Dreadbox Erebus 3 Duophonic Analog Synthesizer Hands-On Review | SYNTH ANATOMY

FULL DISCLAIMER: Dreadbox loaned me the Erebus 3 for two months to review it. No free unit and the Erebus 3 is already sent back!
The test phase is over, and before the Erebus 3 Synthesizer goes back to the developer, it's time for the final review! Teaser: yes, Dreadbox did a very good job
Available here to pre-order here: bit.ly/erebus3
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[@synthanatomy]

Update: the noisy headphone out is only my loaned unit. All other units are fine :)

[@alm5966]

According to the manual Osc3 can be detached from tracking Osc1's pitch by plugging a dummy cable into CV3 which should give you your drone.

[@leyetnin1]

Al M - That news just made my day!!

[@synthanatomy]

yes that right but still not the same for me. I would love to see a way to open the VCA with a knob like on the Neutron (VCA Bias). Perfect for drones ;)

[@valdiskrebs566]

I really like my Erebus v2. Some nice improvements, especially the Triple Ring, and amazing sounds on v3 ... but, I will stick with my v2. Agree - happy to pay more for hand-built gear like Dreadbox and Moog.

[@iantanner7579]

just ordered one to tide me over until the release of the NYX 2 - another great demo ; )

[@harrytuttle5810]

Thanks for the review, can you use the echo on its own with audio in? Like the reverb in the Nyx?

[@SoundsAndGear]

This is a cool box man, I've always wanted to mess with the Abyss myself.

[@synthanatomy]

yes, it's indeed a great box :)

[@AlchmstDsgn]

I just got the Abyss about a week ago. I absolutely love it. It's made for people who love fuzzy, vintage, psychedelic sounds, and like to find the sweet spot on a synth and really weaponize it. It's not a Juno or a Deepmind, it's more like a Moog.

[@SoundsAndGear]

@@AlchmstDsgn I really think that's why I love the sound of it, fuzzy, vintage....sounds like my type of synth!

[@AlchmstDsgn]

@@SoundsAndGear - I'll tell ya man... it's got some goofy quirks here and there. Certain things can overload the sound, and some things don't connect with me. But like the Erebus V2, it's just addicting for me. The Erebus V2 was my favorite synth except for the tuning issues. I got rid of it to make room for the V3 when it was announced. I've since bout the Abyss and it's the same level of addiction. I'm down there messing with it for hours at a time. Haven't had a chance to record anything yet. But yeah... for all of its odd little quirks, it's still an absolute powerhouse.

[@SoundsAndGear]

@@AlchmstDsgn Awesome man! I'd love to get my hands on it one day, always enjoyed what I've heard from it. Have fun!

[@MrBelm]

At 31:10, how are you triggering notes on the Erebus without external input? I've attempted to reproduce the patch, but I can't get it to play notes without a keyboard.

[@synthanatomy]

by modulating the VCA, so it opens and close

[@MrBelm]

@@synthanatomy I'm probably missing something obvious. Here's how I have it patched: ENV out > PW3 in NOISE out > VCA in LFO out > MULTI OUT + out > IN/FILT in S+H out > ECHO in PW1 in > MULTI GATE in > MULTI Is that correct?

[@synthanatomy]

@@MrBelm I think yes but sorry I can't help you further as the video is 5 years old and it was just a loan unit for a month. So can't verify it. Cheers

[@Unifono2012]

Thanks for the nice review.

[@synthanatomy]

thanks :) my pleasure :)

[@leyetnin1]

Thank you!! Great review! Ordered mine in June....anticipation

[@synthanatomy]

Thanks :) hope you will have a lot of fun with it :)

[@leyetnin1]

SYNTH ANATOMY - Droning a Nyx now. They make beautiful synths!

[@leyetnin1]

SYNTH ANATOMY - Anticipating patching this with the Nyx. Amazed with their character, and bass! Looking at all Dreadbox products now.

[@synthanatomy]

@@leyetnin1 indeed very beautiful synths. Very unhappy to give back my loaned Nyx to the developer ;)

[@matthewtunnicliffe201]

Really good review. I can see me getting one of these at some point.

[@petrpazyna]

great review! thank you so much

[@jeremyudden1976]

Have you had any luck controlling the VCA externally on the Erebus? I play a lyricon (analog wind synth from the 70s) and I am able to translate wind pressure to the VCA on some synths (Moog Sirin/Werkstatt for example) but I get no response at all on this synth. Just curious. Thanks.

[@synthanatomy]

hey, sorry didn't test this but I can't do it now because I don't have a unit. It was just a loan unit for the review.

[@jeremyudden1976]

@@synthanatomy No problem. Thank you for your clear and informative reviews!

[@Dogboy73]

Very nice synth. Looks a lot better than version 2. I never liked that green color. Looks much better now, sounds great, more features, bigger patch bay. I think it's the same price that the 2 was though. Tempting. Very temping.

[@synthanatomy]

Thanks for your input! The price is even lower. The E2 started at 539€, the E3 starts at 499€ ;)

[@dergeneral7768]

Ob der auch gut zum Behringer Neutron passt?

[@namenaim1560]

Nice clear review. Maybe better to focus camera on erebus alone ,as we dont need to see keybd. Many thanks

[@synthanatomy]

Thanks :) For me it's easier to sync the sound but also many times people say: what are you using for sequencing or keyboard ;) Cheers

[@sinikoncar7838]

What a beautiful sounding synth! Thanks for the overview. Nice patches!

[@synthanatomy]

Thanks Sini :)

[@VTOLKits]

I miss Osc. Sync, Filter Keytracking. Maybe sequencer, Arp. and presets.... But i love the sound! Neutron or this? It's difficult to say, the price for neutron is much better and maybe for 500 i would buy the Minibrute 2s, Roland SE-02, Toraiz AS-1, Waldorf Pulse 2......

[@synthanatomy]

Hey, the Erebus 2 was a massive success for the company so why changing the concept when a product is to loved by the synth communities. So an Arp or presets doesn't make sense here because it was not the concept of this synth to have this onboard. The Erebus was a very traditional Dreadbox Synth (hands-on design) that works mainly on analog components and that's what the company can do damn good. As I said in the video: if you love to support a little company from Greece go for the Erebus 3, if you need to check your budget, price vs. features and no-problem with an instrument made in china... go for the Neutron. Both synths are great. From a quality point, the Erebus 3 is in my opinion better and pretty sure that it will work in 10 years which we don't know yet on the Behringer synths. Time will tell us it. Cheers ;)

[@arcticsunrise9032]

great in detail review - thx a lot tom!

[@synthanatomy]

thanks :)

[@nadeharry]

Geiles Teil ...

[@nadeharry]

Mach die Vids in deutsch

[@synthanatomy]

Ja würde ich aber Reichweite gleich 0 :(

[@nadeharry]

@@synthanatomy ja verstehe... be blessed

[@nadeharry]

Kann ich den Erebus auch mit dem Beatstep Pro ansteuern? Benutze den Pro sonst als stepsequenzer für meinen Dark Energy 3 und meiner Mother 32

[@thilos.3190]

@@nadeharry Late, aber ja. 😋

[@countvespasian1659]

Sounds ok...quite metallic a bit like Arturia monos or am I missing something?

[@synthanatomy]

Arturia synths sounds far more raw and dirty than the Dreadbox synths. Erebus is more a classic analog synths with a creamy filter but the new triple ring mod adds a bit of rawer sounds to it ;)