KVR Audio

The Black Parade · Post by **The Black Parade** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:55 am

Uncle E wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2023 4:52 pm It's quite different. Actually, a Minifreak, a TI2, an a1, and one beastly mono synth would be a superb setup.

I have an absolutely ridiculous number of hardware synths that I bought mostly in the 80s and 90s when classic analog gear was so much more affordable than it is today. But I could honestly do everything I need to do with the setup you just mentioned. Okay, I would probably add one or two really great sounding analog polysynths like the new Oberheim OB-X8 desktop and the Black Corporation ISE-NIN Jupiter-8 inspired rack. (I really am incorrigible. LOL.)

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 4:47 pm

Thank you for your feedback and opinions.

The Minifreak offers a beautiful sound palette indeed.

I even looked at the Minibrute 2s at one point.

To another extent, I had even looked at the Minilogue XD and the Blofeld as well.

Concerning the beastly mono, I still hesitate between the Matrixbrute and the Pro 3.

Concerning the Moog, there are really too many uncertainties in everything.

The only question I ask myself which is essential for me, which is as important as the sound and the possibilities of the machine.

It is the reliability, quality of manufacturing both hardware and software, the stability of the machine as well as the stability of the calibration if necessary, the machine which will last the longest by its construction value.

The machine that I buy will be the synth that offers me all its guarantees.

I suppose that for analog monophonic synths at a reasonable price, there must not be much choice left?

Two very nice machines, the price too

Really for collectors, a professional studio or being immensely rich

CoolColJ · Post by **CoolColJ** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:08 am

I would probably get the Pro 3 if your worried about future servicing, plus it seems more punchy than the Matrixbrute

There is almost nothing inside these Sequential synths - all you need is a screwdriver and wrench, open it and post the board to Sequential and they will fix anything and post it back.
It does look like Sequential design them for easy servicing
Especially with everything being small SMT parts these days. Not easy for local tech to fix.

Can't say the same for Arturia... and it's jam packed inside their synths

CoolColJ · Post by **CoolColJ** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:37 am

Also this clip from a Pro 3 - I don't think a Matrixbrute can do it as punchy as that.
Although it does sound colder than a Matrixbrute

https://forum.sequential.com/index.php? ... ttach=4753

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 8:06 am

Many thanks for your responses.

Thanks for the audio link.

Really surprising, a huge difference.

Compared to the inside of the machine, the Matrixbrute is in some ways worth the price.

Uncle E had already talked about the ease of changing a card in a Sequential, very simple.

On the other hand, I didn't know that in a Sequential there was really nothing in it compared to a Matrixbrute.

Risk of having more breakdowns in a Matrixbrute given the number of components.

In relation to the proof of the price, this really raises the question, a simple question on my part.

Buying Sequential is really buying an empty box and paying only for the name.

Really nothing justifies its price, the made it USA at 2000 euros a joke considering an empty case.

That's not why I won't just take a logical look at it considering the inside of the machines.

Now on the other hand, so few components so good quality, but is that really the case Sequential?

Just like with Arturia, what is their quality, reliability and durability really worth?

I will be really curious to know the real feedback regarding breakdowns, bugs, reliability and others of its two instruments.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Mon Oct 02, 2023 2:51 pm

The OB-6 (and most likely the Prophet-6 and Trigon-6) uses DIMM cards for its voices. If a voice goes bad, you pop it out of the socket the same way as a DIMM and pop in a new one. Not only does this make it easy to fix but it’s also easy to identify where a problem is occurring.

Studio Electronics probably has the worst component count to price correlation. Super sparse!

CoolColJ · Post by **CoolColJ** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 11:46 am

Haven't had any issues with either of my Arturia synths so far, apart from the sticky knob material.... You only hear about issues on the net, not the problem free synths, which usually outnumber the bad ones by a large amount.

Although the Polybrute Connect librarian VST software is a major pain when used with Reaper, just hangs and lags all round, I no longer bother using it inside Reaper, just stand alone .
Funny as Arturia were mainly a software VST producer.....so software should be their thing

Example of Matrixbrute growl

All 3 oscillators used, with sub-oscillators on first two. All set 60% mixer levels
Starting with the 24db ladder filter with some drive, then Brute factor (filter feedback) increased, then resonance.
Switching to 12db Ladder filter for the same.
Then to 24db Steiner Parker filter, the same, and 12db variant.
Then both 12db filters mixed together!

https://soundcloud.com/coolcolj/arturia ... rute-growl

CoolColJ · Post by **CoolColJ** » Tue Oct 03, 2023 1:26 pm

And the Pro 3 using the ladder filter, making some nice bass

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZfmxHlqSa2

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYShXchKVva/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUDFWfHJkMW/

CoolColJ · Post by **CoolColJ** » Wed Oct 04, 2023 9:44 pm

One thing I like about the Matrixbrute, which the Polybrute lacks is the user custom LFO shape, which the Matrix buttons allows for.
Maybe the Waldorf Iridium/Quantum can do the same with the touch screen?
It's like a looping envelope, but allows for steep aburpt shapes

Mechanical sounding drone I made using this feature

I created a custom shape on the user LFO, that modulates its own rate, and then this modulates the triangle wavefolder, the 12db Steiner Parker filter and the delay time and feedback of the BBD analog delay.

https://soundcloud.com/coolcolj/matrixb ... ting-drone

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Fri Oct 06, 2023 9:23 pm

Many thanks for your invaluable advice and for helping me make my choice.

I took the Sequential Pro 3.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Fri Oct 06, 2023 11:14 pm

Nice choice!

CoolColJ · Post by **CoolColJ** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 11:09 am

I'm still thinking about the Pro 3 as well.

I missed out on a Pro 3 SE, locally, a few weeks back, and it's been eating away my mind... same price as my second hand Matrixbrute. Would have been nice to try it out in my own setup, and if I don't like it, move it on with minimal cash loss.

Keep the oscillator levels low on the Pro 3, and even the levels post filter.
Unless you want a gritty edgey sound, as it overdrives in many places.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:02 pm

CoolColJ wrote: Sat Oct 07, 2023 11:09 am Keep the oscillator levels low on the Pro 3, and even the levels post filter.
Unless you want a gritty edgey sound, as it overdrives in many places.

Oooooh, but it saturates so nicely!

I have the standard Pro 3 and love it. Never owned a MatrixBrute, but I do have a PolyBrute and would love to park a MatrixBrute next to it, but it’s way too huge, I’m completely out of space, and there’s no way I’d replace my Pro 3 with it. I have considered replacing my Subsequent 37 with a Matrixbrute, though.

egbert101 · Post by **egbert101** » Sun Oct 08, 2023 10:41 am

Sensible choice I guess considering the price and features. Not sure it will work for the genres he's interested in though.

I'm still waiting on the possibility of a Behringer Polysource.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:33 pm

Why not? He wants Moog sounds, which Pro-3 seems to excel at?

Missing a synth to complete my set.