is there any decent review video on this one ?
I got so much used to the loopop format but he didn’t post anything lately, I just need to know the pros/cons and hear the presets
Don’t forget this makes a great poly aftertouch midi controller too. Control 3 hardware synths with it and use each color on the grid for each hardware synth turning it into 3 little midi controllers, or mix and match external with internal etc.
Much like a different take on a novation launchpad pro mk3 (which i love and use).
6 Likes
I like Starsky Carr a lot…look at his review…
1 Like
One thing I do wish is that the shift+pad lock is different. I wanna be able to have my hands on the pad or pads then hit shift and lock them there instead of the other way around. Nothing major really, but I think the work flow makes more sense to be able to lock something when you’re playing in the moment. Not have to hold down shift and then the pads. Seems backwards to me?
1 Like
Oscillator Sink made what I think it’s the best video out there on the Polyend Synth so far.
Also Oora, Bobeats and VultureCulture (who did a review and a deeper 2hr livestream) are nice to have a wider view on pros and cons.
So far it seems to have some drawbacks, but the general consensus says that it’s really fun to use, even just as a midi controller for other machines, granular and physical modeling appears to be the most praised engines and all in all for the asking price could be a hit, sort of the sum is bigger than the single pieces kind of thing.
I’m really looking forward for some real life first hand experiences, to better understand if the bugs/limitations are true showstoppers or just little annoyances, 'cause apart for that it could be the perfect new toy for my use. I particularly dig the balance between usability/playbility and what it seems to be the right amount of sound design capabilities without being too much. I see it like a love child between Digitone/Launchpad/NDLR and it will probably check all the right boxes to perfectly complement Syntakt and/or Digitakt
2 Likes
Considering ordering if it will allow me to control external gear similarly to the 3 internal synth engines. I’ve checked the website several times and there’s only a quick start guide that doesn’t fully explain the midi capabilities… Sort of baffling they haven’t completed the manual before release. Anyhow, I’m really hoping to see some more info about this.
Hoping you or anyone else that already has one can confirm it can control external gear while playing the engines (allowing you to add voices basically). Also, will the chord mode send actual chords out though midi (as opposed to just the note being pushed)?!?
1 Like
Agreed, having it work the opposite of how it is now where we could toggle lock after the fact would be nice, or at least the option to set it one way or the other depending on preference, much like they have done for touch sensitivity on the knobs on their other products.
1 Like
I’ll test these after work tonight if someone else doesn’t respond before I get a chance, but I also found this post on Polyend’s forums by Sandroid, who is one of the beta testers and Patch/Scene designers for Synth. (as well as a fellow Elektronaut, I believe?)-
"Think of scenes as a project or a template. And yes, each synth slots (1-3) can have a different engine or the same or whatever.
And yes, that means you can play up to 3 synth together.
You can change the patch loaded into an engine via MIDI CC Program Changes. Currently it allows you to define up to 7 different patches in a scene."
1 Like
It can. This user opened up live stream last night using 3 hardware synths and the polyend synth as a midi controller and later he does 1 hardware synth and 2 internal synths at the same time etc… It’s a long video but worth watching!
2 Likes
Ok thanks for sharing. I never manage to get through those long recorded streams bc my time is limited and I get annoyed I’m not using it to actually make music… (TBH, I also tend to avoid anything where the screenshot ways something like “revolutionary” in ALL CAPS too…) But I’ll scan through this one since it may answer my Qs.
Basically if the outgoing midi implementation is as strong as I hope, I can see this quikcly becoming a great main controller (in addition to its own internal sound capabilities which sounds good to me so far).
4 Likes
How to the pads feel relative to your Hydrasynth desktop?
Bo Beats mentions in his video that you can’t control other synths the same way. Maybe he didn’t look into enough though cause I’m just noticing the comment above saying you can. Mine came in today so I’ll try it.
1 Like
Polyend Synth has a plastic and slippery coating feel on top compared to my hydrasynth desktop, novation circuit rhythm and tracks and my launchpad pro mk3.
1 Like
I would be interested to know how well the pads play. Do they respond easily or do you have to apply a lot of pressure for velocity and aftertouch? Is it possible to change the behavior, i.e. adjustable velocity curves?
You can customize it per scene / system etc.
Grid Velocity has settings - delicate, gentle, normal, tough, tough as hell, and fixed velocity from 10/20/30/40 all the way to 127.
As for aftertouch there is settings off, immediate, delayed
2 Likes
Oh, that sounds good. Thank you very much!
1 Like
What does delayed aftertouch feel like? Can you get good separation between velocity and aftertouch?
I still need more time to feel around and play but so far experiencing it felt like the name “delayed”. Where I pressed harder before getting it to react if that makes sense.
One thing I can’t find is an option to dim the pads because they are bright! Seems weird they left that out of the system settings right away.
Also mine came with 1.0.0 firmware and updating now to the new 1.0.1
Ok got some info from Sandroid over on discord and works great!
"ok regarding latching currently… you can
- Hold the Pad → Press Shift → Release Pad → Release Shift
- Press Shift and hold → Press Pad -> Release Shift (edited)
both ways will latch at the moment
Double Tapping Shift will release all pads
what we will most likely see in the future… is a way to have a toggle behaviour
so no shift would have to be pressed"
2 Likes