The full-size version is the best piece of gear I’ve bought in the past year, easily earned its price. I find it very intuitive to navigate, a joy to play, and it compares very favorably to my Sub37. Sound and build exceeded my expectations. Great review, thanks Nick, and hats-off to IK.
I had a Pro3 for a good while and sold it earlier this year. I bought the Uno to replace the hole it left and it does a shockingly good job of it. Sounds great and it’s super versatile. Also built better than my Pro3 or Grandmother was.
This synth absolutely RIPS. I've had mine for a couple of days now and I'm blown away by the size and cost and POWER. The Reverb is lovely and if you make Techno, this is a must. Hands down one of the best synths I've played with.
I just got mine a few days ago and I’ve been having a blast with it. It can sound gnarly as hell or pretty subtle and low key. Did you get the full size? I did and it blew my mind how good the build quality is.
@@HotStrange I got the desktop version. I go through a lot of gear and I sold it. I can't wait to see their next synth. I hope they build on it with a one knob per function with their reverb, and an added delay. I will preoder if they do!
Nick, when I see the connectivity: it has midi out , midi over USB out, and cv/gate out. Apart from Arturia gear almost no keyboard offers this at the same time. But the Uno also has a full size Fatar keybed with AT… couldn’t this be used as a central midi keyboard with other monophonic (semi)modular gear? Would it be possible the sequencer drives the internal engine while the keybed is used to drive the midi out or cv/gate? And vice versa? That would add largely to its capabilities and become an alternative to the Arturia Keystep.
Just want to warn anyone reading this: I bought the original Uno and it’s a nice cheap analogue synth. But the firmware is stuck on 1.1.4 (just 3 early bug fixes) and the IK team have completely ignored user requests on their forum ‘Wishlist’ thread. In an era of constant soft synth improvement, I have been frustrated by the lack of engagement from IK, and you might be too.
Yeah that's a bad sign. I'm very happy with the Yamaha MODX, Arturia MicroFreak, and Synthstrom Deluge in that all three companies have added some pretty serious improvements several times to those devices. Definitely affects my buying choices now.
Rubbish. We had all our major issues addressed in one of the first firmware updates, mainly being able to set the full ADSR for each envelope, even though it's not reflected in the front panel labels. Other issues are most likely too isolated to individual users to be easily replicated or bothered with. You also have to remember that it's an ANALOGUE synth, there is only so much that can be done via firmware updates. UNO has had more than appropriate attention from IK and they have definitely listened to users in adding new features. Of course, with Uno Pro they have done even more, eliminating pretty much every gripe I had about the original Uno.
@@ZetaCarinae Yamaha would probably not do much with MODX if it weren't as popular as it is. They do have a history of not updating stuff that doesn't sell enough for their liking, same as Korg and Roland. Synthstrom Audible is a little boutique company, they have no choice to begin with unless they wish to dig their own grave. Yamaha has countless products beyond synths and they also have great rep, they can get away with more stuff more easily.
@@novakillbones2140 How can you say, "Rubbish" when the individual stated that in the forum and several request - the version has been stuck (not updated) and with little to no response from users nor the manufacturer?
@@bobcatt2294 It's absolute rubbish to suggest that a warning is required because, as I said, IK have been very attentive to user feedback. Read any forum and you will see plenty of dumbass requests get ignored by every developer, which is just as it should be.
Those fingerprints are from Nick pointing out things on the interface. I've had mine for a few weeks now and, because you don't actually need to touch that surface, it doesn't really get too many fingerprints. Just a few smudges around the edges of my Desktop version, which are easily wiped off at the end of a session. I doubt you'd get any on the big version.
@@novakillbones2140 I have the full size one, and can attest that you still get fingerprints on it. The glossy interface is the same exact size on both, so it’s just as easy. Amazing synth though, despite being a print magnet.
I bought my first synth in 1981 (Roland SH1000) and since then I have probably owned around 30, maybe more. I got my Uno Pro a few weeks ago and I am pretty sure already that it is the best synth I have ever owned. I can't think of another synth that I'd take over it for what it does. Not the Mono/Poly I bought brand new in 1982 and, at the other end of the scale, not the fully loaded Trinity I bought in 1999, which included the Z-1 board. Nothing I have ever used has the sheer presence of this thing, it's nothing short of phenomenal. It is an absolute monster, it will eat all your other synths and spit out their bones.
" I am pretty sure already that it is the best synth I have ever owned." That's because you never owned a CS-80. And this is only $300.00 less than I paid for mine in 1986, so- pass.
@@georgeray3492 Wow, lucky you. How come you haven't made any videos of your CS-80? Maybe do a head to head with an UNO PRO and put this debate to rest?
@@marekrosinski3025 Obviously 2 different classes of synths but I think slinging a CS-80 around as an overtly aggressive rebuke towards the quality of an UNOPRO, Rightly Deserves a video comparison. Especially since George is a content creator.
Got the desktop and it does sound great and pretty versatile ( reason I got it ) love the Oscs sound OTA filter is dirty , SSI filter is brassy and big and or aggressive , and I love the MOD fx with the Juno style 1&2 chorus and the string ensemble. My only real gripe is the micro USB ports honestly .
Why? There is absolutely no benefit in making it Type C, which is for USB3, not USB 2. For me it means I can use any of the several old powerbanks I have lying around, including those with a fixed microUSB cable (Nokia bricks). MicroUSB just gives you a whole heap of options, where Type C is way more restrictive for zero benefit.
In the paraphonic mode, is the amp envelope extended at all? I know on the Pro 3 in paraphonic mode, each voice has it's own amp so that way the pads/string sounds can ring out. Is that the case here?
Imagine if your car didn't have individual pedals for each function, but instead, just one pedal, requiring a button press to switch between accelerating, braking, and changing gears. That's why the UNO, like the Blofeld, flew under the radar. Everyone craves the simplicity and joy of one knob per function. While the UNO gains points for being analog, its downfall lies in the reliance on four multifunction knobs, making it difficult to access important features easily. The UNO Synth Pro X serves as evidence of this flaw.
Surprisingly lovely sound. The FX are nice too. I can vouch for IK's classic reverb plugins and T Racks eq that I bought circa 2004/5 and they are still compatible with my DAW. Also, I have always gotten timely responses from their Customer Support.
PS: Having the Reverb and Delay Amount parameters actually control the send into those FX (rather than the FX return/mix as on most other synths with built-in FX, like Novation Peak) is a great feature of the UNO Synth Pro. Used it yesterday when running sampled drums through the UNO filters; turning up delay amount for short moments, creating dub-style delays which will trail on, is fantastic. The only things I miss from the FX section would be having all FX parameters available as mod matrix targets; an additional high pass filter for the delay; and a more classic (think EXH Small Stone) sounding phaser model.
Why? It works perfectly well and if you don't have half-a-dozen microUSB cables lying around, there is something wrong with you. I have some devices with microUSB and some with Type C and I cannot see any reason to choose one over the other, beyond the fact that several of my Type C cables are very flaky and none of my microUSB cables are. I also got a free powerbank with my Uno, so it's clean power all the way. (Yes, it can be quite noisy with a USB data cable, you have to be very careful with your cable placement.)
@@novakillbones2140 Because they are poor quality, noisy and move around in the socket! I have the Uno Drum and NO chance would I use it for a gig with micro USB power. Also, no instrument that calls itself "pro" should use miscro USB for power.
@@danwhite7629 That's a pathetic response, completely made up. I have 5 other synths and keyboards that use microUSB - Keystep, Uno, Skulpt, Craft 2.0 and MiniLab mk2 - and they all go gangbusters on stage. As I said, it's Type C that gives me problems and half of that stuff never leaves the studio.
Where are all the good 37-key Midi controllers at? Full size keys and aftertouch with pitch and mod above the keys? Only the Novation Launchkey 37 MK3 (no AT). The action is okay but the sides of the keys aren't smooth. Catches my numb all the darn time with my flat-fingered playing. I would think the UNO Pro feels somewhere in the ballpark as nice as the Argon8 or Digitone Keys in terms of the keybed. If the Pro can't stand on its own, at least it would make for a good SE-02 controller. If the Midi implementation is very complete, I'd say the UNO Pro is worth it.
@Wilderness Music No, not sharp. Just mildly annoying. If you press a key down and feel along its sides, it should be smooth, unless it's a piano action with the semi-wooden key gimmick. With the LaunchKey it's almost as if the keytop is melded on to the rest of the key. This creates a slight 'lip' that runs across the side of the key. It's likely not the case that the keys are made by two pieces. Another way to describe it would be... like if you had a bunch of blank circuit boards with perforated edges that you have to punch out before using them? Or punch out the holes on the back of a cardboard box for Easter Eggs to dry from painting? It's as if the keys arrive from the factory all in one flat, and you have to break them apart for assembly of the keyboard. The breaking is what leaves a tiny edge along the keys. This isn't the case either. I think the keys are simply manufactured this way, in that they have an intentional indent on both sides of the key closer to the front edge. The same thing can be found on a few Alesis controllers. I like my keys smooth on the top AND along the sides. I wouldn't call it a deal-breaker though. The 37-Key Midi controller market is somewhat shabby at the present. The benefits the Launchkey offers easily outweigh a tiny lip that you might not even notice. Most keys for synth and piano have tops that protrude past the base of the key ever so slightly. Something like a Hammond organ has no such thing. But having this tiny overhang makes it necessary to clip, cut or mold the plastic key in order to machine this shape. Some keys are more clever about hiding the ridges that crop up as a result of this. NEVERMIND. THIS ALL MAKES ZERO SENSE
Isn't Launchkey their budget line? Impulse controllers have nice keybeds, and their SL line is even better. Yeah, Uno Pro, Ultranova, SL controllers, and Argon8x have the same Fatar TP9S keybed. I love it, that's part of why the full-sized Uno Pro tempts me, but the mini version saves space and cost significantly and I already have good keybeds.
@Wilderness Music The problem with the old textured surface of the original Uno is that it made the panel much harder to read, especially from an angle. Yes, the Uno Pro gets prints on it but it's not a huge problem because it's not a touch panel and, having both side-by-side, it's a compromise I am more than happy with.
Thank you Nick. Great video. You and I value much of the same sonic characteristics in a synth so this demo was great! The Uno Synth Pro sounds better than my Pro 3, by several orders of magnitude. Wait, there’s not a sustain pedal input in the Uno? Umm....
I have an Roland Verselab MV-1. I am looking for a midi keyboard. This synth Sound amazing. Could this work as a midikeyboard to or would you recommend to buy them separately?
This whole time I thought it was polyphonic, not paraphonic. And yes Mr Doty, I've seen your posts. Also, if I had a Pittsburgh VRL, I would use it _Every. Day!_
It's similar to the Uno in that you get a lot of "synth guts" for the money, but they way it's packaged isn't very appealing. Lack of knobs, small, hard to read text, tiny display and that glossy plastic surface looks like a fingerprint magnet. Even though other synths in the same price range might not offer the same range of features (e.g. perhaps only 2 oscillators and a single filter type), I'd rather have something that's fun to tweak and play. If I wanted to use a software editor, might as well get The Legend or Repro.
More fool you. Patching Uno and Uno Pro is a breeze and I'd also rate them as close to the most enjoyable synths to just play around with and tweak that I have owned. I like using it more than Monologue or Minilogue, for example, which are both knob-per-function analogue synths. Once you have patch memory, the whole knob-per-function thing ceases to be immediate and becomes largely a waste of time.
Wow! The sounds you got out of it are gorgeous compared to the LoopPop sounds. That bit around the 5 minute mark, was that a patch you programmed or factory preset?
Look at all those greasy finger print marks.. shiny plastic ua-cam.com/video/d_TssVQbpxw/v-deo.html - that's one thing that puts me off :) but it sounds pretty good + full size keys.
So the Uno Synth Pro and the Uno Synth Pro Desktop have the same sounds/outcome? Over here you get the Synth Pro Desktop for (currently) 304€ less. Is the keyboard that good? After all, you can always connect a midi controller keyboard to it.
Was thinking the same myself and similar price point. My Alesis Micron still sounds amazing, though the deep bass isn't in the same league as the Uno. Am very tempted to buy this synth.
Really wish companies would stop adding "Pro" to the end of product names in the hope it adds value in some way. Don't need to follow Apple on everything they do.
Isn't this thing like £650 for a mono synth? I'm surprised that any company that isn't Moog or Sequential and isn't selling an exotic wood clad synth with metal and rubber knobs would be asking that much for a mono, when we have numerous analogue poly synth options at that price or less.... It does sound quite good though from what I've heard. But the design is lazy, looks like they've literally wrapped a 37 key controller keyboard around the exact same unit as the desktop, the control panel is identical.... To paraphrase "four lions" they should have "biggered it" where the control surface is concerned, much like the poly D did compared to the normal one, as opposed to just slotting the same unit into the larger case...
$650 is not a bad price for what it does. It’s a 3-voice paraphonic synth with an insane amount of features. No one says this about the Pro3 or Matriarch or MatrixBrute. They’re all in the same vein and 2-3 times the price of this. I could maybe see your point if it had a limited feature set like the Monologue, but with the amount of things you can do, plus the build quality and sequencer/effects, I think it’s a more than fair asking price.
And what about Waldorf Blofeld? Hydrasynth? Novation Summit? Roland System8? OB6? The new Take 5? The list of current polyphonic synths is long enough and monophonic machines have their (sound) place in synth space…
If I was intuitively going for where to find FM amount I would probably hit "preset" button the last I did. Actually would avoid it thinking if I that my program would change and all programming would be gone. Would be a lot more intuitive if those parameters were to find when pressing the OSC button or even better add a separate button for menu diving.
You kind of can - if you press the DATA knob you are redirected on the section menu. and example: if you have OSC selected, pressing the DATA you are redirected in that section of the menu.
not even close, the Hydra's competitors are the Mininova, Peak, Blofeld, Argon8, and Korg's Modwave that will be released in the future Uno Pro can serve as a versatile lead/bass synth, though. Hydrasynth's fortes don't include bass, if I remember correctly.
a bit noisy to my ears. correction. very noisy. ... could be the YT? well, superb review as one would expect from Nick. Looking forward for SonicState this afternoon.. Maybe this will be addressed. Later.
Nope, at least my desktop version IS noisy, especially the ring modulator, taking a bit of the fun away. I’m really hoping for some things to improve with a firmware update...
It depends. There is still noticeable data noise from USB but if you connect it to a straight power source, it is very quiet. You also need to play around with the positions of your various cables to get it as quiet as you can. The Bluetooth from my Roli is the biggest problem I have.
@@novakillbones2140 It might be a difference between desktop and keyboard, and between each unit. I only use USB power. I wrote to IK Multimedia about the ringmodulator and some "background tones", but am still waiting for an answer wheather it can be improved in firmware.
Ugh, why'd they have to go with black/red with that finger-grease-magnet gloss panel? It sounds nice but that is an ugly, dated look. Flashbacks to Roland JD-Xi.
@@sonicstate No. I think this synth is badly priced for what it is and does. I never mentioned the desktop version as I don't know the price of that. Compare this to the Deepmind 12 or 6. Argon 8 Cobalt 8.
@@tonywharton5220 $400 for the desktop, consider that there's the Waldorf Pulse 2 for $800 (in the US), and is similarly a 3-osc analogue with a (smaller) mod matrix but no post-effects
@@Jason75913 The Deepmind 6 is £410 in the UK. No comparison really. The Uno pro is unfinished, just like the original Uno Synth and Uno Drum. I myself was waiting for updated fixes for both for well over a year. There was no way to factory reset the drum until recently. You can't keep putting out synths that need fixes or updates.
@@Goettel I was aware of that.. but not too many other recently released 4 voice analog synths with presets recall and digital multi-effects right? Poly or Para - either way - the PolyD is quite different.
Seriously? You couldn't give me a Poly-D, by 2021 standards it's a piece of garbage. Minilogue XD doesn't have half the balls of Uno Pro, either, and it's filter is way too restrictive to even contemplate. MiniXD does have amazing effects, though, but it is for a completely different use case to Uno Pro.
It does sound great, but it looks like such a cheap toy of a synth. Especially considering this thing originally retailed for $700... The way the various parameters are simply lit up with an led under the word of each parameter made from silk screened plastic just screams 90s Toys R Us toy to me...
@@ZenMountain 'Horrible interface' doesn't mean ugly. It means it has a poor way of interaction between man and machine. Many aspects of the op-1 seem that way. Is the op-1 not even useful though if you pick one of its synths and integrate it into a studio setup? I've heard it make some great noises
Typhon is sort of like a Crave/Mother32 on steroids, Uno Pro is closer to a Minilogue XD though the mod matrix brings it close to having the capabilities of a semi-modular like the Crave/Mother32. Waldorf's Pulse 2 is most like the Uno, but lacks post effects and sounds a lot glassier.
You couldn't make this disappear in a mix if you tried. It has all the balls of any VSTi, at any price. It's an absolute monster that can do with just three oscillators what takes a lot of VSTi 16 or 32 voices of unison to match. Don't get me wrong, we work 100% ITB in the studio but when you get up on stage in front 1000 people, it still feels right to have hardware in front of you than just a MIDI controller, and we've tried it both ways over the years. This thing sounds better than any hardware I've owned in the 40 years since I bought my first synth so if you are only going to buy one hardware synth, this is definitely the one to get.
Holy shit.....full sized keys. I don’t care for their design very much....its rather ugly IMO, looking like something from the 90’s that they wanted to look “futuristic”.
I know it’s really all about the sound, but man is this thing visually unappealing. So boring and generic :( I like a synth that looks like a vision of the future. This looks like a vision of m-audio circa 2005.
The full-size version is the best piece of gear I’ve bought in the past year, easily earned its price. I find it very intuitive to navigate, a joy to play, and it compares very favorably to my Sub37. Sound and build exceeded my expectations. Great review, thanks Nick, and hats-off to IK.
I had a Pro3 for a good while and sold it earlier this year. I bought the Uno to replace the hole it left and it does a shockingly good job of it. Sounds great and it’s super versatile. Also built better than my Pro3 or Grandmother was.
I just got my full size one in recently and my mind is still kinda blown at how good it is. Features, sound, build quality are all top notch.
This synth absolutely RIPS. I've had mine for a couple of days now and I'm blown away by the size and cost and POWER. The Reverb is lovely and if you make Techno, this is a must. Hands down one of the best synths I've played with.
I just got mine a few days ago and I’ve been having a blast with it. It can sound gnarly as hell or pretty subtle and low key. Did you get the full size? I did and it blew my mind how good the build quality is.
@@HotStrange I got the desktop version. I go through a lot of gear and I sold it. I can't wait to see their next synth. I hope they build on it with a one knob per function with their reverb, and an added delay. I will preoder if they do!
5:19 it’s crazy how that one bass note instantly turned it into Cyberpunk / Blade Runner.
Nick, when I see the connectivity: it has midi out , midi over USB out, and cv/gate out. Apart from Arturia gear almost no keyboard offers this at the same time. But the Uno also has a full size Fatar keybed with AT… couldn’t this be used as a central midi keyboard with other monophonic (semi)modular gear? Would it be possible the sequencer drives the internal engine while the keybed is used to drive the midi out or cv/gate? And vice versa? That would add largely to its capabilities and become an alternative to the Arturia Keystep.
Just want to warn anyone reading this: I bought the original Uno and it’s a nice cheap analogue synth. But the firmware is stuck on 1.1.4 (just 3 early bug fixes) and the IK team have completely ignored user requests on their forum ‘Wishlist’ thread. In an era of constant soft synth improvement, I have been frustrated by the lack of engagement from IK, and you might be too.
Yeah that's a bad sign. I'm very happy with the Yamaha MODX, Arturia MicroFreak, and Synthstrom Deluge in that all three companies have added some pretty serious improvements several times to those devices. Definitely affects my buying choices now.
Rubbish. We had all our major issues addressed in one of the first firmware updates, mainly being able to set the full ADSR for each envelope, even though it's not reflected in the front panel labels. Other issues are most likely too isolated to individual users to be easily replicated or bothered with. You also have to remember that it's an ANALOGUE synth, there is only so much that can be done via firmware updates. UNO has had more than appropriate attention from IK and they have definitely listened to users in adding new features. Of course, with Uno Pro they have done even more, eliminating pretty much every gripe I had about the original Uno.
@@ZetaCarinae Yamaha would probably not do much with MODX if it weren't as popular as it is. They do have a history of not updating stuff that doesn't sell enough for their liking, same as Korg and Roland.
Synthstrom Audible is a little boutique company, they have no choice to begin with unless they wish to dig their own grave. Yamaha has countless products beyond synths and they also have great rep, they can get away with more stuff more easily.
@@novakillbones2140 How can you say, "Rubbish" when the individual stated that in the forum and several request - the version has been stuck (not updated) and with little to no response from users nor the manufacturer?
@@bobcatt2294 It's absolute rubbish to suggest that a warning is required because, as I said, IK have been very attentive to user feedback. Read any forum and you will see plenty of dumbass requests get ignored by every developer, which is just as it should be.
Sounds great Nick, actually quite tempted by this for that sonic flavour, especially with Rossum's fairy dust sprinkled inside.... 😎🤙🎹🎶🍻
Does sound phat and lovely.
"my current favourite mono" - strong words considering the competition!
A synth that you may own and use, but never admit it. I can see the finger prints from here!
I own it, I use it, I proudly admit it 😄
Those fingerprints are from Nick pointing out things on the interface. I've had mine for a few weeks now and, because you don't actually need to touch that surface, it doesn't really get too many fingerprints. Just a few smudges around the edges of my Desktop version, which are easily wiped off at the end of a session. I doubt you'd get any on the big version.
@@novakillbones2140 I have the full size one, and can attest that you still get fingerprints on it. The glossy interface is the same exact size on both, so it’s just as easy. Amazing synth though, despite being a print magnet.
I bought my first synth in 1981 (Roland SH1000) and since then I have probably owned around 30, maybe more. I got my Uno Pro a few weeks ago and I am pretty sure already that it is the best synth I have ever owned. I can't think of another synth that I'd take over it for what it does. Not the Mono/Poly I bought brand new in 1982 and, at the other end of the scale, not the fully loaded Trinity I bought in 1999, which included the Z-1 board. Nothing I have ever used has the sheer presence of this thing, it's nothing short of phenomenal. It is an absolute monster, it will eat all your other synths and spit out their bones.
" I am pretty sure already that it is the best synth I have ever owned." That's because you never owned a CS-80. And this is only $300.00 less than I paid for mine in 1986, so- pass.
@@georgeray3492 Wow, lucky you. How come you haven't made any videos of your CS-80? Maybe do a head to head with an UNO PRO and put this debate to rest?
@@djleapwarren2716 I’m pretty sure that debate never even woke up lol
@@marekrosinski3025 Obviously 2 different classes of synths but I think slinging a CS-80 around as an overtly aggressive rebuke towards the quality of an UNOPRO, Rightly Deserves a video comparison. Especially since George is a content creator.
@@djleapwarren2716 well, I'd watch it popcorn in hand.. the UNOPRO does look like its got some cool sounds
One hell of a phat boi - rich lush sounds
Wow, I'm blown away by how rich the low end is on this! I think I'm going to replace my Monologue with the Uno Synth Pro for my synth bass needs!
Or you could have both lol
Got the desktop and it does sound great and pretty versatile ( reason I got it ) love the Oscs sound OTA filter is dirty , SSI filter is brassy and big and or aggressive , and I love the MOD fx with the Juno style 1&2 chorus and the string ensemble. My only real gripe is the micro USB ports honestly .
Why? There is absolutely no benefit in making it Type C, which is for USB3, not USB 2. For me it means I can use any of the several old powerbanks I have lying around, including those with a fixed microUSB cable (Nokia bricks). MicroUSB just gives you a whole heap of options, where Type C is way more restrictive for zero benefit.
@@novakillbones2140 do you work for IK or something?
Great review, Nick. Very balanced and some amazing patches! Wish there were a few more knobs, but I get it. Patch editor will be a welcome addition!
Seems someone is actually hiding behind his phone.
Sounds really nice.. and the desktop version looks like a great price if you all ready have a decent MIDI keyboard controller
I’m not buying ANY MORE fucking gear!!!! Amazing little synth. I want one 🤪
Great review, sounds fantastic. I'm very tempted by the desktop version....
In the paraphonic mode, is the amp envelope extended at all? I know on the Pro 3 in paraphonic mode, each voice has it's own amp so that way the pads/string sounds can ring out. Is that the case here?
Would love a follow up on this Nick with the firmware update and editor now released.
Imagine if your car didn't have individual pedals for each function, but instead, just one pedal, requiring a button press to switch between accelerating, braking, and changing gears. That's why the UNO, like the Blofeld, flew under the radar. Everyone craves the simplicity and joy of one knob per function. While the UNO gains points for being analog, its downfall lies in the reliance on four multifunction knobs, making it difficult to access important features easily. The UNO Synth Pro X serves as evidence of this flaw.
Uno stepping up their game!nice!
such a nice sounding synth!
Surprisingly lovely sound. The FX are nice too. I can vouch for IK's classic reverb plugins and T Racks eq that I bought circa 2004/5 and they are still compatible with my DAW. Also, I have always gotten timely responses from their Customer Support.
The weight and girth of this thing is amazing. Quite Chuffed.
Ridiculous how good this sounds.
It sounds crap and thats awesome!
Not far from as good as a Mopho
9:15 - Is it me, or did Nick Batt just make a Van Hagar reference? It's 5150 time! ;) Cheers!
heh nice
thank you so much for your help! It was amazing but I couldn't tell what it was, I can hear the original song now "why cant this be love"!
I’m scratching my neck to see more nick batt reviews 😬
Yeah, your "Infinity" patch is lovely.
Great patches!
PS: Having the Reverb and Delay Amount parameters actually control the send into those FX (rather than the FX return/mix as on most other synths with built-in FX, like Novation Peak) is a great feature of the UNO Synth Pro. Used it yesterday when running sampled drums through the UNO filters; turning up delay amount for short moments, creating dub-style delays which will trail on, is fantastic. The only things I miss from the FX section would be having all FX parameters available as mod matrix targets; an additional high pass filter for the delay; and a more classic (think EXH Small Stone) sounding phaser model.
I would defo be interested in the desktop version but the micro USB for power puts me off.
Agreed. 2021 there's no excuse for it not to be USB C.
Why? It works perfectly well and if you don't have half-a-dozen microUSB cables lying around, there is something wrong with you. I have some devices with microUSB and some with Type C and I cannot see any reason to choose one over the other, beyond the fact that several of my Type C cables are very flaky and none of my microUSB cables are. I also got a free powerbank with my Uno, so it's clean power all the way. (Yes, it can be quite noisy with a USB data cable, you have to be very careful with your cable placement.)
@@albedo0point39 Similarly, there is no good reason for it to be, either.
@@novakillbones2140 Because they are poor quality, noisy and move around in the socket! I have the Uno Drum and NO chance would I use it for a gig with micro USB power. Also, no instrument that calls itself "pro" should use miscro USB for power.
@@danwhite7629 That's a pathetic response, completely made up. I have 5 other synths and keyboards that use microUSB - Keystep, Uno, Skulpt, Craft 2.0 and MiniLab mk2 - and they all go gangbusters on stage. As I said, it's Type C that gives me problems and half of that stuff never leaves the studio.
Where are all the good 37-key Midi controllers at? Full size keys and aftertouch with pitch and mod above the keys? Only the Novation Launchkey 37 MK3 (no AT). The action is okay but the sides of the keys aren't smooth. Catches my numb all the darn time with my flat-fingered playing. I would think the UNO Pro feels somewhere in the ballpark as nice as the Argon8 or Digitone Keys in terms of the keybed. If the Pro can't stand on its own, at least it would make for a good SE-02 controller.
If the Midi implementation is very complete, I'd say the UNO Pro is worth it.
@Wilderness Music No, not sharp. Just mildly annoying. If you press a key down and feel along its sides, it should be smooth, unless it's a piano action with the semi-wooden key gimmick. With the LaunchKey it's almost as if the keytop is melded on to the rest of the key. This creates a slight 'lip' that runs across the side of the key. It's likely not the case that the keys are made by two pieces. Another way to describe it would be... like if you had a bunch of blank circuit boards with perforated edges that you have to punch out before using them? Or punch out the holes on the back of a cardboard box for Easter Eggs to dry from painting? It's as if the keys arrive from the factory all in one flat, and you have to break them apart for assembly of the keyboard. The breaking is what leaves a tiny edge along the keys.
This isn't the case either. I think the keys are simply manufactured this way, in that they have an intentional indent on both sides of the key closer to the front edge. The same thing can be found on a few Alesis controllers. I like my keys smooth on the top AND along the sides. I wouldn't call it a deal-breaker though. The 37-Key Midi controller market is somewhat shabby at the present. The benefits the Launchkey offers easily outweigh a tiny lip that you might not even notice.
Most keys for synth and piano have tops that protrude past the base of the key ever so slightly. Something like a Hammond organ has no such thing. But having this tiny overhang makes it necessary to clip, cut or mold the plastic key in order to machine this shape. Some keys are more clever about hiding the ridges that crop up as a result of this. NEVERMIND. THIS ALL MAKES ZERO SENSE
Isn't Launchkey their budget line? Impulse controllers have nice keybeds, and their SL line is even better.
Yeah, Uno Pro, Ultranova, SL controllers, and Argon8x have the same Fatar TP9S keybed. I love it, that's part of why the full-sized Uno Pro tempts me, but the mini version saves space and cost significantly and I already have good keybeds.
the Roland JDXi and JDXa designers called, they want their fingerprint magnet back.
I kept my JD-Xi clean and taped on the overlays for improved readability, plus lack of fingerprints
@Wilderness Music The problem with the old textured surface of the original Uno is that it made the panel much harder to read, especially from an angle. Yes, the Uno Pro gets prints on it but it's not a huge problem because it's not a touch panel and, having both side-by-side, it's a compromise I am more than happy with.
Thank you Nick. Great video. You and I value much of the same sonic characteristics in a synth so this demo was great!
The Uno Synth Pro sounds better than my Pro 3, by several orders of magnitude. Wait, there’s not a sustain pedal input in the Uno? Umm....
Better than the Sequential Pro 3? wtf
@@Jason75913 Why not?
I have an Roland Verselab MV-1. I am looking for a midi keyboard. This synth Sound amazing. Could this work as a midikeyboard to or would you recommend to buy them separately?
Yes it could. But probably better to buy the desktop version and get a dedicated Midi keyboard
Hmmm? No power switch....got mine yesterday and was surprised it didn't have one.
Right side button second row from top. At least there is in the desktop version. Just hold the dual purpose button down for 2 to 3 seconds
Look for the ”Hold” button. Beware of transient noice when switching on/off though.
This whole time I thought it was polyphonic, not paraphonic. And yes Mr Doty, I've seen your posts.
Also, if I had a Pittsburgh VRL, I would use it _Every. Day!_
Amazing synth in every respect but they should go for a non-butt ugly version as well.
It's similar to the Uno in that you get a lot of "synth guts" for the money, but they way it's packaged isn't very appealing. Lack of knobs, small, hard to read text, tiny display and that glossy plastic surface looks like a fingerprint magnet.
Even though other synths in the same price range might not offer the same range of features (e.g. perhaps only 2 oscillators and a single filter type), I'd rather have something that's fun to tweak and play. If I wanted to use a software editor, might as well get The Legend or Repro.
More fool you. Patching Uno and Uno Pro is a breeze and I'd also rate them as close to the most enjoyable synths to just play around with and tweak that I have owned. I like using it more than Monologue or Minilogue, for example, which are both knob-per-function analogue synths. Once you have patch memory, the whole knob-per-function thing ceases to be immediate and becomes largely a waste of time.
Ah...power switch on the front panel !
Better still, it switches itself on automatically when you connect the power, which is a nice touch.
I wonder how long before Fender start branding these.
Wow! The sounds you got out of it are gorgeous compared to the LoopPop sounds. That bit around the 5 minute mark, was that a patch you programmed or factory preset?
Nice fuzzy sounds there.
Seems a capable synth but I can't get past it looking like an Alesis MIDI controller. I know, I'm shallow.
Its is honestly one of the least attractive looking new synths I’ve seen in a long time. Not that that matters a ton....but it matters a little.
Same here
Look at all those greasy finger print marks.. shiny plastic ua-cam.com/video/d_TssVQbpxw/v-deo.html - that's one thing that puts me off :) but it sounds pretty good + full size keys.
You're not shallow. Sounds great but it's ugly and looks cheap. You want objects not only because of their functionality.
That modulation matrix sounds like Ion/Micron-league!
So the Uno Synth Pro and the Uno Synth Pro Desktop have the same sounds/outcome? Over here you get the Synth Pro Desktop for (currently) 304€ less. Is the keyboard that good? After all, you can always connect a midi controller keyboard to it.
Uno. Uno.
@@ZenMountain thx =), typo / autocorrect on smartphone, probably due to "uni - university". I know everyone would say that now :D
It seems like the conceptors may be inspired by the ( fantastic ! ) Alessis Micron ...?
Was thinking the same myself and similar price point. My Alesis Micron still sounds amazing, though the deep bass isn't in the same league as the Uno. Am very tempted to buy this synth.
Really wish companies would stop adding "Pro" to the end of product names in the hope it adds value in some way. Don't need to follow Apple on everything they do.
Isn't this thing like £650 for a mono synth? I'm surprised that any company that isn't Moog or Sequential and isn't selling an exotic wood clad synth with metal and rubber knobs would be asking that much for a mono, when we have numerous analogue poly synth options at that price or less....
It does sound quite good though from what I've heard.
But the design is lazy, looks like they've literally wrapped a 37 key controller keyboard around the exact same unit as the desktop, the control panel is identical....
To paraphrase "four lions" they should have "biggered it" where the control surface is concerned, much like the poly D did compared to the normal one, as opposed to just slotting the same unit into the larger case...
Just like digitone keys, or Blofeld keys - and many other examples. Hydrasynth got it right here -changing the layout to suit the larger space.
$650 is not a bad price for what it does. It’s a 3-voice paraphonic synth with an insane amount of features. No one says this about the Pro3 or Matriarch or MatrixBrute. They’re all in the same vein and 2-3 times the price of this.
I could maybe see your point if it had a limited feature set like the Monologue, but with the amount of things you can do, plus the build quality and sequencer/effects, I think it’s a more than fair asking price.
Just ordered the keyboard version for £289 from Amazon, which I think is a steal, and the lowest I've ever seen it go for.
So many mono or para synths. What happened to polyphony :/?
Uli
Bro, your Deepmind? Rev2? Minilogues and Prologue? JD-XA?
And what about Waldorf Blofeld? Hydrasynth? Novation Summit? Roland System8? OB6? The new Take 5? The list of current polyphonic synths is long enough and monophonic machines have their (sound) place in synth space…
I went for the Korg Prologue 8 instead 😊
16:50 editing video on the filter sweeps
Whoa. No sustain pedal? That might be a deal breaker for me. The sounds you've made are fantastic.
If I was intuitively going for where to find FM amount I would probably hit "preset" button the last I did. Actually would avoid it thinking if I that my program would change and all programming would be gone.
Would be a lot more intuitive if those parameters were to find when pressing the OSC button or even better add a separate button for menu diving.
Yes, I would agree, and that exact thing happened to me a couple of times - good idea
You kind of can - if you press the DATA knob you are redirected on the section menu. and example: if you have OSC selected, pressing the DATA you are redirected in that section of the menu.
@@DELLAsoundengineer That's great -- much easier to have the general DATA knob as a multifunctional tool.
@@sonicstate It sounds good though, forgot to write that.
I think if i have the Hydra , this is similar?
not even close, the Hydra's competitors are the Mininova, Peak, Blofeld, Argon8, and Korg's Modwave that will be released in the future
Uno Pro can serve as a versatile lead/bass synth, though. Hydrasynth's fortes don't include bass, if I remember correctly.
Well, Excuse Me!
Poodle rock? I thought it was Art Of Trance - Madagascar 🤷🏻♂️
First sound like Lorn 🙂
a bit noisy to my ears. correction. very noisy. ... could be the YT? well, superb review as one would expect from Nick. Looking forward for SonicState this afternoon.. Maybe this will be addressed. Later.
Nope, at least my desktop version IS noisy, especially the ring modulator, taking a bit of the fun away. I’m really hoping for some things to improve with a firmware update...
It depends. There is still noticeable data noise from USB but if you connect it to a straight power source, it is very quiet. You also need to play around with the positions of your various cables to get it as quiet as you can. The Bluetooth from my Roli is the biggest problem I have.
@@novakillbones2140 It might be a difference between desktop and keyboard, and between each unit. I only use USB power. I wrote to IK Multimedia about the ringmodulator and some "background tones", but am still waiting for an answer wheather it can be improved in firmware.
Shouldn’t their second synth be called the ‘duo’?
or Trio perhaps yes!
"Dos" or "Tres", haha
Excellent video as always, BUT, please, fix the levels! The synth sounds are WAY louder than speech, I'm sure I woke up the neighbours...
20:00 💙
mmm fingerprints..
Ugh, why'd they have to go with black/red with that finger-grease-magnet gloss panel? It sounds nice but that is an ugly, dated look. Flashbacks to Roland JD-Xi.
lol, mini USB on a tank.
I love this synth apart from the price.
Really you think the desktop price is too much? What would you consider reasonable?
@@sonicstate No. I think this synth is badly priced for what it is and does. I never mentioned the desktop version as I don't know the price of that. Compare this to the Deepmind 12 or 6. Argon 8 Cobalt 8.
@@tonywharton5220 $400 for the desktop, consider that there's the Waldorf Pulse 2 for $800 (in the US), and is similarly a 3-osc analogue with a (smaller) mod matrix but no post-effects
@@Jason75913 The Deepmind 6 is £410 in the UK. No comparison really. The Uno pro is unfinished, just like the original Uno Synth and Uno Drum. I myself was waiting for updated fixes for both for well over a year. There was no way to factory reset the drum until recently. You can't keep putting out synths that need fixes or updates.
Another analog mono.. great..
I'd say it's way overpriced compared to the Poly D
A better comparison would be the Minilogue XD - this has presets recall/digital control of parameters + dsp effects - that adds a lot of complexity.
@@wavesequencer The Minilogue is polyphonic, not paraphonic. But yeah, this is overpriced compared to the XD too.
I'll take this over a Poly D any day - well, especially when I don't like the Poly D, I'll take my Ultranova over a Poly D, too.
@@Goettel I was aware of that.. but not too many other recently released 4 voice analog synths with presets recall and digital multi-effects right? Poly or Para - either way - the PolyD is quite different.
Seriously? You couldn't give me a Poly-D, by 2021 standards it's a piece of garbage. Minilogue XD doesn't have half the balls of Uno Pro, either, and it's filter is way too restrictive to even contemplate. MiniXD does have amazing effects, though, but it is for a completely different use case to Uno Pro.
Easy to tune to 432hz?
24:40
Sounds a bit glossy/glassy
Sounds great, looks terrible.
Programming doesn’t look fun with that matrix menu system
Waves sounds crap particularly triangle. I need to buy one! Nick newer did a proper Moog One review.
It does sound great, but it looks like such a cheap toy of a synth. Especially considering this thing originally retailed for $700... The way the various parameters are simply lit up with an led under the word of each parameter made from silk screened plastic just screams 90s Toys R Us toy to me...
What a horrible interface. It looks like a cheap toy.
Really disappointed in this synth for the price.
That's what they said about the op1 😉
@@annother3350 And they were right.
@@annother3350 who ever said the OP-1 is ugly??? Never heard that before. After owning one for 5+ years... yes, it's a toy.
@@ZenMountain 'Horrible interface' doesn't mean ugly. It means it has a poor way of interaction between man and machine. Many aspects of the op-1 seem that way. Is the op-1 not even useful though if you pick one of its synths and integrate it into a studio setup? I've heard it make some great noises
This or Dreadbox Typhon?
Typhon is sort of like a Crave/Mother32 on steroids, Uno Pro is closer to a Minilogue XD though the mod matrix brings it close to having the capabilities of a semi-modular like the Crave/Mother32. Waldorf's Pulse 2 is most like the Uno, but lacks post effects and sounds a lot glassier.
All synth sounds beefy by themselves, but all is lost in the mix
No.
Yet another mono synth that can be emulated in $2 app and with “all it’s glory” and disappears in the mix
You couldn't make this disappear in a mix if you tried. It has all the balls of any VSTi, at any price. It's an absolute monster that can do with just three oscillators what takes a lot of VSTi 16 or 32 voices of unison to match. Don't get me wrong, we work 100% ITB in the studio but when you get up on stage in front 1000 people, it still feels right to have hardware in front of you than just a MIDI controller, and we've tried it both ways over the years. This thing sounds better than any hardware I've owned in the 40 years since I bought my first synth so if you are only going to buy one hardware synth, this is definitely the one to get.
Your ears are not working properly.
until your headphone jack breaks again
3 voices only and no real poly for 650$?? get out of here with that plastic piece of junk "nombe noo"
or $400 for the mini version is quite fine, in ma 'pinion
It’s a metal housing with a Fatar semi-weighted keybed, solid build and heavy, but okay
Take your medication man.
good sound, bad form factor
Holy shit.....full sized keys. I don’t care for their design very much....its rather ugly IMO, looking like something from the 90’s that they wanted to look “futuristic”.
So IKM now thinks they can sell their cheaply made plastic toys at the price of a Moog?
Which Moog are you comparing it too?
The price of a Moog?? What??
Sound is ok but it looks ugly as fuck.
Sounds great, but it looks so incredibly ugly and cheap. What a terrible design.
very nice demonstration but a poor synth for the price
apart from the awesome sounds
I know it’s really all about the sound, but man is this thing visually unappealing. So boring and generic :( I like a synth that looks like a vision of the future. This looks like a vision of m-audio circa 2005.
this looks like ugly software. and ,, ugly hardware. why. why ? its all in menus.