Hearing this has been my experience as an FM fan at times.
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The thing with this synth is that it has a very broad spectrum of sounds that you can make. It can be super lush, or harsh.
The interesting thing though, is that you can alter those harsh tones into lush version of the same timbres.
I absolutely love chippy type sounds, pulse trains that sound like they came from a shift register in an early computer or game console. But I also love big lush sounds. This synth does all of it, and to varying degrees.
It’s 100% in the sound design as with most synths.
It will definitely come down to who’s using it as to what you’ll hear in a demo.
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Gotta love the pairing of a $2000 synth with a $100 synth!
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Agreed! IMO one can’t really attach a good or bad based solely on price. There are certain aspects that one can attribute to price of course (build quality, component choice, etc.) but a cheap synth definitely does not equate to a bad synth.
I think that pairing sounded quite nice. I did notice a tiny bit of clipping, but I wasn’t sure if it was the recording, or maybe the resonance of the NTS or something. I’m guessing it was just the recording setup gain levels or something.
Yes. The NTS-1 definitely punches above its weight. I only wish it weren’t so flimsy. It feels like I’m going to snap it in two every time I use it. (He was changing oscillators on it with abandon, so it’s not surprising if the recording clipped!)
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So Kodamo says there is an update coming for the Mask1.
The Mask1 will get an extra filter as effect, to provide even more sound shaping possibilities. Its Bitmask sound engine will also be expanded to offer twice the number of masks to choose from.
Plus they have it on ( Black Friday ) sale. ( post ). 25% Off !
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Yes cool discount. I bought one a few months ago, and it’s a great instrument. Though I counted myself among the “one knob per function no menu please” crowd, I was strangely attracted towards this synth (probably the 80s look, and the idea of something a bit different). It’s built around a promise that it actually deliver : the editing is so simple, the menus are so well thought out, that it is extremely fast, easy and pleasant to program : you get to muscle memory.
Of course, sound design options are somehow limited compared to others offerings (in terms of routing, modulations, etc.), but the clever “mask” engine let you find lots of interesting sounds and ideas. And again it is as if parameters had been curated for meaningfulness.
Lastly, the sound itself is excellent and peculiar. In a paradoxical way, it’s got at the same time analog-like warmth (thanks to built-in slight detuning of the voices) and digital grain. Weird, but that’s really how it sounds to me.
It’s also the best synth keybed I ever played, but I am not accustomed to high-end synths with keys so maybe it’s nothing special at this price point.
That’s it for my spontaneous, not-asked-for, Mask 1 review / eulogy. I supposed I am a bit surprised it’s not more talked about - the price probably ? But if it’s the fear of menu based editing, well don’t fear.
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Doubling the number of masks in the update should even increase this.
Is there any detail about the extra filter ?
Not that I know of. Quite an unexpected update, I’m curious as well ! Another good news is that they are starting to consider midi-synced LFO’s.
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Have owned the EsFM since its release (great synth), but haven’t really checked this one out yet. Watching Nick’s SonicState review now, and damn - this sounds pretty great! Crossing my fingers for a module version…
FWIW, Kodamo didn’t rule out a VST at some point.
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Honestly, it’s worth owning the keyboard version. It’s an amazing instrument as a whole. I wish I could have tried out this new update! The only reason that I sold mine, was that I had to compress my musical space down to where I just couldn’t keep a large keyboard there for the foreseeable future. I would definitely own this synth again once I have the space again. If space isn’t a concern, and you’re on the fence about this one, I would recommend trying it. It’s even on sale right now. 
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Hello.
I own a Mask 1 since it came out. Don’t know about the filter but I hope it’s a high pass to combine with the LP filter. We will see. This synth is terrific 
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A desktop with a few more knobs I would buy for sure. I hope the sound engine is not only stuck to the keyboard.
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Big update for the Mask!
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Immediately made me miss mine! 
May have to grab another at some point. 
At this point, I think a desktop version would be amazing, as I’m pretty well invested in the controller + synths sort of thing.
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Your (old) wish is their command:
We will release a desktop module of the Mask1 soon if you are interested
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