This Synth almost BROKE ME! 3 months with Strega By Make Noise // User Review
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- A video about my sonic journey learning about the Strega and my thoughts about it after having it for 3 months.
DISCLAIMER: Make Noise sent me Strega to try out, but I am not being paid for my opinions nor did they have any input in the contents of this video.
Huge Thanks to Make Noise for making this video possible!
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Saw Cortini last Friday. His setup is 2 0 ctrls, 2x Stregas and a reverb pedal. Each set is a different Improvisation .
This may be the best video I have found on the Strega.
Thanks so much!
This is a great video.
Rather than repeating what others have done in UA-cam, you actually gave a fresh perspective and practical advice.
Now I got to find where the … is my boxed Strega!
I appreciate that! It’s always a challenge not to rip off or rehash a topic here on youtube, so this is awesome feedback! Thanks alot❤️
I have good success throwing a clock pulse (usually from Pam's New Workout) on that jack connected to the Time wheel. Keeps the Strega crazyness more in pace with what I'm trying to do.
I really enjoy your videos. I don’t have access to the variety of devices, nor the time it would take to delve into them. You fill the void between my passion for synths, and my chance to see what they do. Thanks. 😊
Thanks so much!! That is one of the things I aspire to do, to give you a sense of these things beyond a spec sheet read out, more like hanging out with a buddy in the basement geeking out over gear. See you soon my friend!
@@MidlifeSynthesist I'm curious about many things synth related and lately I've had a resurgence of interest in physical modeling and (of all things) bagpipe patches. If you run across either in your sonic journeys, I am interested. I've made a set of single patches assembled into a multi for my Korg Z1, that I am kind of proud of for bagpipes, but I'm always looking for ways to improve and have tweaked it over the years. I know this is very niche and wouldn't expect you to dive into this, but if it ever comes up, I'll be sitting up straight. 🙂
What a great video. You got more different results with this than any other demo I have seen and that is very refreshing.
Thanks so much my friend! Truly appreciate it❤️
I have a Lyra-8 on my lap and every now and then I glance over at my Strega saying, “this is your fault.”
Hahahaha🤣
Thats the funniest thing i have heard all day. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
⚰️
best post I've seen today and I've seen some great ones.
😂😂😂
The Make Noise Eco System in general is just an amazing playground of unintentional sound which is what I love about their machines. This one is just EXTRA when it comes to that mindset. haha. Great video as always brother! Cheers!
Thanks so much bro!! Absolutely agree! Every Make Noise synth up until now has been a trip and I hope to try more in the future🙌🏻 see you soon🤟🏻🤟🏻
Great video friend!! Always enjoy your perspective. Like you talk about, the pure tones of Strega are really enticing. Paz y amor
Thanks for checking my video our brother! Always appreciate you being here🙌🏻
Crazyy, loved the screaming sunrise and the synth off course, thanks!
🤣 glad you liked it bro! Cheers!!
Ayyy the Deluge is back, and with the new OLED too! Nice one man ❤ and great video too.
YESSSS!! I always said the Deluge with an Oled screen would be killer and… it is divine🙌🏻 I’ll be using this baby A LOT from now on❤️ thanks so much for watching! cheers!
That thing is mental! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for watching! See you next time🙌🏻
I love your unique perspective as a synth UA-camr :)
Thanks so much!! It really means alot❤️ see you soon!
This was a great explanation of what its like to collaborate with the Strega, lol.
😜 thanks for stopping by buddy❤️
One of the most visceral and instant creative feel I've ever had in the first several hours with any synth. It wasn't all pretty... but then I love those places. I wish more companies would collab with artists like Cortini of NIN to make synths like this.
Exactly my thoughts! It’s a sonic rollercoaster and you might get a few scrapes here or there, but it is SOO worth the ride! Thanks for watching and see you soon!
Pausing when you say "let's get started"
I was worried from the thumbnail and title that you did not enjoy the Strega, but it seems like this should be an enjoyable vid, and that you appear enthusiastic about it. So, yay!
I freaking love mine.
One thing to keep in mind when trying to wrap your mind around the delay section is that there are multiple internally routed feedback paths. Have fun!
Works as amazing end of chain effect to make your sounds appear to originate deep in a damp cavern.
Great video mate. The R&M screaming sun and jurassic park bits were very funny.
Great vid.
Thanks for that.
I have the MN easel.
You've inspired me.
Keep it up.
Much appreciated.
X
Thanks so much! Hope to see you again soon!
Loved your review. Explains a lot of what Strega can do, what it sounds like, and most especially when it's connected to other gear. I have an O-coast and it's my favorite synth .... but it took time to learn it and I still refer to the manual a bit. It's so worth it to just experiment.
This is amazing. I really want to see/ try the Strega with something like the Soma Lyra 8. The Lyra has such beautiful sounds, I'd love to see the Strega corrupt those sounds. Cool vid.
You could really make the walls shake with that setup! Thanks for watching!
great editing on this video!
Thank you my friend!! Trying to up my editing game this year so this comment is greatly appreciated 😅
Been thinking about it and decide to snag it.Thanks buddy
I’ve always enjoyed your approach to explaining and describing the gear your showcasing. I especially cracked up when you talked about the levels on it and put that clip with the rising, screaming sun.😂
I was learning about Alessandro Cortini in his use of the Octatrack when he was working with Reznor in Nine Inch Nails when Make Noise announced the Strega. I think he was also one of the artist’s Elektron reached out to initially regarding whether people would be interested in the Octatrack when they first started development.
And as I saw demo’s of the Strega and Cortini’s live setup during a tour interview with NIN I couldn’t help but think the Strega is like a wild on the fly OT when it comes to how you can effect in coming audio and get those metallic harsh, but beautiful atmospheric randomness with just a tweak of a knob and a touch on a touch plate. Like instead of programming & p-locking the strange explorative stuff on an OT you can just run off the rails and then some instantly on the Strega. It may be a while before I ever venture in acquiring one but I loved the 0-coast when I had it, and your demonstration of it’s tame side really showed how unique it’s voicing is.
Really, really loved all your observations!! This was very practical and informative, while remaining breezy and approachable the whole way. Really appreciate your insight in this - definitely came away with a better understanding and pushed me further on the dial in terms of my desire to experiment with it. Thank you!
The sugarglider sound was spot on! I had to send this video to everyone I know that owns a sugarglider. 😂
Seeing as I have a Strega, 0-Coast, and 0-Ctrl, somewhat neglected sitting on a shelf to my right; and a custom stand for them from 3DWaves (they are
Lol! So you’re saying I should get an 0-Ctrl is what I’m hearing?
@@MidlifeSynthesist I mean, are there other controllers? For sure. But is there one that works so nicely and splits out the various parameters of the touch plates and lets you apply them to other parts of the synth?)
I quite enjoy the trio, I'll say that much! :)
Are you me?
@@FawazK music twins!
@@Daphoid for sure!
Ohhhh that sounds REALLY interesting
It DOES! Thanks for watching my friend!
Yyyyep…… I bought the Strega and the 0 coast and although both are addictive the Strega can pull you in for hours of experimenting. You got it right again….. I had the info already but your videos are always entertaining.
Good demonstration. I've put in my time with the 0-Coast and found it to be both interesting and frustrating. The Strega seems largely similar.
Lovely video, thanks.
Thank you too!
Love the background music at 8:50. I assume you used the Strega for that as well?
Great video. Thank you!
Thanks for watching my friend!! Sorry but the music at 8:50 is background stock music from Epidemic Sound😜. It is very good though lol! See you soon!
Just for the record, that was NOT the only music I liked here. LOL I loved❤️ the jammy bit at 2:15
Yes. I am a fan of this machine.
Nice noises, thx for the review!
Great video!
Thank you!!!
You have inspired a whole new hardware set up in my mind. I sold the last 2... lets see if this one works :) Thank you!
Love make noise stuff. But your views and use of it are really unique. As a make noise fanboy, everything they make can get very weird very quickly, but they can all be tame too if you have lots of restraint with them. You got some beautiful tones out of it and using in a strict semi modular non eurorack format is something I don’t think I’ve seen any other content creator do. Bravo. 👍🏻
Thanks so much!! I truly appreciate your kind words and I’m happy you enjoyed it❤️ see you soon 🙌🏻
I know that feeling. The Make Noise O-Coast has been my FIRST synthesizer … and it just overwhelmed me with all the cables and a "manual" that fits on two sheets of toilet paper. So I sold it and got a Norand Mono instead, which can sound as weird, but has awesome MIDI implementation and can SAVE what you did (instead of providing diagrams for drawing in your cables in with crayons). Some stuff is just not for me - like everything modular right now.
The strega Def would frustrate me if it was my first and only gear so getting as Norand mono was a great choice esp the original module , I have also steered clear of eurorack eurocrak , but love the semi modular units around today , like the cre8audio west pest , eowave Quad swarm etc
Never heard of it but now I’m intrigued…
5:48 sounds like an epic Tim Hecker track. Very nice!
The modulator section can be used as a triggered envelope patched to control the oscillator level, so you can get a kind of vac/envelope behaviour out of Strega
It might be interesting to approach the Strega as a complex oscillator rather than a complete synth, adding your own envelope generators, filter & VCA to it's outputs.
That's exactly what I was wondering. Will the strega integrate into my modular rig as essentially a complex oscillator.
wonderful work
Love the sound.
I really couldn't get into this synth right away but I feel time spent will be worthwhile.
It sounds great!
It’s a beast!
well tickled, thank you 🧙♀🧙♀🧙♀
🤣🤣 much appreciated ❤️
The YT algo brought this vid back to me today. I didn't comment the first time I watched it, so I am now.
Strega rules. Every production needs a great antagonist, and it excels at that.
The What Would Nick Batt Do reference makes me chuckle every time
😂😜
Strega does have a basic envelope you can trigger. Just take a gate from a sequencer or CV / gate keyboard (or whatever you like) and pop it into the 'begin / end' input in the agitation section, then tweak the speed pot to a rate at which agitation will occur, then patch a cable tfrom 'Agitation Function Out', to 'Activation CV in' and tweak the attenuvertor pot above the input to taste. Hope that helps :)
another way is to run a synth audio out in the ext in and take the CV out as an envelope follower for agitation or whatever you need
this way I Can output clock, envelope, Gate,CV and pressure from a microfreak and play thé strega as a dirrrty sound module. pressure to the delay parameters goes a long way
@@Arkansyacan you explain a little more? Got a Strega and a Microfreak 😅
@@RobertoVoidRizzi use the mf audio as en envelope : create a basic sound with a clear enveloppe and run the mf output into strega ext audio in. then use the envelope follower CV output (bottom left of the machine) to apply envelope modulation to any param you want on the strega.
use the same trick with any sample to mimic its envelope.
using mf pressure out to control delay decay or absorb is also very expressive to play
It's unique sounding alright.
I have a love-hate relationship with make a noise. Some of their stuff, I absolutely love. But I really hate that They intentionally make their stuff harder to use, and then wrap it up in a veil of hyperbole, so that users can make noises that’s kind of like music, but if anyone questions them, they just say “it’s art, and you don’t understand it, man”. I just had to get that off my chest. I’m gonna go in the backyard and Yellit some clouds now.
Lol! I totally get that🤣 I’ll join you later for some hearty fist shaking on the discord😜
Yeah agreed. Sometimes that feels lazy. It's a smart design group and they know synthesizer design very well. They don't have to intentionally obfuscate stuff to make it interesting.
Also, the fact that they insist on continuing to use unthreaded plastic potentiometers "to keep costs down" continues to perturb me and I cannot in good faith support such poor practice, especially at their price point.
I’ve shifted from “no way!” when it first dropped to enough curiosity now that I’m keeping my eye on a couple of s/h Stregas. Perhaps in another eighteen months, lol.
Eventho i don’t own it yet, but from that what I heard and saw, this synth could top the Lyra 8 imo the greatest synth on this planet. Just can’t wait to get one under my hands.
1:25, "... just put away any dogs or cats near you before going forward..." 🤣
Actually, those sounds might fit pretty well in a Dalek scene from the old Dr Who episodes.
That name 'Strega' is an interesting one; in Italian it means 'witch'; I wonder if that is coincidence, or if it was an intentional indication of what this instrument is capable of.
Anyway, glad I've had the happy accident of stumbling on your channel, I enjoy your style of delivery.
Hey bro! Happy to have you here! At first I thought the name was in reference to the “Striga” monster from The Witcher fantasy novels/games🤣 makes sense that it’s called a witch cause it can sound seductive or downright evil😜Thanks so much for watching and hope to see you soon🙌🏻
I get the imagination that to master the Strega is like taming a corrupted Dragon harnessing the power of chaos.
Hi again, I’ve decided to make all my work a on everything modules to be independent just like Strega comes! So I’m using old Ditchmaster cigar box’s of my now deceased father and powering them for Zoia, Rt -451 and Brain, the Strega just saved me some time. I know I can get really attractive cases from Zoia, but I don’t want to spend $460 on them!
This is a very honest report of a genuine witch encounter and I am happy it made sense at the end. But this could also be her spell :). It will take a year to figure her out.
I put my Strega into the noise input of my Matriarch and use it as a noise source. It sounds really good. I love having fun with my Strega!
I’m using it as another oscillator on my Pro 3 and it has been breathtaking!! It sure is a wild card🔥
The lack of VCA makes the spec sound like half a synth tbh 😄 But it would be very nice as part of a modular\semi-modular setup and your jam at 5:44 is selling it to me 👌
It does have a VCA: the "Activation" control
@@addictive_noise Ah I see. Tbh I haven't looked any further than the description in this video yet
I agree that with several conventional features added, it could've been much more appealing and practical instrument! I own and love 0-Coast, but Strega - no thanks.
Really enjoyed the video. I have to admit I'm somewhat at Make Noise-fanboy. I have quite a few of their modules and an 0-Coast in my rack. I've wanted one since it came out. I recently found a second hand one for a really nice price. I love it. It's weird, it's dark, it makes dirty sounds. I also wish companies would collab with artists more. Much like Future Sounds Systems. I have the TG3 and TG4 modules in the Gristleizer range. The collab with Cris Carter of Trhobbing Gristle. Those are also great.
Strega is a different beast to tame. Take a look at what Jon Gee can achieve with the dark trinity.
Lovely
I think Strega is a love / hate relasionship. I see mine as "effects with an oscillator" and use it with O-coast/O-control. Its really relaxing on a sunday afternoon, for ambience.👍
Ordered the Elta Solar42. My first foray into a drone synth. You should check that bad boy out.
Great video! Would have prefered your voice a bit louder in the video though, had to keep turning up and down between the talking and the demos.
That’s excellent feedback! I’ll be watching out for that thank you❤️ I just wish final cut had a built in sidechain compressor for the voice overs, but I’ll figure it out eventually lol. Thanks for watching my friend!
1. it was my first step into the abyss... i dont regret it. 2. im more interested in your osciloscop overlay.. im thinking about building myself with serial out just to use it in my videos, but there are much more important things to do than reinvent weels, i guess.
I was the same: when this thing first came out I didn’t find it to be particularly musical in the videos I saw so I lost interest but maybe now that you’ve explained some things maybe I’ll look at it again. I also see you got the Oxi One Black Edition ? I was a backer for the Oxi, a great controller for Eurorack too.
I had the same feeling! To me it has two sides, a very musical one and a completely insane one, both are great!
And yes, I got the One in Black!! Absolute beast!🔥 cheers my friend!
intresting peace of gear!
I've found keeping activation low is key to getting a wide range of sounds out of the Strega. Otherwise it's super easy to quickly get into a zone where you just get rythmic wank and the other knobs have less effect.
Hi man, I'm Alex, pleased to see your demo🎉. It's been a few weeks since I dream of this weiiird machine. As I really really want to start with modular synth, I tryied the o'coast but it needed some external source you know, this story of "midi in" "midi 1" midi 2" lost me. Too complicated for a little beginner like me...😭
In this video, are you really telling that the strega can generate sound by itself ?
I mean you do not need a keyboard or anything else to make music with it ?
You can generate what you want just by patching, keeping the strega on its own, at first ???
This may become my first great experience with a modular synth, so what you'll answer is really important to me, and my bank account haha !%#:
Thank you by advance man 🙏🏼
Alex
Hi Alex! I love the Strega but I would not recommend it as your first synth or modular. It´s a bit more advanced/niche. Also you usually need some sort of sequencer or controller to make music on these things. 0 Coast is a favorite of mine, but I would recommend something that will teach you the basics and that has simpler patching. Minifreak and Microfreak are excellent starters with amazing sound, great flexibility and the screen shows you what´s going on at all times. Hope that helps! happy music making!
@MidlifeSynthesist Bought the microfreak, I think your words came at the right moment, thank you so much ✌🏼
Well, it seems to me that the Strega is one step beyond the 0-Coast. I've got the 0-Coast and the first try was full of question marks. But as like the Soma Lyra-8 ... strange but I like it.
After selling the 0-Coast I thought that this weird gear was not as bad as assumed.
Now a 0-Coast is again on my desk and, although still strange, I like it. Especially when using the 0-Coast and the Lyra together as a combination of "mystery" 👻.
I couldn’t agree more! I would put the Strega nearer to the Lyra 8 than the O-Coast for sure. I adore my 0-Coast to death🤟🏻
@@MidlifeSynthesist Maybe ... but one step after another ... to avoid deep frustration 😄.
Well, you can use the function generator output for controlling the amplitude, this is pretty much the standard way of using the Strega for me, just trigger the function with a gate.
sick
Great vid on the Strega sir, subbed.
awesome
it would be bice id you could add the gear you used with the strega like external effects etc
So in other words, pairing this with a Lyra-8 could be the ultimate experience in total loss of control? Could be an amazing combo.
Tickling the Algorythm.
What's the song playing in the background in the first few minutes? 0:36
Nice and fun synth/effect with some missing opportunities to make it even better (some functions/mods are "practically" unusable, and it's a little bit too noisy even for noisy stuff)
Really nice perspective!
I'm looking for something analogo and semi-modular, and I think that Strega could be a good options.
Do you know o test Mavis (Moog)? it similar or comparable to Strega?
Thank you!
OK Grasshopper 👌
😜
Here's a comment! Synths are gooooddddd.
Thanks for the review.
Thanks for 100% agree! Thanks for stopping by my friend!
Why would someone buy a weird noise maker and then try to tame it to use it as a normal mono synth. The brand is called "make noise" for a reason. See that all over youtube, 30 minute video of a guy trying to "tune" and make "music" with the volca modular.
🤣 good point!
Great video! Thank you! What software do you use to visualize waveform and frequency?
Great video! Can you sequence the strega with the pro3? Cheers
Thanks so much and YES! In the opening intro tune I’m using the Pro3 sequencer 👍🏼 works like a charm (I also used it as an amplitude EG. Lovely combo👍🏼)
@@MidlifeSynthesist how do you have the CV outs set up to apply the EG that's lacking on the Strega? I'm thinking of doing something similar using my SQ64 but there is no EG there just gate/pitch/mod.
Where do you get those fancy patch cables?
I think they're called Candycords
Sounds like something from the original Blade runner, this is sooo good Grace, got your freaky side working baby
Lol, explored a more aggressive side of me for sure🤣 cheers buddy!
embrace the unknown, indeedio.
Heck yeah!! Thanks for watching my friend🙌🏻🙌🏻
SAVE THIS VIDEO FROM THE SHADOW REALM
Not all heroes wear capes! Thanks for the support my friend🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
you can WHAT !? :D :D what a piece !
Wow and I thought the 0-coast was weird 😂
i just wish it had a sequencer
Gotta get the Make Noise Holy Trinity😜
@@MidlifeSynthesist that Oxi Instruments OXI ONE does look nice they have a limited edition black one now. I hear nothing but good things about it . I do like how the synth is crazy like a rumble of ancient times
@@MidlifeSynthesistor unholy trinity! I consider the DFAM, Mother 32, and Subharm the holy trinity. I have them next to each other in a never ending battle of good vs. evil (in the best way). 😈❤️😇
@@HoveyKraft lol! Nice🔥🔥🔥!!
It has a friend... called the 0-Ctrl that's the sequencer.
Hi, what oscilloscope plugin is that?
I love the Strega, but I disagree it is not a bad boy. It is a bad girl. Strega means witch in Italian.
I stand corrected!☺️ She’s a beautiful devil she is!
At 3:38 is the clearest explanation of what you’ll be dealing with. Hilarious!
For the algorithm *dematerializes*
@@TwinCitiesOxygen 🙌🏻🙌🏻
If I kept just one synth it would be this one
seems a lot like nlc dispersion delay or delay no more