Future Man explains his Synth-Axe-Drummitar and gives you a demonstration from the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Music Festival at the Congress Theater! Enjoy :)
@@Neearm from the looks of it, he painted and bedazzled it. Actually on closer inspection, it looks like he added a shitload of extra buttons on it and maybe even incorporated control hardware into the body. What can you tell us about the construction of Synthaxes? I think they're really cool
@@thecianinator The body was a glass fibre shell over an aluminium chassis. The neck was an aluminium extrusion with each fret split into six pieces to make it possible to bend notes. I think the keys were injection moulded. The workshop was above the Trojan Records HQ in West London.
I'm not lying at all I went to Kerrville Texas music camp this year and future man Roy was one of the teachers and I got to play my French horn with him!!!!!
I see what you want to say, but I argue that this is exactly how things should be done because it's awesome and things should always be done the awesome way
Play-doh? Hardly. Future Man invented that instrument. I'd call it genius. Especially since he can duplicate the sound of cymbals both high-hat and low hat, bass, and other percussive instruments just with his invention.
@@littlesnowflakepunk855 But did Roy Wooten do the modifications? I've seen Synthaxe instruments of various types, but have never seen one that looks like his.
It's hard to have good timing with your fingers, for me anyway. When you play with sticks you get a sort of swinging motion that contributes to the rhythm. With just your fingers you don't have that. That's just my experience with midi controllers and whatnot.
@@PBTophie And most musicians don't have to set the time. Drummers do. Most musicians are either leading or trailing the beat. There is a specific reason why ALMOST ALL drummers play with sticks and not their fingers.
@@PerryCodes this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard lol plenty of people use MPCs and other pads for drums using their fingers just fine. Who on earth believes that drum sticks are for precision lol they make precision harder! Easier to drum with hands.
"His main instrument was a SynthAxe once owned by Lee Rittenour. Just about all the original electronics have been stripped from the instrument and piezo triggers have been added to the body and neck of the Synthaxe to create what we now know at the Synthaxe Drumitar. The trigger impulses are carried from the instrument through a multipair cable, to his rack. The trigger information is converted to MIDI information in the Alesis D-4 and Alesis D-5. The MIDI information is then routed to a Roland TD-7 as well as two Roland S-760's. The D-4, D-5, and TD-7 contain preset sampled sounds. The S-760's are hooked up to a Ramteck D545. This is a hard drive unit that allows Futch to load an infinite number of sampled sounds." -Flecktones.com
The thing Roy Wooten is playing may only be able to be played by him. This is sheer genius. I'm appalled at the vicious, nasty remarks here insulting him. How many things have you invented that can duplicate the sound of crash cymbals and drums? I think he's amazing.
The whole Wooten family are brilliant musicians. Victor Wooten is one of my favorite bass players. Saw him with Bela Fleck live, and the stuff he did on his bass (string slaps, rhythmically hitting his bass, and virtuoso playing) was amazing. The only bass player I have seen live that could perhaps match that (and I say perhaps) is Stanley Clark of Return to Forever. I saw him with Chick Corea, and he also an amazing musician, playing both acoustic upright bass and electric bass.
@@Syfoll If you meant that as a joke, I didn't get it. A lot of people here are making insulting, nasty remarks about Victor Wooten. He has four brothers, all of them terrific musicians. And do not tell me to shut up. I respect intelligent conversation, but NOT rudeness. If you continue like this I will see about having comments here disabled.
@@FACD.50 I don't care who you think you are you do not tell me to shut up! I have a right to my opinion, and I don't need any rudeness from you. If you can't answer someone's opinion in an intelligent manner I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You are just wasting my time. And if this rudeness and name-calling continues, I will see that comments here are disabled. Oh, and one more thing: if you think you're going to call yourself the internet police find another name. Just because this is the name you choose does not give you the right to be rude.
ive seen bela several times and all i ever say when i leave is man i wish the drums were being played for real. i really cant take it. i hear that futureman is victors brother.
I believe the instrument seen in this video has been retired and replaced with a much more “together” looking instrument. If you Google it images of both the old and new one should appear
It's a talented family. They all used to play in the Wooten Brothers band. With Regi on guitar, Rudy on saxophone, Joseph on keys, Roy (futuraman) on his drum machine and Victor of on bass of course .
When you think about it it wouldn't be too hard actually, just mount some e-drum triggers onto a guitar looking thing and paint it up to look thrown-together :P
Pbm with this guy that once his ego takes over he goes into frantic mode and it's all downhill from there (in my view). Wish he could stick to playing stuff that the audience can enjoy, am talking about music here!
You know. I used to think this guy was cool, but I just saw someone absolutely shred on a proper synthaxe, Now when I see this guys instrument I only see a crippled synthaxe with no range. More looks then anything.
Criticism from someone who can't dance or play an instrument to save their life. The person playing is the instrument. I think you're the crippled synth. More looks than anything. Born to be Mild.
That's a super-funky way to say "hey, look at my cool gear"
''slightly modified synth-axe''
I used to make the bodies and heads for these. What has he done to it?
@@Neearm from the looks of it, he painted and bedazzled it. Actually on closer inspection, it looks like he added a shitload of extra buttons on it and maybe even incorporated control hardware into the body. What can you tell us about the construction of Synthaxes? I think they're really cool
@@Neearm 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮ccc from😮😢😮😮😮😮
@@thecianinator The body was a glass fibre shell over an aluminium chassis. The neck was an aluminium extrusion with each fret split into six pieces to make it possible to bend notes. I think the keys were injection moulded. The workshop was above the Trojan Records HQ in West London.
@@NeearmI don't want to bash the guy, but he could have designed a custom drum machine without destroying a priceless and irreplaceable SynthAxe...
I'm not lying at all I went to Kerrville Texas music camp this year and future man Roy was one of the teachers and I got to play my French horn with him!!!!!
That's great! :D
that's my drum teacher!
Jake Rosen NO. WAY.
Victor Wooten's brother
Why do things the way people think they should be done? I think he's excellent.
I see what you want to say, but I argue that this is exactly how things should be done because it's awesome and things should always be done the awesome way
Stopped dead in the middle of a Bela Fleck album to find out how tf a synthax drum set works. Not disappointed at all
That SynthAxe was rescued by Mad Max?
or took steroids
Or dragged thru a dumpster at a kids daycare after being covered in glue.
this guy REALLY LOVES drums
Have you seen his brother's drum guitar??????/
I want an acoustic drum set that sounds like an ukulele
Loved his work with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
That IS Bela Fleck on the banjo, other side of the stage.
A 1980s Synthaxe, torn apart with a bunch of triggers glue to it.
The perfect reference for this crazy man's instrument
Every genius has come crazy in it...
Futureman:
Blowing you mind since after you were born
"I don't have to pay taxes, I'm from the future" 🤪
wow...he modded the crap outta that synthaxe !!!
The Wooten's... a family of musical genius :-)
yea it is
Wow - saw the Wooton Brothers last night. Wonderful - a night to remember for sure
this is good quality footage for 2009
No doubt. Is Jack Sparrow with a weird Guitar-Hero gear made of Play-doh. I'm sure.
Play-doh? Hardly. Future Man invented that instrument. I'd call it genius. Especially since he can duplicate the sound of cymbals both high-hat and low hat, bass, and other percussive instruments just with his invention.
@@thomasromano9321 Not really his invention. It's a modified version of another instrument.
@@littlesnowflakepunk855 But did Roy Wooten do the modifications? I've seen Synthaxe instruments of various types, but have never seen one that looks like his.
@@thomasromano9321 He did do the modifications, but that does not mean that he invented the instrument.
@@littlesnowflakepunk855 Yes. But how much technical expertise would it take to even do modifications? I'm still amazed that he did it.
It's hard to have good timing with your fingers, for me anyway. When you play with sticks you get a sort of swinging motion that contributes to the rhythm. With just your fingers you don't have that. That's just my experience with midi controllers and whatnot.
Futureman seems to be doing just fine without sticks!!
@@MikaelLewisify watchu mean without sticks? His fingers are his sticks did you not hear!
"It's hard to have good timing with your fingers." You know most musicians use their fingers, right?
@@PBTophie And most musicians don't have to set the time. Drummers do. Most musicians are either leading or trailing the beat. There is a specific reason why ALMOST ALL drummers play with sticks and not their fingers.
@@PerryCodes this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard lol plenty of people use MPCs and other pads for drums using their fingers just fine. Who on earth believes that drum sticks are for precision lol they make precision harder! Easier to drum with hands.
this guy perved out on my mom many years ago. banger instrument though
Have you ever seen him live with the Flecktones? Amazing musicians!
Yes! In Seattle, about 20 years ago.
Maybe that thing will be in a museum someday.
It’s in a museum in Arizona actually. (Musical instruments museum... along with one of his hats;)
@RemiBrawler Big Country is there if you look for it. It won't let me post the link here in the comments. Hope you like it.
is he playing a leaf blower?
unfitskip No, it's an instrument of his own creation. He's got a nice new one these days without all the tape :)
garbage. and he didnt create it. do some research.
I chocked alittle on my spit when I read your comment it caught me off guard lmbo!!!
"His main instrument was a SynthAxe once owned by Lee Rittenour. Just
about all the original electronics have been stripped from the
instrument and piezo triggers have been added to the body and neck of
the Synthaxe to create what we now know at the Synthaxe Drumitar.
The trigger impulses are carried from the instrument through a multipair
cable, to his rack. The trigger information is converted to MIDI
information in the Alesis D-4 and Alesis D-5. The MIDI information is then routed to a Roland TD-7
as well as two Roland S-760's. The D-4, D-5, and TD-7 contain preset
sampled sounds. The S-760's are hooked up to a Ramteck D545. This is a
hard drive unit that allows Futch to load an infinite number of sampled
sounds." -Flecktones.com
so yes its a leafblower?
Pretty sure you are supposed to watch this at 1.5 speed.
This is art
He has a new one that's fricking awesome! Looks almost like a regular guitar! This video is 3+ years old. Still fun to see all that duct tape IMHO ;)
A very weird and beautiful man.
Lovely. Thank you for sharing.
FUTURE MAN FOREVER
I can't believe he's still doing this.
Seen the synthaxe posted in a meme and was expecting to either be impressed, or disgusted.
Everyone is pretty weird in Wooten Family uh!!!
Nah. They're just funky.
they see the world in a different perspective
The thing Roy Wooten is playing may only be able to be played by him. This is sheer genius. I'm appalled at the vicious, nasty remarks here insulting him. How many things have you invented that can duplicate the sound of crash cymbals and drums? I think he's amazing.
thomas Romano true that brother man
The whole Wooten family are brilliant musicians. Victor Wooten is one of my favorite bass players. Saw him with Bela Fleck live, and the stuff he did on his bass (string slaps, rhythmically hitting his bass, and virtuoso playing) was amazing. The only bass player I have seen live that could perhaps match that (and I say perhaps) is Stanley Clark of Return to Forever. I saw him with Chick Corea, and he also an amazing musician, playing both acoustic upright bass and electric bass.
@@Syfoll If you meant that as a joke, I didn't get it. A lot of people here are making insulting, nasty remarks about Victor Wooten. He has four brothers, all of them terrific musicians. And do not tell me to shut up. I respect intelligent conversation, but NOT rudeness. If you continue like this I will see about having comments here disabled.
@@thomasromano9321 shut up nerd
@@FACD.50 I don't care who you think you are you do not tell me to shut up! I have a right to my opinion, and I don't need any rudeness from you. If you can't answer someone's opinion in an intelligent manner I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You are just wasting my time. And if this rudeness and name-calling continues, I will see that comments here are disabled. Oh, and one more thing: if you think you're going to call yourself the internet police find another name. Just because this is the name you choose does not give you the right to be rude.
He's rocking some Koss portapros. Good headphones. Yeah.
This is the kind of drum set that Jones from Johnny Mnemonic would play.
I think it's tight as hell.
That's gotta be the most funky synthaxe in all the land.
COOL STUFF he is amazing
rocking!
Cheers for the Synth-Axe-Drummitar! :-) Right hand Left Hand! LOL
Awesome, dude!! Like who's from Coursera! ))
I saw B Fleck and Flecktones in around 91' Wooten's brother?
Synth-axe-drumitiar# ftw
with his own two hands and a soldering iron
Jack sparrow in the keyboard
That's because it is.
You guys need to listen to guys who go way way way back.
Woooowwww ❤🔥❤🔥❤🔥❤🔥❤🔥
Wow! He does stuff with his fingers that most drummers couldn't do even if they practiced for twenty years.
Hyperbole imo. Just another go at a drum box done differently.
I like that party hat!!!
.............SICK.
what sample set?
that's dope son
Modern day Hurdy Gurdy
Do you think Future has considered piracy? I think he would make a wonderful Dred Pirate Roberts.
Oh man, just realized Bela was about to break in to Big Country. Could the video have gone on for another 10 minutes?
Right!?
Does he have to start every show this way to keep people on track?
look up "SynthAxe"....... he didnt make it himself.
but he did mod the shit out of it
Yeah, it looks like he stole it from a Red Dwarf episode.
lol
Meanwhile the great Allan Holdsworth had to sell his CDs from his car.
It looks like a modified Synth Axe
all this tomfoolery and still no COWBELL!!!
Its a different world. Nothing sounds like a full kit of Ludwigs live, tho. Still, this is really cool.
bela fleck and the flectones are a bluegrassband future man is vic woos bro
ive seen bela several times and all i ever say when i leave is man i wish the drums were being played for real. i really cant take it. i hear that futureman is victors brother.
is it a synthaxe
What would that look like today?
I believe the instrument seen in this video has been retired and replaced with a much more “together” looking instrument. If you Google it images of both the old and new one should appear
DrumAxe
He is wearing some PortaPro headphones.
did he modify/break the synthaxe himself?
guessing so
did he mess with the thing himself
Why does he remind me of Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy?
Because you think all black people look alike?
S Charlesworth Exactly!
+S Charlesworth - What a stupid and accusatory remark!
@@monsterjazzlicks What a thoroughly inane comment it was in the first place. He needs to think before he speaks......like sensible people.
why do they have a leafblower on stage
Did this guy used to play with Bela Fleck? And is he related to Victor Wooten please?
jup. he's one of Victor Wooten's older brothers
Roman Monte So he played with Fleck and is Victor's brother? Wow, I never realized that! Amazing!
It's a talented family. They all used to play in the Wooten Brothers band. With Regi on guitar, Rudy on saxophone, Joseph on keys, Roy (futuraman) on his drum machine and Victor of on bass of course .
Roman Monte
Incredible! So would you class the guy in this video as a GUITARIST or a DRUMMER?!
I would class him more as a drummer than a guitarist. This is just a guess but I think he might have started of as a drummer.
SUUUUUPER
@DrummerGrrrl ya cuz its easier with ur fingers
When you think about it it wouldn't be too hard actually, just mount some e-drum triggers onto a guitar looking thing and paint it up to look thrown-together :P
🪐✨⚡️💥💫
I remember hearing you at the Cockeyed Camel in Nashville,Tennessee with all your Flecktone bro’s 😁
so this is what the crazy homeless guy does for a job
I'd say you insult this man. He's hardly homeless and the instrument he's playing was invented by himself!!
Captain Jack Sparrow on the Zendrum!!
There were only 100 of those synth axes made, probably because it had a price tag of $13,000.
Oh hi samurai guitarist
Tony da Gatorra vs Future Man
Heheahaeheaheahaehhaehae TOTALLLL
@didgemastagenrul Duct tape is in there for sure! ;)
Slightly modified
synthaxe on hallucinogenic research chemicals! 🍄💊💉🍻
What has he done to it???
brazilian's gatorra instrument
Exatamente é uma cópia descarada da Gatorra.
Haha that's totally the '80's synth guitar.
Wujuuu
Futch is a star, but I think his real value is with his kid brother and Bela !
hes a great drummer but that rap is worst than fresh prince of bail air
dis fool done lost his mind
it's ugly but supposed to be. its the deconstruction of drums warped into something else, and that's exactly what the instrument itself looks like.
LOL ;p
Pbm with this guy that once his ego takes over he goes into frantic mode and it's all downhill from there (in my view). Wish he could stick to playing stuff that the audience can enjoy, am talking about music here!
he's wearing a pirate hat who does he think he is, one-eyed willie? 🤣
2 people like Justin Beiber
There's really no way round the fact the SynthAxe is ugly.
I'm pretty sure he's replaced this one with a newer much nicer one :)
You know. I used to think this guy was cool, but I just saw someone absolutely shred on a proper synthaxe,
Now when I see this guys instrument I only see a crippled synthaxe with no range. More looks then anything.
Are you blind? He just stuck midi trigger sensor pads on a synth axe.
Criticism from someone who can't dance or play an instrument to save their life. The person playing is the instrument. I think you're the crippled synth. More looks than anything. Born to be Mild.
I bet a portable drum synth was "wow" like 20 years ago, but now, it's just lame. Plus that's ugly as hell, that axe.