Thanks for the video and your hones opinions Jeremy! We wanted to anticipate that we will be releasing 2.0 firmware this week that includes new sound engines, workflow settings and a Delay Effect (replacing noise) and High Pass filter (replacing chorus, convenient for better mixdowns).
I feel like the Coral was made specifically to go with the Oxi One coupled with the Pipe to make it a controller for your Eurorack rig...the Coral workflow seems to align with the Oxi One like siblings in Alabama
Thanks for the honest review Jeremy. I love that you can be honest about both the good and the bad without needing to have a polarizing black & white "conclusion" for the algorithm. In my case, the beautiful polyphonic sounds you demoed makes Coral potentially interesting to me, so I'm grateful to also know the caveats you share in your review so I can make an informed choice.
Honestly at that price it's a pretty attractive desktop synth. Multitimbral polysynths at that price are rare (can't think of anything but Blofeld or Digitone) even if you got to buy a minicase to house it. 🤷♀️
I think what is amazing about this module is that you can still have a polyphonic synth while using several mono parts. For example in the syntakt you can't play chords (unless using the chord machine). That's a shame . That's why many people find Coral really useful and "magical"
I like the idea of getting poly in my rack. I am trying to cut down on what I have to take to a gig, and it I can get my cords in one module, that is a whin for me. I am considering replacing Behringer Brains with Coral. Use it as a Plaits, and for my cords / pads.
Good overview. I think newcomers into Eurorack (maybe post covid) appreciate this type of module. I don't have the traditionalist perspective and poly in the rack is a great complement to my setup!
Coral is more easily modulated by midi if using the multitimbral aspect, but if you’re sticking to the singe engine poly mode, the cv inputs offer quite a bit of access to the engines parameters, this was overlooked. Which is odd since that seem to be your preference for eurorack modules, it has 9 cv inputs to affect your poly engine, including the ability to cv engine.
A Befaco CV Thing would add 8 CVs to midi for input to Coral. The 8 inputs can midi out note, trigger, CC and more, each on it's own midi channel. Most all of Coral's params (more than the knobs give you?) can now be tweezed by cv. Much easier 8 voice polyphony using just CV, in just 6 hp.
As a modular newbie who has semi-modular and midi sequencer experience this very attractive. It would have been nice to see how the CV inputs can be utilized, even if they are somewhat limited. Thanks for the video!
I was trying to think what the beautiful pad chords around 10:41 reminded me of - possibly the opening chords of The sun rising by The Beloved? Crumbs, you could do a wonderful album just with this module!
I think another way to look at the Oxi's Coral is that it's a gateway *into* Eurorack. I don't have a rack but Oxi (and 1010music) are tempting me. Why? Because they're tiny and I just don't have room for a lot of traditional "desktop" sized gear.
Very cool review!! Works for me because my setup is midi powered. New to eurorack so dealing with cv is from a newbie point of view. That noise option sucks and hope the coming update improves that feature.
The multitimbral aspect is fun if you stack sounds to make huge leads or fx. And as a module to play chords, it beats the knobula for versatility. Even as a simple mono voice, it replaces a plaits clone, a filter and env to make a complete synth voice WITH fx. But you’re right, trying to make it do more than one thing at a time is too fussy to be fun.
Thanks, I also think this would be a good idea as a desktop version with more buttons and perhaps easier navigation with a suitable display. I also find the module interesting, but for me it's too complicated and primarily with midi instead of CV, it's not my thing. I can see that many people are having fun with it, which I think is good. The OXI team is certainly doing a good job, I think they have achieved a lot. But I would probably rather buy an additional 4ms ensemble. If I had the money, I'd prefer 8 of them. I would love to see or hear something crazy 🤪 like that, multitimbral a la eurorack.
I have one. But it's yet another deep well of "features" to try and remember how to get to and use. And eggzactly, the Coral would be a lot better "instrument" if it was in a Microfreak type form, for example. Hard to know where the line is though. So I'd say you characterize it very well. Probably better in your head than what you could articulate. ;-)
i agree with the "these midi synths are odd in eurorack" but to me what i feel like we need is a standard specifically for them. start with eurorack as the mechanical standard but add in a second ribbon that gives you a bunch of midi, clock, and digital audio busses, and have everything be using TRS cables as the standard for patching. imo the real underaprectiated strength of eurorack as a form factor is that Everything Is On The Front. you can put your whole setup into this form factor where all your power and mounting is unified and you don't have a bunch of user-area space wasted by gear needing room on the sides and back for cables.
you could even have it use the same 16-pin cables but rigourously insist that all connectors be keyed. and then with those 16 pins you could easily have, say, four midi buses of 16 channels each and 3 SPDIF lines for 6 lossless audio routing channels. and then the extra pin can be for 24ppq clock or like an I2C control line or something. (4 for TX, 4 for RX, 3 for AES+, 3 for AES-, 1 for control/clock and 1 GND)
I really appreciate this review. I've honestly wanted a small rack to replace a lot of the synths I want, but I'm such a slut for midi that these modules are kinda doing it for me? I love the depth and weirdness and the experimentality of learning / adapting / fucking with these, but I'm also heeding your warnings about the obtuse nature of midi modules. Imho they seem more suitable for dabblers? Which, like, me for sure. Also I'm allergic to cats but I have some bunnies to which I shall apply the commensurate smooches in your honour.
Wouldn't the full send on chorus mean that you have a 100% wet signal (technically vibrato) which is the delay (chorus) signal without the dry output? Ideally the delay timing of a chorus is near imperceptible, but it is still very common for modern digital choruses to not be as snappy as analog ones. Had a good laugh one time when pairing up my Julia with a friend's OBNE Visitor. The Julia is a CE-2 clone that allows you to go full wet on the chorus (vibrato) and you can very much just play your guitar or a keyboard through it from there and have a great time. If you went full wet on the OBNE visitor though, you had this almost unplayable latency that required you to play what you wanted to play a little uncomfortably before the beat. We were live tracking a recording and the Visitor proved not up to the task for this, so we swapped in the Julia.
My thought process: ‘Oooh! A full poly synth voice in a small module. Neat!… Wait it’s only usable via dedicated MIDI. 😢’. Being only effective via MIDI seems like it’s defeating the purpose of being in a Eurorack format. Feels like it should be a desktop groove box.
I think most people use polyphony in Eurorack with MIDI anyways, so they decided to go down that route. But tbh would love a little 4hp expander with cv intputs, so far I wouldn't consider it like this either.
I clock my system and use a Hapax + MIDI/CV converter so the Coral integrated into my setup perfectly and replaced the desktop synth I was using for polyphonic sounds
Thanks for the video and your hones opinions Jeremy!
We wanted to anticipate that we will be releasing 2.0 firmware this week that includes new sound engines, workflow settings and a Delay Effect (replacing noise) and High Pass filter (replacing chorus, convenient for better mixdowns).
Cool can’t wait to hear the new engines!!!
I feel like the Coral was made specifically to go with the Oxi One coupled with the Pipe to make it a controller for your Eurorack rig...the Coral workflow seems to align with the Oxi One like siblings in Alabama
I totally agree. I first had the Oxi One for quite a while and the Coral just makes for a perfect match if only having a very few modules (like I do).
Thanks for the honest review Jeremy. I love that you can be honest about both the good and the bad without needing to have a polarizing black & white "conclusion" for the algorithm. In my case, the beautiful polyphonic sounds you demoed makes Coral potentially interesting to me, so I'm grateful to also know the caveats you share in your review so I can make an informed choice.
Love my Coral. Thanks for the review. Using the syntakt with it was a great idea.
Honestly at that price it's a pretty attractive desktop synth.
Multitimbral polysynths at that price are rare (can't think of anything but Blofeld or Digitone) even if you got to buy a minicase to house it. 🤷♀️
I think what is amazing about this module is that you can still have a polyphonic synth while using several mono parts. For example in the syntakt you can't play chords (unless using the chord machine). That's a shame . That's why many people find Coral really useful and "magical"
I like the idea of getting poly in my rack. I am trying to cut down on what I have to take to a gig, and it I can get my cords in one module, that is a whin for me. I am considering replacing Behringer Brains with Coral. Use it as a Plaits, and for my cords / pads.
Good overview. I think newcomers into Eurorack (maybe post covid) appreciate this type of module. I don't have the traditionalist perspective and poly in the rack is a great complement to my setup!
Coral is more easily modulated by midi if using the multitimbral aspect, but if you’re sticking to the singe engine poly mode, the cv inputs offer quite a bit of access to the engines parameters, this was overlooked. Which is odd since that seem to be your preference for eurorack modules, it has 9 cv inputs to affect your poly engine, including the ability to cv engine.
A Befaco CV Thing would add 8 CVs to midi for input to Coral.
The 8 inputs can midi out note, trigger, CC and more, each on it's own midi channel.
Most all of Coral's params (more than the knobs give you?) can now be tweezed by cv.
Much easier 8 voice polyphony using just CV, in just 6 hp.
As a modular newbie who has semi-modular and midi sequencer experience this very attractive. It would have been nice to see how the CV inputs can be utilized, even if they are somewhat limited. Thanks for the video!
I was trying to think what the beautiful pad chords around 10:41 reminded me of - possibly the opening chords of The sun rising by The Beloved? Crumbs, you could do a wonderful album just with this module!
would work well with Hermod plus.
I think another way to look at the Oxi's Coral is that it's a gateway *into* Eurorack. I don't have a rack but Oxi (and 1010music) are tempting me. Why? Because they're tiny and I just don't have room for a lot of traditional "desktop" sized gear.
seems perfect for a hybrid euro tracker step tbh
Very cool review!! Works for me because my setup is midi powered. New to eurorack so dealing with cv is from a newbie point of view. That noise option sucks and hope the coming update improves that feature.
I really crave this beautiful thing! Not got it yet but though it's not cheap it's definitely high on my priority list now.
The multitimbral aspect is fun if you stack sounds to make huge leads or fx. And as a module to play chords, it beats the knobula for versatility. Even as a simple mono voice, it replaces a plaits clone, a filter and env to make a complete synth voice WITH fx. But you’re right, trying to make it do more than one thing at a time is too fussy to be fun.
Thanks, I also think this would be a good idea as a desktop version with more buttons and perhaps easier navigation with a suitable display. I also find the module interesting, but for me it's too complicated and primarily with midi instead of CV, it's not my thing.
I can see that many people are having fun with it, which I think is good. The OXI team is certainly doing a good job, I think they have achieved a lot. But I would probably rather buy an additional 4ms ensemble. If I had the money, I'd prefer 8 of them. I would love to see or hear something crazy 🤪 like that, multitimbral a la eurorack.
I have Blofeld.
How do you compare the two multitimbralities?
I ask you that cus you named it
ohh and you can also play chords with CV !!
Is it possible to stuck not only the voices but also the engines? I mean E.G. wavetable with fm and sample in the same voices, in the same part
I have one. But it's yet another deep well of "features" to try and remember how to get to and use. And eggzactly, the Coral would be a lot better "instrument" if it was in a Microfreak type form, for example. Hard to know where the line is though. So I'd say you characterize it very well. Probably better in your head than what you could articulate. ;-)
Thanks for the hang, bud.
i agree with the "these midi synths are odd in eurorack" but to me what i feel like we need is a standard specifically for them. start with eurorack as the mechanical standard but add in a second ribbon that gives you a bunch of midi, clock, and digital audio busses, and have everything be using TRS cables as the standard for patching. imo the real underaprectiated strength of eurorack as a form factor is that Everything Is On The Front. you can put your whole setup into this form factor where all your power and mounting is unified and you don't have a bunch of user-area space wasted by gear needing room on the sides and back for cables.
you could even have it use the same 16-pin cables but rigourously insist that all connectors be keyed. and then with those 16 pins you could easily have, say, four midi buses of 16 channels each and 3 SPDIF lines for 6 lossless audio routing channels. and then the extra pin can be for 24ppq clock or like an I2C control line or something. (4 for TX, 4 for RX, 3 for AES+, 3 for AES-, 1 for control/clock and 1 GND)
I really appreciate this review. I've honestly wanted a small rack to replace a lot of the synths I want, but I'm such a slut for midi that these modules are kinda doing it for me? I love the depth and weirdness and the experimentality of learning / adapting / fucking with these, but I'm also heeding your warnings about the obtuse nature of midi modules. Imho they seem more suitable for dabblers? Which, like, me for sure.
Also I'm allergic to cats but I have some bunnies to which I shall apply the commensurate smooches in your honour.
Wouldn't the full send on chorus mean that you have a 100% wet signal (technically vibrato) which is the delay (chorus) signal without the dry output? Ideally the delay timing of a chorus is near imperceptible, but it is still very common for modern digital choruses to not be as snappy as analog ones.
Had a good laugh one time when pairing up my Julia with a friend's OBNE Visitor. The Julia is a CE-2 clone that allows you to go full wet on the chorus (vibrato) and you can very much just play your guitar or a keyboard through it from there and have a great time. If you went full wet on the OBNE visitor though, you had this almost unplayable latency that required you to play what you wanted to play a little uncomfortably before the beat. We were live tracking a recording and the Visitor proved not up to the task for this, so we swapped in the Julia.
I love mine but the chorus isn't very satisfying.. the Vector is a great sequencer to pair with it because of midi. Make chords in modular easy
Nice!. R u Coming to Berlin this year?
My thought process: ‘Oooh! A full poly synth voice in a small module. Neat!… Wait it’s only usable via dedicated MIDI. 😢’. Being only effective via MIDI seems like it’s defeating the purpose of being in a Eurorack format. Feels like it should be a desktop groove box.
I think most people use polyphony in Eurorack with MIDI anyways, so they decided to go down that route. But tbh would love a little 4hp expander with cv intputs, so far I wouldn't consider it like this either.
I clock my system and use a Hapax + MIDI/CV converter so the Coral integrated into my setup perfectly and replaced the desktop synth I was using for polyphonic sounds
They said on their site that you can either use midi or cv/gate
You can strum chords using the cv and gate inputs!
I just kissed my cat. Great video btw thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Sup
Cool