Erica Synths x Richie Hawtin Introduce the Bullfrog XL

video upload by Erica Synths

Updated version of the Bullfrog. You can see find previous posts featuring the original design here including supporting member Quincas Moreira's original Bullfrog Video Manual here.

"Created by Erica Synths & Richie Hawtin, Bullfrog is an educational electronic music instrument designed to captivate and inspire both youth and professionals alike. Bullfrog invites you to unlock musicality while combining the thrill of electronic music production with a comprehensive learning experience.

Bullfrog XL is designed specifically for teachers to use in front of the classroom and it expands the concept of the regular Bullfrog by inflating its size by a factor of 3 (literally!).


Features:

Fully analog design
Highly accurate voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that tracks great over 8 octaves
Manually adjustable and voltage controlled waveshapes – sine-shark fin and pulse wave with pulse width modulation (PWM)
Zener diode-based noise generator
Resonant lowpass voltage controlled filter (VCF)
Voltage controlled amplifier (VCA) with adjustable offset
Delay effect with adjustable delay time and feedback amount
Two looping attack-sustain-release envelope generators (EG)
Sample & Hold circuit with an individual clock
Attenuverter
Slew processor with adjustable slew time
Two buffered splitter circuits
Two channel oscilloscope
6.3 mm jack sockets
Manual gate button
Gate and Trigger out
Voice card slot
Built in speakers
DIN5 MIDI input
USB connector
Keyhole slots on the rear panel
Dimensions (mm): 820x505x65 (250 with the side panels)
Mass: 8,3 kg

CLICK FOR MORE »

Bad Gear - He might be BIASED

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. There are these unfounded rumors that this show is not actually about Bad Gear, that I just pick random stuff I want to make music with and let clueless online trolls do their magic.

This is - of course - a steaming pile of horse dung and I just recently failed to find enough hate on, for example, the Access Virus B, Novation Drumstation and Dreadbox Typhon.

However, today we are going to talk about Digitakt II and as this particular unit was sent over by Elektron as a long term loan even they must be aware of the fact that late 80s polyphony, partial physics workflow and a lack of essential hipster features make for some juicy online controversy.

Bad Gear - I might be BIASED

This Digitakt II was sent over by Elektron as a long term loan.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:02 Overview Digitakt 2
01:36 More New Stuff (Slicing, Time Stretch,...)
02:09 Kits, Stereo Sampling, Polyphony
02:32 New Filter Models
02:45 Sequencing, Euclidean Sequencer
03:11 Buttons, New Trigger Modes
03:37 Sequence Handling, More Sequencer Stuff
04:07 Prepare Mutes
04:13 FX Page, Bus Compressor, Saturation
04:43 LFO 3, Control All, Glissando,
05:18 Midi Sequencing, Midi Learn, Name CCs
05:27 Overbridge (or lack thereof)
05:34 Pricing
05:45 Hate
06:09 Jam 1 ( Nordic Techno )
07:04 Jam 2 ( Breaks & Stuff )
08:10 Finale ( Best of Bad Gear Sound Library )
08:40 Verdict"

Wear & Tear - Blown Away

video upload by Ampersand Ampersand

Wear & Tear Eurorack Synthesizer Effect Overview

"Ampersand Ampersand is excited to announce the launch of Wear & Tear, our inaugural Eurorack module that masterfully recreates the characterful imperfections of vintage tape machines.

Dive into the heart of sonic nostalgia with your own personal time machine to the golden age of lo-fi soundscapes. Drawing inspiration from the classic charm of cassette recorders, Wear & Tear is your key to unlocking a treasure chest of degraded magic. Designed for modern musicians who crave that elusive lo-fi sound, Wear & Tear offers a versatile range of effects from subtle saturation to complete sonic transformation. Experience everything from the gentle flutter of tape warble to the gritty charm of sounds that seem rescued from a forgotten attic tape collection. Wear & Tear brings the quintessential lo-fi aesthetic right at your fingertips, blending the raw beauty of vintage imperfections with the precision of modern control. As you weave dense ambient textures, embark on a journey through sound where the only limit is your imagination, and discover the boundless possibilities of lo-fi weirdness and beyond.

Key Features Include:

Tape Saturation: From just a touch of warmth to hard clipping, the tape saturation algorithm delivers a spectrum of overdriven options
Wow & Flutter: Adds a dynamic layer of movement to your sound, which can be tempo synced for musical cohesion.
Stereo Low Pass & High Pass filters: Tame your saturation, or push it to the limit with additional resonance.
Noise generator: A pure white noise generator that can crackle and pop, an added envelope follower allows you to push the noise volume or duck it with incoming audio.
Crinkles: Sporadic dropouts add to the authenticity of cassette emulation
Age: A shifting non-resonant filter transforming incoming audio to the sounds of yesteryear.
Dust: A macro control to add chaos to all other settings.
One-Knob Compression: Simplifies the often complex process of compression into a single user-friendly knob, adjusting threshold and ratio together for immediate sonic impact.
Dual-Function Knobs: Each knob supports a primary and an alternate setting, enabling complex configurations and interactions between effects.

Head to the site:
https://ampersandampersand.com"

Great Memorex intro.

ERBE-VERB THUNDER | Make Noise

video upload by MAKEN0ISE

"With the Erbe-Verb and Morphagene, we can apply heavy manipulation of space, but also perhaps disrupt time.

Special thanks to Sam, Lee, Bayley, Mike, Lewis, and Sun Ra.

http://www.makenoisemusic.com"

Bad Gear - This BOX is not BLACK

video upload by AudioPilz

'Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. There is no lack of compact, costly and multitalented touchscreen devices in our lives and usually we want to get away from them - especially when making music.

Today we are going to talk about 1010music blackbox. This 2019 “thing” not only threw down the gauntlet to its competitors in the crowded field of sampler / sequencer combos with an acute fit of feature-based megalomania, it also wants to take on the big Berlin Excel of DAWs."

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:50 Overview 1010 music black box
01:17 Concept (Pads, Loops , Slicer , Granular Synth )
02:04 Sampling , Multisampling , Recording , Looper
02:14 Sample Playback Functionality, Engine
02:41 File Management, Polyphony
02:53 What to do with it?
03:09 Sequencer, Limitations
03:51 Controlling External Instruments
04:00 Is this a Bug???
04:10 I'll Skip Song Mode
04:14 FX Section
04:24 Mixer, Connectivity, Midi Host , Multiple Outputs
04:44 Eurorack Integration
04:53 What else? (Clock, Midi , Thanks)
05:19 Hate
05:42 Jam 1 ( House )
06:35 Jam 2 ( Drum'n'Bass )
07:37 Finale ( Granular Electronica )
08:08 Verdict
09:15 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout (more of a granular one ;))


https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Bad Gear - The Dark Knight

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. We can all agree that Roland created a few quite respectable drum machine like the Roland TR-808 , Roland TR-909 , Roland TR-606 and Roland TR-707 . However, since then their target demographic has dwindled: analog enjoyers have joined the Cult of Uli, people willing to RTFM are using next-generation Scandinavian abaci like Elektron Digitakt or Elektron Octatrack and real musicians switched to computers decades ago.

Today we are going to talk about Roland TR-8s. This 2018 flagship rhythm performer not only boasts a design language that clearly focuses on inner beauty - it also combines the played-out sounds of the 80s with the workflow of a 90s ROMpler.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:57 Overview Roland TR8s
01:34 Sound Generators ( ACB , PCM Samples , User , FM Drum Synth )
01:55 Updates ( Roland CR-78 )
02:05 User Interface , Sound Parameters
02:20 Menu Diving
02:34 Kits, LFO
02:42 Buttons , Akai MPC - Style Pad
02:52 Sequencer , Workflow, Swing, Accents, Fills
03:29 Additional Features (Rolls, Substeps, Microtiming )
03:41 Motion Recording , Parameter Locks ,
03:57 Limitations, Melodies, 808 Bass
04:16 FX ( Roland SP-404 - Style Vinyl Effect )
04:46 What else? ( SD Card , Computer Integration, Thanks)
05:35 Hate
05:58 Jam 1 (Triple Roland TB-3 Jam)
06:53 Jam 2 ( Elektro )
07:47 Finale ( Footwork / Juke )
08:17 Verdict"

Bad Gear - A new FOE has appeared

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Synthesizers can be considered a mature technology. Traditional manufacturers focus on the regurgitation of classics, market disruption is limited to design overkill and process optimization and real innovators are crushed by the relentless economics of this oversaturated niche.

Today we are going to talk about Hydrasynth. This range of next-generation synthesizers caused a hype that usually only comes with the release of Scandinavian hipster gadgets and depending on whom you ask they’re either the CS-80 of the 2020s or a harsh and digital sounding testament to the demise of a culture."

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:58 Overview ASM Hydrasynth Explorer
01:43 Oscillators
02:14 WaveScan Technology ( Wavetable )
02:28 Synth Engine
02:45 Ring Modulation, Noise, Mutators
03:29 Filters
03:57 LFOs, Envelopes, Modulation Matrix
04:24 Macros
04:35 FX Section
04:55 Random, Chords, Arpeggiator
05:11 Connectivity, Cinematic Patches, Models, Build Quality, Thanks
06:29 Hate
06:50 Jam 1 (Bass Patch)
07:46 Jam 2 (Downtempo)
08:47 Finale (FX makes everything easier)
09:20 Verdict

Bad Gear - Sell Your DIGITAKT

video upload by AudioPilz

"Boss DR-5 - Sell Your DIGITAKT

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. After redirecting the money for a nice 2018 weekend trip, spending a couple of years in my own private Elektron bootcamp and embracing the “limitations breed creativity” Zen I have become quite an avid Digitakt user.

However, today we are going to talk about the Boss DR-5. This 1994 drum machine looks suspiciously similar to the Swedish mono samplers so after rumors of Digitakts discontinuation started swirling a while back I might as well take a look at this cheapskate alternative.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:53 Overview Boss DR5
01:17 Technology and Sounds
02:07 Sound Editing
02:16 Remarkable Features, Kits
03:00 Real Time Recording
03:12 User Interface for Guitar Players
03:34 Guitar Input , Amp Simulator , Pitch Tracking
03:52 Chord Mode
04:03 Limitations, Polyphony
04:22 What Else??? (Build Quality, Connectivity, Pricing,...)
04:46 Hate
05:01 Jam 1 ( Acid ChillWave )
05:55 Jam 2 ( 148 bpm is the new 128 bpm )
06:52 Finale ( Electric Boogie Body Music )
07:23 Verdict"

Akai's Greatest Hits

video upload by AudioPilz

"Hey everybody, in this video we will take a look at the infamous Akai Animals, Rhythm Wolf, Tom Cat and - of course - the legendary Timbre Wolf. We will try to find out if they are as bad as everyone says, how these analog machines have earned their questionable reputation and maybe we can even make them work in actual music production .

This is Akai’s Greatest Hits !!!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:22 How it all began
01:01 Akai Rhythm Wolf Overview, Drum Machine Voices
01:34 TB-303 Style Mono Analog Synth
02:00 Useless UI, Howl Distortion
02:21 Redeaming Qualities, Sequencer, Build Quality
02:44 Additional Features
03:03 Akai TomCat Overview
04:08 Timbre Wolf Introduction, A Tribute to Dan
04:40 Timbre Wolf Voices Overview
05:12 Voice Modes (Mono, Poly, Unison)
05:38 Multiple Outputs + Short Timbre Wolf Jam
05:54 Form Factor, Features
06:23 Tuning, Calibration, Build Quality
06:37 Akai Animals on Bad Gear
06:50 Jam without FX
07:37 Fully Mixed Track using only the three Machines
08:08 Is the Timbre Wolf the next TB303 ???
09:17 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout"

Bad Gear - Nothing is Sacred

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Nothing is sacred . After weeks of brand-new direct-to-Bad Gear game changers even hardened internet trolls like me fancy a little palette cleanser.

Today we are going to talk about the original Roland TR-707. This vintage drum machine and digital sibling to the more iconic TR-808 and TR-909 is mostly perceived in one of two ways: a timeless classic for both realistic drum sounds and futuristic 80s house OR the most boring and obsolete cheesebox since whatever Casio came up with back then.

Thanks to Philipp of Feedback Underground Studios for giving me access to his beautiful artifact. Serious requests are welcome to: fbugs@gmx.at

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:54 Overview Roland TR707
01:22 Limitations Pt. 1, Mixer
01:47 Audio Quality, Bit Depth
02:04 Drum Sounds ( 80s drums )
02:51 Multiple Outputs
03:02 TR Sequencer (like 808 , 909 ), Workflow, Pattern Chaining, Accent, Track Mode
03:32 Connectivity, Limitations Pt. 2, Sync
04:01 Tonal Variations ( Roland TR-727 , Circuit Bending , ROM Expansion)
04:23 Pricing, Thanks!!!
04:33 Hate
05:00 Jam 1 (Is it House ???)
05:54 Jam 2 ( Industrial Dub )
06:49 Finale (Proto Phonk Orchestral Synthwave )
07:19 Verdict"

Bad Gear - I'm the Operator...

video upload by AudioPilz

"Today we are going to talk about EP-133 KO II. This compact sampler and 80s tax consultant’s best friend lookalike is based on one of TEs very own Pocket Operators and while its price tag seems to be missing another zero at the end having "how to repair it" videos come out only days after its release is NOT the kind of innovation we had wished for."

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:00 Overview Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II
01:40 Sample Playback
02:00 Sample Parameters
02:14 Sample Selection, Stock Samples
02:40 Groups
02:47 Patterns, Quantization, Note Repeat
03:04 Scenes
03:10 Sampling, Microphone, Trim, Time Stretch
03:35 Sample Chopping
03:43 Looper
03:55 Web App, Editor
04:04 Punch-in FX
04:18 Send FX
04:26 Filters
04:36 Fadergate
04:42 Fader Move Recording
04:47 What Else??? (Tech Specs, Thanks,...)
05:20 Hate
05:44 Jam 1 (Foley House)
06:36 Jam 2 (2-Step)
07:28 Finale (LoFi Beats to Relax/Study to)
07:57 Verdict

Pittsburgh Modular: Why Our Synthesizers Are Better Than Fish

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"Taiga Keyboard and Taiga Desktop are complete, modern, modular instruments that allows us to explore beyond the boundaries of a traditional analog synthesizer."

Bad Gear - Kindergarten Engineering

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most-hated audio tools. It's Kindergarten Engineering !!! I’m still coping with NAMM 2024 PTSD and I wasn’t even there. Korg released the successor to a synth the world forgot, Uli is getting really good at selling faster horses and Moog decided to save the important announcements for a much bigger show.

Yamaha - on the other hand - returned from a groovebox hiatus of over two decades only to release a display-less Lego cigarette trying hard to catch up on a trend based on a device that was announced at Messe 2009. Yamaha - It’s good to have you back.

Teenage Engineering

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:55 Overview Yamaha Seqtrak
01:42 Drums
02:10 AWM Synth Engines
02:36 Yamaha DX FM Synth Engine
02:52 Scale-based "Keyboard", Chromatic Keyboard
03:08 Arpeggiator, Chords
03:19 Sample Player, Sampling, Microphone
03:31 Sequencer, Parameter Locks
04:00 Pattern Selection
04:09 Mixer Mode, Send FX
04:18 More FX
04:25 Software Editor, Visualizer
04:59 Midi, USB, Speaker, Build Quality
05:38 Hate
06:03 Jam 1 (House)
06:51 Jam 2 (Downtempo)
07:52 Finale (Drum'n'Bass - ROMpler Edition)
08:23 Verdict"

Hangin' with Michael and Richard as they discuss the new...

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"It is always nice to hang out with Michael and Richard."

Bad Gear is MASSIVE

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools.

There aren’t many software companies whose influence on electronic music is comparable to iconic hardware brands like Roland and Korg - Native Instruments is certainly one of them.

They defined the industry standard for sampling, established in-the-box modular synthesis and made using FM much too easy but today we are going to talk about Massive.

Putting this 2006 wavetable softsynth and primary ghost writer of the first three Skrillex EPs on the show is - quite literally - long overdue as, after the usual venture capitalist fustercluck and discontinuation of Absynth, it can only be a matter of months until this classic plugin stops working properly on contemporary computers.

Bad Gear is MASSIVE
Plugin, VST, Software Instrument

Chapters:
00:00 Intro Tune
01:05 Overview Native Instruments Massive
01:48 Oscillators/Wavetables/Noise/Mod OSC
02:28 Feedback
02:39 Filter Section
03:04 Modulators ( Brostep Edition ), Wubs, Wobbles
03:37 Modulation Routings, Sidechain
03:54 Patch Settings, Unison,...
04:15 FX Section
04:29 Macros
04:48 What else??? (Pricing,...)
05:13 Hate
05:39 Jam 1 ( Moog Style Techno )
06:32 Jam 2 ( Dubstep for Boomers )
07:24 Finale ( Meme Psytrance )
07:51 Verdict
08:59 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout ( Soma Lyra-8 )"

Working hard on the Waldorf M

video upload by Maffez Synthmods

"MAx is working hard on the Waldorf M - curious what he'll come up with!"

Bad Gear - Synthesizer Plays You

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz
https://www.instagram.com/audio.pilz/

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about SOMA Lyra-8 . Is this organismic synthesizer , ritualistic instrument and icon of industrial civilization a modern synth classic or is the King naked? Here on Bad Gear - Synthesizer Plays You !!! Synth plays you in this synth ritual .

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune (Theater Music Version)
00:46 Overview Soma Lyra 8
01:15 Tone Generators, Sharp, Tuning
01:40 Envelope, Heavy FM
01:55 Modulations, Feedback
02:20 Ext CV, Master Tuning
02:35 Hold
02:49 External Hold, Paid Upgrade
03:02 Alternate FM Mode
03:12 Vibrato
03:23 LFO
03:35 Modulation Delay
04:18 Self-Oscillation
04:32 Distortion
04:40 Connectivity, Integration, Philosophy
05:13 Pricing, Software Emulation
05:29 Hate
05:55 Jam 1 (Album Interlude)
06:51 Jam 2 (Techno)
07:54 Finale (Danceable Musique Concrete)
08:25 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Why would anyone want this???

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about Roland TR-06 . Does it even make sense to release a digital drum machine based on the not so iconic Roland TR-606 ? Was the analog Behringer RD-6 first this time? Did we need another Roland Boutique reissue of a a vintage drum machine and 80s classic like the tr606 and why would anyone want this ? Do the additional sounds taken from other machines like the Roland TR-808 and Roland TR-909 make a difference?"

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:04 Overview Roland TR06
01:29 Drum Sounds
01:56 Tweaking the Drum Sounds
02:30 Additional Drum Sounds ( 808 , 909 ,...)
02:56 FX Section
03:21 Sequencer
03:43 Step Loop, Triggers for Modular / Eurorack
03:53 What else??? Pricing, Thanks
04:24 Hate
04:49 Jam 1 ( Electro Funk )
05:46 Jam 2 ( Downtempo Acid )
06:41 Finale ( 90s IDM Breakbeat )
07:14 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Danger Zone

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Yamaha Reface DX FM synthesizer. Is this 2015 descendant to the iconic Yamaha DX7 , Yamaha DX100 and sibling of the Yamaha Reface CS worthy of the legacy and can it keep up with other modern FM synths like the Korg OpSix ? Are we entering the Danger Zone ?"

Chapters:
00:00 Prologue (no pun intended)
Intro tune
01:12 Overview Reface DX
01:39 Reworked UI (Touch Sliders)
02:16 Real Time Tweaking
02:24 Synth Engine, Algorithms, Polyphony, Patch Memory
02:48 Feedback per Operator
03:03 Envelope Generators, Pitch Envelopes, LFO
03:29 More UI Stuff, Keyscaling
03:45 FX Section
04:00 Midi Looper
04:21 Connectivity, Speakers, Pitch Bend
04:52 What else??? (Pricing, Thanks,...)
05:09 Hate
05:35 Jam 1 (Dub Techno)
06:23 Jam 2 (80s Bass Tweak)
07:25 Finale (Sanic House)
07:55 Verdict

WHY it is the Best Synth EVER

video upload by AudioPilz

"In this video we are going to talk about how a piece of Bad Gear turned into my favorite synthesizer, the reasons why I’m using this ugly design failure all the time, why the Roland TB-3 is massively underrated and how both total beginners and seasoned pros can benefit from what only SEEMS to be a UI nightmare and dumbed-down preset abomination trying to capitalize on the heritage of the famous Roland TB-303 . This is a redemption story of the infamous green synth .

Is this member of the Roland Aira range the best synthesizer for acid and can it keep up with an authentic 303 clone like Behringer TD-3 ? Best. Synth. Ever.

Thanks to Dope Robot for his dedication and great work. Find the software editor and everything you need to get the most out of your Roland TB3 here:
http://doperobot.com/tb3.html

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Roland TB-3 Recap
01:10 Standard Workflow, Presets
01:33 Filter
01:43 Other controls, FX, Touchpad
02:19 Basic Midi, Sequencer
02:58 Additional Features, Memory Slots, Scatter
03:16 Why I love the TB-3 so much
03:48 Jam with 2 TB-3s, Jomox MBase 11 and Elektron Digitakt
04:20 How deep the Rabbit Hole goes
04:29 Free Software Editor
04:46 Oscillator Section Basics
05:11 Envelopes, LFO
05:37 More Oscillator Stuff, Chords
05:54 Ring Modulation, Cross Modulation
06:08 Distortion
06:26 Multi FX Units
06:42 Assignable Controls
06:53 More Good Stuff
07:00 Limitations
07:28 Conclusion
08:27 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout (Roland VT-3 Voice Transformer)"