Your opinion on the Polybrute

[kritikon]

Seems to me that there's quite a detached market for analogue polys. A reasonable selection of character ones at a higher price level though those prices do vary quite a lot. Mostly offering a similar bunch of features or at least comparable. Then there's the budget range which seems to not offer much: Minilogue XD, Deepmind, BPolyD. Can't think of anything else off the top of my head. There used to be a market for more budget 6 voice polys...Junos (several of them ), Polysix, DWs, JXs etc. TBH only the Deepmind is properly in that set - XD etc not 6 voice, so quite cut down. I'm sure there is still a receptive market...not catered for? The Udo 6 thingy is exactly that kind of poly but pricewise sits in the big brother range. Not many little brothers.

Polybrute appears to be top in terms of sheer number of features/flexibility though. I'd love a Matrixbrute as monos are more my thing...but bloody expensive for a mono.

[lfm]

As already said put your hands on a Virus ti2 and you will know what the word quality and excellence mean.

It seems like a killer synth, for sure.

But $3000 VA-synth, sure there is room to provide a more expensive keybed.

For digital piano i feel the keybed is essential to do nuances in playing as a grand piano need. For synth not so much. Arturia does not limit me in any way. Going back to Prologue now and then, I feel even that Japan made more heavy keybed feels a bit awkward for a few minutes.

I don't think much of the keybed for Nordlead 2X I have a master keyboard at computer desk. It does not limit me either. I would have wanted key curves setting, but there is none.

My apologees not knowing you actually played Polybrute. My mistake.

I had to choose logarithmic key curves on Polybrute to really feel lighter touch to harder that suites me. Makes a big difference. Just a tip to check out.

The default linear setting on Polybrute was hard to play lighter. I do a lot of AMP ENV on velocity to make it expressive for presets. Not only the filter envelope. Both timbre and volume vary with playing style.

The morph thingy in PB is remarkable, that makes you have perfect control how parameters are varied on velocity. Each preset becomes like it's own instrument. Love that on Nordleads too, nice implementation too.

Modulation slots on Virus are 6, and on PB 32, with total connections 64. And the visual aspect of modulations on PB is unsurpassed, really brilliant way to do it.

There is normal, logarithmic and anti-log curves for Polybrute. I would have like more in between too, like most keyboards have. Will see if my feature requests accomodate that in next FW.

Other unique things in PB is how you can combine Steiner-Parker filter and Ladder. SP can continuously vary between LP, Notch, HP and BP - and doing that in series with Ladder I got some interesting results. Blend knob how much goes into each filter is also continuous.

[db3]

I had a Polybrute for a while but sent it back because one of the voices kept going a few semitones out of tune. I was also having to recalibrate frequently and the unit would crash during calibration (but that might have been due to faulty voice). I might have got a replacement because I did like it sound-wise, but the VST connect software was also buggy at the time (believe that is all fixed now). The keybed wasn't bad to play but it did feel a bit cheap and all the C notes made an annoying physical ping noise. I'm tempted to revisit.

[Freaqpeak]

I've had the Polybrute for a week now. I must say Arturia has really outdone themselfs this time. They thought of every little thing, which makes it very versatile and FUN to work with. My favorite synths since the 90's are Clavia Nord Leads... I've owned all Nord Leads. Will sell my Nord Lead's and keep the Polybrute as my main synthesizer.

It sounds AMAZING and the VST connect interface + preset browser makes it so much easier to actually use in production.

[Trancer]

Thank you for your answers and opinions.

Despite my doubts and fears, I definitely intend to take the Polybrute.

I'm waiting for tomorrow because I'm going to test a Sequential, really take the time to use it.

Even if I'm thinking of taking the Polybrute as a base, I don't want to tell myself whether or not I knew how to seize the opportunity to try the Sequential.

[zerocrossing]

I had a Polybrute for a while but sent it back because one of the voices kept going a few semitones out of tune. I was also having to recalibrate frequently and the unit would crash during calibration (but that might have been due to faulty voice). I might have got a replacement because I did like it sound-wise, but the VST connect software was also buggy at the time (believe that is all fixed now). The keybed wasn't bad to play but it did feel a bit cheap and all the C notes made an annoying physical ping noise. I'm tempted to revisit.

You probably got part of the same bad batch that I ended up with. Not sure what was wrong, but the first unit I got had the same issues as you. The next one was perfect. No VST issues at all. I don’t have any “ping” noise on a key… unless I program a ping noise as a patch.

[zerocrossing]

Thank you for your answers and opinions.

Despite my doubts and fears, I definitely intend to take the Polybrute.

I'm waiting for tomorrow because I'm going to test a Sequential, really take the time to use it.

Even if I'm thinking of taking the Polybrute as a base, I don't want to tell myself whether or not I knew how to seize the opportunity to try the Sequential.

Which Sequential? There’s quite a bit of range. I’d say the closest thing feature wise is a Pro 2, but that’s a monophonic synth with an interesting 4 voice paraphonic mode. (Software mimics the amp envelope for each note event, but obviously they’re still sharing a filter) The REV2 doesn’t have the VCOs, or the dual filters, but if you get the 16 voice one, it is nice having all those extra voices, especially for layering. Very different tone. The Prophet and OB 6 both have VCOs, but they’re much simpler synths. Tonally I’d say they are maybe a bit more “vibey” than the PolyBrute.

[trusampler]

I was struggling to find a decent match to play on top of my P10 and tried a ton of synths, nothing seem to pair up and compliment it's quality, other than the Polybrute, this is my 2nd one, I also had one from the first batch that had an issue with tuning. Got rid of it and got a brand new one, and it plays perfect. The polybrute can sound pretty as a Jupiter 8 at times, and others it can sound aggressive and everything in between, I especially love playing keyboardish ambient stuff on it, the effects are good.. Give it a go, I think it's a modern classic

[Trancer]

Thank you for your opinions.

Reassured that after receiving another model, the Polybrute works very well.

I will try the Prophet 6 as a module.

The Polybrute seems like a very good choice for a first and only polyphonic.

[pdxindy]

The PolyBrute is amazing!

[Constructed Identity]

My opinion on the Polybrute is that it is ugly. Say no to ugly synthesizers.

[zerocrossing]

My opinion on the Polybrute is that it is ugly. Say no to ugly synthesizers.

I think all synthesizers are pretty ugly, the PolyBrute no more than others. At least it’s clear and easy to use.

[cryophonik]

I’ve yet to see one in real life, but it looks like one of the sexiest synths ever made IMO

[Constructed Identity]

I’ve yet to see one in real life, but it looks like one of the sexiest synths ever made IMO

Me neither, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Good for my wallet at least.

[RobGee]

A recent recording featuring the Polybrute and Matrixbrute. Additional effects courtesy of Valhalla and Reaktor Blocks. The more time you spend with it, the more rewarding it is. Such a great synth.