WTF are Bitmask Oscillators? // A Fresh Approach To Synthesis // MASK1
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
- Perfect Circuit Affiliate : bit.ly/3N00Qu3
Kodamo Website : kodamo.org/mask1
Instagram : / jorblovesgear
Patreon : / jorblovesgear
MPC Expansions : app.gumroad.com/jorb
Merch : www.jorblovesgear.com
After my time with it, and the sort of reflection I get to find while editing, I think the strongest appeal of this synthesizer is finding identifiably digital sounds without any of the complex workflow of FM or wavetables, with just enough options past the oscillator shapes to feel like its not a 'dishonest' approach to those sounds.
You can find characteristically digital sounds, with the rest of the architecture being familiar / subtractive and it almost feels like I cheated my way to a modern man's PPG. Delightful.
HUGE THING that ended up cut, the manual is super good, really serious shoutout. Color prints, full pages, bound nicely, the whole thing. Love it.
Also I managed to also cut any take where I mentioned Roland's draw and chop oscillator options, which could be seen as a simplified bit masking. But rest assured I made the connection , don't comment like I didn't smh please
0:00 Intro
2:02 Hands on
4:25 Bitmasking Intro
8:23 Mid-demo Overview
10:01 Sound Design Begins
12:38 Play Modes
16:22 Splits / Layers
18:11 Randomized Patches (crazy good)
20:23 Drive-by FX demo
22:46 Low-key the best patch
22:54 Conclusions
Patrick Bateman synth 👍🪓
Let's see Paul Allen's synth 🧐
I chase unique sounds and try to avoid premium gear. The Mask 1 has a tone that seems unique to itself, and I like the workflow. At $1900 U.S. dollars there just isn't enough here to get me to purchase. If the keyboard could double as an MPE Controller, its value would be more realistic.
Ended up getting one, have had it a little while. They updated again, now its 600 user memory slots, double the masks [now 512] added a second option of filters, more progressive lfo fade-in with delay, also the lfo has visual feedback which is nice - more complete CC control with certain parameters than previously, noise s&h has keytracking, and also ... looping delta envelopes, plus easier to switch between voice layers, and other bug fixes.
@15:45 that patch sounds fantastic
Wow great review thanks! Love the MASK1 sound, Its really expressive with a future retro vibe!
There is no denying this synth sounds so great. It does look fiddly to edit it. I would have put a jog wheel in there instead of that data wheel. Or a slider. It just looks cumbersome....but they have nailed the sound. It's just awesome.
I reallllly want to try this. It looks so fun, but damn. You know. Thanks, Jorb!
I am justifying the UI by pretending it is an un-released classic that was lost to time due to a freak accident involving Crystal Pepsi.
@Aaron Foltz oh no you di ant LOL
Dude..it looks so clean and organized. Would remember me every single day to clean up my Studio...yea. And it sounds great too....
Always happy for a new Jorb overview. Even if I have no intention of buying new gear, I always learn something!
I also want to add that, as the proud owner of a JX-8P, I think you nailed that viewpoint that it hearkens back to the late 80s analog trying to sound digital aspect + the limited interface with performance oriented controls. The push button menu with one knob for parameters can certainly be a drawback for some people, but as with the JX-8P, taking away the knob twiddling aspect of synthesis sometimes means you spend more time actually playing and writing.
🙏🙏Appreciated cheers. It really does just end up being a *different* experience
good demo of this machine, it sounds really good
VERY FLATTERED with your choice of shirt.
i like how aggressively digital this thing is. a very creative design, much respect!
This is certainly not an omnipotent workhorse synth like, let‘s say, the Summit. But despite its limited features it sounds good and it‘s fun. It complements other synths very well and makes them shine, even a STVC or a MonoPoly in paraphonic mode. Aaaand it is arguably the 5-octave synth with the smallest footprint and weight. Good job, Kodamo!
Man, between seeing this and being a huge Juno fan, I'm officially a believer in power of digital. Thanks for the fantastic demo! I really love your intermittent gushing about certain features, it's clear that this instrument is sparking joy in you ☺ I hope you decide to keep it, and use it to make us some fresh tunes 🎶 On that note, where can we find your music? I think many of us enjoy listening to Jorb sounds lol
I've seen this synth when it was released, it's good to finally see a good demo showcasing its features! It sounds awesome, but the price is hard to swallow, as a Waldorf Iridium costs only a few hundred euros more in Europe.
I mean, I would love to have it in my collection, the interface is pretty clean and stylish, but at this price point, it's a hard choice for people with a limited budget.
Please note that the Mask1 firmware is 100% bug-free from the start while Waldorf is still not able to officially release stable firmware after 5 years (Quantum).
Love the idea behind it and it has its own sound. But a $500 premium over a Hydrasynth Deluxe and no poly aftertouch is a huge mistake IMO. Still, hope it does well.
Not sure this would sway you, but I sold my Hydra Deluxe and Waldor M, and still have the Mask-1. It's just unique, and while it does its own thing (that not much else does) it can also spread out into other areas to be useful beyond just "its thing". Not sure how else to describe it really. Just a really cool synth, and actually worth the money. I thought about selling it due to space constraints, (and even though it's small for a 61 key, it's the biggest synth in my setup). However, I just couldn't do it, and decided to rebuild my whole studio space to accommodate instead. :)
Poly AT is a buzzword box to tick. Not exactly useful on a daily basis.
Opening jam has those classic 80s horror vibes.
🙏🙏🙏 Watch out carpenter, there's another long-haired hooligan on the web
Surge XT (an open source VSTi) has an oscillator option that is very similar. This synth seems quite overpriced given the limited architecture and numerous competitors with more capabilities.
First impressions of it remind me greatly of the Yamaha PSR 'OPL' type keyboards (PSR-570 etc).
Just posher.
Bitmask oscillators does not sound very interesting to me on itself, but I like how they solved UI and I like those performance features.
Sounds like a Korg Poly 61M: not much attack or specialness. No heavy, UNISON bass sounds, with quick attack & decay?
At any rate: thanks for demoing this, Jorb.
Awesome sounding synth, would have liked more real time controls of course. That data knob could have been a slider for my taste, but kinda nice interface anyways.
I see the appeal with the set it, and forget it / presets. I have a roland system 1, . I love the knob per function but only 8 presets is really frustrating. Sometimes it's nice just to call up your preset and go. I think that was the feeling in the 80's & 90's. This seems a lot better of a balance than the old ones. You make is sound really nice.
With the most recent firmware update the System-1 has 64 memory slots. And it's a brilliant and massively under-rated synth.
@@nickswannell1020 I need to update my firmware. And agree that it is underrated. I almost sold it, but decided not to and have not regretted it at all.
nice
Great video as always! Just to add: with the new firmware you get 12 voices…
Oh damn really
I have a question - are there 256 different *kinds * of bitmasks, each one having up to 256 in each of these? Or just one, with 256 sections or frames, which the synth basically uses by choosing different start and stop points [of only one 'bank' of masks]? I read in a gearspace review, of something it described as 'sub masks' - - just trying to know what that means. Im also curious what the limit of modulation of the masks [assuming theres 'just' 256] is.
" These other masks (sub masks) that exist in between the 0-255 values produce a few more intermediate waveforms, the delta envelope also scans through them but because they are represented as LSBs (Least Significant Bits) their effect on the sound is less pronounced. "
I realize now the ‘sub masks’ I read about are frame resolutions, which can be very close together, I.e. higher rez. Which is interesting!
Loving mine! I just put the new firmware on it, but haven't had a chance to try it yet. :) Gorgeous sounding synth, and really fun to play.
Its an interesting synth, and I enjoy the unique synthesis with its oscillators, but I just don't find it unique enough or fulfilling a niche that others don't enter into that would justify a purchase. But I suppose it's also a sound profile that is not really something Im chasing. I hope it's successful - in that people who do want this get what they're looking for out of it.
Latest firmware brings the polyphony to 12!
oh word
UI might be lacking but man oh man does this sound nice.
SYNTHPUNK I had a Prophet 5 Rev 4, and my Six Trak sounded better
SYNTHPUNK I would take a Prophet Rev2 over a Memorymoog
^^ This is why no one should ever take advice or listen to you.
What’s that little round scope you have?
That's a mirror pointed at my old b&k precision
Tossing it on my maybe list. the 7 segment display may be what makes me pass on it. really wish music tech manufacturers would let those be relegated to history. properly readable display is one of the single best things you could choose not to cut corners on. sounds fantastic though.
This synth would be a future classic if it was about half the price. sounds very unique - it's just really really difficult to justify the price
giving me some hydrasynth vibes
I wish they made it hybrid, obvious cut on interface could be easily compensated in filter chips.
I feel like you could just upload videos where you just explore synths without having to narrate what you're doing, and they would be fun sonic exploration videos. Personally I know I'm never going to be getting a lot of the gear you review, and just like listening to it being used.
I've considered doing something like that as supplementary content to patch packs, but haven't had the time to do that many patches lately.
Regardless, noted!
Seems like a microkorg with a nice long fatar keybed. But honestly... that's kinda what I always wanted anyways lol.
Sorry but this is a rather crude wavetable synth. Literally 40 years ago it could have been an affordable variation on the PPG Wave. By now it comes across like somebody’s Arduino based hobby project. Good enough if you like it’s tonal character but in no way impressive.
I think the execution is flawed , bitmask might give you interestnig waveshapes but the bitmask shapes and their neighbouring shapes are set in stone .
Modulating throught the different bitmask shapes is like modulating throught a fixed wavetable .
I just can't get over how terrible that interface is. I was blessed to be born in the era where most synths, digital or analog, have great and usable interfaces, so I don't think I like this synth. I do however absolutely love the sound. This is a good demo, even though I dislike the synth.