SOMA Lyra-8 & Ornament // It's like having two LYRAs!

video upload by Dexba

"First time with my new Ornament!
I resisted the impulse to buy it until I got a Pulsar-23, then I thought I was invested enough in the SOMA ecosystem to keep overlooking the Ornament.
So I got it, and I am still not sure how much use I will get out of it, but this jam was a real beauty. I effectively connected with the Lyra on another level, freeing up some mental space for better improvisation, in a way like having two Lyras under my hands.
You can't see it, but on my left, there was my girlfriend painting, so we shared this very artistic moment together and... I mean, that's the reason we do it, right?
When I will receive my tripod for the camera (which I ordered a month and a half ago), I will be able to maybe show you one of these moments together.
I hope you'll enjoy ✨"

Meng Qi WINGIE 2 Resonator // Demo Tutorial Walkthrough

video upload by Dexba

"It's here, I love, and I hope I can spread some extra love with this video about the @Meng Qi Wingie 2, or Wing 2, as YouTube keeps suggesting.
It is a lovely, tiny, portable, stereo resonator, that is giving me more joy and exploration than a lot of many, 20 times more expensive, other instruments.
I am demoing it both with the onboard microphones and some samples coming from the Digitakt.
All the demo is the dry sound of the Wingie, except for the last part, where it is also stated I have added a reverb to the demos you've heard at the beginning.
I hope you will find something useful here, and as always I am more than ready to answer your question, if I can 🧡

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Demo of the 4 algorithms
0:46 What is this?
2:01 Noise
2:44 Proper notes
3:40 3rd and 5th are your friends
4:18 Sinewaves?
4:49 MIDI sequencing
6:12 Instrument Overview
7:18 Poly mode
8:42 Strings and Note Cycling Threshold
10:25 Bar mode
10:49 Cave mode
12:44 Microphone Gain
13:56 Line Input Gain
15:09 Connectivity
15:24 Careful, always careful
15:57 Demo with Valhalla reverb"

SERGE Modular INORI & TKB // First study on the use as a synthetic clarinet

video upload by Dexba

"Little snippet of my first exploration of the Pressure output from the Touch Activated Keyboard Sequencer (or TKB) and the INORI sound module, both from Random Source.
I am using the filter as a VCA, running one oscillator through the legendary Wave Multiplier (the middle one), while using the top one as a VCA for the vibrato amount, given by the second oscillator used as an LFO.
Very simple patch, I just wanted to practice the feeling of the keyboard itself, tuned to a hirajōshi scale."

Instruo Arbhar & Lubadh // Everything started with a resonant filter!

video upload by Dexba

"All did indeed start with a single ping from the Instruo I-o47, and then through the magic of recording many of them at different Lubadh's speeds... we got to this chirping forest of layers upon layers of magic!
Arbhar came last, providing some substance under Lubadh (and the reverb too!), so I could easily tweak the two decks without having moments of silence.
I left this going for hours, then I decided it was time to add some voice too, since I had been kinda singing along the whole afternoon, and here we go!
I am very proud of this, I know it will perform pretty poorly on YouTube, but I honestly care very little, since this is what I want from a performance, and I am happy to present it to you.
I hope you'll enjoy it!"

Neutral Labs Elmyra 2 - Drone Synthesizer // Demo, Tutorial and Opinions

video upload by Dexba

"SUBTITLES AVAILABLE (in many languages!) I've had the lucky chance to be able to check out the Elmyra 2, by Neutral Labs. It has a very interesting approach to performance and sound building: it looks easy, but it can get way deeper than you think. After playing with it for a long while, I decided to offer you a tour of its functions, plus my (unrequested) opinions, all in this desktop configuration. Since the video was getting pretty long already, even by just covering the basic functions, I decided to keep the eurorack approach for a later time, also because that would have prompted me to give even more (unrequested) opinions, and the possible combinations of modules would have been endless (except for the mandatory huge reverb!). In this video, I used the very good reverb on the Dirtywave M8 Tracker, which was very handy because of its 3.5mm jack and the capability of isolating just the active channel on the cable. I hope you'll find the video useful, in its "overview" part, and I hope the "opinion" part could spark some constructive debate."

0:00 Jam Excerpt
0:29 Intro
1:10 What is an Elmyra?
4:07 Voice Controls
6:20 Delay
7:12 Advanced Settings Intro
7:57 AS - Onboard Reverb
8:56 AS - Mix Saturation
11:13 AS - Miscellaneous
12:21 AS - Filter Type
14:41 AS - Octave Switch
15:28 AS - Miscellaneous
16:04 MODP - Red
16:51 MODP - Green
17:59 MODP - Mint
18:56 MODP - Purple
19:23 MODP - Blue
20:05 MODP - Cyan
21:58 MODP - Yellow
23:16 MODP - White
24:23 MODP - Pink
25:25 MODP - Lime
26:03 Utilities
28:15 OUCH
30:15 Existential Crisis
31:55 Personal Considerations
38:37 Full Jam

Additional posts featuring the Neutral Labs Elmyra 2

SOMA Pulsar-23 // Hauntingly Beautiful (not only as a drum!)

video upload by Dexba

"I finally did it!
I've never waited so long for a video to come out since I bought an instrument, the turnaround is usually one week, I think for this we're closer to 6 months.
But a lot of stuff happened, I moved, I've left many instruments behind, but I decided to take with me this, probably the most obscure and the one I have least confidence with.
Finally, I cracked the (very personal) code, of using the Pulsar like a very different and powerful Lyra, instead of a drum machine.
I made many previous attempts, but I was always ending up with trip-hop borderline eurorack farts and bubbles, and it wasn't quite video material.
Now, that's mine, that's what I like from my instruments, and I love the Pulsar even more for being able to get me *THERE*.
For any discussion about the process or the gear, I'll wait for you in the comments :)
Enjoy ✨"

Meng Qi Wing Pinger & OP1 Field // Welcome to my synthetic dojo

video upload by Dexba

"I finally managed to bring the Wing Pinger to the new house, and as soon as I plugged it in, I remembered why I got it in the first place: its range from mellow, realistic birds, to harsh and complex territories, in a single twist of a knob.
This time it can also make friends with the OP1 Field, acting as a recorder and FX for the Wing Pinger, in a somewhat small and portable experimental setup (there would be so much to sample!).
After I recorded this, I laid down for a while, simply enjoying the ever-changing soundscapes, and it was a very much-needed moment of bliss."

Novation PEAK & Synthstrom DELUGE // Ambient Distortion

Dexba

"Introducing the first video of my new PEAK, oh boy, not so sure I was loving this thing before I started sequencing with the Deluge, the ultimate hardware sequencer/piano roll for dawless lovers.

I was stuck playing it via my Korg SV1, so no mod wheels, no pitch bend, nothing, and everything was static and sort of... lame? It is not the right word, but no excitement, no vibrant feelings like with the OB6 and the Lyra 8, I was getting always the same tones and sounds, and nothing too exciting for me to show you guys.
The reverb is and always will be one of my favorites, it just sounds TOO good, and I admit I am in love with the distortion possibilities.

But yes, yesterday something clicked, playing it with the Deluge, since the sequencer is completely missing (Why Novation? Why.) and I saw it from a new perspective.

All in all, we, Peak Owners, are here a little because of r beny videos with it, so: here it is an ambient track full of peace and some distortion, growling full of harmonics.

Enjoy!"

SOMA Pulsar-23 // Exploring the Filters

video upload by Dexba

"Welcome to another little tutorial.
Pulsar is MASSIVE, and it took to its creator around 5 hours of video to explain some basic functions, so I will never get even close to that level of comprehension of the instrument.
What I can do is offer you some little insights on how I use the Pulsar, and lately, I've been mostly using it way less as a drum machine and way more as a tonal instrument, like a more capable, 4-voices Lyra.
In this video, we're gonna explore a little bit what we can do with filters, while I collect some more ideas for other little tutorials on specific topics.
I hope you'll find it at least a bit useful and inspiring.
Enjoy ✨"

Strymon Starlab & Magneto #eurorack #ambient #strymon

video upload by Dexba

Meng Qi Wingie 2 & Synthstrom Deluge // The process IS the performance!

video upload by Dexba

"The Wingie 2 by @MengQiMusic changed my musical approach (for good).
It made me embrace the environmental noise, it made me start thinking a bit outside of the "synthesizers are for synthwave" box, and its portability, its cuteness, made me more willing to open up and breathe a bit more.
It's hard to explain, but after getting a Wingie I started to reconsider microphones, I got an Arbhar, I got a Befaco i4, I repaired my OP1 Field mic, I even sang into my modular (and you've seen that video already), all things I would have found sacrilegious in the recent past.
The fun part is that all those other instruments cost more than the Wingie, and yet the Wingie is still the tool that forces me to plan more a recording, while also requiring me less effort in doing so.
Love it.
Here it is being controlled by the Deluge by Synthstrom, in the new OLED version, which finally gave me the appeal and strength to study it better, and put it to good use. And I've owned a Deluge since 2018 😄
I hope you'll enjoy this little moment of calmness, my musical way to cope with the incredibly noisy neighbour I have, through resonation."

Moog Matriarch // Cosmic Jazz Shimmer PATCH

video upload by Dexba

"Sometimes I feel like I am completely missing the point with some synths.
Using filters just to ping them, a TD-3 with a closed cutoff, a Sequential PRO3 with no modulation, a Matriarch with slow attach, and no patch cable.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME. This time I went all-in with the patch cables and what the Moog Matriarch could offer me.
I got the stereo. I got that modulated by another modulation, I got the delay sync'ed but also modulated and as a source of modulation FOR THE OTHER MODULATIONS!

What I got is a sometimes shimmer-y, sometimes jazz-y, sometimes just like a sequence random but lovable, a tool for HOURS of enjoyment, sampling, and getting lost with other external effects.
Here you'll see "just" a plain reverb, but imagine adding another delay, pitch-shifting stuff, choruses, or who knows what!
I am very proud of what I've done, and I was eager to share it with you all 💝
Enjoy ✨"

Chase Bliss Automatone CXM 1978 Reverb Pedal on the right.

Buchla TipTop + Strymon Starlab // More than just blipblops

video upload by Dexba

"I wanted to be more regular with the uploads, but it turned out life always gets in the middle. But here we are: the most analog waves coming from the Buchla by TipTop Audio lineup crashing against the digital Strymon Starlab shore.
The setup is comprised of a double 258t (oscillator), one of which is producing the chords you've heard at the beginning, while the other is on modulation duty.
The main interest of the patch was going into the Starlab already in stereo, so the two channels of the 257t are used as mixers between Left Osc + Sum and the other Right Osc + Sum, in order to have stereo bouncing around more as an accent, rather than being too abrupt, all of this controlled by the S/H coming from the other oscillator going into the 266t. The infamous 292t gets to work both as a summing mixer and a normal VCA.
The extra two voices you hear (the higher one and the very low one) are from the oscillators used for the S/H process, which I tuned to be useful twice too!
Hope you'll enjoy it! 🧡"

Chase Bliss CXM1978 for SYNTH // 0-9 Presets with Sequential PRO3 + Elektron DIGITONE & DIGITAKT

video upload by Dexba

"In this video, I wanted to show you the Chase Bliss and Meris lovechild, the CXM1978, a pedal that pays homage to the legendary Lexicon 224.
There are many videos here on YouTube discussing the price, the usefulness, or even how it compares to the real one or the UAD plugins, but I haven't found any video about how this thing sounds in many different situations, settings, (electronic) instruments.
So here we go, I did one myself, with what I think is a bit of a representative sound palette you could find in your music productions, but more will come in the future since I think this one's a keeper.

Chapters:
0:00 - Quick intro
2:04 - [Sequential PRO3] Pluck
3:49 - [Sequential PRO3] 'Prophet like' Pad
11:51 - [Elektron Digitone] 'Vangelis like' Pad
15:32 - [Elektron Digitone] FM Pluck
20:21 - [Elektron Digitakt] Drums
22:03 - [Elektron Digitakt] Vocal sample
23:53 - [Elektron Digitakt] Ambient house (?) Jam"

TASCAM PORTA ONE & DELUGE // Magic of the TAPE

Dexba

"I just received my multitrack tape recorder, and I so pumped up. I've never used one, I've watched some demo and many, MANY videos on YouTube (and Instagram, where it seems to be mandatory). I will keep it simple: it sounds amazing. I am the farthest thing from an audio expert, but there is something really pleasing in the way the otherwise normal drums sound: they're at the same time crispy and soft, tight but rubbery. Loving that.

And, with the recording part taken care of, I could improvise a little bit with my guitar, and BAM, magic happened, and in just a few takes I was very satisfied with the result like I am almost never been since!

So guys, do yourselves a favor and buy a multitrack tape recorder (they are cheap), a guitar (they are also VERY cheap, nothing compared to a synthesizer), and maybe a Synthstrom Deluge too (they are not cheap, but they are sort of priceless for a quick idea laydown)."

Sequential PRO3 & Strymon BigSky // You can't go wrong

Dexba

"Everything started when I was preparing a comparison video between the Sequential PRO 3 and the Moog Subsequent 37 (actually, Sub37, the one I own), so I put the PRO3 in 4-pole Ladder filter mode and everything went south. Or north, dunnou.
I know, I know, everything passing through a BigSky is gonna be awesome, maybe sometimes even a bit too much, because of the pedal's character.
But, I've never suspected how good it could be playing a very distorted and messy sound, not some ambient-y pluck like angel tears on cushions.
Here we are talking about 3 saw waves with overdrive, with distortion, with resonance, saturating a reverb: it is usually illegal to put reverb on a bassline.
But here we go, and the result was not-so-surprisingly good, like "I am gonna make an EP" kind of good.
As always, let's talk about our common synth disease in the comments, and most importantly:
Enjoy! ✨"

Soma Laboratory Lyra-8

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Dexba

via this auction

"Beautiful, boutique drone synth by SOMA LABS. In donut-box pink, which I believe is more difficult to come by that the black/white versions. Built like a tank. A true joy to play. Fantastic sample manufacturer. Tune it to middle C, load it onto a sampler, and you’ve got the most majestic pads you’ve ever heard. The one in the video looks a little more hot pink, whereas this one looks more like the photo."

Hologram Microcosm & Casio CT-S1 // Enjoying the Rain

video upload by Dexba

"As soon as it started raining, I switched on the camera, the Hologram Microcosm and my cute Casio CT-S1, on the Rhodes preset.
Yeah, I cheated, because I used both a Rhodes sound AND the Mosaic algorithm, but hey, what not to enjoy, am I right?
Anyway, happy birthday to me! Today's the day, and I am proud to be celebrating it with you and some music together.
BTW video on more useful and less cheesy patches for the Microcosm coming soon ⚡️
Enjoy 🧡"

Korg Monologue & Chase Bliss Mood Mk2 // End of the year!

video upload by Dexba

"I got a bit emotional, with my internal (and external) Monologue, both the instrument and the thoughts.
Plus, since 2023 has been very frustrating in all of its parts, even this video has been compromised by everything that could go wrong: dead batteries, bugs in the Mood (first time ever), the camera shut itself off in some other recordings, and so on.
Two years ago I was playing with a $2000 Moog Matriarch going into a $1.100 CXM1978, now I am running a $200 Korg Monologue through a $400 Mood Mk2, and I am ultimately sad that everything around me seems to be turning into dust, but I am still here, and music is still by my side, and judging from the result, seems like once again music is still the most empathetic and sympathetic friend I have.
I hope you'll enjoy it! And spend some time with your loved ones 🧡"

Suiko ST-20 & Strymon BigSky // Dreamy Japanese Sound (short sound demo + jam)

video upload by Dexba

"I am always been fascinated by Asian instruments, and in fact, I even own and play an original koto.
So, when I found out these Suiko things existed, I immediately felt the need of owning one.
It came from Japan, it's vintage (seems like they where produced in small number during the 80s) and it sounds kinda awful without reverb, to be honest.
The koto sound is quite harsh, and it doesn't really sound like a real koto, since it has no polyphony, no way to 'prepare' the pitch bend, no velocity sensitivity, and the overall sound is quite poor.
Then there is the flute, quite a nice one, and a very screaming organ that gets annoying pretty soon.
But, as soon as you add a reverb, possibly a good one, you get back some sort of polyphony, you iron out the roughness, and even the limitations can become useful tools!
Enjoy! ✨"