Dirtywave M8: Unboxing and Hardware Review

[@jeremyfox7599]

You are literally my new favourite channel - I stumbled upon some of your Polyend Tracker tutorials just yesterday which were exactly what I needed and I though they were also superb! Then just now I see that you've got hyuor hands of possibly the piece of hardware that I'm most excited about getting to work with!!! So thank you twice!!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks a lot for watching, and the kind words!

[@avrilcadabra]

Nice one, thanks for the shoutout again. I don't think I can order keycaps from that store either but that shop is just like rit dye'ing them, so you can just buy white ones and some proper dye and boil them in a pot. I used two lego brick removers to pry the keyswitches out, worked well, didn't break any pegs or mark anything. I like your theme, very pac man!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Always!! Thanks for watching. I didn't realise that. Hmm. My DIY handy work is pretty terrible so I would end up blowing up the house or dyeing my fingers forever. My wife is from the US so I might just order some to her parents house haha. Pac Man! That's what it reminds me of too - but I couldn't put my finger on it. I'll share in the Discord :D

[@akasickform]

Fresh honest straight up relaxed content! And a banging beard to boot... I'm not sure why this channel isn't bigger already?? *SUBBED*

[@StephenMcLeod]

Hey, thanks! I'll take over KZbin yet!

[@andycordy5190]

Back in the 1980's, my first synthesiser, the Wasp (2 osc. Analogue, black and yellow, touch sensitive, printed keys😱), was available with a sequencer, the Spider. I am no Arthur C Clark but even way back then I dreamed of having a pocket calculator sized controller that could link to gargantuan resources and play a whole live set of monster sound. Here I am, an old man, still tinkering, it's finally a reality. I'm really touched. I know you take this tech as part of an evolutionary progression and I sensed this decades ago with the arrival of the Gameboy but to see your customized keys and your composition at the end of this video was an emotional moment for me. A vindication of my faith in electronic instruments. Thank you.

[@StephenMcLeod]

What a cool story, thanks for sharing! The things you can do even with an iPad at this stage is insane... I prefer something a bit more tactile though, and the link back to the Game Boy history with the M8 is perfect. :)

[@mb2776]

Hey, late comment. I didn't wanted to watch this video before my unit arrived but now that it's here, nice video!! I agree with the look and feel I kinda was expecting it to be bigger in a wierd sense and also more roundet. I like it, it's quite comfortable in my smaller hands, I also like the wheight of it, not too light it gives confindence. Regarding the startup sound, I guess u allready know this, but if u move the entire file, the m8 skips the intro completly and just loads the latest autosave. no startup sound and it's even faster now, like 1-2 seconds from cold to directly into a song ready to press play!

[@StephenMcLeod]

I have mine set up to play the Game Boy sound, which I refuse to change. :D

[@allanroney]

Having had the pleasure to have heard yours run through a PA, I’m staggered at how good this thing sounds blown up.

[@StephenMcLeod]

It's ridiculous!

[@radical_ans]

Lol yeah same. Was blown away when I hooked it into my main speakers the first time

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@radical_ans It's wild!

[@shaneturner9336]

Apparently you can plug it into an iPad and use a sequencer from an app to control the M8 . It would be great if there was also an app for the iPad that would let you have a full screen on the iPad of the M8 and could use the touchpad of the iPad to control the M8. They need to come out with something like that . Please !

[@labratzwired3213]

That is absolutely wild dude. Good review as always thanks and stay safe

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks for watching!!

[@weedanwine]

Looks awesome, whilst I'm very tempted I think I'm going to wait and see what Nerdseq Portable is like when it gets released. Also I'm flying this week and taking my Polyend so the rest of the plane will get to hear the glorious clack from the keys 😂 it's a really nice touch putting hot-swappable switches in the M8.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I'm curious how big the NerdSeq Portable will be, as it seems to have lots of buttons! I am going to put clicky switches in my M8, so I'll be even more annoying haha. I'm sure the pressure on the plane will mean people won't hear anyway. Maybe.

[@weedanwine]

@@StephenMcLeod yeah curious about that myself! Interested to see how those buttons would feel in general too. One thing is for sure though, buying the Polyend has opened up a world of stuff for me which is cool. Also people on planes can have noise-cancelling heaphones anyways so not so worried about them 😂

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@weedanwine hahaha Can't wait for the report...

[@DavidDeLuge]

I preordered mine yesterday with shipping expected in July! Time for the excitement to build 🤣

[@StephenMcLeod]

It'll be worth the wait!!

[@missingreels]

Oh man, I really wish I'd gotten in on the pre-order! Hopefully they'll be in stock at moment when my wallet can take it soon. Great video dude.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I think there are plans for more pre-orders! Thanks for taking a look.

[@slakk5093]

A happy day 😄

[@StephenMcLeod]

The best!

[@jimmac]

I have a wee bit desire for the machine now.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Dooo it.

[@partyeffectsdotbiz]

Is that "wikinami wikinami wikinami while" sample from that Rock Rap and Roll DOS/MAC OS 8/9 game from 200 years ago?

[@StephenMcLeod]

What a great ear!! I believe it is, yeah.

[@partyeffectsdotbiz]

@@StephenMcLeod Lol we are on the same page my man hahahahah

[@partyeffectsdotbiz]

@@StephenMcLeod did you sample it directly from an emulator or did you rip the files? or how did you get it.. Some of the samples in that "game" are great, also Super Rock Rap and Roll

[@JamesReedy]

Hah! So much for regularly avail; ordered mine on Friday they’re saying July timeframe.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yup. Available in batches.

[@slakk5093]

That Stanley needs a new blade haha

[@StephenMcLeod]

It has seen some things.

[@stuart1409]

You should try fit the gameboy magnifying screen to it. The creator should create a magnifying screen accessories

[@StephenMcLeod]

I probably need to since I am blind as a bat.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Looks promising! 😎👍🏼 I have to ask; what is that euro module with the stream of red lights floating upwards? Catches my eye in every video, lol 🧐 Cheers!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Thanks a lot! I think that must be the Twisted Electron Octopus.

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@StephenMcLeod Oh, yep! Just found your demo of it … Thanks! 😎👍🏼

[@Eklipsemedia]

I know they are completely different devices but I would love to get one of these, or a sp404 mk2. I feel like the sp would be far easier to pick up and play but I love how open ended the m8 is.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I actually find the M8 much easier to use, but that probably says a lot about my brain hah

[@Eklipsemedia]

@@StephenMcLeod ahaha you’re not making this easier!!! Too bad the waiting times are so absurd, I get it for the m8, but Roland is a big company. Ordered mine in Melbourne before the retailer even had a product page on their website and I’m still waiting to hear anything. Apparently not a single unit has entered the Australian market so far

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@Eklipsemedia yeah it's wild. In Roland's case it seems like they got caught off guard by the chip shortage, which seems rather silly. I'm not sure why they pushed it so hard without being able to manufacture them!

[@Eklipsemedia]

@@StephenMcLeod absolutely agree. Anyway man, off to catching up with the million videos you have here

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@Eklipsemedia Thanks for watching!!

[@awesomeduder]

that cut paper stuff is great packaging - many Bleep record purchases have turned up to me wrapped in that. I think this one's probably not for me, as someone who came to the Polyend unit with no tracker experience - curious to see you push it through!

[@StephenMcLeod]

I am probably biased as I found LSDJ pretty easy to pick up, and now I appreciate the power of it over the Polyend... but how are you finding the Tracker generally, as someone new to that workflow?

[@awesomeduder]

@@StephenMcLeodit's good! Not fazed by the vertical nature of it, getting fast with the various functions, I found it a good way of visualising the whole P-lock, per-step modulation idea. Obviously it's probably lacking the extra mod lanes and the like that other trackers bring to the table but I felt it was 'enough' to work with, if you get me. The UI really helps, if it was heaps of remembering button combos like an Elektron box I probably would've thrown it out the window.

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@awesomeduder Hahaha I feel you on the multiple button combos :D

[@awesomeduder]

but to go from, say, mucking around on Volca Modular making textures - sample it in to Tracker - chop sample - start randomising the slices - work up more musical structure, it's so fast! which is good cos I always tend toward more droning languid things otherwise. terrible at writing in a DAW for example.

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@awesomeduder That's awesome. You should share some of your stuff!

[@Number01]

Great vid! Did you find the perfect quiet switches?

[@StephenMcLeod]

I use clicky ones! Kailh low profile aqua or something like that I think!

[@Number01]

@@StephenMcLeod Thank you. :)

[@sodiumlights]

Ace review as always amigo! See, a (very) small company, a very well produced portable device that comes in a perfect custom case...unlike TE op-z. One question. What's the screen like in daylight? The op-1's screen is dreadful, is the brightness adjustable?

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yeah! Brightness is adjustable. You can also change the colour palette for better contrast on different situations.

[@sodiumlights]

@@StephenMcLeod sweet!

[@el_dani]

great device, does it dubby chords or do we need to prepare samples for this task?

[@StephenMcLeod]

I'm not 100% sure how one would create a dubby chord so I can't answer with confidence, but otherwise samples would be a safe bet.

[@MUNRO13]

How’s the headroom vs the Polyend tracker? That was one thing that made me return the tracker. Clips way too easy

[@StephenMcLeod]

I've not run into any issues personally, but your mileage with that may vary!

[@Aisjam]

Y you tempt me. I wonder if you can transfer lsdj songs?

[@StephenMcLeod]

Unfortunately at this point you cannot.

[@Aisjam]

@@StephenMcLeod all good there. Just means I have to make new songs :)

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@Aisjam I've recreated a few of my old ones from LSDJ on the M8. Relatively straightforward except for some of the weirdo instruments and slides. I've got a video coming...

[@CaidicusProductions]

This is pretty cool. Not sure if I missed it, I had to watch the video in a rush. Is there battery power?

[@StephenMcLeod]

Hey, yeah! Built in battery power. :)

[@Thekidisalright]

Sorry for a noob question, can I plug a headphone on the M8 so I can play it during commute without disturbing others?

[@StephenMcLeod]

You can!

[@nickyspacebum]

Nice 👍

[@brainbox9219]

What’s it’s like slicing breaks on this if possible?

[@StephenMcLeod]

That is definitely not a strong point of the M8.

[@andycordy5190]

Wow! It just keeps getting smaller!

[@StephenMcLeod]

It's an amazing wee thing!

[@dillipphunbar7924]

jammy get...enjoy ; )

[@StephenMcLeod]

Oh I am.

[@sodiumlights]

never realised it's roughly the same dimensions as a passport/blackberry passport.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yeah! It's a neat compact thing.

[@sodiumlights]

@@StephenMcLeod looking at the two devices, m8 & weeTracker is like comparing pioneer's toraiz SP-16 to akai's MPC Live1...similar vintage, yet one looks thoroughly sexy sleek and modern while the other simply reeks of the past instead of the future.

[@mattedj]

Rasperry Pi (or phone/tablet) + Sunvox = save some dough

[@StephenMcLeod]

Not quite as capable or as portable, as cool as Sunvox is.

[@mattedj]

@@StephenMcLeod Don't get me wrong, I want one, but trying to talk myself out of a case of G.A.S. when I ponder what SunVox can do. The audio quality of the synths on SunVox seems a little weak but with some tweaking and processing:good enough

[@Rr12NewZealand]

Does anybody know the exact dimensions of the M8?

[@StephenMcLeod]

I could whip out the ol measuring tape. What do you need it for?

[@drunkencicada2273]

You just need to turn down the speaker output volume to 00 to not have the startup sound.

[@DEFENSEMECHANISM]

you can also edit the startup.m8s song file or delete it altogether

[@StephenMcLeod]

Indeed!

[@stuart1409]

I wanna build one inside a Nintendo game and watch panoramic

[@StephenMcLeod]

:D

[@77377]

I envy you. If dirtywave keep making them in small batches, my beard is gonna go gray before I get my hands on one.

[@StephenMcLeod]

There's a few more coming up for direct sale in November-ish time I believe!

[@franciscomolina8970]

pog

[@StephenMcLeod]

wut

[@plutostube]

Min 15.37

[@StephenMcLeod]

?

[@plutostube]

@@StephenMcLeod the moment when we can see it in action, intro it is very informative but first instinct is to see it working

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@plutostube I have a pile of other videos on the M8 in action on the channel here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKemlqStjMSamac

[@pmbear]

It’s pronouncesd “mate”, but you’re Scottish so you should already know that… mate 😌

[@StephenMcLeod]

I believe official guidance is that it can be said either way, and as a Glaswegian, I prefer to speak of it relative to our most famous motorway. Plus. We don't say mate in Scotland!

[@pmbear]

@@StephenMcLeodlol I was just having fun with ya. I know it is for sure an Aussie thing but I heard some of my Piper and drummer friends say it when I was over there a few times. It was always either “alright pal” or “alright mate”… as a greeting… anyhow I have my m8, I love it and I live this video. Awesome! I have also been on the M8, I in fact wrote a tune about it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHSQnJuCi72sa68

[@StephenMcLeod]

Pipers?!

[@pmbear]

@@StephenMcLeodI like combining synths with bagpipes! Imagine the possibilities 😍

[@jpm9628]

Not a single synth sound.

[@StephenMcLeod]

"Hardware review"

[@StephenMcLeod]

Also: 15:35

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@nunsc Don't watch then? I've done multiple videos going over specific features. Also: It's my channel, so I'll do whatever the fuck I want.