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Such a wide range of timbres & some beautiful sounds in this. There's so much you can do with the front panel controls that it negates the micro downside of using a joystick rather than a pitch & mod wheel pair. Thank you for such an enjoyable review.
Looking forward to getting one of these after my interest was peaked at the first rollout. I liked the Malevolent but I’m not really a patch cable kind of guy so having a Chris Hugget synth with everything internally hardwired is my favored option. Having that designer’s pedigree built in to architecture was also a great appeal to me since it was said his philosophy on this was to implement bits of and improve on ALL his past synth releases, including the Wasp and OSCar. Almost every patch I’ve heard since initial release day up to this demo has been in the right ballpark for my tastes.
@@kierenmoore3236 I own a Peak as well. Great synth and close I suppose with its 6 filter types. The dual filters on Mantis are really special and have so much more character than any “single” filter synth out there. :)
Really good synth! Pity not a bit more straightforward polyphony. Especially for the price... Completely agree that a Delay be far more interesting than the Spring Reverb at the end of this signal chain. Almost certainly could be implemented in firmware update - delay time and feedback level on the two knobs. Love your deep-dive here again Nick. Showing what you're about, what makes you unique... Sonicstate ♥
So rare to get stelar effects on a synth. When effects are less than great then I look at the price to know why. I always want effects just to temporarily test the sound design, and then turn off and use my own later.
Kind of half a Peak (ie up to 4 voices) … but with a Notch filter mode, a 3-Oct Keyboard and a Joystick … but without Wavetable and the excellent FX (has a decent reverb tho’) … ?? 🤔
Found Malevolent in a local music store, crazy cool little thing. Looking forward to trying Mantis. Also love that it has aftertouch in that size. From the website the manual there is just a getting started guide, website says 'full usb midi control' and it's class compliant which is great. I am assuming parameters are all on CC# as well from the word 'full' but that's not listed anywhere. Anyway, I'm keen to investigate this beastie further, thanks for the review :)
Hot take.. PWM User interfaces - The knobs and layout... there's something incredibly uninspiring about it. Feels like working with an excel file to me. Otherwise sounds good.
Hey Nick, I know this is seriously off topic but we're you ever planning on reviewing the Behringer UBXa ??? I've seen Starsky and Tim's look at it but I trust your reviews and have purchased synths such as the Rev2, Hydrasynth Explorer and Cobalt8 based on your expertise and honesty. Cheers !!! 🥂
Wholly different filter, wholly different oscillator palette, wholly different workflow. Ultimately very different sounding instruments with different modes of performance control. It might not be for you.
@@bensupper No I agree. It will definitely have its audience, I'm just saying the feature set is arguably less than a Minifreak and it's double the price.
@@chrisevans5082 Not going to argue, and I worked on it. Much of that price is down to the increased bulk, of course: we went for full-sized keys; 2-3 times as many potentiometers (electromechanical parts are a big proportion of cost and Huggett's approach for this was a purist 'controls beat display'). Circuit boards costs are proportional to area; the assembly is 2-3 times or more the weight and volume which affects logistics. It's the embodiment of whole load of assumptions about what certain customers will care about at this level, and how best to embody those things. One day we hope we'll have the clout to have a product for everybody: this is only our second shout. This is why it's so great to hear what Nick and you make of this, warts of all, and it's our job (somehow) to take all of this on board.
@@bensupper That's great to hear you worked on it, and it certainly is a synth that sounds alike it has huge character. I also do like to support independent developers and manufacturers (but at the right price for the feature set). Equally it is really good to hear about the premium build and feel, and I hope my local music shop can get one in for me to try and experience the quality for myself! I'm possibly basing a bit of this initial impression based on my thoughts for the malevolent, which I tried but didn't click with, plus it seemed a bit of a flimsy build to me. Quick question - would you say this is a spiritual successor to the Oscar? Was that the lead design philosophy?
@@bensupper. Is it unfair to think of it as half a Peak (ie up to 4 voices) … but with a 3-Oct Keyboard and a Joystick … [but without Wavetable and the excellent FX]? 🤔
What a horrible review man what’s wrong with u are you mad this is beautiful and u make it sound like shiiiizzzz come on man don’t be so annoying with it
the first sound are fantastic and they only need one finger to sound good.... maybe you don't like the synth because in 25 minutes, you haven't found a single second you like ? Nick's known to be one of the few musical gifted reviewer on Ytb , he's been their for 18years ! ... give us a link to a video you like... if not, then you don't like this synth... find something else....
We hope you enjoyed this SonicLAB Review! You can support Sonicstate by joining our Patreon to get yourself some EXCLUSIVE freebies: patreon.com/sonicstate
Such a wide range of timbres & some beautiful sounds in this. There's so much you can do with the front panel controls that it negates the micro downside of using a joystick rather than a pitch & mod wheel pair.
Thank you for such an enjoyable review.
Nick's in HEAVEN with this. Hehe.
Great run through...knew this had a little more up its sleeve as a monosynth, but there's even more than I expected. Very nicely ballsy synth!
Yes, Nick, the sub was coming though UA-cam data compression.
Awesome demo. Beastly synth
I’d buy it just knowing it was Chris Huggett’s last synth
Sounds fantastic.
Looking forward to getting one of these after my interest was peaked at the first rollout. I liked the Malevolent but I’m not really a patch cable kind of guy so having a Chris Hugget synth with everything internally hardwired is my favored option. Having that designer’s pedigree built in to architecture was also a great appeal to me since it was said his philosophy on this was to implement bits of and improve on ALL his past synth releases, including the Wasp and OSCar. Almost every patch I’ve heard since initial release day up to this demo has been in the right ballpark for my tastes.
PWM synths always ooze with character
Great review! 8 analog (and dual) filter modes is rare on a synth, especially at that price point. :)
Peak? With twice as many voices and better FX (though no KB/Joystick, obviously).
@@kierenmoore3236 I own a Peak as well. Great synth and close I suppose with its 6 filter types. The dual filters on Mantis are really special and have so much more character than any “single” filter synth out there. :)
I think it looks and sounds great. Hopefully will get to try one at this year's Synthfest.
Really good synth! Pity not a bit more straightforward polyphony. Especially for the price...
Completely agree that a Delay be far more interesting than the Spring Reverb at the end of this signal chain. Almost certainly could be implemented in firmware update - delay time and feedback level on the two knobs.
Love your deep-dive here again Nick. Showing what you're about, what makes you unique... Sonicstate ♥
So rare to get stelar effects on a synth. When effects are less than great then I look at the price to know why. I always want effects just to temporarily test the sound design, and then turn off and use my own later.
Very nice, Nick.
Kind of half a Peak (ie up to 4 voices) … but with a Notch filter mode, a 3-Oct Keyboard and a Joystick … but without Wavetable and the excellent FX (has a decent reverb tho’) … ?? 🤔
Found Malevolent in a local music store, crazy cool little thing. Looking forward to trying Mantis. Also love that it has aftertouch in that size. From the website the manual there is just a getting started guide, website says 'full usb midi control' and it's class compliant which is great. I am assuming parameters are all on CC# as well from the word 'full' but that's not listed anywhere. Anyway, I'm keen to investigate this beastie further, thanks for the review :)
♪🎵Exquisitely Driven Yodels 🎵♪
Interesting! Like a modern OSCar or MS-20 with a digital twist.
OSCar also has digital oscillators
Nice one
Man, I wish this premiered just one hour earlier so I could listen to it on my commute today 😢
It’s the same colour as my hair so I have to buy it, there’s no other choice ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hot take.. PWM User interfaces - The knobs and layout... there's something incredibly uninspiring about it. Feels like working with an excel file to me. Otherwise sounds good.
This does nothing for me.
Hey Nick, I know this is seriously off topic but we're you ever planning on reviewing the Behringer UBXa ??? I've seen Starsky and Tim's look at it but I trust your reviews and have purchased synths such as the Rev2, Hydrasynth Explorer and Cobalt8 based on your expertise and honesty. Cheers !!! 🥂
No plans atm, we would have to buy one - they dont send us review units
@sonicstate , Understood thanks for the response 👍🏽
uninteresting synth, sorry.
Nick is right. Definitely overpriced. What can this do over a Minifreak which is less than half the price?
Wholly different filter, wholly different oscillator palette, wholly different workflow. Ultimately very different sounding instruments with different modes of performance control. It might not be for you.
@@bensupper No I agree. It will definitely have its audience, I'm just saying the feature set is arguably less than a Minifreak and it's double the price.
@@chrisevans5082 Not going to argue, and I worked on it. Much of that price is down to the increased bulk, of course: we went for full-sized keys; 2-3 times as many potentiometers (electromechanical parts are a big proportion of cost and Huggett's approach for this was a purist 'controls beat display'). Circuit boards costs are proportional to area; the assembly is 2-3 times or more the weight and volume which affects logistics. It's the embodiment of whole load of assumptions about what certain customers will care about at this level, and how best to embody those things.
One day we hope we'll have the clout to have a product for everybody: this is only our second shout. This is why it's so great to hear what Nick and you make of this, warts of all, and it's our job (somehow) to take all of this on board.
@@bensupper That's great to hear you worked on it, and it certainly is a synth that sounds alike it has huge character. I also do like to support independent developers and manufacturers (but at the right price for the feature set). Equally it is really good to hear about the premium build and feel, and I hope my local music shop can get one in for me to try and experience the quality for myself! I'm possibly basing a bit of this initial impression based on my thoughts for the malevolent, which I tried but didn't click with, plus it seemed a bit of a flimsy build to me. Quick question - would you say this is a spiritual successor to the Oscar? Was that the lead design philosophy?
@@bensupper. Is it unfair to think of it as half a Peak (ie up to 4 voices) … but with a 3-Oct Keyboard and a Joystick … [but without Wavetable and the excellent FX]? 🤔
basically downgraded Summit engine?
Meh
What a horrible review man what’s wrong with u are you mad this is beautiful and u make it sound like shiiiizzzz come on man don’t be so annoying with it
Do you have a demo of our we can listen to? Always goo to hear how people use an instrument
@@sonicstate "This channel doesn't have any content" 🗣
So how long have you been following Sonicstate and Nick Batt for? 2 minutes ?
the first sound are fantastic and they only need one finger to sound good.... maybe you don't like the synth because in 25 minutes, you haven't found a single second you like ? Nick's known to be one of the few musical gifted reviewer on Ytb , he's been their for 18years ! ... give us a link to a video you like... if not, then you don't like this synth... find something else....