Dreadbox NYX - Analog Paraphonic Semi Modular Synthesizer

The Lounge Other Gear
83

The V1 has quite fast ones but I’m not sure how slow they can actually go:

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I’m listening to them at the moment and the slower LFOs could definitely be a good reason for getting a reissue (for me), that and the noise plus easy duophony toggle rather than opening the case to get to a dip switch inside.

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85

Before…

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And after…

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Some notes:

  • The build is easy, and the instructions on the Dreadbox site are super clear.
  • The built quality is really good, feels solid as a rock. Oh one thing to mention; the USB power port is on the side, which IMO isn’t a great location
  • The reverb is enormous, going all the way to infinite/freeze times, it seems to have some built-in filtering (LP I guess) so it does get quieter as you crank the mix up. But still sounds really good.
  • I have no idea what I’m doing, really need to read the manual on this one! For 5 minutes I thought it was bust as the filter cutoff knob was doing nothing, but I’d just put it into a bypass routing mode.
  • This is not your not your typical analogue mono, with the dual VCFs and dual VCOs and a bunch of interesting routing options.
  • I think I can see me using it for ambient and experimental sounds, rather than basses and those more classic analogue-mono sounds
  • I’m in the UK and got stung with about £60 of import duty to pay, oh well.
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86

I love my Nyx, really good value. Great for plucks, leads (duo or mono) and soundscapes with the reverb. It’s really opened my eyes to boutique and maybe even… dare I say it a gateway to modular oh no. What sort of complimentary devices are you using with it?

The USB port on the side sucks, doesn’t even have a on/off switch, I have to plug/unplug it to turn it on

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87

You can get an inline USB switch to solve that problem; I also use one of these to provide power and easy switches to all manner of USB-powered devices without using it as a hub:

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I mostly use mine in a semi-modular corner with an Erebus V2 and an MFB Kraftzwerg II controlled by an MFB Urzwerg Pro sequencer; I just like having them all as a standalone analogue group where the reverb on the Nyx and the delay on the Erebus all play their parts.

They were my gateway to modular, in fact, but for some reason I’ve not integrated them into the main cases. Perhaps one day I’ll shift everything around though.

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88

Is it possible to get a stereo output since it’s got two oscillators and filters? Maybe tap the VCA outputs and pan left/right?

Also does the usb only carry power or also midi?

89

If it’s like other Dreadbox USB-powered semi-modulars, there’s a breakout board that plugs into the Eurorack connector on the back of the unit that just provides power, not MIDI.

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Anyone knows if the Reissue is identical to V.1 with through hole, or smd components?

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I don’t think they do any through hole anymore.

92

Version 1 was through hole and they say identical to V.1…

93

It’s not through hole. I think they mean identical in features.

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Do you know for a fact that it s not through hole, like version 1?

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Have you looked at the boards that come with the DIY reissue? Should definitely be some pics of those around. I imagine the prebuilt reissue is using the same boards.

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Judging by the cost of the reissue i would say it’s smd.

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In these days and age you can t trust anymore the words of people… they said identical, now they confirmed is smd… :frowning:

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The reissue is a different shape, has a different power, different MIDI connections, has different patch points, etc; so it was never going to be identical.

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Original Form abd Faithfull Reproduction to V1 to me means: the same…

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102

That is not really a significant drawback, it makes no real difference unless you need to repair it.

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It was silly to think it wasn’t going to be smd.

104

Why on earth does it matter?

Is this the final boss of analogue warmth?

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