How To Connect & Use Oscilloscopes W/ Your Synth // + Bonus Q&A!

Beginner's guide to how and why to connect an oscilloscope to your modular synthesizer.
This video was made in response to the overwhelming support of reaching 1000 subscribers! I've listened to your questions and video requests. Thank you for all your support!
Today, I will demonstrate by using a ‪@MoogSynthesizers‬ Mother-32 as the synthesizer. I'll use some adapters and plug into the VCA outputs of my semi-modular synths (3.5mm). Then, plug the other side of the cable to the oscilloscope (Usually BNC or Banana).
Chapters:
0:00 Episode Overview
0:53 What's An Oscilloscope?
2:41 Why Use An Oscilloscope With A Synth?
3:41 How To Use A Digital Oscilloscope With A Synth
5:26 Mother-32 & Digital Oscilloscope Demonstration
7:34 Mother-32 & Analog Oscilloscope Demonstration
9:02 1000 SUBSCRIBERS Q&A CELEBRATION!
9:34 What Was My First Synth?
10:06 What Got Me Into Hardware Synths?
10:48 Music Inspiration?
11:54 Check Out My Music!
12:50 Which DAW Do I Use?
13:25 Would I Consider Doing DAW Tutorials?
13:40 What's The Electronic Music Scene Like In My Area?
14:28 Hardware Vs. Software Synths?
15:07 What's The Music Scene Like In My Area?
15:42 Do I Play Live Music?
16:11 Best Concert I've Seen Recently?
16:27 Biggest Electronic Music Inspiration?
17:04 What Music Means To Me
17:48 Post Process After Recording Audio?
18:14 How Did I Learn Spanish?
19:20 Portable Instruments & Music?
20:10 How Do I Find Time To Make Music & Videos?
20:57 My KZbin Channel
21:38 Conclusion
Check out my music here: hyperfollow.com/TigerArcade
Here's some of the gear used in this video:
Aukuyee Digital Oscilloscope amzn.to/3ESjuQe
BNC to 3.5mm Cable amzn.to/3OJGXYf
Moog Mother-32 amzn.to/3ERyX2R
Banana to RCA Cable amzn.to/3vNfQmz
RCA to 3.5mm amzn.to/36S7nWJ
Korg Minilogue XD amzn.to/39pFQwZ
EHX Oceans 11 Reverb amzn.to/3xVlmWU
Cheaper synth alternatives to the ‪@KorgOfficial‬ Minilogue XD that have an oscilloscope:
Korg Minilogue XD Module amzn.to/3KnlyAG
Korg Minilogue amzn.to/3viVd2G
Korg Monologue amzn.to/3EQz3I2

[@sean808080]

My dad had an oscilloscope in his office. Brings back the memories and nostalgia. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@MarlinForbes]

Exactly the information I was looking for! Thanks and subscribed!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Glad to hear it man! Thanks!

[@timdailey2690]

Great stuff! Congrats on your first 1k!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thanks so much Tim for your support!

[@EchoKraft]

Great Video !

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thank you!

[@treyvisqueux7973]

Thanks for this -- I considered the Korg os and was grateful to see this alternative -- subbed!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

No problem! Glad to have helped! Let me know if you have any questions about this one!

[@treyvisqueux7973]

@@Tiger.Arcade I got mine a few days ago and it suits my needs perfectly! One question: how did you attach it to the tripod?

[@treyvisqueux7973]

Actually never mind -- a closer look answered my question!

[@audreyazwell]

nice! really wanted to get one of these! and congrats on 1k!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thanks Audrey!! It’s a great little device.

[@audreyazwell]

@@Tiger.Arcade hell yeah, I have one on my XD of course but that made me want it for all of my synths haha

[@hanzvolt]

i have that same tiny Osc from Amazon 😆...haha! cool vid man

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thanks Hanz! It’s a cheapo thing but gets the job done!

[@wrenchposting9097]

Nice vintage scope. I use an HP 1200B because it's rackmountable and has an incredibly sharp picture.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I'd love to get somewhere in between what I have. One is too big, the other too small haha! Thanks for watching.

[@lordundhimself1310]

@@Tiger.ArcadeDoes it actually flicker like that or is that a camera thing?

[@persephoneteijo2857]

I am buying a 25mhz OSC and have a jd800 synth (but getting analog soon regardless)

[@adrianh63]

Thanks for sharing please keep uploading education video on synths I’m a beginner and use patches my hero is Tony Banks

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Let me know if there’s any questions you have about synths!

[@hallowedsound]

Just subbed 👍 just wondering which synth you have on your wish list next? Great channel btw all the best! 👍🙏

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thanks Ted! I’ve had my eyes on a few different ones but mainly the Moog Matriarch. I feel like I wouldn’t want anything else for a while. (I say that now lol)

[@dianamiino7391]

Really thank you for this video. I have a small oscilloscope like that, and 2 synthesizers, I was wondering how can I see their waveform. Thanks again and greetings from Italy 👍

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thank you for watching Diana! Many years ago I lived in Napoli as a child. Love your country. Take care!

[@GearGuy]

As mentioned in the video, connect the CV (VCA out) to your oscilloscope and make a few adjustments (in the video)…good luck ! (Actually I just posted a question of what to do if CV is not available)

[@bauhnguefyische667]

Best of luck Tiger! I think I subbed when you had maybe 300-400 subs just a few months ago, so it’s good to see it’s picking up. There is an over saturation of review channels doing the same crap on the same kit in the same week saying the same things. Frankly I gave up watching them all except Hainbach and Mylar Melodie’s who actually are musicians that are still creative as hell. Like you I love a good hardware synth at my finger tips and have close to 30 at this time, 40 years of collecting. The software stuff and DAW are nice in that you can automate, but it loses the feel of live play and free clocking (no universal clock) arps and seqs, the same way a player piano never sounds right to the ears. Why be the synth playing equivalent of Milli Vanilli vocals?🤣 Keep on! 👍👍 I just play for fun anyway and you’re absolutely right as a fellow insomniac, those wee hours are some of the most creative. I think it’s our conscious brain’s way of making up for lost REM sleep. I’m not a doctor, but I almost played one in a middle school production.😉

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Oh yeah, never gonna forget the OG's. Thanks always for your support! You also have a great collection. Regarding hardware and software, there is even a sound difference to me and controllers don't make it too better. There's just a soul to hardware vs software. Especially my Moog instruments.

[@bauhnguefyische667]

@@Tiger.Arcade Agreed on controllers, that’s midi or digital and it can lack the smoothness you get off a true analog pot. It’s one of those things that turned me off with Sequential gear, too steppy. I got to admit I love the Pro3 tho it tends to go silent sometimes tweaking or building a patch and you have to start over 🤬Sounds assume otherwise.☺️

[@yurkinsongromov7998]

. I mean for oscillator and synthesizers? From synthesizers 3,5mm but to oskillator how can I connect? Wher can I by same wire and how does it call on the market?

[@GearGuy]

Great video ! Question: How would you do this for an analog synth that does not have any CV outs (like the Behringer Deepmind 12D) ?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I am not aware of any hardware method beyond the KORG NTS-2 or using a software to display them. I only know how to connect using a modular synthesizer with standard oscilloscopes.Thanks for watching!

[@GearGuy]

@@Tiger.Arcade i am getting an nts-1 (due to all the effect goodies and programability), but I am on the fence about the NTS-2, seems pricey for basically an oscilliscope …. considering a Minilogue Original is only about $100 more and has one built in. Or am I missing something about the NTS-2?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@GearGuy It's more of a 4 in 1 oscilloscope. I personally think it is a bit overpriced as well. Here is a quick run down video I did on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4WYn3qeituVr6c

[@GearGuy]

@@Tiger.Arcade Cool, thanks, I’ll check it out !

[@MrTheog1989]

The reason you need to wind the signal down to view it may be due to a DC offset on the moogs output. I'm only new to the synth world and not particularly familiar with the hardware yet so I definitely might be wrong. you can test this by putting a non polarised capacitor in series with your scopes probe to block and potential DC, if the (not yet wound down) scope suddenly starts showing your waveform then your Moog has a DC offset. Also, check the scopes settings for a DC offset value. If there is one, make sure it reads 0v and save it. (do this before a capacitor test).

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I’ve tested it on other synths and it’s the same I’ve even tried saving the setting to default it. Must be some bug? Thanks for the tips though!

[@MrTheog1989]

@@Tiger.Arcade Sounds like it may well be! Very strange!

[@rferia539]

I was looking at getting a small handheld oscillo vs a digital expensive tektronix. any thoughts on that?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

You can’t go wrong trying out a small affordable one. Upgrade later if you feel the need.

[@id.unknown1283]

Good video and it's always cool to hear how and why people use the musical tools they use. Portable mini synths got me into synths a couple of years ago because you can bring them around and you aren't stuck being tethered to a wall jack. I got a tascam digital 8track (you can record the 8yracks into and record an additional 6 and do over dubs as well) I haven't had time to use it as my wife just had our first child 3 1/2 months ago so I'm not positive on it the specs and how good the UI really is. It's only 16bit though. It's also battery powered which was really the point of that long winded explanation. Congratulations on the 1,000 subs!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I can’t remember if I already said it but congratulations on your baby! I have a 5 month old so I totally understand.

[@id.unknown1283]

@@Tiger.Arcade congratulations to you as well. And thank you again for the congrats (it came up when you posted about synth dad)

[@MrBeen992]

Is the FNIRSI 138 Pro Oscilloscope any good ?

[@maxpolaris99]

Have you checked out Jerobeam Fenderson?

[@jerrybriardy]

Good video but I would like to know how I could use it with non-modular synths.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

You cannot as far as I’m aware. However, Korg does make a product that does work because it has in’s and outs to carry the signal. Look at the NTS-2.

[@petercane6376]

So how do you connect them then?

[@muppetpaster]

My first synth I got from my dad in 1979...An MS20.....Still have it. I was 9/10 years old back then....Eventually I git the complete series (MS10, VC10, SQ10,MS20 and MS50.)My dad had the Korg PS3200 (among many many others..) Nowadays I own about 65 different synths. From Behringer 2600 to MicrKorg to PO33 to different grooveboxes....All about the hands on hardware....Not a fan of VST/PC.

[@sergoz123]

What did you mean when you said the analog ones are dangerous if not used correctly?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Old CRT oscilloscopes can potentially pose a risk as they may produce X-Rays. Which is radiation. Just like old TVs. You just have to be careful.

[@GeorgeLocke]

The thing i can never tell is whether a cheap scope will show slow CV signals, esp. with a "chase" display

[@persephoneteijo2857]

This SHOULD be the same for a digital synth right?

[@yurkinsongromov7998]

Is 3.5 mm cabel has mono or stereo item? I mean inside to synth.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

3.5 can have mono or stereo. When dealing with the patchbay these are mono only. So VCA out would just be a mono signal. As far as I am aware at least.

[@yurkinsongromov7998]

@@Tiger.Arcade Thank you. But can you connect this mono on phone out? Would be go signal to oscillator or not?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@yurkinsongromov7998 It depends on your connections. Is it an output connection or an input connection. the 3.5 mm cables will send and receive signals.

[@yurkinsongromov7998]

Where can I by connectors wire from unit to synts? Can you write a index or name of wire please?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Synthesizers use either 1/4 cables or 3.5 mm to mixers or interfaces

[@yurkinsongromov7998]

@@Tiger.Arcade Tnank you. I mean for oscillator and synthesizers? From synthesizers 3,5mm but to oskillator how can I connect? Where can I find this wire connector?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@yurkinsongromov7998 check out the video description for a list of all cables used in this video. I connected to my VCA output on my synth.

[@yurkinsongromov7998]

@@Tiger.Arcade Thanks, I see!)

[@teamphil]

Can it tune?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I don’t believe so

[@Alan_Watkin]

thanks man, ive a lot of faith in what you do, you seem to resonate with me a bit, some people you can listen to others not so much, my behringer brains has a little one of them, i think its not that great but its a nice to see what you've asked it to do, rather than just hear, sorry for the strange account ive been fishing antagonising, people with views an opinions less fortunate than my own lol, i'll change in back to woosh! again soon, i cant help it so much fun to be had with all the fools out there, also Wyoming Teenaged Bottlerocket not a great band but i like some songs an one album-ish to cheesy really but among other stuff i do linke modern punk stuff, but with me the full on guitar band stuff an synth stuff are quite different other than bands under pinning with synth, i like AJJ (THE ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD) alot they seem to be using more an more synths having been almost a full on double base an acoustic folk band in the early days,,, anyway thanks again, i'll likely be woosh again next time

[@dankeplace]

Imagine if you just wanted to make some quirky sounds, you could just make *oh silly scapes* Dad's joke fail, exit stage left.

[@mattbantz]

if that little guy had a video out...

[@muppetpaster]

8:09 Why not start with focussing your beam, the scope will do a lot better....

[@flourfree2K]

So, that digital oscilloscope is ONLY UNIPOLAR?! A good reason not to waste 50 bucks.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

You can find these things for like $25.