I own and love my SE-02. Yes, each sequence is only 16 steps, but I think you can store 128 of them and it is super easy to toggle through multiple sequences. And if you need more steps, there is a song mode that lets you stack 16 sequences, and even loop them (plus more). So with just a little more time, you'll see it is very easily a 16X16 = 256 step sequencer (in song mode and I think you can have 16 songs). Plus each step can control a parameter value (like Cutoff), and this acts like a very cool modulation source. Also - it is both touch and velocity sensitive - repeat both touch and velocity sensitive - and this completely opens up the expressiveness of the synth. You can route X-mod to the modulation wheel, just fantastic. And SE also makes a break out box with a REALLY big filter CF knob, a HP filter and drive - I don't have one but if I was performing live it would be a must. But the SE-02 has full midi control so you can always map important knobs to bigger knobs or sliders on your midi controller for live applications. And, with the last OS update you get a second LFO (triangle with speed and depth) wired just to PWM - it sounds great. I really want to buy 3 more and make a 4-voice, but... Anyway - thanks for the great video, but you might need to make a sequel for "Better Gear" highlighting all of the above... Peace. Out.
Honestly I might get a second one one day and run the output of the slave into the input of the master. Open the filter up on the slave and bam: duophonic synth!
I remember trying the se-02 in GC Hollywood when they were relased even then I knew it was an odd duck that wouldn’t be seen again, an analog emulation of a model D design by SE electronics made by Roland in a mini form factor unfortunately it was too mini, I couldn’t access the knobs properly or get fine results with them, I bought a D-05 instead, i wish I bought both
So true. Why would Roland need to collaborate with ANYONE to release an analog machine? Should we put out an analog machine? Yes, but even with the historic Juno and Jupiter synths of 40 years ago, let's outsource the project to someone that's ripping our analog designs off anyway. Are they gonna re-release one of our classics? No, let's have them rip off someone else at least.
I own it and love it - for 3 reasons It’s pure analog but has presets It’s tiny - I toss it in my laptop bag for live work integrates wonderfully into my MainStage rig - via single USB cable (audio and midi) Knob per function works for setting up presets Then I never touch it while performing, it’s stashed away next to my laptop and audio interface.
Somebody clone AudioPilz into an AI Auto-Naming function and open source it under a do whatevertheF*YouWant license. All our patches are belong to you.
Go back or forwards 5 seconds with the left & right cursor keys.. I'm perched over the space bar and cursor keys to ensure I don't miss the meme goodness!
teenage engineering designed some IKEA Speakers and accessories....I was hoping IKEA-Teenage Engineering would put out its version of the OP-Ikea in a particle board case
I think the big sounding synth in a small form factor has a very key reason behind it. Portable Jammin’ virtually ANYWHERE on earth, vacation, a train, bus, boat, friends house, the park, on a beach etc. They are meant to be a taste of what bigger studio, analog polysynths and Live performance Synthesizers are to help be a gateway GAS synthdrug into getting the new generation young and old into the hobby space at reasonable prices ($150-500+). IMO the Korg Volcas, novation Circuits, smaller behringer clones like Td3, Rd6, small roland grooveboxes mc101, Tr6s, Aira S-1, J-6, T-8, etc are meant to be fun spontaneous mini Jamming beasts with great big sound for their size. That’s where they really shine bright imo, as great sketchpads to take anywhere in a small backpack etc and sit in the park with a few buddies at picnic tables with headphones or mini speakers so that you can jam without bringing big Desktop synths out of your house or studio etc. Having some buddies jamming together with a TD-3, Volca keys, a circuit tracks, roland Tr6s, aira J-6, an UNO synth, a dreadbox typhon, and the SE-02 with some mini etc guitar amps sounds like fun on a summers day. Of course these little powerhouses can also be used in many other ways too, which is why they got good connection options, midi, cv gate, cc, ext input, 1/4” I/O, etc. It can be inspiring not being in a studio all the time etc. I think these groovebox synths are pushing tiwards a more Dawless future to get people off their computers/laptops, ipads, smart phones and connecting with people in person again, verses everything social media being online nowadays. It is like some online videogamers switching mediums to modern boardgames with friends over beer, etc to minimize some of their screen time on tablets, laptops all day. Personally I think some of these small form synths can form a potent combination even outside of sketchpads, jamming, and be added to bigger stuff for big Live shows, studio production, making patches and sound design etc. Using small synth monsters like the SE-02, uno synth pro, Volca’s, elektron analogs, DSI Tetr4, a dreadbox typhon, akai tomcat, or Tr6s can get some pretty great sounding stuff that can match up with near anything else in experienced hands. 😊
Dr Bob actually collaborated with Studio Electronics on the filter cartridge designs for the Tone Chameleon. I see them more as carriers of the flame for hand-built analogue monstersynths than tacky cheapskate plagiarists. My unaffordable synth of choice is their Omega 8. Can you borrow one of those on the pretext that it looks a bit confusing, and no-one can afford it unless they're a dentist or a lawyer.
Didn't know that. I use my Studio Electronics ATC-1 mostly with a Polivoks cartridge, but I should cherish the Mini cartridge, too. Thanks for the info! I have many Studio Electronics rack synths but they are far from cheapskate. The price tag in my country is...you need to get drunk to decide a purchase. In fact the older ones (three Midimoog -polyphonic LOL- and one P-Five) they all have the original components of the vintage synths inside, so they are defiinitely not plagiarism!
Out of 7 boutiques that I owned this is the only one I didn't sell. Got rid of the Behringer model D and kept this. I'm happy with it. Great tool for the studio.
Since you've owned both - can I ask why? I've had a Slim Phatty for a while that I've been considering getting rid of and replacing with either a Model D or a Roland SE-02 and I'm just curious why you picked the SE-02 over the Model D?
@@ryanjay6241the SE02 tunes itself internally, can save patches/has presets, had a pretty nifty sequencer built in, arpeggiator, a cool xmod section, and a built in delay. Although if you're coming from a slim phatty you already have a handful of those features I think. This will give you the 3rd oscillator and delay I think? Plus patch points that the phatty didn't have I guess. I have a subsequent 37 (very similar to the phatty) and I honestly find myself using that more than the SE02, and way more than I ever used the Beh modelD.
@@YouBredRaptorsMusic You might be thinking of the sub phatty - I have the slim phatty - it has a few of those features, but it's a rackmount unit (plus many times cheaper than the subsequent 37) ... it only really has 4 knobs on the panel, plus being in a rack I find it very hard to dial in a tone I want. I can do it, it's just not fun ... I wanted something with more "hands on control" like my OB6, and even though the SE02 is tiny I think I'd be fine with that.
@@ryanjay6241 ahhh, for some reason I thought the slim phatty was identical to the Little Phatty just without the keyboard. Yeah I've found sometimes I'm a fan of starting with a premade patch and tweaking and working it from there into what I want, and saving it for future use again. The SE02, like the subsequent and slim, have the ability to do that. If saving stuff and recalling those saves is not important to you, or sequencing and arpeggiator and stuff, the Model D is cheaper. If you really want to get wild sonically, but spend a good chunk of change more, I can't sing enough praise of the Moog Matriarch. Can't save presets, but 4 oscillators, stereo filter, stereo analog delay, every patch point you could ever want, arpeggiator, plus one of the best synth keybeds I've ever played.
Notes: - There's an extra bank of factory presets (for a total of 512). Press bank A twice to get to bank D, which was added in a firmware update a few years ago. - You can get the SE-02 much cheaper from Thomann (€394). - Although the architecture is obviously inspired by the Minimoog, it really doesn't sound much like one to me, as the filter and envelopes are very different. Honestly I much prefer the Minimoog, but the SE-02 is still a good synth…as long as you aren't expecting it to be a Minimoog. - The optional Ext Box (available directly from Studio Electronics) has some great improvements like a large, analog filter cutoff knob (with no stepping!), drive (which sounds great), and a high pass filter.
Very well said indeed. And, One would (only) be disappointed if and only if s/he expects Model D sound. Because it has not. Because it is.. Roland SE-02.
Bought four Roland boutiques and just kept this one together with the Ext-Box add on (gives it a large filter knob without stepping or aliasing, 1/4 inch input and output and an overdrive). The knobs are small yes, just as well it has so many presets so you aren't starting from scratch when making patches. Sounds amazing and is very versatile for a monosynth! Didn't know it was a clone of the Minimoog Model D when I got it, but this puts in perspective how good the value of this is (the Moog reissue was VERY expensive and is no longer in production)
I couldn't agree more. The existence itself is very odd indeed, and that was a good metaphor LOL: Korg collaborating with Arturia to clone a CS-80. (That could happen BTW. The best way to eliminate unauthorized clones is to authorize them!) The SE-02 doesn't qualify as bad gear though; you've made it sound way too good. It's the sound! The sound!
Title is wrong. I've got 2 of these (with k25m). I absolutely love them. I'll take the minor stepping issues (that have workarounds) for all that midi control, thx. Best boutique by far. I've got a few others that I never use, but the se-02's I use all the time. I might even spring for an se-1x one day,
I also love mine. You can use it as a background sound in combination with your chord/melody and rhythm part. When you set all the knobs before and get more feeling in to it, I think you get more out of it you would aspect. But that is with all musical devices
@@Chasing_Thoughts as long you don’t use the tune knob and set it in the middle. But it don’t play with the chord line with midi in combination with my keyboard. Not that I know. But if you like use a c chord melody for example and set the 16 different parts in a c line up than it will sound good.
When I got the notification of this video my heart dropped because this is by far my go to synth. I’ve never been triggered by a RU-vid notification haha
The SE-02 absolutely isn’t bad gear, it sounds great and is much easier to work with than the Behringer D Flat. He’s trolling or has really big hands. 😂
It's a bit cramped and the knobs are tiny and a bit hard to use, but I think it's one of the most affordable ways to get a classic Moog-like (it's not meant to be an exact emulation) sound with patch memories and full MIDI control. Behringer Model D lacks patch memories and some features like PWM, Hard sync and full MIDI control.
Thing is I can actually 100% imagine how that would come about - specifically if Korg wanted to expand their Nintendo Switch stuff and wanted to add instruments, they could do a collab with Arturia to use versions of their VSTs. Due to the complicated controls of the CS80, maybe they end up doing some sort of "AI" algorithm to help you come up with a tone or something, idk that part's the hard bit lol
I got this about a week ago as my first synth as the VST synths I was using just weren’t cutting it anymore for the aggressive sound I was looking for. I love it so far. Sound great and fits right into my sound
Exceptional episode. Always amazed at the compact quality you squeeze into this weekly. Loved the music this week and a brilliant review of the little beast.
Love my SE-02, my most recent synth and one of my favorites because it is a great portable synth and the only one I take with my when I travel. Nice track at the end.
@@TwinCitiesOxygen I have not had any issues at all with anything not working but I have only had it for about a year. It has autotuning function so tuning isn't much of an issue. I have only noticed mine drifting once and ran the autotune.
Something not mentioned is the accompanying ‘SE-02 Ext Box’. SE could have made this synth much nicer externally, but Roland probably said the unit can’t exceed a certain COGS price point, and SE was tasked to do the impossible and delivered the best they could. Sounds awesome 🖤
this thing sounds truly massive for its size. also you've quickly become one of my favorite channels on the whole of youtube, gotta love coming back home on friday night after hanging out and treating myself with some bad gear. don't know if it's more the enthusiastic-yet-monotone delivery that cracks me up, or the top notch memes decorations, or the accent probably. cheers from northern italy (we're pretty much neighbors)!
Is there a synth that doesn't "sound massive for its size"? I see this remark about every compact synth currently in production, and even for some discontinued recently within the past 10 years. I haven't looked into Uno (original) reviews, I don't know if that might be the one exception.
@@Jason75913 honestly, the behringer model D probably falls in that category to me. had to chance to shout it out against a vermona perfourmer in a mix - and man there was no competition, the vermona without any eq filled the low end like the behringer never could even with a bass boost. that's not to bash on the model D which is a fantastic synth for leads, but for that "big" sound, probably not the best
@@doctorsynth1 'Cause D-05 is still the Boutique format, but considered here and there one of the best Roland's Boutique. So i'm very courious if Herr Florian rates it as a deserved Bad Gear (as he did with TR-09 and TB-03) or elevates it away from that territory.
D-05 is cool. I love how it looks like it came out of an '80s sci-fi movie, but the interface blows, they could have at least added a value dial like many of their digital keyboards as the joystick is imprecise. Maybe they should have teamed up with Sony or Nintendo for a better joystick, LOL!!! But after trying to design my own patches, the EGs suck and the filter is awful. At least it has that virtual-analogue sound that romplers tend to lack. Limited mod options, only two waveforms for VA sounds, and other limitations have put me off. The factory banks are what it is best used for. Sure you can try to make a couple of interesting pads on it, but I'd rather relegate that to my Ultranova, Korg M50, or FA-06, which blow the D-05/D-50 away in countless ways, and not just for pads. But for those classic D-50 sounds in a modernized desktop module with USB MIDI and audio that also does away for the need to have all of the D-50's expansion cards, the D-05 is absolutely fantastic.
It's a hilarious banger every week! My favorite part of my Friday afternoons, hands down! Also, some of these demo tracks slap. Were I to become a Patron, do I get to download these there? I'd also be down for a Spotify playlist! #jussayin!
@@andresbogota10 When you change a preset, the knob positions don't match the preset, so wiggle a knob, it'll 'snap' to whatever the knob is currently set to. There are generally three modes for potentiometers for synths with presets - "Jump" - which is what's on the SE-02, "Pass Thru" - where you have to move the knob thru to the point that matches the patch setting for the knob to 'do anything', and "Value Scaling", where the knob movement scales according to the pot position. Not the easiest mode to describe, but it is by far the best experience of Pots in a Synth with Presets, for me. FYI, Ableton has Value Scaling mode for Pot Pickup in its Midi preferences, for Midi controllers. It's not set by default. Do yourself a massive favour, and set that next time Live is open!
This popped up again in my feed. I'm a huge fan of Roland but thee SE-02 is one of the best desktop boutique type synths that ever hit the market and was made. So many options and that wonderful sound it has. In my opinion it is in the top 3 of all time desktop or boutique synths ever made. Of course it doesn't sound as good as a Moog - but it's not a Moog! It's a Roland. And for Roland, it totally kicks ass and is very powerful. The only drawback is the tiny knobs and buttons but it has to be that way to cram all those options in such a small space. Oh and the keyboard is tiny if you get the one made for it in the separate little synth holder case. For the price it is a phenomenal synthesizer that far out performs many synths I paid over twice the price for. In my case I needed a smaller compact synth like that with all of its outstanding features to fit in a smaller space in my studio because (as most studio artists understand) space becomes an issue over time as you reach the point of filing shelf space.
One of the best presentations so far after having watched 15-20 videos of yours! Great comments and cuts, portraits and everything. Laughed a couple of times out loud, fortunately I was not drinking coffee at that moment. Since the SE-02 borrows so much from the Model D, it seems like the right way to go if you are into these sounds is the Behringer Poly D. Lots of value for the money! Of course no patches, but on the other hand you don't need chop sticks and extra lights to edit the sounds on a dark stage with the Poly D.
I would love for Nick to do a review casually saying "at the first glance, it's ticking all the boxes". There's no way he's not aware you mentioning him so often. :)
Dude, you completely outdid yourself with this one. The sounds, the jams, the Andromeda-Strain-I-missed-that-one popups, the Arturia-Korg snark at the end... Siskel and Ebert give you two thumbs up!
Cheers Florian, great video as usual. The se02 ticks a lot of very small boxes for me. Particuarly pleasing cable management in the second jam, your efforts are not unappreciated. :)
Best way to kickstart my weekend: another Bad Gear episode. The SE-02 sounds pretty good, although i'd like to hear the machine scream a bit more. But the one question remains, the question that connects us all: how many black shirts do you have?
I find SE-02 a very versatile synthesizer that mimics MiniMoog in a quite convincing way. To avoid fumbling with its small controls, I developed a template for Novation SL61mkII.
@@KRAFTWERK2K6 Has AudioPilz learned of the horrific tiny magic that is the KORG DS-10 on the Nintendo DS... one can only imagine the deep and virtual horror... If the SE-02 is tiny then the DS-10 interface is beyond miniscule. KORG has already won the UI miniaturization and virtualization game but hidden it on a handheld gaming console where most serious synth heads fear to search. You have to tick all those tiny boxes for yourself.
I really don't get the "hate" for the SE-02. Compared to my Waldorf Pulse (which seems to get a pass 'cause 90's cult and semi vintage), ergonomics are great and even the knobs/pots seems better (had many Pulse/Pulse+'s over the years and these pots partly broke) and sounds are less dominant in the mix. The Pulse and the SCI Pro One are always too big in a mix without tweaking. Please do the Waldorf Pulse (which I love & hate) for Bad Gear in a future episode.
Yeah I have a Waldorf Pulse it's useful but is also totally shit. Knobbly wobs and crappy clicky switches for hunting around a crap parameter matrix. Love it. What a piece of crap. I put it in the same camp as the Oberheim Matrix that I also have. Also bad gear worthy all that tone and power trapped in a box with no controls on it! And when you hook it up to something you can control it with, go too fast and it's lock up! Modified firmware fixes this though... Deffo another bad gear contender which is actually wonderful and shit
@@hydorah Hahaha! The good ole Matrix 1000, only useful with the Access Controller back then (now we got more choice); I sold mine when I got a Marion MSR-2, but the MSR-2 wasn't that good either. I still have nightmares about the rotary encoders. *ggg*
Generally, I agree with you. But on this one? The only massive fault with the SE02 is the chickenshit connectors. But you missed the whole signal flow thing of mixer drive. Ease off, it's Moog sweet. Crank it and it buzzes reminiscent of an old SEM (minus the vari-stage) without engaging any cross mod. Like someone below mentioned, I owned both the Boog and the SE02 and sold the Boog. The SE02 maps nearly all, if not every knob, to a MIDI CC. Every Sequencer step records parameter changes. Memory. Not that it's mandatory, but there are times (live) where it's a benefit. I owned Mini #1274 back when dinosaurs were making gasoline and nylon underwear. Sample and hold was extra, in a size 12 shoebox. Like the Boog. Bare bones. The SE02 has all the bells and whistles you need for a monosynth, with a few extras and is far more sonically versatile, and satisfying. Plus, the resonance scream and choke, scream andd choke (mistakenly referred to as stepping) is common on the Boog, and most other fully resonant filters as well when they are being fed any sort of pitch. One more thing - Yeah the old Alesis Micron is a brick. But with a cheap Bluetooth transmitter attached, at a party it's Tangerine Dream in a brick. And with an 88 note controller you're a one-man retro synth act. My point is, all the turkeys have a redeeming quality. Well, I dunno. I still have a semi-functional MC 505 in the garage somewhere...
"Plus, the resonance scream and choke, scream and choke (mistakenly referred to as stepping)" it IS stepping. This is due to low resolution digital control values in the encoders, there are only 127 values compared to the analogue pots of the Minimoog/Behringer Model D, it does not happen in fully analogue pots
@@RoHen-pw5ol We're talking about two entirely different things. I was speaking of modulated full self oscillation that, when falling through the envelope will scream and choke. You'e talking about sweeping the filter in a clean room. So yes. 127 from the 80s. I worked for Sequential where we bragged about having twice the resolution of an Oberheim. And never mentioned the horrid job done on the envelopes of the 600. It's all a matter of use. Glass half full it's a character point. Half empty it's a complaint. Aging Steinway's rattle like old bones in a big wooden box. Doesn;t make them unplayable.
Another fire episode chock full of memes and synth goodness. The Ro(land)bocop intro was an epic start too. Never got this one from the Boutique line, and still may or may not cop it after this majestic video analysis 💙♠️👈🏼
I remember SE doing a rack modification to model d's back the 90's. Think that was their first product. An actual vintage model d hacked up and made rack mountable. They have been going strong yet still almost unnoticed ( unless you are the boutique type ) for at least 23 years. Still its weird for roland to collaborate on something they should have had no trouble doing themselves... then again it was probably a cost decision, kinda odd from one if the O.G. synth makers... roughly 50 years now they have actually been around longer under a different name Ace Electronic Industries.
@@AudioPilz It's just surface mounted chips and resistors, I don't think it makes a difference. I just think they don't have the design knowledge anymore. They decided digital was the future in 1986 and haven't looked back. I'm not sure they make anything analog besides Boss pedals today?
In the late 80s through mid 90s analog dark ages, SE were one of the only companies still manufacturing new analog synths. I couldn't afford them, but respected them for keeping the flame alive. And I think it's cool that they're still around now that analog offerings are commonplace again.
Everything is Fab as usual. But I have to say, EVERY time I watch a Bad Gear episode, I am reminded of how badly I need a MIDI Quadra Thru.... and that I will promptly forget about it when the video is over.
Once upon a time, there was a purple sampler that was so heavily marketed to hip hop/trap that the product specialists showed up to NAMM with baggy pants and gold chains. I forgot the name, but it may be perfect for an episode in the future.
The SE-02 is a fantastic little boutique. Had mine a few years, worked it hard. It’s well built & always reliable. Adds so much to my setup in such a compact box. Definitely add the MOMO controller/editor.
Wow, the vortex spiral of “meta” as you ended this review speculating at the next synth “hybridization” was dizzying (and a lot of fun!)! It does boggle the mind that there were doubtless boardroom meeting(s?) that decided “We can still call it “boutique” even if we put flimsy knobs and a 16-step sequencer on it!” I like the sound of it though! 😁
i've just come downstairs from writing in some great lines with my SE-02, to be outraged at this videogram. how can anyone hate an SE-02?? I had an SE-01 too, but I sold it. i like this more. so there. i'm going back upstairs.
@@marike1100 takes about 20 minutes to sort out. Unless you're a hamfist. Then maybe longer. There are videos of people not understanding how it's done and making it look really hard. It's not. Done it once when new, not needed again.
Personally I thought the beautiful end results justified the nuisance laden control panel. If people don't want to tweak and fiiddlefart, buy a rompler...
You should use the Timbre Wolf as a MIDI controller, it will make your synth modules/racks sound much better. None of that mod wheel crap messing up the signal chain! Plus you cannot deny the tone imparted by the REAL simulated wood-grain sides
The real secret super power in the SE-02 is the real-time transposing Sequencer... but you gotta read the manual for that. I always treated the 128 sequencer patches as the actual patch memory on the SE-02 as it links each sequence with a patch memory slot... the limited 16 step sequences then just become a super awesome arpeggiator with single P-Lock parameter per step and nice gate length per step settings great for rhythmic patterns that aren't possible with most other arpeggiators... all that with a 3-Osc Moog like voice and a clock syncable delay... what's not to love. Studio Electronics and Roland mashed a modern take on the TB-303 with a miniaturized Moog... anyone who gets it, won't be happy with a Behringer knock off... or even the Mother 32 for that matter.
If your SE-02 manual isn't handy or it's the old printed non-updated version... the method for getting the key trig transpose on sequences... Switch the three position Patch/Seq/Song switch to the Seq position... then look for a sequence that seems like it might be fun to transpose using a keyboard... press the two jewel buttons on the far left side to enter Seq Setup... then press the jewel button with the C above it... the display will read KeyTrig... rotate the Value Knob until the display reads Trans... press the far left button (Note) twice to Exit the Setup mode... Now play keys to KeyTrigger and Transpose yer sequence in real time... mmm!!! That is so nice... if you switch the three position switch back to Patch mode you can even swap the patch in real time while transposing the keytrigged sequence... Go Nuts!! If you get something you like... don't forget to switch the 3 position switch back to the Seq Position and press down on the Value knob/button a few times to save the patch and the Key Trig Trans mode settings into the Sequence. (Yes I actually Replied to my own Reply, Sue me.)
Ahh-noooo! This is my fav synth and I was only able to buy it in Tokyo with my gf as a translator and I have loved it since! ;) Excellent sound demo as always!
@@AudioPilz To be honest, I guess the near-orgasmic experience of shopping at Five G Tokyo has created an emotional attachment to my SE-02, so might just be a tad bit biased here. :P
Maybe you also could feature the Roand MX-1 on the show... It's great on paper but it's definitely bad gear. The unique step sequencer effects unit is an excellent idea, the lightweight construction makes it perfect for carrying it along to gigs, having only four analogue input channels is quite limiting but manageable, turning up the channel input gain is so noisy that even Behringer would be ashamed of it and the AUX return is even worse, making this thing one of the noisiest pieces of sh*t unless you keep the channel inputs on minimum and the AUX return at 35% or below. And despite it being a digital mixer, it doesn't even come with a real EQ, there's only this one knob filter that can do high shelve or low shelve or a resonant filter with pre defined resonance settings and a rather harsh sound.
I beg you to watch the Mike Pensini (especially dark moon) demos of the se02 on youtube just see how beautiful and subtle this synth can also be. Ps, another great episode of another of my “bad” synths i own 😅
Excellent Show mate. The meme of Nick looking dreamy in a framed portrait was funny as fox. Also the Roland 303 in the Omni Consumer Products GHQ was golden.
Another piece of Bad Gear that I own! The biggest strengths is that I can take a Moog clone with mega patch presets on vacation! The tiny knobs are awkward and the 16 step sequencer is a bit frustrating, but it is not bad for the price.
As a owner, I have to say its not bad. The knobs are small, but hey my hands are massive, and I don't have much trouble using it. I think the Behringer Boog nails the Moog tone better (like 100%!) and the knobs are better, this little SE/Roland unit is pretty sweet. I like the built in sequencer too!
The Boog is definitely a better Minimoog clone, but it's a misconception that the SE-02 is supposed to be a Minimoog. It's really a different synth. Clearly it's inspired by the Minimoog architecture, but the filter and envelopes are very different. I've tried matching Minimoog presets with it and it can only get so close. It's best to think of the SE-02 as an entirely different synth.
I'm not sure if the Boog itself qualifies as bad gear itself. It is a bit weird to have what is essentially a circa 1970 synth with no modern improvements, except for MIDI. I like the compact size, but hey that should be a forum's worth of hate on its own. No memories in 2021 makes this a very niche appeal product too!
If the small knobs bother the users (of course try it before buy it), you can control every parameter with midi, so you can easily control it with another synth. Regarding fitting it in the mix: that is for all Moogs not just for this rip-of.
True, but IMO that defeats the purpose of making it a desktop unit. If I'm going to need to use a computer and/or controller for gear it's better off in a rack out of the way. Otherwise things can get cluttered quickly, and risks more breakage and bad connections. But I get it - they sell more to casual users this way.
Love the sounds it makes but were I to have one I'd wonder about how much I'd actually be able to use it in my tracks. When you've got electronic stuff that sounds this big, you really need to be recording something that's mostly electronic to make full use of it.
That last jam is really lovely, definitely want to hear the full track. I’ve often been tempted by this synth because I like small things that sound good but it does seem like the miniaturisation was a step too far.
I enjoy wathicng this every friday. Not only for instruments and music but also for visuals to your music jams. Who is making these visuals anyway? You or anonymous talented vj?
