Bad Gear - At least it's FREE!!!

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Mom, can we have Serum? No, there’s Serum at home! At home…

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:27 Overview VITAL
00:39 VITAL vs. SERUM
01:01 Things it doesn't have, Wavetables
01:43 Wavetable Editor, Text to Wavetable, Noise
02:05 Filters
02:42 Modulators, Midi, MPE
03:27 Mod Matrix, FX Section
03:48 What else? ( CPU Consumption , "Pricing",...)
04:31 H*te Screen
05:04 Jam 1 ( Epic EDM )
06:00 Jam 2 ( Electro )
06:56 Finale ( Drum'n'Bass )
07:29 Verdict
08:42 Patreon Shoutout"

Bad Gear - Why did I BUY THIS???

video upload by AudioPilz

[Side Note: The main reason to get a DX200 is for how the knobs are mapped to multiple parameters. Each FM synth maps their controllers differently. You can morph sound in ways you can't easily with other FM synths. The DX200 makes for some intersting Buchla-esque sound morphing and exploration. The groovebox rhythm section is just a distraction, but neverless a tool if you choose to use it.]

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. As a professional music technology clown I have become immune to gear acquisition syndrome, all my purchases are meticulously planned out, based on quantifiable parameters like resale value, repairability and actual utility in music production.

However, today we are going to talk about the 2001 Yamaha DX200, an overpriced contraption notorious for its questionable build quality, sonically surpassed by freeware plugins and riddled with more UI limitations than a Volca. Why did I buy this?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:59 Overview DX200
01:29 Yamaha DX200 vs. Elektron Digitone, DX7 Patches
01:52 Front Panel UI
02:54 A DX7 with a Filter ???
03:12 FX Section, Distortion
03:26 Scenes
03:47 Software Editors
03:57 Sample Player, AWM Engine
04:27 Groovebox Functionality
05:09 Free EG (Automation)
05:35 Build Quality Issues, Workflow Quirks
06:12 DX200 vs. AN200 , Pricing
06:28 H*te Screen
06:56 Jam 1 ( Microhouse )
07:51 Jam 2 ( DnB )
08:53 Finale ( FM Organ Funk )
09:21 Verdict"

Bad Gear - The Monster

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-h*ted audio tools. Arturia doesn’t get enough credit for creating what is probably THE most relevant analog poly of the 21st Century, the Arturia Polybrute .

Today, however, we are going to talk about its similarly oversized, far less universally acclaimed and much more archaic cousin, the 2017 Matrixbrute WHICH didn't age so well.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:44 Overview Matrix Brute
01:17 Oscillator Section
01:57 Filter Section ( Steiner-Parker & Moog Filter )
02:47 Oscillator Bleed, additional Filter Features
03:17 Envelopes, LFOs
03:29 Analog FX Section
03:54 Modulation Matrix
04:46 Preset Selection, Sequencer, Arpeggiator
05:18 What else? (Connectivity, Pricing, MatrixBrute Noir , Thanks)
06:02 H*te Screen
06:25 Jam 1 ( Techno )
07:21 Jam 2 ( Industrial )
08:23 Finale ( Fast Techno )
08:51 Verdict
09:59 Bloopers
10:21 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout"

An AUTHENTIC 90s Dance Music Setup

video upload by AudioPilz

"Hey everybody, this video is a dream come true as we are going to do something I’ve been wanting to do since I was a broke teenager back in the day: build an Original 90s Dance Music Production Setup including synths, drum machine, recording gear and sequencer.

All the equipment we will be using for making music today was brought to the market before the year 2000 and while you might be longing for the workflows of these seemingly simpler times - be careful what you wish for.

00:00 Introduction
00:33 Why 90s EDM Setups were revolutionary
01:14 THE SYNTHS - Novation Bass Station Rack (1995)
01:46 Doepfer MS-404 (1994) - The Eurorack Predecessor
02:05 Roland JV-1080 (1994) - The ROMpler
02:30 Jomox Airbase 99 (1999) - The Drum Machine
03:09 Roland JX8P (1985) - The Keyboard
03:36 THE SEQUENCER - Alesis MMT-8 (1987)
04:22 THE MIXER - Mackie CR-1604 VLZ (1996)
05:01 THE EFFECTS - Alesis 3630 , Roland Space Echo RE-201 ,...
05:38 THE RECORDER - Fostex D-10 DAT Recorder (1993)
06:12 Your favorite 90s Dance Record might be a DAWless Jam ( Trance Jam )
06:55 THE MULTITRACK RECORDER - Alesis ADAT XT (1996)
07:18 Syncing ADATs to a Sequencer - JLC dataSYNC2 (1997)
07:49 Sample CD Big Beat Jam
08:21 Outro"

Bad Gear - OverPriced-1

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. In light of recent events we are going to talk about OP-1 Field.

While other manufacturers either “pass on savings from process optimization” or relentlessly jack up prices once people are actually buying their music making toys, our favorite interior design company/copyright agency/nepo baby cult just flexed their monstrous marketing muscle and - did both at the same time.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:50 Overview Teenage Engineering OP1
01:09 Choose your Price ( $ 1399 or $ 9999 )
01:45 Teenage Engineering OP-1 vs. OP-1 Field
02:13 The Synth
02:36 Drum Sampler / Drum Synth
02:45 How to play the OP-1 Field ( Sequencers )
03:30 LFO
03:37 Tape Machines , Upgrade to 32 Bit Stereo
04:14 New Reverb
04:20 Mixer, Master FX, Output Options ( Radio Transmitter , Bluetooth )
04:51 Build Quality , Thanks
05:03 Hate Screen
05:28 Jam 1 ( PostModern Jam )
06:25 Jam 2 ( Analog Drums Jam )
07:35 Finale ( LoFi 2-Step )
08:05 Verdict"

The Most Epic Music Gear Comparison

video upload by AudioPilz

"Hey everybody, in this video we are going to compare different pieces of gear in the most unscientific yet epic way possible. There’s an extended version of this comparison without me talking nonsense available on Patreon and definitely click one of the links below before shopping. Speaking of, let’s start this out with two of the most desirable modern synths.

00:00 Introduction
00:22 Novation Peak
00:52 ASM Hydrasynth
01:37 Polyend Tracker
02:07 Korg Electribe EMX-1
02:37 Roland MC-101
03:07 Korg opsix
03:57 Casio CZ-101
04:27 Roland S-1 vs. 1010music blackbox
04:57 Korg Wavestate MK2
05:45 Roland TB-3
06:15 Roland Cloud
06:45 Teenage Engineering PO-33 KO!
07:31 Korg Volca Modular
08:02 Teenage Engineering pocket operator modular 400
08:47 Elektron Digitakt II
09:17 Korg Minilogue XD
09:44 Boss DR-5
10:11 Outro
10:32 Bonus Dawless Jam"

Bad Gear - Expensive and Noisy

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Although this channel is often associated with enervating noise , my work environment is so calm I can tune a vintage synth to my tinnitus and I stick to low mixing volumes to avoid ear fatigue.

However, a few days back I received this Audio Motor Synth MKII directly from Gamechanger as a long term loan and believe me - the peace and quiet is gone.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:48 Overview Motorsynth MK2
01:04 Historical Background and Technical Principle
02:05 DCO (or whatever this thing is)
02:25 Filters, Drive
02:49 Modulators
03:02 Accelerator & Break
03:23 Drift, Detune, Cross Mod
03:41 Clutch
03:52 Latch, Arpeggiator
04:14 Sequencer
04:44 Input Section
05:04 More Noise and Sleep Mode
05:12 Power Consumption, Pricing, Connectivity
05:24 Hate Screen
05:53 Jam 1 ( Cinematic Sounds )
06:47 Jam 2 ( Hard Techno )
07:52 Finale ( Expensive Sounds )
08:22 Verdict
09:25 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout

Was this the WORST PURCHASE ever???

video upload by AudioPilz

"A few years back I reviewed what was probably the most underwhelming piece of gear at the time - the original Arturia Drumbrute. This 2016 drum machine seemed like a dream come true: fully analog, great sequencer, one-knob-per-function UI and a design that pleases the eye of normal people and satisfies the basic instincts of synth nerds.

The problem with this instrument: it sounded almost comically bad and might be the only Bad Gear protagonist I didn’t make any real music with.

Although I sent it back after reviewing it, this cursed drum machine kept on haunting me and when I found one on Reverb for the price of a Volca I might have been hovering over the BUY button a little too hard. Was this the worst purchase ever?

00:00 Introduction
00:53 The underwhelming Sounds of the Drum Brute
02:24 Filter, Outputs
02:50 Sequencer, Step Repeat ( Fills ), Midi Control Center
03:33 Analysing the Drum Sounds
05:54 Jam without Effects
06:38 My attempt to make the DrumBrute sound decent
07:41 Jam with Effects
08:12 Outro"

Bad Gear - Multi/Poly

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. When taken out of historical context it might currently seem like a bunch of big companies are stealing the ideas of a Swiss/German/Chinese innovator and trying to amateurishly emulate them in digital form to make a quick buck.

Today we are going to talk about Korg multi/poly. This virtual analog synth and Raspberry Pi in disguise asking you politely to take it out of its misery not only looks like an AI-generated picture-to-CAD rendering conversion process gone wrong, it also comes with more features than a marketing blurb can handle.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:59 Overview Korg Multi Poly
01:44 Keyboard Version
01:58 Classic Oscillators ( VA Synth )
02:17 Wavetables
02:37 Waves Folding Oscillator
02:50 Mixer, Sync, XMod
03:10 Filter Section
03:40 VCA Emulations, Drive
03:51 Envelopes, LFOs
04:03 Mod Matrix, Mod Proc
04:18 FX Section
04:34 Layer Rotate , Arpeggiator
05:03 Controllers , Kaoss Pad , Motion Sequencing , Random
05:36 Software Editor , Korg Multi/Poly Native , Pricing
05:46 Hate Screen
06:07 Jam 1 ( Downtempo )
06:59 Jam 2 ( 140 Bpm Stuff )
08:02 Finale ( EBM meets Techno )
08:32 Verdict"

Bad Gear - SUBSEQUENT 25

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Around 10 years ago a company - that is of course identical to the inMusic-owned Moog brand we know today - released what is probably THE ideal synth keyboard for aging bald guys who really love techno.

Today, however, we are going to talk about Subsequent 25. This recently discontinued analog mono synth comes without all the features that made its bigger sibling usable for actual musicians which turns it into the dream instrument for financially reckless internet posers.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:55 Overview Moog Subsequent25
01:14 Oscillators
01:37 Moog Ladder Filter
02:13 Envelopes
02:28 LFO ( Difference Moog Subsequent 25 vs. Subsequent 37 )
03:02 Patch Memory
03:22 Hidden Features
03:59 Paraphony
04:15 More Differences between Subsequent 25 and Subsequent 37
04:29 Side Panel, Midi Implementation, Thanks
04:48 Hate Screen
05:12 Jam 1 ( Electro )
06:10 Jam 2 ( Epic Synth Sounds )
07:26 Finale ( Meta Meme Techno )
07:56 Verdict"

Bad Gear - SERUM for OLD PEOPLE

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. In times like these when normal people try to steer clear of questionable spending habits, true synth nerds are still stockpiling esoteric Eurorack modules, vintage restoration projects and overpriced VST plugins in a box.

Speaking of which, today we are going to talk about the Waldorf Iridium range. While young producers with an actual history of releasing music are currently benchmarking a Serum 2 torrent, these futurist top shelf instruments based on German technology seem to be the last missing piece in every middle-aged synthesist collection before their careers are destined to take off.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:03 Overview Waldorf Iridium Core
01:59 Iridium Core vs. Iridium Desktop vs. Iridium Keyboard
02:22 Wavetable Synth Engine
02:32 Virtual Analog Synth Engine
02:49 Particle ( Sampler , Granular Synth )
03:15 Resonator ( Physical Modeling Synth Engine )
03:26 Kernel ( FM , Modular )
04:05 Filters, Digiformer
04:43 FX Section
04:52 LFOs, Envelopes, Mod Matrix
05:20 Bitimbrality, Touch Screen, Buttons
05:53 Sequencers, Arpeggiator
06:05 Connectivity, Pricing
06:25 Hate Screen
06:51 Jam 1 ( Fast Techno )
07:43 Jam 2 ( Drum'n'Bass )
08:52 Finale ( Melodic Techno )
09:23 Verdict
10:34 Patreon Sound Design Shoutout"

Bad Gear - The END of Maschine+ ???

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Presumably I’m not the only one who made a handful of Native Instruments “backup copies” a core part of his personality back in the zero years so it goes without saying that my mid-forties self is yearning for an overpriced yet tangible take on these plugins for the sole purpose of reminding me of a time when all it needed was sleep deprivation and a PC from Aldi.

However, all we got was Maschine+. This 2020 standalone version of NIs software MPC ripoff ecosystem offers DAWless access to a small selection of these now-iconic plugins, it boasts the processing power of the aforementioned Aldi PC and will disappoint you with more broken promises when it comes to major updates than the GTA franchise.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:12 Overview Maschine+
01:21 How Standalone is Maschine+?
01:50 Current Update Situation ( April 2025 )
02:18 Included Instruments, VST Integration (or lack thereof)
03:10 Workflow, USB Midi
03:46 Ribbon Controller
03:59 NO TOUCHSCREENS!!! (and UI Concept)
04:22 Internal Structure, Hierarchy
05:08 Sampling , Sample Chopping , Autosampling
05:23 What else? (Pricing, CPU Consumption, Workflow Hacks,...)
05:53 Hate Screen
06:22 Jam 1 ( Techno )
06:49 Jam 2 ( Electro )
08:25 Finale ( Dubstep / Brostep )
08:53 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Wavestation

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Instruments featured on this show usually come with at least one of the following three characteristics: corny sounds that didn’t age so well, a super nerdy concept people who actually have a life wouldn’t even try to comprehend and an impenetrable UI gatekeeping the sonic goodness.

Today we are going to talk about Korg’s iconic Wavestations. These early 90s wave sequencing synths are undisputed top performers in each of the aforementioned categories and while the standard versions already require a certain willingness to suffer I - a trained professional - upped the difficulty level a bit and opted for the Dark Souls-like SR edition. Don’t try this at home or at all!


Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:08 Overview Wavestations
01:51 Wavestation Comparison
02:21 PCM Waves ( Samples )
02:50 Vector Synthesis
03:07 Synth Engine
03:36 FX Section
03:41 Multi Mode
03:54 Wave Sequencing
05:02 What else? ( UI, Pricing, Alternatives,...)
05:23 Hate Screen
05:55 Jam 1 ( Nature Documentary Type Beat )
06:49 Jam 2 ( Electro )
07:47 Finale ( Arty Techno )
08:17 Verdict"

Bad Gear - SERUM 2 by Xfer

video upload by AudioPilz

"Today we are going to talk about XFER SERUM The Second Coming edition so synth manufacturers - be prepared to get humbled by a true musical and technical visionary with a history of working with the Nine Inch Nails , unique 21st century marketing skills and a sense of integrity that has become a rare feat among successful business people.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:08 Overview XFER SERUM 2
01:22 Oscillator ( Wavetables , SFZ , Sample Chopping , Spectral , Granular )
02:16 Warp, FM Synth Features, PD, Unison, Sub & Noise Oscillator
02:50 Dual Filter Section, Clean Mode
03:18 FX Section, New Routings & Algos
03:34 Big LFO, Chaos and Envelope Upgrade
03:59 Mod Matrix, Mixer
04:17 Arpeggiator
04:25 Clips View (DAW-in-a-plugin)
04:36 More Improvements (Undo/Redo, Wavetable Editor , Scales)
04:57 Browser, Patches, Macros + a few Factory Sounds
05:36 Pricing , Splice , Upgrade Policy
05:53 Hate Screen
06:19 Jam 1 ( Modern Hard Techno )
07:12 Jam 2 ( Drum'n'Bass )
08:22 Finale ( High Tech Minimal )
08:52 Verdict
10:20 Patreon Shoutout"

Bad Gear - MBase

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Frequent viewers of this channel are well-aware of the fact that I - personally - love all gear, that this show is merely a reflection on the hate of others and that even some of my favorite electronic musical instruments aren’t safe from the relentless ridicule of the Bad Gear treatment.

Today we are going to talk about Jomox MBase. This synthesizer with a strong focus on the nether regions of the percussive backbone of an arrangement is not only an integral part of my sonic arsenal - most of the criticism is also well-deserved."

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:56 Overview Jomox MBase
01:35 Analog Synth Engine
02:02 Jomox MBase11 vs. MBase01 Comparison ( Metalizer )
02:35 LFO
03:01 EQ
03:08 Workflow, Trigger Input, Menu System
03:33 Chromatic Bass Synthesizer Mode
03:42 More Additional Features of the MBase11
03:56 Hate Screen
04:25 Jam 1 ( Techno )
05:15 Jam 2 ( 808 Bassline )
06:15 Finale ( Bass Drum ONLY House )
06:45 Verdict

Music Production Gear that is still TOO CHEAP!!!

video upload by AudioPilz

"In this video we are going to talk about music production gear that is still too cheap. There has been a lot of social media drama about a music technology company ripoff or scam so I thought it is about time to put a focus on synths , grooveboxes and drum machines that are - in my opinion - seriously undervalued.

Most of the products we are taking a look at today have been discontinued so the main metric will be used prices on Reverb but some of these electronic music instruments are still available new for astonishingly affordable prices.

00:00 Introduction
00:34 Best Groovebox for Beginners on a Budget
01:21 Best Grooveboxes for aspiring Pros on a Budget
02:10 Most underrated Hybrid Synth
02:48 Is this 80s Analog Synth still a Bargain?
03:32 The 80s Roland Drum Machine most People don’t know about
04:25 ROMpler Time!!!
05:11 Grooviest 90s Drum Machine
05:55 So Cute!!!
06:28 Modern Analog Drum Machine on a Budget
07:10 Most underrated Analog Synth

CLICK FOR MORE »

Bad Gear - Sequential Pro 4

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. There are countless reasons to get a synth created by the one and only Dave Smith: the gravitas of early Prophets, the mind-boggling sound design potential of the Evolver or the intuitive UI concept of vector synthesis in general - just to name a few.

However, he also made the Tetr4 .

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:42 Overview Dave Smith Tetra
01:57 Synth Engine, Oscillators
02:37 Filter Section
03:01 Envelopes, LFOs
03:18 Mod Matrix
03:29 Polyphony Features, Arpeggiator, Sequencer
03:58 Workflow
04:28 What else ( Multitimbrality, Limitations, Pricing, Thanks)
05:06 Hate Screen
05:30 Jam 1 ( Pro-1 meets 80s Poly Synth )
06:19 Jam 2 ( Classic Analog Poly Sounds )
07:22 Finale ( PsyTrance )
07:49 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Cold as Ice???

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. In a musical landscape dominated by the oftentimes characterless clarity of modern digital technology synth fans are yearning for the organic warmth of analog instruments.

Today we are going to talk about the 2019 Modal Argon-8 wavetable synthesizer which - no pun intended - offers the exact polar opposite.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:44 Overview Modal Argon 8
01:37 Wavetable Oscillators
02:00 Special Oscillator Features (Modifiers, FM Synthesis )
02:33 Filter Section
02:55 Modulators
03:10 Workflow, Mod Matrix
03:20 FX Section
03:43 Menu Structure
03:53 Arpeggiator , Sequencer
04:12 Patches
04:47 What else??? ( Software Editor , MPE Midi, Pricing, Thanks)
05:09 Hate Screen
05:33 Jam 1 ( Arctic House )
06:25 Jam 2 ( Polar Electro )
07:17 Finale ( Below-zero Downtempo )
07:48 Verdict"

Drum Beats for AMATEURS

video upload by AudioPilz

"Hey everybody, in this video we are going to talk about how to make drum beats if you - like me - have no music theory or formal composition skills. We will discuss how to create the rhythmic framework of electronic music but some of these methods might also be helpful to real musicians."

00:00 Introduction
00:31 Chapter 1: Düsseldorf, 1981
02:17 Chapter 2: Gimme a Break
03:53 Chapter 3: It's a Trap !!!
05:09 Chapter 4: The Soundtrack for Self-Medication
07:16 Chapter 5: The One that didn't age so well
08:23 Chapter 6: Cheat Codes - Swing
08:59 Chapter 7: Cheat Codes - Euclidean Patterns
09:39 Outro

Bad Gear - The Game Changer

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Back in the day when synth nerds had to walk 10 miles in the snow uphill both ways to get wasted and find a place for music production the term game changer had a completely different meaning.

Today we are going to talk about the very first E-mu Proteus. This 80s synth and dumbed-down offspring of the Emulator sampler range not only made their iconic tones more accessible, its presets also burned themselves into the global pop cultural consciousness.

Bad Gear - The Game Changer
The Gamechanger
Emu Proteus
E-mu Proteus 1
E-mu Proteus/1
meme video

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:52 Overview Emu Proteus 1
01:22 Famous Sounds and Samples
02:14 How does Proteus Work?
02:38 Envelopes and LFOs
02:52 Pseudo-Chorus
03:06 Why Proteus was a Game Changer back in the day
03:32 Modulation Section, Midi Implementation, Studio Integration
04:00 What else??? (Pricing, Proteus Generations,...)
04:45 Hate Screen
05:12 Jam 1 ( Retro Console Game Music )
06:08 Jam 2 ( 90s Jungle , Drum'n'Bass , Whatever... )
07:04 Finale ( Synthwave , 90s TV Show Soundtrack )
07:34 Verdict"