Elektron-Users

So, I've been looking for a nice, cheap "real" analog synth and the Evolver seems to be the top choice. However, now that MFB is distributed in the US by http://www.infantnoise.com, the decision is not so easy.

MFB has the PolyLite (4-voice--$350) and Synthlite II (monophonic--$250); they both use digital oscillators, but a really sweet sounding analog filter. There are only a couple reviews on the net for MFB synths and both have positive and negative things to say about them (duh).

The most disturbing fact about the "Lite" line is that alaising of the oscillators is very prominent. Now, this was an older review I read, so perhaps MFB improved their specs.

Also, there's a little drum machine in the vein of a cr-78/korg minipops/acetone. Any personal experience with any of these machines?

-d

i'm rockin an evolver...only had it for a little while - but it rocks my brainy head. It sounds like nothing else I own. I own a moog too. If a moog is a polar bear, an evolver is a rabid pitbull terrier. Small but it holds its own...the interface is minimal and done with just a few knobs via a matrix. Course you probably know this from reviews....anyways my point is that you really get the feeling all the money is put towards the sound and not knobs and leds, and the circuitry needed to use them.

I got some credit at an online audio equipment distributor - I had just enough for the evolver less a little discount. I couldnt believe this quality synth is so reasonably priced. I have barely scratched the surface of its potential, but it just sounds awesome man - whatever you are doing with it. in my studio it sits beside a nord micro modular, a moog voyager, a nord lead3, a machinedrum and everything my computer can spit at a sherman filterbank. and it is not in the shadows at all...I was amazed...after the moog I never expected to be wowed by such a little beastie, and I'm an analogue whore.


apologies if you were looking for a more 'technical' overview....you can find all that stuff in the reviews...


oh, and you can get an editor for the dsi evolver that acts as a kind of vst bridge .... I cant recall where I saw it but I'm sure you will find it if you google.

anyways, all I can say on the topic of the evolver is its very reasonably priced for what you get, and what you get wont sound like anything else on the market now for such a price.....i dont know about the other synth you mentioned, but for extra functionality you can use the evolver as a filter too - so perhaps running your vst's through its analogue circuitry for some of that oomph would be nice.

Another positive review for the DSI Evolver.

I don't think I can say no to Dave, at this point. The CEM sound is what I'm looking for.

After years of VST's and DSP synths (Nord Lead1, G2), I'm ready to go full-on analog, again.

I had a Sequential Max (like SixTrak) and the only reason I sold it was because of those damn unstable analog oscs. By the time I got something cool going on, everything was out of tune! The filter was smooth, not at all ear-piercing at self-oscillation like the Rolands I had (101, 202, 106). I hear the same silkyness in the Evolver.

Now, the MFB synths are another matter: they have a great analog filter that resembles a Moog (Prodigy)! I don't have the exact link, but sequencer.de has some files.

Anyway, thanks for your insight; it's good to hear from someone to whom the SOUND is most important.

-d

check this link for MFB:
http://www.unease.se/mfb-synth2.htm

downloading some MFB samples now...
I read the review, the conclusion they came to was the MFB is good value and
It seems the knobs on the MFB tipped the scale for the reviewers... but conversely, all the money you spend on an evolver goes , mostly, towards the sound and not knobs etc. The reviewers also say the evolver's sound is beyond compare....

so I guess it boils down to what you priorities are glitched ? the interface, or the sound... i've just finished listening to some samples and although the MFB does indeed sound nice, it seems like its scope is limited in comparison to the harsh madness or heavenly melodies I have evoked on occassion with dave smith's beastie. Tough choice...

by the way, the evolver's interface takes getting used to - but once you are accustomed to it (you use a visual matrix, its kind of like using keyboard shortcuts - takes some time to learn ..but once you have you dont even have to look) , its fast & fluid....plus you can always pick up some inexpensive midi controller at a later date if you dont already have one...

did you know if you add the polyvolver rack unit to the desktop unit, you can control both units as if they were one synth using the desktop unit's interface. Its kind of 'future proofed' in this way - tho one voice is plenty for me, I suppose you never know when you see a good deal...


i think the lack of lfo syncing to midi on the MFB would annoy me at some point, especially if I knew I could be twiddling an evolver

I'm grabbing an MFB Kult soon...looks cool.

jsrocket:
It seems sort of retarded to be interested in a Kult, seeing as you have a machinedrum, monomachine, etc. (I saw your studio setup on vintagesynth.org), but I can understand!

I don't know why, but having all of those samples in one box just appeals to me.

I mean, it really doesn't make sense to have an un-editable drum machine, nowadays, what with all the free samples on the net and super cheapo samplers for sale (anyone want a S2000, 32M, Zip drive, SCSI card...? I can't give the thing away.).

Js: how about the 502? Sounds limited, but in a cool way.

b0unce:
My priority is sound. I already have a couple great interfaces to work with (Axiom 25 controller, FLStudio, Monomachine--all are great for controling gear) and I'm sort of sick of the digital/DSP synths I have (Nord G2, Nord 1 rack, Monomachine), so having something with 80 knobs doesn't interest me.

Yeah, so, I think I'm sold. I've read some very negative things on the SyntliteII on their Yahoo! group about simple things just not working (VCA Env->PW).

-d

really ? ... what do you think of the g2 in general ? I assume you've had it for a while now....

you should check out www.sherman.be at some point. revive your dsp beasties...or infact any signal you send it.....its like an analog synth without the oscilators

glitched wrote:
jsrocket:
It seems sort of retarded to be interested in a Kult, seeing as you have a machinedrum, monomachine, etc. (I saw your studio setup on vintagesynth.org), but I can understand!

I don't know why, but having all of those samples in one box just appeals to me.

I mean, it really doesn't make sense to have an un-editable drum machine, nowadays, what with all the free samples on the net and super cheapo samplers for sale (anyone want a S2000, 32M, Zip drive, SCSI card...? I can't give the thing away.).

Js: how about the 502? Sounds limited, but in a cool way.


It is cheap...and I like limitations. It is a weird box...so many samples, looks funny, has a really strange sequencer... I just want to mess with it. Plus, I like small things...not huge rack samplers. I don't always buy things that I need...but more of what I want. I'm also a sucker for drum machines.

b0unce:

I have only had the G2 Engine for a couple months and I love it, but...I just haven't had much time to really integrate it into my studio setup. I've made a couple awesome, etherial pads that no other machine could make, using multiple filters and oscillators and modulatable efx. I've also made some great analog-sounding drums and funky sequencers. I somehow wish I had gotten the Keyboard, however. Search some of the earlier posts in this forum to read the whole saga (engine vs. kbd).

One final note on the g2: I love the filters. The filters are so sweet and "well-behaved", unlike the Monomachine's.

Oh, and I know about Sherman's filterbanks. Crazy sound.
Peep: http://www.schippmann-music.com/downloads.html

Ebbe und Flut--best sounding filter module ever.

-d