Motorized synth knobs: Gimmick or Gamechanger? // NINA by Melbourne Instruments Review and tutorial
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2024
- Want to play sounds from this synth at home? Check out multisampled patches, available on my Patreon, along my book packed with electronic music ideas, tips and insights:
► / loopop
Price check here (affiliate links help the channel):
► Perfect Circuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/...
Other gear in this video:
► Keystep 37 by Arturia
► NDLR by Conductive Labs (sequencer)
► OXI One (sequencer)
► Cool Holographic scopes?
The scopes I use aren't real - I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle.
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TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:35 The knobs
5:10 The synth
6:20 Workflow
7:30 Build & I/O
8:30 Morph
11:45 Layers
12:10 Drum synth?
13:15 Multi synth
15:30 VCOs
16:10 Sub osc
16:30 Osc sync
16:50 Wavetable
18:30 Noise/XOR
19:20 Drive
19:35 Filter
21:15 Pan/Spin
22:50 Effects
25:05 Mod matrix
29:00 Arp
29:35 Sequencer
30:45 Unison
31:40 Settings
32:10 Pros & cons
35:30 Outro
35:55 Twenty-five presets
Submit review and video ideas here (sorry I don’t offer 1x1 sessions/setup/purchasing advice):
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links to stores like Amazon, Sweetwater, Thomann and others. The content of this video is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
I guarantee that once people start to use synths like Nina with this technology, they will not want to go back to knobs that just stay in a static position when you switch between presets. It's not a gimmick. It's a totally logical evolution for digitally-controlled instruments.
Unless the evolution also includes the price tag...
Only problem with this argument is that this is not new technology at all. If it's new in being affordable and durable, then we're talking. However, there's a reason we don't see this, sadly.
🥰
But the budget synths then will beed cheaper motors. Thus it can (potentially) lead to worse quality of motors in such synths or (in a better perspective) cheaper general production of motors while the orders will become much more massive in quantity.
P.S. Also don't forget that each motor weighs pretty much! Liteweighted synths will not be using this.
I think it's pretty cool, and have thought about trying to make something like this myself before. I ended up deciding it would be easier to just use light rings around the knobs instead.
I can rarely afford anything featured here, but these videos are so well made I can't help but watch.
Oh just steal it 😉
I don't how how he achieved to afford himself it all...
If credit is your issue, Zzounds or AMS(American music supply) are FANTASTIC options.
Up to 6 interest free, no credit check, debit payment plans. It's how I've been getting my gear on a low-mid income 👍🏻
@@coheedfreak06 🤦♂️😉
meanwhile, people watch The "news"
The knobs alone with the magnetic detents honestly feel like such a step forward! I imagine it's one of the main reasons driving the price up, which is frankly quite inaccessible, but I'm still so happy someone went and tried to innovate in this domain *while still creating a good synth on its own merits*.
One of the most aesthetic synths I've ever seen!
me think so too
People think it’s expensive because of the motorised panel, while it is actually more like a 12 voice Pro3 with a simpler filter section (and less advanced sequencer). It sounds great and it is a lovely thing to use, and pretty stable even with the initial software.
To watch the morph and see the encoders moving is really something special ❤
being able to see exactly what the patch is doing from one to another is amazing.
I wish it also show lfo movements but they can be pretty intense so I understand why it's not implemented 😊
@@orchidsvoid i thought the same 😅
They're a hell of a lot faster than I expected, seeing them zip around as he quickly cycled the patches was truly impressive
Was impressed by the design and bought it for the sound when they were cheaper pre release. Sold a polyevolver 8 voice for it and I’m not disappointed. It sounds better to me. I’m not worried about the motors when I heard they were contactless drone motors. Should outlive any encoders+leds and it’s way nicer. One of the Best synth to come out of recent times. The price is on par with a prophet 10 or trigon and the sound and quality is in that league.
This synth is really special. Even without motorized potentiometers - it's 12 voice analog, multitimbral and morph which is rare nowadays.
Virus does more for less cost over a decade ago
@@GuitarsAndSynths yes but not analog.
@@GuitarsAndSynths Virus is nothing like this, stick to John's channel, where the blind lead the blind.
@ghost mall what do you pay for a 12 voice analog synth? Besides Behringer?
@ghost mall well you're making comments about how much it costs in relation to other synths...maybe check the prices XD
I hope this thing becames a very successful product for Melbourne, they deserve it for taking chances and making something new.
Also, hope this became a trend so the price gets lower but I might be dreaming too much...
🥰
Ehh.. their embedded software engineers could use a little work.
Reminds me of the first time I saw flying faders in person. It just seems like magic, and the fact that they use the motors for haptic is really awesome. Not quite looking to spend anything near that but it seems worth it for the R&D. I hope it takes off.
It’s the implementation of detents and stops via the motors that amazes me.
It sounds nice and looks beautiful imo. The sight of the knobs turning automatically is pretty awesome.
Game changer indeed. This really pushes the boundaries of interaction with present based synths and controllers. And I love how they expand functionality with the mod matrix, detention and crossfade. Thanks for another great video!
I absolutely love my NINA. It's a game-changer!
I think it's a great synth, being able to go from 1 patch to another and see exactly what the settings are is amazeballz.
It's expensive, but then it should be.
Thx for the upload.
Wow, synths get better and better! I love all the great ideas from synth designers.
This synth will be considered a classic once more manufacturers embrace knobs like this. It sounds dope too!
agree, sounds good
Probably the coolest synth I've seen in my life!! I want one!
haven't seen something this refreshing in the synth design world in a while
I picked one of these up as soon as I saw a full walk-through. It's fantastic. You almost can't get it to sound bad.
The way those knobs just dance about is so cool! 😊
Loved it, both the concept and the sound!
Astonishing synth, super review !!
this breaks my brain seeing them knobs turn themselves 😱 so freaking cool
Once again! Bravo! This is a very creative time in synthesis and user interface. As someone who makes a living playing the trumpet but who has also been using synths since the late 1970s, now is the time we have some pedagogy! Sorry got on my soapbox. Carry on!
Very good demonstration of its capabilities! ❤
this has been on my list for when i hit the lottery. glad you did a video on it!
I got to play with this at NAMM in 2022! Was really fun to try out. Was my favorite thing from the show.
I'd love to see someone review this in a year of regular use to see how well the knobs have held up!
This is what I'm most concerned over.
I just ordered one and will commit to a one year later review. After owning many properly treated synths, I'm really not worried. The developers of the instrument are highly invested (as am I, obviously). In general, I believe that mass produced motors are designed for a much higher level of wear and tear than a synth will give them. Like in cars, airplanes, etc. Let ya know in a year.
If they used something other than pots or mechanical encoders it will last forever
@@enginerdy It's a brushless motor with optical readout. Should be very robust.
still fine :)
When you brought up that detent MAGIC it went from a cool novelty to🤯😱🙌👏👏👏
omg this thing looks gorgeous! Full 909 style switches, mechanical knobs, analogue poly, metal (aluminum?) side cheeks, oled screen, they spared no expense. I disagree with the comments on here about it being overpriced, all these features are very cost prohibitive, especially today with chip costs and supply chain issues etc.. I can’t afford one that’s for sure but I understand why its high priced.
yep AL sides. The rackmount sides are steel though
Totally love the sound and the execution, it's a lovely piece of engineering. I am already having nightmares about possible maintenance for the motors though.
Their website claims the knobs have a lifetime rating in excess of 50 million cycles. If true, pretty amazing.
Yeah, the more that things move, the more likely they'll have to be replaced over time. Still a dope piece of engineering and sound.
motors are based on drone tech so there are no issues, coreless if I remember correctly.
Drone motors don't really require maintenance, they're magnetic. Considering they're capable of moving to fast they can literally fly, i think they'll be okay to turn back and forth a few million times. These will probably outlive me. I'm a bit more sad about the choice of USB-C port, I'd rather have a USB-B for stability. But I did buy a 180-degree usb-C adapter for my Nina which anchors it quite nicely.
@@Standard.Candle so each knob has a brushless motor?
Im in love with this synth and the tech OMG
Coarse vs Fine tune functionality is nothing short of magical, I am quite in awe of these motorised pots!
I don't think i've ever wanted hands on with a synth more.... in terms of HID's... this is pretty amazing! I really feel that this is the future of all synth knobs, on premium products due to cost, of course.
this is such a great idea. I've always wanted a moog with motorized knobs, or even a juno106 with motorized faders. Maybe behringer will take notice and use their BCF2000 / x touch technology to build a synth with this type of control.
I've always dreamed of something like that- I'm glad somebody actually made it!
This has existed since the 80s
Thank u for the demo 👌
I definitely think it's not a gimmick, it's really an intuitive and creative idea in a time where other companies invest in making cheap replicas
Thanks again for the effort 👍
WOW! This is a long time a com'n! Very very cool!
I love the motorized knobs. The mod-matrix usage was definitely a wow! moment. This is the sort of innovation I'd like to see for a VST controller...if someone would make something like this for Diva...
As a Melburnian, I commend you for pronouncing Melbourne correctly😊
It's pronounce, Mooborne, not Maughbunn!!!
If this thing had overbridge-like DAW integration it would be GOD tier. Imagine bi-directional automation with a DAW with motors moving with instant recall and visual in physical space of automation.
I got to mess with one at Synthplex and fell in love. It sounds amazing.
Seeing the plate on the back, this bad boi is Aussie ❤ so freaking cool to see an aussie made (well assembled) product on a loopop video 😍
I realized from the plate as well. Because when I read Melbourne Instruments I thought it was canadian...
😍
Amazing bit of kit. I’d love it if these guys made a MIDI controller with the same knobs as a bank of 32.
Agreed! Something like the BCR 2000 with motorized knobs could be cool
even 8 will be enough.
Good to see synthdesigners utilize proper cherryswitches and keyboardkeys. The whole unit looks very nice and sounds good. Eventhough i'm not really in for the motorknobs the idea is not bad. Just a little redundant. But looks cool and morphing is always nice. Thanks for showing it! 🙂
"Sensorless homing" into a sound synthesizer! Pretty cool idea! My respect to devs!
Didn't think I was gonna like this. Turns out I do. Great demo.
8 amps is insane. That’s nearly half a US circuit. I love it.
8 amps at 12v ;) so its around the 100w point
@@drofdissonance oh ,so may be we shouldn't leave it on when not in use!
@@mamakuprojectit's 100W max for the psu so much lower for the actual consumption, standby can be a few watts.
It certainly sounds gorgeous.
What a fantastic instrument both in concept and sound. Motorized knobs is anything but gimmick. Morph is a amazing way to find unique sounds. Keep my fingers crossed for such a innovation company
Great sound, great design. This will be in my lab once I make some real money, solely for the uniqueness.
great video, mate. as usual
Omg I love that sequencer Oxi One too wow. Wow wow wow lovely stuff😮❤😮❤😮
The sound is awesome. this is what we want in sound.
This synth sounds actually very good !
Love the sound of this - just a little out of my price range right now. Going to have to start saving!
What a good looking synth !! Ah and the buttons !!!
great tutorial as usual… very interesting synth.
my slim phatties can handle the knob issues with light rings and special catch up modes but uh... this is on that whole other level! gorgeous and good sound here. i wish all my synths had this!
When I bought my first poly synth (Prophet 6), I just ASSUMED for that kind of money all the knobs would be motorized. Glad to see companies starting to make this a reality
That's a very strange assumption to make
@@Barefoot_Joe Why?
Sounds like a BEAST, making space for it on my desk as we speak
Did you get it? Thoughts?
Wow this is like a Dream come true!
I always dreamed of a midi controller with motorized knobs, than you can use it for al your synths! Nice vid as allways 👍🤟✌️
Ok straight up, the auto motorized dials just reminded me of the Rubix clock. Cool as hell!
Ahhh I’ve been hoping you’d get your hands on one of these!
These guys said, yea, we can solve that problem pretty easily, like many others have, but let's do it on hard mode
LOVE the orange retro buttons!
I want one. Someone should gift me one! lol! Your reviews are just always so great. One certainly doesn't have to be shopping to enjoy them... just be a person who really likes synths. More than just product reviews, they end up be instructional just on how synths work and flow and sound. Having the index on the left is so thoughtful, and with synths I DO have... so helpful as I refer to your videos on those with some regularity. Thanks!
Glad you like them!
I think this will help people go back and forth from digital to analog equipment super easy because alot of DAWs have this same kind of feature where the knobs move on their own usually because of automation clips
I really hope every single piece of equipment with knobs and memory in the future will have this functionality
Can’t wait until all synths in the future have scores of motors that will eventually fail and need repair
@@sub-jec-tiv well that still wouldn't be too bad. No need for salty sarcasm about something that's literally just fun and interesting
This is NOT a gimmick, every one of the other synth makers should be implementing this into their synths. Having a detent for zero with endless encoders is invaluable, also having one knob where the detent can switch to smooth depending on the parameter control is so versatile. Not having to hope you got a parameter as close to the preset position after switching, priceless. True morphing between 2 patches has great potential for live performances. I am truly interested in this one!
All you need is your ears, not to see a knob moving. This is a toy
@@tonybucks5709 I am blind, I see from feeling, plus I'm sure my ears aren't that bad, I already use my ears more than most
@@tonybucks5709 hearing has nothing to do with it, you miss the all point but yes its amazing toy :)
100% a gimmick mate, no one will ever use this tech again. Encoders are infinitely more practical and there's no way the visually impaired are a big enough audience to justify this tech to serious companies
Twice the price tag with features removed to make way for motorised pots, standard sonic features swapped out for a motorised knob? no thanks.
yes everyone would love motorised controls with memory, we had them on our high end mixing desks back in the 90's but it never caught on for good reasons, mainly the price. As musician and producer I would never swap sonic options for mere convenience (at a hugely inflated price)
Seen it at NAMM22, the knob invention is nifty, working with these is awesome, the guy had a demo knob in a transparent case, he was kind of reluctant to show it, like it is not patented yet. Nice video as always from Loopop.
I'm sure that they just use proper driver chips for the usual industry motors. That's it. Search for "sensorless homing 3d printer" and you'll get the idea.
A digitally controlled analog interface is a great idea. If you like the immediacy of analog gear without menus and DAW-oriented systems then this will probably resonate with you.
What a beautiful machine ! Color scheme and knob size is perfect. Would gladly do our next album on Nina 🖤
My god that's a gorgeous looking and sounding synth
ok _this_ is insane. i _neeeed_ one.
Ooooh not only amazing sounds but those automatic rotary knobs ❤
instant love.
I have to build one myself !!!
The NINA really sounds rich and thick!!!
Woah..modulation shown on the motorized knobs would have been incredible. Good ideas for improving this machine Ziv.
I would buy one and love it too if it was considerably cheaper than retail!! This synth will hopefully change how things are done
🔥👊🧡👍🔥 great vid brother!
its like motorized faders but with encoders. every synths should be like this. sexy AF.
This is awesome! Now I just wish they'd make an iteration of Nina that replaced the two VCOs with the same wavetable oscillators as OSC 3.
very interesting synth!
I would prefer these over motorized sliders. Nice job!
100% Gamechanger - can't wait to see how this develops 👍👍
I would wager you'll never see this gimmick used ever again
me too, it's also sounds and looks great.
About time someone did this! Digital mixers have had motorized faders for years now, I've wanted a synth with motorized controls since first using a digital mixer. I bet a cheaper take on this idea could be done if the synth used faders/sliders instead of knobs, like on an old ARP.
Yeah, I wonder why Behringer didn't implement this technology since they also sell moto-faders...it could have been cool on the B-Odyssey.
A programmable control surface with these would be cool
@@Aetila I think it's just the price. Checkout how much replacement behringer faders cost. And you still need to add the cost of the fader motor driver.
@@drofdissonance
But they already had a motorized programmer BF 2000 or similar, it didn't cost so much. I bought the Bodyssey but it was a rerminder why I din't like synths without memory, the synth itself was wonderful. I just imagined what if they had motorized faders on that one, it would have been great...but yes, it may not be reliable and would cost more. I'm done with with synth without memory anyway, lol. Peace
Different tech with a higher failure rate. Check out how drone motors work, rotation is optimal for that application and it translates well here.
I want one!. And it would be absolutely amazing if you could use all those knobs to control softsynths or a DAW, particularly my favorite, Bitwig.
This is so trippy!
Wow, just wow!
I just wish it wasn’t 5 grand in my country…
Kind of expensive but the features and layout look like it would be a super programmable friendly synth. 12 voice analog with friendliness of a Nord Lead 2 or 3. Very nice and compelling sounds and features. I love the motorized knobs and that does make for easy deconstruction of presets and features/fx also. Can’t say I’ll be getting it, but if I didn’t already have a Virus Ti, Ti2, Nord Lead 2X, and Waldorf Blofeld, I’d seriously consider it. Tough choice between this and a Deckard’s Dream, Kijimi, or ISE-NIN from Black Corporation
🤯🤯🤯🤯😍😍 If I would buy a analog synth this would be it
As soon as there's a midi controller version of this with mapping for everything, I'm buying it
you don't ask for much :)
So cool to see this finally getting into some hands! The UI design using motor resistance for center or end of parameters on the knobs is rad. Makes me wonder about long term maintenance and such tho
Post full watch digestion: impressive feature set, but I have to wonder what direction the firmware will go. The digital fx are limited rn but it's built off raspberry pi/elk audio, so I imagine firmware updates or user mods will be excellent. I still don't feel totally sold on the raw sound of the thing tho, which is.. pretty big for something of this price point.
yea.. endless encoder with a value display will probably live longer than motorized knobs
Hopefully, they did a failure mode analysis of those motors
I'm no pro on this topic, but I would imagine the motors used here are similar to something like the stepper motors (stm) in some camera lenses, where they are used for both manual and electrical focusing. I've never seen one of those break so far. That being said they are probably still more prone to fail one day than any encoder like knobs. Let's talk again in five to ten years from now :D
Cmon guys, you all know we don’t actually use the synths, we just watch hours of videos analyzing them until we buy them and never actually touch them after the first day we have them. I’m sure all 5 people who fall into the category of actually using gear AND being able to afford it will be just fine.
@@MrJemabaris plenty of time to fawn, buy, make music with, get over, and sell any piece of gear LOL
At first look the moto-knobs seem like a gimmick, but as you revealed how the control knobs are actually endless encoders with very high resolution and mag detent haptics, the value of physically tracking their relative orientation across modes expands considerably. I would think, however, that LED ring encoders are more practical and cost effective. As always, your comprehensive pros and cons comparisons clarify the value of this specialty "boutique" design in relation to other options.
Am I mad for wanting both? Assuming money's no object, which I think we are forced to. Motorised knobs for the eyes-free tactile indicator, LED rings to display mod depth and, through colour, routing and mode.
@@stephenspackman5573 not mad at all! I was thinking the ultimate GUI for a synth would be physical motorized encoders and all of the surrounding synth deck would actually be a display surface. This way, different patches/ modes/ playlists/ whatever “scenes” you could dream up, all of the knobs could relabel themselves as well as restructure their force feedback profile. I would call it the Chameleon. I just wouldn’t want to pay for it…
@@chriskelvin248 this is a fantastic idea
@@stephenspackman5573 Yeah, I like having LED rings for low light playing.
There will be a reason Clavia Nord only did this once.
Yea Loopop is by far the most thorough and knowledgeable hardware reviewers in the known synth world. Happy to watch each and everyone of his videos even if it’s too expensive for me 😂
127 patches per bank. And 127 banks? So, 16,127 patch slots in total? That’s insane, if so. I love that.
And how many factory presets is it shipping with?
A few dozen, in several categories