if you want an aggressive synthesizer THIS is it // PWM MALEVOLENT Semi-Modular Synthesizer
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
- PWM sent me their new synth Malevolent. Its a new semi-modular analog synthesizer but how good is it? Let's find out! Become a Patron and support Bobeats: / bobeats
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CONTENTS
00:00 Intro, Unboxing & Build Quality
02:33 Sound demos
06:17 Walkthrough & Making patches
11:49 a UNIQUE feature!
13:55 the FILTER (and other stuff)
15:51 the NEGATIVE
17:58 the POSITIVE
#synthesizer #analogsynthesizer #bobeats
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thumbs up if you also find malevolent difficult to pronounce
mall ef olent, or if you're cutedog, maleviolence.
Yes. I'm from "great" Britain and it's definitely not an easy word.
Synthesizer is more of a mouthful than Malevolent, I think.
@@mccorrisken Same here
synthrrrSizerrrrrrr
If I may respond a little to the negatives (15:53) -
• LFO - you are completely correct. This is a characteristic of the circuit we have used.
• FILTER CUT-OFF - actually on this you need the dead space for modulation. When you add Envelope or Velocity, for example, via the FM1 and FM2 inputs you need to be able to turn the cut-off further down to let these take effect
• VCA roll-off - you are completely correct about this. It is intended as part of the character of the circuit design however, on reflection, we think it is something that we might tweak up a little as we produce more units.
• Resonance tuning - I have to disagree with you on this one. For me I hear the timbre change rather than a pitch change but I guess it depends how you perceive it. This particular Sallen-Key filter design has this inherent change so it's not specific to Malevolent and the same kind of timbral/pitch change can be heard on other examples.
I do love the way you describe each of these things and fully respect your views. I know your viewers do too!
Best wishes and I look forward to you seeing PWM Synth no. 2!!!!!
Honestly I think you guys crushed it with this release. It has a full on NIN/power electronics/industrial sound that a lot of people (myself included) are looking for. As for the BS2 and MS20 comparisons, this synth solves the issue of the MS20 weird operating voltages and euro compatibility and it allows for patching and more modulation than the BS2. Not an easy feat to surpass two arguable all time classic analog synths. I’ll definitely be getting one as soon as I sell a couple of *cough*… inferior devices from my studio.
Fair dues
Power electronics Synth. Thank you for it. Buying definitely. I will combine this with Erica Fusion modules🔥🔥🔥
Great choice of company name, you're not even on Google's first page 😂
Was LFO already taken ?
You're the equivalent of a car company called "Engine" ! LoL
I can't believe the price given how nasty the case design is ... 😲
You make Behringer look like Bugatti ! 😂
@@edwardfletcher7790 You couldn't sound more puffed-up if you tried.
The keys seem to be the weakest link in an otherwise strong chain. Maybe a desktop or 19" rack version could be a good next step. Great to see new companies and a great 1st product in a very competitive market
I agree. The choice of mini-keys is unfortunate.
I'd rather a dfam like sequencer
Now that would have been cool!!
Use a larger keyboard to control it and treat it like a sound module that comes with no keys.
@@MathHammer Its a common thing these days and you can control it with a different keyboard through midi.
I've come to start feeling really bad about the fact that my first comment on this channel like a month ago was overly critical and nit picky. A great video!
Always welcome here!!
The layout seems really slick to me, I appreciate the clearly divided modules, and all the jacks above the knobs makes a lot of sense.
Seems to be a really well thought-out entry into the semi modular ring.
Thank you!
Wow, that sounds great! The layout seems nice and straightforward too. Great demo.
Great video Bo! Interesting synth and the sound demos sounded great
I love the sound of this little synth, loads of character, lot of sounds that aren't as easy to make on other synths as you think.
I agree. Theres a character and interesting sound here that is not readily available on every other mono
I haven’t seen your vids in a minute so I missed the new studio build… WOW, bud! It looks amazing!! Congratulations, that’s a sweet studio you have! 😎👌❤️
I always love a good character synth. Doesn't feel like a workhorse, but something you'd use to dirty up and give a punky feel to a track. Awesome.
This is such a good fit for old fashioned EBM sounds !
Really considering picking this one up, really interesting synth and the drive sounds absolutely amazing
Nice review... The sound is huge - a desktop version of it would be a great extension to a setup. Thanks for sharing.
The routing on the filter is similar to most of the Steiner filters I’ve played around with. Inputs select the filter type rather than the output. I’ll have to do a little digging to see what they based their filter on. It definitely has a Steiner vibe to it. I really like those timbre of the waveforms on there too. Great demo
Thanks!!
Great Video Bo , The Malevolent definitely has peaked my interest :) Thank you Bo
Another excellent demo, thanks Bo 😊 I really want to hear this paired with the Moog DFAM, I think they could be a killer combo! Maybe I should just spring for the Malevolent myself and find out.
Great review as ever. This sounds fantastic, taking me right back to the 70's. Love the size. Looks and sounds ideal for a novice like me to get my teeth into. Cheers Bo👍👍🎛️🎹
I've been playing one of these for a couple of weeks now. For me, it's a keeper but some others haven't clicked with it👍
Love the fact you're keeping!....
A lot of Prodigy-esuqe sounds coming out of this one, great work Bo
Woooow verry nice and honest review. Ticks alot of boxes for me personally . Great little review happy 2022 to you.
thank you Adamski! I will keep em coming
Yeah, I saw some other synth-RUclipsr demonstrate this synth, and I loved the aggressiveness of it. Would probably pair well with my angrier pieces of kit such as the polivoks-m or the InfraDeep PVX-800 for them really angry beats that beats the listener up.
This synth goes crazy! ⚠️✨
Pretty cool little synth. Giving me MS20 vibes. Kinda like the Grandmother's Bad Witch sister. Would love to see a full size version and perhaps an expanded Matriarch style version as well.
I was thinking MS20 and Bass Station 2 right away myself!
Wow, this synth really has its own gritty dirty awesome sound. If it was offered as a desktop module I don't see how I could resist getting one.
Sounds like the MiniNova or Micro Korg.
Great to hear
I totally respect your decision. (And also hope that others pick Malevolent! ;-)
That's great!
Rude and brutal ! I love the sounds you got out of it . Do hope they make a keyless module. Somewhere in the same world of the MS20 and the Polyvolks , but with the weight of Oberheim OSCs . Nice RATM riff in there btw .
You probably would have had a better idea of how the filter sounds by using the sawtooth wave instead of the triangle wave. Great review as always. Thanks Bo!
Thanks for the feedback!!
Wow, this synth really has some grit! Thanks for sharing!
I’m fairly new to synths and have been looking around for something that sounded like it wanted to kill me. Looks like it found me.🥳
Best description ever. Lol but I get it. 💯
I really don't need a synth but that thing is dirty and I like it!
Great sounding demo
love the ends since it is definitely easy to customize new ones. joystick is cool! power over USB is a big plus for mobile rigs. on a similar level to a minibrute soundwise.
Nice demo! My unit behaves the exact same way. (darker sound, knobs, lfo, filter) I love it! The resonance is rather nasty after the 3rd notch... :D Yeah, baby! Currently working on a one synth challenge demo track, 100% Malevolent sounds, including drums. (and with the help of Logic Pro X auto sampler: stereo pads) :) This synth sounds like a beast!
Good to hear from another user!
Sounds like it'll be a lot of fun. I'd like to hear that when it's ready.
@@ToyKeeper Thank you very much! :) Not even close to BoBeats, but I tried my best! The audio is ready, working on the video now. (out on Friday)
Good review overall thank you. Would have been nice to see you using it with other modular gear. This is the use case I am considering it for, as I'm sure many others are.
Thank you for the suggestion! Perhaps in a future video.
good video, i like the layout of the controls and a knobby pitch/mod bender not 'touch strips' - nice
Wow! It might be small but what it lacks in size it makes up for in punch and phatness! Very cool! 👊 I can also imagine that this could be a good starting point if you want to get started with modular.
I'm a fairly green synthesist but I'd love a video on how to use semi-modular expansion without a full modular rig. I have a few synths like this that I sequence with my keystep pro but I'd love a taste of how they could modulate each other without diving all the way into modular.
thats a great topic!
seriously, every patch/sound on this synth is 'punched in the face'. I like it.
The sound goes good with your sweater
Sounding great. Seems really fun to toy with. I am a bit puzzled by the feeling of the key touch but the machine sounds really nice for sure.
Wow - sounds fantastic! I'm not sure you should connect the noise output to a filter output though. We would have got a better idea of what the filter sounds like with the resonance set to something other than min and max.
heya, its not a filter output, its an input. Theres three inputs: lowpass, highpass and bandpass. They then output to one single output.
Right now it's between this and the Mavis. I'm loving everything I'm hearing from both.
Seems like a strong entry; somewhere near the Cobalt or Argon, with keys and patching… not bad at all! Thanks for the demo/tour Bo!
Synth is 100% analogue, so different from Cobalt / Argon in that sense..
The entire thing which got me interested in synths as a teen in the music store back in the 70s was because of the incredibly strange and weird beyond anything I could have ever imagined sounds which I could effortlessly cause as I turned knobs and jacked off sliders. It was a Yamaha synth of some sort, and maybe that model and that earlier phase of Yamaha's synth evolution lent itself to very electronic, very "wrong" sounds being emitted by their stuff readily. I drooled with awe and deep fascination with the... "sounds" may not convey fully... It really would be more accurate to describe the sounds being emitted from the hapless pa amp the synth was plugged into as vomit, only instead of in the form of hot chunky semiliquid, this vomit was comprised of sound waves. Manipulations of the knobs/ sliders also yielded hopelessness, despair, despondency, ennui rooted in giving up on humans and society in general, and other such emotions and mental states - presenting in the form of sound waves and noises, rather than in the usual forms of feelings and emotions.
This is why it stuns me that most ppl use synths to make nice, soothing "pads", and other boring normal, mentally- healthy and edifying sounds. Using synths in that manner is useless and pointless.
I think the designers of this synth may have similar ways of thinking about this as I do.
Yamaha? A CS model maybe? I have a CS 15. It can definitely do some of what you described and yes MAKE AMAZING NOISES!!!
Okay, that sounds pretty good and full
Amazing synth!!!
Sounds really nice and smooth in the low end. It's got beef.
I love beef
@@1PWM I do too!
Sounds good.Would love a module version at a little lower price... And a little color would be nice...orange or yellow on black would be better.
Or pink :)
I liked the kick drum you made with it very 909 style which is my favourite kick drum ever
I was thinking about repurchasing the Korg ms20 but I think I'm going to get this one this sounds awesome
Love the sound, not sure about the look - but pretty impressive debut.
This synth sounds amazing vibes of KMFDM, NIN, and Funker Voght. How are you sequencing it Bo?
Nick Bate will give this company a good review every time!
😆
Tell you what though, I've backed myself into a corner as I have to ensure everything I make has PWM, right?!!
Nice demo. I wish it had a built-in stereo delay/pan.
Sounds great for my style...don't underestimate the smaller pieces of kit! Sometimes they have some real personality! For the price point I don't even mind the keys being not the best...most people have a master controller anyway so one could easily be used here too - more of a question of playing live.
Not my kind of synth, but wow, your demo sounded great and the video! It looks super clean and colorful and is expertly produced overall. These are TV production standards (or even better).
Thank you Floyd! Means ALOT!!
I applaud every company that tries to remake my ms20
damn this will be my new recommendation for friends looking for a first synth
could be the gateway synth into modular addiction for me. knew it was bound to happen
welcome to the club!! 😅👌
Totally our intention! ;-)
This is a sound and vibe we have been looking for. The name is excellent too. But we would prefer a non-keyboard version to save space and control it with with our MC-707 and Keystep37.
Good demo. The song you made showed off its strengths nicely. When you turned the filter and shape knobs, I hear a hiccup (for lack of a better term) during the sweep - a short sound change that doesn’t seem to belong and prevents the sweep from sounding smooth. It honestly sounds like a defect. Can you confirm that I’m not imagining this?
the filter is stepping, it is NOT smooth. I should have explained this better. But yes, its a harsher filter, not super pleasant if you solo it. Works for the style of sounds I think this synth is best for, but also makes it less versatile.
just a small addition: it's not stepping in a digital way, it's just that it does provide a LOT of character over a single knob turn
It sounds great but with mini keys and not exactly a feature rich interface I think the price tag is a tad high. Gives me MS20 and bass station 2 vibes but I would say at that price either of those would be a more appropriate alternative.
Forget about its keys and Use it like a sound module and control it externally from another keyboard.
I agree, biggest turnoff for me is keyboard and price tag.
@@iceuul674 What's the price?
@@HOLLASOUNDS not gonna lie, I’ve come around on it. I keep thinking about how much I’d love a polivoks and how inconvenient the MS20 is and I think this splits the difference perfectly plus full disclosure I’m probably not a good enough keys player to be bitching about mini keys in the first place. I would love to play this thing into my Strega or a polivoks filter
If anyones still interested I bought one and it sounds amazing. THICK
That's a sick tune at 4:35
Nice review. How does the hold work on the joystick? I went looking for a manual on the PWM site and didn't find one. I presume since the joy stick is spring-loaded, you have to hold it back and it holds the last note played?
You click it! That toggles hold on/off
@@BoBeats thanks for explaining… Interesting way to implement that feature using a joy stick.
I don't need another mono synth, but I'm very tempted.
I don't hear that the pitch changes with the resonance at all (and I am quite sensitive to pitch variations)..... Other than that, you pointed out a few intersting things. I think by design, this is a weird and unique sounding synth and I will be getting one for sure just for the brutalz!! Can't wait!
This sythersizor sounds like Navation MiniNova 5:07 That's actually identical to one of the MiniNova presents I highly suspect that the Menevilant is capable of softer pad sounds. The MiniNova has a advantage as it comes with a sound editor plugin and can probably make all the sounds that the Menevilant could make. This sythersizor patch cabling into other devices is where its value would be.
The MiniNova was my project when I worked at Novation. However it's a whole different architecture.
John Foxx-OG Human League-Tubeway Army... This definitely has a place in dystopian futurescapes. I like it.
Was just thinking the same thing, absolutely! Maybe add Fad Gadget in there as well? 🤔
@@nowavecharles Definitely in that ballpark. (Checks what bills I can ignore for a couple of months).
Can be used as USB-MIDI to CV/Gate converter. Majorly useful.
I’m a english oldskool raver but make classic 90.s styled hardcore terror speedcore doomcore also jungle drum n bass but on the real darker edge my tracks are mainly. by the way liking the reviews and play tests on these synthesizers so agree with some of the patches i’m hearing on some of the synths ive checked out you playing on the video playlist there’s defo a prodigy style going off on some the patches you was doing they sound so good ive only ever made music with a daw but i’m definitely tempted to get a synthesizer sometime i love making horror film like melody’s which synthesizer would be best suited to make horror film like melody’s please thanks
Love that sound @2:40, industrial.
Did you just play rage against the machine?
Highly unintentional 😆
I was really curious about this one. Great video. How would you say it compares to a grandmother?
I have less experience with GM but I'd say (based on my matriarch experience) that the Moog filter is much smoother and creamy, whereas this is way more aggressive
Totally happy with that assessment, Bo!
@@1PWM you have made one hell of an instrument! Well done and can't wait to try it.
Thank you so much! So glad you like it!
Good stuff
Hi, Bo! I think it's Ok to pronounce. Seems like a very good synth! Depends on the price though ))
BTW, I've had the same resonance behaviour with a breadboarded ms20 filter clone (with diode clipper). I may guess that there is some thing that is hard to balance. Or maybe it's a lack of power (+improper voltage referencing - if its referenced from power rails). I'm not a pro with such things, haha )
Sounds like an MS-20, I like it alot.
when i google it i dont see it for sale... where is it online?? sounds brilliant
Got Europe and UK so far. Working on USA
@@1PWM Thanks i really want this!
If this had come out before I bought my MS20 FS, I'd be £500 better off! Sounds great, UI very well thought out, with patch points in logical places and signal path easy to follow. Instant filth machine.
I'm looking for an entry level synth that creates melodic musical pads, string, and other instrument sounds...not so much electrical noises. Is this possible? I know you experts can educate me.
You are looking for a polyphonic synth. Look up polyphonic synths in your budget. The Minilogue (XD) get recommended a lot for a first poly.
@@ringtangting thank you!
@@fldrummerman You are very welcome, don't hesitate to ask me questions. To clarify XD is not an emoji in this sense but a model. I have no experience with the Minilogue or Minilogue XD, but it does seems like a good hardware beginner poly synth. If you want to go the hardware route, that is. Good luck bud, I'm sure you will love whatever you decide on.
@@fldrummerman Or if you are rely on a budget and buying your first, try Volka Keys. Second hand is $100 - 120. XD is great but is almost 10 times the price of the Keys. If you ask me, first try the little one and if you get byte by it, then move on bigger machines.
@@parasitelights3158 thank you. I will check it out.
Maybe they put logarithmic pots in your unit instead of linear ones, by accident? That could be why the knobs seem kind of weird
erm no. this log/lin pot thing is a red-herring
Sounds great. BUT THEM KEYS!!!
The filter seems to be a duller version of the Polivoks.
I saw this and though 'meh' pretty cheap looking and expensive for a basic mono synth. Then I heard it... wow, sounds massive!
So pleased you like it in the end!
really unique sound small keys in a mono is ok.might get one
Real ms-20 vibes
Does the manual say the voltage of the cv?
It's eurorack compatible. plays nice with other eurorack gear
I see the blank spots on the face and I want a mult or attenuator there. I like the nastiness of the sound though.
An attenuator would be really useful indeed!
I had the exact same thought! Attenuator, inverter, maybe a mult? 👍🏻
It's like a cross between a Microbrute and a Grandmother. A Malevolent Grannybrute?
Love it..... but no. Nothing like the Brutes!
A Brutish Matron
This is a very aggressive synth with blending waves ( a really nice feature) which I usually like but the architecture / interface wasn’t very good and there were things like glide hidden in the joystick as well that’s not even labeled , poorly thought out keyboard layout that if the octaves are set too low create dead keys , and the lfo doesn’t sync properly to clock as well as other issues with travel depth and drop outs , and this should have had a better mixer setup for sure . The euro rack kids I’m sure will love it but aside from bucket loads of distortion it didn’t really have any real character. So it went back . First synth in a long time . I prefer the ms 20 for this kind of thing for sure. Really terrible placement of the envelope inputs in the upper right corner. The oscillators needed octave settings badly but that would actually be useful so it’s not here . But the lfo and filter are totally set wrong absolutely which makes certain sound’s unattainable without tons of tweaks 👽
Good to hear from you Christo
@@BoBeats your one of the best my friend no bs . This company will be fine they just need to focus on useability more . Their new synth gladly comes with full size keys and looks very interesting. I just wish octave switches were on every instrument synth wise because it makes getting things in the zone much easier. Peace ✌️👽
Seems like a perfect budget gnarly synth minus the keys.
16:03 Looks like they need log pots instead of linear pots
Thats a positive having low ramp up on the knob, more control
It doesn’t feel like its ramping up slowly… It feels more like nothing happens then suddenly alot happens. Ramping up would be nice
@4:25 the moment when the gas ignites 🔥🥵🧯🚒🧑🚒🧨
The Bad news @16:06 there are two types of Pot (Potentiometer) Audio & Linear, what you are experiencing there is the behaviour of an Audio Pot (read up about them, they work how the ear works or something like that i cant remember the science), if they had used a Linear Pot it would of worked how you wanted it to which is an even distribution around the full turn, but it seems for whatever reason the designer decided on Audio Pots on those parameters your not happy about.
The Good news is you've now learnt something new for future reviews.
It's just not that simple
Cutoff knob behaviour seems fine, the rest of the low range of the pot should respond to bassier notes than the one you played.
i had similar issues with bassier notes too, i could have shown this so thank you for the feedback!!
Cut-off needs dead-space because when you mod it with velocity or envelope you then find all the action is with the cutoff knob turned down in the dead-space region!
minimum of 3 octaves would be better full keys. It's very MS-esque mixed with Moog- I like that. Like the idea but would not get one due to the keyboard being to small, and restrictive for live performance.
We have total USB and MIDI connectivity so I hope you can forgive us on that one. It's a certain form factor to make a whole synth but absolutely no reason why you can't drive it from a larger keybed
I used to play bass in a live band on a 25 key Korg Monologue, so it's definitely possible and (to me) doesn't feel restrictive. Then again, the Monologue begins and ends on E
It’s so cute 😭
Definetly a Synth to add to my whishlist.
This or arp odyssey I have a Sherman filterbank 2 I want to throw this through it don’t think my neighbours would like that
Good for bass?
Yes
Lol male volent is how English tongues remember how it’s spelled.
I love your comment!
you should just totally turn this into a cooking channel without warning one day. no need to change the name.
tip: youtube search "Bob Eats". Warning: I take no responsibility for what you will find.
My Typhon is enough, my Typhon is enough, my Typhon is enough.
i will help out: yes, your typhon is enough 😅