Modulus 002 --- new synth from UK

[tomorrowstops]

I kind of tuned out once he likened it to a PRS guitar.

[Bitexion]

What do we want really? when someone releases a monosynth around $1000 ppl clamour about someone should make a polysynth too with cheap components. When someone makes a poly, and they ALWAYS cost 4-5000, everyone whines about that too.

[ninja6485]

The whining isn't even that bad with this. It's possible that entirely different people are complaining about the lack of polysynths anyway. It's certainly a beautiful synth! Now if only I had an extra $5000.... The patches DID seem like standard sounds, but then they were just showcasing specific features, so I guess that is to be expected. I wish they would have done a little more with the self oscillation in the video however.

[pflosi]

Someone manufactures something for cheap: "Price is exactly right here but why do those knobs feel so shitty?"
Someone manufactures something high quality: "LOL I can buy cheapo piece X, Y, and Z for that $."

Buying cheap is buying twice.

i havent seen anything on a synth that looks as breakable as their itty bitty joystick
i hope it lasts longer than it looks like
wasnt the stick the 2nd thing to go on most VSes after aftertouch? and that at least looked a little more robust

The Joystick is a VERY high quality unit made in Japan (the best joystick makers in the world in fact) and is designed to last (we've drop tested a 1Kg weight onto the joystick and it didn't even scratch it).

[zoomtheline]

This isn't a negative as the synth will be vary capable i'm sure but the demo sounds did not do anything for me. Way too fizzy and broken sounding.
I'd love to get my hands on it.

By the way, I am in the UK and available to write some patches and do a sound demo for you

[Hybrid88]

^ lol yeah I was going to say about the joystick, the thing is quite clearly bolted to the chassis and made of solid metal, this is no Poly 800

[StepLogik]

What do we want really? when someone releases a monosynth around $1000 ppl clamour about someone should make a polysynth too with cheap components. When someone makes a poly, and they ALWAYS cost 4-5000, everyone whines about that too.

I think a lot of the whining is just because there is no low-end-market polys other than vintage models. All the new stuff is rather high end and expensive with the exception of things like the DSI Tetra but that is limited in voices and UI and is still expensive for some folks. Prophet-8/12, SE Omega 8, Modulus 002, Used A6, etc - all expensive.

If Korg does a 6 voice volca-style analogue poly in the microKorg format with a full set of knobs at the $500 price point that thing will sell very well.

[Infinity Curve]

Looks cool, but sounds pretty bland.

Yeah I'd have to agree, beautiful machine no doubt, but sonically doesn't quite do it for my money.

It's amazing how people judge a product by a few patches on an online video.

Thus far that video is the only thing to base an opinion on. Looks cool, sounds very vanilla. If I see/hear something better, I might change my opinion.

[zoomtheline]

A few sounds on here http://www.modulus.me/
this is what I based my opinion on. I don't doubt it can sound better (to my ears)

[calyx93]

the envelopes don't sound that snappy to me - if this is a high-end synth, i'd better hear attacks and decays as tight as a mini or p5.

and these are hardware envelopes?

[shaft9000]

It sure looks the business, and sounds well enough...but is it $3000+ better than a nord lead or DSI prophet??
Waldorf Q+ comparos here we come...and on specs alone the modulus is gimpy.
if only they'd put as much or more time into designing a useful sound architecture as they apparently have the UI.
This will need to be on the level of 'the BMW M5 of synths' to keep the price up there for long.

2 LFOs and EGs is just paltry this day and age, and with minimal FM this is like a PPG meets...a JX(look-out!!!)....in 2014....for north of $4000

i get that they're going for a 'classic hybrid poly-that-does-a-bit-of-everything - for the laptop gen!' but hrrrrmmmmmm.
But to really do it well, the Next-Generation Archetypal Synth will need:
1. goof-proof wireless connectivity to any DAW or app
2. comprehensive 3.5mm CV+gate connections - which are every bit as important as 1/4" outs are in any (fun) studio. more important than MIDI ever was, anyway.

until THAT happens, I think i'll hang on to the Sunsyn

[mantrak]

New synth on the market - it is ALWAYS good news.

But I am waiting for the poly synth that will offer sophisticated detuning possibilities. All this fantastic new synths sound too much in tune, and that makes their sound so cold and clinical. When you listen to vintage synths, it's all very detuned, and that's why we like it so much. Now that we have these super precise digital oscillators we can do whatever we like regarding tuning, with 100% control. How come nobody have thought of that, yet?

[pflosi]

But I am waiting for the poly synth that will offer sophisticated detuning possibilities. All this fantastic new synths sound too much in tune, and that makes their sound so cold and clinical. When you listen to vintage synths, it's all very detuned, and that's why we like it so much. Now that we have these super precise digital oscillators we can do whatever we like regarding tuning, with 100% control. How come nobody have thought of that, yet?

Sample and hold to osc 2 freq

[Bitexion]

Mostly all modern synths have some kind of "drift" or "slop" knob that randomly detunes the voices to emulate vintage synths. So yes, they did think of that already.

[Synthacon]

I know Paul very well and have had several of his other synths, the Monowave and Zira. He has always had a love for the PPG so I was expecting something similar. Phil Taysom his partner is an experienced business man who made his fortune in computers and who used to have a very impressive collection of rare synths. So both know more than most about what is required in a synth and how to build a business.

The architecture is limited in places but then so is a Jupiter 8 and nobody moans about that. When I see a Juno 60 sell for £1800-£1000 most of the time then this doesn't seem to bad, and when compared to the price of say a Moog Voyager it looks about right.