Dreadbox NYMPHES // Unboxing, Review and Demo

[@StephenMcLeod]

Friends who let friends open brand new synthesizers are the best kind of friends. I just uploaded my review on this yesterday. I managed to change the MIDI channel by accident as well at one point and thought I'd busted a cable or something. Easily done if you're loading presets or whatever. I like your explanation of the LFO modes as that's something I haven't really played with yet. Nice one!

[@Jason75913]

or his friend is a subscriber and loves this guy's reviews

[@mclarensmps]

The menu seemed intimidating when watching videos of people using it, however, I got mine today, and after spending about 30 mins with it, it's very straight forward to access everything. You get used to it super quick. I absolutely love it. There's so much potential with the LFOs.

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah, it’s hard to show it without the menu looking difficult to use. But I tried to show that after just an hour with it I was proficient enough to demo it.

[@audreyazwell]

@@StarskyCarr I just ordered one and man this comment and reply just made me feel SO much better about all that haha

[@thebreathalyzer]

This a nice sounding little synth. I like it! Will be interesting when one of the wind/breath controller users gets a hold of this. Maybe similar results as the virtual DCO-106 from CA? Not sure about the price, but it sounds great. Would be a nice addition to one of those Modal table top synths.

[@natbvm1880]

I feel like every new synth I get I have a moment like that when I first open it where I do something weird and worry that I got a defective unit haha

[@audreyazwell]

fr, I had that moment with the Behringer Arp 2600 Blue Marvin, I just needed to turn the lights on around the back of the unit (you can adjust the brightness and it was set all the way to off haha). Was panicked for a minute there lol

[@subconscious.com_usa6691]

In your honest opinion despite the capabilities which sounds better and has the better building blocks this or the Behringer deepmind.

[@johnsaunders6510]

A lot of menu diving. They might have been better having a small screen.

[@crashedsite]

Would be interesting to see one of your comparison video's how it compares to a Juno-106

[@StarskyCarr]

… I know 😉

[@ultrajayme]

I've wondered that since it was released.

[@cymonalex]

The Dreadbox gear, certainly has their "Own" type of distinctive sound? Big sounding little box...

[@mattgriffin2545]

Is there a way of bypassing the presets so that it is in panel mode? I know the shift options complicate things but I like the physical settings of the modules to fully represent the actual sound, if that makes sense.

[@galifettetv1238]

Hmmm... Mono output, 1 osc per voice, poor effects, strange GUI...Not the typhon...

[@jthorpe4droid]

Merry Christmas to you and your family, thanks for all the great videos and entertainment this year!

[@odiroot]

Opening boxes with a butter knife is my jam :)

[@apislapis]

Running out of space in my studio, but I'm sure I can fit a six note poly this size in there. Proficient in Urdu Starsky, as ever (unbox, review, demo unit). Visualising Nymphes next to my Nyx and Erebus. Nice kit. Seasons greetings.

[@IntiAlonso]

Not a sound comparisson, but the UI in the Skulpt (which is a mess) look more aproachable than this. That aside, the sound is just amazing, Dreadbox make amazing machines. I wasn´t expecting such big sound from a single osc synth.

[@pthelo]

I watched Stimming's review before watching this and at the end I thought "I've got a JUNO-106, I don't think I need this." and then Starsky's vid opened with the Juno-106 in the background, so I feel safe in my assessment.

[@pthelo]

Conclusion after watching the video: If I didn't already have a six voice analogue polysynth this would be a great addition- it has a tremendous amount of power in a very small box. I think I could fit 8 or 10 Nymphes in the space my JUNO 106 takes up!

[@ahiddenoddity]

His review was not that great

[@huntergalloway3944]

True. Stimming clearly wasn’t getting along with the interface. He should have spent a few minutes off screen familiarizing himself with the manual. IMO he did himself and the product a disservice.

[@SolidtraxNL]

Excellent review, demo and unboxing! For such a small synth it really has some seriously good sounding oscillators and filters. We think it sounds a bit like an alpha juno if you ask us. Which is a good thing! Mono is ok, but hopefully it will get stereo via a firmware update and a secretly hidden TRS output like Arturia did with the MicroFreak Vocoder - well sorta :-) - The 2nd LFO is great, especially for sound design. The menu system is ok for studio usage, but for live it isn't the most easy one around. But hey, just RTFM :)

[@StarskyCarr]

The second LFO2 is a revaluation! I was playing it last night and it just adds so much more to a 106 style sound. I was also rehearsing a live track. And yes… you have to concentrate when making multiple and constant tweaks on the fly! But with a little practise it comes naturally.

[@SolidtraxNL]

@@StarskyCarr Good to read that you (lfo)two get along Starsky :P - And that friend for president!

[@alfiedotwtf]

I just discovered Samsung Plus that comes with my TV, and found that ClubbingTV is one of the channels included. I didn't make the connect (as I didn't think ClubbingTV was an *actual TV channel*) until this Nymphes review come on. You're on my TV right now. How cool!

[@StarskyCarr]

Haha yes it’s a ‘real’ TV station!

[@darkambience]

Sounds really cool but there seems to be a lot of clicking even with the attack above 0?

[@tleaves915]

Nice demo , watched a few others of your reviews and really enjoyed them. I especially like your informal relaxed presentation style you also know how to show off the synths strengths with a nice variation of tones. It really is a beast of a synth with a lovely character to the sound regarding the oscillators and filters the envelopes and LFO are no joke either. Couldn't really justify another synth but this sounds really special. Thanks for showcasing the Nymphes and keep up the good work.

[@electrosonicnebula]

The sound and price are amazing. Clever interface, very powerful.

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks, I'm planning on a couple more demos if I can keep hold of it ;)

[@couchcamperTM]

Great, you, the synth and the little first impression.

[@fosburybob3469]

Thanks for the excellent review and the tip about the MIDI-channel! I got my mine used and either the MIDI-channel was already altered or it was me twisting the knobs without reading the manual. Was a quick fix after seeing your video 🙂

[@baldeagle2313]

If Roland made this it would be 3,500 dollars

[@StarskyCarr]

Haha… yes, but it might also have keys

[@fjfrancois]

Or Kong or Sequential Circuits

[@devawer]

…and everything would still be plastic.

[@eladreltuc]

I have an ob6 on order. Am I silly for buying an ob6 over this for its price point?

[@RJ1J]

Such a great demo of the sound and basic features. Many other reviews focus on all the features rather than demoing the great sound.

[@JayKaufman]

Andertons for the win on the box design. More bloody companies should do this zip remove design instead of having to get out a combination of cutting tools.

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

You have to start the tuning process first w it the first time you power it on. Only once tho.

[@vmnyboys8308]

Why does it have that eternal noise?

[@StarskyCarr]

I think I made the error of powering via USB - I can’t remember

[@We.Are.Lockhart]

Nymphes sits perfectly on the right top of my Nord Electro 5, as if it were made for it. This will be my gigging duo from now on (to replace the DSI Tetra, due to its wonderful sound and more hands on control).

[@stephanearnoux]

It has the same oscillators as Sequential Take 5 ;)

[@michaelkrestan5483]

The menu is horrible, sorry. I didnt want to work with it. Yes, the sound is really good, but all in all I didnt have fun with this tiny and overcomplicated menu.

[@godot5082]

Same, sold it because of that menu chaos. To save a patch is over complex shift than no shift and so on. And this weird decision with the amp env on the shift page, so you cannot change the cutoff of lpf and change the amp env. Completely sucks

[@SourDiesel69]

I’m buying it. Miss my 106 I sold 10 years ago.

[@martinmatthews1589]

When John orders his Moog One please can you ask him to get in touch ? 😉

[@DaraM73]

Great sounding synth, but fucking hell, that rotor shift blink combo reference card interface is dreadful, it would melt my brain, which is my second favourite organ…..A Hammond being the first.

[@StarskyCarr]

Haha the card is only useful to get you going. It’s actually quite simple - but obviously not as intuitive as knob per function.

[@drydessert4198]

The pads are *a* *lot* more alive than the Juno 106.

[@leetronix]

Hmm…So why do you always put your link to perfect circuit? I thought you were a British KZbinr or do you just aim your channel for Americans only?

[@StarskyCarr]

Haha they’re the only ones who have offered me an affiliate programme. The US is my biggest audience btw (30%). But if someone wants to offer me one in the EU I’m all ears!

[@ricardopires9889]

How did you achieve the 6 lfos to be independant? Through menu? Please help. Thaks, great video

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah I can’t remember off hand but it’s an option in there.

[@MichaelRohaly]

Well, it sounds great. That'll do.

[@terrymacklin5935]

Is there any way of saving patches via usb?

[@StarskyCarr]

I’ve not found one …. But not fully read the manual yet either.

[@Cledus2000]

I just take a picture of the synth, ha

[@AdamSpade]

Damn it. Now I wanna buy one... Which will then make me want two more.

[@markchristopher2signal2]

The best synth review channel big league!!!!

[@Seanrayamusic]

Sounds amazing! Wow. This would be amazing for travel gigging.

[@MichaelSydneyJones]

Thanks

[@StarskyCarr]

Wow… thank you 😀

[@robertlee1176]

Just a top channel right here

[@queenpurple8433]

What adapter did you use to connect to usb-c? I’ve had bad luck with adapters

[@StarskyCarr]

I think I just used one of my standard cabkes … I found some that worked on Amazon. amzn.to/3JtqTHE

[@allencowley2112]

This is an odd question. Just wondering if I joined your Patreon account if you've got some tutorials on how to create some John Carpenter sounds. Specifically some from his Halloween III ost. If you don't would you consider creating some tutorials. I'm willing to pay for them. I have the Prophet 6, OB6, and PX. Thanks -

[@allencowley2112]

I have the Prophet 6, OB6, and PX - thanks.

[@StarskyCarr]

They’re not particularly difficult sounds from what I can remember (I’ve not tried or studied them). So maybe something I could look at for the channel.

[@Barefoot_Joe]

No cats, I'm out 😉👍

[@StarskyCarr]

haha they were actually on the table just out of shot for a bit :)

[@markjeffery3237]

'The least user-friendly UI since the DX7. Discuss' 😅

[@markjeffery3237]

Great sound though, and a great review as ever. Compliments of the season, SC👍🏻

[@StarskyCarr]

It's quite easy to navigate once you understand it. After making this I made a more detailed run-through (this was taking ages to render so while I was sitting there I thought I'd do something useful). Not sure if its good enough for a general release though. The lighting is awful, so I may reserve for patrons.. The point being I played with it for an hour and got right under the hood, enough to demo it.

[@henryhill92]

That's ridiculous, the UI is very simple once you've, you know, actually learned it

[@symbiat0]

@@markjeffery3237 Dreadbox put out a video going through the UI a few weeks ago - its actually quite simple and logical.

[@pontiuspilates]

But what's the point of having sliders instead of pots then if you change something in the menu and the top layer parameter becomes misrepresented. This synth clearly needs to have at least a tiny simple screen just like in Typhon.

[@pontiuspilates]

Amazing sound, nightmarish control 😭

[@SR-ih1be]

Still holding out for the ob-6

[@Mchannemann]

I've got Typhon from them their synths are quite something

[@tsirekasmusic]

mono TS output? no TRS stereo??🙄

[@StarskyCarr]

No … it’s full on old school like my Polysix, Prophet 5 and Prophet 600. Not something I miss tbh. It’s only the chorus on the Juno’s that need the stereo, and I mainly use external fx, but no - it’s mono.

[@tsirekasmusic]

@@StarskyCarr hmm.. mono out on a reverb..

[@StarskyCarr]

@@tsirekasmusic so is the grandmother and 2600. its a similar sounding verb, so maybe keeping with the mono spring vintage feel?

[@tsirekasmusic]

@@StarskyCarr right, looking forward for more demos maybe..🙂

[@MichaelSydneyJones]

Thanks

[@darkmountains321]

Thanks!

[@JayKaufman]

You're the second reviewer I've seen with a manual out trying to figure out how this thing works - which isn't great marketing for Dreadbox. :( It sounds amazing mind you!

[@StarskyCarr]

It’s pretty easy once you’ve read the leaflet! This was literally me opening the box and having a play, so couldn’t avoid the quick start guide :)

[@mudi2000a]

WHY are they not including a display? I really don’t get it. If I would design this it would sure have.

[@StarskyCarr]

It's actually super simple to use. I'd prefer double the sliders than a display tbh, but it works well as it is, just the occasional tweaking of the wrong parameter but no big deal.

[@mudi2000a]

@@StarskyCarr maybe in the video it looks worse than it is. What looked annoying is the need to hold shift for VCA env access.

[@StarskyCarr]

@@mudi2000a yeah.. it’s hard for it not to be obvious when demoing as you do need it for the vCA env. But it’s really not an issue once you’re using it. A ‘106’ setting would be good so you could edit them both as one.

[@wolfpackpresets]

Sounds great for a little synth! Happy Holidays *

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks, you too.

[@sentokan]

Too bad u didn t demo the polyphonic stuff like chorda and pads..

[@StarskyCarr]

Here you go… another demo I made after having it for a while kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJCsnKKAa7mKrck

[@sentokan]

@@StarskyCarr thanks so much!!! Just wondering if it s true polyphonic, or is it paraphonic

[@StarskyCarr]

@@sentokan it’s true polyphonic

[@sentokan]

@@StarskyCarr Mono output? on a polysynth?

[@sentokan]

It would be so great to make a vs comparison between OB-6 and Nymphes.. :)

[@AlainHubert]

Very nice sounding little blue box! But I'm a bit confused, its specs are 1 VCO per voice, and 6 voice polyphony, yet we can clearly hear what sounds like detuning between 2 VCOs @ 6:33 ? Is there a mode where you can stack VCOs at the cost of reduced polyphony, or perhaps a unison mode there? Thanks for sharing!

[@jakubberan2720]

Yes there are multiple modes. You can stack two(3 voices) or three osc (2voices)

[@AlainHubert]

@@jakubberan2720 Thanks for the info! 👍

[@StarskyCarr]

What you’re hearing at that point is some slow PWM, but yes you can have it in 3 voice mode with 2 osc per voice detuned.

[@bigmanlizard7326]

it does sound lovely and i love dreadbox as a company but the deepmind exists and it basically the same price for the 6 voice so i dont know.. i understand youre getting the form factor with the nymphes though, crazy its got that sound for such a small thing

[@ghostfrom1950]

Not That I’m trying to change anyone’s mind or anything but in comparison to something like the Deepmind, it might be worth noting that Nypmhes is VCO

[@jno8039]

@@ghostfrom1950 the drift setting on the DM make sound a DCO close to a VCO

[@ssmith2019]

How can they fit all that analogue circuity in such a small space ?

[@StarskyCarr]

I think they use ant man’s tech.

[@ssmith2019]

@@StarskyCarr Makes sense ! I was afeared it were voice on a chip tech . . .

[@wrmusic8736]

I just wish it didn't have that absolutely terrible "woke" marketing - it was kind of a turn off for me. Keep that off of synths, don't want to associate them with the weird "down with patriarchy" stuff.

[@StarskyCarr]

I think it has to be seen in the particular context of the Greece’s increasing murders of women by partners. (Dreadbox is Greek). And there are calls for more legislation etc. maybe it was clumsily translated and didn’t quite hit the right tone. But I think it was done for the right reasons. Not big on anti-male sentiment myself, being a male and all that!!

[@paul_burney]

As a business owner I would rather not have any customers who us the term ‘woke’ without irony…

[@rossawilson01]

I’m sure if you reduce a complex systemic form of oppression that affects both men and women negatively to being ‘woke’ then Dreadbox aren’t bothered about having your business.