DSI Evolver - opinions?

Daisuk · 2014-01-13T21:58:24.000Z

""PES"":

[quote=“Daisuk”]I was planning on saving up for the new Elektron, but then one of these popped up out of the blue on the local craigslist today dead cheap, so I jumped on it, and have now messed with the Evolver for about an hour! I figured that this one coupled with the OT could make an alternative sort of Poly Evolver, although strictly speaking a monster multi mono-evolver, but that’s cool. I like it so far, although the editing system is a bit confusing still. I’ll have to read the manual or something at some point, I reckon. Found what seems to be a very good alternative manual here as well;

http://www.carbon111.com/evolverguide.pdf

The same guy that made some killer guides for the Microwave XT. I’ve got a lot of questions, but figured I’d keep them to myself after I’ve RTFM, as it’s probably all in there. No power button though! That was a surprise.

Nice!

Reading the manual is essential, if only to learn what the tiny display is trying to tell you. After that is done, I think you’ll appreciate how every function is available right there on the surface. [/quote]
Sat down with the manual and the Carbon-guide this morning for a couple of hours. Figured out most of the things that was puzzling me. What can I say? It’s just incredible that this thing is a one voice synth! The sound it can churn out is just immense. Looking a lot forward to exploring it more and using it with the OT.

shinobi · 2014-01-14T21:47:45.000Z

I owned many va and analog synth from Viruses to Moogs ans a lot in between and I tell u that:

EVOLVER IS ONE OF THE BEST SYNTHS EVEEER!!

Great powerful sound, thick, great filters, greaaat envelopes. Problem is that many people get stuck in its presets which stink! The demos on youtube makes it underated. It can sound really good. Those distorsion like sounds is because of people using some stinking presets. U can do anything with it. Really deep synth.
Together with the Moog is has the greatest character to me

Daisuk · 2014-01-14T22:35:17.000Z

""shinobi"":

I owned many va and analog synth from Viruses to Moogs ans a lot in between and I tell u that:

EVOLVER IS ONE OF THE BEST SYNTHS EVEEER!!

Great powerful sound, thick, great filters, greaaat envelopes. Problem is that many people get stuck in its presets which stink! The demos on youtube makes it underated. It can sound really good. Those distorsion like sounds is because of people using some stinking presets. U can do anything with it. Really deep synth.
Together with the Moog is has the greatest character to me

Nice! How long have you had yours? do you still use it a lot? The more I understand this thing, the more I like it. I still think it clips a bit too easily, and it has a tendency to turn everything into a very chaotic noisy mush, but that’s probably because I don’t know it too well yet. Made a couple of pretty neat patches today. Very exciting synth. Just when you think you’ve applied all there is of modulation to it, then “no, there’s still like 15 different modulation options available”. And as we all know - lots of modulation options = sweetness!

shinobi · 2014-01-15T19:43:28.000Z

I have it for a few years, but I still discover new sound territories with it. I also own other synths so I did not concentrate on it as much time as it deserves, but together with the Moog sounds as great as it can be. I am waiting soon for a Pulse 2 to see how good it sounds, but from all the analog hardware I tried, I kept only Evolver and Moog SubPhatty. I know Evolver is not only analog but it doesn t matter, actually it s great for that too… too bad it’s only monophonic. At a certain point I was thinking to buy another 2 to chain them…but too much of a pain.

Daisuk · 2014-01-15T22:45:30.000Z

""shinobi"":

I have it for a few years, but I still discover new sound territories with it. I also own other synths so I did not concentrate on it as much time as it deserves, but together with the Moog sounds as great as it can be. I am waiting soon for a Pulse 2 to see how good it sounds, but from all the analog hardware I tried, I kept only Evolver and Moog SubPhatty. I know Evolver is not only analog but it doesn t matter, actually it s great for that too… too bad it’s only monophonic. At a certain point I was thinking to buy another 2 to chain them…but too much of a pain.

Yeah, it sounds pretty good only using the analog oscillators, but I have to say, it’s when you mix in the digital that the interesting stuff really seem to kick in. But cool, thanks for saying! That’s encouraging, I love synths that doesn’t feel limited. It’s funny you mention the SubPhatty, as I had a Little Phatty for a while, and although it had a nice chunky sound, it just felt incredibly limited to me, there just wasn’t a lot to tweak. But that’s another discussion.

avantronica · 2014-01-15T23:19:12.000Z

i love the evolver too, a lot, especially the vs waves, but i wish the interface had the same immediacy i get from the elektrons, it’s there (DE) but somehow it seems further away, because of tiny fonts and cryptic display - wonderful sounding, special ,still going strong for a reason !

Daisuk · 2014-01-16T20:02:59.000Z

""avantronica"":

i love the evolver too, a lot, especially the vs waves, but i wish the interface had the same immediacy i get from the elektrons, it’s there (DE) but somehow it seems further away, because of tiny fonts and cryptic display - wonderful sounding, special ,still going strong for a reason !

Yeah, definitely agree with you on the interface. Although, it’s a bit refreshing to be working in a different way from the Elektrons sometimes too. I’m having trouble saving sequences for some reason, whenever I turn the Evolver off and turn it back on again all sequencer data is lost. Possibly because I had the sequencer lock set to “on”.

P_Grinder · 2014-01-17T02:00:10.000Z

I’ve had the Evolver desktop from the start (even had two side by side for a couple of years, that’s how much I love them). Used for industrial ambiances, drones, noises, pads, whatever. These boxes have so many tricks to them, I learned everything I know about synthesis because of these. Lovely synths, powerful and different. But not for everyone I guess.

I never could get around the keyboard version (Mono Evolver), I hated the knob action. The desktop’s knobs have a different feel to them.

BTW: Once had an accident and broke some pots on one of the units, wrote Dave for replacements and he sent them with extras free of charge the next week (I live in Canada). That’s what I call service.

shinobi · 2014-01-18T15:21:58.000Z

""Daisuk"":

[quote=“shinobi”]I have it for a few years, but I still discover new sound territories with it. I also own other synths so I did not concentrate on it as much time as it deserves, but together with the Moog sounds as great as it can be. I am waiting soon for a Pulse 2 to see how good it sounds, but from all the analog hardware I tried, I kept only Evolver and Moog SubPhatty. I know Evolver is not only analog but it doesn t matter, actually it s great for that too… too bad it’s only monophonic. At a certain point I was thinking to buy another 2 to chain them…but too much of a pain.

Yeah, it sounds pretty good only using the analog oscillators, but I have to say, it’s when you mix in the digital that the interesting stuff really seem to kick in. But cool, thanks for saying! That’s encouraging, I love synths that doesn’t feel limited. It’s funny you mention the SubPhatty, as I had a Little Phatty for a while, and although it had a nice chunky sound, it just felt incredibly limited to me, there just wasn’t a lot to tweak. But that’s another discussion. :)[/quote]
u right, moog is limited, I ll probably sell mine. Evolver is a keeper though:)

jonah · 2014-01-19T03:07:37.000Z

does the desktop’s display change when receiving external MIDI? maybe i missed a way to turn it off on the poly and mono keys, but it made the knobs kinda useless while MIDIing it up.

scuto · 2014-01-21T16:35:52.000Z

""Daisuk"":

I still think it clips a bit too easily, and it has a tendency to turn everything into a very chaotic noisy mush, but that’s probably because I don’t know it too well yet. Made a couple of pretty neat patches today. Very exciting synth. Just when you think you’ve applied all there is of modulation to it, then “no, there’s still like 15 different modulation options available”. And as we all know - lots of modulation options = sweetness!

I found I preferred it when it wasn’t clipping, too. It can start to sound “same-y” to my ears when that light starts to flicker!
That said, I am still a fan of it long after I sold it.

Automageddon · 2016-01-31T13:09:14.000Z

Shit, there’s a PolyEvovler on sale on Sound-on-sound. MUST. STAY. AWAY. FROM. KEYBOARD.

Leighbeater · 2016-02-29T04:23:44.000Z

I just bought a Evolver desktop Mono off Ebay for a pretty good price to accompany my Rytm

(I am still in the process of saving up for an A4)…i am so pumped can’t wait until it gets delivered…my first hardware synth ( thats if i don’t count the AR as a synth)

I also got a cheap Korg ER1 to mess around with as well… Happy days!!

audiofreak · 2016-02-29T06:51:42.000Z

I had my evolver desktop since few years now,

defently one if the best synts I ever had

you need to find your way…around it

highly recommend…go for it

elenacortes · 2016-02-29T22:10:36.000Z

""P_Grinder"":

BTW: Once had an accident and broke some pots on one of the units, wrote Dave for replacements and he sent them with extras free of charge the next week (I live in Canada). That’s what I call service.

Same here. My Evolver was missing two buttons, the jacks audio out was defectuous and it has a dead led.
I ask DSI customer service hop could i get the components and how many it will cost.
They send me all components for free. I was as surprise as happy.
Very nice to be customer. I must precise that i didn’t bought my Evolver from DSI directly. It was a second hand bought on Audiofanzine Web site.

cgb · 2016-02-29T22:16:33.000Z

+1 for the DSI costumer service !

super fast, friendly & helpful, flatrate repair prices ( 25 USD !) plus free shipping back
(in my case from USA to Germany)

for that alone Dave Smith and his crew
may earn a lot of cash with all their new synths.

AdamJay · 2016-03-01T19:39:43.000Z

""Automageddon"":

Shit, there’s a PolyEvovler on sale on Sound-on-sound. MUST. STAY. AWAY. FROM. KEYBOARD.

There’s been one on Muffs for ages that no one will touch. About $1600 or $1700 shipped. It haunts my dreams.

benbin · 2016-03-03T08:07:51.000Z

""AdamJay"":

… for ages that no one will touch. …

Any idea why?

AdamJay · 2016-03-03T12:58:23.000Z

""benbin"":

[quote=“AdamJay”]… for ages that no one will touch. …

Any idea why?[/quote]
It is a very busy for sale forum. Without regular bumps, posts get lost.

stikygum · 2016-03-30T17:08:25.000Z

If there is one thing I could change about the Evolver is would be those tiny buttons. It’s a cool looking piece of gear and fun to tweak, but those buttons are some of the worst I’ve used. If I bought an Evolver again, I’d probably put different knobs on them. Being that those knobs are used over and over for all parameters, it makes sense to do this and enjoy more of the experience.

But as for sound, nothing can turn out mangled sequences like the Evolver… well except the Pro 2/other DSI synths.