Thanks for the reactions, and thank you Nick for the thorough review! Great job! About the wobbly knobs: yes we know they are, unfortunately there's a bit of play in the potentiometers. But we chose these potentiometers for a number of other technical reasons. Don't worry, they are stable and they are high quality pots from a reliable manufacturer (Alps RK119). They don't start jittering around when you touch them, and they won't give up after a few months or years!
Since no one has asked, would you mind telling us a bit about those other technical reasons? I suspect it's interesting and it may help to improve people's confidence in this synth.
Never came back to comment on the wobbly knobs again, but these have been updated already in 2017. So all more recent NF-1s (and all our other products) have more sturdy knobs now!
This first release of the NF-1 was made cheaply with sucky ( wobbly ) potentiometers. " Build cheap ~ Sell high " it seems was their marketing approach.
That "arcade" noise (S+H noise) is essential if you're making chiptune drums :) Not only that, it's infinitely more flexible than boring old white noise. If you play high notes, you get white noise. Go down a bit and you get white noise with midrange scoops of differing periods. Lower still you're in the tuned noise range, which sounds a bit videogamey, but if that's not your thing, it can be mixed in subtly to give something more musical than straight noise. And of course low pitches give you the classic C64 "blast off" sound, which for some reason causes me to get trapped in a loop of doing 2-octave pitchbends with it for 10 minutes. I guess it takes me back.
I like the JP-8080-inspired rear panel with recessed connections for rack mounting. Not crazy about the wobbly pots, those Cliff K-series knobs they're using do allow for a bushing underneath but they probably had a design constraint in regards to distance of PCB to panel, or they didn't want to order 20k pcs minimum qty from Alps and just use distributor-stocked parts. Don't mind the old school Marquardt switches, I bet they were pissed when Modal beat the to the punch and kind of stole their industrial design (or vic versa). At the end of the day if you're a musician looking to get away from the computer you would probably care less about wobbly parts and industrial design and be busy using it to make music! Hope they sell lots, the more options the better.
Nick I quite like that it seems as if you really do your homework and perhaps do run through of your reviews before filming your really my go to before I purchase any new synth item. Please keep up the good work your the man!
This synth sounds pretty good! Finally a manufacturer who doesn't bring up the 1000th recreation of one of the vintage analouge synths. I like that and personally, i like digital synths more, because it is possible to get such cool options in the oscillators.
I have one of these and the knob wobble is not from the knob, but from the custom caps unfortunately. They are just press on with metal retaining rings. The build quality is solid and the knob stems don't wiggle. I probably going to get replacement knobs. I love this thing.
love the sounds and very happy I just read this on the modor website: "THE MODOR NF-1 GOT AN HARDWARE UPGRADE. LESS WOBBLY CONTROLS, AND A LOWER NOISEFLOOR!" - good job, modor!
It has a very particular vibe and charm, some of the sounds remind me slightly of the Gotharman deMoon review you did some 5-6 years back. I would argue that this is what that should've been. I hear warmth, life and digital sheen, depending on the patch, or sometimes at the same time. I'm seriously impressed with what I see and hear. The combination of size, metal chassis, elaborate panel, sound quality and overall feature set gives the price some credence. But it still feels a tad expensive for 8 digital voices monotimbral. And hey, no built in speakers. So it is still possible :-D
@11:10 - re mapping velocity to envelope depth; It looks like you can, in the current firmware because a) You can have Velocity as a source, in the mod matrix b) You can use any mod matrix entry as a destination c) You can use each Envelope, as a source d) You can use Filter Cut Off and Resonance, as destinations Of course, what Nick said was probably true at the time, three and a half years ago, but it seems to have been addressed - as have the wobbly knobs, among other things. So, any chance of sonicstate reviewing the NF-1m?
If it had USB or some other digital I/O (being a digital synth) or some CV I/O to interface with analogue/modular gear, it would be a knock out of the park for a DSP synth. Still, it's a really unique and nice sounding. :)
Another concise, balanced review by Nick. Thumbs up. I have to say, though, the notion of an "all-digital" synth in 2015 not having at _least_ MIDI I/O across USB (and therefore firmware updates), is puzzling and archaic. And hmm... maybe a couple of dodgy edits in this video? ;)
+Narudh Areesorn Five times the price of Roland Boutique, more polyphony but doesn't sound dramatically better, no sequencer and you'd never see such wobbly knobs on any Roland product.
Modor is apparently just how Mordor is spelled, in Dutch / Flemish / Belgian translations of the books. So, "Twas in the darkest depths of Modor..." - sorry for Rambling On.
I love the sound of this! Three things stop me from buying it, no usb b, no CV and it’s too expensive for lacking those two things. I don’t like the recessed back either (too difficult to get to, and I don’t understand why every synth of this type doesn’t have an effects loop)
Digital can be amazing. It is nice to see a company taking the digital route on its own path rather than having it try to copy analog exactly. Synthesis wise digital can offer its own sound footprint and uniqueness that analog can't do. The greatness of FM, wavetable, and additive synths from the past have proven this before. Everything has a place. That being said.... The price on this thing seems a little too excessive even though it seems to have a robust looking case (with a design I quite like) and highly versatile synth options. I would be interested to see where the price comes from construction wise since one of the benefits of digital is a lower price point for internals.
A lot of people have mentioned it. Why didn't you comment on the wobbly knobs? Great synth, but it doesn't inspire confidence in the build quality to see them moving around like that with the slightest touch.
He's right in that digital is great for a lot of things. I think that's a challenge today perhaps with so many people clamoring for analog, or analog like sounds.
07:10 Excuse me , but that is not feedback fm like you said , it sounds more like 1:1 ratio fm ( ratio of modulator is changeable with fm modulator button )
What's the power source for the flux capacitor(s) for all that fluxability? Great sounding filters and if I want something different I can run it through some external filters or use it as an excellent sound source for my modular. The only downer is those wobbly knobs, they look too dodgy for my clumsy fat fingers :-O
+Andrew Radtke A little? A lot wobbly. If Roland or Yamaha had released even an entry level VA synth with knobs like that, they'd be crucified around here. I guess pricey boutique stuff is held to a different standard. Gotta love hipsters.
+Altodon A I'm just really surprised that Nick didn't mention it... Very bizarre oversight from him considering just how wobbly they look. Terrible build quality on those, make it look cheap as hell as he's operating it.
I was so excited for this then saw the cheap knobs. I just cant. Part of the allure is the tactility of external hardware and feeling like your hundreds or 1000s was spent on a quality product, not a flimsy midi controller. Don't be a wobbly knob Modor, Dave Smith was once a wobbly knob and learned.
Nick I purchase my NF-1 this past week. I find I have to turn the volume up really high to get a good volume? and is because it needs to be hooked into my mixer in stereo? I only have the left mono connected? I love the sound, I was a bit disappointed with the knobs, I feel there not as solid as I it looked? Maybe expected a little more quailty for the price? Although I am in the US which might explain the price over 1K?
+Mark Eubanks hey Mark, I don't recall the output being low. Knob s were a little wobbly but I've seen worse. I hope you enjoy it. A little unusual, but plenty to explore
+Mark Eubanks hey Mark, I don't recall the output being low. Knob s were a little wobbly but I've seen worse. I hope you enjoy it. A little unusual, but plenty to explore
+Mark Eubanks hey Mark, I don't recall the output being low. Knob s were a little wobbly but I've seen worse. I hope you enjoy it. A little unusual, but plenty to explore
+Mark Eubanks hey Mark, I don't recall the output being low. Knob s were a little wobbly but I've seen worse. I hope you enjoy it. A little unusual, but plenty to explore
Digital, should not be a dirty word, nor should it be compared to analogue. If you want analogue, buy one. If you want something to inspire you, step outside the box. Is it me, or do those knobs look all 'wind and piss'? They look off center and wobbly as Hell! Fly in the ointment!
Nearly £800!!! Don't be silly!! This is a £500 synth, considering it's digital, and with poor connectivity, BUT tone wise, interesting and inspiring, but that price though! Deal breaker for me, sorry!
Well obviously if you wanna make a poly synth at a reasonable price you're gonna make a va synth so digital fits there, but if you want digital effects, weird bitcrushers and the rest, you again go with digital. Also FM. It's only when it's a cheap alternative to analog that isn't even va and sounds boring as shit that digital is done wrong.
Digital and extroverted designed synth with a really really shitty display and no usb... i guess I stay at massive and other softsynths and get a much better interface. That sweep of the delaytime isn'r really something I like.
Hi Nick, Thanks for all the amazing reviews! Do you think any of the new digital synths really worth the investment or there hasn't been anything tha really stands out since the Virus? @sonicstate
Yeah, the price is stupid. Digital at minimum for that price should have 16 notes of poly. 1,000 for a limit in digital? But 8 is a fine amount, just a lot of money and no keynoard. It’s boutique though, so.
