Ah, Loopop. You're always giving the most comprehensive, unbiased reviews around. Whenever I want to learn about the specs of a given piece of gear, I know to look on your channel first.
Andy Mcvey I wholeheartedly agree with your statement. I've been a producer of electronic music for 17+ years, but never bothered to learn synthesis. However early last year something clicked, and I've engulfed myself in hardware & analog Synths, Eurorack via Free & Opensource VCV Rack, and software analog modeling Synths that are free or have demo versions. I've even went back to Propellerhead Reason and found I'm now able to actually make the sounds I want with Thor (3 DCO'S), Malstrum, (2 DCO graintable) and the new amazing Europa (which is digital, but doesn't resample, rather a 'wave table' synth)! And I've been able to create some cool stuff in GarageBand on my iPhone, then Logic Pro X, and Ableton Live 10 (lite) that came with my Novation Launchkey MKII... And got my Arturia Keystep to control the Behringer Model D I bought as my very first hardware analog Synth. *I mention all this, because one of the first, and now my MAIN 'Go-To' channel is loopop. Every video is straightforward, yet in depth, comprehensive, and easy to follow yet enjoyable to watch.* I don't think there is a better review / tutorial channel on UA-cam for Synthesisers & Synthesis. Watching his videos have accelerated my learning 10-fold. AND he consistently replies to his subscribers emails and comments. I often end up watching videos several times, and everytime I end up learning something new or picking up on something I missed the previous time. Ziv knows his stuff!!! _Long comment, but watching this channel has been an integral part of my learning and progress in Synthesis overall._ 😬🤘👍 Cheers!
Just bought one for under half of retail! This thing is CRIMINALLY slept on. There simply isn’t anything else like it and I think it’s worth the kinks especially after they’ve updated it
I’m looking at one too… I was telling a friend it has the best elements of a Evolver or Prophet 12, an Elektron and old Hybrid Korgs/Sequentials/Kawais/Ensoniqs/PPGs… and even that comparaison doesn’t quite do it justice!
wow, I'm quite mindblown with this functionality especially the tone-grid. And you're a great reviewer, technical straight and forward, with a dash of humor.
Really amazing review, thank you! I was really looking forward for something like this about the Medusa. And it actually seems to be an amazing synth indeed.
Man - I've come to your channel so many times for breakdowns. You have, hands down, the best review process for audio tech there is. Finally subscribed. Rock on brother.
Lots of helpful and creative innovations in this synth. I love the ability to play parameter changes on the pads. A modulation matrix would be nice, but simplicity is nice too.
Wow, what an amazing machine! I love the functionality and versatility of the touch pad inputs. Definitely would purchase one if I didn't already own a Deluge.
Yeah, lots of forward thinking here. Obviously replacing the traditional keyboard with a grid is really refreshing as well, and something that I hope to see more often in future products.
Thank you for this great review, one of the best if not the best about the Medusa. I was curious about the Medusa, but your review sold me. I bought it, thnx to you ;)
@@blushingfrieza well i was already very satisfied but the last update IS even great, i really enjoy the Medusa. The only thing that miss is maybee some FX
Your videos are very informative and pleasant to listen to. This looks and sounds like an amazing piece of hardware. I will be keeping my eye on this one. ty : )
thanks so much for this video!! this is essentially my first hardware synth. so, I suppose I've picked a unique beast to learn on. I most definitely will have questions. I subscribed on patreon & am reading your book. I love how well you cover so many basics & smoothly move into the more advanced stuff. hopefully I can hit you up as I become more able to better articulate the things I'm puzzled by as I dance with miss medusa. thanks again for the book & all these fantastic videos!!
once again, you made the perfect introductory video to a new piece of gear. I preordered one at Sweetwater after watching this. Thank you and see you at Moogfest next year! :-)
Great demo. Always so. I love the look and concept of this synth, and the company's output. I've still not heard anything revolutionary or that compelling from this synth yet though. Hopefully I will hear that soon, as it gets shown in a musical context beyond the initial demos...
From this demonstration, should I assume that like the medusa, all digital oscillators will have less high overtone clarity in the lower notes than analogue oscillators do? If thats the case then I finally have a good reason to consider going analogue.
This thing is amazing. The only thing I wish it could do is maybe be able to create independent sequences to control each oscillator independently from each other. Maybe that could be added in a firmware update or something. It's incredible regardless and it's definitely high on my wishlist!.
I'm very surprised these aren't more popular! More Wavetables or user Oscillators could really help it out (don't know if these have been implemented already!)
I am always scared when someone demonstrates the self oscillating filter :p Great review man! Thank you! I really think this is going to be my third synthesizer.
You are one of the best reviewers I've ever seen. Scratch that, probably the best. Subjective, I know - My point is really to encourage you to keep inspiring and educating us pleebs.
I just got a Medusa and am still wrapping my head around it. It really is something unique and super powerful. I would love to see another video now that version 4.0 is out. Mostly, I would also love to see a video that uses the Medusa to control external gear, including CC mode where you can send the envelopes and lfos as assignable CCs. As there are no videos that effectively show these capabilities. I am not sure if you are in the United States but if you don’t have a unit to do the video with, I would be happy to lend mine to you for the video, assuming I wouldn’t be without the Medusa for too long😜 Thanks for all you do!!
@@TwinCitiesOxygen I still really like it. Tuning seems to be a problem occasionally, but once it found a stationary place in my studio, and after it gets warmed up, it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. I have gotten used to using the fine tune knob to tune it on the fly. I have been using the grid as an mpe controller for Ableton as well, which is awesome and really is an incredible bonus feature that the synth and the grid can be decoupled. The FM synth with wavetables is insane. The filters are nice, not what I am used to, as the slope into self oscillation of the resonance can be a bit abrupt but that isn’t really an issue for me as I am usually doing more subtle things than just boosting the resonance into self oscillation. It isn’t a sweet spot, but has soo many places that you can create your own. And it isn’t an instrument that is for the faint of heart. You have to learn how to play it. It is sensitive and dynamic and you have to be willing to reign it in to achieve your desired results. I started playing with wind controllers recently and using breath to control the pitch of the second or third oscillator when they are synced is a trip. I have been playing with assigning the wavetable to the breath as well, and that too creates interesting results. As well as using breath to control the “pitch” (which becomes the ratio) of the second digital oscillator while in FM synth mode. It is crazy and I love it, primarily as an experimenters tool box. Building monophonic “chords” per step is crazy, and is a different way to build sounds than I have ever done and can lead to unexpected progressions and solutions. This was really my first “mono synth” that I ever kept longer than a few months. As I have always been a poly synth person, it was a good cross over piece to give me the access to so many oscillators, with soo much timbral flexibility, to really see the power and usefulness of the mono synth. Now I have a second mono synth, as well. It is a tool that isn’t my primary sound generation device, and I guess it could be but I have a bunch of old gear, that I learned many years ago, so the Medusa only has to excel at what I need it to do. I have been using it recently paired with a Toriaz AS-1 and they seem to sound really nice together. Arps and leads with the as-1. Rhythmic, and melodic textures with the Medusa. Both can get really clear, ranging from gentle tones and bell tones, to intense and crunchy madness. Such a wide range of timbral variation. Some things are a little fiddly, like playing around with the lfo destination, in real-time, I have accidentally bumped it and then can’t remember what it was set to. I kinda wish there was the same type of knob function of making it so you could turn the knob and have it bring up the existing setting before immediately shifting to the next value. You can do this with all of the other functions other than the lfo and envelopes. I have gotten used to it and mostly set my routings prior to a performance or recording session. But sometimes I want to change a destination from wavetable all to a single oscillator and that can lead to it racing to some other variable, like filter fm or pitch and things get crazy really fast. I probably just need to remember to turn down the amount before fucking with the destination… yep… I will start to do that… Thanks for asking, now I have a solution. Simple solutions for simple problems, eh? Have a great day!
Hi! Great review. A question. That trick you do at 9:54 min. What would happen if one has set up a paraphonic sound and plays a chord? I assume that would be possible because there is only 1 filter and the sequencer will imprint the filter steps on everything that runs through it, monophonic or polyphonic. Am I right?
This has become a lot more affordable lately. Could we get an update what has been done since the FW 3.0 update hit? There was criticism about constant calibration, live recording, so new info on this would be great for buyers on the fence like me. Thanks for all your work :)
From the site v3.01 Updates - Config reset added to the flashing process. Fixes - Swing bug eliminated. Changelog: v3.0 Updates - Added LFO random wave (the last position). - Added MIDI Local Off (as a MIDI config option), you can now use the Medusa MPE pads to play another instrument and play the internal synth engine with an external controller at the same time. - Both LFOs and envelopes are now able to send out their native values out as CC (set it up from the MIDI config menu). - Each synth parameter is now displayed with the assigned CC number. The option to use the grid to control other things and play the internal sounds with another controller is a game changer. I think.
benn jordan did another in-depth vid about exactly that aspect of the medusa... how she's an underrated magical beast who ought to be revered amongst synthheads everywhere. check that out.
Each "program" in the Medusa is a collection of 1) patch data (for the overall sound) and 2) sequencer/grid data. If you wanted, you could create a program with nothing but grid data (or patch modifying data as the manual calls it), and 64 "little patches" in one program. And you can have up to 128 programs. That gives you basically 8,192 patches (64 grid patches x 128 programs) you can store in the Medusa if you wanted to work it that way.
Yes and no. In the way it currently works you can only play the overall sound in note mode or the sequencer (in the sequencer - as modified by PM data of course). The trick that I showed in the video is that behavior with a midi keyboard is different than note mode - there indeed you have the potential of 8192 patches. Hopefully this behavior will be applied to note mode in the future and not vice versa
True...forgot to clarify that only works with an external keyboard/controller, which is mostly what I used during the testing. And including the base sound (or overall sound) in each program, you'd really have a total of 8192+128...for a whopping 8,320 patch storage options. Great job on the review btw. You succinctly pack a lot of relevant content into a finite space! Cheers...
I'll be posting a sequencer tutorial, but not really any reviews. My unit was one of the first batch of prototypes and there were a couple features that weren't full up yet.
I'm glad (and more than a little jealous) that you are one of the first to get a Medusa. Thanks for the video, can't wait to receive mine! Question:This has an audio input. Can it do "filth" like the monostation?
I guess "Filth" is the squelchy, noisy, saggy stuff Novation did in this series: ua-cam.com/play/PL_kRkcZ1CjijSIgeIxYfvBK-ok2rIKtBr.html But I suppose that makes heavy use of the distortion and overdrive in Mono Circuit. While we're talking Mono Circuit: could the loopback trick you showed in your Mono Circuit video (ua-cam.com/video/u8s2j-LjbcA/v-deo.htmlm35s) work with Medusa?
Yeah I think Novation uses their distortion feature as part of the "filth" (no distortion on Medusa). The other tricks they use would probably produce similar effects. Regarding the loopback trick - yes, I tried it, for some reason it doesn't sound like other synths I've tried this on - much less dramatic effect, but there's definitely something going on there especially if you crank it up
These PolyEnd devices are finally blipping on my radar. I was surprised that this thing doesn't have CV, but I guess the Poly 2 Midi eurorack module would do the trick. I wonder if anyone has tried it. They certainly are expensive devices. One of biggest issues I've found with GAS so far is that for each thing I buy, I really need to learn as much about it & use it before I can buy the next thing. Otherwise, I would appear to be stuck with a lot of gear that I want to use, but haven't even mastered 1/4th of what it can do. So far, I have a BeatStep Pro and a Korg Volca Drum bought in early July, with a MiniBrute 2S/6U RackBrute on the way now. It seems like I should have my hands full & yet here I am looking at the Medusa, wondering how I can fit it in...it might take a long time to figure that out. I don't have any stand-alone synths outside of the Drum/Minibrute 2S, although I was thinking more along the lines of the Korg Minilogue XD Module which is a little less than 50% the cost of the Medusa. Still..I'd like to have one. :-) Just not sure how the Medusa can subvert my desire for the Minlogue XD yet...one of them would need to be cast aside for a little bit while my bank account heals from the lashing it'll take from GAS.
Thank you a lot for your great review and this full tutorial. I always love to watch your videos. You really focus on the point and not on gadgets. ;-) Quick question on the scope displaying the wave curves (e.g at 17:00). What is it? Thanks!
Cook video. One question. When the envelopes are in loop mode, do they sync to tempo (like on the sub 37) or are they free running? This is important to my flow. thanks!
Yes, there’s a touch of reverb on the intro jam - no other effects applied in the video and no fx in the synth unfortunately. The Erebus echo would be nice!
At 8:50 you started talking about parameter modifications. You used the top left pad as the pitch then used the other pads to modify it. Do the pads still modify the pitch if it was played on a midi keyboard?
It seems the Polyend and Deradbox they took huge effort to polish the Medusa and by this my voice for retake of review of this extraordinary synth. In age of super fast of recycling I have thoughts the Medusa is worth attention. Especially after final "tuning".. Do anybody agree? However, thank you Sir for this and all other honest reviews. My regards.
Hey loopop this is an awesome video. Coming from the circuit monostation how is editing presets while they are sequenced on the grid? Can you manipulate one preset while the others play through the sequence? Does one parameter control edit all the presets as you play through the sequence? Thanks!
When the sequence isn't playing you can choose and change any step to anything you want; while the sequence is playing changes will apply to the current playing step
I liked the drum synth part. Would it be possible to have some OSC continue with synth notes while others produced drums? ( as with Analog Four, for example. )
It’s not as easy as the analog four which has dedicated filters for each voice, but it’s doable with a certain about of effort and limitation of having one filter. But I would consider that more of a workaround than a feasible workflow
Great device, but I was so impressed with the review/reviewer, that I watched the whole video without intending to. Thank you. How did you create the inset fft/wave displays that you use on some of the shots?
Holy shit this synth is brilliant and everything I have dreamed of. I was thinking of getting a used Analog 4 mki but GOD DAMN this thing may be worth the cash
hello, I find your presentation awesome, Your way to make us discover this hardware is very nice and a bit of humor as it should .. This changes sound demos. One question remains in fact two: Do you think to add the review of the firmware update? I will invest in this synth. Since Polyend and Dreadbox are in my opinion "outsiders", this hardware excites me because I want to think outside the box and invest in a more original Synth, seeing a lot of the same references in the studios. Do you just think it's a good buy with a bright future? (By the way the link that leads to Thomann is the lowest price I've found so ..) I would like to see test examples on "audio in" but I think I'll test myself. Sorry for that long prose! Thumbs up from Paris.
Thanks very much for the kind words. I sort of did a video which includes many of the features in 1.1 (see my CV to MIDI to CV video), and they did add a few things since, but with NAMM coming and the schedule after I probably won't do a 1.1 video as I already covered a lot of it. Hopefully exciting things will come in the next version!
Hi, I am visually impaired and I am wondering how much of the functionality requires seeing the screens? Or in other words, how limited of a use it would be to pretty much ignore those screens? Thanks!
Oguz Buyukberber a lot of this synth is knob per function but the screen isn’t the only element with visual feedback. The pads light up in 3 levels based on their content and many buttons light up to indicate their state
Forgive me, I did somewhat skim through, so I may have missed it if you discussed this, but can you tell me if in P2 mode you can choose different OSC types?
...are sequences (1 per patch?) playble triggerable from a midi keyboard changing the pitch as it a was a sort of arpeggio pattern? Maybe to do that you shuold copy the same sound on several locations and compose a different 64 steps sequence each, but at the point could you change patch in time? Thank you very much and congratulations on your job
Hi just a general question are there any grid based midi controllers that can do the scale thing and run stand alone? I really like the Medusa but it's out of my price but excited about the way the grid is used.
Plonkuss launchpads have similar scale modes but no x/y expressive control (some models have velocity sensitivity - not sure about aftertouch). The linnstrument has grid control and even finer expressive features but costs as much as this
What other effects have you added ? It sounds really nice indeed. May I suggest to keep most of your demo with the dry sound of the device, and only add FX in the end ? I believe it’s being more honest about the sound as is. Brilliant demo, still :)
as I said above - I used Valhalla shimmer on the intro only, and no other effects. Aside from that, 24 out of the 26 minutes of the video are totally dry so I think that's a pretty honest ratio...
Hello & Thx. I have one question: Can i take a stored sound or preset per different Steps? I dont mean the Parameter (-Lock). I mean Different Sounds from the Banks on different Steps (Grids). Elektron Analog Four can this, but i sell it (not my Workflow) and thinking about the Medusa.
No, Medusa's grid is per patch. The grid is not a general sequencer to place patches on. Outside grid mode it plays notes of the patch and is used to select patch numbers.
Yes - as I mention in the video the concept of parameter locking exists Elektron gear too - the only "problem" with the Analog Four is that its onboard keys are just "on/off" switches - I actually made a whole video about using the A4 expressively using external gear. I wouldn't say this is better or worse though - they each have their strengths. A comparison would mean a whole "vs" video ;)
Would be really interested in seeing an updated demo of this now there are some updates to the firmware and it's much more affordable
Ah, Loopop. You're always giving the most comprehensive, unbiased reviews around. Whenever I want to learn about the specs of a given piece of gear, I know to look on your channel first.
Andy Mcvey I wholeheartedly agree with your statement. I've been a producer of electronic music for 17+ years, but never bothered to learn synthesis. However early last year something clicked, and I've engulfed myself in hardware & analog Synths, Eurorack via Free & Opensource VCV Rack, and software analog modeling Synths that are free or have demo versions. I've even went back to Propellerhead Reason and found I'm now able to actually make the sounds I want with Thor (3 DCO'S), Malstrum, (2 DCO graintable) and the new amazing Europa (which is digital, but doesn't resample, rather a 'wave table' synth)! And I've been able to create some cool stuff in GarageBand on my iPhone, then Logic Pro X, and Ableton Live 10 (lite) that came with my Novation Launchkey MKII... And got my Arturia Keystep to control the Behringer Model D I bought as my very first hardware analog Synth.
*I mention all this, because one of the first, and now my MAIN 'Go-To' channel is loopop. Every video is straightforward, yet in depth, comprehensive, and easy to follow yet enjoyable to watch.* I don't think there is a better review / tutorial channel on UA-cam for Synthesisers & Synthesis. Watching his videos have accelerated my learning 10-fold. AND he consistently replies to his subscribers emails and comments.
I often end up watching videos several times, and everytime I end up learning something new or picking up on something I missed the previous time. Ziv knows his stuff!!!
_Long comment, but watching this channel has been an integral part of my learning and progress in Synthesis overall._
😬🤘👍
Cheers!
100
I love the depth and simplicity of the video and the increasing ammount of humour you put in these reviews. Keep it up!
Just bought one for under half of retail! This thing is CRIMINALLY slept on. There simply isn’t anything else like it and I think it’s worth the kinks especially after they’ve updated it
Ha , I'm "waking up to it" just very recently - the expressiveness in a performances is just unique!
I’m looking at one too… I was telling a friend it has the best elements of a Evolver or Prophet 12, an Elektron and old Hybrid Korgs/Sequentials/Kawais/Ensoniqs/PPGs… and even that comparaison doesn’t quite do it justice!
You would say that … you’re ‘invested’ now, lol …
How are you liking it a year later? I have always been interested, but to my ears the sound is always a bit dull.
By far the best review of this innovative synth in depth and fairness!
Congrats! The Grid opportunities are infinitely.
Cheers from Germany
wow, I'm quite mindblown with this functionality especially the tone-grid.
And you're a great reviewer, technical straight and forward, with a dash of humor.
Love your Tutorials. Perfect pace, good structure, informative and very competent.
This instrument looks amazing. So much depth that the possibilities seem endless. Thanks for making it easy to digest. Great video as always.
Really amazing review, thank you! I was really looking forward for something like this about the Medusa. And it actually seems to be an amazing synth indeed.
Thank you for this excellent in depth exploration of the Medusa, I actually ordered it mid video and then came back to watch the rest 👌🏻
Congrats on the first and probably best Medusa review! Good job.
Весьма добрый обзор.
Man - I've come to your channel so many times for breakdowns. You have, hands down, the best review process for audio tech there is. Finally subscribed. Rock on brother.
It is very cool that the two companies collaborated on this.
Excellent review, fantastic production quality, as always clear and easy to follow. Thanks
Lots of helpful and creative innovations in this synth. I love the ability to play parameter changes on the pads. A modulation matrix would be nice, but simplicity is nice too.
Wow, what an amazing machine! I love the functionality and versatility of the touch pad inputs. Definitely would purchase one if I didn't already own a Deluge.
Can’t wait to get mine! It’s coming in the mail. Amazing review!
The preset position system is brilliant and so clear to the user, so smart!
Yeah, lots of forward thinking here. Obviously replacing the traditional keyboard with a grid is really refreshing as well, and something that I hope to see more often in future products.
Thank you for this great review, one of the best if not the best about the Medusa.
I was curious about the Medusa, but your review sold me.
I bought it, thnx to you ;)
Thoughts on it after some time? It's been this and the rev2 for me.
@@blushingfrieza well i was already very satisfied but the last update IS even great, i really enjoy the Medusa.
The only thing that miss is maybee some FX
Your videos are very informative and pleasant to listen to. This looks and sounds like an amazing piece of hardware. I will be keeping my eye on this one. ty : )
Love this synth definitely on my wish list. So many options today!!!
One of the best Medusa vids so far. Thank you.
What a beast! Also an excellent walkthrough of the synth, thanks!
thanks so much for this video!! this is essentially my first hardware synth. so, I suppose I've picked a unique beast to learn on. I most definitely will have questions. I subscribed on patreon & am reading your book. I love how well you cover so many basics & smoothly move into the more advanced stuff. hopefully I can hit you up as I become more able to better articulate the things I'm puzzled by as I dance with miss medusa. thanks again for the book & all these fantastic videos!!
Hey just saw this comment and wanted to say thanks :)
@@loopop so funny... I just SO HAPPEN to be watching another of your vids at this very moment. ;-)
once again, you made the perfect introductory video to a new piece of gear. I preordered one at Sweetwater after watching this. Thank you and see you at Moogfest next year! :-)
Thanks and looking forward to it!
Excellent Review! Thank You Loopop.
Excellent! So many powerful features in a relatively small package... An arpeggiator would be nice though but I'm sure it will be added in the future
Great demo. Always so. I love the look and concept of this synth, and the company's output. I've still not heard anything revolutionary or that compelling from this synth yet though. Hopefully I will hear that soon, as it gets shown in a musical context beyond the initial demos...
@7:30 It's like the step edit on the korg E2!! Love this concept
"You just saved yourself a world of hurt" Haaa...best thing I ever heard when it comes to Analog vs Digital.
Liked, Subscribed!
From this demonstration, should I assume that like the medusa, all digital oscillators will have less high overtone clarity in the lower notes than analogue oscillators do?
If thats the case then I finally have a good reason to consider going analogue.
Great review!
Great demo and lovely piece of gear .
This thing is amazing. The only thing I wish it could do is maybe be able to create independent sequences to control each oscillator independently from each other. Maybe that could be added in a firmware update or something. It's incredible regardless and it's definitely high on my wishlist!.
I'm very surprised these aren't more popular! More Wavetables or user Oscillators could really help it out (don't know if these have been implemented already!)
fantastic video - very well explained - thank you!
Thanks for the walkthrough!
I am always scared when someone demonstrates the self oscillating filter :p Great review man! Thank you! I really think this is going to be my third synthesizer.
@@HotStrange sub 37 and dsi tempest
Oooooh, versatile nice machine. As always a very interesting overview. 👍🏻
You are one of the best reviewers I've ever seen. Scratch that, probably the best. Subjective, I know - My point is really to encourage you to keep inspiring and educating us pleebs.
Thanks so much... it’s working :)
I just got a Medusa and am still wrapping my head around it. It really is something unique and super powerful.
I would love to see another video now that version 4.0 is out.
Mostly, I would also love to see a video that uses the Medusa to control external gear, including CC mode where you can send the envelopes and lfos as assignable CCs. As there are no videos that effectively show these capabilities.
I am not sure if you are in the United States but if you don’t have a unit to do the video with, I would be happy to lend mine to you for the video, assuming I wouldn’t be without the Medusa for too long😜
Thanks for all you do!!
How’s the tuning stability? Do you still like it?
@@TwinCitiesOxygen I still really like it.
Tuning seems to be a problem occasionally, but once it found a stationary place in my studio, and after it gets warmed up, it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. I have gotten used to using the fine tune knob to tune it on the fly.
I have been using the grid as an mpe controller for Ableton as well, which is awesome and really is an incredible bonus feature that the synth and the grid can be decoupled. The FM synth with wavetables is insane. The filters are nice, not what I am used to, as the slope into self oscillation of the resonance can be a bit abrupt but that isn’t really an issue for me as I am usually doing more subtle things than just boosting the resonance into self oscillation.
It isn’t a sweet spot, but has soo many places that you can create your own. And it isn’t an instrument that is for the faint of heart. You have to learn how to play it. It is sensitive and dynamic and you have to be willing to reign it in to achieve your desired results.
I started playing with wind controllers recently and using breath to control the pitch of the second or third oscillator when they are synced is a trip. I have been playing with assigning the wavetable to the breath as well, and that too creates interesting results. As well as using breath to control the “pitch” (which becomes the ratio) of the second digital oscillator while in FM synth mode. It is crazy and I love it, primarily as an experimenters tool box.
Building monophonic “chords” per step is crazy, and is a different way to build sounds than I have ever done and can lead to unexpected progressions and solutions.
This was really my first “mono synth” that I ever kept longer than a few months. As I have always been a poly synth person, it was a good cross over piece to give me the access to so many oscillators, with soo much timbral flexibility, to really see the power and usefulness of the mono synth. Now I have a second mono synth, as well.
It is a tool that isn’t my primary sound generation device, and I guess it could be but I have a bunch of old gear, that I learned many years ago, so the Medusa only has to excel at what I need it to do.
I have been using it recently paired with a Toriaz AS-1 and they seem to sound really nice together. Arps and leads with the as-1. Rhythmic, and melodic textures with the Medusa. Both can get really clear, ranging from gentle tones and bell tones, to intense and crunchy madness. Such a wide range of timbral variation.
Some things are a little fiddly, like playing around with the lfo destination, in real-time, I have accidentally bumped it and then can’t remember what it was set to. I kinda wish there was the same type of knob function of making it so you could turn the knob and have it bring up the existing setting before immediately shifting to the next value. You can do this with all of the other functions other than the lfo and envelopes.
I have gotten used to it and mostly set my routings prior to a performance or recording session. But sometimes I want to change a destination from wavetable all to a single oscillator and that can lead to it racing to some other variable, like filter fm or pitch and things get crazy really fast. I probably just need to remember to turn down the amount before fucking with the destination… yep… I will start to do that…
Thanks for asking, now I have a solution. Simple solutions for simple problems, eh?
Have a great day!
Helping to sell second-hand synths is not as profitable an enterprise …
Very instructive video!
Good review for this unique synth.
Great review as usual.
Even without owning this synth, still learned a nice technique I quickly applied to my modular setup.
That little chord progression at the beginning was great.
Amazing review, never finish 30 minute reviews but this one is so great!
1 question: is the filter analog?
Thank you and yes
I want four of these! So cool!
You explained this best - thank you!
6:48 -> Medusa's Jump Patch
Damn you're right! Totally unintentional, and yet there it is. The cliche just wants to be there I guess...
Fascinating little thing, isn't it? Seems like it would be great for live performance.
Great Review, Thx mate!!
clear and useful as usual, thank you
Do the sliders work in the same way as the rotary knobs with regard to them potentially not being in the correct position for the selected envelope?
Hi! Great review. A question. That trick you do at 9:54 min. What would happen if one has set up a paraphonic sound and plays a chord? I assume that would be possible because there is only 1 filter and the sequencer will imprint the filter steps on everything that runs through it, monophonic or polyphonic. Am I right?
Is there any way to initialize the patch that you know of @loopop . I just got this beast and can not work out how's to init
I need this in my life!
Im sure the Medusa has taken yoga lesson. It just seems so so flexible. Well done to the engineers on this one . Fantastic !!!!
But 4/4😂😉😉😉SIR
Great video. Thanks
I think its first time i see self compare oscillators. 😊
22.01 the behringer neutron has similar lfo wave shaping
I need this in my life.
This is incredible - the sheer versatility of that grid is breathtaking. It makes keys seem almost mundane.
that snare was dope!
Awwwee thanks ;)
This has become a lot more affordable lately. Could we get an update what has been done since the FW 3.0 update hit? There was criticism about constant calibration, live recording, so new info on this would be great for buyers on the fence like me.
Thanks for all your work :)
From the site
v3.01
Updates
- Config reset added to the flashing process.
Fixes
- Swing bug eliminated.
Changelog:
v3.0
Updates
- Added LFO random wave (the last position).
- Added MIDI Local Off (as a MIDI config option), you can now use the Medusa MPE pads to play another instrument and play the internal synth engine with an external controller at the same time.
- Both LFOs and envelopes are now able to send out their native values out as CC (set it up from the MIDI config menu).
- Each synth parameter is now displayed with the assigned CC number.
The option to use the grid to control other things and play the internal sounds with another controller is a game changer. I think.
This thing! Love it! Am I wrong or is this thing a little underrated?
benn jordan did another in-depth vid about exactly that aspect of the medusa... how she's an underrated magical beast who ought to be revered amongst synthheads everywhere. check that out.
@@roccoharris I know, thanks! And I have one for a while! Love it, it is exactly what I was looking for both Sound and Interface wise!!
the medusa is effectively my first hardware synth. such a weird & wonderful place to start. I love her so much!! I'm really glad you do too.
Whoa this device is surprisingly affordable, considering its features.
Yes under 700€ now
Each "program" in the Medusa is a collection of 1) patch data (for the overall sound) and 2) sequencer/grid data. If you wanted, you could create a program with nothing but grid data (or patch modifying data as the manual calls it), and 64 "little patches" in one program. And you can have up to 128 programs. That gives you basically 8,192 patches (64 grid patches x 128 programs) you can store in the Medusa if you wanted to work it that way.
Yes and no. In the way it currently works you can only play the overall sound in note mode or the sequencer (in the sequencer - as modified by PM data of course). The trick that I showed in the video is that behavior with a midi keyboard is different than note mode - there indeed you have the potential of 8192 patches. Hopefully this behavior will be applied to note mode in the future and not vice versa
True...forgot to clarify that only works with an external keyboard/controller, which is mostly what I used during the testing. And including the base sound (or overall sound) in each program, you'd really have a total of 8192+128...for a whopping 8,320 patch storage options. Great job on the review btw. You succinctly pack a lot of relevant content into a finite space! Cheers...
Thanks :)
you say you tested the medusa, will you be posting your findings to youtube?
I'll be posting a sequencer tutorial, but not really any reviews. My unit was one of the first batch of prototypes and there were a couple features that weren't full up yet.
I'm glad (and more than a little jealous) that you are one of the first to get a Medusa. Thanks for the video, can't wait to receive mine!
Question:This has an audio input. Can it do "filth" like the monostation?
Thanks - define filth in synth terms...
I guess "Filth" is the squelchy, noisy, saggy stuff Novation did in this series: ua-cam.com/play/PL_kRkcZ1CjijSIgeIxYfvBK-ok2rIKtBr.html But I suppose that makes heavy use of the distortion and overdrive in Mono Circuit. While we're talking Mono Circuit: could the loopback trick you showed in your Mono Circuit video (ua-cam.com/video/u8s2j-LjbcA/v-deo.htmlm35s) work with Medusa?
Yeah I think Novation uses their distortion feature as part of the "filth" (no distortion on Medusa). The other tricks they use would probably produce similar effects. Regarding the loopback trick - yes, I tried it, for some reason it doesn't sound like other synths I've tried this on - much less dramatic effect, but there's definitely something going on there especially if you crank it up
Meduza 😎
We need an update video
These PolyEnd devices are finally blipping on my radar. I was surprised that this thing doesn't have CV, but I guess the Poly 2 Midi eurorack module would do the trick. I wonder if anyone has tried it. They certainly are expensive devices. One of biggest issues I've found with GAS so far is that for each thing I buy, I really need to learn as much about it & use it before I can buy the next thing. Otherwise, I would appear to be stuck with a lot of gear that I want to use, but haven't even mastered 1/4th of what it can do.
So far, I have a BeatStep Pro and a Korg Volca Drum bought in early July, with a MiniBrute 2S/6U RackBrute on the way now. It seems like I should have my hands full & yet here I am looking at the Medusa, wondering how I can fit it in...it might take a long time to figure that out. I don't have any stand-alone synths outside of the Drum/Minibrute 2S, although I was thinking more along the lines of the Korg Minilogue XD Module which is a little less than 50% the cost of the Medusa. Still..I'd like to have one. :-) Just not sure how the Medusa can subvert my desire for the Minlogue XD yet...one of them would need to be cast aside for a little bit while my bank account heals from the lashing it'll take from GAS.
Great synth just don't look her in the eyes.
Thank you a lot for your great review and this full tutorial. I always love to watch your videos. You really focus on the point and not on gadgets. ;-)
Quick question on the scope displaying the wave curves (e.g at 17:00). What is it? Thanks!
A S Hi, I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle
Cook video. One question. When the envelopes are in loop mode, do they sync to tempo (like on the sub 37) or are they free running? This is important to my flow. thanks!
Thanks! No, they don't sync - you can sync the LFOs though
Finally a complete demo of this misterious monster! At the start of the video there is an external reverb, isn't it? No erebus echo in medusa?
Yes, there’s a touch of reverb on the intro jam - no other effects applied in the video and no fx in the synth unfortunately. The Erebus echo would be nice!
that thing with the knob positions vs recalled patches, my old memorymoog had a feature like that.
this synth is absolutely nuts
21:45 Holy smokes that knob preset diagram feature is super amazing. I'm thinking synth of the year just for that XD
“Forgive this snare please” :D
"A master piece, I'm sure you'll agree" 🤣
Great work,does the midi out enable you to use this as a pad controller for Battery 4?
At 8:50 you started talking about parameter modifications. You used the top left pad as the pitch then used the other pads to modify it. Do the pads still modify the pitch if it was played on a midi keyboard?
It seems the Polyend and Deradbox they took huge effort to polish the Medusa and by this my voice for retake of review of this extraordinary synth.
In age of super fast of recycling I have thoughts the Medusa is worth attention.
Especially after final "tuning"..
Do anybody agree?
However, thank you Sir for this and all other honest reviews.
My regards.
Hey loopop this is an awesome video. Coming from the circuit monostation how is editing presets while they are sequenced on the grid? Can you manipulate one preset while the others play through the sequence? Does one parameter control edit all the presets as you play through the sequence? Thanks!
When the sequence isn't playing you can choose and change any step to anything you want; while the sequence is playing changes will apply to the current playing step
I liked the drum synth part. Would it be possible to have some OSC continue with synth notes while others produced drums? ( as with Analog Four, for example. )
It’s not as easy as the analog four which has dedicated filters for each voice, but it’s doable with a certain about of effort and limitation of having one filter. But I would consider that more of a workaround than a feasible workflow
Good stuff!
this is a must have
Thank you for covering the encoder position behavior! Are they panel or pcb mounted?
yeah it's pretty simple and useful. re mounting I don't know... perhaps the manufacturer could comment if they see this
This encoder position feature is even more intuitive on my good old Moog Little Phatty ! ;)
Great device, but I was so impressed with the review/reviewer, that I watched the whole video without intending to. Thank you. How did you create the inset fft/wave displays that you use on some of the shots?
Thanks! I overlay scopes by Melda
Holy shit this synth is brilliant and everything I have dreamed of.
I was thinking of getting a used Analog 4 mki but GOD DAMN this thing may be worth the cash
hello, I find your presentation awesome, Your way to make us discover this hardware is very nice and a bit of humor as it should .. This changes sound demos.
One question remains in fact two: Do you think to add the review of the firmware update? I will invest in this synth. Since Polyend and Dreadbox are in my opinion "outsiders", this hardware excites me because I want to think outside the box and invest in a more original Synth, seeing a lot of the same references in the studios.
Do you just think it's a good buy with a bright future? (By the way the link that leads to Thomann is the lowest price I've found so ..)
I would like to see test examples on "audio in" but I think I'll test myself.
Sorry for that long prose! Thumbs up from Paris.
Thanks very much for the kind words. I sort of did a video which includes many of the features in 1.1 (see my CV to MIDI to CV video), and they did add a few things since, but with NAMM coming and the schedule after I probably won't do a 1.1 video as I already covered a lot of it. Hopefully exciting things will come in the next version!
Hi, I am visually impaired and I am wondering how much of the functionality requires seeing the screens? Or in other words, how limited of a use it would be to pretty much ignore those screens? Thanks!
Oguz Buyukberber a lot of this synth is knob per function but the screen isn’t the only element with visual feedback. The pads light up in 3 levels based on their content and many buttons light up to indicate their state
Forgive me, I did somewhat skim through, so I may have missed it if you discussed this, but can you tell me if in P2 mode you can choose different OSC types?
...are sequences (1 per patch?)
playble triggerable from a midi keyboard changing the pitch as it a was a sort
of arpeggio pattern?
Maybe to do that you shuold copy the same sound on several locations
and compose a different 64 steps sequence each, but at the point could you
change patch in time?
Thank you very much and congratulations on your job
Hi just a general question are there any grid based midi controllers that can do the scale thing and run stand alone? I really like the Medusa but it's out of my price but excited about the way the grid is used.
Plonkuss launchpads have similar scale modes but no x/y expressive control (some models have velocity sensitivity - not sure about aftertouch). The linnstrument has grid control and even finer expressive features but costs as much as this
Great review, as always. Thanks! Just wondering what reverb was used at the beginning? Sounds gorgeous on the Medusa!
Thanks! A touch of Valhalla Shimmer
What other effects have you added ? It sounds really nice indeed.
May I suggest to keep most of your demo with the dry sound of the device, and only add FX in the end ?
I believe it’s being more honest about the sound as is.
Brilliant demo, still :)
as I said above - I used Valhalla shimmer on the intro only, and no other effects. Aside from that, 24 out of the 26 minutes of the video are totally dry so I think that's a pretty honest ratio...
Can you apply glide to the sequencer? Can the sequencer be transmitted by midi to trigger outside synths?
yes and yes
Wow. Is the Midi output just notes/velocity or can the sequence send CC’s to trigger external synth parameters?
Currently just notes, but I believe further cc may come in future firmware updates
Wow. Judging by how many views you’ve received, this thing is going to be a hit. My only question is how many octaves do the oscillators cover?
Awesome! Would love to see an update with latest V3.0 firmware.
Can you assign 2 or more lfos to the same destination?
Hello & Thx. I have one question:
Can i take a stored sound or preset per different Steps? I dont mean the Parameter (-Lock). I mean Different Sounds from the Banks on different Steps (Grids). Elektron Analog Four can this, but i sell it (not my Workflow) and thinking about the Medusa.
No, Medusa's grid is per patch. The grid is not a general sequencer to place patches on. Outside grid mode it plays notes of the patch and is used to select patch numbers.
Looks cool but it is expensive and is there a way to sequence multiple tracks like that on the Elektron Rytm or Analog 4?
Yes - as I mention in the video the concept of parameter locking exists Elektron gear too - the only "problem" with the Analog Four is that its onboard keys are just "on/off" switches - I actually made a whole video about using the A4 expressively using external gear. I wouldn't say this is better or worse though - they each have their strengths. A comparison would mean a whole "vs" video ;)