I bundle all my PSU's with synths, so I don't lose them. As my synth room is a mess with books, DVD's, VHS tapes as well as research materials, a laptop for file storage as well as my rock collection and an elaborate floppy disk accumulation for my Korg DSS-1, which numbers in the hundreds I have produced over the last 10 years, plus numerous synths and effects devices, all in a 6x8 space believe it or not. I am not a hoarder, but a person of immense interests, and it shows. life is short, and time critical, especially now that I am 67 years old. I have been involved with synthesis since the eighties, and have no plans of ever stopping my passion for sound creation. Now where did I put that MIDI cable?
I like your idea. I do think just writing on the PSU what it is is helpful enough, but I hate PSUs. That collection sounds great! Life is too short is right. I'm scanning in photos of my mom as an infant. Can't believe she's already gone. Looking at these thinking "Someday my kids will look through these thinking the same things."
I really want, but don't need a Michigan Synth Works XENA, your video convinced me to attempt to purchase one. Now if I can only convince my wife of my addiction of my synthesis habit, before I go into withdrawal. I just purchased a new Mutable Instruments Sruthi-1 SMR-4 MKII filter synth, but the need for more is overwhelming. keeping my fingers and toes crossed on this one.
Hah, good luck! I just purchased a Roland JD-990 :/ even after I'm quite certain I told my wife I didn't want or need anything else. Good luck with it!
@@MIDERA I told my wife I wish I had the luck of the Irish, as she is Irish. She exclaimed..luck, luck I'm Irish remember, that won't get you another synth anytime soon. Still working on her, guess I will have to finish installing her new countertops. She did let me purchase a brand new motorcycle last year, so maybe, just maybe.... Thought about a Roland JD-990 years ago, love that synth, it was digital as I recall with very analog sound structure. I checked the recent listings on Reverb...WOW Expensive, but it's only money right. Best to you always my friend!!!
Having sold my P12 a couple of years ago, I've been really missing it, but prices on them have skyrocketed. After listening to all of your Ambika videos, I'm absolutely loving the sounds you're getting (really beautiful stuff!) and think the Xena may cure my lust for digital oscillators and analog filters (with a lo-fi bent). The P12 UI is SO intuitive and makes programming a breeze - my only hesitance with the Xena is that I don't want the experience to get bogged down in a byzantine menu scenario. But you seem to be navigating with relative ease, yes?
Well - I think the Ambika sounds a lot better than the P12. But the UI on the P12 is far superior. Best UI on a synth I think. But the sound is tepid at best. I think the menu is decent on the Ambika though. I wouldn't worry too much about that aspect. It's not unintuitive by any means. P12 looks great though. At least the keyboard version.
@@MIDERA Cool - I think I'll give it try. The new 3109 filter for the Xena has me really intrigued (and at that price there's not much of a risk). Your videos definitely sold me on the Ambika sound.
What really drags down the Ambika/Xena UI is the fact that Mutable Instruments used pots instead of encoders beneath the display. Because of this, any time you change menus the parameters in the display no longer correspond to the knob positions. So when you move a knob on the new screen, the parameter immediately jumps to a value that is different from what you are seeing in the display. This was a really poor design decision on the part of Mutable Instruments. It makes programming the Ambika/Xena way more aggravating than it needs to be. That said, it doesn't make the synth unusable. Just frustrating to program.
Oh yeah - that’s a great point! Totally agree with you. I feel like it couldn’t be that hard to resolve… but I don’t know enough about it to fix it myself.
@@MIDERA I think it would require at least an OS update to transition from pots to encoders. And then Michigan Synth Works (MiSW) would need to change the Xena hardware. But MiSW is a really small 3-person developer as I understand it. So unfortunately I don't see this happening.
What filter on the Xena 6 would be best for Board of Canada type of sounds? I.e. sounds similar to the REV2 patches demoed on Krzysztof Steplowski's UA-cam channel?
I’ve got 4P and SMR. I think 4P is probably a little nicer because it gets ripping resonance. The SMR doesn’t, but it’s still really nice. BOC doesn’t really rely heavily on filter resonance, more about slow drifting oscillator pitch, and reverb and warble sounds. I think any filter is fine. They probably used the AN1x so you could consider that over the Ambika.
I have compared them pretty extensively (to myself) and found that the TI could do pretty much everything, although admittedly there's something pretty great about throwing 'crush' on to the oscillators on the Ambika. I think maybe also you could use the saturate feature in the TI to get close to that, there is bit reduction in there.
I was thinking the same - I was GAS'ing pretty hard for Xena, but I fired up the TI2 and got pretty close and saved myself some cash. I'd consider this if I didn't have one, though. The TI2 is the ultimate GAS killer, the only things outside of it I've got are just specific character Synths like the Vermona and P6. (Although, I do have a REV2 as well that I got super cheap, but the TI2 has me wondering whether or not I should move that on)
I’m not sure. There are vocal waveforms… but I’ve never really heard any sort of “chants”. I think you’d be better served with a rompler or something. Not quite sure what would be ideal for your use.
Thank you for the reply... I was wondering if the Xena/ Ambika would be capable of producing vowel sounds; a simple Ah, Oh or Aw would be sufficient for my realm of use.@@MIDERA
Oh man…now I wanna order the Michigan Synths version! I have their msw810 and syncussion and they’re both so good. This ambika you’re playing with sounds incredible!
Oh nice. Yeah, I think it's a great deal. I tried to justify it, but even $400 for a synth I already 'have' (even if I have 2 different filter types) is way too difficult. Also - I think internally mine is an actual Ambika. The case was replaced (the old one said Ambika on it, but the problem was all of the text was sluffing off) and now it doesn't say it on the front. It's one of the best sounding synths I have. I had thought only my Prophet 08 sounded this good (in a very lofi way), but I think this is actually better. I'll have to compare them.
@@MIDERA ugh this isn’t helping me not want to buy the Michigan one! I want to get the exact one in this video it sounds so good. Which filter is this? Also you’re single handedly responsible for me wanting an 08! Someone offered to trade me an 08 desktop for my tanzbar 2 and in the past I’d have turned that down fast, but now I’m heavily considering it!
Hah, well, I have way too many synths and they all do sound good. But what’s the point if you can’t use them all… I try selling them now and no one wants them. My ambika has 4P and SMR filters. If I had to get a new one, I’d absolutely get the 4P. They’re much more like the Juno filters. SMR are like JX3P, also good, but not as resonant filled. Just my take on it.
@@MIDERA well your take means a lot! And yeah, there’s been a huge decrease in people buying used synths! I remember during Covid how insane the market was. Seems like it’s really cooled off for now…I’m having trouble selling stuff that took no time at all even a year and a half ago.
Looks like I just used the Eventide Blackhole VST, so I don’t think I did much in terms of the stereo field per se. Does it sound like there’s something there?
good video, learning the synthesizer is not too complicated? the workflow seems rather easy to access, and the small screen like that isn't it annoying?
The synthesis is very easy. I think the mod matrix is a little complicated, but generally the synth is easy to navigate. My biggest beef and I think this may be exclusive to ambika? Not sure about the Xena… but the buttons sometimes take multiple presses to go to. I don’t think it’s related to bad tact switches, because I know others have lamented about the same thing on their units. I actually like the screen, would prefer OLED, but it works.
Hey - I tried to play at extremely high pitch to showcase any aliasing, which there is. Whether it really comes out or not I don't know. I think aliasing on the unit sounds 'good' in a lofi sort of way. Not something that really bothers me personally. The Ambika has some of the best envelopes I've used in a synth. Super snappy. This synth came out in... 2012? maybe a little later? I don't remember. I wouldn't say that's very old architecture.
@@Abruzzo333Only if you want to do high pitched whistle, flute, or string sounds. Some aliasing can be mitigated with negative keytracking (like less FM or softer waves at higher octaves)
I bundle all my PSU's with synths, so I don't lose them. As my synth room is a mess with books, DVD's, VHS tapes as well as research materials, a laptop for file storage as well as my rock collection and an elaborate floppy disk accumulation for my Korg DSS-1, which numbers in the hundreds I have produced over the last 10 years, plus numerous synths and effects devices, all in a 6x8 space believe it or not. I am not a hoarder, but a person of immense interests, and it shows. life is short, and time critical, especially now that I am 67 years old. I have been involved with synthesis since the eighties, and have no plans of ever stopping my passion for sound creation. Now where did I put that MIDI cable?
I like your idea. I do think just writing on the PSU what it is is helpful enough, but I hate PSUs. That collection sounds great!
Life is too short is right. I'm scanning in photos of my mom as an infant. Can't believe she's already gone. Looking at these thinking "Someday my kids will look through these thinking the same things."
@@MIDERA I feel for you brother, been there also, our life is precious and ever moment should be treasured. Your friend in life, and synthesis!
Very cool! Thank you Midera for this amazing music 🎶. Super well played and presented. I hope all is well in Your world 🌎. Mark Bensette Aux Bois 🇨🇦.
Thanks Mark.
I really want, but don't need a Michigan Synth Works XENA, your video convinced me to attempt to purchase one. Now if I can only convince my wife of my addiction of my synthesis habit, before I go into withdrawal. I just purchased a new Mutable Instruments Sruthi-1 SMR-4 MKII filter synth, but the need for more is overwhelming. keeping my fingers and toes crossed on this one.
Hah, good luck! I just purchased a Roland JD-990 :/ even after I'm quite certain I told my wife I didn't want or need anything else. Good luck with it!
@@MIDERA I told my wife I wish I had the luck of the Irish, as she is Irish. She exclaimed..luck, luck I'm Irish remember, that won't get you another synth anytime soon. Still working on her, guess I will have to finish installing her new countertops. She did let me purchase a brand new motorcycle last year, so maybe, just maybe.... Thought about a Roland JD-990 years ago, love that synth, it was digital as I recall with very analog sound structure. I checked the recent listings on Reverb...WOW Expensive, but it's only money right. Best to you always my friend!!!
Having sold my P12 a couple of years ago, I've been really missing it, but prices on them have skyrocketed. After listening to all of your Ambika videos, I'm absolutely loving the sounds you're getting (really beautiful stuff!) and think the Xena may cure my lust for digital oscillators and analog filters (with a lo-fi bent). The P12 UI is SO intuitive and makes programming a breeze - my only hesitance with the Xena is that I don't want the experience to get bogged down in a byzantine menu scenario. But you seem to be navigating with relative ease, yes?
Well - I think the Ambika sounds a lot better than the P12. But the UI on the P12 is far superior. Best UI on a synth I think. But the sound is tepid at best.
I think the menu is decent on the Ambika though. I wouldn't worry too much about that aspect. It's not unintuitive by any means.
P12 looks great though. At least the keyboard version.
@@MIDERA Cool - I think I'll give it try. The new 3109 filter for the Xena has me really intrigued (and at that price there's not much of a risk). Your videos definitely sold me on the Ambika sound.
What really drags down the Ambika/Xena UI is the fact that Mutable Instruments used pots instead of encoders beneath the display. Because of this, any time you change menus the parameters in the display no longer correspond to the knob positions. So when you move a knob on the new screen, the parameter immediately jumps to a value that is different from what you are seeing in the display. This was a really poor design decision on the part of Mutable Instruments. It makes programming the Ambika/Xena way more aggravating than it needs to be. That said, it doesn't make the synth unusable. Just frustrating to program.
Oh yeah - that’s a great point! Totally agree with you. I feel like it couldn’t be that hard to resolve… but I don’t know enough about it to fix it myself.
@@MIDERA I think it would require at least an OS update to transition from pots to encoders. And then Michigan Synth Works (MiSW) would need to change the Xena hardware. But MiSW is a really small 3-person developer as I understand it. So unfortunately I don't see this happening.
jeez this is really nice
Thanks :) I do think it sounds really good!
What filter on the Xena 6 would be best for Board of Canada type of sounds? I.e. sounds similar to the REV2 patches demoed on Krzysztof Steplowski's UA-cam channel?
I’ve got 4P and SMR. I think 4P is probably a little nicer because it gets ripping resonance. The SMR doesn’t, but it’s still really nice.
BOC doesn’t really rely heavily on filter resonance, more about slow drifting oscillator pitch, and reverb and warble sounds. I think any filter is fine.
They probably used the AN1x so you could consider that over the Ambika.
A very lovely box isn’t it. If I didn’t just buy a Virus TI 2 Polar, I may of considered this beast.
I have compared them pretty extensively (to myself) and found that the TI could do pretty much everything, although admittedly there's something pretty great about throwing 'crush' on to the oscillators on the Ambika. I think maybe also you could use the saturate feature in the TI to get close to that, there is bit reduction in there.
I was thinking the same - I was GAS'ing pretty hard for Xena, but I fired up the TI2 and got pretty close and saved myself some cash. I'd consider this if I didn't have one, though.
The TI2 is the ultimate GAS killer, the only things outside of it I've got are just specific character Synths like the Vermona and P6. (Although, I do have a REV2 as well that I got super cheap, but the TI2 has me wondering whether or not I should move that on)
Can this thing do vocal like choir chants?
I’m not sure. There are vocal waveforms… but I’ve never really heard any sort of “chants”. I think you’d be better served with a rompler or something. Not quite sure what would be ideal for your use.
Thank you for the reply...
I was wondering if the Xena/ Ambika would be capable of producing vowel sounds; a simple Ah, Oh or Aw would be sufficient for my realm of use.@@MIDERA
@@Wyrmfyr Yes, I think it can do that. They're cheap enough that I think you could always try it and not lose too much money.
excellent
Thanks :)
Oh man…now I wanna order the Michigan Synths version! I have their msw810 and syncussion and they’re both so good. This ambika you’re playing with sounds incredible!
Oh nice. Yeah, I think it's a great deal. I tried to justify it, but even $400 for a synth I already 'have' (even if I have 2 different filter types) is way too difficult. Also - I think internally mine is an actual Ambika. The case was replaced (the old one said Ambika on it, but the problem was all of the text was sluffing off) and now it doesn't say it on the front.
It's one of the best sounding synths I have. I had thought only my Prophet 08 sounded this good (in a very lofi way), but I think this is actually better. I'll have to compare them.
@@MIDERA ugh this isn’t helping me not want to buy the Michigan one! I want to get the exact one in this video it sounds so good. Which filter is this? Also you’re single handedly responsible for me wanting an 08! Someone offered to trade me an 08 desktop for my tanzbar 2 and in the past I’d have turned that down fast, but now I’m heavily considering it!
Hah, well, I have way too many synths and they all do sound good. But what’s the point if you can’t use them all… I try selling them now and no one wants them.
My ambika has 4P and SMR filters. If I had to get a new one, I’d absolutely get the 4P. They’re much more like the Juno filters. SMR are like JX3P, also good, but not as resonant filled. Just my take on it.
@@MIDERA well your take means a lot! And yeah, there’s been a huge decrease in people buying used synths! I remember during Covid how insane the market was. Seems like it’s really cooled off for now…I’m having trouble selling stuff that took no time at all even a year and a half ago.
May I ask how you set up your stereo field ?
Looks like I just used the Eventide Blackhole VST, so I don’t think I did much in terms of the stereo field per se. Does it sound like there’s something there?
good video,
learning the synthesizer is not too complicated? the workflow seems rather easy to access, and the small screen like that isn't it annoying?
The synthesis is very easy. I think the mod matrix is a little complicated, but generally the synth is easy to navigate. My biggest beef and I think this may be exclusive to ambika? Not sure about the Xena… but the buttons sometimes take multiple presses to go to. I don’t think it’s related to bad tact switches, because I know others have lamented about the same thing on their units.
I actually like the screen, would prefer OLED, but it works.
reminds me of mini Virus synthesizer!
Yeah, I can see that. They’re both great.
How's the aliasing with this synth? Isn't this very old architecture?
Hey - I tried to play at extremely high pitch to showcase any aliasing, which there is. Whether it really comes out or not I don't know. I think aliasing on the unit sounds 'good' in a lofi sort of way. Not something that really bothers me personally. The Ambika has some of the best envelopes I've used in a synth. Super snappy.
This synth came out in... 2012? maybe a little later? I don't remember. I wouldn't say that's very old architecture.
Why anyone would want no aliasing in a synthesizer is beyond me.
@@Abruzzo333Only if you want to do high pitched whistle, flute, or string sounds. Some aliasing can be mitigated with negative keytracking (like less FM or softer waves at higher octaves)