Also, the MM2 is a totally different beast with a very different sound and workflow from the MM1. So, you know…
There’s no arguing that fewer knobs and less real estate makes for a more challenging UI. But I really caution people against making assumptions about how “fast” this makes patching without getting hands-on for at least a day or two. I went into the MM2 expecting Mopho levels of annoyance, but worth it at its great price. It’s now the fastest “sound in my head” → patch device I own. Faster than my Peak, faster than my Voyager — both with much more space and many more dedicated controls.
Some of this boils down to how well an engine melds with how you think about these things in your head, so your milage may vary. And some is the fact that is has, on whole, many fewer options than, say, a P12 like delta helpfully goes over above.
But some is just a really smart layout that really rewards muscle memory. It’s worth getting your hands on if you have the opportunity.
I still haven’t seen any evidence that the MM2’s actual workflow is significantly different from the MM1, despite having asked already in this thread for such. Until it’s demonstrated…
I didn’t own MM1, and I was very positively surprised by the clarity, logic and useability of the MM2. As mentioned in some earlier posts, this synth maintains an exceptional balance between size, features, useability, sound, and price.
I had the MM1 and didn’t really gel with the workflow back then, mind you it was one of my first synths so I was more of a beginner at that point than now.
Now I have the MM2 and find it very quick to program, I got a good muscle memory with it after a couple of days. It’s a very logical layout and I don’t seem to forget where any parameters are, which for comparison I still do with my DN after 2 years.
Hardware-wise the 3 extra potentiometers added since MM2 is a much bigger improvement than I expected it would be. It’s really cool to have knobs fixed to certain parameters no matter what page you are on, really makes it fun to play live with.
A bit different, definitely better possibilities to set and play live control knobs, with multiple targets.
Maybe less options, more sound possibilities, more and better fx…
Side by side comparison needed! MM2 still evolving…
I’m by no means a pads expert, but I pulled the ones that sounded 80s to me and did them up with some stabs followed by sustains:
In hindsight, I wish I’d kept track of the patches. Some of these are mine and some are factory presets. If there’s something that really stands out to you I can probably find it again.
I mean, there are differences. The FM2 does linear FM rather than the phase modulation of the DX7. Relatedly, the FM2 doesn’t do op feedback (though this was most often used in the DX7 for saturation or noise — and both are better handled on the FM2 with its many non-sine waveform options). And the FM2‘s DAC is pristine, so you have to add your your own distortion if you wanted that 12-bit-DAC-sound.
If any of that’s a dealbreaker, you should definitely get one of the other compact 6-op FM synths.
Don’t know if this is your thing … but I’m finding that demos of the FM and wavetable capabilities of this thing are a bit lacking. So if you feel like covering that ? (Otherwise, ignore me).
Or rather demos that explicitly say ‘this is wavetables’ or ‘this is FM’ … I’m sure I must have unknowingly heard these sounds.
(The Yvette Horner French Touch)
