lately i’m focussing a lot on improvisation with elektrons and experimenting with different setups. i’m looking for a small synth to go with the OT, preferably multitimbral and CC friendly. doesn’t have to be fully knobby but fast workflow is important: i usually bang some trigs, select a random preset, cue in the sound at 10% volume and try to tweak it superfast in like 10-15secs until i’m happy and can turn it up in the mix.
i got a DN which works amazing for this kind of idea, but i’m looking for another flavour.
tried already:
MM2 -> really dig the sound but volume (cc7) is not stored with presets, which results in unpredictable levels when changing presets. also it’s just a wee bit too menu based to be superfast.
A4 -> cool but touchy and sweetspots all over the place. i love the A4 but it doesn’t seem to lend itself well for this idea, feels more like a production machine.
jv1010 -> works but not a lot of tweaking options.
minilogue - > workable but not multitimbral.
blofeld -> cool but a bit menu heavy and also sweetspots all over the place, needs quite some work to get it sound good instantly.
The MM2 is the way to go. Instead of using the CC7, use the mix or drive for volume, which is stored with the preset. You can also assign velocity to amp and use that for volume control. As for control, using the MIDI CC controls on the OT for the MM2 will help a lot. I use it in my 3-Digibox setup and it’s wonderful.
Yea based on your needs the MM2 seems perfect, thirded!
If you like analog then a Mutable Instruments Ambika might be a good shout. 6 voice with 6 freely assignable outs, can be 6 mono synths, a poly and a mono, whatever.
MM2 too. Hard to make more compact.
I had a Blofeld, I prefered MM1, especially for filters, and immediacy.
With MM2 compared to MM1, filters, drive, fx, mod matrix, controls…well almost everything is better.
Blofeld has limited voices, depending on settings, so the multitimbrality is limited too. Great on the paper, but I found filters, fx disapointing, UI not convenient.
You could think about DSI Tetra. I’ve had one for a while, I used to get annoyed by the interface, but for what you are looking for it might fit. You can do deep editing/sound design if you want with a software editor, or just pick a preset and you’ve got some parameters & filter to tweak live.
It’s compact - but not as compact as MM2!
Oooh good one! There’s the Manatee announced at Superbooth but I’ve not seen any more about it, nothing on the website still - not sure its multitimbral tho.
If you liked the JV1010 sounds, the MC101 is an improvement on, and 4 part multitimbrality/128 voices is probably top of the class for its size. Has a reasonable amount of CC control.
I’ve been considering Waldorf M for a similar setup. Not really a small synth though. Nord lead racks could also work but even a bit wider than the Waldorf
thanks for the input guys! gonna spend some more time with the MM2 first, until now i always used it together with the DN. @slicetwo great tip for the volume control! also note to self: use more OT midi tracks for more CC control
Tooro was on my watchlist, as well as a mc101 (might grab the latter second hand when i find one for a good price). i’d love to have a waldorf M… think i will adore that one, i almost bought it but spent all the cash on DN A4 MM2 have been eyeing on a nord modular for a long time as well but seems prices got higher lately.
Yeah! Since the MM2 is bitimbral, and I use my DN to sequence it, I can use two tracks at a time, if necessary, for MIDI control. With the OT, you could have even more!
I actually didnt find that annoying programming it from the front panel as you can build it step by step, same as with the Blofeld but I guess it is just me… the sound is so amazing that I forget about any other little hassles it may have…
have been eyeing on a nord modular for a long time as well but seems prices got higher lately.
but I guess it is just me… the sound is so amazing that I forget about any other little hassles it may have…