Thinking about the Polyend Play+ // Are its synths worth the extra cost?

video upload by Starsky Carr

"The Polyend Play+ has got Synths, Stereo and Audio over USB... but if that's not your bag could you save some cash by buying or sticking with the original ? What do the synths do? how do they work? what do they sound like? are they easy to use?

All answered in here... hopefully!

I look at the synth voices in some depth (not too much I hope) to demo what you can get from them and their overall tone, usefulness and playability. As a synth head I have to say I like them and think they're a worthy addition to Team Play."

0:00 What's This All About
2:36 Using the Synths
10:46 ACD
13:42 FAT
16:41 VAP
21:06 WTFM

Blade Runner 2024 - Cyberpunk Ambient (Korg Minilogue XD)

video upload by PARKER

"All sounds Korg Minilogue XD..."

https://jparkersound.bandcamp.com/

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O.II Ambient Calmness

video upload by Perplex On

"Guess i needed a break after the recent glitchy jam, so here are just a few calm ambient chords dialed in. Using a factory sample + onboard reverb (plus an extra pinch of #rymdigare reverb on the recording iPad). Hope you enjoy."

Befaco FX Boy + Guitar = Fun, Fuzz, Vintage Echoes & More (no talking)

video upload by DivKid

"Straight to the point here, no talking, waffle and ramble ... right into the thick of it with playing guitar into the Befaco FX Boy.

Here's I'm just playing around and letting the sounds dictate what I play. Good fun and good sounds. This is the second FX Boy Fridays video which gives further examples of the FX Boy in different contexts.

If you haven't seen it before see the full demo here" [posted here]

Ludvig Elblaus & Stelios Giannoulakis - EMS Synthi100 at CMRC/ΚΣΥΜΕ

video upload by Schema Musicalis

"Ludvig Elblaus and Stelios Giannoulakis playing the legendary EMS Synthi100 at CMRC/ΚΣΥΜΕ, Athens Conservatoire, 20 December 2023. Improvised performance during Ludvig's residency at ΚΣΥΜΕ. Stelios is using a circuit-bent toy piano as an additional audio and control source for the Synthi100.

https://www.ludvigelblaus.com
https://www.utrumque.com
https://memoromemoro.bandcamp.com

Both an artist and researcher, Ludvig works primarily with computational materials to create acoustic and electronic music, sound art, audiovisual installations, museum exhibits and also makes contributions to larger collaborative works in several traditions (e.g. opera, theatre, and dance). Elblaus holds his PhD in Sound and Music Computing 2018 from the NAVET Center for Art, Technology, and Design, at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. His latest projects include commissions for the GRM Acousmonium, the Labor Sonor Festival, the Elevate Festival, and performances in Stockholm, Cairo, Vienna, Paris, Zurich and Graz. In 2022 he was composer in residence at the Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics in Graz. In 2023 he is working in the Moving Loudspeakers Artistic Residency at the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology at ZHdK. He also teaches at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.

In addition to his solo work, he has been involved in several long-term collaborative projects. Some notable examples are the electro-acoustic improvisation ensemble The Schematics (with Erik Calälv, Katt Hernandez, and Daniel M. Karlsson), the networked music project End of Text (ETX) (with Luc Döbereiner), a musical composition collaboration with Rune Rebne, and the musical and artistic research duo Utrumque (with Gerhard Eckel)."

Future Sound of London, Cascade 1 (cover)

video upload by fischek

"I love this track and tried to come close to recreating it."

Korg Wavestate - Jean-Michel Jarre Tribute (40 Performances)

video upload by LFOstore

"The music of the legendary composer and performer, Jean-Michel Jarre, opened a door into a new world of electronic music back in 1976 with the release of 'Oxygene' album, which went on to sell over 18 million copies worldwide. His music has inspired generations of people around the world, allowing to travel into a new dimension of sensations and states. He is one of the most successful musicians in history, and holds the world record for the monumental 3.5 million spectators to his Moscow concert in 1997.

Inspired by the maestro’s work, LFO Store team’s renowned sound designer, Otto K. Schwarz, has prepared for you a wonderful soundbank with 40 presets on board. One of the greatest synthesizers of our time, Korg Wavestate, is a great tool both to emulate the sounds of iconic synthesizers of the past, as well as create multi-layered sounds that allow to stretch your imagination into the future. We did not strive to completely repeat the sounds created by the Master, but looked into the same direction, using our experience and modern vision.

These presets are from different categories: ARPs, leads, FXes, synths, strings, brasses, and even more! They are royalty-free and suitable for both studio work and live performances. The presets are modwheel - assigned, which allows you to modulate the sounds to the needs of your own musical works.

We wish you a wonderful journey and inspiration in creating world-class musical compositions!"

https://lfo.store/

All The Sevens - 7 Beats per Bar ARP

video upload by midicake

"Why not use 7 beats per bar? Midicake ARP let's you do any musical time divisions you'd like so let's give it a go.

We hook Midicake ARP up to the Eurorack Synths and make some music."

GForce Software AXXESS Synth Review - Sonic LAB

video upload by sonicstate

"GForce Software's latest release - based on the lowly but highly regarded mono synth the Arp Axxe, which had 1 oscillator, one filter, one LFO and 1 ADSR.

The Axxess is somewhat enhanced. Firstly you get 6 voice polyphony, FX in the form of distortion, delay and reverb, plus an additional sub oscillator and of course the GForce XMOD additions - essentially a dedicated X-LFO and X-ENV for pretty much each parameter. This expands the capabilities significantly."

DSI Prophet 08 (the better one) night time melodies

video upload by MIDERA

"I had no interest in recording anything tonight, but I feel like any time I sit down with the DSI Prophet 08, I enjoy it, so I recorded this. Sorry about the crackling. I don't know what it is about the P08, but it seems to distort more easily than other synths. Maybe I just have the levels all wrong.

I had been comparing the P08 to the P10, side by side, and I still have to say to myself 'WTF - I like the P08 more.' In almost every sound I create, the P08 feels more melodic. I don't get it. There's something almost 'boring' in the P10. Or maybe it can just go too wild at the 'same settings'? I don't know what it is, I am sure the P08 is more tame so in a way it more easily makes things sound pleasant. I can usually get them super close (which speaks highly to the P08 I think).

Also - I call it the 'better one' because I absolutely hated the REV2, after owning it once and borrowing it from a friend to compare to the P08. I concluded that the P08 was better then. And it's still one of the best synths I have. I like it more than the P10, PE, P12 (easily), Jupiter 6... Not sure about the Chroma Polaris, which itself is wild, but in a more "Bladerunner" sort of way.

On a personal note - I'm one week into being bald. It's weird. Most people don't say a word and I wonder 'Does that mean they think it looks terrible or does nobody care?' One person did stop me to say they thought I looked good, but I felt like maybe they said that just to be kind, knowing I must feel pretty bad otherwise. Truthfully, it's hard to get used to. I think 'great, I'm just another bald dude...' and think a bit less of myself, but part of me loves the idea of not having to think about my hair after I have a hat on or bike somewhere.

And finally, today I got my final gift from my mom. It was new indoor slippers. She bought me a pair about 10 years ago and I wore them beyond the point that they had holes in the soles. I asked her for a new pair for christmas, but she didn't make it to then, and so I bought myself a pair. I'm wearing them now. It will be sad to throw the old pair out, but I should lay them to rest. They've served me well.

Prophet 08 with Eventide Blackhole VST"