Can a Modern Synth Inspire New Ideas?

I was offered a loan of a Super 6 from UDO Audio, which I jumped at.
As its features and functions have been covered brilliantly on other KZbin channels, I thought instead that I'd pose a question: Can a modern synth inspire new ideas?
In the video I try to explore that using some of what the Super 6 has to offer.
UDO:
www.udo-audio.com/
Social:
/ alexballmusic
/ alexballmusic
My Music:
alexball.bandcamp.com/

[@thesadwolf]

Hi, I'm from the planet Guandalar Nimbox and this song has already hit number one on our listening nodes. In fact, it's the only song allowed, by law, to be played on our planet. We will be sending you your royalty check of 20,000 Raindars when the single song solstice has ended. Our currency is not like your earth currency. One Raindar is equal to one spank on your bottom. As we say on Guandalar Nimbox, "May you die wealthy with a very sore bottom". TRANSMISSION COMPLETE.

[@AlexBallMusic]

😂

[@alanshewitt]

Comment gold.

[@jameswooster4250]

Well you beat me to it. I was going call it Alien Space Disco.

[@sinepilot]

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos

[@barryallen8088]

Go home, ya dirty Nimby

[@SnowyFoxFox]

"Encourage serendipity" is a great attitude for a synthesist to have. We don't make sounds. We find sounds.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, I agree. Give yourself the opportunity to discover something.

[@ArvidOlson]

When I was 18, I realised that when I always thought that other people's better gear sounded better, which in turn made me more disappointed with all the gear I already had, it wasn't really about the gear, but the ability of my peers and friends that made me stand in awe of their sound. You are no different. Whatever synth you demo, I always enjoy the sound immensely, not because of the gear, but because of your unique ability.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you Arvid, much appreciated.

[@rars0n]

Yes, Alex does an amazing job of getting musicality out of whatever he's working with. That's something that a lot of people struggle with. Granted, these are edited KZbin videos, but he makes it look SO easy!

[@h2o1969]

Yeah, there is some truth to this statement.

[@billysunshine9100]

Hell yeah, this homie is brilliant, I usually think people suck, Alex rules

[@brockmurphy1747]

I’m a simple man, I see an Alex Ball video, I click.

[@bluetv6386]

I believe Mr Van Shlanger has said "I lichke the shupershix movie with lots of knobshs twiddling"

[@geertvanschlanger8057]

I lovesch a bit of binaural.

[@djBlindFaith]

Shmoke and Pancakesh

[@MikeRenouf]

Sean Connery has entered the chat. 😆

[@l00kns33]

No experimental track is complete without a cowbell. I love how the 80’s vibe kicked in with the vocals. Well done!

[@AlexBallMusic]

🐄🔔

[@XavierRadix]

"Is the UDO Super 6 really as good as people say it is?" "Lets find out and see how the synth performs in this: One Man Groovy Digital No Holds Barred Polyrhythmic Bleep Bloop Stank Face Infused Synthpop Jam." "Verdict: Yes."

[@DoctorNemmo]

It ticks all the boxes !

[@AlexBallMusic]

I read this in Florian's voice. Shows how good his branding is. :)

[@rars0n]

@@AlexBallMusic I was just about to comment on his comment, "Thanks, Florian!" 🤣 You guys should do another collab!

[@heartache5742]

i'm sincerely happy that florian is a name

[@paraworldblue]

Watching you take these jarringly abstract sounds and somehow make them not only musical, but catchy and even danceable (well, for someone coordinated enough to dance in 9/8 anyway), is absolutely mindblowing. That is some Aphex Twin level music sorcery!

[@vinnieRice]

Wow, tough crowd. People really need to try the synth themselves, it's quite exceptional. It does exactly what it looks like is should do from the design, and then takes it much further. Alex's musicality never fails to shine and evoke joy and envy in equal measure. Kudos for trying something different mate!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Vincent. By the looks of the comments, most are positive and I appreciate the honest replies that are not. This was an experiment after all.

[@proudsnowtiger]

"Putting the LFO in high frequency mode" - isn't that just cancelling it out and telling it to FO?

[@AlexBallMusic]

Haha. Yes!

[@jaggass]

It's like a modern day Jupiter 6 yet sounds like a modular synth as well.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, a lot of ideas and a few nods to some classics.

[@kurtyhearty]

When you started to sing it started to swing 🤩 had to replay that a few times, very cool!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Swing or sing?

[@xnonsuchx]

Yeah, I thought it was just interesting in an experimental kinda way until the vocals came in, then it congealed into something more awesome.

[@kurtyhearty]

@@AlexBallMusic both I’ll say, that part brought me back to the 80’ ties funky disco dance music. Could listen to that all day😀😀. Hit material for sure!

[@2.7petabytes]

I love your technique of showing us your thoughts and process of creating. The tune is quirky yet catchy. I always enjoy your creative yet technical videos Alex! Rock on!

[@broderalias]

Original and amazing! I knew you would make something special.. you always do!

[@audreyazwell]

This is a pretty darn cool synth imo, great video as usual man! It has a lot of uniqueness imo and does a lot of bread and butter sounds well too

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Audrey!

[@conk971]

this synth is so cool, wish i had the bones for it. you showed some really interesting applications here. your song sounds like an IDM artist tried to make an 80's dance hit.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Will

[@VintageSynthesizerSolutions]

FANTASTIC video as always! Creativity abounds!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers!

[@SirNotAppearing]

It sounds great, seems very well-outfitted with options, and my goodness, the absolute Juno-ness of the knobs, switches, and sliders! Beautiful.

[@gatosoul]

Amazing synth, thank you for sharing

[@mwiz100]

I cannot tell you how excited I was to see this video's thumbnail. From the first moment I heard a demo of the Super 6 put out just one of those incredible swells I knew this was going to be a huge synth. I personally find the quality and moreover the character of this synth utterly incredible. Then to see how entirely different and wild of a direction you took with it just further speaks to the brilliance and incredible flexibility of it. Bravo sir!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you! Yes, I'd been dying to try one.

[@synth4ever]

Nice work Alex! The Super 6 sounds great in your hands, its actually a lot deeper than it looks at first glance. Its a really magical hybrid synth and the audio fidelity is stunning. Can't wait for the next OS update to see what else they unlock.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers! Yes, quick and easy if you want, but also some button pressed and knob twists later and you're somewhere totally new.

[@Paul_Y_T]

enjoyed seeing the synthesis being pulled in different directions and agree with the other voices saying the vocals sprinkled some kind of magic glue over the whole thing. Just brilliant!

[@GiantBugs]

Great video, love the final song as well !

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Max

[@cornerliston]

Oh dear, thats the rhythm of life for sure. 9 is even better than 7. Well done.

[@AlexBallMusic]

9 is the new 7.

[@billyruss]

Wow... that was a pretty deep dive into some of the features of this synth - and, as you say, away from the obvious. Very interesting demo, totally different from most of the other Super 6 demos I've seen.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you Bill, much appreciated.

[@Rednas34]

Amazing production! Didn’t expect the vocals at the end but it really did it for me!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Often throw in a little chorus of vocals at the end as a send off.

[@tranceemerson8325]

that was absolutely beautiful

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers!

[@naqaveli]

The groove you created with this was awesome!!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers!

[@christofferainek]

Wow! This is beyond inspiring 😵‍💫🛸🚀

[@cortical1]

Really cool, Alex! I'm a sucker for chords and rhythms outside the box, especially time signatures in odd numbers. You wrote an excellent "Lebowski rug" vocal line at the end (it really ties the room together). Well done.

[@AlexBallMusic]

"Lebowski rug" - I'm stealing that!

[@brujua7]

What a banger! Thanks

[@synthsandstuff]

Creative man, well done. Nice synth too btw...

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers :)

[@baconfister]

Yet another fantastic demo of a new instrument coupled with your amazing ability to put new tools through the ringer and make awesome music. Was sort of expecting more brocoder though, but this was top notch! Thank you for the inspiration!!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks, glad it was interesting.

[@thefool2007]

That was awesome. Vocals and bass tied it together.

[@plasmaforce11]

Super inspiring!! ⭐

[@antagonizingusername]

This video is good. Good job on this video.

[@JayKaufman]

And yet again, you've got the killer vocal hooks to make this jam very Alex 'Ball(s) To The Wall'.

[@melsonic1463]

You certainly created another proof of your undestructable musicality

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks very much!

[@Syntaur]

awesome synth! great video!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks! In other news I was wearing a Syntaur t shirt today. :)

[@Syntaur]

@@AlexBallMusic much appreciated! thank you

[@kaitlyn__L]

Alex!! I was eagerly awaiting this video when I spotted it in the background of another video yet somehow this video’s release passed me by! How! This review has definitely confirmed my suspicions from more directionless exploration videos that the Super 6 really is a modern classic, and so much more than a modern reissue of an 80s synth, despite being inspired by the one-knob-per-function UX. Definitely need to get my hands on one… I love that you showed the MIDI too, a lot of the forum threads I’ve read about this just complained it was half baked or only talked about using it as a MIDI controller. I love to see this degree of control in computer sequencing and automation too! It really seems like this can be a great centrepiece of a DAW setup as well as a wonderful standalone synthesiser. You probably won’t see a comment on a two month old video, but my gosh, you’ve really cemented by lust for this beauty.

[@lancepage1914]

Man, you made a banger. It sounds and reminds me of something I would hear on a Japanese 80's Manga film, the golden era. When you went through the CC midi track in Cubase, it was like cutouts of a city and landscapes, and sounded like it too. I love experimental music. I really enjoyed this video. 👍

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Lance! Glad you enjoyed the off piste adventure!

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

This was outstanding. Great work, Alex! If they make a five octave version of this, I don’t think I’ll be able to resist. This synth feels like an evolution of the classic Roland synths of the 80s. It’s like UDO are doing what Roland SHOULD have done.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Peter. It actually works nicely with four octaves and I usually get annoyed by that.

[@NicolasMelis]

Udo Super 6 sounds great! 👌

[@AlexBallMusic]

I think so!

[@UrbanGarden-rf5op]

That was great! I’m paining for the delivery of my shiny new Super Gemini and needed a quick fix. So thanks for hooking me up😉 @ 5:38 That one really blew my mind. Finally a proper guitar synth… ...and bass synth, without latency!!! …and I will have two! 𝄆😎😎😎😎𝄇

[@transforminggravity15626]

Wow super amazing 💯💯💯

[@fiddlestickzmuzik]

Wonderful synth just packed full of potential.

[@ChristopherByrumHarris]

I'm always anticipating when those tasty lyrics will hit and well, I'm not disappointed, at all.

[@scottcupp8129]

Such a cool and great sounding synthesizer.

[@TamarinPamarin]

Cool vibes again! My brain screams that this should be 7/8.

[@AlexBallMusic]

9 is the new 7.

[@TiagoMilanov]

this in the 80s would be an worldwide hit

[@GaitaPonto]

You are amazingly creative.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks

[@vocalpro]

I love this synth. Could be a Christmas present this year

[@AlexBallMusic]

Have you been good enough for Santa to deliver?

[@vocalpro]

@@AlexBallMusic hahahahaha

[@robertfoy5886]

Wow...brilliantly done!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks

[@brunovalente2077]

really like the first part of the music actually very good, and the sound of this thing!!! Amazing.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Bruno.

[@RegebroRepairs]

Another nice pop song. Honestly, I'm note sure I know anyone that is quite as good at writing happy energizing songs as you.

[@satirischeroctavian3512]

Dude this is unlike anything I've ever heard, and I've spent my last year watching just about every synth video in KZbin. I can't believe how good this track is, you actually even made it full proof song with ur beautiful voice xD No but srsly, this is crazy good, you should rlly put this on Spotify or sth. Alex, I love you and your musical Genius!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks! Much appreciated.

[@zacotial]

I love this jam! Hope you release this one

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. I'll stick it on Bandcamp.

[@flyesenmusic]

Amazing stuff!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks!

[@michaelscottpettis]

Oh man, this track at the end, heck yes

[@briannicholson5747]

This is AWESOME! It's like the blurred memory of an electro boogie soundtrack cut for an 80s movie that only exists in our brains.

[@AlexBallMusic]

We should make that movie. ;)

[@tokyomassa22]

Best type of video. Features lists and tutorials etc. are good, but not as important as a video of just making music using the instrument. Watching you vibe out with this thing was a pleasure and also exactly what I do with my rev2… just sit there and vibe out making stuff haha. Great video.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Tom. Yes, I thought this was a more interesting thing to explore.

[@cybernitemusic]

Great review. My alien friends and I grooved to your tunes. 👽

[@AlexBallMusic]

Greetings from Earth.

[@woltermuller]

I’m in love with this synth and have yet to hear a sound from it that I don’t like. Though I have to admit that chord sound came close. It made me laugh because it sounded like Boomer from Batlestar galactica having a cold, but you actually made it work in the song. You’re brilliant at that mr. Ball, as are your videos!

[@markuskoivisto]

Love the prog angle here!

[@ssnochevy]

This is this most incredible synth journey I've ever been taken on. I feel deeply encouraged. Thanks man🙏🏾🙌🏾

[@ultimatefab]

oh man ! I love your musical ideas !! 4:14 track is soooooo Sakamoto !!!

[@WaveDashMagazine]

Awesome patches, the song reminds me of the old Sonic soundtracks

[@AlexBallMusic]

As a child of the Master System (the original, not the II, I might add), Sonic is always in my subconscious.

[@guts2112]

Loved that track, holy hell

[@ScottWozniak]

I got mine 5 weeks ago (in blue) and the love affair is still going. 😍

[@AlexBallMusic]

Hey Scott. Glad to hear!

[@project-95]

Scott, you Wake Up My Life 🤣 Love your music! 🤙🏻

[@ScottWozniak]

@@project-95 ❤️

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Loved it.

[@paulcharlesworth9114]

Thank you, Alex, for such an inspiring video. Your channel continues to dazzle and be a joy. Most of us will know the heady creative rush of new gear - different sounds, different work flows, happy accidents etc.. But what a great idea to deliberately explore new gear in unfamiliar ways. Not only do you have a different first impression of that kit, but you will establish alternative working patterns with it in the future, and have different expectations when you switch it on. And although old habits are harder to shift, it's an approach that can be usefully applied to current gear, too. How do you do ambient aleatoric music on that worn 303, for example? Or, as the great Geert van Schlånger might have said, 'I wonder what happens if I schtick this bit here?'

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Paul. Yes, I was hoping this would be a fruitful exploration even if it just challenged my mindset. The result was less important than that. 303 - funnily enough I had thought of seeing if there was a way to reinvent the 303 in the same way that it was reinvented back in the mid 80s.

[@paulcharlesworth9114]

Looking forward to that!

[@Ancaja123]

first time I've head really been able to hear the binaural aspect of this synth, and goddamn, it sounds great.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, very cool feature.

[@jmadrid100]

Awesome track!!😍😍

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks

[@Nathanaelsun22]

fuck yes so excited your reviewing this!!!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers

[@antongracon3345]

You really pushed a synth to its narrow limits this time, however there was one other who did stuff like this on a weekly basis. From what I'm hearing, you actually got it right!

[@JonMurray]

I ADORE this synth. I yearn for it to be mine. It’s glorious and sounds absolutely incredible. I haven’t even watched the video yet, but yes! Yes it can!!! It’s wonderful!!! 😂

[@AlexBallMusic]

Haha. You sound smitten. :)

[@kaitlyn__L]

I know exactly how you feel Jon! I’ve been following this synth since it made the trade show rounds a few years ago. I’ve only bought £300-500 synths before, so I’ve never even contemplated a ~£2000 unit. But my gosh is the Super 6 tempting. The keybed is no joke either, the manufacturer’s standalone MIDI controllers with similar specs are £800-1000 by themselves. If I only ever bought one premium synth, I really do feel it could be this one, it grabs me much more than the competitors. I’m trying to assess the viability of having this at the centre of my other softsynths and synth modules, connected various ways by MIDI. In addition to just recording the output of the Super 6 directly or running it through effects pedals of course. Eg I imagine my mini-synths, which require menu diving by themselves, could with the right MIDI parameter assignment also work very well with this acting as their controller. I’ve not been interested in buying a MIDI slider board to supplement their existing mini keyboards, but playing them on full size keys with all these knobs could be game-changing. And of course that’s on top of really loving the Super 6’s sound! In fact it might actually eclipse a couple of my minis, such as the microKORG which is emulating a lot of what the Super 6 does in hardware… but these are just things I’m thinking about, assuming that my minis would still have their unique elements too. Certainly the reface DX or other FM modules could go amazingly, if I can tweak parameters and switch algorithms from the Super 6 control panel.

[@ThingsandStuffchannel]

Um, did you just create a new genre of music? Because I think you did.

[@CertainlyCaro]

Ballpop "Get your mind outta the gutter and your hands on a synthemasizer!"

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ballpop it is. ;)

[@soniklink-WKD4496]

Totally agree, he's got such a great ear for synths. Great imagination :)

[@Ishkur23]

I would classify this as Braindance, as it sounds like something that someone in the IDM scene has already come out with, and they probably did it 20 years ago.

[@theothertonydutch]

Kinda sounds like experimental yugoslavian or soviet music tbh

[@Subparanon]

Can a modern synth inspire new ideas? Hydrasynth definitely inspires me. It is hands down the most entertaining and musical synthesizer in my collection. Polyphonic aftertouch is a game changer.

[@lundsweden]

Hydrasynth has polyphonic aftertouch?

[@Donetur]

@@lundswedenyes it has.

[@mrfuzztone]

The UDO 6 can now respond to MPE for poly aftertouch. There is a desktop module version that could compliment a keyboard with poly aftertouch such as the NI Komplete Kontrol 3. Could use a synth as the keyboard such as the Hydrasynth or Waldorf Iridium Keyboard. All good. I have a Hydrasynth, Iridium Keyboard and UDO 6 desktop.

[@JAREDvsJD]

@@mrfuzztonehow do you love the combo of the iridium and super 6. I have wet dreams about the blue keyboard version but fear I’m going to regret getting the desktop for MPE. I was thinking about getting the desktop and iridium keyboard or hydrasynth explorer

[@GertBoers]

On it's own, to me it sounded somewhat: meh. But when you started singing on top of it, it somehow gelled... Crazy!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks for the opinion Gert.

[@sentientprogram]

I got that too. Sounds like it cuts great in a mix.

[@donjezza]

Wow I love it

[@IanWaugh]

Hey Alex - What to say? 😀 That's beyond original. Loved it when the vocals came in. You really are brilliant at these demos. I have an UDO - absolutely amazing sound and, as you say, the hands-on controls just keep on surprising! I'm a bit more traditional 🤣 and would never have thought of using it like that. Just amazing. Here's a challenge - use it to produce one of your 'usual' demos 😎

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Ian, much appreciated. It will be used in some other videos for sure, probably in more typical ways. :)

[@IanWaugh]

@@AlexBallMusic 👍

[@glenesis]

WOW! Nice eval! Congrats! I'm only a minute in, but I can tell this video is gonna be sweet! That thing already sounds like the Millennium Falcon hyperdrive crapping out. Cheers Alex! Happy weekend :) Update: I love it! It looks like UDO have a winner here. And I love that new track too 👍

[@AlexBallMusic]

Millennium Falcon - haha I can hear that now.

[@airsickgrove]

Id probably chop the final note & loop or something in that realm. Definitely looks fun.

[@pgpete]

great composing ideas!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you

[@penisbreath952]

kinda has a talking heads/devo vibe, well done!

[@foot2]

Foot was entertained and watched till the end. Creative music design but even better video presentation.

[@AlexBallMusic]

So nice of you to talus.

[@tristanchase2887]

It certainly sounds like more than one synth, that's for sure, which I guess is in part due to the strange nature of the sound pallet and your approach, but the fact the synth allowed you to wander down that path, and with seemingly relative ease, netting some pretty cool results is a testament to the synth and shows the potential that could come from being locked away in a small room with it for an extended period of time. It seems to have the classic weight and scope of a Moog, the quirky esoteric manipulation of a Jupiter 6 and the build quality and intuitive functionality of a Virus or Nord Lead. A definite future classic in my book, so I think I'll have to sniff one out for a fiddle. As for your compositoin Alex, I could think of far worse bits of music to listen to on repeat during the flight to Mars, so kudos for experimenting and giving me a few ideas for some unconventional sound designing. 👌🏼

[@mvoproject]

Just in love with the first pad sound =) Something like I made with the JP8000.

[@mikegeary8056]

That is a great looking synth

[@cerebralkaos2385]

Great sonic creation Alex! Some of the early parts of of the composition reminded me of the rhythmic feel of the Yello song 'Oh Yeah'

[@AlexBallMusic]

Just needed a pitched down vocal? ;)

[@cerebralkaos2385]

@@AlexBallMusic Oh Yeah Doh Doh ;-)

[@SeanT181167]

Thomas Dolby 2.0! Sounds to me like you've squeezed the best out of it. Respect as always!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Sean

[@HomeworldChanal]

Your song at the end very much remebered me of YMO in the 80´s.

[@MrChuplin]

Nice modern/vintage track 🙌

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks

[@acidjack]

well done. each time i switch my s6 on...im in heaven

[@AlexBallMusic]

:)

[@chrisjackson3750]

Great demo and composition Alex, sounds a little like the band New Muzik, always loved their creative use of new technology and production techniques 👍

[@sK3LeTvM1]

I like your music. Absolutely. Thank you for this Udo review. I know you are a vintage guy, but it's about time to have a look at the Novation Summit ! Guess you will want to keep it !

[@bigogle]

This is like an Absynth keyboard and I love it.

[@nativeVS]

Well this is not what I was expecting, quite a bit more musically crazy. It could do with maybe a bit more cowbell in the mix though.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yep, I went where it took me having posed the question. For good or bad I thought it worth poking around.

[@tomiansek2873]

Fun drum sounds, can you share where they come from? Enjoyed the video thanks!

[@NicholasBryantBonzaiSequoias]

YMO style! Nice to see a contemporary synth getting a full workout.