The PRO 2 Paradox
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- It's been 8 years coming, but here finally are my thoughts on the Sequential Pro 2 hybrid mono synth from Dave Smith. I have not had the opportunity to try out the Pro 3 so there are no references to that synth in this video.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your comments and for sharing with me your favourite monos. It's a brilliant read, so many great choices, I just wish I had the time to reply individually. Seems the Grandmother is getting a lot of love, which I can totally understand, Moog really created a modern classic. For you fellow Pro 2 owners out there, I'm currently working on something which might possibly be of interest to you, I'll post a video in the next few days.
I've owned the Pro 2 for 5 years (I also own the Pro 3). The Pro 2 is unusual in that it's strength is not in having a preconceived idea for a sound in your head and creating it. It's strength is in experimenting and going down a rabbit hole for 20 minutes and finding a strange new sound. It is truly the most unique synthesizer I own, and my studio looks similar to yours.
This is exactly the reason I have just sold my Matrixbrute. I kept turning to it wanting to create a sound in my head to fit in the track I'm writing and it just destroyed my creative flow everytime as I would get consumed trying to build the sound. Would you say the Pro 2/3 would do the same for me? Theirs a couple for sale at the moment in my price range so just exploring them. Ideally would like a Rev 2 keyboard but theirs not a lot of options in the used market atm.
@@1samwhich The Pro 3 is the one that I can quickly get an "in my head" sound created quickly - the 2 is not.
@@phazerbrains Yeah cool. Thats the one i've been leaning towards. Thanks for getting back to me :)
I have a Pro2 and recently, a Moog Matriarch. Did you get one? I thinking to keep only those 2 in the mono/para category. Do you think they match well together being complementary?
You mentioned some pots being too fast for small parameter adjustments: As soon as you move a parameter it pops up on the display and can be fine tuned in increments/decrements of 1 using the encoder right above the display.
Also if you want no parameter jumps at all you can set them to catch-up mode or pass-through mode.
To understand how a preset is built the two buttons „show“ and „revert param“ on the left side of the display are helpful: Press „Show“ before movin a pot to display the value without changing it. Use „revert param“ to set a value back to the programmed value in the preset.
they are just jumpy, the modes are of course great, but this is an issue with this synth of his (and mine as well), not merely that he's in "jump" mode.
@@jonathanosborn4800 I found theinterruptor's post to be informative for the sake of helping. I didn't read it as a dismissal of the issue Tim Shoebridge described.
All info is welcome, esp. when I am a prospective owner of the Pro 2 (as opposed to the Pro 3, which is definitely more friendly, and the analog oscillator welcome, but which I find to be a tad more ordinary sounding).
FWIW, I own the Prophet VS rack mount and the first bits to need repair were the buttons and faders and their contacts. I suspect the same might become true of the knobs on my Prophet 10 rev 4.
Glad you made this video. The Evolver was my first Dave Smith synth and has place in my heart as it pushed the bounds on what a monosynth can do. 10 years later my second Dave Smith synth was the Pro 2. They really stretch the imagination
I have had my Pro2 for 5 years and Im just now cracking the surface of what it can actually do. It's such a classic.
I have had my pro 2 for about 6 years, love it to bits, i sold mine when i bought the pro 3 but...totally different synth so i bought a second brand new pro 2!!I have the pro 2 and pro 3 and both are superb!
Good lad!!
What is a good price for a used one?
@@novalogue not sure over there, but here in Australia can get for around 1700 which is about 1200 euro/pounds
Pro 2 is my fav mono synth. It is the deep sound design capabilities that attracted me. That said - I think your analysis is spot on.
I only have one, but i love my grandmother . The spring reverb gives it character and the semi modular architecture makes it very flexible .
It’s not the most feature packed . I’d love at least another envelope generator and some more mod sources .
Seconding the Grandmother as the true successor to the Minimoog. With Moog Modular components stealthily employed, the sound of this constantly blows me away. Most of the time I play using only one oscillator because it's so rich and compelling.
I love my MFB Dominion 1, because of it's modulation capabilities.
The Pro 2 is just out of this world.
Dude you seem like such a kind, genuine guy! I really appreciate some of your videos and look forward to seeing more synth content!
I am a disabled former bass player who has transitioned into more synth and drum machine inspired creation (I’ve developed severe arthritis so I just can’t play anymore) and because I live on barely enough money to cover my rent, videos like this go a VERY long way for helping me get an idea what I will and won’t like! In order to finance bigger musical investments I buy/repair/flip music gear, but it’s so hard for me to get enough money for new synths and sound modules. In-depth and unbiased videos like yours make a world of difference for me!
Feeling extremely fortunate and grateful to be living in a day and age where information and experience is so easily accessible, and synth snobbery has been democratized for the masses!
My favourite mono synth is probably the Arturia MicroFreak or the Behringer Neutron. Love love loooooove programming both of these.
Bucket list Poly synths would be the Prophet Rev2 or the Deepmind 12! (Obviously PolyBrute/Summit/Prophet stuff would be amazing but I try to keep my goals/wants in the realistic range.)
Again, thank you so much for your passion and your attention to detail!
I love my Bass Station II.
It's a very capable mono synth, and the user interface is simple and straightforward to understand. It couldn't be easier or more fun to use.
What I like most about its sound is the filter. It can be smooth or gnarly, and can take sound into acid-sounding territory very easily.
Combine that with the rare combination of light weight, yet sturdy build and for me it's a winner, especially at the price. Definitely a keeper.
I loved my bs2. The only reason I got rid of it, is because I got a novation summit, which can get a very similar character out of the filter, and has more options than the bs2. It just felt redundant to keep them both when I could split the summit into a mono and pads.
@@leftovernoise Agreed - if you've a Summit or a Peak, the BS2 isn't needed, unless you want it for the keyboard with the Peak. Love Novation's filters.
For me my favorite mono synth is the Sequential Pro 3. That was my first physical synth and I just absolutely love its sound and capability
My favourite mono is actually not a mono. It's the pro2. It's a stunning, highly inspirational synth that I tend to use mostly in paraphonic mode.
The input is great as well and very well thought out. The dedicated knob to merge with the oscs, the great filters to shape things. It's the best executed design dsi has done, imho.
5:20 my fave Mono Synths are: Moog Grandmother + (Korg) ARP Odyssey Desktop, together as one and covering the Analog Mono sounds I typically need.
1st Runner Up: my Nord Stage 88 synth section when set to Mono (at the twist of a dial). It's the 88 note playing range (in Mono) that lets me roam completely free and puts guitarists well in their place 🙂🎹 while getting into the Nord Lead sonic territory (minus a few LFO capabilities).
2nd Runner Up: Yamaha PLG-150VL+PLG-100SG plugin boards for Motif Rack, together as one voice. Providing a blend of Virtual and Formant sounds for a range of FS1r sounds in Mono. For creating unusual and exotic sounds that can inspire different kinds of moods and playing.
I love my PRO2. It's has been some time I accepted it as is, but now I really wouldn't let it go for anything. I appreciate it's unique character and wild nature. Something massively different to common monosynth, and many polysynths for that matter.
I agree, it’s been on my ‘maybe let it go pile’ and then I spend some time with it and realise how awesome it is. It’s all in the outboard for me to get it to sound amazing and in a stereo space.
I've owned the Pro 2 since 2016. I'm on the verge of selling it. I turned it on today for the first time in almost a year and i heard some really really great sounds that i almost forgot i made.
It's a weird synth. Very very capable of doing a lot of stuff BUT to me, it should have been polyphonic. It would have been a LOT better than the Prophet 12 with the 2 filters combination and that powerful sequencer.
Right now i have 3 mono synths: Moog Grandmother, Majella Implexus, Korg Arp2600M and they cover my needs for a proper mono (though i would love a Minimoog instead of the Grandmother).
The Pro 2 is in the middle ground between a Poly and a Mono. It's not one or the other and i think this is what hurt it the most and makes me love/hate the thing. Sometime i wish it was proper mono and, most of the time, i wish it was proper Poly.
I would love to see the Pro 2 done in a proper polyphonic way: 8-12 voices with all the features of the Pro 2 but the Filter of the current Prophet 5 (keeping the Oberheim filter), the new vintage knob and, like you said, some proper stereo capability.
I agree with what you said, sometimes the Pro 2 is a bit flat sounding and, in my case, i tried/try to work on it with the distortion, the feedback and the Character section and it works a bit but if you're not careful, it starts to sound mushy.
In the end, the synth in itself, it's very capable but there are a few things that could have been addressed: Potentiometers, proper stereo spread and something that makes the synth less flat sounding.
The Pro 2 is something and it isnt at the same time and this was the real problem. To me, it should have been a proper Poly synth.
Damn, I also have a Grandmother but I'd love an Implexus ! (Bit expensive for me though)
How do they play together ?
It’s certainly no ordinary mono synth!
Certainly a beautiful looking and sounding instrument. Outside of my modular I love my MS20 and the Neutron has to get an honourable mention purely for its capability for its price, but both very different to this. Great vid as always! Your production quality is top notch. Cheers Tim.
I completely agree, most great patches you hear are relatively simple in monos, it is all in the timbre and tone rather than lots of modulation - I spend more time with a Sirin/Elektron box and a nice delay or reverb than I do with complex modulator synths.
I own the Sirin and a RYTM II myself, and the computer interfaces for each are aces. But the RYTM itself can be complex, and I do love working out complexities on synths with learning curves.
I'm completely self-trained as a programmer, but my job for decades was programming and tracking synths that no one else understood. I've played on forty albums or so, but also on commercial recording projects, which often demanded that I recreate the sound of one synth on a completely different synth. I once had to create the sound of a flock of thrushes on a DX7 because that was all the artist had.
Now everyone understands synths, but my fascination and love for the instruments and their sound has never left me.I can only describe the pleasure of learning synths with complex modulation matrices as joyful, exploratory and frustrating all at the same time. Perhaps gamers feel the same way about difficult RPGs like the Soul series. I do myself about games like Demon's Souls.
Great video and sounds. I have four DSI / Sequential mono synths, with two of them being the Mono Evolver Keyboard and the Pro 2. Joanne from Sequential contacted me before they shipped me one of the last MEK's in their office to see if I might be interested in the Pro 2 instead, which was just a few weeks before it was released. Very delighted to have them both. For my music, neither one of them cancel each other out and I approach them both very differently. The only other synth that can match sounds on my Evolver is the Tempest. On the Pro 2, I spend more time going through the wavetables, shaping the oscillators, and mostly programming sequences, because that sequencer is one-of-a-kind and so amazing! It's really fun to use the play-list function when your keying along with another synth. And I find all kinds of interesting things and surprises happening with paraphonic patches, which I just can't emulate on my other polys. Anyhow, it's all about having different instruments in your arsenal and your approach to performing on the instruments and what they do for you, which in-turn lends to songwriting and also makes for having a lot of fun.
Allow me to mention the DSI Tetra. It is a very deep synth, sounds gorgeous, and it even has the stereo spread mentioned. 4 voices of two oscillators each, but all four voices can be stacked (and detuned) as an 8-oscillator monosynth or used as a true 4-note poly (not paraphonic). The small box and lack of controls puts people off, but for those of us who are happy to control it from an external source it represents a bargain in the DSI/Sequential lineage. I ignored it for a long time until someone forced me to take a proper look - once I did I was convinced. All it lacks are on-board effects, but that's easily remedied.
If you wanted to. You could buy a mopho monosynth keyboard version, and polychain the tetra in to the back, and control the tetra (lfo, sequencer etc) via the mopho pots. And you'd now have 5 voices. I am on the look out for a cheap tetra. As I have the mopho kb.
@@allgonewrongful I guess for the Price of both you could buy a take 5?
Hey Tim I've had mine for about 4 years, and I don't spend enough time with it, but when I do, there is gold in there. I have the Matrix brute , Berhinger 2600 and 2 TD-3's .. and they all have their own thing going on. I can't say which is better because they all have a different sound. I'm using the Pro 2 as a modular source as well to add LFO's to my Berhinger 2600 and/or Soma Pulsar 23. Using it just for that is insane. And FYI, the Soma Pulsar is/can be a mono synth , and it sounds insane when modulated .. But I do love the Pro2. When I got that one, I felt like I had achieved some kind of high level of equipment. I have had a ton of classic synths and it stands tall or taller than a lot of the classics. You can just do so much with it, it's infinite. One last thing, I have the software editor by Sound Tower, and that app REALLY opens it up, especially with the different flavors of randomizer. It will give you sounds you never thought possible . Thanks for making the vid, Ive always been a big supporter of Dave Smith and friends.
As a Pro2 owner of 7 years I can say it’s a great machine, like any Dave Smith Sequential synth, you need to spend time to learn it inside out and to find the sweet spots. It’s not an obvious synth but a very capable synth. The para mode is super interesting when having osc’s at different pitches, 3rds - 5ths etc and having odd number chords with all 4 osc’s playing. Loads of harmonic and musical fun. All you need is a decent stereo mod pedal and reverb and you’re happy for a lifetime.
Always loved the Pro 2. Ended up buying a Pro 3 last year. Perfect live and studio instrument. Major quasi modular modulation capabilities, awesome sequencer, very wide palette of sounds with 3 filters (Prophet, Moog, Oberheim).
★★★★★ to answer your question, my favourite mono synth is by far the Pro-2. In fact, I’ve just sold my Subsequent 37 as I can cover those bases with the Pro-2 for how I use it but the same is not true the other way around. The Matriarch stays - for now - but again, for my needs the Pro-2 can cover those bases too.
As far as the knob-jumpiness, that’s a common issue with all DSI synths, alas, but there’s also a value encoder. So, tweak your value with the pot and then fine-tune with the value encoder. Best of both worlds. Same issue with the Rev2.
Honestly, if I had to start again with buying synths, the Pro-2 would be the first I’d buy. It’s just so versatile.
What’s your favourite mono, Tim?
My favorite mono synth is my Moog Sub Phatty I know its not popular one but I like it.
I love my PRO 2, it's got the most surprising sound capabilities. Yeah, the pots are not really top notch in terms of usability but that is the only inconvenience I find in it and I don't do sound design that often so it's perfectly okay with me. I think this is going to be one of the much sought after synths of the future, even though there is the PRO 3 which is supposedly an evolution. And, if I have to he completely honest, the PRO 2 has that sexy design with the red stripes that I just love. If I play something that looks awesome, for some reason that generates some extra endorphins in my poor little consumer's brain.
The colors and overall aesthetic of the panel on a synth make a difference to me, as well. The Pro 2 has the look of a serious synthesizer. I've been wondering if those Sequential knobs would fit the rotary pots on my Jupiter-6. (I'd hang onto the originals, too, of course.)
I agree it definitely looks sexier than the pro 3!
The Subsequent37 was sold and since 4 days a Pro 2 is on the stand 😉 ... and I like it 👍
My favorite Mono-Synth is my MakeNoise O-Coast. It is just so unique. I added a Behringer Neutron to it, just to have more modulation options, but in itself it can do soooo much.
No I don't think that way at all. When I think of a monosynth I want the most complex madness possible.. because that is exactly what I'm sacrificing my polyphony for! The EMS Synthi immediately springs to mind
Awesome Video Tim. Loved the Dave Smith speech filtered out in ‘verb. Heavenly.
I was about to answer my favorite mono synth in the comments and then you named it... the MEK is one of the few intstruments I'll never live without.
Damn. You've amassed so much gear it looks like you're about to blast off into orbit!!
That's how it should be
MiniMoog! I briefly tried a Pro 2 when it was first out whilst visiting the Music Store in Köln. I didn’t really ‘get it’, although my cousin did and bought one. He also bought a Prophet 12, which he said there was a lot more to than ‘met the ears’ whilst going through the presets (which I found disappointing during the same Music Store visit) So your description & explanation fills a gap, for which I’m grateful. I am also the proud owner of a 1983 series 3 Prophet 5, a Sequential (ex DSi) Prophet 8, and a Rev 2, so I can relate to some of the unique attributes and issues with the synths from that venerable company.
Very nice sound design on this video, Tim
great video as always! i had aPEK evolver in the past, an really apreciate the all stereo path, now i have an ASM hydrasynth, and cant be more happier when i discovered i can pan the oscillators! even better than PEK that had this hardwired to channels, in ASM you can even modulate pan with macros!
I have two mono synths that I own and like. Moog Slim Phatty and DSI Mopho. Thanks for the great video!
Interesting review.
Favorite mono synth ? Hard to say, there are plenty of great mono around there, depends of the current mood.
One of my favorite remains the ARP 2600 : the raw sound is dry, but modulation is insane and takes another level a long with external fx. This is a beast for sound design and inspiration, while being a marvel of design in itself (original one). Special love for this one
Love this Keyboard, one of my Favourites. Real hands on.
My favourite mono synth is the Vermona Mono Lancet because everything in it works as it should. It stays in tune, the envelope responds correctly, the filter is suitable for all kind of uses, it's a very versatile synth that can sound however you want. The basic tone is clean, can sound almost like an acoustic instrument and has a recognizable character
Im considering it as a a possible input into the PRO2, but it still has some drawbacks. Vermona makes great eurorack gear though, if i really wanted to go with their character and construction.
@@jonathanosborn4800 Life has drawbacks
My favourite synth I owned was a toss up between an sh101 or sh 09 both simple beasts! I did wish I'd bought a MEK back in the day.
Tim i just wanted to say i really enjoy your videos and the way you put a lot of effort in the editing. It's a delight to watch them and your videos are really inspiring. Just wanted to say that, i know you put a lot of time in these videos and it shows. And i like video's like this that are not about the latest synthesizer send by a manufacturer for review. In real life we don't only buy new synths, actually (in my case) it's much more likely to buy something second hand. In that case i would have to back to very old videos on YT. So new videos about older synths are great.
Amazing programming! Your patches is always great!
I absolutely love my Moog Grandmother. I completely agree with you, although it will do some fun patching stuff, I basically use it for the sweetest sub bass I've ever heard. All the time. And I rarely even bring in the 2nd oscillator.
I use my ancient Micromoog the same way, after it stabilizes.
@@moosemuseum1853 There's something about the components of the Grandmother that sound so sweet. I had a sub37 for a while and it just didn't sound the same. Plus you can bang on it and get that spring reverb pinging.
I think that in terms of "limitations" by mono synth, the Arturia Matrixbrute is the most powerfull mono synth on todays market, the modulations matrix is absolutely crazy, dont know any other mono synth wich can do the same on that simple way, btw, awesome channel, my like and sub!!!
Fully agree on the points made. Last year I was buying a Prophet 12 and the seller mentioned he also had a Pro 2 to sell. He offered me a price I couldn't refuse on both together so I couldn't pass that up. In all honesty I expect the Pro 2 to be too similar to the Prophet 12 so fully expected to sell it on. Well here I am a year later and still have both. Even just for the filter alone the Pro 2 has a completely different tone, along with the sequencer, additional osc options and the bucket brigade delay. Theres enough difference between them for me to justify holding onto both.
Very interesting and well done review as always:)! I'm a proud owner of the PRO 2 since 2014 and I love this keyboard! Can't come up with musical ideas, need inspiration for sound design or create phrases with the PRO 2. It delivers always! Under rated outside of the initial hype on product release.
You're absolutely right - my favourite mono synth is the Moog Sub25 and before that the Source. The only difference is they stuck a system 55 mixer and an overdrive circuit in the Sub25. If you like Evolvers you'll love the 'M' - The blue colour hints at what Dave was trying to 'evolve' but Vladimir nailed it :)
My favorite Mono is my Pro 2. It's so much more than that. The sequencer features alone make it a classic.
My favorite mono synth is my Behringer Crave. The 4-pole filter has a smooth quality I enjoy. The oscillator cuts through mixes in the ways I like. The layout of the interface is spacious and intuitive. The arpeggiator and sequencer keep me engaged with the device, rather than shifting over to software too early in the creative flow. And finally, its patchable nature provides me with a wealth of complexity, should I so desire.
Honorable mentions go out to the Roland SH-101 and the ARP Odyssey. I adore the sound and design of those synths.
Pro 2 owner for about 5 years. I agree with everything you are saying about it. I use it in mono running through a b12amk2 preamp. I have yet to be really sold on its stereo function. I also really wish that the sequencer could send midi out. you would think that it would be a no brainer of course it can but there is a hacky work around you have to do. In my case I'm not even a keys player so I removed the keyboard and replaced it with eurorack rails and play it via my albleton push. that all being said... I will die with this synth. there is something about it and it is so much more than just a mono synth. after 5 years I still feel that there is so much more to this thing that I dont understand. it's deep. deepest synth that I am aware of.
Had both a yamaha cs15 and roland sh101 for a good few years, the sh101 was simple to set up and had a great sequencer but the cs15 was really good for sculpting sounds - Never had a pro 2 or evolver but would love to try - thanks for your info into both and your channel in general, informative and fun to watch.
Had one for about 3 years and it's amazing the Oscillators are great and so are the filters. Unfortunately since I got a Voyager I realized I rarely touched it. Hence, I sold it as I was way too short on space.
My fav mono synth is the Moog Voyager
Hi Tim, really cool video as usual, it's a real pleasure to watch and see that you take a different approach than other youtubers. Good questioning about mono synths. We mostly see the "popular brands" mono synths in your channel (except maybe the might A4 that you covered in another video, from GRP that is rather under the radar in the market unfortunately) and as you raise the question about simple mono expectations : yes I suppose the core is about sound, not really about specs... In this light I would suggest to look toward more "exotic" brands like the russian synths that are pretty stunning in terms of sound most of the time. One of my most beloved "simple mono" is the VG Line RITM-2 re-issue, using same components as the orginal with minor improvements. Very limited synth but gosh, what a massive and beautiful sound.... I also lurk on the SER-2020 from AnalogFX, re-issue of the mythical Synton Syrinx... beautiful beast as well. Just my 2 cents :)
Moog Sub 37 rules them all!
I own PRO2, Korg ms20, Moog Matriarch and Grandmother, of all of them the only one I never thought of selling is the PRO2 for the reasons you have given, the sound design there opens up a world too wide to discover and I like that. PRO2 my favorite.
I'll say, the PRO3 is probably the best stand-alone mono synth there is. The PRO2, which I have, and absolutely adore, is an AMAZING machine. But it is SORT OF a synth between niches. The 4 digital oscillators arent ideal for most mono duties, two and two would be better. And as a paraphonic synth, it would really benefit from more modes (like a true duo-mode, for example). But the PRO2 has much more potential then any other non-poly synth. It has two pressure and position sensitive touch strips, which is just very rare! Plus the regular pitch and mod wheels, so thats 6 parameters and your command with your left hand right there. The strip on the 3, for example, is only the one, and only position, not pressure. And while the 3 has 3 great filters, they dont compare to the filter section of the PRO2, which allows for sweeping anywhere between serial and parallel of the two filters (one of which is state variable sweepable between low and high pass filter, not merely a selection between). Mind you, these are truly lush filters, not the curtis filters. So using the external audio in, one can take whatever, a guitar, bass, clavinet, polysynth, eurorack VCOs, Dreadbox ERebus....run it THROUGH the PRO 2, and make great use of that flexible filter section (along with lots of gain staging, tuned feedback, all controlled by those great touch strips). LOADS of modulation, 4 LFOs, 5 envelopes, 130 destinations. 4 delays! An incredible sequencer. The pro2 is a great synthesizer in its own right, and doubles as a truly amazing processor.
Unfortunately the PRO2 didnt sell as well as the PRO3 is. So i don't know if we will ever see a delux version, with more stereo, one of the LFOs be analog and audio rate, and having two VCOs with two of the digital (or the PRO3's digital oscillator). Add a reverb or three, charge $2500 and you have a true perfect synth.
Yes, my potentiometers do that too.
Mopho is still my favourite analog monosynth. Huge capabilities, modern sound. I miss it.
I agree ... i love mine it will never leave my studio.
Great vid, I picked up a PRO2 right after they came out. Was really excited about it and used it extensively for about a year but after some time I stopped using it as much for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. I will say that the filters and the modulation capabilities are great, very good for sound design so its still a keeper for me. I just have other synths that are always my “go to’s” (Waldorf Pulse2 for example).
Korg MS-20 for me.
I actually agree with most of what you said about the Pro 2, and it’s exactly why I like it. I have an Evolver and I got it because it was so weird. The first time I heard it I was blown away by its oddness. I kinda feel the same way about the Pro 2, it’s not a “typical mono synth” it’s something else. And yes, sound design is certainly what the Pro 2 is best for.
Agree , useful sounds tend to not have too much going on, but for atmospheric stuff the sequential pros are amazing. I think the parameter recording is excellent in the pro 3 with its 64 step sequencer , and I really appreciate the facility of it with my eurorack.
My favorite mono synth is still my trusty Yamaha CS 15. It does the 99% thing very well and it still has the nicest pitch bend lever ever made.
I love the Pro 2, I also own the Pro 3 and both are my number one mono synths, but I'm a sequential fanboy and am biased. My favourite poly synth is the Prophet 08 and REV2 with their Curtis filters, simply lovely. Sold all my Moog's to replace them with as many DSI Sequential synths as I could, still hunting for some more. What I love about the Pro 2 is the filter routing, parallel with two oscillators each or chained and It's "special" waveforms. It's just an awesome synth.
Favorite mono synths : Moog Sirin, Vermona PERfourMER and miniKORG 700 FS.
I've been dreaming for ages for the BS2, I've bought it last November and....I love it !!!
It's so powerful and versatile 😍
(I'm more of a "poly" guy but that lil beast is epic)
Of the one's I have, the grandmother is my favorite. I love it's sound.
Your right,I loved my Korg ms10 back in the day. Paid it up at the music shop with my pocket money and my school dinner money (only ate custard for lunch) and eventually the big day came. Loved it. Oh yeah it was £99.
You can't ever have too many monosynths. But my favorite is my Pro 3.
my favorite monosynth is my moog grandmother. the sound of the oscillators and the filters are inherently beautiful while the semi-modular architecture allows one to overcome some of the limitations of the machine. in many ways i find that it is in striving to work beyond limitations that one can be inspired to the maximum of creativity.
for paraphonic sound design i absolutely love my little arturia microfreak. i'll still be exploring the depths of its capabilities to the end of my life and will likely never find the ends of them. and don't get me wrong, i love the sound of my moog matriarch especially the way i can almost fold time and space with the stereo delay but for the best of the monosynth experience there's nothing i've experienced quite like the grandmother.
Well shared Tim. Bravo. I enjoy my Moog Little Phatty... but look forward to the Future Retro Vectra when shipped. Its a monster.
Many tx Tim! I like features and connectivity, such as eurorack connections and instrument in. Pro2, maybe Pro3 after I get to grips with it, is my favorite mono synth! and P12 so underrated indeed!
Paradoxically, I use monosynths for their paraphony. I like to bring out the oscillators into melodic duets. I like the different ways which paraphony is implemented. For example, comparing the Sub37 with the matriarch, the Sub37 always allocates the lower note to OSC1 and the upper to OSC2, the matriarch allocates oscillators in a more, but not totally, round-robin 4-oscillator way, and it has “gating” on each oscillator which is great for keeping your harmonies tidy . All this gives rise to different ways of playing, and thinking about how your notes are going to appear in your duets as you play - so it’s inspiring and sometimes challenging. My favourite monosynths are these two Moogs, but having got rid of a KArp Oddessy, because I couldn’t bear the way the LFO reset itself on each key-press, I now have a BArp2600, which provides lots of cross integration in CV with the Moogs and vice versa. It’s a lot of fun designing sound and playing music, with them all co-operating. I have a prophet12 too for polyphony, but am just a bit disappointed that I can’t easily route external sounds into it.
This is a synthesizer that I fell in love with at first sight. It's very hard to find where to find it🙂🙏
So to answer your question first, the best mono synth that I had in these 25-ish years I am into music and synthesizers, is probably Pro 3. I can go back into nostalgia, and claim I loved Mopho, entire Phatty line, Sirin... but Pro 3 is my go to mono synth. I have 4 main monos - Pro 3, Pro 2, Matrixbrute and Subsequent 37. I was reluctant to pull the trigger on Pro 2 as I had vintage Pro 1, Sirin, Phatty and some other stuff all doing mono chores. I also had both mono and poly Evolver, and for me that architecture is something where I feel right at home when it comes to sound design. My choice of poly synths is also based on appreciation of the similar architecture with poly features on top. Now, while all 4 my main mono synths can do basic stuff - bass, lead, arp, in a similar fashion, it is this feature rich palette that allows me to approach each one unconventionally, and create really unique stuff out of each one. Yeah, you don't need Pro 2 and Pro 3 for a classic saw - based house plunky bass, but there are so many things i can do on 3 that are not possible on 2, and vice versa. 2, while digital, is somewhat more mellow, but easy to transfer into harsh territories via fm and feedback. I also owned Prophet 12 and 8 for a long time (now its P10, REV2, OB6, UDO 6, Jupiter 6, Juno 106, Juno Alpha, Peak, DX7 and Korg Polysix - that is my main poly rack) and ofc, appreciate this architecture. Yes, you are right, it is a bit less stereo - Pro 2 I mean - simply because it wasn't designed with too much bouncing left and right in mind. but nevertheless, I wouldn't give it away. It is interesting though - DSI/Sequential was always capable to turn their mono synths architectures into great polys - Mopho to Tetra and Mopho 4, Pro 2 - Pro 12, and we are still seeing legacy of the Evolver architecture in all Sequential synths. Obviously, Evolver mono> poly Evolver and Tempest were the closest, but we are seeing this familiar architecture even in Take 5 (I don't have it ,but checked the specs and tried it out - turns out I really don't need it). Now, i don't want to turn this into a Sequential vs Moog thread, but I wonder, how come Moog couldn't take say, Phatty line and create similar poly. Or something like Subsequent into poly. Moog One, while a monster of an instrument, never appealed to me as much as DSI/Sequential polis did in the past.
To conclude, what I always loved about architecture of 2 analogue and 2 digital oscillators, is this mental power you can get by combining VCO/DCO/ NCO with digital source, wavetables etc. Also, your preference of Subsequent 37 immediacy vs Pro 2 is justified, but it does take some time to get used to different pots and response of envelopes compared to Moog, in general.
Thanks for another great video, Tim. I'm sure you're right, there's "a lifetime" of sound design possibilities in the Pro 2, but that could be said of many other monosynths. I will stick with my trusty Subsequent 37 which has been my favorite monosynth for the past four years.
I had a Pro 2 and absolutely loved it! Wish I still had it but I've relegated myself to one flagship keyboard. It's great to use live and I really like the DSI workflow.
Like many here I used it a lot as a 4 voice as well. Anytime I listen to a track I recorded with it, I think the sound is unique and well engineered.
Agreed regarding the jumpy pots! Don't forget you can use the rotary encoders above the screen to fine tune your parameters.
Whenever a fixed-architecture synth becomes complex, I invariably have complaints. So, for my favorite mono synth, I have to choose the Grandmother. Simple and nearly perfect.
Just sold my PRO2 , owned it for 4 years, it was a mono sound designers dream. But in my opinion it lacked warm sound, a bit like the older DS’es , slightly too clinical. But capable of immense sound palettes. Never integrated it with eurorack and I dont own any modular. I did love the 2 touch sliders on the left to create wacko fx. Bucket brigade delay was pretty cool too
In the end my trusted John Bowen Solaris took over most the pro2 function while at the same time being a poly synth. Would love you to do a video on the solaris !
should have gotten the eruorack to go with the pro2!
The Pro 2! It’s the only mono that I have now. Pairs perfectly with my small modular setup. Linear FM bass patch on the Pro 2 with a single VCO coming in from the rack is just wonderful. Thunderous. But yeah, you gotta use the delays for stereo. I like using the first 2 to make a stereo chorus and then the others for more typical delays.
Moog Subsequent 37. Or Little Phatty...
Very nice video Tim! As always!
This channel is a great TN panel screen simulator.
I now own a Pro 2 and love it and especially its amazing step sequencer. As for favourite monosynth is a toss up between the OG Sequential Circuits Pro 1 or the Moog Prodigy which I like for its fat minimoogish filter.
Bought my Pro 2 for £1000 which I thought was pretty good value for an American made, 3.5 octave digital/analog synth & sequencer with multi delays.
Yes there are quicker synths to patch and there are better bass synths (probably vintage though) but I find a pretty straight forward. Not perfect but then there’s always the Pro 3.
Back to the Pro 2 I do love playing around with sync on the 4 oscillators when the sequencer is running giving metallic sounding notes in many different combinations.
I see it more as a very advanced 32,step TB-303, but motion recording cutoff, velocity, decay and release times it can really bang and that sequencer transposes really easily on the fly.
It’s also DAW easy to save the patches with all the sequencer data saved within the patch.
MS-20
my first analogue synth was a alpha juno. i bought it for 250 Deutsche Mark, which is about 130 eur nowadays. that was 20 years ago. each time i thought about selling it, i sit down, dial in a saw, press a chord and open up the filter as slow as possible. soon i will have it serviced. needs a new battery and the modulation / pitch wheel seems a bit loose 🙂
Roland SE-02 has been my go to mono. It has in my opinion a lot of modulation options that I go to for sound design. Plus 3 oscillators is a key for me.
To me, it is hard to pick my favorite mono-synth.
Each has its charm, has its own "voice". And each has its quirks too.
Though, the Pro 3 is really interesting for being really fully featured instrument. It is so much fun to play around with.
And because of this, you really can get lost in time playing with the Pro 3.
I took the leap for the SE version, and I'm happy I did, as I can adjust the panel to how I sit / stand.
And of course, plastic casing is not really attractive for a musical instrument. (to me)
I have not had the opportunity to own any high-end monosynths (yet), but I'm always having so much fun with my Behringer Pro-1. Great utilization of the CEM3340 to an affordable price.
Am I correct that behringer cloned these CEM chips? I used to have a pro-1 back in the day and I loved it
Nothing wrong with the Behringer mono's they all sound fantastic and are the same as
the real synths they're cloned off. what mono's are out there that sound better than
a mini Moog for example not many if none in my opinion.
@@Computerrorist oh you might be right, not sure when I think about it! I know however some manufacturers got the rights to produce new cem3340s by the late Curtis' family if I'm not mistaken.
@@MisterMajister Behringer did clone them but without Curtis family blessing. Some folks got upset about that but patents expire for a reason so although I sympathize, it is the way things are supposed to be.
Thanks Tim - you're looking and sounding good in this. Useful review - esp regarding lack of stereo signal path. The blue MS20 (?) is eye-catching in the background but i can't be sure that's what it is due to the bokeh... Jam on!
I love my Pro 2 and here is the paradox, i know is a synth that will take me a lot of time to discover his full potential.
i honestly do not consider it a monophonic synth, the way the digital oscillators work in paraphonics and the multiple superwaves make the pro 2 something that ,imo, is used for his 4 "voices" more than a pure monosynths. Generally speaking you would expect great leads and basses from a mono synth, and don't get me wrong , is really good at that , but when it comes to really ethereal gentle sound is excellent. The use of state variable filter and 4 delays makes this synth really "dreamy" , as i said at the beginning i love it but i know that , even if i have since 5 years, i barely scratched the surface .
That said has really zero, nada , nothing to do with the Pro 3 , i have both and they are completely different machines.
Is a bit shameful that dsi/sequential stopped developing os for the pro 2, as an implementation to the sequencer and few fx prophet series would have been awesome, especially with that endless modulation matrix
I've wondered about the Pro 3 and if it is vastly different. maybe you can make a vid on the differences..
@@InFamousProductions tbh i do not have the right equipment to do this, hopefully soon. In the meantime, i'd say the pro 2 is called to be used more in paraphonic mode, that's beacuse the pro 2 has quite few wavetables that can go in "super" mode (like supersaw) effectively making the sound wide as a poly synth, also , due to these type oscillators, it can really go into roland jp8080 territory.
The tone of oscillators of course is different pro3 is vco pro2 digital, and i tend to agree with Tim, the pro 2 is universal in a sense that does lil bit of everything well.
Another interesting thing is the audio feedback, idon't know if is due to the more analog architecture of the pro 3, but it sounds much much better on the pro 3, more useful .
I'd say more than the differences in sound ,which are important of course ,is better to pay focus on what would suite better for your workflow. The pro2 is a fantastic ambient machine that can still excel for more traditional sounds, the pro 3 in his nature is more mono and the sequencer (imo) is much much better compared to the pro 2. On thing about both, an old trick, but if more density is needed , both , having cv out, can convert lfos in oscillators going through the audio input. Luckily the lfo are fast enough to do that but more like sub oscillators, still a welcomed trick to have more bass on both synths
@@emiliodimitri419: From what I've read, everyone agrees that the Pro 3 sequencer is better. Some people complain that the Pro 3 has a more limited range sonically and that the knobs and hardware feel more plastic. Would you that's true or do you disagree?
I own a lot of synths, so I'm always looking for ones that complement the palette with something new. The Pro 2 seems to do that. I've also considered the Hydrasynth for other reasons (poly AT) and might purchase both. I do love what I've heard from the Pro 3, though.
My favorite synth? From the ones currently in my music space, I'd say the Yamaha Reface CS. It's simply a sweet spot machine. And after almost two years of owning it, whipping up a sound from scratch takes less time than sifting through the patch banks on my Deepmind or Minilogue XD.
As for synths I don't own: Minimoog. That wonderfully creamy 3-oscillator goodness is something none of my other synths even comes close to. That's why I'm saving towards a Behringer Poly-D and a new desk. :)
I've been eyeing a Reface CS for years but haven't been able to justify getting it since I got the CP plus several polysynths
@@gautrstafr Depending on which polys you have, you'll probably won't need a CS. It doesn't have preset memory and very limited mod capabilities, but it makes up for these shortcomings by being very immediate and it simply sounds good. But I'm fully aware that even a Minilogue XD outperforms it. And the moment you bring in a Prophet or Hydrasynth, the CS looks kinda dinky. Still, it's one of the first synths I've bought and I keep coming back to it for its ease of use.
@@BFBeast666 Yeah got a Prophet 6, a Blofeld plus a MODX so I know the CS would only be great as a portable synth
@@gautrstafr Oh, that's some nice kit. I'm tempted to pull the trigger on a used Blofeld. Multi-timbral synths are cool and kinda hard to come by, but I've heard horror stories about the Blofeld's knobs deteriorating quickly.
@@BFBeast666 Yes and no, the issue with a lot of Waldorf hardware is that they use a certain type of encoder. That type of encoder tends to "stick" if you don't use it regularly, so you'll get "bad" encoders most of the time when buying used, the only thing you need to do is turn the 360° both ways several times and now it's fixed. I also have a Micro Q and the encoders are even more fiddly due to age, but a quick knob twisting for a couple of minutes fixes it.
I'm not really a mono synth guy, but I love your video's and enjoy your musical interludes.
I only own one mono synth, being the Novation Circuit Mono Station, so I guess that's my favorite. 😉
I have the Mono Station too. I should use it more.
My "mono" favourites are the wonderful Moog Grandmother and the Subsequent 37 which has not only a fantastic sound but also a clear and intuitive user interface.
Hey Tim - No interest in the Pro 2 but I still love watching your videos 😁 Very interesting discussion. I only have two monos - B's 2600 and M's Grandmother. Touggh choice but I use the Grandmother more.
Was able to buy a Pro 2 in mint condition just a few weeks ago - not so sure if I really like the sound of it. Have a MatrixBrute and a Matriarch as well, for me personally it is much easier to find the sweet spots on these ones - at least for what I like to achieve. Still a very feature rich synth that I will continue exploring.
I remember when the polly evolver and mono evolver were in the turnkey mag and the evolver was 1799! I was waiting so desperately for my first ever synth the access virus TI I was waiting over a year to get it. I was blown away. Then I started collecting other synths. I have the pro 2 it’s amazing. And prophet 12
I think the pro 2 is my fav mono synth. I have the sub 37 and the pro 3. I have a room full and the pro 2 is very very nice I love that raw industrial sound you get
Never owned the totemic Model D,
but as far as sound and quality of craftsmanship goes
my Vermona’14 is in a league of its own.
Pure Analog mono (no paraphony), on a simple architecture
of 2 Osc + 2 Sub, with interesting modulations but no effects or fancy sequencer.
Yet, the sound can really give my Matriarch a run for its money
And its not just the bass but the leads [esp. on high octaves] can sound ethereal.
Only mono synth to invoke emotions while playing, composing, or patch-designing
[other being the P10 rev4 - for poly]
The team at Erlbach have truly created a Maybach of a synth.
That sound, man…
Nice - agreed on your view. I think my first love for a mono-Synth was for the EMS AKS, next the ARP 2600… but the only one I actually bought was the Pro-2… no regrets, I seem to be the type embracing its complexity (coming from modular). But I found it rather easily accessible and fun to explore. Still, creating extensive Krell-patches shows its limits. For the parameter-jumps, check the global settings; also, you can use the encoders around the display for exact values, easy way.