m4ntr0n1c's Reviews

Is it really a Moog, or a toy?

Hey that's a relevant question for everyone looking at it at a distance...

Actually, when you open the owner's manual, you do have the impression that Moog wanted to sell synths that would be easier to use for people starting of on synthesizers. So they only left in one single value knob in there, and they put in a spill safe surface, for the clumsy people...

But when you start using this machine, it's easy to get in touch with the Moog sound, with the very powerful filter, accessible with that value knob :P So is it really usable? Of course! Well you don't have one value knob for each parameter, but you can easily switch parameters just by a press, and keep your hand on that dial, but at the same time you can not modify two values at once. Sooooo... Well you have the pitch bend and the mod wheel, what is there to complain about?

Ok so compared to a Mini Moog, there are two oscillators instead of 3, but here we're talking about the CEM3340 (which came back into production not so long ago). CEM3340 is a legendary VCO,. Every single Synth that used the 3340 is legendary; EVERY ONE OF THEM; Roland Jupiter series, Prophet 5 / 10, Pro One, SH-101 / MC-202, Oberheim OB-8 / OB-Xa, Memorymoog, Voyetra 8...

It sounds fat, powerful, in fact you will never play this on maximum volume form the unit, it is that loud, similar to the Pro One in that regard. What curious is that it doesn't have the same tonality as the Pro One. I find the Pro One to sound rougher / grittier most of the time. The Source has a creamier sound in many instances. I also prefer the keybed of the Source over the Pro One, but really we are talking about two mono synths using the CEM3340 but with a totally different implementation and very different filter capabilities and sound. So you may like one or the other, but liking both means you have a wide taste.

To be enjoyed.

Was this the greatest computer of the 80s?

Hey! Well back when this one came out around 1987, I had an Atari 520ST upgraded to 1 megabyte RAM and with drilled holes in the back for RCA outputs... But when the Amiga 500 came out, it literally outshined the Atari ST in many regards. So it did have RCA outputs by default, great! But did not have MIDI like the Atari, so what made it so interesting for a musician ?

For a computer that came out in 1987, it had a 4 channel stereo sample playback chip of decent quality! So that was a given with this computer. It's the computer that allowed the Tracker format to exist first! So MOD files came from the Amiga FIRST, then it spread out from there. Oh and the GIF image format, still used in 2021? Came from the Amiga also... What else did the Amiga do? Hmmm it could do MIDI with an add-on module, so that steals some thunder from the Atari ST. It also had some unique software too. It was able to multi-task in it's bare bones configuration, so that was kind of revolutionary back in the 80s!

Riiiggghhtt So the Amiga was a great computer. But what is amazing for this machine as we are in the age of crazy fast computing (ie. AMD Ryzen, and latest Android phones), it's that the Amiga is still kept updated with newer operating system versions, storage capabilities, and performance! Latest gadgetry for performance are the Viper accelerators, that turns any basic Amiga into a mid 90s range powerhouse (think Pentium MMX range of performance). It can slice and dice and it is a relevant piece of hardware in this modern age. As any hardware that is meant for creativity, it in it's limits that you can find it's power, and the Amiga does have limits but it does have plenty of resources and power for creativity no matter if it's audio or video (ie. read up on the Video Toaster series of extensions).

Beautiful slick all in one machine with boatloads of features.

What, a 24 channel half duty sound board ?

Hey there!

Well yeah, it only is an input board... But luckily I tired if for a few months with the 24AO board so I can explain how all this works.

Basically you have the 24AI and 24AO plugged in tandem, and then those are networked into your computer with a classic LAN cable, so essentially no need for any extra hardware, no unreliable USB to computer shenanigans.

Next the controls are all through a gateway through a web browser :P So you get to use the mixer, and even update the boards using Chrome or Firefox! Isn't that neat modern MOTU stuff, eh?

Well that's not all, as the POWERFUL DSP processing in those allow per channel compression, and gate, and that saves you a lot of headache!!! And finally they never EVER fail!!! Well as far as I can tell I never had a glitch with them. Maybe the only scary moment is updating the firmware, but really it is easy.

So what then? Well you have 24 channels of input with a 24AI, all in gigabit lan, freeing up the USB portion of your setup, and it sounds really good, yet somehow it could feel a tad bland compared to something like an RME. But then why bother? In fact no, the MOTU units still sound really dynamic and good, with tons of headroom, but it will sound flat, so it is up to you to make sure your mixing is up to par with your expectations, so there are no freebees, as it will not butter up your audio with unicorn rainbows (no pun intended !).

So the point fo these units are an very easy and affordable way to get 24 separates into your DAW with minimum effort and maximum reliability. If you want to go further with the sound quality, simply bring your unit to BlackLionAudio for an upgrade of the oscillators and op-amp decoupling for the top of the line quality you would expect from an Antelope or an RME. That'll do it.

Essentially it could be the best, if modded, otherwise it's absolutely a no brainer.

Essential Drum Machine?

Well, looking at how expensive these get to be in 2021, it's easy to think that we're talking about a great drum machine. But what makes this one a great drum machine in my own perspective?

The first element would be; reliability. So essentially this is a somewhat durable early 80s drum machine, one of the first digital drum machines in fact, face to face with competing Linn, but again more reliable.

Second it has some pretty iconic sounds build in by default, even if somewhat limited in numbers they are all very recognizable and useful sounds. Add to that the powerful separated outputs that really are the jewel crown of this unit. Plugged into a decent mixer, this machine is a beast! The sounds are all tunable and they always sound nice and crisp and basically perfect.

I also have a Sequential Tom, and if you were to compare this with a Tom, basically DON't!!! A Tom is really a baby toy compared to a DMX or even a DX. Very very different approach here, even if one might think; oh just triggering drum sounds, and the buttons look, the same... Nowhere near. Again this has to do with he approach, concept and how you can execute with the unit, and not the actual features of it, and finally how it actually sounds in a mixer, which in this case the DMX is not comparable. Great PSU, powerful clean audio, and a design that is simple and efficient and those sounds are just excellent.

There are other sounds you could probably swap in, if any that are of decent quality, the unit will make them shine, and there's bound to be a nice tuning for them. The drawback one might think is that the pitch options are inside, but that's why the screws are thumb, to manually do them. Some people just leave the lid unscrewed all the time, which is another way to attack this. So if the DX also gets some love it would obviously be for the tuning knobs on the back (but they are in the back after all so how do you know you have the right one ? Check out LookMomNoComputer as he actually ported the tuning knobs to the top ... So anyhow can't go wrong!

Cheers

classic 4 OP FM synthesis with digital Effects section from the mid 80s

I find this is a beautifully implemented machine, not too complex to program compared to all the other FM synths of that era and more powerful just because of the effects section.

Essentially you get a DX11 / TX81Z sound, but the way you design the sound has no real typical FM structure, which makes it both weird and cool to work with. If you ever played with those PSS-470s or any of those other Yamahas home FM synths that has the synth drawbars, well imagine having 20x the features on 4-OP + the effects and the proper MIDI implementation. This is basically a beast on top of the FM mountain, with the DX7, as simple as that.

FM powerhouse

I think everyone should have a lot of FM banks just in case. These units are massive as they hold 8x a mono DX7 with 32 patches. The outputs are XLR, but they often get their capacitors dried out and bulging (need replacement). Once you replaced all 8 batteries and the op-amp caps, you are good to go (unless you need to recap the PSU, which is most likely).

I keep two of those, but I wish I had more :P

Cheap all purpose 16 track mixer

These Roland mixers are true transparent soldiers. Love them, yet the headroom is not that great, but they keep the gear sounding clean. They also allow 8 mic inputs which is great and they have AUX inputs and sends. Effects patching with them is limited but does the job. I keep a few since I need to wire up a lot of rack units.

Wonderful OldSkool sounds

Some people get easily fooled thinking a Drumtraks is better or more advanced than the Tom; FALSE ! The Tom is the better unit. The only thing a Tom does not have is Individual Outs. Otherwise it has more programmability, flexibility, and it has a cartridge slot so you can load other sounds. It has one of the most legendary 80s clap ever :D Oh and the reverse, and panning options are absolutely worth the purchase of this unit. Of course, the dry sounds will be dry, but they are compressed and gated. Once you pass this unit through a reverb / phaser, delay etc, it becomes alive.

It sounds nice but...

Personally I think the drivers and the supplied support tools are old skool bad. The sound is good, and it also draws a lot of heat (!) It seems durable as it has not failed yet for one year of usage. But honestly I had more fun with the MOTU 24AI 24AO combo or even the RME Multiface 2 ... The other thing is, I can not make my sound as loud as before just with the interface, as it does not really allow compression or gate on all channels, which sucks, specially for that price... Everyone that are buttering this unit are simply doing it to justify the cost. Not me. I think it is overpriced for the issues it provided, not to mention the support, which are sometimes clueless.

Minimoog Model D without the thunder

Really like the sound it has! The two drawbacks it has; 1) it goes easily out of tune, unstable oscillators. 2) The lack of power in the audio signal. Truely pales in comparison to a Moog for that. The most significant advantage of those great synths of the 70s early 80s are it's amplification / power management; ie. Sequential, Moog, Oberheim, Linn, EMU ... Otherwise the sound is pretty convincing.

Upscaled REV5

Sounds superb with most of the dials of the REV5 and REV7 but with deeper options, and the possibilities in reverberation are wide, the sound is powerful, well worth it!

Fm synthesis made easy and with effects

It's a pretty neat keyboard when you think of what it all boils down to; 4OP TX81Z type of FM, blended with a limited but effective effects unit (closely derived from the REX50) and with a good keybed, matched with the biggest volume control in the world.

Penultimate 16-bit music machine

It lived with me since 1987, now I keep two STEs back to back to run the old MIDI editors mostly, but it's sound chip is legend for chip music and tracking. It's 8mhz 68k processor is super stable and always gives peak performance.

My preferred 8-bit computer

It's got 4 channels pulse sound with various modes, noise in this is sublime, think of Atari 2600 sounds with possibilities squared, very nice in fact it should gain popularity soon. Not to mention the visual capabilities and the adequately fast cpu.

Just an 8-bit computer but with a unique sound

Always enjoyed it's sound, so lately I managed to pluck in a MIDI card :) It's got a 3 channel with noise sound with low resolution pitch and amplitude.

Wonderful lush sounds in a tiny 2 octave unit

Honestly, it will not make you the best leads or the most punchy percussive, but for anything requiring extensive control and effects, it does that and it shines! I like the sounds and it has boat load. I do not do trance music, but some of the stuff in there is good for any sci-fi or soundtrack music.

My GoTo Line Mixer

This is a no brainer type of mixer. It will never let you down, and sounds really good; low noise, high ceiling, useful EQ, great effects patching. For the 5U size it offers the most packed full of features mixers one can find.

I keep two of these. Love the FX routing.

* track mixer with MIDI

What to say... It's bulky!!! I mean it's bigger than any other rack mounted line mixer I can think of. But, it has MIDI, which is very unique for an analog mixer. Also the controls are all value pots and sliders, which means they can easily mess up values when they get dirty, and they will. The obvious benefit of this unit is the type of automation you may do with it. The onboard EQ levels are nice. Even at that size it is a welcomed tool just for the MIDI and XLR connectivity.

Rackmount drum machine with trigger inputs

Similar to a Roland DDR30 (input triggers), i has most of the capabilities of the RX5 minus the cymbal sounds. Useful for some electro type sounds, very programmable with kit arrangements.

Mini synth with an analog touch

I really fell in love with it the moment I started designing my own sounds. It is actually quite powerful. It's like a blend of Poly800 with Kawai K3 technology. Very useful sounds, specially soft sounds,not like a Moog or a Pro One (!) This sound is really expressive even if it doesn't have velocity control or aftertouch, you can still design some deeply felt tones.