Monosynth for someone with chronic pain? Pro3 vs Typhon vs AS-1 vs Norand Mono

shigginpit · 2023-03-29T17:47:44.254Z

m0ld:

delikinesis:

Maybe a stupid or pain inducing question, but is it possible to lubricate potentiometers for faster action?

This hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’d be hesitant to do so precisely because of resale, but if I never settle on something that might not be a bad idea to look into if possible.

I do think you addressed a few concerns about pro-3 which this doesn’t address but I’ll say that when I fixed my digi volume crackle, I bought 2 products because I didn’t know which would work out better - both made by deoxit. One is the fader lube, the other is the fader grease. The lube did not have a stiff enough tactile feel for me (I’ve read it’s just right for the encoders on some other brands) so after cleaning the pot and getting rid of the crackle, I used the fader grease which is much heavier and got it back to manufacturer level firmness.

So the upside is that you may be able to lube and then restore the value in resale by using one, and then later the other. The downside is that while the fader lube or is simple to apply, the fader grease was a pain in the butt because without disassembling the pots, it takes a lot of work to get it into the area between the shaft and the bushing - it’s possible, but if I had to do it for more than one it might grow annoying.

Regarding your original thoughts, I do think it sounds like the typhon specifically is of interest to you and it probably wouldn’t hurt to give it a whirl. The AS-1 is going to be basically another sequential so hard to go wrong. I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone who really dislikes the Norand, so there’s possibly no wrong answer here.

I don’t know if there’s a waldorf that you find acceptable but I find that waldorf knobs are about as loose as you can get so if you’re already considering the factors of nice sound and easy to tweak with a mediocre UI might as well add waldorf to the list…

other than that I’m jelly! sounds like a neat new synth is in your near future

Bunker · 2023-03-29T18:01:33.511Z

Another vote for The B2600. Slidertastic and sounds great! It’s worth bearing in mind that short sliders can severely hamper you when dialling in.

melisshki · 2023-03-29T18:37:52.932Z

If you choose the Typhon, you can buy an inline switch adapter for the USB cable (Amazon, local hardware shop maybe) to avoid the plugging/unplugging.

https://a.co/d/iFSbPa8

m0ld · 2023-03-29T18:41:48.627Z

pmags:

The Malekko Manther has both sliders and knobs

This is my first time looking into this thing, and it’s gorgeous - seems like the SH-101 comparisons it sometimes gets are spot-on. The sliders look like they might work very well. Definitely gonna do some more digging on this one!

shigginpit:

One is the fader lube, the other is the fader grease.

Wow, I super appreciate the breakdown here. Not sure I’m comfy with the process of getting the grease into the encoders, but the Deoxit lube might be worth a shot!

melisshki:

If you choose the Typhon, you can buy an inline switch adapter for the USB cable (Amazon, local hardware shop maybe) to avoid the plugging/unplugging.

Oh that’s awesome. I saw someone mention that in the typhon thread but hadn’t actually looked at the product itself.

Lampmeister · 2023-03-29T18:47:55.915Z

A squirt or two of contact cleaner in each potentiometer can help loosen up pots with too much physical resistance. For some this might be a better way forward than searching for a replacement synth.

shigginpit · 2023-03-29T18:48:18.140Z

If you want a link I’ll dig one up but I literally bought the cheapest size there was and it’s about $5 and there’s plenty to do more than one device unless you intend to drown your components in lube. nice quality products, the both of them.

fader grease11224×1632 503 KB

not going to lie, the grease took a lot of work to make happen but it did exactly what I wanted so I can’t complain about the end result. The lube is very “wet” and would be a simple application for loosening stiffness without sacrificing the safety of contact areas.

spikysimon · 2023-03-29T18:51:36.885Z

Geneoart:

I don’t own the Moog Grandmother, I have the Matriarch but if they’re the same the knobs are super smooth and easy to turn. Very light to the touch.

The Grandmother does have pretty light and smooth action on the knobs, but the waveform selector knobs are a little stiff and clicky on mine; I guess they don’t get used as much as some of the others though.

Mumdad · 2023-03-29T19:06:57.515Z

I thought I’d seen something along these lines before so went and had a look in the Gearspace thread:

About the stiffness of the knobs, just turn each knob fast back and forth for about 30s and they will loosen up considerably. And they stay that way so it is a one time thing.

I’ve got no idea if it’ll be enough but might be worth asking someone to do that for you combined with the fader lube thing? Quite a funny request to make though and I bet it’s one of those things that’s way more tiring to do than you expect!

m0ld · 2023-03-29T19:23:48.006Z

So, I actually tried this when I got mine. I also bought it used, so presumably the previous owner had also wiggled all the knobs before me

And yeah it was actually exhausting lol

styphonthal · 2023-03-29T22:14:39.014Z

What about the Matrixbrute?

Stone262 · 2023-03-29T23:38:01.780Z

Good luck, this is really hard to answer.

For what it’s worth I just ranked the following in order of most to least stiff.

Vermona Perfourmer Mk2; og Circuit, Waldorf STVC, Analog Heat Mk 2, Digitone, Beatstep, AS1.

Although when I tried again there was some second guessing that the elektron were much stiffer than the AS1.

HotdogLothario · 2023-03-29T23:43:24.169Z

Stone262:

Vermona Perfourmer Mk2

Weird, my PerFourmer knobs are like butter.

shigginpit · 2023-03-29T23:45:22.763Z

or perhaps your hands are like knives

HotdogLothario · 2023-03-29T23:51:21.623Z

i do have adamantium claws.

pmags · 2023-03-29T23:55:37.971Z

HotdogLothario:

adamantium claws

snikt!

But I agree, my Vermona knobs are nice and smooth!

shigginpit · 2023-03-29T23:56:34.366Z

sniktety sniktety snakt! should I call you Logan or Weapon X?

Stone262 · 2023-03-30T00:02:27.005Z

It’s probably through lack of use on my part haha. Although I didn’t twist every type on the panel.

JohntheSavage · 2023-03-30T00:17:45.242Z

The lightest encoders in the game currently are on the Modal Argon/Cobalt.

Both are very capable synths, and reasonably priced too.

Cheers!

obscurerobot · 2023-03-30T00:18:24.356Z

The knobs on my Wavestate and OPSIX turn very easily. Assuming Korg uses the same components on their entry level gear, the Monologue should be a good choice.

Anti-recommendation: The Mk1 Syntrx’ knobs are on the stiff side. I enjoy the feel, but don’t have any chronic pain issues.

m0ld · 2023-03-30T01:09:23.263Z

obscurerobot:

The knobs on my Wavestate and OPSIX turn very easily.

Yeah, the Opsix is so smooth to use. One of my favorite devices, partially for that reason.