Holy Moly Polybrute

[@AlexBallMusic]

The end tune: alexball.bandcamp.com/track/hold-on-polybrute Thanks for all the kind words.

[@davidbaker231]

Reminds me of Howard Jones, but I like it more.

[@brainwilson4122]

which would you say is more straight forward and better for industrial?

[@wietzejohanneskrikke1910]

Hold on is a fantastic song.

[@IKI-KIKI]

Bravo!

[@tq2769]

Are those all presets you're using? Or did you design them?

[@chiefbucknell]

Just an appreciation comment, to say that I appreciate the hell out of all you’ve done on this channel, all your talent, all your humor, all the humility, and all the tasteful music, and on and on. I don’t take for granted the presence of one such as yourself in this synth video presentation/education/review/tutorial/historical sphere. And, I got a little misty eyed when you reminisce about getting your start with Arturia VSTs in the late ‘00s, then coming full circle to Arturia outside-the-box, serious hardware Poly all these years later. Stepping back, pondering what it all means, all you’ve learned and experienced and traversed-I’m all for it. Cheers, man. Thank you. I still love and learn from that Terminator soundtrack video, which I think was my first exposure to your genius. Okay, ‘nuff said.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you Keith, that's very kind of you to take the time to say. Yes, it dawned on me part way through making the video that my first soft synths were Arturia. Funny how that's all unfolded.

[@RedMeansRecording]

This thing sound so wild for an analog synth. Really did a great job with it, arturia did.

[@RedMeansRecording]

Also great track at the end!!

[@MajorTom404]

@@RedMeansRecording Immediately came down to the comments to say the same thing, Jeremy beat me to it. So uh, different compliment, terrific editing and I love the learn/demo format!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers both!

[@baconfister]

Dude, totally. If only this synth-and Alex’s amazing musicianship and creativity-existed back in the day, this garbage hiphop crap would never have taken root and ruined the music industry.

[@khalylehagood3222]

@@baconfister what an awful take.

[@Bawookles]

That "Hold On" tune was a nice bit of 80's flavor! Great stuff as always, Alex!

[@AlexBallMusic]

It will never stop being the 80s. 😉

[@robertmyers6518]

@@AlexBallMusic Espen Kraft approves this message.

[@Drpiwi]

For me it had a bit, actually a large bit of Marblesounds vibe going for it. Not cmplaints here.

[@drinkinslim]

@@AlexBallMusic I love the continual resurgence of 80's music and the MAJOR come-back of analog synths. I especially love that the new generation seem like them as much. Thanks of course goes to Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, etc.

[@JanPrze]

Wow, what a great song you made! I'm really impressed that a synth youtuber is actually producing beautiful songs instead of just evolving ambient music or a 16 bar sequence repeated 100 times. The song is great man, mega props 🔥

[@leonlkowalski]

I was really impressed by the synth. I was even far more impressed by the quality of the music you make with it. Absolutely brilliant!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Leon. Yep, glad to pleasantly surprised by it.

[@aptudo]

*Thoroughly entertained!* I expected a musical review of the synth; I didn't expect a real song that I genuinely loved at the end! Alex, you're great.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Rob, thanks for saying!

[@enochroot9438]

a quality of the Polybrute that should also be noted is that it is such a sensory pleasure to use, expressive, fun, inspiring and at times almost meditative

[@tonelab]

I think we've got a new future classic on our hands with this one👌🏻

[@dmomcilovic9185]

Wait 20 years to see price double

[@MS-Patriot2]

@@dmomcilovic9185and all the electrolytic caps need replacing. Hope the long obsolete chips in it are stored carefully somewhere for restoration! Just powered up my 35 year old DX7 and she started first time, no smoke 😊

[@jolesco]

Nice sounding synth. I had to replay "Hold On" a few times, that's how awesome it is

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@nik_elektrik]

Love „Hold on“. Also as a German I liebe das deutsche vibe in ze beginning. Nerdich by nature. Keep up ze good arbeit.

[@final_mile_music9713]

Ich liebe das English/Deutsch mash-up. Es ist sehr fantastich, es ist nicht?

[@CargoCulture]

First time hearing Hold On - my new favourite tune!

[@blakecasimir]

Another great video from you, Alex. But I have to say I was absolutely blown away by Hold On. Bravo.

[@Relax70]

Hey Buddy, it brought me to tears just watching the symbiosis between you and this masterpiece of a synth (the song) . It just made my day to see you still got that much passion inside of you. Please never loose this gift and keep on doing your work 👍😎😘

[@redneckjunior1]

Your reviews are phenomenal and not to mention your talent behind them. As a synth player you always seem to give me new ideas on my current rig and sometimes help me to explore things I have put away, and it’s like unlocking new levels. Thank you sooo much

[@jlindborg1105]

You made a really nice song with this synth! Great job! I REALLY love that bass - chord that follow each other in the fast chord change. It really struck my 80's nerve.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

I’ve had mine for 6 months now and it is a phenomenal synth. I say it’s the most acoustic synth I’ve ever played as it sounds so musical, the timbres go from reeds, to horns to pianos in one sweep, at a flick of the morphé it can sound huge and caustic and resonant. It’s easily as growly as the Matrixbrute if you want rot to be. It’s already a classic to me.

[@dustyrhodes1655]

I'm waiting on mine to show up and can't stop watching videos!

[@Lainer1]

I was wondering if I could make a good piano sound or strings with this. I was looking at a Kurzweil K2700 for the piano and string sounds as well as that workstation feature, but this seems like it would be so much fine to experiment on. If I could make a good quality piano on it, I'd get it.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

@@Lainer1 I haven’t attempted outright to make a piano but have heard some piano-esque sounds while a patch is morphing which gives me hope. TBH if I was wanting piano I would go straight to a plug-in or sampler / synth with piano samples.

[@DasHemdchen]

Got mine for nearly a year now, and still in love. Finding something new daily. Most reviews focus on the digital realm, which PB can reach in via VCO2 > VCO 1 FM, Steiner Filter FM and VCO1 metalizer, in conjunction with its mod matrix. But it‘s an analog synth, and thus it sounds just beautiful, fat, makes you smile. Great review, finally Alex and PB, I‘m astonished how much you extracted from it in a short time, and the song is great. Not by the PB sounds used, but by your creative songwriting, finding the perfect harmonic balance between pop music and interesting music. Love your channel!

[@_Synthesize_Me_]

That tune at the end gave me goosebumps!

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Gosh, that’s a bloody nice synth! And that’s also a bloody nice closing song too!

[@Deepwatermusic]

Great video review! Like the Hold On song at the end too. I had to listen to it several times.

[@motherbrain2000]

DUDE! Your songs NEVER fail. I'm a fan.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Marc!

[@checktheevidence]

Super - really enjoyed this tour and the wonderful "Hold on" - thanks!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@dougplate8234]

I really like how you geek out in the gear AND always fasten it firmly to music making. Your puncturing ditties always drip musicality. Thanks Alex.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@ConwayBob]

Holy Moly, your voice sounds amazing over this dream of an instrument -- and I love the song!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you Bob.

[@Subparanon]

01:15 "A musician was found crushed to death in his home late yesterday. Sources say he was trying to unload a synthesizer he'd just received in the mail when it went tragically wrong." R.I.P. Alex Ball he died doing what he loved, being crushed by the awesome CS80.

[@creepingjesus5106]

"...paramedics say they'd never seen anyone squee themselves inside out before, but that's what they found. Doctors at the hospital are hopeful that the patient will make a full recovery once his filters sweep back to zero..."

[@AlexBallMusic]

On the plus side, the CS-80 chassis was big enough to double up as a coffin.

[@Halfpipesaur]

what a way to go

[@kistemaggi7704]

The CS80 as a coffin and a Moog modular as a tombstone..

[@mauriziomauricone]

Rumour has it the official cause of his dead reported by the authorities was the COOF... LOL.

[@tehedx]

Holy Moly, Hold On is such a hot track! You and your instruments melt together into gold

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@b.plasmabubble1485]

I am glad i watched this video up to the end, a very nice bonus track i would say !

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you for sticking around!

[@ElectricHimalaya]

You Sir, have an amazing talent. That tune at the end is right there at the top of the Synth Pop charts for me. Howard Jones for 2024! Oh, yeah, and I love the Polybrute too.

[@mógsindt]

“Hold On” sounds like the new material I’ve been waiting for from Van She for ages now.

[@superE1113z]

Hold On is a BOP, Alex! Great job, man! When I get mine, Imma do something amazing with it, too!

[@Tunerguy21]

Your videos never fail to have me leaving with a smile on my face, and yet still wanting more. Even after multiple playthroughs. I get the itch to play synths I've only relatively recently grew an attachment to, despite never really putting a finger to a keyboard before. I think it might soon be time for me to pick up a small midi controller and some softsynths to figure my way around. Perhaps a Keystep and some of the V Collection, maybe. Thanks for the videos, sounds, and music. "Hold On" is brilliant. As a side, I'd just like to mention how damn good the Polybrute looks. Its quite the looker, to my eye.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you! Yes, a controller keyboard and the V collection is basically what I used for several years. It's much more advanced nowadays but you can try lots of stuff out and figure out what you like.

[@compucorder64]

V collection is awesome. 9 is definitely an improvement on the CS80, Prophets. And the Ensoniq SQ80 is one of my favourites. That said, if I was starting from scratch ... I'd probably start with Arturia Pigments over V collection. Because it's super powerful, and gets great updates. And there's tons and tons of patches, tutorials out there. The UX is great. It sounds amazing. And it's a lot cheaper than V collection, and focusing on one powerful synth might help you focus. You can rent to buy on Splice. Arturia's Keylab Essential and Native Instrruments Komplete A49/A61 are both good budget controller choices around 200ish.

[@PulsarGlitchMusic]

You can really make any synth sing. Your videos are incredibly engaging and the humour is on-point. Excellent work! Now let's just wait for that CS-80 to magically appear... hopefully.

[@ClemensWennersMusic]

You made it sound absolutely gorgeous!

[@RikMaxSpeed]

Yet another absolutely fantastic video - love that bass line in the last piece!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks!

[@aquaticborealis4877]

A pretty flexible expressive synth that excels under your creative expressions. Great song at the end. The singing was awesome.

[@johnpaulpatton9786]

You don't need a CS80, you have a PolyBrute! Awesome song!

[@andrewtrushinski3848]

"Hold On" is a really good song. Really enjoyed that.

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Love the track at the end, wonderful vocals, well done!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Jack!

[@jeffreywestcott6918]

That is an awesome track at the end man. Could listen to it all day.

[@nickhaldin8674]

That track at the end gave me total MuteMath vibes. Bravo 👏🏼

[@Superlover]

that demo song at the end is fire!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks!

[@drummermusic]

Beautiful track at the end. Kudos!

[@Arceden]

The sounds this synth is capable of making is absolutely phenomenal. Definitely looks like a synth to save money for

[@raymondjones4390]

Mine just arrived... your demo and review is spot on. It's an insanely incredible instrument. Worth every penny. Great Video and ending track.

[@JorbLovesGear]

What a demo, always a treat to see what you conjure from a piece of kit, and the track certainly shows it well. And I quite appreciate that summary of your thoughts, your sentiment of closing the loop is really resonates with me, thanks for sharing that.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks, good to know!

[@FlowJunkie65]

Brilliant review and tune. I'm off to bandcamp to purchase it - that's how much I enjoyed it.

[@boybianchi]

That track at the end though. damn. so good.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers!

[@johnsterthemonster9181]

Dude. That song is so good. So good. Just watched it 3 times in a row and want to keep humming it lol

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you, nice to know!

[@iancallender2432]

Killer video, wonderful outro track as always. I have yet to hear a sound that I haven't immediately fallen in love with out of the PolyBrute, I'm absolutely itching to have one just as soon as I can afford one

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, rewarding synth from a sound design perspective. Hope you get yours soon!

[@jimmythebold589]

conceptual track should be on spotify.

[@pianoyam]

I really appreciate your harmonic vocabulary. And great end tune!

[@UglyBunnyJase]

"Hold On" is an amazing song!! Well done - your passion for synths is so infectious. Makes me want to just hole up in my studio for years and make noise!

[@65skyjet]

Woow....the performance....!! Bravo Alex, the Synth is a Dream complimenti Arturia

[@RaddMann3]

Polybrute sounds so rich. Thanks for video.

[@davidbaker231]

Thank you for doing this. I was one of the trolls who ignored your "don't you dare...". Lovely tune at the end. Nice vocal arrangement.

[@nrsynth8945]

very good song Alex, the vocals more than the synth!

[@mechlo]

You're stepping into Jexus territory with some of these patches. Brilliant.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Praise indeed, thanks! Although I think Jexus will always remain one-of-a-kind. Incredible talent.

[@83RTU5]

Very nice demo and really nice work on "Hold On". Thanks Alex!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Bert.

[@dudfaz]

Wow, this is the Polybrute at its best! Fantastic sounds and great review. Beautiful track, also!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@SarahMaywalt]

Well, you we're my top artist on Spotify last year, and if you release an album of songs like Hold On this year, you might have a chance to repeat.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Sarah!

[@synth4ever]

Congrats on the PolyBrute Alex! It's a very versatile, expressive and DEEP synth. I believe it will take years to explore due to all the possibilities... Arturia knocked it out of the park and happy you were able to obtain one! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers! Yes, lots of ways you can go and it's a nice journey programming it!

[@DaveG207]

11/10 for your chord choices!

[@Wazoox]

Wow, the synth is great and the song it inspired you is fantastic. Kudos. Now I want both the Polybrute and the Alex Ball album that goes with it.

[@fredbrenno]

Nice review, and an even nicer track at the end. You are really an impressive songmaker and performer, Alex !!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Fred!

[@DerekPower]

1) As I've said elsewhere, I think we will be talking about the Polybrute forty years from now the same way we talk about that ever-elusive CS80 now. 2) I've been waiting for that CS80 to come from the post. I would imagine the freight bill being as high as say ... well, a Polybrute =D 3) The fact you can have firmware updates makes this quite the classic already. The latest one has added duophonic aftertouch. I am hoping that a future firmware update would allow for polyphonic AT or, barring that, MPE support. If that happens, then you truly have the same kind of expressive instrument that the aforementioned CS80 would have. 4) I also remember getting Arturia when they came out with their first wave of software synthesizers emulating the hardcore classics: the Moog, both big and small, the Jupiter 8, the ARP 2600, the Prophet 5, and, of course everyone's favourite big poly, the CS80. They have almost quintupled in the number of these synths, including one of their own design, and even ventured into virtual processing too. And as far as physical incarnations, I even remember the Origin and the Spark. But all the same, it's amazing where they've gone and how far they've come. Here's to many more tunes. Cheers =]

[@AlexBallMusic]

Could be! Will be very interesting to find out what is revered in the future. It has the potential.

[@aster6000]

Love how the intro foreshadows the end tune!

[@JackMellor498]

The Vangelis sounding bit gave me real chills.

[@SolidtraxNL]

That end track: amazing Alex! Wonderful video as well! And needless to say, but this instrument is one of the instruments on our short list to have a go with for sound design and to give a thorough test drive.

[@premises602]

Great sounds, great track at the end! Damn I want one of these.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

Do you remember the 80s, where synths had about three buttons, a four character LCD display and you had to navigate four levels of menus just to change the volume? This synth is the exact opposite of that.😁

[@AlexBallMusic]

Haha, yeah.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@AlexBallMusic I hope you finally get that CS80, mate 👍 Vangelis must be sticking his on eBay soon.

[@BBfanfun]

@@FatNorthernBigot dude, just get a DX7. knobs are sooo over-rated !

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@BBfanfun I had one in ‘86. I never got the hang of FM synthesis.

[@BBfanfun]

@@FatNorthernBigot i still keep a TX-7 & old MIDI rig (classic Mac to edit/seq) basic & few distractions = helps focus on playing

[@DJBuglip]

Lol, can't blame you for trying man. I'm glad I found your channel, I'm a guitarist but I adore synthesis and have since my stepdad let me play with his minimoog the first time, in the mid seventies. Your approach to content is wonderful, and your original music is quite good, and inspirational. Thanks, please continue.

[@DancingMeditation]

That is such an amazing track! The synth is also not bad... Joyful Salutations!

[@AlexBallMusic]

🙂

[@hawk194]

Another great review. Really really like the song at the end Alex. Superb vocals and images. You helped me to decide on a new polysynth. I went for the Novation Summit which arrived yesterday. Loving it. Thank you for all your insights, reviews and above all the music. Brilliant.

[@eddydeegan]

I'd been hoping you'd get around to the PolyBrute one of these days Alex. I like the way you've eschewed the 'feature rundown' that so many people do and focussed on demonstrating it in use, which after all is what it was built for. I certainly love mine and I really liked the various riffs and fragments you chose for this video. A super song at the end too, lovely job!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. I guess Ziv at Loopop and Marc at AutomaticGainsay do the whole deep dive thing so well that there's little point doing it again. It also means that different channels do different things and compliment each other. Have you got any tips and tricks to share as an owner?

[@BWP-u3y]

That hybrid sequencer/arp is crazy! What an amazing synth design!

[@stryker1999]

I swore I'd wait until I was getting seriously into music again before I bought another keyboard, but I've been lusting over this beast for so many months now. And then Alex pulls this stunt, darn him... Yes, every synth has something unique to bring to the table, but the PolyBrute is just an exquisite joining of so many delicious elements together... I have to have it. And that last song taking us to the end of the video was your best tune yet! I haven't heard but a small portion of your vids, but that song is going to be seriously hard to beat, and the PolyBrute brought it to life magnificently.

[@SessionsWithMike]

Great video. Incredible use of the polybrute with hold on.

[@DeafbyDesign]

I bought one of these a few weeks ago! My music will never be the same again.

[@hardlyme779]

Happy New Year, Alex Love the synth, wish i had my fingers in one myself and that track at the end was awesome. Gonna be stuck in my head for days.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Baz. Yes, grateful to get my hands on one.

[@JohnLloydDavis]

I've been nothing but impressed by Arturia's products. I have the V collection and they are the only synth plugins that I tend to use as they are so great. Now I know what I'm saving up for next! Thanks Alex :)

[@midnightsocean2689]

Superb. It's really nice that huge analog synths still exist in the new make market.

[@daveturbide9051]

Alex, your videos are always exceptionally tolerable.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Haha! Thanks.

[@Tyetheberious]

Love Hold On! Well done! It perfectly showcases the PB's awesome timbre.

[@DaraM73]

Back on form, a nice jolly video.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks old bean.

[@st0rmchild]

Damn, this thing sounds fabulous, especially in the right hands.

[@ManCalledMif]

love 'hold on' and thank you for all the fantastic synth videos. very entertaining and informative 🙌🏼

[@Stue007]

top sound track at the end - thx for demoing this beautiful synth

[@B_T_B]

Utterly brilliant review. Superb song at the end. Thanks Alex!

[@Skootavision]

Fantastic track (Hold On?)! Arturia weren't on my radar really, apart from early VSTi days, but after the keystep pro I was so impressed I bought a microfreak this week and I love it. THEN this video appears and I'm loving this. I'd only heard some fairly predictable morph sounds and also, for no good reason, thought it was digital. I'm planning a big synth buy later this year and now I think it might be this one. Great demo's - really showed it's breadth and potential.

[@rossjackson2455]

Dude, 'Hold On' is a fucking weapon!

[@mattjcrane]

Nice peaceful sounds. I like how every synth person puts there own sound on things

[@AlexBallMusic]

The joys of hardware. 🙂

[@MattUFO33]

What a great way to start the day - brilliant!

[@leeselectronicwidgets]

Lovely video (and song!). I can’t recall you being so obviously chuffed with a synth before!

[@berniestep]

Another superb review, then he knocks it out of the park with a cracking track at the end - Outstanding! Thank you Alex.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers!

[@dijjidog]

the "bells end" title made me laugh more than it should have

[@AlexBallMusic]

Because it ends with bells! 😏

[@StrayMedicine]

Got to mess with one of these at guitar center. Immediately was intuitive to use. By far the best first impression of a synth that I've ever had, it is easy to make really pretty sounds with it.

[@chienperdu7256]

The review is great - but the song is the real thing here. Beautifull work!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks!

[@paulconwayVT]

Cracking track at the end Alex👍🙏

[@christopherwilliams2092]

Some real edge of the universe moments with sound very exciting as well as a personal Balrog moment for me with the mention of the Mines of Moria. Well done as always from the planet Xynth.