KVR Audio

MartinezNL · Post by **MartinezNL** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:51 pm

New here on the forum. This year I moved to using more hardware so got a Moog subsequent 37, prophet 6 module and a elektron analog Rytm MK2. Love the workflow with hardware

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:47 pm

The last thing I need is another synth, but Michigan Synth Works just released a remake of the Mutable Instruments Ambika called the Xena (6-voice digital/analog hybrid) for $400. I sold my Shruthi XT a while ago and have sorta contemplated buying another one several times, but this looks far better IMO. Xena with the SVF could be an awesome little pad machine.

https://michigansynthworks.com/products/xena

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:58 pm

I built my Ambika with 6 SVFs and I still use it all the time. It's got a ton of character and a really deep modulation system. I'm surprised that no one has revisited the non-modular Mutable synths, the way some have expanded the functionality of some of the euro modules. I know there are a few variations on the Ambika firmware but the differences are mostly pretty minor as far as I remember.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:24 pm

justin3am wrote: Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:58 pm I built my Ambika with 6 SVFs and I still use it all the time. It's got a ton of character and a really deep modulation system.

How do you find the navigation, particularly in relation to the number of knobs? My old Shruthi XT had a nice balance of additional knobs and a menu system that wasn't too deep, so it was pretty easy to navigate (especially compared to a standard Shruthi). Looks like the Ambika/Zena have about the same number of knobs as the XT, but I'm guessing the menu system is quite a bit deeper?

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Fri Dec 01, 2023 12:53 am

Yes, there is some menu diving, particularly when you get into the sequencer and modulation matrix. It's not too bad, usually not much deeper than two levels. The LEDs for the buttons make it easy to see where you are.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Fri Dec 01, 2023 1:25 am

Awesome, good to know!

Shabdahbriah · Post by **Shabdahbriah** » Fri Dec 01, 2023 1:57 am

cryophonik wrote: Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:47 pm The last thing I need is another synth, but Michigan Synth Works just released a remake of the Mutable Instruments Ambika called the Xena (6-voice digital/analog hybrid) for $400. I sold my Shruthi XT a while ago and have sorta contemplated buying another one several times, but this looks far better IMO. Xena with the SVF could be an awesome little pad machine.

There are still quite a few filter (board) types available for the Shruthi XT:

https://www.tubeohm.com/phoenix-shruthi.html

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:20 am

Shabdahbriah wrote: Fri Dec 01, 2023 1:57 am
cryophonik wrote: Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:47 pm The last thing I need is another synth, but Michigan Synth Works just released a remake of the Mutable Instruments Ambika called the Xena (6-voice digital/analog hybrid) for $400. I sold my Shruthi XT a while ago and have sorta contemplated buying another one several times, but this looks far better IMO. Xena with the SVF could be an awesome little pad machine.
There are still quite a few filter (board) types available for the Shruthi XT:

https://www.tubeohm.com/phoenix-shruthi.html

Oooh, Polivoks!

Shabdahbriah · Post by **Shabdahbriah** » Fri Dec 01, 2023 6:10 am

^^^ Indeed.

666pastel · Post by **666pastel** » Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:04 am

New to the forum, I have recently been diving into production via hardware!

I've had such a deep dive into hardware, and its been so much fun. I ended up buying a midi fighter twister to use in traktor dj as a sequencer, and it had me hooked on groove boxes! from there bought an Korg electribe 2, Volca bass, and an NTS-1. Sold my electribe, and bought a elektron syntakt. After a EHX platform pedal. Really made the sound so much better. Got a bastl bestie, and a walrus slotva around my birthday from my partner and family, to make my sound even more defined. After a while, found a deal on an SP404Mk2 that I couldn't pass up. I tend to shop around, and almost all of my gear has been from the used market at excellent deals!

I managed to be very fortunate and stumbled into some funds, and to close off my year I bought some nice studio odds and ends, (deck savers and whatnot, cables) and A Torso T-1 which comes in this week. I also decided on a daw to use to wrangle everything in (Bitwig, and reaper on the side) I think I can safely say I CANNOT spend more next year until I've made at least a full project, or really explored each piece fully.

For the record, I certainly dont have GAS. Not one bit.

the only other thing I've really used a bunch has been my psp. the emulation of homebrew apps for gameboy has made it quite the capable little music toy.

stoopicus · Post by **stoopicus** » Mon Dec 04, 2023 12:28 pm

2023 was good for me and bad for my wallet. Hardware scores:

Synths

Behringer Pro-1
Behringer Kobol Expander

These are both amazing, and I now own excellent clones of the early instruments of a few of my synth heroes

Basses

Yamaha BB734A (my second, should never have sold the first)
Yamaha SBV-800MF (I sold my SBV-550 and bought a Miki Furukawa signature model)

I now own the instruments of choice for two of my bass heroes

Furniture

Finally bought a decent studio desk with rack space (now half full of synths)

Computer stuff (used at least in part for music)

M2 Pro Mac Mini
Dell 27" 1440P 144Hz monitor

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:34 pm

Hmm, I guess it's probably safe to assume I'm not buying any more hardware this year.

Hardware stuff I bought in 2023 that didn't work out like I hoped:
- West Pest: it's got some nice tones in it but it was pretty redundant with my other stuff, and I didn't love the interface.
- jroo loop: I guess I just don't need the whole looper concept. I found myself using it as a delay occasionally but I really didn't need another delay. Nothing wrong with the module itself, the problem is me

- Alan/Morcom/Enigma: I don't think it's the best implementation of Turing Machine, but more importantly, I don't think TM is something I would use on a regular basis even though it can be a cool alternative to Marbles etc. I'll use it once in a while in VCV Rack.

Favorite hardware stuff I bought in 2023, arranged from most useful to most fun:

- Loci stand (XL & expander): easy to assemble, versatile, stable, not too expensive. I would be likely to recommend this product to a friend.

- Univer Inter: it's been good to have seamless MIDI-CV conversion again, it was the missing piece in my modular/DAW integration. I appreciate how easy it is to configure.
- Roli Seaboard Block: an absurdly great controller for what I paid (used).
- Hypnosis: it's like MSG for synths.

- Harmonic Shift Oscillator: this is now my favorite analog oscillator ever. Its "not really FM" thing and stereo image are just super nice.
- Spectraphon: Even though I'm not really vibing with the array creation stuff, the live processing mode is extremely cool. Really looking forward to the new features in the upcoming firmware too.
- Zorlon Cannon mkII: it cost me more than I like but less than the going rate on Reverb. I should never have sold the first one I had, and I was instantly happy when I patched this one up.
- EP-133 K.O. II: if I just want to bash out some beats to entertain myself, this is perfect for that. If I want to do quick and easy sampling, again, it's perfect. If I want to do weird glitchy loops and ambient drones... it can do that too. I'm just getting started with it really.

(There's been a lot of negative talk about the K.O. II due to the sliders getting damaged in transit and TE's reputation for not having the best build quality in the first place. And some people hate that it doesn't resample or that you can't save patterns/projects to a computer or do x0x style sequencing. And some people think you should just use a phone app for sampling (bleh). But for me it really hit the mark -- I feel like it's in the right place between simplicity and capability.)

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:58 pm

foosnark wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2023 2:34 pm
- EP-133 K.O. II: if I just want to bash out some beats to entertain myself, this is perfect for that. If I want to do quick and easy sampling, again, it's perfect. If I want to do weird glitchy loops and ambient drones... it can do that too. I'm just getting started with it really.

(There's been a lot of negative talk about the K.O. II due to the sliders getting damaged in transit and TE's reputation for not having the best build quality in the first place. And some people hate that it doesn't resample or that you can't save patterns/projects to a computer or do x0x style sequencing. And some people think you should just use a phone app for sampling (bleh). But for me it really hit the mark -- I feel like it's in the right place between simplicity and capability.)

Ah, that might be a deal breaker for me then.

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Mon Dec 04, 2023 3:06 pm

Instead of picking a particular pad and then choosing which steps trigger it, it has you navigate to the step and then choose which pads are playing.

To me it makes sense. There are 12 pads rather than 16. You can change the time signature, record unquantized, punch in time correction and swing where you want it instead of applying them to the whole pattern, and freely nudge event times. All of that points toward not using an x0x style view. But yeah, I can see how some people would really prefer having it.

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:04 pm

Not much new stuff this year compared to years past. Still saving for our next home improvement projects.

I got a Plumbutter2 and a Peterlin from Ciat-Lonbarde, to go with my Cocoquantus2. They make great partners and have been my focus for the last few months. Pretty simple devices when you get down to the core functions but I find them to be very inspiring.

Completed my small SynthFox modular case (at least until she releases a new module

). I love these modules a lot. Simple building block circuits but with some interesting twists.

Five12 QVL - I hope to finish my demo for this one in the coming weeks. It's incredibly deep but thanks to it's macro controls, I find it very accessible. Pairs well with the Vector but there is a lot of untapped potential, which should be more apparent with forthcoming updates.

Eventide Omnipressor - still hasn't arrived. Anticipation grows.

Mac Studio - One of the least eventful studio computer upgrades I've ever undertaken. Nice to have a painless computer migration once in a while.

Most of the other things I bought this year were cases and things to help make performances easier.

2023: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2023)