Quasimidi Polymorph

So I've been lusting after this piece of kit for a while now... I'd like to make some step sequencer based Kraftwelt-esque tunes. Any WATTM folks have experience with one? Is it worth springing for the inflated price when they actually do pop up for sale?

i don't think it's worth springing for the money personally, have you used or seen a Frostewave fatcontroller sequencer ? It's the best most compact analog/midi sequencer on the market (for the price). It's steps are with faders and it has midi and CV out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb9-ofWWZwE

edit: I was intrigued by your post is because you mention Kraftwelt, whatever happened to them? It's funny that they tried to do a retro kraftwerk thing when it was way too early to be doing retro electronic music. IF they did it now and came onto to the scene they would probably be all over Pitchfork.com

  On 3/7/2011 at 10:40 PM, Awepittance said:

i don't think it's worth springing for the money personally, have you used or seen a Frostewave fatcontroller sequencer ? It's the best most compact analog/midi sequencer on the market (for the price). It's steps are with faders and it has midi and CV out

Looks hot. I'm going to dig into some research. Thanks for the suggestion.

  On 3/7/2011 at 10:40 PM, Awepittance said:

edit: I was intrigued by your post is because you mention Kraftwelt, whatever happened to them? It's funny that they tried to do a retro kraftwerk thing when it was way too early to be doing retro electronic music. IF they did it now and came onto to the scene they would probably be all over Pitchfork.com

I still listen to Electric Dimension nearly everyday. I think they really tapped into a unique formula on that album... which I don't feel was ever recreated again. Not much has happened with the members afaik aside from a few DJ appearances here and there. I'd love to see a comeback.

I had one ages ago

good for filthy stuff it wasn't really designed for but flawed in many ways especially the shit alaising waveforms and only 8 step editing

get a 2nd hand monomachine instead

imo, if you like the vibe of his stuff, for the insane price polymorphs are going for, get a Radikal Technologies spectralis 2. Same guy, pretty much everything from the polymorph, mostly better, just a little less of a classic snyth interface. HAs a filterbank, and some real analog stuff.

That said, the polymorph is awesome, but it looks like they are going for like $1500 to 2000....much more useful things can be had for that money.

Then again, I know what it's like to lust after a specific piece of gear until I hae it in my hands, and sometimes there's no compromise.

So...yeah too much money but still awesome.

I'd still go with this one:

^ expensive groovebox?

  On 3/8/2011 at 5:25 AM, yek said:

^ expensive groovebox?

In many ways yes. But it's more a hybrid digital/analog synth/sampler (tons of space), sequencer.

The things that shoo people away are 1. the price, 2. it has a steep learning cure and a lot of stuff is in menus b/c there are so many options (which is kind of the antithesis of a groovebox), and 3, drama with the os on spectralis 1 putting a bit of distaste in some gear heads internet mouths

full features in spoiler

The Spectralis 2 and the Monomachine are pretty much hot shit. I know that the Polymorph doesn't hold a candle to that gear. Do you actually own a Spectralis 2, Brandi? How's the OS nowadays?

I remember the days of jamming out on gear and being less reliant on the computer. It's time to return to the source, I say. Thanks for all the input guys. You've fed my GAS nicely ;)

IMO the Spectralis is extremely overpriced and sounds like shit - alias-y and digital and thin. would not buy one.

  On 3/8/2011 at 11:27 AM, BCM said:

IMO the Spectralis is extremely overpriced and sounds like shit - alias-y and digital and thin. would not buy one.

I've never viewed the Spectralis as sounding thin by any stretch, even those who got rid said the sound was the best thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od4GpCv9ALQ

the spectralis is good but I don't know If I could live with all it's menu diving after owning Elektron's plus the FX and sampling side are rather basic also the designer is too into the berlin school mentality for my liking

like I said the monomachine is the best groovebox and then some

I agree the monomachine is the best groovebox! still think the spectralis sounds rubbish though...I prefer the original rave-o-lution to the spectralis lol.

I seem to have a lot of opinions that fly in the face of popular theories though... most of the gear that a lot of people seem to think is amazing, i think is shit and vice-versa...

anyone famous ever used the spectralis or can name a killer track used with it?

the answer in none

elektron, mpc, tenori....... the list goes on

One thing you may want to look in to is the Waldorf Q (or Q rack). The sequencer is actually laid out on the panel is is very fun and waldorfs can churn out awesome "

kraut" sequences.

Another thing could be the Dave Smith Evolver series, again, another awesome sequencer, but the only was to get the full effect is buy the mono kb or poly kb which are pretty pricey.

Electribes are another good option, but not everyone likes electribes and to realy get what you want you'd need the ESX sampler which would require spending time making samples.

blah, this is going to be a disorganized post cuz im on the phone at work, ill come back and add to it, or edit it, ive got some more recommendations for u

Re: Spectralis

I do not own a spectralis. THe two things that hold me off are the fact that i've never messed with one in person (it's amazing how much you can lust after some things, then you actually use them and you're like "mehh", though I don't think that would be my response). However, it's been on my potential's list for a while and I have befriended a few people that own them and get nothing but awesome feedback.

The other thing is I have a lot of electribes, and sometimes I think that my answer to my electribe problem is just to have like three SX's so I can have all the outputs I want.

That's the thing about the spectralis that he really got right. I've seen so many "grooveboxes" and similar machines, and they ALWAYS lack on outputs. A lot of people say "well that's the purpose, do everything in the box". Well no, If you really want a quality produced song, being able to send every part, simultaneously to your DAW and then mix from the audio, that's where it's at. I make full songs on the elctribes, and it's a always a struggle to get them mixed and not sound like a muddy ass (god, if korg would just release a new line of tribes with adat outs i'd be all in!).

ANYWAYS, yeah, it's a badass machine but the thing about grooveboxes is, I never like anything as much as I love the electribes. Korg really got it right with the visual feedback, x0x style layout, expression tools, fx routing, and the engine. All they really need imo is an output per part (adat would be best) and a lil cleaner audio path (though you can fix this by putting better not distorting tubes in them). Sure the fx could be better, but it would likely increase the cost and really all I want is the outputs.

EDIT: GS & VSE reports are that the OS is still missing a few promised things, but is on par now and makes the machine much more the way it was supposed to be, and there are by far less complaint threads popping up. THe biggest moan I usually see now is that there's so much menu diving and the manual is poorly written so it's hard to find a lot of things. Spec 1's go on ebay for about 1k and 2's about 1500, so they ARE available considerably cheaper, but it's still pricey.

  On 3/8/2011 at 1:17 PM, soundwave said:

anyone famous ever used the spectralis or can name a killer track used with it?

 

the answer in none

 

elektron, mpc, tenori....... the list goes on

lol, Charlie Clouser used the raveolution on the lil background/intro beat in Starfuckers on NIN's fragile.

the rave-a-lution was as kick ass back in the day and has the best dirty digital filters i've heard and the machine gives a lorra punch for heavy drum sounds in the right hands

the sequencer was a ball ache with plenty of menu diving which was the same story with the polymorph and what i fear is the same case with the spectralis from what previous users have said

sure its capable but can you really be arsed if its a blagg to use and in this day and age hardware has to be even more intuative than ever or else you may as well stick with software

has anyone mentioned a G2 engine and touch screen yet?