Agreed, a few more impromptu in conversation videos like this would be most welcome. Nick, we're aware that a review takes considerably more time to prepare than something like this, but in the mean time this was a valuable way to present some tasty analogue synthery to us without you having to spend extra time writing a script!
oh my! it made me cry two times...first when I heard all the beautiful sounds you got out of it and the second time when I saw the price tag here in Germany ;)
Comments callin this massive piece of gear "expensive" are completely groundless. Handcrafted, it can easily produce the classic 70s Berlin school of electronics sound by the first minutes of playing. If you would pay this in Roland or Moog or whatever money you would have to pay probably the double. The unit size is small, but the produced sound is priceless with an absolutely unique character. Don't just throw flame, listen to the unit live first and speak last.
Yes, it reminded me of Tangerine Dream. What angers me personally isn't the price BUT THE FACT THAT THE DAMN THING IS DISCONTINUED AND I CAN'T FIND A USED ONE OR A SIMILAR PRODUCT
Sounds glorious! I like the fact that analogue fx are treated as a valid part of the synth engine, rather than as an afterthought or "cheating". It gives it both a lovely, thick 70s vibe, and a much more modern "layered" feel: perhaps the short BBD is doing some comb filtering that gives formant-like overtones, hence the unexpected choir sounds?
Hands down the Dreadbox best synth ever. Just perfect. Sounds out of this world and yet familiar. So sad they don't produce them anymore, a shame. This should be the stable product of the Dreadbox company along with the Nemesis and Erebous. Flagship quality. The fx section on this thing are so good, for real, that crunchy sci-fi retro sound. Hope we will see a return in production of this synth someday in the future.
One thing I love about a Gaz & Nick review is you can tell that they're genuinely enjoying fiddling. It's two mates messing with a new synth just like everybody does when they get a new bit of kit. More companies should do it like this, it's far more compelling than just a dry demo IMO.
This is a fantastic way to showcase an instrument, and this was also the deciding factor for me to finally save up for my first Dreadbox. Love watching these two friends geek out together and run through the features. Thanks, Gaz and Nick! Creative and musical.
I love this. This reminds me of whenever a friend or I purchase a new synth. We grab some beers and geek out for a few hours turning knobs, taking turns, and discussing sound.
Sounds really nice - very Boards Of Canada / Ghost Box (I'll bet Belbury Poly or The Advisory Circle would like one of these). Gaz's enthusiasm is completely infectious, as always.
got #0083 in last week, and int sounds fabulous. Okay, maybe pricey for some, but it helps the Greek economy, and the sound is unique. Dreadbox thinks out of the box, but not crazy out of the box. It is a different character in contemporary synth sound. Not better, not worse. But definitely different :) Love it!!
Great synth! Just like mother, one OSC can sound great. I like it, it's original, sounding like its own instrument. Also love the fact that effects are part of the chain. I find the price fair. Wanna try it.
I really enjoyed the style of this video. The informal nature makes it very easy to watch. I feel like a good solid thought out review is necessary for the Abyss BUT this video provides a ton of insight and was a lot more fun to watch. Consider doing more of these please.
It has a narrow sweet spot but lots of subtle tonal variation. I like it. EDIT: moving further into the vid, I want to upgrade my 'like it' to 'love it'. GASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS EDIT 2: dang, sounds really rich and thick. EDIT 3: @13:53, that resonance, I was scrolled down below reading the comments, sounded surreal, sublime, beautiful. I love it man! ok, I'm going to stop now :)
This video sold the Abyss to me, and I think it was worth every penny. I'm still finding new sounds out of it three years on, and will be having the V2 when it appears.
never realized it was actually that huge (physically) until I saw this video :) Also, man the sound.. with just one VCO + sub, so unique, ld love to have one.
Well shit, I said I would never buy another 4-voice poly....but damn. This thing ooooozes character. So much talk about VA vs analog, analog vs software emulation.....this thing is utterly unique.
If the dreadbox abyss has taught me anything it's that synth players don't understand basic economies of scale. They're not korg, they can't make this $500. There's nothing wrong with that. If you want cheap get a minilogue.
Whats interesting about Dreadbox is that that they build everything by hand. Now I've worked in the electronics industry my whole life and i am blown away by that. Because building pcb's by hand is incredibly slow and expensive. But they clearly have an original sound to their synths and a lot of people love them so more power to them.
no friend, be honest: WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY U CAN GET AN ELEKTRON A4: 4 VOICE POLY LIKE THIS ABYSS, BUT: EVERY voice has its sub osc and dedicated vib/trem/AND + 2 LFO, i repeat, FOR EVERY VOICE. Plus: Huge (almost infinite) routing possibilities, awesome delay and reverb, 6 SEQUENCER with PARAMETER LOCK (4 for the voice, 1 for CV, one for FX!), native VST to TOTALLY control and manage programs with computer screen, and to say all, u can play it as a 4 indipendent ANALOG MONO SYNTH. All for THE SAME PRICE OF THIS REALLY OVERPRICED SYNTH Abyss. Elektron forever thanx for exist.
As much as I enjoyed this video, I have to disagree with Gaz’s assessment that the Abyss is not the deepest modulation monster. Let’s see, we have the waveformer LFO, 4 vibrato LFOs (one for each voice), 2 analogue LFOs each with multiple destinations plus the 2 envelopes. Compare that to the Korg Prologue, Prophet 6 or OB6 and that’s not too shabby at all, although there’s no mod matrix here. What is also missing is the ability to use the VCOs for audio rate modulation therefor precluding any VCO or VCF FM fun. Lastly I miss being able to invert the filter envelope and the lack of filter tracking. That said, the Abyss sounds so gloriously bonkers and ancient that none of those omissions matter in the slightest and I’m constantly surprised just how haunting and expressive this synth can be.
I really love Dreadbox synths' sound but watching the Abyss videos did not get me excited about this poly until now. This is a great review and, to me, the first video that shows the Abyss capacities. Now my problem is that I don't have the money to acquire one. :(
Pleasingly idiosyncratic, warm, and alive. Typically lovely Dreadbox sound. I'm imagining what it'll sound like put through a stereo chorus... (I will say though that I'm not convinced about the VCA overdrive.)
Ha great review ,, looked like you both enjoyed that ,, with that 70s phaser feel i thought star spangled banner (jimi hendrix style ) was goona appear !!
Gaz was in a way defending it to Nick. No need Gaz, I get it completely. A very generous unique synth great sound great look. I always hear warm Berlin era Bowie pads.. very musical. thanks
Does the multichannel=multitimbral a la the Analog Four? If so, how do you edit each voice with no display and physical controls? Parameter pick up, scaling, etc?
Maybe it's an analogue mod lover thing but these comments are obsessed with not having enough oscillators for sound options when instead focusing on the great music you can make with the sound it does make. How many flavors of ice cream do you need to make a great sundae?
