Synth Friday M-Audio Venom The Synth with a Killer Bite!

video upload by Take the Fear out the Gear

"Hi everybody this time we bring you this weeks Synth Friday the M-Audio Venom The Synth with a Killer Bite!

The M-Audio Venom 49-key synthesizer combines the character of classic analog synths with modern digital processing to deliver an aggressive, infectious new sound. Whet your appetite with the included presets, then sink your teeth into creating original sounds—from atmospheric and subtle, to angry and downright nasty. Easily tweak parameters from the intuitive top-panel interface, or explore endless sound design and configuration possibilities with the included software editor. Perform bass lines, leads, and more with a full-size keyboard designed to satisfy serious players. You can even use Venom as an audio interface with Pro Tools* and other music software—forming a powerful production machine to take your music in dangerous new directions.

Dedicated Website https://venom-synth.com/"

You can find additional M-Audio Venom posts here. It's worth noting the man behind the Vemon, Taiho Yamada, is an industry veteran who was also beind the Alesis Andromeda A6. You can find an exclusive MATRIXSYNTH review and interview with Taiho, including tips and tricks from the man himself, posted back in 2011 here.

He's not saying it's UNDERRATED but it's...

video upload by AudioPilz

"Hey everybody! There are - at least - three strong contenders for the title “Worst Synth of all Time”: Akai Timbre Wolf, the obscure Red Sound Darkstar and today’s protagonist, M-Audio VENOM.

We are going to talk about how this 2011 instrument turned out to be one of the most epic failures in music tech history, why it is massively underrated and we will try to dial in sounds that are on par with and sometimes even better than those of synths further up the food chain.

I'm not saying it's UNDERRATED but it's...
MAudio VENOM"

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Overview M-Audio VENOM
02:00 History of the VENOM
02:23 Software Situation
02:43 Is it a Synth???
05:17 Is it a Groovebox???
05:57 Software Problems
06:14 Prices
06:29 Can we make it sound great?
06:50 Jam
07:25 Outro

Rare Purple Beta Testers M-Audio Venom

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"M-Audio Venom Purple Beta Tester Version As far as I know there where only a few of these made in this color. The production units where white with orange and black lettering. I was one of the beta testers and sound programmers for this synth. I upgraded the motherboard recently to a production release motherboard swapping out the beta motherboard. When I swapped the motherboard I reset it back to the factory patches but will provide a download of my patches that I programmed during the development of this synth. I also put in a new old stock keybed as the original one had yellowed, the new one is a bright white. While it requires using the editor from either a Mac or PC to program it completely it has a broad range of possible sounds. It is a very fat sounding synth."

CLICK FOR MORE »

M-Audio Venom Purple Beta Tester Version

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"M-Audio Venom Purple Beta Tester Version As far as I know there was only one other of these made in this color. [only two other listings were previously posted here. You'll also find a post on Venom creator Taiho Yamahda's blog. Taiho is now with Sequential.] The production units where white with orange and black lettering. I was one of the beta testers and sound programmers for this synth. Since this was a beta tester model the Midi was not fully functional when I received it. We did all of updates thru the USB however so don't know for sure if there was a change to the hardware or it just needs a firmware upgrade. Was just going to buy another production model and swap out the motherboard but never got around to it. It has all of my factory program contributions in bank C. While it requires using the editor from either a Mac or PC to program it completely it has a broad range of possible sounds. It is a very fat sounding synth."

M-Audio Venom synth demo

video upload by SynthAddict

Some useful info from a previous post:

Note for extensive editing you need an external editor that came with the synth or this one from Patch Base. There was one for TB MIDI Stuff and Touch OSC as well. The physical synth only gives you access to a small number of parameters. You can find a review, interview, and tips and tricks posted back in 2011 here.

M-AUDIO VENOM 49-Key Virtual Analog 12 voice synthesizer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

CLICK FOR MORE »

Progressive Ambient Electronic Session with M-Audio Venom a Virtual Modeling Synth - Superteclados

video upload by Superteclados

"Ketsudan - Theme from the album: KOEYAI by VICHERVAL
available here: https://vicherval.bandcamp.com/album/...
Made with:
M-Audio Venom virtual analog modeling synth
Full Bucket BucketOne VSTi
Full Bucket FB-3300 VSTi
Daichi Synth1"

Gimu | M-Audio Venom virtual modeling synth PreSonus iTwo audio interface - Superteclados.com

video upload by Superteclados

"Gimu - Theme from the album: KOEYAI by VICHERVAL
available here: https://vicherval.bandcamp.com/album/...

Made with:
M-Audio Venom virtual analog modeling synth
Full Bucket BucketOne VSTi
Daichi Synth1 VSTi"

Fuka-sa | M-Audio Venom virtual modeling synth Cakewalk SPS25 audio interface - Superteclados.com

video upload by Superteclados

"Fuka-sa - Theme from the album: KOEYAI by VICHERVAL
available here: https://vicherval.bandcamp.com/album/...
Made with:
M-Audio Venom virtual analog modeling synth"

M-Audio Venom In Original Box

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

RS042 M-Audio Venom: The Bad Guy

video upload by rejected synths

"It one of storytelling's oldest tricks, the bad guy that turn out to be the good guy. From Dickens’ Ebeneezer Scrooge to Jane Austen‘s Mr Darcy, from J.K Rowling‘s Snape to (who ever came up with him!?) Jonny Lawrence from Corbra Kai, the tough guys aren‘t as tough in the end and often the bad reputation they carry isn‘t really their own fault.

So, will a synth that is both notorious for being little more than a dub step noise machine and a cheaply built and quickly abandoned piece of glossy white plastic actually turn out to be the hero of the story?

It very much depends on who tells the story here, as M-Audio‘s Venom clearly has it‘s strengths if you can overlook the questionable design decisions made during it‘s inception. Like the hard to read grey on grey lettering or the fact that M-Audio thinks it totally ok for a stand alone hardware synth to heavily rely on a software editor that requires a PCor Mac to be able to utilize most of its extensive set synth engine features. Even the Virtual Analog Synthesizer claim that is prominently featured on the synth itself, it a bit of a hoax, as the Venom basically is just a souped up Rompler running on Amtel‘s Dream series ICs that were also found in PC sound cards and Karaoke Machines in the late 90s and early 2000s.

If you ignore these shortcomings and manage to get the editor running, you might be surprised of what the Venom can actually do. Apart from all the obvious dirty and distorted stuff, a lot can be achieved with the synth engine. Also as it was designed as an all in one solution for music beginners, you can even use it to record and process other instruments and even your own voice (vocoder anyone?).

Last but not least, the Venom might be pretty much the only synth whose price tag doesn‘t seem to have skyrocketed during the pandemic, here in Europe, you can still regularity find one for around 100€!

Curious? Then go ahead and press play!"

0:00 Intro
0:46 Introduction
1:29 The ugly parts
2:10 The bad parts
3:12 The good parts
4:35 Controls and connectivity
6:07 'Sick and Nasty' Patches
8:40 'Mad FX' Patches
9:29 'Whirling Pad' Patches
13:19 'Clean Keys' Patches
14:54 'Stained Keys' Patches
18:12 'Amazing Arp' Patches
20:46 'Traditional' Patch
21:13 Some Drumkits
22:39 Multi Mode Demo
25:31 Conclusion
26:10 Outro

RS042.1 M-Audio Venom: 'No Talking Edition'


"This is a shorter 'No Talking' edit of my video about the M-Audio Venom for those who prefer 'pure' demos without comments."

M-Audio Venom Synthesizer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction, also on Reverb

"This synth has some pretty wicked synth textures and beats at a great price. Amazing arpeggiator too. Very underrated and well worth double the price. Great synth, lightweight, can be used as a controller too!"

Unfortunately you need an external editor to access the full synth engine.

CLICK FOR MORE »

M-Audio Venom - Demystified & Custom Sounds!

video upload by LFOstore

M-Audio Venom "Best Analog & Ambient Sounds" 128 presets Free Pack!
video upload by LFOstore

"Finally we made a demystification of M-Audio's white devil - Venom Synth!
This complex soundset contains best sounds we found online & we tweak them to our taste.

And this soundset showing analog & ambient side of Venom & its potential for soft & organic sounds.

128 presets splitted on categories:

Pads, Drones, Spheres
Massive Strings
Analog-Like Basses
Cutting-Edge Leads
Arps & Sequences
Plucks & Bells
FX

Vyzex editor & driver are included to this pack.
Re-discover your Venom Synthesizer with our sounds selection!

Made by Nick Klimenko aka Chronos, a creator of 'Organica' for Waldorf Blofeld & 'WS Universe' for Korg Wavestation"

M-Audio Venom Synthesizer w/ Original Box

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This synth has some pretty wicked synth textures and beats at a great price. Amazing arpeggiator too. Very underrated and well worth double the price. Great synth, lightweight, can be used as a controller too!"

Note for extensive editing you need an external editor that came with the synth or this one from Patch Base. There was one for TB MIDI Stuff and Touch OSC as well. The physical synth only gives you access to a small number of parameters. You can find a review, interview, and tips and tricks posted back in 2011 here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

M-Audio venom synthesizer & nexus HZO-Ovorton7

video upload by Ovortón7

One day | M-Audio Venom Patches

video by MIDERA

"I decided to test out an M-Audio Venom. It was shipped to me for $5 (the Venom itself cost more, of course). When it arrived, it was in a guitar case. No packaging. Just the synth against the cardboard. I would say that this ranked top worst packing I've ever seen as a synth. However, the Venom survived the trip, which suggests the plastic that held it is strong.

When I plugged it in and realized just how little you could edit it on the front screen - I was utterly shocked. I thought it couldn't be a worse interface than the AN1x, which shares its tepid UI. No, it is in fact much worse. You can edit some very basic things like ADSR, filter settings, and some LFO rates, but... you can't edit the oscillators (of which there are a ton).

Anyway, I created these sounds using the software which does in fact still work on Windows 10. And you know - if it had a UI where you could edit every parameter on the synth, it would be pretty amazing. It sounds very good, but the fact that I have to use a computer to truly edit it, means it's not for me to keep.

Used Eventide Blackhole VST for reverb

0:00 Crystals
2:37 OBwave
5:00 Bored of 2
6:01 Wonders
7:25 Vacant
8:36 Pelog
9:47 Alone"

---

NOTE: Click here for a review and interview I did with the main designer of the Venom, Taiho Yamada back in 2011. You'll find the interview, followed by some tips and tricks. Taiho also worked on the Alesis Andromeda A6, and the DSP developer of the Venom worked on Radikal Technologies' Spectralis as well as the Accelerator. Taiho Yamada's most current projects are at MOK.

AudioPilz - Synths - Bad/Better Gear

Bad Gear - Yamaha CS1x - Not Exactly My Thing video by AudioPilz

Just discovered this series. Above is the latest video featuring the Yamaha CS1x. Below is a playlist of previous videos in the series. I'm guessing the CS1x will be added. P.S. I actually own a CS1x and SU10 so it's kind of fun seeing them paired in this video. The CS1x is all ROMpler but it does have some nice icy strings. It has a bright digital character about it - like it's permanently run through a glassy sounding reverb.



Playlist (enjoy, or not - use the controls on the bottom left or upper right of the player to skip around):
Bad Gear - Roland TB-3 - A Touchscreen TB-303 Nightmare???
How To Control The Microkorg Using Midi Controllers??? (Tutorial)
Bad Gear - Microkorg - A Hipster Synth???
Bad Gear - Am I Too Bad For This Synth???
Bad Gear - Akai Timbre Wolf - Weakest Poly Synth???
Bad Gear - Korg Electribe EA-1 - Worst Of The Tribe???
Bad Gear - Red Sound Darkstar - Worst Synth Of All Time???
Bad Gear - M-Audio Venom - Biggest Software Dongle Of All Time???
Better Gear - DIY Yamaha DX7 Realtime Controller (Tutorial)
Bad Gear - Roland JX-305 - Pub Gig MC-505???
Bad Gear - Arturia Minibrute - The Tutorial Synth???
Bad Gear - Roland D-110 - 80s Sound In A Box???
Bad Gear - Yamaha FB-01 - Second Worst FM Synth???
Bad Gear - Yamaha SHS-10 Keytar - Most Embarrassing Synth Of All Time???
Bad Gear - Quasimidi Sirius - 90s Techno Machine???
Bad Gear - Korg Kaossilator Pro - The Synth of Christmas Past???
Bad Gear - Nintendo Korg DS-10 - Game Boy MS-20???
Roland U-110 - Yet Another Boring 80s Synthesizer???
Bad Gear - Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 - Vintage Gamers Synth???
Bad Gear - Yamaha DJX - Kid’s Keyboard???
Bad Gear - Roland SH-201 - The MP3 Synth??? (feat. Alex Ball)
Bad Gear - Casio SK-1 - The Original Fart Sampler
Bad Gear - Waldorf Blofeld - Vintage Sound of the Future???

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

M-AUDIO VENOM VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTHESIZER

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

M-Audio Venom Digital Analog Modeling Synthesizer w/ Original Box

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Note the following only applies to an extent: "It has long been misunderstood that this keyboard requiressoftware in order to use it as a synth. The venom however can do the samewithout its software. The Venom software just allows for easier access to theVenom's sound engine similar to the Novation UltraNova and similar products ofits time that bundled the option of using a virtual interface along with theirhardware product."

You only have access to a limited number of parameters on the synth itself. You need an editor for the rest. Back when I had time for synth reviews I did one including an interview with Taiho Yamada with some tips and trick. You can find it here. I also created a Touch OSC based iPad editor for the Venom which gave you access to the additional parameters. The editor was ported to TB MIDI Stuff. You can find an editor for Patch Base here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Edisyn 26 Free Open Source Patch Editor Released

You can find it here.

"Edisyn is a free open source patch editor for a number of synthesizers. Version 26 has new editors for the M-Audio Venom, Waldorf Kyra, and Casio CZ-230S. Version 26 also has several new patch exploration tools, including real-time morphing between four patches, and merging of random patch pairs from your synthesizer. Version 26 also has many bug fixes and improvements.

Edisyn runs on the Mac, Windows, and Linux.

At present Edisyn supports: the Alesis D4 and DM5; Casio CZ series; DSI Prophet '08, Mopho series, and Tetra; E-Mu Proteus 1/2/3, Morpheus, and UltraProteus; Kawai K1, K4, and K5; Korg MicroKorg, MicroSampler, SG Rack, and Wavestation SR; M-Audio Venom; Novation Drumstation and D Station; Oberheim Matrix 6, 6R, and 1000; Preen FM2; Red Sound DarkStar; Roland D-110, JV-80, and JV-880; Waldorf Blofeld, Microwave XT and XTk, and Kyra; most Yamaha 4-Operator FM Synths (such as the TX81Z and DX11); Yamaha FB-01; Yamaha DX7, TX7, TX216/816, Dexed, Korg Volca FM, and other DX7 compatible synths; Yamaha FS1R; Yamaha TG33, SY22, and SY35; Tuning standards and MTS; and generic CC, NRPN, and RPN control.

Edisyn has infinite levels of undo, a broad spectrum of patch exploration and creation tools (mutation, merging, nudging, morphing, blending, and evolutionary methods), and a wide array of other useful features. Try it out!"