I’m not sure but I believe I asked this question already, but things have been moving since then:
Would you rather get a Zoia or an Organelle?
…both fit the same niche it seems…comparable in price too.
ZOIA doesn’t need a computer to program it.
Doesn’t even need tutorials, in fact: it’s rather hands on.
You have a lot of buttons to interact, so no menu diving most of the time.
Organelle UX was the reason I got rid of it, but I had a lot of fun with Mutable Instruments modules: PD is way more powerful, for sure.
In a week I have created a dozen of patches on the ZOIA and not yet loaded other people’s cause it’s fun to come up with ideas, whereas I haven’t built anything in Pure Data (too much to learn beforehand).
6 Likes
I took the liberty to move this, it smells like a thread that needs its own path…
2 Likes
Oh thx, that’s actually pretty helpful!
1 Like
The organelle is much lighter than expected
Felt like an empty box
Couldn’t get over it
Also the UI felt kinda clunky although clicky encoders are nice
I’m saving pennies for a Zoia
FIY there is a new version of organelle coming up battery powered and all
edit: they are pots not encoders sorry thanks Dalai
also not sure if they were clicky like on OP1 anymore… oops
1 Like
That’s right, Organelle got a new version!
More powerful, battery powered…
But it seems it’s still pots and not encoders (another reason why I disliked the UX).
IMO, the Pocket Piano interface doesn’t suit Organelle a lot.
ZOIA could have benefited of a few more encoders, but the numerous buttons make up for it, in my experience.
2 Likes
Zoias UI is really really good and all without need of a computer. I got up and running in no time and can now fly around. The main disadvantage to that is I sometimes over complicate my patches and forget where I am.
Agreed. But Allowing the stompswitches to act as triggers coupled with cv slew is a nice touch.
2 Likes
Well, I have both and they are quite different:
The Organelle is WAY more expansive because of pure data, I mean it comes close to a little computer so it’s kind of limitless - but you can’t build something with it. You need a real computer for that.
The Zoia is much more self contained but you can really have fun exploring and I guess it will get some updates with new modules in the future.
1 Like
Have you tried using a USB keyboard and HDMI monitor plugged into the Organelle directly for editing PD? Would be interested to know how that compares to editing on a standalone computer.
2 Likes
Yah. The demos I watched gave the impression I’d just connect a monitor plug in mouse and keyboard to tweak a patch if I have to.
No, I don’t know anything about PD 
Automatonism is a good place to start, especially as it mimics patching a modular system to a degree. I guess it might be possible to create PD devices using that and them copy them to the Organelle (but I have no way to test this as I don’t have an Organelle!)
1 Like
I went with the Zoia for many of the same reasons, already stated.
I also can’t deal with patching stuff on a computer screen with a mouse, so Organelle was no go for me.
Well, I’m not patching anything on the computer. I just use the patches already on board and userpatches from patchstorage and it’s fantastic.
3 Likes
PureData has a much longer history than Zoia, so I’m sure the selection of Organelle patches is vast compared to Zoia.
I’m sure it’s nice to have both Zoia and Organelle.
2 Likes
I tried looking into Organelle patches for FX, as I was considering it against the Zoia too. Despite pure data being around longer, I really couldn’t find that many pre made delay patches etc. Not sure if I was just looking in the wrong place, but it seemed for my purposes (fx box, not synth) the Zoia was easier to get into and has a lot of support from Empress alongside a lively community of users. I’m still keeping an eye on the Organelle though… I don’t mind making patches on a laptop, could be done sneakily at work in the office! 
1 Like
Just to correct some posts above. The Organelle does not require a computer to do the editing. It is a computer!
Puredata is designed for synthesis and MIDI processing primarily. It can also process audio and hence build effects, but this takes a lot of processor juice and requires a level of patch complexity that most people are not going to manage. That’s why you tend to find simple algorithms like comb filters and ring modulators but not reverbs.
The new Organelle M is much more powerful, so we will see what people do with it. The great thing is you don’t need to touch puredata to use one of these. You can simply download and use other people’s partches.
The Zoia is much more limited in interface and scope, but apparently more powerful for the very thing it is designed for… as a multi-effects unit.
Zoia is an FX box that might also make sounds. Organelle as a quirky instrument that might also process audio.
4 Likes
Well, that perception cannot be helped when tutorials like this show a computer being used to edit a patch, and there are virtually no videos showing patching being done without a computer
EDIT: Oh, I guess you’re referring to being able to plug a monitor and keyboard directly into an Organelle. But a mouse is still required - which i suppose is ok for those who don’t have a problem using a mouse for synthesis patching duties.
https://critterandguitari.github.io/Organelle_Manual/#72-operating-organelle-as-a-computer
1 Like
Organelle is an amazing box if you have the puredata chops to make it a mobile DIY anything you want. If you are limited to using it just as a patch box based on other people’s patches you might be better off going with Zoia as it is far easier and immediate to DIY your own, albeit more limited, fx patches.
Buying either box and not exploiting their programmability is missing 95% of their worth. The Zoia is much easier to dig into that 95% of deeper potential.
2 Likes
Soo what now? Lol. No consensus emerging I feel, but no camp is shitting on the device the other sponsors either. (:
Quick Question: I played with Zoia at this years superbooth. Tried just a few patches but it sounded well enough, very digital (a bit harsh perhaps? it’s been a while …) but en par with competitive commercial synths in the bracket.
How about Organelle? Never had one in my paws. Are you guys happy with the sound? Do those Mutable Instruments ports really hold up to their hardware counterparts?