Few comments on DSI Mopho Keyboard

DSI Mopho Keyboard

I also a had chance to finally test this little beast:

Mopho Keyboard  from David Smith Instruments (DSI).

Well, to make it sure, now we are speaking about real analog synthesizer. I had no chance to go very deep into its sound but for sure it sounded like real analog: basic sound was pleasing and filters were really great. I did own DSI tetra some time ago so basically I knew what kind of sound to expect. 

What made me little disappointed was the keyboard itself. First, for me personally 32-keys keyboard is too small. I had to play it to really realize this. I'd say that 44-keys (3,5 octaves) might be quite optimal like it is in Minimoog for example. This Mopho size can be also problematic on stage: where to put it when normal double stands cannot hold this small keyboard?

In general Mopho Keyboard seems to be well constructed: it is heavy (in its small size), it has sturdy metal enclosure and nice wooden ends. Then it was a little surprise to me that keyboard action was little lighter than I expected and it was not that good quality. It felt little loose and "cheaper" compared to best Roland keyboard actions and to Minimoog voyager for example (which were there at the same music store).

First impressions of Nord Electro 3 HP

Nord Electro 3 HP

Today I went to some local music shops to check some new toys. Here's the first one: the brand new Nord Electro 3HP.

If you think what it is compared to "normal" Electro 3, I might put it this way: If you're a organ player wanting to also play some piano stuff, normal Electro 3 is for you. But if you are more piano player who wants to play also organ stuff, HP-model is targeted for you. So simply it's all about keyboard touch.


Best part of HP is Clavia's superb sound quality but also its portability: it weights only 11kg which is maybe kind of a record for a piano-type keyboard. Of course it's not a full piano: it has 73 keys. So I'd say that this is basically a keyboard for a band musician not for a solo piano player. HP-keyboard feels nice and I might say that it's same (or very close to) Nord Stage 2's. (I have this latter and I cannot tell you that there was any difference. On the other hand I had no change play them both at that store.)

Obvious problem with HP (and with all Electro 3 models) is that it is "monotimbral". This means that you cannot get more than one sound at a time. You cannot make dual sounds or splits with pianos, organs or sample sounds. You cannot play Electro-organ with other midi keyboard and same time piano with Electro. For me this makes it quite useless: I would like to play piano with other hand and organ with other. So it should have at least two sound engines inside (= 2-parts multitimbrality). For example Stage 2 has 6-parts multitimbrality, which justifies its higher price.

Other thing is that HP's "screen" has on only two digits which is ridiculous when nowadays almost everywhere you can have color touch screens. So you have to memorize quite a lot when using it. But on the other hand Clavia is giving us nearly-knob-per-function approach where practically everything is there on the panel; you don't need to go through complex menus to edit effects or anything.

Arturia Origin review

My Origin desktop unit

I've had this great synth module since January 2011. It has became an essential tool on my live gigs and in my home studio. This is my personal view about pros and cons of Origin, but many of them are shared with other users as well. I will update this list every time when something worth noting comes up.

Origin pros:

(+) Marvellous virtual analog sound. This is of course the best part of it. I like the TAE (True Analog Emulation) which is a trademark of Arturia. With this algorithm they have managed to bring out some analog warmth which is quite often lacking in many VAs. In Origin you can adjust the exact amount of TAE which feature they don't have in their software emulations (V-series), if I am right.

(+) The revolutionary idea of having change to put together different modules from different classical synths like Minimoog, JP8, CS-80, ARP 2600, Prophet 5 and VS.

(+) Huge amount of features; those who prefer real analog would have to carry tons of stuff to get the same. Everything is customizable.

(+) Enough power to run complex things. You can play up to four different synths at the same time (of course it depends on those sounds. You can run out the polyphony (32 voices) with one or two sounds if they are complex.

(+) Very well thought GUI (Graphical User Interface). It was surprisingly easy to learn to use Origin.

(+) Enough knobs to tweak. This is very important for analog type synths: you have to have those knobs. Ok, there're are users who would like to have more, but this would of course make it bigger. For me this is a great compromise. Joystic is a great addition too. You can control almost anything with it.

(+) Templates. They are really fascinating creatures. At the moment we have Minimoog and Jupiter-8, but next one is probably going to be CS-80.

Jupiter-8 Template

Minimoog Template

(+) It's evolving, not very fast but still evolving. Arturia team is giving updates and new sound banks. So you'll get a feeling that it is developing.













Origin cons:

(-) It's emulating analog type sounds well, but it's not very good for producing modern sounds. For example, it has been a challenge to get a decent powerful supersaw synth which is very common in modern world. (It's has been mentioned in the forum many times that users want to have supersaw oscillator. Let's see if we finaly get it)

(-) Its effects are not very good quality. This is probably because better ones would take more CPU power. Origin's effects are good enough for my live gigs but in studio they won't be useful for many. This is related to former issue: modern sounds like supersaw synth need high quality effects.

(-) Color LCD is nice but still too small to handle complex synths like Jupiter8. In my opinion it would be crucial to get a computer editor software to work in big screen and with mouse. I have asked this many times from Arturia; let's see if we'll get it some day. (Some other users have complained that this screen isn't touch screen. I think Origin was developed little too early when touch screens were not there yet)

(-) Computer integration has still problems. (Personally I haven't used it that much in my Logic but I've read about problems from other users)

Spark coming soon...

After thinking quite a while I decided to order a new Arturia product:

Arturia Spark drum machine. It's a hybrid product which means that you'll get a dedicated hardware usb/midi controller, but you have to have a computer running the software and producing sounds.

In general there are pros and cons with this hybrid approach:

(+) hybrids are cheap (if you allready have a decent PC or mac and sound card too!)

(+) there are practically no memory limits like many hardware synths have. 

(+) computer integration is already there 

(+) you don't necessarily need this controller if you wanna just take those sounds or loops etc. with you

(-) but you'll need to carry this computer everywhere...

(-) computers have their own instability problems

(-) there're maybe a latency issues. Sound is maybe little delayed because of midi and sound card etc.

(-) sometimes software based products (Arturias also) tend to be "semifinished" when those companies start to sell them. 

Let's see how Spark will meet these challenges...

Customized Origin

My Arturia Origin Desktop synth module

Here's my Origin unit. In fact I had to cut those wooden ends to make it fit into my case. Also, this is how I like it...

Origin Specs

Origin specs:

Main features

• Create your own synthesis patch by connecting independent modules. These modules are either innovative modules we introduced (such as Galaxy) or taken from the best synthesizers ever made (such as the Moog Modular, the Yamaha CS-80, the Roland Jupiter-8, the Minimoog, the ARP 2600, the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and Prophet VS).
• Alternatively, use an existing synthesizer recreation: the Minimoog, the Jupiter-8, the ARP 2600*, or the CS-80*
• Superb audio quality with TAE® engine in a hardware chassis. 24 bits/44.1 kHz supported.
• High-Quality Real time Effects: Phaser, Chorus, Delay, Reverb, Distortion, Parametric EQ*, Bit Crusher*.
• 500 presets created by a selection of international sound designers
• 16/32 step advanced sequencer allowing you to program three sub-sequences at a time and to perform live.
• Multi mode allowing you to play 4 instruments at a time, for example a Minimoog, a Jupiter-8*, a modular patch and an ARP 2600*.
• Creative Macros, advanced LFO’s, innovative modulation sources, different Joystick modes.
• Advanced Preset browser.
• Analog Audio Connectivity: 2 audio ins, 10 audio outs.
• Digital Audio: SPDIF out, USB 2.0
• Built-in expression pedal and footswitch control inputs
• MIDI : In, Out, Thru or USB 2
• Up to 32 voices of polyphony
• Also a MIDI controller offering 33 encoders, 21 potentiometers and 1 joystick
• Ergonomic hardware design and quality manufacturing in France and Germany.
• Origin lets you open dedicated software on your Mac and PC in the form of Origin Connection an ergonomic application allowing to archive preset, exchange data, upgrade firmware.
• 160 pages manual in English.

* To be delivered later on as a free upgrade

(from Arturia's website: http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products/origin/specs21.html)

Arturia Origin

This is Arturia Origin desktop synthesizer. It has kept me busy few months now. Resently I updated its firmware to 1.3.50 version which seems to work fine. 

Origin is many ways a perfect tool for someone looking for a vintage synth with lot of power: it has 30 voices polyphony, 4-part multitimbrality, enormous amount of features, great GUI, lot of knobs to tweak it live.

...and above all, very nice analog character in its sound!

Welcome to Synth Reviews!

Here at this brand new site, I will share my own experiences with synthesizers and electronic keyboard instruments.