Just received one of the last batch - the good news is the knobs don't grind against the case (and don't seem to be a wobbly as the review unit) and the sequencer knob clicks between each setting.

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

great to hear it

@DJayAce4

3 жыл бұрын

I missed out on being able to purchase one lol, RIP. Congrats on getting it my friend

great breakdowm Bo !! love your videos !! always informative

“Finally a useful Stylophone?” Oh, buddy...

@apislapis

4 жыл бұрын

...And a damn fine review you did with the S2, in two parts, Marc. I did ask the guys from Dubreq at Synthfest UK whether they were making any more S2s and they said "No." A bit disappointing but then the Gen R-8 does give you greater connectivity than the old S2. For those who haven't seen the excellent vlog: kzread.info/dash/bejne/p4Woytifoqbcoto.html and kzread.info/dash/bejne/g5Vkycl7Z8K5h7Q.html

@automaticgainsay

4 жыл бұрын

The S2 I had was prototypical, and still had a lot of bugs to iron out, but I was able to do a demonstration of it nonetheless! Thank you!

@Tiger.Arcade

Жыл бұрын

3 years later and waiting for a MKII version. Hopefully you didn’t scare them away from producing these Bo! 😂

Man this synth is a beauty, love the sounds, is almost like a AS-1 Toraiz but cheaper with no FX and no patch memory

Looks like "an acquired taste" that you have acquired, Bo. I like it too. Don't know if I'll ever spring for one, but thanks to your video here I have a clearer idea of what I'd be getting. Something more than I would have expected. Thanks.

Vendors have finally realized that CV in and out makes their products easier to integrate in a studio. Synths can talk with one another and integrate with Eurorack stuff. The limitations of each standalone synth can be worked around making it more likely to be purchased for what is does well instead of ignored because of something that is missing. This could be the top level of a Eurorack system. Things are getting exciting!

I’ll be honest, that sound like @4:00 is right up my alley. This synth is ready unique and gritty, so much character!

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

bbbbut there is not a real keyboard for you Noir 😁

Dubreq just notified me that my Stylophone is on its way! Been waiting for almost a year for this. Since they're only making 500 of them you had to put your name on a list and wait for them- Dubreq, to email you then as soon as possible send them money for it because you know there are a lot more than just 500 people who want this One of A Kind Stylophone. When I received their email a few days ago it was such a relief as I love how this one sounds...so rough and Loud ! Plus its got Midi , it's Semi-Modular , you play it with your fingers like a Buchla. It has so many different ways to create sounds . I just don't understand why they decided to make such a small run of them. What you can do for the knobs that scratch when turned, cut a circle out of black felt -make sure it's not too thick - make sure the felt circle is the same size as the knob and just stick it on after you cut or stick a small hole in center of it. Then stick the felt to the knob and put it back onto the Synthesizer. No more scratching, all you feel and hear is soft felt ! 💡🎹🔥🌟

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

Good idea for the knobs!

@matthewcody1757

4 жыл бұрын

498 left..

@BillDerBerg

3 жыл бұрын

Low production to create $carcity and an incredibly inflated used market

Ahhh duuuude this thing sounds great. Nasty. Dirty. At that price I’m 100% getting it. Really nice filter and oscillator options, too. The thought of having another synth run through that delay being modulated by an LFO is just 🤤 quick question: does the envelope effect both the filter and amp with the same setting or is there a separate hidden EG for the filter? Edit: yep I’m buying it. Damnit Bo stop selling me stuff 😫 thanks for all you do though 🙏

Great review and thanks for this and the other reviews.

Woah I am impressed by this machine!

I really like how this sounds - might be my first analog synth.

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

Not a bad choice at all imo.

@marktaylor7162

4 жыл бұрын

@@BoBeats Something tells me one of these is now on its way for my birthday (13th December). :)

@omnifvck2596

4 жыл бұрын

@@marktaylor7162 Happy Birthday!

@marktaylor7162

4 жыл бұрын

@@omnifvck2596 Thanks! I got my Gen R-8 and an Analogue Solutions Treadstone too - so I have my first and second analog synths now. :)

Thanks for this review, excellent as always. ;-)

sounds way more intetesting zhan I expected. thx!

Sounds Great!

Sounds kind of Moogy but with its own character in the harmonics. I like it.

@KingCrimson82

7 ай бұрын

Can i archive those kind of sounds with a Poly D?

Hey, any tips about midi syncing this to an external midi clock?

Very cool machine 😎Thanks for your interesting video 🍀

Almost didn't watch this...glad I did. I have been wanting to add a long touch strip for Theremin type sounds to my music, but haven't because of pitch control. The keyboard on this synth with glide and a square wave may be my answer with its imprinted keyboard and 3 octaves. So with good sound, a smooth keybed, and that one shot LFO it is enticing.

@mathias841

2 жыл бұрын

Did you get it ?

@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene

2 жыл бұрын

@@mathias841 No. Haven't bought much since covid took out most my business.

@mathias841

2 жыл бұрын

@@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene shit, hope you stay well

@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene

2 жыл бұрын

@@mathias841 The touch strip or ribbon on the new HydraSynth with poly aftertouch may be a more professional answer to playing the ribbon like a theramin.

Recibí mi Stylophone hace unos días. Me preocupaba el tema de las perillas, pero a pesar de ese movimiento la sensación es de seguridad. Es como un caballo salvaje, pero fácil de domar. En realidad es como otro analógico más pero con alma propia. Yo estoy muy contento con este monstruito. - - - I received my Stylophone a few days ago. I was concerned about the knobs, but despite that movement the feeling is one of security. It is like a wild horse, but easy to tame. In reality it is like another analogue but with its own soul. I am very happy with this monster.

Mine should be arriving any day now! Shame about the scratchy knobs, but my ms-20 mini had the same problem and I got along fine with it. Also strange about the MIDI. It doesn't happen to come with a breakout cable does it? Negatives aside I love how this thing sounds and can't wait to play around with it.

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

Yes you get breakout cables

The production model Gen R-8 that I just got does, in fact, have nice detents for the sequencer selection switch. So that must have either been just your unit, or something in the pre-production run.

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

This is good to know. This was not pre-production but one of the first made.

@mbessey

4 жыл бұрын

@@BoBeats Just a defect then, I guess. Mine is number 175, so still pretty early in the production run...

@DJ_Cthulhu

4 жыл бұрын

I got mine (No. 293) a couple of days ago. Sequencer bank select has solid detents. Also, the knobs on my unit are quite sturdy, no wobble or scratching at all. 🤔

Finally a stylophone synth that isn't a toy! It actually looks like a real synthesiser, shame it doesn't have midi but it sounds really good.

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

It has midi buddy :-) in/out

@FUNKINETIK

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, I wouldn’t say the 350s was a toy. I have owned one for 45 years so maybe I’m a little biased. I would really like a gen r-8 and plug them both together. Stylophone Peace.

This is like the little buddy with a lot of personality in the gang.

Anyone know where I can buy one? New or used. Thanks

It has the lookmumnocomputer sound :D perfect for covers of Zibra and lmnc i think

I really wanted one of these the second I heard all the delicious artifacts and a meaty goodness that reminds me of polvicks synths.and the keyboard is wicked! Hoping they send a couple to perfect circuit! In la! Peace christo 👽🐕🎶🛸☮️

What is your favorite semi modular analog synthesizer?

@HotStrange

4 жыл бұрын

MS20 - by far. Though I love my Minibrute 2s lately. It’s one of the funnest synths I’ve owned.

@MrBasic

4 жыл бұрын

My favorite so far is the DFAM, but love my System 1m. CV is amazing to work with.

@ChazSeamus28

4 жыл бұрын

Dreadbox anything sounds good to my ears lately.. Pittsburgh Modular lifeforms sv-1 blackbox has my attention also

@manuelsteinmair

4 жыл бұрын

Does the Matrixbrute count? If not I would choose the Minibrute 2S

@ganjabudweedful

4 жыл бұрын

0coast bbyyyy

Looks nice

wooooooooh lots of phatness there ! I like it!

I will be getting one, and we shall see whether I replace the knobs right away. It is a shame because they have a good look already.

@Ratskank

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you're getting one, I'm really tempted myself... Can't wait to hear what you do with it 👍

10:36 great that we have a Lopez, but which one?

cant find a gen r8 anywhere :(

I got mine yesterday

I hope they release these again

@KimStennabbCaesar

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, me too. Does not seem very likely though, unfortunately... I was about to get one when they were released, but with VAT and import costs, it would almost be double the retail price.

Neat! "Broadcast" in a box. :) RIP Trish...

@e.m.b2834

3 жыл бұрын

Great band ... I own about everything they put out

Interesting to see that issue with the knobs. I had a go on one at Superbooth (after I bumped into you in the Arthurian cave) and I don’t remember the knobs being like that. It would have put me off. Anyway, great video as always! Keep up the good work.

Can you control the gen r8 with an external midi controller?

@ZZKJ396

2 жыл бұрын

Yes

Whats the construction overall like? The knobs look like they wobble a bit

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

i mention this in the video: solid construction overall. Casing is really nicely made. Heavy. Robust. But the knobs wobble quite a bit and scrape against the surface of the unit.

@peterkarczewski8200

4 жыл бұрын

@@BoBeats thanks i have one as well a bit strange to make the casing like a brick and then to have these cheap encoders that i feel will not last that long. its a ashame as its a fatastic mono sure a few extra pounds on making the knobs sturdier would not have been a deal breaker. keep up the good work

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

@@peterkarczewski8200 yeah it might not bother everyone but definitely something a synth enthusiast will notice straight away. However not a deal breaker to most I assume. To be fair similarly priced synths doesn't always come with the best knobs or build either. Uno and Uno Drum, or say some of the Behringers all have their small build quality flaws.

Hmmm... for $350, idk. I’m actually in the market for my first hardware synth, hoping there might be a good deal on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Interested in the Crave and the Neutron the most but the Monologue also looks good. Of course, $200 more gets me to the Minilogue OR for ‘just’ around $200, the red Microbrute is available on Amazon. Then there is the Microfreak, it’s not analogue, but it’s almost the tempting for its versatility. Tough choice!

@HotStrange

4 жыл бұрын

Matthew W the Microfreak is hybrid. It has analog filters ;) I would choose that or a Minilogue for a first synth. They’re great to learn on and will give you the ability to do mono leads and basses and poly/pad sounds.

@mbessey

4 жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t think this would be a good choice as a first synth. Unless you *really* like the overdriven, room-shaking bass sound, something more-versatile like the Monologue or Microfreak is probably better.

@mattheww9656

4 жыл бұрын

Haut Strange Thank you for your input. Would you say it’s worth paying the premium to get the XD for the added feature of loading presets? (I think that’s what it is)

@mattheww9656

4 жыл бұрын

Bunty McCunty Thank you for sharing your experience with the Microbrute, I think you made a good point.

@mattheww9656

4 жыл бұрын

rorz999 Thank you for your input, I appreciate it. I’ll take a closer look at the Bass Station 2.

Would drool hearing this hooked up to a Moog Minitaur

Will never escape the Rolf Harris effect.

I’d quite like one... but Im kinda worried it would beat me up and steal my lunch money! Seriously though, great vid Bo!

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

the other day when I was in the studio it came in ”hey bruv gimme a fiver or I mess ya up!”

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

Well its priced very competitively to Behringers: the Neutron & Model D are more expensive where I live. And the sound and design of this is quite original too. So its definitely giving Behringer some competition.

@ZZKJ396

4 жыл бұрын

@@BoBeats hehe, yup, it’s defiantly full of character, sounds like the illegitimate offspring of an early Polivok and an MS20. Insta buy for me!

I really hope they put these back into production.

@Decoy303

3 жыл бұрын

Okay I'm going to be blunt. It's completely dumb on a financial point to not make more of these. These would sell like GameStop stock. Bad comparison because GameStop is 🤮 and Dubreq is 😇. I own a Gen X-1. I love it but it's one of those pieces where I just need it to be more in time; and I don't mean by delay or rate but just in our current era. No batteries. Midi in and out w/ thru, headphones, an in, and a sequencer. I'd gladly market that price at $525 to $375. Considering Korgs Volca standards it's highly possible.

My first ever 'synth', way back in the 70's was an original 'Rolf Harris' Stylophone. I wired this into a suitcase with a home-built phaser, ring modulator and and a wah-wah pedal that also did wind and siren noises. It sounded fucking awful. But interesting. And it kept me going until I bought a 'real' synth. I think I may have to buy one of these.

3:27 It's ready for a classic dr who soundtrack! 8 - ) guess it can't run on batteries, as the little ones did?

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

No batteries

@DJ_Cthulhu

4 жыл бұрын

@@BoBeats It takes 4 AA batteries. Access is via a screw plate on the base of the unit. 🔋🔋🔋🔋

Gosh that sounds nasty, I like it.

It's not really fair to compare this one with the Mother 32 , Mother 32 costs twice as much so when it comes to what you should choose I think money is a big issue here.

The bit at 8:30 just needs a super hard beat behind it and you'll be off n running

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

This is a synth for you buddy

@ganjabudweedful

4 жыл бұрын

@@BoBeats aw man don't say that lol

Nice .. :).

i had the money set aside when it was first announced, and still kept available as delivery dates were missed and postponed until later. then less than a month after i had to spend the cash on emergency house repairs, its finally on sale, and i now cant afford it. bollocks !!!!! and its a limited production run with no guarantee more will ever be manufactured. double bollocks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He Bo thanks for the review, I checked also starsky, both very good so I tried to order the product, payed in advance an hoped to be one of the 500 new customers....but until today no delivery, so let you know this company has a very bad delivery and the feedback is real poor so guy take care!!! Only let you know if you plan to deal with them, anyway at the meantime they have production problems....wish you all a good productive year 2020 cheers!

@BoBeats

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for letting me know buddy!

@o2b312

4 жыл бұрын

Anytime!!! It was a real bad experience 2 Month waiting for nothing...now I wait for my new B-Cave and a Digitone and will enjoy them much more 😉 stay tuned! Appreciate your work and endurance!

@o2b312

4 жыл бұрын

Behringer Crave sure you know anyway ;-)

Hi Bo! Would sell your stylophone to me? I live in Karlstad, Sweden. Tack

I play guitar. Have never owned a synth and daaaiiim this thing sounds so crazy and musical! The Fet based drive knob really brings out some thiiick stuff here... lots of desirable harmonics you find in guitar effects pedals... need this in my life! Love the lack of keys! Stylophone like some kind of fretted theremin! Never thought of it like that before! Amazing! Selling stuff to buy it right now xD great review!

omg i'm so dumb. I just spent 5 minutes googling "Eventide H9 + Chorus". Hahahahahaha! I was like "What's that?"

it's not available

They should make a stylophone keytar

It shouldn’t be your responsibility to fix, especially since you would like the knob to click into sequence anyhow, But you could probably make the scraping noise disappear if you take the knob off and sand it down by laying a sheet of fine grit sandpaper on a table and sanding off the knob like it was an eraser. Sand it a bit, then put it back, if it still makes a noise, keep sanding until the noise goes away...

What a pity.. they already retailed the r-8

Please inform the people who are making that synth of your remarks it can be useful for improving he instrument !

sounds awesome...but that knob wobble

their sold out right now and I am sad

If there were synths placed on Mars the R8 would be the first.

It's just not the same. What's a stylophone without a stylus?

@FUNKINETIK

2 жыл бұрын

A Styloslessphone : )

I would like to see an option without the keyboard for, say, $40 less.

I was really interested in this at the beginning of the year, but after watching the lacklustre presentations at the trade shows i started losing interest and decided to buy an Erebus v3 instead. The Gen-R8 does have a powerful, unique sound and in some ways reminds me of the old EDP WASP i owned during the 80s, but in the end i just felt i'd get more out of the Erebus, - and i feel i made the right decision, it's a BBC Radiophonic engineers dream machine... The Gen-R8 is a capable machine, but ultimately feels a little too unique, and with their QC track record, i just couldn't commit,.. but... Remove the keypad, drop the price and make it euro/rack mountable and i'm in.... love the sound and aesthetics, not so fond of the trademark keypad and wobble-knobs.

@Dea_Decay

4 жыл бұрын

I've been trying to decide between the Erebus v3 and Nyx v2 myself. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Erebus!

@iantanner7579

4 жыл бұрын

I've got both and much prefer the Erebus over the Nyx. Using the 3rd vco to modulate the second produces limitless textures, and it's better for 70s style atmospherics, basses and leads, although i've been collecting since the mid 80s so i tend to use other synths for bass and leads. It's deeper than the Nyx, but it does lack sync and dedicated vco mixer levels which the Nyx has, also the Nyx has the multimode/function vcf. The Nyx is currently boxed, but i will keep it, the vcf and reverb can pull textures from the 2 oscillators that no other synth can. Someone on gearslutz asked for character comparisons between the two dreadbox units and the grandmother-moog, i replied, GM = bob dylan Nyx = david sylvian Erebus = johnny rotten Note, unlike many synthesizers i personally feel the nyx and erebus sound best when played and recorded un-sequenced or their true potential can get lost, IMHO. btw, i liked the erebus echo so much i bought a WL-Echo module for one of my eurocrack systems.. finally, i do understand why some people don't get on with either, they are more unconventional than they might first appear, ie, they can be pushed beyond what is considered acceptable, but that's the reason i like them, and approached with restraint, one will be rewarded... - my personal influences, ~ king tubby, cabaret voltaire, meat beat manifesto, japan, the oscillation, FSOL daisy chainsaw/queen adreena, spacemen 3, transmat records, etc take care, be well

@Dea_Decay

4 жыл бұрын

@@iantanner7579 Thank you so much! That honestly gives a really good feel of the differences and might sway me towards the Erebus at least for my first. I love that reverb on the Nyx but perhaps even playing around with the Erebus and a quality reverb pedal or fx unit might help me achieve something similar. I like the fact they can be pushed beyond what is acceptable as well. I'm curious if I could even just get the lil' erebus and add some other modules to a Eurorack to combine some of those features I love in both. Thankfully I have some time (well all the time really) as this year was my first making the jump from playing a regular keyboard to synths and I've picked up several pieces that really added up this year. Thankfully going forward it should be awhile before upgrading things so I can hopefully get the Erebus in a few months or just start to plan out and put together my first eurorack.

@iantanner7579

4 жыл бұрын

No problem, it's a pleasure. with regards to eurocrack, - if you know it's something that you really, really want to do, start with something like the *Doepfer P9 suitcase*, i've been using their cases, and modules, for over 20yrs, never had an issue and the cases give you enough space to expand, and also, solid system protection... if unsure, the TipTop happy-ending kit is a good, affordable way to test the waters. lastly, don't get too taken in by all the really expensive, digital modules, - unless you know what you really want, and you're loaded with cash, -don't get brainwashed by the KZread product placement channels either, - Bo's cool, he's got a pure soul... Some of the best modular instruments out there are the one developer, practical-synthesis systems like Pittsburgh, doepfer, intellijel... sure, something like the £320+ Basilimus Iteritas sounds amazing, but one would need to spend another £800 on a Varigate and Voltage block to get the best out of it, - which is why i bought a DFAM and TR-8S instead... also, one doesn't always need cv-sequencers, many i know, including myself, mainly use modular as a sound source, - i personally use Akai MPC units or Logic as my sequencers, run the midi-outs to multiple *Kenton* midi-cv converters and do it that way, - it saves money and system space... - these are all just suggestions and ideas, obviously. personally i've always believed in utilizing the *path of least resistance*, makes the creative process much more fun, something i learnt as a punk growing up in 70s london, - btw, i'm no great talent, just an autistic, ex-junkie living a care-free retirement... E

@Dea_Decay

4 жыл бұрын

@@iantanner7579 Thanks again! That's some solid advice and honestly closer to my approach to things as well. My gf is very much the experimental, DIY punk lady of the house while I'm more only slightly more conventional (by comparison) goth lady of the house. Been through some traumatic shit between being trans and just us both having rough lives so music is very therapeutic to us. She's more Koma Elektronik Field Kit experimental vs my being drawn to things like the Nyx for dark, ominous brooding sounds. I like Bo's channel, and Ricky Tinez as well. Him along with some others helped me focus my window shopping for now into trying to create a very practical, smaller scale Eurorack that depending on when I actually start putting the pieces together might serve as more of an FX kit for my synths or something to create those atmospheric sounds along with some percussion and noise. I'm only a public school teacher in a very poor state so I'm not looking to spend a fortune so I'd be way more likely to follow your advice. Neither of us really have much money, and I tend to bring my synths into my classrooms at the end of the week or for special occasions and pass what I've learned and have down to my students as a reward for showing up to my history class lol. They're coming from some difficult backgrounds too and the once a week or so I bring my instruments in are the only time some of them get to use an instrument so yeah, cheaper, purposely designed modular system to fit my needs will be something I slowly build as I can pick up parts, or make them. I'm actually about to start my first DIY kit synth that's pretty basic in hopes of perhaps getting to the point of doing some DIY modules

No longer in production

04:39 - 05:04 reminds me of various Depeche mode sounds

Its evil

If anyone is selling one please message me 😭

499 left..

Hah, this is not a Stylophone as it doesn't have a Stylus to play it with.

Yup the market is flooded with these toys, unfortunately its not flooded with talent to match. these things are only capable of boring repetitive 16 beat/bar patterns, theyve been done to death, time for something new.

Compared to Behringer's Crave, this is crap. And expensive crap.