Syntrx | Day One 

I have the Syntrx and the first thing I noticed was the digital noise from the reverb. I spoke to Erica about and they said that the noise was there by design for experimental work, not what I wanted to hear but undeterred I opened the unit up to see if something could be done. The cables to and from the spring tank are twisted pair but unshielded and if they are near the digital matrix you get that digital noise. So I replaced them with shielded cables, there is also a reverb gain trimmer which if you turn down reduces the noise but also the wild feedback. This is not something many people would do but it does make the reverb more "usable" but in the limited space available in there the spring tank which is great for picking up any electrical noise is really quite close to the digital switch matrix.

That grimace made at 3:00 for the noisy bleeps and blurps is priceless!! I can't see myself owning one of these.

Well done. A challenging bit of kit to review- especially in such a short time

Hold shift and press recall, turns off the matrix lights and drastically reduces reverb noise.

Stunning display and great talkthrough/demo. Tim ....you made this bad boy siiingggggg !!!!

You look quite happy to have this one. Sounds fantastic

Love your Honesty, Tim.

Every last thing you’ve pointed out is precisely the same on a Synthi (even the patch storage via presto-patch). It’s quite amazing how after only a couple hours of evaluation you’ve articulated so many poorly thought out conceptual choices made by the EMS engineers and designers. What a confident lad you are.

Awesome video as always.

Thanks for another great indepth and honest review. You are not overly critical, you are as always right on point. From my view, those flaws are simply unacceptable for such extremely expensive unit.

the little sci-fi riff you ended up using for the backing track you made with it is fucking awesome, maybe the coolest thing you've made as an example in your videos!

Appreciate the honest review

Tim, first off, you provide the greatest and most honest breakdowns of synth equipment of anyone. I came across your work a little over a week ago researching the Behringer ARP 2500 modules; I have wanted an ARP 2500 like Pete Townsend's since I was 13 (35 years ago); and fell down the rabbit hole of watching all of your videos like I was binge watching a Netflix show. Like you, I lusted after the Syntrx even though the majority of RU-vid videos on the Syntrx played awful sounds. I guess I still want to be Pete Townshend. Keep up the excellent work, your calming demeanor in these videos is only matched by your philosophical, dare I say poetic, delivery!

Loooooove my Syntrx. One of the best decisions I've made recently.

If you reduce the signal strength of the oscillators in the matrix to 30%, you get a larger control range for fine-tuning the signal strength in the further audio path. That was already the case with the original EMS devices. Use the existing technology, don't always scold!

Damn! Really ripped that synth a new one Tim! Poor syntrix isn’t going to be walking straight for a week! Hey... at least I have zero gas for it anymore so thanks for saving me money! 👍 another informative video as usual!

Very interesting take on this synth! Like the shirt as well. (: Edit after watching: This sober assessment is a lesson in how effective youtubers are able to hype underwhelming gear. I'm now thinking some well known creators who positively turned syntrx apostles actually just have equity in Erica. (:

Thanks so much for your reviews, super valuable. I’ve had my syntrx for a while now and it certainly has its idiosyncrasies. I did notice you had your output channel eq set to fully clockwise, the “flat” position is “5” .. this makes a huge difference to the sound, as these controls are tone controls. Anyway, this is certainly not a synth for everyone, but if you embrace it’s limitations it is incredibly rewarding. I feel the mistake is looking for things it can’t do when compared to other machines, I don’t need another minimoog, or more modular, it is different and it leads you on different paths. But that’s my experience and my POV. In the sports car metaphor you touch on, this isn’t a 2021 Porsche 911. It’s a new Morgan +8, imperfect , impractical and thrilling. Thanks again for the great content and I really do appreciate your thoughts!

I like your honesty, really. No matter if we share the same taste in every aspect..

Subscribed because of the powerful honesty in this video. Most people simply aren't willing to explain why they don't like something they've purchased because of the ego involved in saying either a) a mistake was made, or b) a product's promise wasn't delivered. That patch saving is 100% why I wouldn't necessarily want to commit to this type of unit, especially at the price point. Really wonderful, humble little video.

Well done for finding that Overdrive problem straight off the bat - you're my hero!

Love this synth. Maybe some day.🤓

I really like the sounds you have in the introductory sequence.

That brought back some memories... My freshman year at college, we had a Synthi to work with. When you pushed the pins into the matrix, they were obviously 100%... Don't think I'd considered the possibility of attenuating the connections. Interesting thoughts. Great memories. Thanks

This video was very helpful in that it considerably reduced my GAS for this unit. I'll stick with my Arturia software emulation for the time being. Thanks!

I was lucky to get it for about half the price used and I'm still enjoying learning it. I personally enjoy the sounds I get from it so far, and I am not a noise artist by any stretch but it does take some knowledge and tinkering to get it there (which I also sort of enjoy in a strange way). Wish you had demonstrated some more of it, but I'm sure we'll get a followup video.

You almost made me feel bad about my purchase of the Syntrx.. lol.. Actually, you are spot on in your observations. I felt there were several missed opportunities with modulation routing and the filter as well. I still like the sound and will likely keep it.. unless I trade it for a PolyBrute...

Thanks Tim.

Thanks Tim for taking the time to post this , I have had some expirience with the VCS3 back in the day , but found them to be the most unstable units out there it would scale to one octave then drift terribly , although some of the sounds were killer , I always wanted to get a replacement as most of todays re-issue synths seam to be more stable and flexable. one thing not covered in the video was the ability to patch this unit other synths or is it totally standalone , like you mentioed haveing sequencing capability would move this unit to a new level and if midi is the only input then again it limit what controller this could be useful with . thanks again

This is a beautiful looking thing.

Beautiful Reverb )

Very nice down-to-earth overview of this fascinating synth. The Syntrx is certainly a very desirable synth and its unique features, sound and build quality are great. And the ringmod implementation is really good. It's a shame the joystick didn't work on yours as that is one of the standout features that I always see mentioned in reviews in addition to the matrix patching. Syntrx vs Matrixbrute? 🤔

Greetings from Carlsbad, California, Tim! Thoughtful, informative, actually really beautiful, video, as always from you. After getting to know your tastes and thought processes for about a year, and having in my possession several of the synths you've made videos about, I feel like you're an excellent gauge of my own reactions to a piece of gear. This one sounds intriguing for sure. I'm generally a fan of Erica's stuff and own a couple chunks, but you make some important critical points here. Sorry, but a bit of an orthogonal question for you here: What synth/controller are you playing in this video, and is it what you generally use for playing? Thanks for another excellent video.

Thanks again for this informative video. Some of my thoughts: - The seemingly ridicoulous high output level range of the oscillators might make sense, if you want to use an oscillator as a modulation source. - The feedback of the reverb might be a little less useless, if overdriven with high signal levels. But after all, i enjoied the video, your accurateness and humor ... and i enjoied the fact that it didn't make me greedy. ;-)

Nice to see a PE-2000 sneaking into shot.

Thank you for the honest review and insights. Erica clearly state that this is not a clone of the VCS3/Synthi, but inspired by them. However, in terms of functions and features, it seems very close, hence the limitations you point out. The digital matrix has (I believe) buffers so no crosstalk like the VCS3. Adding full patch recall would have pushed the price up even more. although that exists on the Moog Sub(sequent)37, Arturia Matrixbrute and others. I wanted to like this synth but, I don't think I can. I will wait for the Behringer VCS3 clone with no expectation of added functionality except probably rudimentary MIDI implementation, but a much more reasonable price for something which is more experimental than for everyday melodic use. Sadly, I don't think I can afford the Analogue Solutions Colossus. I think that is the one you should have bought ;)

I didn't realized it was so sensitive to levels. I less dramatic example is the Memorymoog. Oscillator volume levels start to overdrive the filter past level 5, but don't produce anything close to the dramatic change as on the Syntrx.

Ey, have you done a little video explaining your camera and lighting set up? Your videos look gorgeous, love the color grading.

I thought my Reverb in my Syntrx was broken. I turn it slightly and it feeds back like crazy. Glad to know it was designed that way. But why did they design it like that? I find it barely usable.

Hmmmm Tim I am going to say that you haven't given it a full chance. I have a Syntrx and I have to tell you this synthesizer is commercialized as an experimental non conventional synthesizer. If you are approaching it with the same expectations on regular synthesizers you will be somewhat disappointed. It took me a while to get used to mine and the more I play with it the more I realize how to tame the beast. The reverb itself has been designed as a tool for weird harmonics or noises. There are times when I play where I want to mix weird droning harmonics from the reverb to mix with the sound and you can get some very strange out of this world sounds. Ultimately it requires that you learn it well and find what suits you. The instrument is designed to play itself and without keys in order to make it less predictable if you choose to do so. Also the matrix is a huge addition when you store the patches. Although the pots may be in a different position it can lead to nice accidents all the time. Really it is meant to not be conventional and more experimental something Erica Synths strives to do even with their expensive Liquid Sky Dada Noise System as well.

I was considering getting one of these (well if it's good enough for Jarre) but I had no idea that only the matrix settings were saved. Seriously, what were they thinking to only save half the patch? That make it useless for my way of working so thanks for pointing that out Tim.

now I'm at the end "fiddling" and it def has it's own sound. I forgot to ask, how does it compare to the EMS Synthi? is it a knock off/improvement or just similar in looks? but it does sound amazing.

Man, I love how you can make any synth sound really melodic. That's really missing on some other reviews. I get that people might like to make strange noises, but that's not what I'm usually after, so it's very hard, for me, to gauge other aspects of the synth's sound design that I might use. Your channel provides great service in that regard.

All the limitations seem to be overcome in the Arturia Matrixbrute.

Let's talk about the Matrix if you take the Blue Pill........... And as always thank you very very much for making these videos! You do know I hope that you are an inspiration to many people myself included💖

Thats an Apple toothpick holder , boutique you gotta love it

wow. I had been dreaming of getting one, and now I don't know, probably not. I have a matrix brute and feel it is way more powerful. thoughts?

I would love to see a direct sound comparison of SYNTRX and Erebus.

There are a lot of "tricks" within routing that can more or less make up for many of the issues. You really have to throw traditional osc, filter, vca, fx out the window though, it is not the strong point of the syntrx. Try routing osc into the VCA then into the filter and you will find you can use the full range of the oscillator knobs thanks to the VCA attenuator the amount you attenuate starts to act almost like a resonance modulation due to how the filter responds to drive. Plenty of ways to route the reverb also to get more out of it, I tend to use 30% pin on the output but create a feedback loop in the matrix aswell into the reverb and you can get a much bigger reverb that isn't too noisy. Then layer it with the main signal on the output. I think the patch recall could have been cool but the more familiar you are with it the easier it is to get to musical places with just the matrix recall.. it's like recalling a different synth rather than a patch. I dont know if 5 hours is nearly enough time to cast fair judgment on it. I will say I think the biggest reason to buy one is for the audio processing, driving audio input with subtle ringmods, feedback, you can really put some special sauce on a song.

Cheers for another great review! You've managed to get some truly beautiful sounds outa that thing, but are they 2700 quid worth of sounds? ;-)

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't understand the desire for those heavy drive/feedback type sounds. I've heard a couple artists use syntrx, where I liked it. But, mostly I've felt like you about it...and it's waaaaaay out of my budget.

There is an option to turn off the led matrix and reduce the noise in the reverb circuit

Its a sound designers synth, awesome for soundscapes, movies and documentaries etc, a real sci fi machine. man if I had even half a day with one or could afford one I'd be in heaven..

Thanks Tim! Seems like a fun little synth, but man.. that price is a bit steep for what you get. And yeah, I guess it does provide some interesting flavours, but between all the equipment you already have, i'm pretty sure you've got it covered. Anyway, I don't think the question of whether you really need this to make the music you want tomake reallyapplies, since you've passed that point a long time ago. It's more of a luxury,and thenthe question is: does it make you happy? Only you can answer that..haha.

i like the idea of the sound they are trying to accomplish which at the same time is it's downfall because it sounds cheap! looks useful though... That is how I program mainly... I mea saving filter and vca and adsr setting are good to save, but i like to control those knibs when playing, so saving the routing options is very useful.. id bet it sound good through a nice amp

This makes me glad I own the Matrixbrute.

If you want to not drive the filter so much with the oscillators, try attenuating the inputs from them into the filter...try the lowest setting, then you can save the patch without having to worry about turning them way down when using it

WHAT was wrong with those sounds @2:56 ? That almost sold me on the price of the thing. THOSE sounds. The ones you didn't like. They are awesome sounds.

Interesting Video Tim... My initial thoughts are possibly lack of proper calibration at the factory before it was sent?? I too was interested in this, but it just not "musical" enough for me for £2700? I guess its an alternative to an EMS, but still for the money, its got too many hang-ups for me ! Sorry

It's admittedly a fascinating synth and the thought of physically experiencing a 'VCS3' is exciting. However Arturia's Synthi V is something I already have and can do an equal amount of experimentation and keep my $4K (CDN) for something far more comprehensive.

Hey Tim, i saw your other Video about the kb37 and from some shots in this Video you can see how efficient you organized your space. I am using a jaspers stand, fully loaded, what things are you using? Are These all custom build?

Is the system capable f.e. sounds like Tim Blake Christal Machine?

After watching the entire video, I have a few thoughts. Firstly it was interesting to see your stubble getting longer and longer during the course of the day. Secondly, the issue with the level of the oscillators going into the filter, does setting the matrix "pin" to 30 percent make much difference? I'd guess that at 100 percent setting would be where you would set it for Noise music and other experimental stuff, 70 percent for more manageable overdrive and 30 percent for the more delicate sounds that you managed to coax out of the synth Thirdly, the obvious E.M.S. DNA that the syntrx has makes me feel that the limitations are intentional to make it "authentic" to the synth that inspired it. I don't doubt that were Behringer to make a clone, they would include a sequencer and various other functional additions. Actually,I'm sure I remember that it was one of the synths rumoured to be on their to-do list. That's probably the only way I'd be able to afford one. If only I could go back in time to that day in the early 80s when I was at my cousins house and his next door neighbour tried to sell me a synthi for a hundred quid. Ahh, missed opportunities.

Love the look of this synth. Don't love the sound, functionality and price. Thanks Timbo.

Thanks for your valuable opinion Tim. Beautiful outtro. Sorry, I'm curious: Did you finally keep it?

I LOL'ed so LOUD!!! Haha! Thank you very much for the fantastic humor! LOVE the synth! Have always wanted a matrix panel like that on a synth...

Nice video Tim, but I can't help thinking that you got yourself an industrial freezer because you liked how it looked, when you actually needed a small sized cooler... And yes, that can be disappointing :-) I love my syntrx!

Thanks for the review Tim. I totally agree about sequencer option. Would be a such a great addition to the matrix.

Hi Tim! Just curious, did you end up keeping the Syntrx?

I think you have a calibration issue in tie VCA /amplification circuit. Or the wrong type of pots have been installed ( Lin/log). On the plus side, if you want to create some Noise Music then you're golden!

Tim Shoebridge. Matt Creamer Audio did a video on the Synthi. I would copy the Matrix patching in tandem with his demo

As usual Tim this is an excellent review. All of the points you raised would have driven me crazy so you have saved me from buyer's regret and for that I thank you. It will be interesting to see if Behringer's VC3 sees the light of day, at Behringer's prices some of the issues I could live with but not at premium Erica Synth prices. Thanks again for pointing out the land mines on the road, its really appreciated by the community, I recommend you send it back, I think you just killed any eBay resale :-)

Did you compare the “limitations” with the Synthi? And comparing with a Matrixbrute like so many here do…. Apples …. oranges.

Thanks Tim for the balanced breakdown. Most synth content creators are hype-beats and overlook faults and, crucially, value for money. I enjoyed some of the sounds you coaxed out of it, but it's still hard pass from me. The filter drive and reverb ring 'features' you highlighted would drive me nuts, and am surprised by the relatively limited modulation capabilities. For 3K there are much more tempting options for me (such as SOMA Pulsar)

i honestly searched this video 1 hour ago

Tim stop it, man, You're really IRON MAN!

What mixer do you use?

Oh well.. I can understand this review -bearing in mind you only had it for 5 hours. Too short obviously. I do love my syntrx and am discovering more and more depth in it as I learn it. It is an exceptional synth, which is dedicated to experimentation and discovery. I do not understand why you would like to see a regular "clock to sequence and anything will go"-synth in it. If you are looking for this, for sure you should not keep it. There are a lot of other (and cheaper) options for this. But as for sound processing external sources through the inputs (which you did not cover in this video), doing analog sound design and the slow, but steady unfolding of its gorgeous depth as you truly invest time in it and learn the instrument (which makes it a true instrument instead of a trickbox), the syntrx is unique. I do hope you keep it :) And I also hope you will make another review after having invested more time in it, instead of a imo poor 5 hours. The syntrx has a steep learning curve. This review is not giving this wonderful instrument a fair chance.

You know how to make a synth sing, but will it stay or go?

I think that's a "RETURN"

"Gripping viewing" - hehe... ever thought about comparing audio from LFOs on different synths? thought not :D. Seems a lot of money for what's there... the gain structure seems to be a completely flawed.

I would like to bring another experience, generally synths which generates frequencies, compared that to a sampled synth, I find that you can hear the oscillation of frequencies or frequency (which is not desirable) which you do not often get in a rompler. I possess the Korg Radias which I gladly replaced the DeepMind-12, never-the-less you get those oscillating patches. I purchase my patches - I have not the time to craft these sounds, I have music to perfect. At the end of the day, the question must be asked, does this instrument provide a pallet of music sounds? I would say that the Radias patches provides a small portion of what would call musical patches.

You're saying all this like you didn't know it was a recreation of a VCS3. I guess many of us will never play a real EMS so it's hard to know what it would be like to have one. It seem like a synth with a huge amount of possibilities and a lot of limitations, which, at the time the original was made were not so apparent. If anything it's a synth from the future, made in the past and somewhat lost in the present! Hope to get to enjoy some of its more music concrete nature.

Have you given it back it kept it?

Well, money saved and Deckard’s Dream or Super-6 prioritized. Thanks, Papa Smurf!

It sounds a lot better in person than on RU-vid but your demos are the best I've heard yet.

How does the Syntrx compare to that of the Arturia - MatrixBrute?

£2.7K...???? Sheesh! I think Behringer's VCS3 clone (when it appears) should do VERY well if it's priced at the typical sub £500 mark.

3.15...This is Radio Luxembourg....

Looking forward to you comparing the Syntrx with Uli's VCS3 Tim 😁

I love quite a bit of music featuring the Synthi, such as Steve Hillage’s album “Green”, as a prime example, so, of course, seeing the Syntrx announced before got me excited, and the look of it, and the imagined build quality, the matrix, etc. At one time I had it on my purchase list, albeit in the third tier of purchase priorities for my music setup. At some point in the past 6+ months it left my intended purchases list. And now, after watching this there is no looking back, and no regrets. I’d have had immediate buyer’s remorse, if I had bought one. I know that now. I do plan to buy an Erica Synths Zen Delay. I like that piece of gear. That will be part of the analog effects/processing subgroup lineup with the Benidud stuff (which are very cool). At $3,000 U.S., and although I’m already planning to buy both of the following - I think a Dave Smith Instruments Pro 3 and a Vermona PERfourMER Mk II combo, for the same $3,000 is a much better value. No matrix on either, but the Pro 3 has lots of modulation routing options, of course. Or a Subsequent 37 and PERfourMER. Chalk and cheese, as they say in the UK (apples and oranges here), I know, but one of those two combos, you can’t go wrong. Tim, do you own a Vermona PERfourMER Mk II? They sound so nice, and beautiful build quality. I’d love you to buy or try one sometime, if not, and hear your impressions. Respect, Tim. 👊🏼💥✊🏼

It seems like all of the limitations of this synth could be solved with a midi controller with CV patch points.

..thanks for telling us your honestly opinion professor.. I honestly think Erica synths gear is overpriced I have similar thoughts about moog.. what's with the silly speakers on it too..? ..lol

Sample it as many times as you can T.S, then return it lol... :D

Tim - use the refund to nab a Modor NF-1. 😎 I just got one and I'd appreciate hearing about your experimentation. It's been updated since the original release. I believe you've got analog covered. The Modor is a very musical hands-on digital synth that I think will get along well with my Hydrasynth and Peak.

Probably better off in the long run adding another £1300 and order a GRP A4

Honestly wait for the Behringer version ! 😁✌️👍🇬🇧🙏

For that kind of money, you would be better off buying one of Erica Synths modular systems... or the Make Noise Shared System... 😉

$3300 with taxes. Thanks but no)) For this amount of money I can buy Matriarch(number in my next buy list) plus something more interesting, like dreadbox erebus... 🙄