When you opened up with that first riff, my ears perked up like curious prairie dogs on the great plains.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Cheers!
@aeko9 ай бұрын
Totally. Amazing comment 😆
@PaulBoos9 ай бұрын
@@aekoit was the perfect comment
@bobbycastaneda90918 ай бұрын
I still have mine! Bought it in 1979.
@scottlarson15489 ай бұрын
After decades I'm finally old enough for both filters to sound the same to me.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Sorry for your (hearing) loss.
@tonystevenson269 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic 🤪
@HiGlowie9 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusicwe got a comedian over here, fellas
@RaiderWolf-yd6nm5 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic 😆😆😆😆
@co6nitivebi9s249 ай бұрын
I'm a harpsichordist. Never owned a synth in my life but I absolutely love the content and music on this channel. Keep it up. Speaking of which, would be excited to view more material from Geert Van Schlanger. Geert's insight into the fine arts is so tantalizing.
@Ishkur239 ай бұрын
Geert is a true man of culture.
@Tabazan9 ай бұрын
I hear Interpol has a warrant out for Gert so he's keeping his head down
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Harpsichord? So you love a damn good plucking?
@cortical19 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic He likes to pluck his brains out. 🧠
@cortical19 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic Let's try again: This person is on the plectrum spectrum. 🤔
@Waldemar_la_Tendresse9 ай бұрын
If I wanted to have a good channel about synthesizers, I would probably learn from you what makes a good channel: this mixture of nostalgia, specialist knowledge, humor and musical contributions. It's always a pleasure to watch your videos.
@olivierlang68709 ай бұрын
Your Sines song is pure bliss ! I love My Solus too, is in the #500 series, didn't knew so few were made...
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
I wondered if any owners would appear. Still not seen anything above the 700s. Wouldn't be surprised if that was about all they made.
@huddlesteam6 ай бұрын
+1 re: Solus Sines track!! 🔥 such an inspiring and beautiful track @alexballmusic. 👏 and great review, too. Seems like a decent value if u can find one.
@AlisonCassidy9 ай бұрын
Yayy - you did the 4075 compare!! Awesome 🎉
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
We have a very clear answer too. 🤓
@AlisonCassidy9 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic oh yeah. I expect a big rush on people who want their Odys and Omnis modded now 🤣
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
@@AlisonCassidy I want my Avatar done, yeah! Quite the difference.
@JimAlfredson9 ай бұрын
I’ve done the mod on my MkII. Makes a big difference.
@tihinter9 ай бұрын
Do you have a link to how to mod the Avatars filter, to open it up fully?
@TheDeadlyKind9 ай бұрын
Alex I loved the Arp Sines demo. What a lovely tune. I want that as my alarm and wake up to warm synth bliss every day.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@tihinter9 ай бұрын
…“Why why? Tell 'em that it's human nature“… it’s so funny how some standard chord progressions evoke lyrics of well known classics, despite being used a thousand times at other places before…
@AndersEngerJensen9 ай бұрын
You had me at that Solus Sines song. 😘 I may remix it some day! 🤓
@nerfytheclown9 ай бұрын
Please share, if you do!
@NeoTeAika9 ай бұрын
I started working at a music instrument store here in NZ a couple of months ago and just today had an idea to set up a display of a K Odyssey and B 2600 up together as a giant 5osc beast as a nice "ARP History" zone. What a coincidence alongside this great video! Cheers for making it 🎹
@frankprocup60429 ай бұрын
I've owned my Arp Solus since 1985. Although it no longer works, it was an amazing sound generator in it's time.
@daveogarf9 ай бұрын
Outstanding demo tunes, as always!
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@HalonOfficial9 ай бұрын
This sounds great 😊
@snowleopard97499 ай бұрын
6:03 excellent advice, noted.
@ArturdeSousaRocha9 ай бұрын
I'd recommend Alex's albums to anyone who hasn't listened to them yet. Only on streaming AFAIK.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thanks! New album out next week. 😀
@bernardryan4759 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusicaren’t you on Bandcamp too? ( excellent channel here by the way!)
@Lackan110f9 ай бұрын
One interesting thing about the SOLUS is the work-around of it only having one ADSR. The VCA boosts when you are raising the ADSR->VCF modulation fader - much as you would set the VCF-ADSR at 50% and theVCA-ADSR at 70% on a synth with 2 ADSR. This compensates well for it only having one ADSR and is as far as I know the only synth with this great solution.
@ConwayBob9 ай бұрын
I think I'd seen the Solus mentioned a few times, but I never saw or heard one before today. Thank you for the great demo and historical context! Those VCOs sound so juicy and the ring mod is insane!!!!! These are going for upward of $1800 at Reverb now, so maybe we should let Uli know we'd like him to clone this little gem.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Yep, they'd got pretty nifty at making little monsynths by 1980. The Solus is pretty potent.
@shaft90009 ай бұрын
I've had one for about a dozen years; it's got a special "angry+psych" swirly-aggro lead character only found in a few (and rather expen$ive) other vintage synths. Even my '72 tonus 2600 isn't as gnarly in the the high freqs. The only analog synths I've heard that can get much more crass are modulars like serge or metasonix.
@gionspenzers9 ай бұрын
That sines is just pure vibes and quite nostalgic to listen to. Great video about an underrated synth that I didn't know about.
@macronencer9 ай бұрын
Such a great moment whenever I'm wondering what to watch over breakfast and I see a new vid from you, Alex. You know how to squeez noiz, as evidenced in that final demo. I was vaguely aware of the Solus but didn't know anything about it. Interestingly, I could hear *some* difference between those filters, despite being 58. Maybe there's hope :)
@AFuturePresentation9 ай бұрын
Oh, man! That song in the beginning is so great! Also, found you on Spotify. Love your music and videos, including those documentaries. Well done! Thank you!
@Cfpp09 ай бұрын
Great! Love the introduction to the really nasty ring modulator at 4:45!
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Yeah, quite the fizz and clang on that ring mod.
@t3hjnz9 ай бұрын
Alex, you're a gem. This is such a great deep dive into the Solus, and your video / music production techniques just keep getting better. Loved all the jams, loved the analysis of what makes this a special synth, and I love that you share with us the obviously large place that ARP has in your heart. ARP really was cut short at the peak of their power. I would like for us all to have been able to experience what they would have done through the 80s and 90s with some better business management.
@AndyVonal9 ай бұрын
Thanks loads, Alex! I had heard about this little beastie but knew nothing about it. What a fantastic sounding beast! Great Vid!
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Cheers Andy! Thought it worth a video given the rarity.
@MisAnnThorpe9 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic Is this actually your Solus, Alex?
@VEsound9 ай бұрын
Nice video as usual Alex :) And the last demo of the Solus ("Friends") sounds really juicy!
@dimensionalineage7 ай бұрын
Alex, I *love* your nerdy nitty gritty into chips and filter slopes, circuits employed, et cetera. Your filter comparison was fascinating. One element you do not mention is the Avatar resonance is louder and more piercing, confirmed by your helpful graphs indicating an approximate 5dB+ boost in amplitude versus Solus's resonance. I much prefer the Solus resonance behavior - easier on my ears, less searing. This investigation inspired curiosity of how resonance character compares within all the Odyssey iterations... I did not know Odyssey V1 was a 12db filter. Very cool sleuth work. And my-oh-my that sync and ring mod is bloody awesome. Stellar demonstration in their qualities. 8:22 Hardest laugh I enjoyed all day. Thank you. 🤣
@apislapis9 ай бұрын
It's probably due to Depeche Mode & Vince Clarke that I still find the 3 octave monosynth my favourite synth format. Oh and the price, I bought a Pro-One for £125 in the late 80s, and an SH-101 for £79 to be driven by an MC-202 linked to a 606 for rhythm and me on a CZ1000 for 4 note poly pads captured on a Fostex X-15. I'm sure it's why I bought one o' them BARP Odd-at-seas? Gorgeous trip as always down memory lane Mr Ball, thank you.
@tonystevenson269 ай бұрын
MC 202 was crazy !
@skyrocketautomotive9 ай бұрын
Having seen all of your fascinating documentaries, and with the link to ARP (the cruise being modified and relabelled as the Quartet) I would absolutely love a documentary about SIEL They've been forgotten mostly, but my little Mono is a beast and I would be fascinated to see the company given the Alex Ball treatment!
@canertogan64628 ай бұрын
Great music and review. Thank you.
@budgetkeyboardist9 ай бұрын
Alex, you probably don't have time to read every comment, but in case you do... I wasn't aware of this synth, but boy is it cool. Great music and great video as always.
@_OopsieDaisies9 ай бұрын
i always get pumped for parts like 8:29 in these videos. that little jam is so nice i like hearing them :)
@DJKL9 ай бұрын
Absolutely love "SOLUS SINES", a subtle little gem of music there.
@oscar_charlie9 ай бұрын
Ha, you're a talented gearhead and a Kimi fan! Although Kimi's best (one of many) moment was the "I was having a $#!t" comment before the start of the 2006 Brazilian GP.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Classic Kimi.
@gravityfreaksmusic9 ай бұрын
You, sir, have perfected your style of videoing. Sehr sehr gut! 🍒
@Sidchipp9 ай бұрын
This has, to my ears the most SID sounding oscillators. The PWM, and the SYNC to me are all very C64ish. Nice.
@jackcimino88229 ай бұрын
Are you excited for the Chipsynth C64 plugin?
@sunilsolanki9 ай бұрын
Some truly lovely tones from this synth! Very very Vince Clarke Chorus album vibes in places... Maybe that's the Arp 2600 influence on this? Anyway.sounded magic!
@earlsfield9 ай бұрын
There are a few older synths with this filter concept - full open only works when filter envelope is at max, it is an interesting quirk. Loved that sine wave track, really beautiful.
@juanocordoba9 ай бұрын
the comedy is just so on point alex, keep it up
@Stewart_Bell9 ай бұрын
As always, super content. The highlight being guidance on approaching the school crush 30 years later, which was just invaluable.
@user-ql1pc7pi9x8 ай бұрын
Very cool synth. Mysterious sounds. Alex, correct me if I'm wrong, but have you done any Kraftwerk content? I'd love to see some analysis on them.
@andrewstanworth5299 ай бұрын
Ya can basically pre-like these videos, before even watching, cos you know they gonna be GREAT!
@Pablo6689 ай бұрын
Great work as always. I think I want one of these now. Damn.
@SeanVindahl9 ай бұрын
Another excellent video! My model 2351 is in the early #200s. First ARP synth that I ever acquired
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Still waiting for anything beyond a 700 serial. Relatively rare.
@ianwynne7649 ай бұрын
Hello Alex: You never disappoint. Good job. Stay well and safe.
@needfortweed87349 ай бұрын
The jam (Solus Sines) before the patron-part was something special. It somehow brought forth a feeling of nostalgia for myself. Which is interesting, because I didn't actually know about this synth until this video drops...
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thanks! Thought I'd show its prettier side.
@enricopallazzoofficial9 ай бұрын
Let's hope Korg will reissue this and a few other ARP synths. Since acquiring the 2600M i really can't live without it. ARP made some of the most beautiful synths ever.
@funkmachine64209 ай бұрын
Rolamd R5 (I have one!) and a Raikkonen reference?? Made my morning mate!
@philmarsh55939 ай бұрын
Top content once again. Not often my ribs hurt after a synth review. Sadly, as far as that fixed 4075 chip goes... I really IZ old. Sucks! 😒 Always wanted an Odyssey, as a huge Billy Currie fan growing up. I have a Korg one now and...the signal path and layout screw with my brain, raised on the Moog/Roland standard layout, so it sits in its case mostly. ARP made lovely machines and they sound really fab though.
@PaulBoos9 ай бұрын
Great tracks and I had never of the Solus. I totally agree with that praetor dog comment; it’s spot on.
@ohheyitskevinc9 ай бұрын
5:59 so this is where I’ve been going wrong. Good advice. Nice find!
@cassettedisco69549 ай бұрын
Amigo excelente que sigas trayendo estás joyas para que la gente pueda conocerlo gran labor, saludos desde México 🇲🇽❤
@oddcircuit9 ай бұрын
jus love the dissident tones of this guy, thats what I try to get...tonal yet percussive, really like this one!!!
@mixolydian20109 ай бұрын
Thanks a lot Alex,not heard one before. Nice little synth.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thought I'd give it a video given the rarity and the surprisingly good sound.
@DaveG2079 ай бұрын
What a great sounding little beast.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thought it deserved a little moment in the spotlight.
@kid_dynamo_official9 ай бұрын
Just watching the beginning of this no doubt brilliant video and just wanted to say that the opening track is pretty awesome 👏
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thank you!
@questorcАй бұрын
sometimes im like they are giving it to me in different tones but I hear more layers but love what he's doing
@masterguitar82809 ай бұрын
After watching this I got inspired to go try my Oddy's ring modulator. I'd never gotten the wild screams out of it, but after watching your demo on the Solus, I spent a good half hour just making the thing whine, ring, and scream! Hard to tame the Oddy! Now I wish I could get all the ARP synths!
@ToyKeeper9 ай бұрын
I don't have Arp's final monosynth, but I'm loving Dave Smith's final monosynth. In both cases, the last one was fantastic.
@xfghffhfg9 ай бұрын
pro3?
@ToyKeeper9 ай бұрын
@@xfghffhfgYes, it's the last synth he finished before his tragically unexpected death.
@codewizard589 ай бұрын
I had one to play with for a couple of weeks before it was donated to the ARPArchives.
@josephwright59219 ай бұрын
I always liked the ARP sound, although I never owned one. I did finally buy the Behringer Odyssey and I like it better than the Minimoog I used to own. I like the way ARPS mix with other instruments.
@joelizquierdo86249 ай бұрын
I love the ARP Solus. It’s a powerful little beast 🎹
@i_never_asked_for_an_alias9 ай бұрын
This thing smacks. Grats to everyone who can tease this beauty once in a while.
@Zwopper9 ай бұрын
My favourite of the three.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Been waiting years to play one.
@michaelscottpettis9 ай бұрын
Great from start to finish.
@bitspacemusic9 ай бұрын
dude sayz hes gunna sweep da filta cutoff but dusnt even touch da filta LULZ!
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
In the words of Kimi Räikkönen...
@bitspacemusic9 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic Fun fact about me: I speak Finnish. My parents are Finnish. I was born and raised in Sweden, but since I cheer for Finland in ice hockey, it kind of decides what I am also.
@stormstereo9 ай бұрын
You are an absolute Boss, Alex!
@sonofaglitch9 ай бұрын
Sweet jam.
@Musikkeller-Innsider9 ай бұрын
What a crunchy gnarly beast.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
It is indeed.
@studiomofunic25039 ай бұрын
Nice sound!!
@Reg-Edit9 ай бұрын
Was waiting for this one 🙏❤️
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Hope you enjoyed!
@FRIDGEYTHEGOAT9 ай бұрын
I love how you use the System 100M to modulate synths, wish I had (or could be bothered) to get a great modular setup like that. Must be fun putting all the wires in but a bit out of my price range for now.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Yes! One of the coolest things about it is that it's a wall of audio signals, control signals and signal routing that can interface with whatever you bring to it.
@Bladavia9 ай бұрын
9:00 damn that synth can sing ! nice playing
@UNKLEelephant9 ай бұрын
Chef’s kiss to SOLUS Sines
@dumafuji9 ай бұрын
My GAS kicked in, I thought this was a new Korg arp release. Then I saw 1980. lol. Good sounds.
@mallery79 ай бұрын
Sounds pretty thicc. Arp made some axxelent synthesizers.
@cds90009 ай бұрын
I always like your original playing, Alex. But it seemed particularly inspired on this one. I'd listen to full-length tracks of the first two songs all day. You must've really liked the Solus. Actually, I'd listen to the sines one all day too.
@TheGhostchaser89 ай бұрын
This was the very first synth I owned. Bought it from a friend for $75. Had it for about three years, sold it, and then my girlfriend found a completely different synth for sale in the local paper and went to buy it for me. She came home with my original Solus. Like a fool, again I sold it a few years later. Man I miss that synth.
@mattjbatkinson19119 ай бұрын
I loved my Solus. I miss it dearly 😢
@Roberto_MR9 ай бұрын
Do you publish the intro tracks? Sounds great. Also, great content as usual.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Cheers. I need to get the latest batch up on Bandcamp. I put them (and the stems) on Patreon.
@Roberto_MR9 ай бұрын
@@AlexBallMusic great to know that. Thanks
@computrhead9 ай бұрын
I honestly never heard of this synthesizer before and the comparison between the Solus and the Avatar filter was pretty interesting.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Was kind of worth doing a video just to answer that. I've heard about it, but never had the chance to check and sure enough...
@DivKid9 ай бұрын
What an opening!
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Matron.
@kabongpope9 ай бұрын
dang that Ring Mod is nasty!
@shaft90009 ай бұрын
I've had one of these in here since about 2011. Brilliant little thing :) Very compact with one of the most direct, 'to the point' monosynth designs ever; but also quite flexible w/ a superior CV I/O arrangement compared to most synths used as a modular keyboard. Does roughly 85-90% what a minimoog can, and another 25% that it can't This little fuk'r has "that" saturated, rolling-VCO sizzling lead character that jumps out of the speaker like a minimoog, EMS synthi or system100 does. It's great for writing and tracking in any size setup because It fits most anywhere. Unlike other synths it's not designated a spot on a stand to stay put, and the built in road-case means the Solus can become a functional furniture when you aren't using it for music ;O)
@mitchelldries66289 ай бұрын
intro song is LIT...
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Cheers!
@SivertHenriksen9 ай бұрын
Dude that track at 9:00 has something extra special to it!
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@Djpaul-lo1px9 ай бұрын
Very nearly bought one for £120 in the mid 90s and am kicking myself to this day...
@Gerald_Daniel9 ай бұрын
Oh, what an organic outro, Mr. "19ahtie".
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Cheers Herr Daniel.
@Gerald_Daniel9 ай бұрын
Gern geschehen, Herr@@AlexBallMusic
@alfish189 ай бұрын
Some of us don't have ARPs, but this synth can con-Solus.
@andivax9 ай бұрын
OMG😮 What a sound!!!!!!
@michaela24409 ай бұрын
Najs jamz n thnks 4 d info ^__
@Shred_The_Weapon9 ай бұрын
The Solus has long fascinated me as far as monosynths go. I have long imagined that I would sooner get a 2600 than a Solus. There were a few people that were still building non-programmable monophonic models in 1980. Didn’t they include Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Moog Music, Coomer and Sequential (Circuits)?
@jazzsax3578 ай бұрын
I'd love to see it as a bass synth.
@jackcimino88229 ай бұрын
Did you know that the OG KORG Minilogue uses the ARP Solus filter?
@skipintroux44449 ай бұрын
Sorry for being a nerd but what is your source for that information? Minilogue has both 2 pole and 4 pole configurations so can’t be both?…
@mellepasveer61739 ай бұрын
Time stamp 4:09 wauw that's a nice sine wave pluck
@keyboardkingpin9 ай бұрын
That end beat hits hard!
@ghostexits9 ай бұрын
love the compact lidded build and front facing voltage jacks on the Solus, bought one for these reasons plus the sharp looks, and low price at the time. But when I played it, I couldn't get over all the missing features from my Odyssey. It made no sense to keep both, so the little tolex cutie had to go.
@Citracid9 ай бұрын
Thank you bro
@MD_Builds9 ай бұрын
Thats a damn cool intro track :D
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Cheers!
@RaiderWolf-yd6nm5 ай бұрын
I'm 60 and I couldn't hear it on the first two. But I heard it on the third one.
@a-b-jackson8 ай бұрын
Would there be any mileage in doing a video on the Stranger Things theme music I wonder? Sounds like some proper vintage synth action going on there, if they can be identified .. would def get a lot of views, too
@tropicalwhiskers39229 ай бұрын
All synths should come in their own suitcase. Change my mind.
@AlexBallMusic9 ай бұрын
Moog Sonic VI agrees.
@stoatystoat1749 ай бұрын
I might look a bit silly with a tiny volca keys suitcase