Mopho, the good, the bad. The MiniBrute

[whitecloud]

Can't speak for the Mopho. But I've got it's bigger brother the TETR4. Very happy with the build quality. A nice solid little unit with excellent feeling pots. Would be nice to have more of them but not really possible on a unit this size. I've also got all of the important parameters assigned to a MIDI controller/keyboard (AKAI MPK49) so programming is a breeze if you're happy doing things this way. I hear lots of complaints about the software editors for DSI stuff. Personally I think the editor works brilliantly. Never had a problem with it once set-up to communicate in/out with the TETR4. I think a lot of complaints come from it not having a VST version. I'm quite happy with it running standalone. Hope this helps

Funny you mention your Akai. As I am deciding about what mono synth etc. High on my list and what I might just for for instead this month is the AKAI MPD32.
I would primarily use it to control "Geist" but other synths as well. I am wondering if you have set your MPK to transmit NRPN's instead of cc's? My Xio
only transmits values in the 0-127 range or -64-63. This both for CC's and NRPN's and I think many of the Mopho's NRPN's are either below or above those values? So me thinks that the MPK and MPD series may have similar programming
options as far as midi control

[whitecloud]

How about this VSTi?

I can't tell what that is, name, or url

[Dogboy73]

I am wondering if you have set your MPK to transmit NRPN's instead of cc's? My Xio only transmits values in the 0-127 range or -64-63. This both for CC's and NRPN's and I think many of the Mopho's NRPN's are either below or above those values? So me thinks that the MPK and MPD series may have similar programming options as far as midi control

I've not had much to do with NRPN's. A lot of talk about it on the TETR4 Yahoo! Group. After doing a bit of reading I decided ..... I couldn't be arsed with all that!! Extensive details of NRPN stuff in the TETR4 manaul & I'm sure the same goes for the Mopho. You can download these from the DSI website if you're interested in finding out more;

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/sup ... nloads.php

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tetr4/

[mkdr]

It's a VSTi editor for Mopho i've been building for a few weeks now.
Uses sysex and nrpn to talk to the hw and normal vst control knobs that are automatable from the host. Perfect for Cubase's Quick controls or Novations Automap.

I started this project because there was no editor for Mopho that "actually worked". The Ctrl one was crashing all the time and is way overcomplicated for something this simple and the "official" editor is, as we all know, very buggy and only a standalone app.

I still need to iron out a few bugs(the sysex implementation is a bit odd, some midi threading hick-ups etc) and then i'll release it

[whitecloud]

I can also recommend the by the way, but it doesn't have an arpeggiator..

I'd recommend the Dark Energy too ... and it actually does have an arpeggiator.

An internal arpeggiator is brought to life by a MIDI program change. The arpeggiator can sync to external clock, and although it isn't full of treats, is a fun trinket nonetheless. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan10/a ... energy.htm

Well I have heard the many praises of this box, but isn't it double the price I can get a Mopho desktop for? All that CV stuff wouldn't be of use to me as I don't have any other synth that has/uses them.

[whitecloud]

I am wondering if you have set your MPK to transmit NRPN's instead of cc's? My Xio only transmits values in the 0-127 range or -64-63. This both for CC's and NRPN's and I think many of the Mopho's NRPN's are either below or above those values? So me thinks that the MPK and MPD series may have similar programming options as far as midi control

I've not had much to do with NRPN's. A lot of talk about it on the TETR4 Yahoo! Group. After doing a bit of reading I decided ..... I couldn't be arsed with all that!! Extensive details of NRPN stuff in the TETR4 manaul & I'm sure the same goes for the Mopho. You can download these from the DSI website if you're interested in finding out more;

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/sup ... nloads.php

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tetr4/

I hear you. I am dealing with technical stuff people are working on to build another editor for the Akai Miniak at the Yahoo group.a lot of it deals with NRPN's Some of which seems way over my head, although I appreciate their efforts and the fact they are doing it for free.

[whitecloud]

I like the Mopho and haven't had any real problems with it or the Soundtower editor. I think it's super nice for the price, but then again I don't use it very much because I haven't been very organized for quite some time now. I don't use it without the software editor, so I don't even worry about the encoders possibly wearing out some day.

The Mopho is great sounding, nice filter, deep bass, bruising distortion (optional), nice LCD screen (which I don't look at much). Bad sides are that it's a pain to edit if you don't use the software, which means you will want to hook it up to the computer or map it out to a controller. Also, it's hardware, and you always have to deal with the headache (I like quick and easy, while some people enjoy complexity and organizing) of saving presets, recall for projects, batteries for internal hardware eventually having to be replaced, hardware parts wearing out, finding another outlet space to plug into etc...

Thanks, well like I said, I have heard enough to be satisfied with how it sounds
I just was concerned more on build quality. I have heard conflicting success
regarding the editor, and since I bought a new Computer and jumped to Win7 64 bit
from XP, I am dealing with some software issues with plugins and some 32 bit apps
I know that software frees us from cables and power supplies, but I think batteries and hardware parts just might outlive, what becomes outdated software
from lack of support and OS updates, not to mention limited Authorizations and
dongles etc.. Off topic, what's up with the reply box format? What I see in the preview doesn't look like what I originally type out?

[whitecloud]

I've had mine for over a year, bought used off another kvr member. Still going strong, i would have expected the pots to have degraded or failed by now. The pots themselves are indented and high resolution so you have to turn them a few times at normal speed but they have an accelerometer and you can get full sweep if you turn them fast. So they haven't got the best feel but they are reliable. The case is a solid piece of metal and the i/o seems pretty robust.

Hey didn't you just pick up "Geist"? If so have you tried sampling the Mopho's
drum sounds? I bought Geist recently and enjoy it's sampling feature.

[Uncle E]

Thanks for your reply, I did mentioned that I really like what I've heard of the Mopho's sound(personal preference) but am more concerned about reliability. If
you factor in cost and feature set, the Mopho looks good on paper. I did like what little I've heard soundwise of the Minitaur but need more demos and investigation of it's feature set. The MiniBrute the layout is enticing but I haven't been very impressed with the demos showcasing it's sound. I wonder if it is capable of less edgy but more vintage sounds. Don't get me wrong I see a place for those more nastier tones, I just haven't heard the Wow factor yet.

Got it, sorry for not addressing these direct issues.

Regarding the Mopho's build quality, it feels solid and really doesn't have many ways it can fail. We've sold quite a few DSI products and have never had any returned, and the fact that they're made in the same factory as the Adrenalinn guitar pedals makes me feel secure that there's a good chance it'll stay that way.

The Minibrute is capable of vintage SH-101 type sounds and can make some great detuned saw sounds (thanks to its "Ultrasaw") but it can't do the true multi-oscillators sounds that the Mopho is capable of. Build quality-wise, it feels ok but not as solid as the Mopho.

[vieris]

I had one, purchased the soundflower editor and all, sold it & replaced with others. Sure it sounds great, amazingly deep under the hood. But a horrible interface, & not very inspiring. I feel hardware should have creative real-time tactile interaction. If you have to use a software interface, might as well use a VI.

[musikmachine]

I've looked into mapping the controls of the mopho but had problems with it so gave up. The ctrlr editor is shaping up pretty well, works but doesn't receive or send patch dumps yet. Can automate though which is what i've been waiting for.

[whitecloud]

I have a Mopho and the only thing that is a bit tedious is the programming interface, because you will have to use a lot of knobs and menu's to program it. But besides that it's really a good hardware unit. Sounds great and seems to be pretty robust.

I can't comment on the MiniBrute, but the Mopho has already proved itself worth. The MiniBrute still has to.

I can also recommend the by the way, but it doesn't have an arpeggiator..

Thanks sounds like your Mopho's knobs haven't fell off yet
I have heard/seen the Dark Energy before, but it seemed like more than I wanted to spend at the time. I've checked out the DSI Forums and haven't read many complaints regarding the hardware unit. I think forums are a good way of gauging a product. It gives the user a venue to complain and hope to rectify a problem. I was surprised that I didn't see rampant complaints like on other Product Forums.
I've just read a few complaints at Gearslutz mainly the encoders, being a huge problem.Now that I have posted this thread on 3 different forums, there hasn't been many that complained about that. Mainly the interface(which I am aware of) complaints about the editor, but here again some come to it's rescue and says it works just fine.

I'm a guy who fell in love with the MoPho, which then sparked an Evolver desktop and Prophet '08 rack purchase. I've yet to have encoder issues with any of them but to be fair I edit with software about half the time. They may not be the best synths in the world, but I imagine my hearing isn't the best... and my music well... uh... hm.

I honestly did think about a Dark Energy for a while but it finally came down to the fact that 90% of the time I want to reach for a set of presets and make slight tweaks or add effects/eq to them and get to the business of playing as quickly as I can. There are days when I'll create new presets for hours and hours, but as you know with a Dark Energy unless you save things as samples or take picts of each patch, when they're gone they're gone. So for me, when I want the functionality of a modular (which is often the most rewarding) I'll reach for Vaz Modular, Aalto or ACE.

Of course, they're not the same as real analog modulars, but you can't have everything. Where would you put it?

I'm like you. I want to be able to do slight tweaks or use my performance controllers while recording tracks. I do set aside time here and there for
just sitting down and programming or learning to do so. Just picked up
DCAM Synth Squad and it will take some time to get my head around it.

[Uncle E]

How about this VSTi?

What is that?

[whitecloud]

It's a VSTi editor for Mopho i've been building for a few weeks now.
Uses sysex and nrpn to talk to the hw and normal vst control knobs that are automatable from the host. Perfect for Cubase's Quick controls or Novations Automap.

I started this project because there was no editor for Mopho that "actually worked". The Ctrl one was crashing all the time and is way overcomplicated for something this simple and the "official" editor is, as we all know, very buggy and only a standalone app.

I still need to iron out a few bugs(the sysex implementation is a bit odd, some midi threading hick-ups etc) and then i'll release it

that sounds great, will it have Win7 64 bit support?

[Nielzie]

I'd recommend the Dark Energy too ... and it actually does have an arpeggiator.

An internal arpeggiator is brought to life by a MIDI program change. The arpeggiator can sync to external clock, and although it isn't full of treats, is a fun trinket nonetheless. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan10/a ... energy.htm

Ahh yes you're right, actually I knew that.. Never had to courage myself to go through the hoops to activate it though