The Most Underrated Synthesizer (and why it never caught on) 

Heya! Guy that made the video here! I'd like to clarify something I said in the video that seems to be a point of discussion amongst people who were there and in the synth world before I was. My comment on synths being cheap in the 2000s and early 2010s seems like it doesn't quite line up with their experiences, and I'll completely own up to that not being the case as much as it was for me. I grew up in the suburbs of a poor rust-belt city where you really straight-up could get something like a Yamaha CS-10 or a Roland SH-09 for under $300 until around 2011. This was also how a lot of my friends got their synths while I was in high school and in college not too far from where I grew up (the story of my friend getting a JX-3P for $50 is 100% true), I assumed this experience was a lot more universal, at least in the United States in the Midwest. I'm reading from a number of you that the heyday of cheap analog synthos was a lot more in the late 90s than in the late 2000s, and I feel like I could've researched this a bit more. I tried to clarify that part of the video by saying it was my experiences, but I seem to be a bit in the minority experience here. That doesn't invalidate said experiences by any means, but it does make me feel bad for being misleading in a video essay about something I like a lot, so I'm sorry about that confusion. On an unrelated note, wow this video is blowing up. Thank you all for enjoying it! If you wanna see this synth in action, I also make goofy covers of some of my favorite video game tunes, and I use this synth a LOT. Feel free to check those out if you feel so inclined, and thank you for liking/commenting/subscribing/supporting! -N6J

This is what RU-vid needs, more deep dives into musicians’ trusted workhorses, fewer hype cycle GAS bait reviews.

You made this my next synth, im excited to learn to use this awesome thing!! Thank you for putting this on my radar and the video together, its awesome to learn what equipment you're using and why you are! Keep on rocking man lml

I had no idea I'm going to actually watch this till the end. You're really good with this video making business! Thanks :)

I knew there was a reason I wanted one of these back in the day. Your enthusiasm is adorable and infectious, and your depth of knowledge is impressive. That’s an instant subscribe from me.

Discovered your channel through this video. Great work! You have the personality and authenticity to go far on this medium.

Great video and the topic is very dear to me. The Tetra was my very first analog synth, drove hundreds of miles to collect it and for all the reasons you mentioned, it was my desert island synth for many years, that is until I got my Rev2 16V desktop. Now I have two desert island synths.

Superb insane ramble, keep up the great work 👏🏾👏🏾

Wow, I came here for cool electronic music covers, but now I'm actually learning something. What a deal! Cool video. I might have to check that thing out. You made a really good point when you said "c'maaaaaan".

Okay the joy face after the foot joke earned my subscription lol. I love the information here as well :)

Need more videos in this series! I love this and the sample pad video. More more more!

Very entertaining video!

Great Video! I've had the Dave Smith Evolver for years. I love it and use it all the time. You've got me curious about checking out the Tetra. I like that it has 4 voices. Plus it sounds great. Thank you!

Dude this synthesizer is definitely something I will be picking up! Thankyou for your 1000’s of hours of knowledge for this recommendation. I work at guitar center and I think this will be my first purchase

You have my attention, subbed

Your a natural at hosting!

Whoop, another RU-vid gold video! luved it. 😎

This was a great and very entertaining overview of the Tetra. I spent the day attempting to program, from the front panel, a completely different and unabashedly digital synth: the Emu Proteus 2000. My guess is it’s a similar experience to the programming Tetra. My arm hurts 😅. I wish you much success with your channel!

Really fun video! Very entertaining and informative. I have a Mopho keyboard and the tetra and hooked them up together….big sound. I was over my head as far as tweaking sounds but DSI are awesome sound great

Great video, great info; appreciate it. Peace.

I traded mine for an elektron a4, but I will not be surprised if I buy a new one after this video.

My first synth hasn't arrived yet but I needed something to add to my feeble arsenal of which I'm now trading guitars for, the deepmind 12d was purchased used to go with the KS37 and akai force. I'm glad I hadn't seen this vid first I'd of had to put the burton tele on the chopping block to cover the price!! Thanks for the great content

Really cool video man. I have the Mopho Keyboard, it sounds so cool. I'd love to get a Tetra at some point so I can polychain to 5 voices.

Evolver has a ton of modulation too, I remember when I got it in 2002 being shocked compared to any other synth at the time. It was the smallest synth I owned too. With careful programming you'd have thought it was polyphonic.

bih dont raise the reverb prices

I only watch first half of this but this is a great review because people forget how important space and presets are when playing live.

That was great - Dave Smith is my synth hero.

Fucking awesome! Subscribed with notifications on

I do not have the tetra, but one of my favorite synths is the Ensoniq ESQ1. It was my first synth(a hand me down from my papa). It is an 8 voice digital synth with the amazing curtis filter. If you can get your hands in one i highly recommend. Nice video. the curtis filter my altime favorite filter. it was used in the P5 as well and Doepfer used it in one of their filters. I do not think it is made anymore.

as much as I think this synth is underrated, but its also underrated how much potential you pull out of everything you touch

My first synth was also a Microkorg XL. It taught me that I really dislike menu diving. Eventually I upgraded to a Sequential Pro 3, and I'm really happy with it. Dave Smith made amazing instruments.

I share your love for the Tetra. I've bought and sold a lot of synths since I got my Tetra, but it has earned a lasting place in my setup. It sounds great, it works, it sits in a mix like few other things, and I got it for about $400. You can't do that last bit anymore, but it's still a pretty good value.

FINALLY! Someone who is as enthusiastic about the Tetra as I am. Yes, that thing is absolutely INSANE. It's the swiss army knife of synthesizers. A swiss army knife that also has a jackhammer, a radar and a coffee maker in it.

Mildly interested by the title , stayed all the way to the end for the passionate presentation style. Keep being you, you're awesome.

Glad that I bought it and still keep it in front of me. You made me wanting to connect it to my pc.

Does the Tetra have sub-oscs? I remember w the Mopho vs the others, one Sub-Osc per analog DCO (as well as feedback) was the one feature not consistent across the Prophet 08 / Mopho / Tetra range. Fantastic video, one thing you could've recognized is that there's two types of analog oscillators, VCOs & DCOs. Both are entirely analog in sonic signal path ofc, but you probably know some people consider the DCOs inferior. I never used to, but I've only had DCO analog synths until I just got the K2 and now I don't know what to think. Really, really wish my JDxA had 4 outs.

I’d love if they re-made it with the new in house filters and vco’s

Bought one after seeing this video and do not regret. This little box sounds great. I only wish it had more voices… I now have two four-voice analogs, Elektron Analog Four and Tetra. My next Analog should now be something with at least eight, better twelve or sixteen voices.

The X4 and the Tetra were a great pair.

Big Tetra fan here. I use mine mostly in multi mode with a Digitakt sequencing each voice individually via MIDI tracks. Programming it is a pain, and all programmer softwares I have tried (sound tower and patchbase) do not really work in multi mode. The fix i have found is to program a patch in voice mode, copy/paste ti an individual voice jn combo mode and then turn on multi mode. any other ideas? thanks!

I wholeheartedly agree. It’s a synth seemingly made exactly for me.

Sub number 888. yer a legend. Keep it up.

I used to own a Tetra, man that thing sounds amazing.

youtube's recommended wins again inb4 1k subZ, awesome video mate im here for morrrrrre

First. I'm pretty sure you can backup your patches on your computer. Second. The Mopho X4 is also an absolute beast of a synth. I run two polychained for 8 voices .. the modulation and sequencing is amazing and the interface is almost knob per function.. still a little menu diving, but given it's capabilities that's unavoidable... Big and heavy though..... I got one for 500$. Also pretty under rated.

Tetra means four in Greek. Like four polyphonic voices If you need me, I’ll be at the library

I’ve had a Mopho since forever. Never really used it much because it’s too menudivey. Also I didn’t know much about synthesis at the time, so I didn’t even know what parameters I was looking for. Might have to check it out again

That internal feedback path you mention towards the end - is there any chance that could be tapped by a hardware mod to allow for external inputs?

What did these retail for ? .. and hi new subscriber here

Yeah, so DCOs. They're a synth nerd's greatest friend if they get out and gig. VCOs are lovely and all that, but you just can't rely on a synth that takes 45 minutes to warm up in order to stay in tune when you have a gig to play, particularly one that then proceeds to go wildly out of tune just because people started bouncing around getting sweaty and the relative humidity of the venue just went off the charts. That's why the Juno still rules all these years later - it's rock solid and never drifts - and why so many bedroom synth guys love their (and clones), because they don't need to worry about the drift. One of my favourite synths is the Wasp, and that thing can just get totally insane and give some really random squelchy things that you didn't expect, but it's still powered by DCOs.

This was a fun video. I have a mopho x4 and a tetra. I poly chain them for 8 voices. I much prefer programming with the x4 because it has so many more knobs on it for basic patch parameters. This DCO stuff - the oscillators are still ANALOG. I don’t get why this is even an issue. They have all the characteristics of an analog oscillator, just reset with a digital clock so they are bang on tuning wise. There is zero aliasing or other artifacts because they are ANALOG. So Dave added a “slop” control to make them purposely drift a bit in tune to be more like the VCOs of old… because that is the chief difference between VCOs and DCOs in this case. For context, the old Roland Junos are nowadays coveted for their vintage sound, and they have DCOs… and zero drift… only the chorus effect to fatten them up.. but I digress. I really think the original mophos and tetras were panned because of the menu diving. The prophets at the time were great with all of the knobs for manipulating your patch, but like what has been said before, this was the beginning of the analog hardware renaissance, and virtual analogs and VSTs still had a strong foothold, so it was all a hard sell, no matter how it was packaged. Plus it wasn’t “real vintage”, so immediately met with suspicion. Also mopho is arguably a stupid name for any piece of gear. Sounds like a name for a guitar stomp box and not a synth, and without a keyboard attached that’s kinda what these boxes look like. Another Line6 type guitar doodad if you didn’t know any better browsing the music shop. I like how you mention chip tunes. The potential is massive. Analog oscillators, 4 LFOs with different waveshapes, sequencers etc etc.. Huge. You have to dig a little with these boxes, but you are rewarded handsomely for it.

So…would TWO TETRA make a desktop 08?

There exists a Stereoping controller for this synth, to avoid much menu diving.

I have a Mopho X4 keyboard, I wished it had those individual outputs. But I added a Mopho desktop as an extra voice. I hope I can find a Tetra at the right price.

...now I have to go watch your Katamari cover, dang it. As to the synth world in the late 90s-early 2000s, in my spotty memory? Honestly, IMHO the design choices put a lot of people off... to older "serious musicians" used to metal and wood (This Is Serious Equipment-style), the profusion of often-less-than-solid-build-quality plastic boxes with "bold colors" etc. just smelled cheap, while the younger crowd couldn't often cough up the $$ for the latest digital amazeballs with 8 knobs and a small LCD screen, even if we understood what was under the hood better. I always despised it when some staid corporation would try "Greetings, fellow kids!"-marketing nonsense, but now it's just quaintly, nostalgically cringe. Welp, you keep doing you, I'm going back to getting some weird freeware drone machines and effects to a releasable state ;)

Ever tried an Alesis Micron? They are deceptively simple looking but with a deep modulation matrix as well. Fun, fun synth. I'm not suggesting its anywhere near the Tetra, but if you see one for cheap you might like it.

I wouldn’t say the Tetra “didn’t catch on” it was a very popular synth when it came out (the whole line was the Mopho and mopho keyboard) people bought them as expanders too. At the time everyone was talking about it and I saw them in a lot of set ups. The one thing that line suffered from in my opinion is that the oscillators were too stable resulting in too sterile of a sound were as most people were craving the more unstable sounds of vintage analog. Still the whole line isn’t bad definitely very versatile in terms of options and modulation

New to me!

It is too bad they did not make a keyboard version of this with a more accessible interface though the Mopho x4 is close while being monotimbral. To me the Poly Evolver (though MUCH more expensive especially these days) remains the pinnacle voice architecture Dave ever designed. I am surprised no one has "cloned" it to this day though Super Gemini has a lot of those benefits.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but if you wondered why there was a lot of "not one not two but four" bits in the script ... it's because "Tetra" means Four. As in a tetrahedron is a 3d solid with four faces. It's the theme of the whole device!

Help me....I bought a second Mopho x4 to poly chain them....and I have a desktop I won in a giveaway...so now I will have a Mopho 9.....as it should have been from the beginning....gotta flex that extra voice over the Prophet 08, am I right? P.S. It was literally cheaper than any Tetra on the market....I was gonna try for a Tetra....but now I gotta stack some big ol' Mophos in this bih....ok I will stop.

And don’t forget midi chain. You can put two on your desk and have 8 voices

I love mine. I use it exclusively for unison bass lines in my setup. Wanna unlock some extra fun for it in a live setup, pair it with a bastl instruments Bestie Stereo mixer.

Hey, ...C'moooooon!

I dream about to get one and use it with my digitakt mk1 , I think it will be super combo. Can't wait uh..

Slapping that 'subscribe' button to support the lovechild of Thulsa Doom and Jemaine Clement.

I think you could easily hack it to add your own filter inputs.

DSI was never fully fleshed out so to speak. None of the products felt truly complete specifically the programming. Tempest was a disaster, but Tetra and the Evolver are extremely unique and well worth giving some time to if your into these kinda synth boxes.

You're FUN and interesting!

You make me want to learn all sorts of things about synth! If you'd be keen on making a video or two (or 10) on the history of synth, well, I'd certainly watch it with pleasure

I loved it so much that I bought 2!

Is he always this enthusiastic? I like when that happens!

Never heard of this synth!

Funny, I've been collecting synths since 1989 and I would never say that the mid 2000's were a time to buy cheap analog. We were complaining back then about how the prices were running up. Compared to today they might have been "cheaper" but inflation has killed a lot of the value of our dollar, which also accounts for the insane prices of today. The heydey for cheap analog was in that sweet spot period of 1988-1996 before The Beastie Boys started making these old synths popular again. To me the analog resurgence started in 2001 or so with some great modules being made like the FutureRetro 777 and the Sherman Filterbank.

I bought one from Reverb for $700 right after watching this. (I have been eying TETR4 for a while) but this Reverb listing came with a STEREOOPING THET4 Synth controller, thrown in for "for free.

I had one, and it was interesting, but it was sterile. Cold is another word for it, IMO. It didn't sit well in any mixes for me. Plus if I remember correctly it had polyphony issues too. I also remember sometimes the electronics would be wonky and it would lock up or do strange things. I never felt like it was super solid and reliable. I just remember overall it being so harsh in tone compared to all my other synths that it just didn't find a good home with me. I think I ended up returning it and getting a Moog Sub Phatty. Not the same type of synth for lots of reasons, but a better fit for me than the Tetra.

Subbed because the Deerhoof poster

4 separate,independent voices is what we old-boys used to call "multimbrality". Multitimbral synths tended to be digital or romplers back in the day. I find it odd how modern synths dont do this. All that processing power and just one synth. I tried to get the original Mopho and Tetra back when they were being discontinued as they were selling for £150 each here for B stock. I couldnt quite raise the money in time back then. The disadvantages of analogue becoming a nostalgic thing today happened that way with gaming sound chips and chiptunes becoming a thing. DCOs were seen as like autotune for ocillators. BTW - as a photographer some years ago I have a tip for the reflection on your glasses. Use a polarising filter over your lens. (even if you have to bluetak it in place).

I've always wanted the T4tra.

I clicked on this video because I have been playing with synths since 1979 and I have a warped sense of accomplishment and a low threshold to BS . I watched this video in 2? minutes @1.25 speed and I could of gonged it at any moment. The event annoyed both of my dogs, my wife, and all of the elephants in the room...........so of course,........ I freakin loved it and subscribed.

Mopho X4 is a four voice Mopho. Tetra is effectively four Mophos. Timbrality is not quite the same as polyphony.

I met Dave Smith at the NAMM show in 2019 at the Dave Smith instrument booth really nice guy took a couple of pictures with him. Chatted with him for a while clearly a gentleman he surely will be missed and is missed great video by the way.

...I'm VERY old school - I learned electronic music on analog machines and TAPE. As a proud owner of a Prophet 600, I'd mention that it has a claim as the first hybrid (analog/digital) synthesizer, although there are a number of other candidates ;-) ...

I have 3 of these. Yes, I also have a mopho desktop, 2x mopho synth, 2x mopho X4 and a mopho SE (all same family), but the Tetra is the one I love, particularly for dawless, can get several on a tiny desk and just get so many mono voices.

Kinda deal-breaker for me on the firmware corrupting patches discussed at 25mins. Everything I have has some bug like this.

❤❤❤

I have one. I find it frustrating because of how the assignable parameter knobs are designed to use. It's painstaking and then the parameters aren't saved as is, so accessing parameters (like the mod matrix, HADSR, LFOs) in real time is almost useless accept the filter or universally controlled AR- meh. I think it'd be better if they moved it by page like blofelds or the earliest DSI like the evolver and poly-evolver (which those prices on those are wild $4-5K for the poly-evolver!), instead of each knob being painstakingly assigned through this massive synth with tons of parameters that doesn't save in place. I managed to get a prophet 08 back in 2017, which made patch building easier. However, I ended up selling my prophet 08 despite the nearly knob per function and modulation capacities, cause I just amn't blown away by the filter and oscillators- which the Tetra already has and it felt redundant for something I was underwhelmed by. I haven't used multi-mode or the 4 outs. Selling the 08 got me enough money for a prophet 6, and I will always love that baby. She is gorgeous and smooth. Sadly, there really isn't that great of synergy with the Tetra. I understand why someone would like the tetra a lot though. Edit: I think I might be wrong about assigning parameters in a patch, though I've found it frustrating regardless.

The one thing missing from the Hydrasynth Deluxe is a sequencer. 5 LFOs, 5 Envelopes, you can modulate almost everything on it. The Tetra reminds me of the Hydrasynth. I really wish they brought a Hydrasynth version out with a sequencer. Then it would be the GOAT of synthesisers.

Had one when they where new for a couple years , It did sound very good , but the menu diving interface and to a larger degree the multi part and lfo bugs made me get rid of it. Cheers !

I have its even more unloved cousin, the Mopho x4.....I had to buy it because it was serial #69.....don't judge me.

1:20 Funfact: I once had somebody laugh in my face for pronouncing it 'middy' instead of 'em eye dee eye'. It's really very vindicating to hear someone who knows what they're talking about with digital music pronounce it the same way.

The form factor and workflow kinda remind me of the Micromonsta

The Pro 2 is right up there though…

Please don't Preeface anything again, prefacing is good enough. Oh - and from my perspective, the reason why synths like this never caught on was the endless encoder/menu-diving that people didn't like. For analog synths, I prefer as close to knob-per-function as possible. When these DSI's were being released, I was still happy with my Waldorf Q and Yamaha AN1x VA's.

Well I WAS looking for a Tetra for my Mopho x4....... Checks reverb prices 😭

probably just raised the price of the Tetra lol

I was there buying and playing old analog synths in the early 2000’s. I feel like your explanation is a few years off. In the middle 90’s, my big brother bought an Oberheim 2 voice and a Moog Opus for $50 each. By 1999, I scoured the country and the best deal I ever managed was a Yamaha CS20m for $280. By 2005, those deals were done forever. We were spending $400 for a used MS2000 or $800 for a used Nord Lead because all the true classic analogs were already owned by people who’d rediscovered them in the late 90’s. And don’t forget, inflation is real. I was working for about $12 an hour back then. By the early 2000’s, a vintage analog required a serious investment for any amateur musician. It’s way easier for today’s kids who can buy a brand new, reliable, true analog for today’s prices.

Please!!! Make a full song of "We love microprocessors" and offer a free version to download. Please?

kinda dark when you say he made more synths after you just said he had a heart attack... lol ...maybe switch those in editing.

istg ive seen u drumming in cleveland lol