I really like this thing. it doesnt have very high grain density compared to some of the other options so can be a bit grainy rather than smooth but there are a ton of modulation possibilities, the mappable XY pad, live line in etc .... I've made some really weird, disturbing stuff on it. it's not just generic plink plonk ambient like most videos on here would suggest.
100% agree. I think the other devices with more options are great but also a load more $$$$. I think this is a good "dip your toe into the granular world" synth
I love mine for pads, drones, weird soundscapes etc. - my only gripe is with the external USB powering and its usual issues (noise, unplugs sometimes, and the unit gets really warm after a while), and having to keep a power bank charged to use it. Now you couple this with a Fireball, a Circuit track, and you have a lovely portable setup that's fairly unexpensive.
I have been turned off devices because of their size now I just give everything a try. This box doesn’t do everything but for granular and layering it’s pretty good. Also the price is a lot better than a lot of the other granular synths out there.
@@craigwilliamsmusic dude yeah, I should’ve listened to him. In the digital world small means nothing. I want to see how thick the bass sounds because the organelle for example is insane w that
@@sonicpulp9417 you can make incredibly thick and dense bass sounds with it. one thing I notice is it seems to pitch sounds down really well. you have 4 note polyphony so it's easy to have a sub bass note under it etc
this was a great walkthrough cheers i spent the whole time trying to work out where’s the person eating crisps i can hear ..it’s the microphone rubbing on your neck
How am I the first person to comment on this?!? It’s a beginning tutorial using a specific vintage synth, sure, but it translates to so many other synths. And it sounds great! Thanks Craig.
Although I do not have Polyend Mini,I totally agree with you about being able to see a big picture containing details of a song in Polyend Mini. I have had M8 for more than 2years now but I still got overwhelmed by its functions(for example: so many unusual effects and of course the Table.) so for the more choices I have to make in order to make a song. In other word, M8 is too capable in a special way. haha. I am sure it will be very powerful once you can handle it properly. After while muscle memory helps the process. I am not sure but in order to make what you are really intended to make takes extra learning with M8. I know magic happens in accidents but I want to know how that accident happens and be able to repeat them when I want to. Maybe I just need more limitation to get creatively productive. Anyway I am still trying to get comfortable working with M8 so I can play with it not get intimidated by it. Sorry about my English. Cheers
Thanks for watching. I'm pretty comfortable with the device but I don't find myself really developing new ideas with the device. I find that I fall into some old habits.
I had one of these more than 20 years ago. I never really liked the sound, as I wanted a complete drum machine. But yeah the bleeps and bloops are cool.
It def has it's place and it's sound. I will always go to the Elektron and Roland boxes for the meat and potato's drums but for bleeps and bloops this is my go too.
I'm not a huge fan of the Nubass, but it's fun, easy to use, sounds pretty good, is small, battery powered and looks cool! I guess that's what the Volcas are all about.
I will create sounds using the other boxes in the studio or record found sounds with my field recorder. You can also grab free sounds from places like Wavetick.com
I love how you're getting all these matter of fact questions. Which you answer, matter of factly. 😂 How does the furniture fasten together? Does it feel solid like the good IKEA stuff or the wiggly flavor that wants to rhombus?
It feels a little better than Ikea. It uses screws and the turn lock fasteners. For the last 4-5 months I have had a Launchkey 88 on the slide out drawer. I can't slide it in due to the size but it feels very solid on the draw.
There isn't much to the original so I'm sure it will get you pretty close and for a cheap price. I'm not mad at them releasing this clone since it hasn't been produced for some years other than smaller companies making clones or Modular units.
Very compact and versatile set up! How do you input sequences into the Blackbox - play them in or import midi files? I thought the Blackbox would be perfect for midi sequencing but find it difficult to work with so have just been using it for stems and field recordings
The Blackbox let's you import MIDI clips which is great when you have a longer sequence. You can even add program changes within the clip. You can write MIDI notes on the Blackbox but it can be a little tedious when you're writing chord progressions and what not.
This video is awesome, thank you! Curious how you went about adjusting the MIDI notes. Did you mod it to do MIDI? Or was it CV I/O? I just ordered mine, eager to get my hands on it. My plan is to jam out, record the audio output into my DAW, and slice and dice. The thing about syncing with the bpm is a real issue though, what app were u talking about in the vid? 0.0 thanks!
Thank you. I picked up the MIDITribe kit a while back. I didn't cut the case or anything so I still have the cables hanging out of the battery bay. Not the best but I know I would have messed it up if I cut it.
I will be doing more but I'm trying to spread it out with other synths too. Most of the sounds I make on other poly synths will transfer over to the Peak.
That sequence was awesome but it could have been more effective imo if built it up more slowly starting with a a quarter note hi hat and only one kick on the one of each measure than an eighth note hi hat with a kick added on one and three of every measure then keep adding minor variations until finally a full track kicks in.
Thank you for this, Craig. Even though I don’t make the kind of dance track that you presented TEO-5 in the context of, it was so great hearing it in that context. At the end of May 2024 when I’m commenting, I can safely say that I would seriously consider getting this synthesizer if I hadn’t already ordered myself a Hydrasynth Explorer and was not prioritizing a new computer as my next major purchase. It definitely has several features that I could go for, one of which is that it might be a companion to my first generation Oberheim, a Matrix 1000. Another is that all for the analog polyphonic synthesizers I have owned it over the last 20 years and counting (one of which I no longer have) have been DCO models. It would make a sweet change getting one with VCOs and the same front panel layout as the different monophonic ones I’ve owned.
Thank you. The Hydrasynth is a great instrument and I think you will have loads of fun with it. The TEO-5 will be around for many years. If you do end up wanting to purchase it there should be more content around so you can make an informed decision.
