Dreadbox Nymphes Review - Affordable 6 Voice Analogue Poly Synth

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  • čas přidán 21. 08. 2024

Komentáře • 97

  • @p.meyerhiggins3157
    @p.meyerhiggins3157 Před 2 lety +8

    I just got mine and I couldn't agree more: the menu interface is such a non-issue (in practice), and it just sounds sublime!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      Hell yeah. It's one of those things that in theory seems odd but in practice just works great.

  • @KostasAlbanidis
    @KostasAlbanidis Před 2 lety +1

    As a certified born and raised Greek I totally agree with your pronunciation of the words: *Nymphes* and *typhon* ! Thank you ! And keep up the good work! I got only two thumbs but I keep them up for you and the content you produce! The easiest subscription ever in CZcams for me!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      ευχαριστώ! Μιλάω μόνο λίγα ελληνικά.

  • @frmcf
    @frmcf Před 2 lety +1

    It's nice to hear someone on CZcams (or in media in general) who sounds (more or less) like me :)

  • @HanjoSynth
    @HanjoSynth Před rokem

    Well I got mine and love it too! Just came in to share the love on Nymphes! Cheers!

  • @SynthsandSounds
    @SynthsandSounds Před 2 lety +1

    Very good content! Nice quality, knowledgeable and well researched! You gained my sub with ease, keep it going!

  • @JohnTrasher
    @JohnTrasher Před 2 lety

    Thanks for mentioning me / my preset video! 😁❤
    I also bought a lot of stuff on Signalsound as well, arrived the next via Express shipping. Greetings from germany!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      Hell yeah. Cheers for making the preset video!!

  • @PaulBoos
    @PaulBoos Před 2 lety

    Nice, really enjoyed your short outro and thanks for covering all the criticisms. I can see now that a Typhon, Nymphes + Keystep, and a Volca Drum Beats( or Erical LXR-02 or Drumebrute Impact) = immediate full compact little live set-up.
    From what I can tell the menu system is simply an outgrowth from the Hypnosis' patch storage system. That is simple to get, and the addition of the shift for a menu system makes sense.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Hell yeah. A Typhon, Nymphes and small drum machine would be killer.

  • @hamleypaw
    @hamleypaw Před 11 měsíci

    Great video, thanks. Just discovered your channel. Loving my Nymphes, agree that the menu takes some learning but not a biggie.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 11 měsíci +1

      Nice one! Glad to have you on board. It does make it tricky to go back and just pick up after a break for a while, but... it's still not as complex as some have made out.

    • @hamleypaw
      @hamleypaw Před 11 měsíci

      @@StephenMcLeod oh.. and well done on the use of the word 'totey'. Love that word. Not used nearly enough 😉

  • @dualtrx
    @dualtrx Před 2 lety +1

    The format is great. I'm a big fan of small enclosure synths. As i own all Volca models. Though the sound of this synth is not realy on my alley, cuz i found it too thin.
    I hope Dreadbox will make an analog sequencer or something in that format too. Would be much apreciated. Following the Make Noise / Moog format style. Is trending.
    Good job for the video mate. Also big up for Signalsounds!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Hell yeah. Jason is a legend. Such a nice guy. Thanks for having a watch! I completely agree on the form factor. I had a bunch of Volcas and sold them and regretted it.

    • @symbiat0
      @symbiat0 Před 2 lety

      I have the Typhon and love the portability of it… had the Nymphes on pre-order for months but then I’m in the US… 😞

  • @TH3_FURY
    @TH3_FURY Před 2 lety

    Hey ! Great review and demo... It sounds good !

  • @jkirchheimer
    @jkirchheimer Před 2 lety

    Everything said within the first minute! Great one!

  • @ProckGnosis
    @ProckGnosis Před 2 lety +1

    Lol...the Dreadbox video said "sounding sort of like Memphis", not "exactly like Memphis". There's a wee bit o' difference, eh. : ) Good analysis on the some of the perceived negatives. I would agree, it was easier to visualize modulations than I expected. Building muscle memory came fairly quickly as well...

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +2

      Haha crap. I just saw on a forum somewhere that it was probably you who voiced this. Just a wee bit of good natured slagging!! I actually did understand what you meant but couldn't resist a dig at my American pals and followers. I get so many comments on my accent on here that it was time to strike back. I actually very much enjoy your voice. Thanks for watching and taking it in the manner it was intended. I completely agree on the muscle memory, which is why I wanted to spend a bit of time on that menu question, because in practice it is actually dead simple to use. I'll go subscribe to your channel now as penance haha.

    • @ProckGnosis
      @ProckGnosis Před 2 lety +2

      @@StephenMcLeod Glad to see you got some linkage from Synthtopia on this. Again, you did a great job. Yeah, for us North American types though, it's hard to wrap our heads around some of the stronger Scottish accents...yours is strong but easily understandable. I've also lived in Europe half my adult life and my wife is European, so accents are way normal for me. On an interesting side note, a few years ago I was in Glasgow barhopping for a weekend, and hearing people from a distance, I kept thinking there were a LOT of drunk Scandinavians there as well (I've spent more time in Scandinavia than Scotland). Took a bit to realize it was the locals, and I just couldn't hear them clearly enough to tell it was the local English, with an accent I just wasn't used to. Had a similar experience in Berlin a couple months ago (was there for the VERY limited Superbooth). A group of older folks/tourists in the hotel restaurant, in their late 60s, were speaking SOMEthing that sounded like an English dialect with bits of almost-Dutch thrown in. At first I thought they were speaking Friesian (?? what they speak in Friesland). Ends up most of the group were speaking Scots. My brain cells just couldn't quite process it at the time.

  • @LabRatWarfare
    @LabRatWarfare Před 2 lety

    An awesome review man, I had no knowledge of this synth! 😲 Well, it's totally on the rat radar now!! 😁 Especially it's cost and form factor.... I really want one lol Can't wait to hear you use it in a track soon!! 🙌🐀

  • @Jonathan_Doe_
    @Jonathan_Doe_ Před 2 lety

    Awesome review thanks dude!
    Know the op six isn’t analog and it’s all about the FM sounds, but as someone who’s got a Microkorg and a couple of monos now (crave, and cat!), I’d be intrigued to see a comparison video/jam using both due to their similar (ish) price points!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Thanks! What synth would you like a comparison with specifically?

    • @Jonathan_Doe_
      @Jonathan_Doe_ Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod the Korg Opsix

  • @rrg144atgmail
    @rrg144atgmail Před 2 lety

    Hahaha, what a funny accent you've got (unlike us Americans)! And what excellent reviews you produce!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      I get enough abuse about being Scottish that it was time to strike back at the heart of Americana.

    • @rrg144atgmail
      @rrg144atgmail Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod I wish I were Scottish. Well, I am part Irish. Oh oh, did I just start a war of some kind? Personally, I think your accent is grand!

  • @Mr.Tubster
    @Mr.Tubster Před 2 lety

    Hey ya mate, thx for the upload 😎😍😎 good to know 😋 greetings c ya

  • @wdiprod
    @wdiprod Před 2 lety

    I just picked one up yesterday and mine is very noisy. Powered by iConnectivity MioXL is more than sufficient. Not sure what the problem is or how the recommended USB data/power splitter will fix the problem or where to even find one. Other than that I think I like it.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Ah I'm sorry to hear that. What are you plugging the mioxl into? I'm not familiar with it. You can get a cheap usb noise isolator thing on Amazon. I've got one for 20 quid that works nicely.

    • @wdiprod
      @wdiprod Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod MioXL is just a Midi router with rpt midi, usb midi and din midi ports. All my midi gear plugs into it. The Nymphes is the first I noticed a noise problem.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      @@wdiprod Oh nice that's a serious bit of kit. I am surprised and disappointed to hear you've had an issue with that. For the isolator, you would plug it in between the USB port and the Nymphes to work.

    • @wdiprod
      @wdiprod Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod Could you point me in the direction of the isolator you use. Seems like I have 3 options. 1 current config with isolator. 2 usb data/power splitter as recommended in the manual. Or 3 use midi din instead and power the unit using a dedicated power supply.
      Looks like Dreadbox know about the limitations of powering the unit over USB while sending midi over USB. Looks like their shop will offer the splitter cable free for registered customers.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GF8643T?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share this is the one I use

  • @allanroney
    @allanroney Před 2 lety +1

    Good review - u going to keep it, or is it one for trading?

  • @markgriffiths5122
    @markgriffiths5122 Před 2 lety

    Nice review. So is it fully polyphonic as in 6 Osc, 6 filters, 6x2 envelopes? Or is it paraphonic, ie just one filter and one set of evelopes? Even if it is paraphonic it's still a great deal, but then my experience of synths started in the late 70s..

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Correct I believe yeah! There are 12 envelopes (6x2), 1 LFO per voice (+1 that can be assigned), etc :)

  • @CayTaylan
    @CayTaylan Před 2 lety

    now i want one!
    thanks man!🥶

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      Haha sorry. I take it all back. It's awful.

    • @CayTaylan
      @CayTaylan Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod no its ok! 🥶

  • @gnemelf
    @gnemelf Před 2 lety

    That thing is awesome!

  • @ElectronisoundsAudio
    @ElectronisoundsAudio Před 2 lety

    Nice Overview! 👍👍

  • @fallprecauxionsmusic
    @fallprecauxionsmusic Před 2 lety

    we americans are due all (or most) of the slagging that comes our way. I think with pronunciation(s) in general, we're all such products of our environments, ya know. not to say there's no "right" way to pronounce things... there certainly is.
    anyway... dreadbox. they really did turn me into a synth addict (as their wonderful vaporwave wristbands tell it to aptly). I'd say "singlehandedly," but they did have help from the wonderful folks over at polyend... the first hardware synth I ever bought was the medusa. together, dreadbox & polyend turned me out into a fully cracked-out synthbitch. mmm hmm....
    ps... thanks for this review. we love dreadbox!! yaaaay!!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      I just like slagging off Americans as I have to spend all day working and living with them ;p How do you like the Medusa?! It looks awesome.

  • @dubbynelson
    @dubbynelson Před 2 lety +1

    We may not be able to pronounce "Craig," but at least we can say "purple burglar alarm" three times :v)

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      Haha get it right up ye. The amount of comments I get about my accent on here is wild. It was time for me to strike back at the heart of your people.

    • @Tosoruth
      @Tosoruth Před 2 lety

      Kreg.

  • @IgorZinovyev
    @IgorZinovyev Před 2 lety

    Hahah I'm going to totally bribe you next time we meet just to see what happens :D Seriously though, great review, thanks!

  • @PhrygianPhrog
    @PhrygianPhrog Před 2 lety

    Does this sound "thicker" than the Minilogue XD? Single vs triple osc but judging by the phatness of my Typhon I suspect this could hold its own against others in it price-bracket.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      I've not used a Monologue unfortunately so can't comment on that sadly! It is similar to the Typhon in sonic character though.

  • @SouthShoreSonics
    @SouthShoreSonics Před 2 lety

    The only Dreadbox gear I have is two Dreadbox Abyss. I use them as an 8 VCO mono synth!

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Nice! I would love to play with an Abyss one day.

    • @SouthShoreSonics
      @SouthShoreSonics Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod I'm looking forward to what the Abys Mark 2 has to offer.

  • @AgonalRhythm
    @AgonalRhythm Před 2 lety

    Clearly the answer to the lack of stereo output is to get a second unit! That gives you multi-timbrality as well! :P

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +2

      Perfect. I'm sure @dreadbox will send me one out right away to thank me for all of my services to the synth world.

  • @GrootsieTheDog
    @GrootsieTheDog Před 2 lety

    I probably wont be getting a like for my comment because im not going to say a bunch of happy nice things - I think the strongest thing this has going for it is its novelty. It certainly is unique. I don't mean that in a derogatory sense. If one already has an existing analog synth though, I don't see a huge reason why I would need or want to add this. If one needs an analog synth at this price range, I would go with the superior Minilogue XD. If one needs something small with lots of sliders for performance, the SH01a has more to offer (it's not analog but it sounds gritty and spectacular) and offers three OCSs. Both of those synths (at lower price points) have just as much if not more to offer as far as functionality and options. The Minilogue XD has two analog OSCs plus an amazing user digital oscillator, killer built-in efx & user efx, and a sequencer that doubles as a four-part motion sequencer sound designer, seq. pattern trigger... Sorry but hands down, the XD is the winner here. If this is someone's first synth I think its a winner for the quality and price but still, I would steer that person to a Minilogue XD.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      Quite right. Nobody gets a like unless they agree with me completely. ;) Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Both of those are awesome suggestions, though they aren't cheaper here in the UK - particularly not if we are comparing the desktop version of the XD, which would be most relevant. They also both have less poly voices than the Nymphes, which is a pretty critical differentiating factor :) if we are just looking at four voices then that opens up a bunch of other options.
      For me, trying to find a small poly synth (with more than four voices) which has a good amount of hands on control under 500 quid to slot into my setup has been impossible. If folks don't need more than four voices or are looking for a much more fully featured synth, and aren't as concerned about space etc then the Nymphes almost certainly wouldn't be the best option - but like you said, it is unique and will be a superb option for lots of folk.
      Personally I also just prefer the character of the Dreadbox design to Korg, but that is obviously subjective!

    • @GrootsieTheDog
      @GrootsieTheDog Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod lol Respect. Good points made. 🙂 Only rebuttal - the XD has 4 voices of three oscillators - I personally prefer more OSCs over voices when it comes to polysynths. All that said, that Dreadbox analog sound is seriously one of a kind and I wouldn’t rule out giving it a test drive before making any final decision 👍🏼

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      That's a great point yeah! To be fair I wouldn't say no to many synths haha. I am going to die alone surrounded by them.

    • @untml
      @untml Před 2 lety

      i wont be getting a like for my comment because i'm going to judge the actual act of comparison synths (and it seems like a fun game for some)
      but what is it for? what are this contests serve? instrument are not something you only buy one like an audio interface or phone screen protector... if i was so into two synths i would be happy to buy them both, and they all don't sound the same at all so there is little logic to it from the "music" perspective.
      i guess people who participate in this act try to get approval for their choice? maybe i'm wrong but it seems most who do that didn't get or will not get neither?
      but everybody so into this...
      seriously, what am i missing??

  • @kalubandali2241
    @kalubandali2241 Před 2 lety

    A comment for support :)

  • @SouthShoreSonics
    @SouthShoreSonics Před 2 lety

    Well, it's a shift function. If these people can use their "smart" technology, surely they can load their memory banks with the ability to "shift" differently!

  • @symbiat0
    @symbiat0 Před 2 lety

    Anyone in the US managed to get one from a US retailer? Yeah, me neither… 😞 If I ordered from the UK or Germany it would take a few days and despite shipping costs I would still save $

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Perfect time to investigate Signal Sounds :D

    • @symbiat0
      @symbiat0 Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod Maybe next time… my Nymphes shipped today so I should be pushing those sliders next week. I will think twice before pre-ordering from a US retailer in the future. I sometimes get stuff from Thomann but even though they had the Nymphes to pre-order they won’t ship it to the US (which smells like some kind of regional sales control to me 😡

  • @scottmcdiarmid8196
    @scottmcdiarmid8196 Před 2 lety

    Metalurgist in Greek = μεταλλουργός

  • @zooblestyx
    @zooblestyx Před 2 lety

    3:33 Got half a mind to sample that

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Sounds better than half my drum samples, to be fair.

  • @timdailey2690
    @timdailey2690 Před 2 lety

    Memphis is derived from Greek

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      Μέμφις :D

    • @timdailey2690
      @timdailey2690 Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod it’s the Greek adaptation of the Egyptian Mennefer (beautiful and enduring )

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      A perfect name for me!

  • @ryananthony4840
    @ryananthony4840 Před 2 lety

    For $600 USD I'll buy something Behringer.... When I first saw this I figured $150-$200😬😬

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety +1

      A six voice analog poly synth for 200usd? One can dream! The closest equivalent is the Behringer DeepMind which is also about 600USD

    • @ryananthony4840
      @ryananthony4840 Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod that's what I'm saying..... and I'd get keys and more

  • @untml
    @untml Před 2 lety

    funny i really hoped you will have some interesting accent before i pressed play,
    not really because of your accent, i'm just tired from some "nationality" who known by their "seller attitude" and not much about their electronic music history, or present.

    • @StephenMcLeod
      @StephenMcLeod  Před 2 lety

      I'm not quite sure what you mean, but I'm going to take it as a compliment.

    • @untml
      @untml Před 2 lety

      @@StephenMcLeod it was