SYNTRX: The Weirdest Synth I Own 

I am now aware the trapeze didn't render. It's too late to go back. Use your imagination. 😲🌌🌟🔮

Thanks for the shoutout and fun video! (note to self: include punching synths as part of the review)

While I'm in no place to afford a Syntrx, this video has inspired me to sit down with the stuff I already have and just get absolutely weird with it, so thank you Benn. Also I don't route external audio through synth filters enough, I'm clearly missing out

Takes me back to 1977. I was a 17 year old, working-class punk (as in I was into the Sex Pistols and The Clash) surrounded by nice rich kids on a Music performance course in Nottingham, UK. I'd played around with an ARP Odyssey (not mine), and seen Brian Eno use a VCS3 with Roxy Music. I knew the college had the VCS3's little brother, the Synthi AKS, in a cupboard(!), and it only came out for the college 'jazz' band (think sub-Weather Report) to make farting noises with it. Try as I might, I couldn't get them to let me take it out of the cupboard to process the tape loops I was playing around with at the time (think Steve Reich). If you're looking for a price comparison, $3000 for the SYNTRX looks positively bargain basement compared to the $30000 I've seen examples of the Synthi AKS go for on eBay.

I'm glad we're getting more EMS VCS3 type hardware coming out. Gives me some hope of someday being able to afford one.

Thanks for making this rad video, I have wanted this gorgeous thing since I saw demos for it a while back. As always, you give such a fun and honest look into these instruments, it's amazing to hear just how wild or sweet it can get sometimes.

4:25 Emperor’s new... trapezoid?

Super cool video. I was just working on a video about the Roland System-100 VST which gives similar "laboratory" feelings. Thanks for making this! 🤍

By far my favorite type of video that you make. Love it. Been messing with the iPad version of the EMS VCS3 and far from satisfying the need for such a sound generating device, it makes me crave the knobs and joystick even more. Thanks! And of course, PC has it on sale now. Damn.

This is great, showing many practical applications of the SYNTRX. thanks for this! _STILL_ searching for one.

Fun video, Benn! Man I’m sure I’d enjoy exploring the Syntrx, too. Maybe some day!

R.I.P. Peter Zinovieff (EMS) 06.23.2021 The SYNTRX is sort of the future child of the EMS VCS3... Were you running the Mic output through the V.U. meter in some of the video footage? It seemed to be bouncing to your voice. If you think the SYNTRX is expensive go look at what an actual VCS3 goes for these days... $24k.

some ridiculous groove in these jams - i'd heard a lot of SYNTRX already but this was the first time i truly wanted it. damn you

Ah, some good old Benn and Gear! Love it :)

Wow getting some rad sounds out of that machine, cool video!

Yay! Ben and gear. ❤️

Really enjoyed your take Benn.

Hey Ben, good to see. There's a great plugin for us EMS fans: XILS-lab XILS 4. It's even more than capable of doing all the farting, blipping and ring modulated sounds : ) It's also a dual VCS3 so you get two to play with.

3 minutes in and THE SHIT SLAPS

W0W it sounds awesome!

What would it sound like if you made a big smiley face using the matrix lights?

Nice vid! Most supreme crunchy and lunatic possibilities...wow, send it in a time machine to FSOL!

I love your videos, love em, nice.

Your videos just recently landed in my feed and I'm trying to catch up watching some night by night. That SYNTRX is certainly the first, (perhaps not the last instr.) that wants to be beaten. To hit electronic devices ain''t my thing, but otherwise one certainly wouldn't trigger spring reverbs well. I know from my own experience how the latter usually sound, mostly anemic. Cool video with hot, unique, organic sounds...

Awesome! 👍 love the syntrx..

That intro… THANK YOU!

Punch modulation!!! I am in love with the Syntrx II.

Guys from Erica make really cool stuff. They are also supporting local electronic music scene in Latvia, which makes them even cooler.

Very tobacco-esque vibes coming from this box! Killer video. Love the punching drum gate 😂😂

Cool machine. Sounds great.

Haha! YES! 👊🏼 yes! I’ve been really considering trading my black system 2 for the Syntrx. Certainly sealed this deal. Yes I could do much of the same stuff with that but I really love the interface and the unique qualities it has. Great presentation!

RIP Peter Zinovieff His legacy lives on

This thing makes the cutest sounds i have ever fuckingg heard Its like pet frequencies

It's like someone designed something specifically to appeal to me. I really shouldn't buy one of these, but it's very hard not to feel the pull. The design, and the sound, is just so...what it is. Unapologetically weird.

The synthi/VCS3 design will always be the one closest to my heart. Its primitive and raw sound has such a profound effect on the overall effect of hearing this synth, making it feel very organic as it manipulates my brainwaves 😆 between Tim Blake’s work in Gong, and klaus schulzes use of this kind of synth alone I have to have an analog synth with this kind of design.

Hey Benn, have you kept the Syntrx? and after one year, what is your thoughts on this vs the MK II? Have you gotten it do do the same kind of stuff as in the original VCS3/Synthi? I ordered a MK II, and wonder if the original takes you to different places due to it's "limitations" great vid on it.

I'd like to see you do a video review of the Madrona Labs Aalto, a lot of wild sounds can be created with that VST.

I had an EMS Synthi back in the day, a wonderful machine that taught me the basics of analogue synthesis. I regret selling it because of the rise in price but for no other reason, although I loved it as an object I could not get anything musical out of it. My modular set up could run rings around it.!

Did you forget to include the trapeze graphic?

Saw its price, yeah, I'll stick with my LYRA-8 for weird synths.

so sick!

Has a 3k synth... punches it multiple times lmao

I can’t afford a syntrx, but I do have an iPad and Apesoft’s iVCS3 app. I feel as though I can do all of this - except from thumping it of course.

I've always wanted a synth I could punch (meaningfully)

This video is screaming out for some NES Punch-Out!! sequences. Don Flamenco, perhaps? Lol. Nice review!

me watching this video: i dont know what a trapeze looks like

I would love more farting experiments tbh. Great inspiration for sound design.

Sounds like Chewbacca shitting out R2D2

This sort of reminds me of the Vermona Perfourmer, but much crazier. Both incredible synths.

Ben did you forget to add in the trapeze?

I have the subscribe bell on and I still didn't get notified about this video. RU-vid is messed up

"Tell me it is an EMS Synthi AKS inspired synthesizer without telling me it is an EMS Synthi AKS inspired synthesizer."

Benn, you effectively have an EMS Synthi in front of you. How did you not plug your guitar in???

I'm intrigued that you didn't mention the VERY strong influence of the EMS VCS3 and Synthi on the SYNTRX...

This thing is awesome, its like a musical etch a sketch

it,s a sort of EMS VCS3 by the looks of it?

Please make a sample pack out of this thing!

The Synthrx gives me that Analogue Solutions VOSTOK mk1 vibes :)

super fan of spring reverb...it’s one of the best sources of reverb imho, besides maybe “plate” ...

Im pretty sure there are enough Vsts and FX to make "Every" possible hearable sound

the filth is soooo good wtf

Those are some expensive ass fart noises

I need to try this beast one dat, hope it wont cost 10k till then !

I look at that synth and want one so badly, but most of the sounds I hear out of it are really super noisy noises. I don't know how usable most of those wacky sounds are. I have a DSI pro 2, that can make unbelievable noise/chaos sounds as well, but can do the standard synth stuff. I would like to see one in action that is making sounds that can be used in tracks. But I still want one just because it is so cool.

It's a new Behringer Synth ???

i'm so sad that the machinedrum was discontinued sometime when i was in high school i think? i've wanted one for years but it's just way way way out of my price range now

Hijacking it’s capabilities is paramount even seen as CV controlled joystick video on YT separate to the Syntrx

@5:50 - that feedback tho

Hey it's the sexy music dad lookin guy with another noisy toy

Missed the old intro ☺️

can anyone name other synths (eurorack included) that would allow the audio input to be selected as a modulation source :)

❤️✌️

The Syntryx is amazing but the price will forever stop me from getting one sadly...

I still hate spring reverb. The look you gave the camera confirmed it.

Very Chernobyl like. Great!

Did you really just............ punch it? 😂😂

Hi! Syntrx has been discontinued. What do you think about that?

Are you sure that is not from the TVA?

As a non musician that lacks a creative soul this all sounded very broken initially, but little by little it started to make some sense... and some of it had a dr who alien stronghold deathmachine vibe.

I knew this was gonna be good before clicking the video.

Woohoo I'm first! I like the cream color.

Sounds very SID to me.

It seems to be worth to buy if you have free $3k, but if you are considering price, there are much more valuable synths eg. Combo of all moogs DFAM+Mother+SUBH ..actually whatever :))

you didnt mention EMS in the whole video, it makes it look like if the people from Erica just figured out this crazy synth by themselbes.

Sounds like it’s always overdriven?

Isn't this basically an EMS Synthi A clone?

How you gonna mention not aggravating our gear acquisition syndrome and Erica Synths products in the same breath with a straight face? How much are they paying you to hurt me?

Also Hainbach does some beautiful things with the Syntrx. I’d strongly suggest watching his take alongside the methodically thorough Loopop.

Haven't been able to make anything musical sounding? I disagree, the way you went about it definitely provided musical results. The synth(s) this is based on was used by some industrial pioneers, I believe - I get the feeling Syntrx could be useful in this application, as well, heh

its not weird...its VCS3.

i just be watchng this video all the time from time to time, it sounds amazing and i dont even own any synths, so the knowledge goes completely over my head, it just sounds like poetry haha.

Benn is like my cool older brother that decided to choose music instead of become a doctor in chemistry lol my bro is pretty cool but he chose the more logical path in life and way less exciting to me path lol music or death! lol

sounds awesome but what tf is goin on wtf

It has a literally punchy sound.

Erica synths are way overprized.

For everyone here who wants an amazing sounding synth with much MORE modulation capabilities than this device, but with fully analogue sound for a MUCH lower price, check out the Motas-6. I have a large modular system and I still think it’s one of the best monosynths ever made, love mine, and I did a long video about it on my channel. It is an equally rare and guided by 1 person’s vision-except in this case it’s a brand new one rather than essentially copying a design from decades ago with some changes.

just wait for the behringer

This SYNTRX at $4K on Reverb, versus buying a MatrixBrute on reverb at 2.5K --- Um. I would 10 times out of 10 go for the Matrix Brute. But this thing is its own awesome cool weird wet fart thing, for sure. Since the syntrx has NO sequencer or keyboard, this is a perfect example of why everyone should own the BeatStepPro, who likes modular or desktop-modules, or rack synths. And the real spring reverb thing is amazing. I think I'm going to play some synths through my fender twin tonight and crank it up and then give the amp a bit of a tank crash.

Reasonably horrible for the money. :)

Hainbach approves. I also take Syntrx for my bad G.A.S.