.
All that said, once I got over the menu system I started loving the thing. It definitely gets a lot better with a stereo chorus pedal.
Yeah, a strange limitation!
That probably drives those who try to joyride this thing nuts
@@voltijuice8576 yup. The synth is not very beginner friendly, but it sounds really good though through effects.
? Joyriding is a term for youngsters stealing a car "for fun."
@@treetopjones737 - True, but it's also my pet term for trying hardware or software "for fun" without really needing it or learning how it works.
I am finding it increasingly difficult to use PWM without thinking of Nick Batt.
😂
That's completely natural/normal;)
Nick is even mentioned in the Nymphes manual, where PWM is described 😂
@@newignis I think I saw Nick being asked about the meme and looking mildly unamused by the whole thing. 😎
The main arrangement, at the end, is beautiful and impressive. Florian - you are a God.
Thank you so much!!! Mere mortal tho;)
It sounds (and looks) so good. If someone would just make a real-time editor for it it would be absolutely amazing.
Didn't Tim Shoebridge do this?
please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought you couldn't save presets with that editor without a computer? So to recall them you would need to be connected to voltage modular?
@@AudioPilzhe DID! Love him.
I mapped the shift functions to my minilab controls, that helps a lot. For the deeper functions, best keep them only for sound design and then save that patch, I feel.
Just purchased the Nymphes. I’ll try to make an editor for the ElectraOne.
Love Jason and the Argonauts as a kid! Good stuff man. Good stuff from you always.
Cheers
A Friend in Chicago
🌙 MoonDog
THX!!! Phantastic movie!!!
So far, I still haven't had a piece of gear that I own be featured in this series, but this one came reeeeaally close. Awesome vid.
Thanks!!!
Look out!
My first two keyboards were a Six-trak and a Juno 106 so your video has me more curious about this thing. Love the 2nd jam especially!
Thank you!!! Had a 6trak for years too - great instrument!!!
I think this is one of my favorite bad gear episodes. I love the way you describe the UI (the dial of destiny) and the jams sounded awesome!
Thank you so much!!!
Another good one!
The Nymphes seems pretty cool, and it was sounding great here. I don't think it's bad gear, but I'm not complaining; glad to see you cover it! As far as UIs go, it really doesn't seem too bad, especially compared to some other synths. The USB power only is a little annoying, though. But overall, seems like a nice analog poly (with sweet unison modes) at a (relatively) great price!
Thanks!!!
Wie immer super, kurzweilig, informativ, lustig...
This thing just sounds good. Also love the TH-cam noise performance clip, haha
😀😀😀Thanks!!!
Man I ❤ your show, and I ❤️ your beat up table. Take care dude 😊
Thank you so much!!!
Absolutely love the sounds around 7:15. So creamy, fundamental and pleasing
Thank you so much!!!
dreadbox makes some great stuff! I have the Nymphes as well as Erebus and Nyx. missed out on the Abyss a few years ago hard to find those now. They've got some sweet effect pedals and eurorack modules too! I want that hypnosis next
👍👍👍
I’m guessing you just sold a ton of dreadboxes destined for the holidays. Top notch content, as always!
Thank you so much!!!
you are not exaggerating about the cryptic screenless menu diving. It's pure hell.
Let's call it an acquired taste;)
Your insights are incredibly spot-on! This review is so well made and inspiring. I think Nymphes is the best Juno to buy if you can't afford a Juno. Well, even if you can, it still makes sense to get a Nymphes. Modern, less prone to fail components and if you don't intend to tweak each and every parameter live it's just the ticket to that lush analog poly sound. I did actually buy a Nymphes and think it's excellent. Dreadbox is a cool company. Cheers.
Thank you so much!!! Agreed!!!
the self oscillation jam at 3:07 gets the award for best jam of 2023
Thank you!!!
So pleased to see Jason and the argonauts.
A 60s classic!!!
I found another candidate for a Bad Gear episode - the BOSS DR-880. The biggest Dr. Rhythm to date, it has drum and bass sounds, and a built-in amp and affects modeler for plugging in a guitar or bass into it. Imagine using the modeler to process any outboard synths.
Great idea, thanks!!!
It sounds niiiice..... Great vid as per usual!
Thank you!!!
As always a very entertaining and informative video! I love your channel! When will you do another better gear episode again? I've bought the multistomp pedal that you have hacked! Incredible thing! Hope to see more of your channels. Thanks for making all these incredible videos you are a genius to me! Yours Danny
Thank you so much!!!
The blue color gave me a flashback to the dreaded Oberheim OB12. Maybe for a future video? 😀
I'm on the hunt for one of these for years now!!!
@@AudioPilz Don't give up! It's probably is one of the most "Bad Gear-synths" out there. Amazing on paper, sounds equally paper thin 😀
Ill just stick to the Typhon, thank you.
The memes and your humor is next level.
Thank you so much!!!
Somewhere in the world, a Mr. Shoebridge is making disapproving faces at this video
Lol
Tim needs a shoutout for NymphCC. Makes the Nymphes infinitely more usable.
Love Tim's vids!!!
I just got this synth last night ! Better make a video soon for good seo now that you featured it.
Nice!!! Have fun!!!
The finale is awesome. this little sytnh is nice,really.
Thank you!!!
I thank you already , before even checking the video!
There we go again !!
❤️❤️❤️
This is even more attractive after seeing Espen's last video. I would love to hear it with an emulation of the Roland Juno chorus (says the guy who got burned by the original June 60 pedal).
Juno chorus would be so awesome here!!!
Great, short and to-the-point review. This is a great little synth, filter sweeps on chords sound amazing - ideal for fat house and techno stabs and pads. Modulation of PWM compensates lack of chorus. High pass makes it super easy to fit in a mix. Effect choice could be better, a firmware to improve this would be highly welcome.
Thanks!!! Agreed on the FX FW-update!!!
That quick cut to Nick on the surfboard made me laugh out loud so hard.
That one had me ROFLing too!!!
Only Nick can surf on sinewaves while PWMing them. How can this be? He is the Nickwatz Batterach!
Lol
Another Bad Gear Banger! I briefly owned a Nymphes, but had to sell it to offset a recent bout of GAS. I had a lot of fun, but it did make me realize how much I dislike hidden menus....
Thank you!!!
Man I loved that first slow jam!
...and the finale!
Thank you so much!!!
Great stream as ever Florian... love dreadbox gear... not that I own this one. Hoping for a nymphes 2 maybe? Have you done the typhon yet? It's a great synth with sinevibes efx and loads of badgear quirks.
Thank you!!! Great suggestion!!!
Great jams, Florian. :)
Thank you so much!!!
The last jam was great! Really hoping for a Nymphes v2 with improved user interface.
Thank you!!!
Second jam was like being smothered in butter and licked clean by supermodels.
Behave;)
Happy Friday, Flo-Rida!!! This machine looks quirky!
Have a nice weekend!!!
“Brilliant idea that probably will never happen”- I would love to DJ a night with a playlist consisting exclusively of your, Kink, McClintok Mashups, and Cruikshank/Negative Harmony’s music.
I love that idea!!!
Harryhausen is a friend.
Legend!!!
Can't wait to see your new episode on the ep133 knock out 2
I really have to get hold of one of these!!!
Jam 2 is absolutely glorious, the epic job done 😎
Thank you!!!
excellent video! 👏👏👏
Thank you so much!!!
Not sure how I feel about this synth but those stop motion skeletons are fucking amazing.
Ray Harryhausen made a string of major films that advanced the art of stop-motion animation, including The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), and Clash of the Titans (1981).
Ray Harryhausen is the GOAT!!!
Today’s extra points brought to you by Ray Harryhausen and the ‘Takt “SUBSCRIBE” patch 😅 (is that always the patch? I gotta check…)
This is a great sounding synth - too bad they can’t update it with the excellent Sinevibes effects on the Typhon; that would probably necessitate a screen and therefore associated cost increase.
Great tracks as always!
Thank you!!!❤️❤️❤️
I use a Novation Control XL to edit all the parameters thru midi CC. Works like a charm
Nice approach!!!
I just went to a Pet Shop Boys concert two days ago so everything reminds me of that concert, so it was awesome. Great synth ! Great review ! The other day I counted the synths in my house: 31 ! I would honestly consider the Nymphes just for the letter that appears at 0:50. But I can't justify it. If you don't have an analog polysynth, absolutely ! Go buy it !
Nice!!!
Analog Gear can never be truly as bad as digital gear, but they can be underpowered in a digitized world. Thirty years ago, this might had been revolutionary, but nowadays it can barely compete anymore
Have you tried a Timbre Wolf?;)
@@AudioPilz Only touched it, Thomann is three hours away and the staff is always super sexy nice, and got a System 8 and a PC years ago instead of multiple analogues
Bought one, sold it, bought other synths, got some experience, realized it had a nice feature set for what it was worth and bought it again. Using it sparesly but plan to dig into it for juno duties, but not bass.
Way of the gear!!!
Nymphes sounds superb. A complete album synth.
Agreed!!!
Thanks bro! It's awesome!
❤️❤️❤️
The Nymphes reverb is a good way to add some grit and body before sending the signal through Typhon for effects
Nice workflow!!!
I love how raw and gritty this thing is, it sounds like a commodore 64 had a baby with a poly 800.
Nice analogy!!!
I came to pretty much the same conclusion when this was released. This synth has such an awesome sound, and the price point is solid - it's just the UI that is a big nope for me (the mono reverb doesn't help either). If they made a bigger version with more (or all) knobs per function, stereo chorus and reverb, and added proper power and full size MIDI, I'm pretty sure it would go over fairly well.
That sounds like 1500€
Ah, a big, big Dreadbox;)
It sounds freakin great (the filter especially) but once i saw the interface i was like ‘oh well back to the old fave.’
There's some truth to that!!!
I have operated menu systems on Vermona Perfourmer and Korg Wavedrum - this thing does not scare me. And it does sound good. Speaking of Wavedrum - that menu system is truly abysmal, maybe even enough to make it a candidate for a future episode?
Great suggestion, thank you!!!
No fadergate here. We all know what we are waiting for ➖✖➕➗🟰
Still not on that early access synthfluencer list;)
I don't have any polyphonic analog synth in my small collection.... I thought about this one or P800. I am still not convinced to the next purchase (lack of space!). Good review! 👍
Thank you!!! Certainly worth a shot
Nice one!
Thank you!!!
Nothing to say, just feeding the algo for your boy, Florian⚡
❤️❤️❤️Thank you!!!❤️❤️❤️
This Channel only shows that any gear sounds good in the hands of a talent guy.
Thank you so much!!!
Another one of my synths anointed as bad gear! I'm approaching 100%
Bad Gear Bingo!!!
I really wish DIN MIDI was more of a priority for these manufacturers. This doesn't look like a bad synth at all.
Not that much space for 5pin here;)
MIDI USB converter?
Hmm . . . sounds pretty good to me, but my favorite quote in the "Hate" section of the video was "Save your money and get a Hydrasynth instead." While I somewhat agree with the sentiment, I'm not so sure it makes sense to try and choose between these two VERY different machines. 🤔
Agreed, they are more or less polar opposites...
I like that it sound different. I wish the low end could be a bit more clean but it sounds unique.
Definitely unique!!!
Great video.
Thanks!!!
Xena at the start takes me back 😂
❤️❤️❤️
It would be great to hear (and see) what sound effect units can do to the most crappy (bad gear) sound sources.
Definitely check out Hainbach's Quadraverb video!
I know a Juno or Fred’s Lab Tooro is better for the money, but you made this thing sound good enough for me to question my stance! 🤘
👍👍👍
If they added a cryptic LED display and built-in sequencer, I’m certain Korg would go out so business.
Lol, so true!!!
Great sounding little synth. Really wanted to love it, but the interface was so frustrating for me, that finally sold it.
I feel you!!!
Slow arrangement and Finale are awesome! ...its like Vangelis snapped into a slim jim!
Thank you!!!
The Sinbad montage!!!! Epic
That was Jason and the Argonauts;)
Of course - I stand corrected! How could I forget - I am literally named after that dude
@@AudioPilz
6:14 Wow this is gorgeous!!
Thank you!!!