ambient talkie: ep 35 - i finally own a PLINKY!

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ever since I saw loopop's video on Plinky I wanted to own one but since it was never in stock and the second hand units cost an arm and a leg I was never able to play on one. well, Plinky has since went fully open source and once I remembered that this thing is now ready to go I was more than happy to see people building them - I took the opportunity and got myself a lovely clone "plinki" which is functionally completely the same as its original V2. in this episode I try to present a basic overview into a very promising ambient companion.
#plinky #synth #review
plinky is available here
plinkysynth.com
I got plinki from SOUND NEST
sound-nest.com
more on plinky!
loopop's video
• PLINKY Review // a cha...
alex evan's overview
• plinky - feature walkt...
Contents
00:00 - intro
00:43 - where plinky was, where plinky is
03:10 - how plinky works
05:04 - sound test / internal synth
06:40 - map around plinky
08:58 - rows
10:00 - arp sequencer
12:00 - sampling
16:11 - granular engine
18:10 - ambientin' it up
22:36 - conclusion

[@yanasitta]

I just got my kit, cant wait to put it together and explore

[@user-lw8dr6xx8i]

I got my Plinky the original one already assembled to focus on only Granular Synthesis. It was pretty cheap, just a couple of hundred dollars.

[@tomfenn7149]

Having finally purchased a Plinky after too long waiting for Thonk to get their **** together, although this thing sounds wonderful, it's let down by the fact that everything is squeezed into Eurorack dimensions. I agree with Loopop that Plinky should've been designed slightly bigger. But apart from that, this slice of DSP wonder can really sing, in particular within the granular synthesis section. Also, I should add (I note you raise concern about calibration) that although Plinky runs great from a USB power-bank, the touch sensitivity is highly susceptible to what power-bank you use. The first one I used which wasn't very powerful, made the pads behave very abnormally and quite unresponsive. More juice equates to a far better playability. Also if you are to recalibrate, try touching very lightly in the middle of the pads, as this greatly improves dynamic expressiveness.

[@tworoundrobins]

Huh thank you! Never actually thought about the pad sensitivity and power supply but it makes perfect sense:)

[@Indianabones007]

Thanks for the video, ordered V3 yesterday and will be my first build, a bit nervous but also excited

[@tworoundrobins]

Good luck :)

[@Indianabones007]

@@tworoundrobins thanks, gonnae need it lol

[@feronous8207]

finally got mine! it was USB C and is revision 3

[@jarickthom9767]

Thank you for your video - this is quite an interesting little synth. Now I want to order one. I am curious though, what is your device that is holding your samples? That looks quite interesting as I have never seen one. Just curious where I can find one and is it something you build or does it come built. I need a small little sample player (hoping it is relatively cheap). Love how you explore the many capabilities of plinki.

[@tworoundrobins]

I assume you are referring to the little device left side of Plinky. That is a norns shield - a musical computer by monome. You can check the other videos I made about norns :)

[@carlosedp]

Great video! The new version have USB-C jacks and also MIDI Input/Output via TRS. Waiting for mine to arrive :)

[@tworoundrobins]

Good to know! Just don’t vibe with micro usb

[@vonkrupruidooficial6262]

thank you very much for this video

[@kosmikmusa]

Is there a two different synths? Plinki and Plinky?

[@dgoldstein]

Got mine too. Been ages.

[@dyscotopia]

What a fantastic sounding synth. Having looked at the manual, the interface is very clear for the variety if offers. I think I'll wait for the stylophone drone synth. Different architectures for sure, but these seem to go for a lot more than their initial price on the used market and I have enough gear to master I don't feel like building my own

[@tworoundrobins]

Hmm will check this drone stylophone :) sounds interesting

[@dyscotopia]

@@tworoundrobins I'm on the waitlist. It should pair well with my minibrute 2s

[@Eli_B3000]

@@dyscotopia Waitlist here too, I can't wait. I just got an Elmyra 2 that should keep me busy until then though.

[@chaote2069]

i wanna hear a plinky and a norns and a cosmos

[@tworoundrobins]

maybe in the future ;)

[@mahusonicstorytelling8693]

Hm, am I right that you can't play melodies and at the same time adjust the parameters?

[@tworoundrobins]

Yes, especially if you route the modulation amount to a knob

[@mahusonicstorytelling8693]

@@tworoundrobins thnx! ah ok so you can twist the encoders while playing melodies.

[@wbmatter1]

Now I've got that tw/itch in my hand that results from part of my brain wanting to solder and another part saying "whoaaa no." (Why isn't there a soldering iron emoji? C'mon.)

[@tworoundrobins]

Do it ;)

[@wbmatter1]

@@tworoundrobins *nervously scratches twitching hand*

[@megafang]

I'm having lots of calibration trouble with mine too

[@tworoundrobins]

Yeah I think we might need to be extra careful at calibration…

[@chaote2069]

❤🙏

[@Chat03848]

Can I play with plinky with a midi keyboard?

[@tworoundrobins]

I think so yes. Haven’t tried it myself tho

[@g3cd]

"Do you think users will be able to remember what 56 buttons do?" "You're right, let's add 56 obscure, non-descriptive icons for usability"

[@tworoundrobins]

Disagree tbh…the icons are pretty self explanatory, even without the text above and bellow the icons, which literally tell you the parameters you’re controlling. The layout is also categorized, meaning you can quite easily navigate to the desired option:)

[@turbochargedfilms]

@@tworoundrobins aw that sucks :(

[@rijksvoorlichtingsdienst4427]

Does it really matter it makes only one sound if youre honoust

[@rijksvoorlichtingsdienst4427]

To little to late

[@tworoundrobins]

*too

[@rijksvoorlichtingsdienst4427]

Thanks im not an englsih native speaker and still you manager to understand me bravo.

[@TheCinefotografiando]

What do you mean

[@rijksvoorlichtingsdienst4427]

@@TheCinefotografiando they waiting list took ages so most moved. By the time i could get my hands on this i lost my interest. It sounds beautifully boring