Synthesizer Gear Porn ;-)

[Top Cat]

Fresh (today) by Sonic State from Superbooth Berlin

150G of samples is amazing. My Korg Kronos has I believe 60G, so it almost triples it and those samples from 8DIO are gorgeous.
Dave really stepped up the game with this one.
People are already complaining about the price, but if you consider the competition such as the Waldorf Quantum, the Modal synths, the Nord Stage 3 and the Solaris, it's in the same ball park.
I think we've become spoiled as far as prices go for serious electronic instruments. Back in the 70's 80's musicians(Pros of course) were spending $10,000-$15,000 for new synths.

After the video completed I watched the Omnisphere presentation from Eric Persing. Omnisphere is by far my favorite(Desert Island synth) software synth.
The new update 2.5 looks wonderful, with mapping for most major hardware synths and more presets looks like a winner, and it's FREE!!

[markwoll]

I did a cursory search and didn't find mention of this modular synth monster built by Joe Paradiso.
Some might find it 'stimulating'
http://paradiso.media.mit.edu/synth.html

[battema]

Spiffy!

[Rarebird]

I did a cursory search and didn't find mention of this modular synth monster built by Joe Paradiso.
Some might find it 'stimulating'
http://paradiso.media.mit.edu/synth.html

Boy that's porn for my eyes.

[hFx]

I did a cursory search and didn't find mention of this modular synth monster built by Joe Paradiso.
Some might find it 'stimulating'
http://paradiso.media.mit.edu/synth.html

Nice! My office is suddenly transferred to one of the Krell administrative offices in "Forbidden Planet"

[Gizmotron]

Hey Battema, being a fan of the Bladerunner sounds, are you aware of this little gem?

https://www.meris.us/product/mercury7-reverb-pedal/

[battema]

DUDE...I have all *three* Meris pedals!! Those are my hands-down favorites these days. Love love love those little stompboxes of joy

The Mercury 7 is killer with the Deckard's Dream, as well as the Lyra-8. Both the Ottobit and Polymoon are terrific with the Deckard's Dream as well (usually, bitcrushers are kind of one-trick ponies, but the Ottobit is incredibly musical and subtle when it needs to be. And tone-slaughtering when it needs to do THAT too ).

[Gizmotron]

DUDE...I have all *three* Meris pedals!! Those are my hands-down favorites these days. Love love love those little stompboxes of joy

The Mercury 7 is killer with the Deckard's Dream, as well as the Lyra-8. Both the Ottobit and Polymoon are terrific with the Deckard's Dream as well (usually, bitcrushers are kind of one-trick ponies, but the Ottobit is incredibly musical and subtle when it needs to be. And tone-slaughtering when it needs to do THAT too ).

LOL. I figured.
I am intrigued by it and the Polymoon. Perhaps I'll ask you some questions if I continue to stay interested in them.

Thanks, John!

[battema]

Absolutely! They are grand devices, I have only explored about half of their potential, but I love 'em :-)

[dropforge]

150G of samples is amazing. My Korg Kronos has I believe 60G, so it almost triples it and those samples from 8DIO are gorgeous.
Dave really stepped up the game with this one.
People are already complaining about the price, but if you consider the competition such as the Waldorf Quantum, the Modal synths, the Nord Stage 3 and the Solaris, it's in the same ball park.
I think we've become spoiled as far as prices go for serious electronic instruments. Back in the 70's 80's musicians(Pros of course) were spending $10,000-$15,000 for new synths.

I haven't looked at the asking price. We can always implement Tony Montana's approach to buying new hardware, minus the bloodshed.

[battema]

The price is, what? $4999 or so?

I won't lie, that's too steep for me but I'm sure it'll be a grand device.

I'm half intrigued by this: https://www.eltamusic.com/polivoks-mini

If the price is indeed in the $500 range, I'm probably down for one just for kicks.

[hFx]

Just some more synth p0rn and sound-a-like from the guy actually using the stuff...

[Progbear]

↑Nice to see a demo by an actual musician, as opposed to someone just noodling around and twiddling knobs.

Anyone know what the keyboard is that appears at 1:09? I assume that’s a Prophet t-8 that’s playing the main melody here.

[hFx]

At 1.09 it's a Waldorf Wave

[Progbear]

At 1.09 it's a Waldorf Wave

I thought it might be, but couldn’t be sure. The Waldorf Wave is rarer than the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.

[Top Cat]

The price is, what? $4999 or so?

I won't lie, that's too steep for me but I'm sure it'll be a grand device.

John, it's listed for $3999 on the 8dio website.
Some really good demos showing up on YT as well.

https://8dio.com/instrument/prophet-x/

[Rarebird]

Just some more synth p0rn and sound-a-like from the guy actually using the stuff...

Boy, that room is my wet dream.

[battema]

John, it's listed for $3999 on the 8dio website.
Some really good demos showing up on YT as well.

https://8dio.com/instrument/prophet-x/

Nice!

I do have a small bit of a O_o moment when I see this one line in the specs though:

"True Analog Sample Synthesizer"

One of those words doesn't quite fit in with the other words

The Polivoks Mini is still on my radar, in terms of goofy fun things.

Actually, I have a minor annoying that I need to sort out -- my MKS-50 came back from the shop unfixed. Rather irritating, as this was an Authorized Service Center kind of deal, and they listened, eventually responding with "huh, yeah that sounds wrong...but, it's nothing obvious sooooooo...sorry?" I'm fairly sure it's an issue with either the filter or amp stages, a weird crackling that appears at both the headphone and line outputs at any volume, mostly affecting softer sounds where the crackle is more obvious. I *just* got my programmer working with the MKS-50 too so boo hiss on that! Thinking about dropping some samples of the sound on Soundcloud and fishing for online shops/services that think it can be repaired. It's a lovely little box, I'd hate to have it handicapped like this...

[markwoll]

Perhaps that is "Authentic Analog Sound" you are hearing. You could be charged extra for the undocumented patch.

[Rarebird]

Perhaps that is "Authentic Analog Sound" you are hearing. You could be charged extra for the undocumented patch.

Reminds me of Brian Eno, who specificly asked to keep some specified quirks if he send a synthesizer for repair.

[Top Cat]

Nice!

I do have a small bit of a O_o moment when I see this one line in the specs though:

"True Analog Sample Synthesizer"

One of those words doesn't quite fit in with the other words

The Polivoks Mini is still on my radar, in terms of goofy fun things.

Actually, I have a minor annoying that I need to sort out -- my MKS-50 came back from the shop unfixed. Rather irritating, as this was an Authorized Service Center kind of deal, and they listened, eventually responding with "huh, yeah that sounds wrong...but, it's nothing obvious sooooooo...sorry?" I'm fairly sure it's an issue with either the filter or amp stages, a weird crackling that appears at both the headphone and line outputs at any volume, mostly affecting softer sounds where the crackle is more obvious. I *just* got my programmer working with the MKS-50 too so boo hiss on that! Thinking about dropping some samples of the sound on Soundcloud and fishing for online shops/services that think it can be repaired. It's a lovely little box, I'd hate to have it handicapped like this...

I think the analog sampler description comes from the analog filters on board. Usually part of the "sales" when people refer to the older samplers like the Prophet 2000, Mirage and Emu Emulator I, II and 3 which sampled digitally but used analog filters(I know you know this,I just like writing about this old gear).

Polyvoks mini sounds interesting, but I already have enough monophonic analog synths to open up my own synth shop.

That has to be frustrating about your MKS50...it's strange they couldn't pinpoint what the issue is, especially after acknowledging they heard the issue.
Is there a Yahoo support group you could post on?
HOpe you get it sorted out.

[battema]

I'm sure I can find someone who is more willing to chase down the true issue...I get the impression this ASC might be more of a guitar joint than a vintage keyboard joint. But...thanks for the well wishes nonetheless!!

[Top Cat]

I'm sure I can find someone who is more willing to chase down the true issue...I get the impression this ASC might be more of a guitar joint than a vintage keyboard joint. But...thanks for the well wishes nonetheless!!

I don't know if you feel like shipping it out somewhere, but the guy who used to work on my Emulator III, Emulator II, Emax and Ensoniq VFX is an old timer with decades of experience working on vintage gear.
He was the guy to go to when music acts would visit Detroit to play a concert, and either needed help with repairs on synthesizers or to borrow one, he was the one they came to in the 70's, 80's and on.

He's a bit slow to answer emails and stuff, and he's usually backed up with work, but he'll eventually get to your gear, and he's like a dog with a bone when trying to figure out a difficult electronic problem.
I won't post his phone #, but his shop is called Electronic Innovations on 9 mile in St Clair Shores, Michigan

[battema]

Very cool! I will look him up. Thanks for that tip

[Top Cat]

Very cool! I will look him up. Thanks for that tip

Just a heads up in case you do decide to contact him. His personality can be, uh, a little gruff and/or cranky. But he knows his stuff and that's what was always important to me.