IK UNO SYNTH PRO // vintage analog tones in a modern body // review & demo

[@Pulse2AM]

I've owned a lot of high end synths, this has it's own sound which is good. I always buy synths for the sound signature more than the functions, I bought a Virus because at the time I was a pro remixer doing Trance remixes for some labels and it was the best Trance machine of the day. Anyhow, nice review thanks! Don't think I'll buy one but never say never.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Awesome comprehensive presentation. The UNO defo has a unique bite and character of its . Forget what it looks like etc. Let the sound do the talking and this certainly does.

[@ogasi1798]

love this synth - the bigger one that is, wicked tones, super job as always fella

[@craigturb]

Wonderful review - this synth sounds amazing.

[@EvilDragon666]

Great sounding little synth!

[@ZTAudio]

Stellar job as usual. Much respect.

[@Sebastianandthedeepbluemusic]

I have one and so far all the demo tracks I have made with it sounds so magical. big fan of it. looking forward to a poly synth from ik. one thing I wish this could have pitch bend go to 24 steps instead of twelve and that it bent smooth instead of stepped. so it could be used with instrument for long pitch glides.

[@CatmanJimbo]

Has IK said a poly is in development? That would be really sweet

[@Sebastianandthedeepbluemusic]

@@CatmanJimbo nope but I bet it would be coo

[@JDSoundsets]

Nice review and Demo, sounds very vintage and the fx sound great esp the 30 sec reverb ! :)

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks … it’ll be interesting to hear what their pedals can do.

[@xmeoff]

Great sounding synth & great tune at the start

[@floatinganarchychannel3204]

You are in my top 5 list of synth explorer in the world, alwalys pleasure to watch your videos!

[@StarskyCarr]

Always nice to hear 😀

[@jrodohio]

I've slept on this synth. Just ordered the desktop version.

[@AcidAlex]

@starskycarr did you find many bugs? I just bought this after watching this video and it seems to have a lot of issue. The most annoying are these two… 1) LFO Trigger is not saved with the patch. After restart it will show as being ON but it is actually OFF. You have to turn it off and on again to get it to retrigger. 2) When “clearing” parameter locks you can select the parameter and clear the lock and it will leave the note and other locks intact, but when you clear the last remaining lock it will delete the entire note. I’ve literally only had it an hour and I found these bugs. There are others too… 3) If you Link the Cutoff for Filter 1 & 2, then the filter cutoff settings are not saved correctly with the patch. 4) Synth parameter settings (e.g Cutoff) aren’t recalled correctly when you first play the sequencer. If you stop and start the sequencer, or change to/from a different patch, then they are recalled correctly.

[@femto859]

Anything new so far? - so linking with an lfo for example(the cutoff)?

[@StarskyCarr]

Just noticed this now… 7 months later!! Did any of this get resolved? I might check on the new one.

[@AcidAlex]

@@StarskyCarr no they never updated it unfortunately. I did report it. 1,3 & 4 are temperamental, sometimes work sometimes not. Mines in the loft now 😂

[@horizontalaptitude]

got GAS and brought a pro synth and Pro x and ithey are amazing lovely units !

[@aquaticborealis4877]

I have a Summit, which is a stellar synth. You can do just about anything with it. But I also have the Uno Synth Pro, and the sounds are just amazing. I also like the sequencer.

[@delatronics]

Fantastic synth at a very low price, am satisfied with using VSTs at present but this is a very tempting bit of hardware (Waldorf M is also tempting). If they brought out a poly version of the UNO, I would certainly buy it.

[@frankenfrank9553]

That creaky lead sound is fantastic. Will there be a video of you at the IKM booth at Suberbooth 2023? Do they have anything new (new synthesizer or drum machine) on display?

[@StarskyCarr]

There was none there when I went in today, will try again tomorrow. Must have been on a sit-down break - it was late in and everyone’s feet get tired but then 😀

[@benzmobil]

I really like the sound but I wish they didn't cut costs on knobs on the larger model and made it proper knob per function layout. That would be a killer mono synth!

[@danielfeatherstone674]

This or Deepmind 12?

[@apislapis]

That lead sound is absolutely fantstic. Fabulous demo Starsky.

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks, glad someone noticed :). I love the qacking it makes - really gritty, and goes against the look of the synth - which is one of a very modern and well behaved synth - not a screaming maniac!

[@ilikeitdark13]

Have the problems been fixed? Im thinking of getting it as its been reduced to 270.00....

[@magnuseriksson8081]

How did you get that great sound at 3 min? is it easy to get gritty sound like that, if it is I will buy as I can't really play on the keys. Worth buying for me?

[@StarskyCarr]

Tbh I just fell into it. It’s a preset called Big Arp. I was messing with an arpeggio… found a sound called ‘arp’ so tried it, tweaked the filter. And there it was!

[@magnuseriksson8081]

@@StarskyCarr Love it!

[@moistpeanut5986]

If this was released before behringer existed then this would be the best budget synth. But today we have more choices at better prices.

[@ilikeitdark13]

I'm looking at this now, for about 270.00. What would be a better option for that price?

[@thegood9]

When this comes out as a true polyphonic synth, I will have to have it.

[@StarskyCarr]

I think making a VCO poly is technically on another level - keeping all voices and filter tuned with each other etc.. so I wouldn't hold your breath - but you never know.

[@e-conrecords4665]

How many notes of paraphony? 1 per VCO?

[@Dudderlyful]

That's right yeh

[@StarskyCarr]

Yes that's how paraphony works.. it accepts a different MIDI note for each oscillator.

[@andrewmcconville7673]

Great video! Thanks very much! Question: Can you send MIDI velocity to the filter cutoff with this synth???

[@StarskyCarr]

Yes… it’s got a hugely flexible mod matrix. Default on slot 1 is velocity to filter (I think… but it’s definitely possible).

[@andrewmcconville7673]

@@StarskyCarr Brilliant. Thanks very much for the reply!

[@chebtamer]

Nice review 😊 What kind of audio out cable are you using in this video please? The green/blue ones

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks. I get them from eBay uk I think they’re visiosound but there’s another manufacturer I can’t remember the name off the top of my head. They do lots of colours and sizes. absolutely essential when I’m Plugging and unplugging stuff for the videos.

[@alexwestconsulting]

i'm not going to lie, the unos sound nice. they do. i'm also not going to lie by saying saying that I like them.

[@mh22xv]

Hey Starsky! Great review! Question: So out of the IK UNO Pro (desktop) and the Roland SE-02...? Best Regards from Stockholm Sweden.

[@StarskyCarr]

I’d go for the UNO - although it’s got the matrix interface there is the free app for editing. The Se02 is just too small. So neither are great hands on but Unl wins there… plus uno is more flexible. … 2 filters. Great fix, unique tones - it’s got both Minimoog and odyssey tendencies.

[@mh22xv]

@@StarskyCarr Thank you for your informative answer. Helps a lot! /M

[@christoroppolo8742]

A 61 key version is“Rumored “ to be in the works with a real screen for editing. I’m praying that is true. But it does indeed sound wonderful especially the stereo spread . The sequencer is dreamy and although not as granular as some per step it’s very capable The SSI chip integration was a very good call too! Peace 👽

[@zurlocker1]

Really needs a bigger screen especially on the larger form factor.

[@hazybrain7]

Cool review ! Any sign of the plugin editor ?

[@StarskyCarr]

I think its pretty close I saw a demo of it somewhere - I think they're clearing bugs and beta testing.

[@tranceemerson8325]

this little guy is packing a really interesting filter

[@Themumblur]

It’s actually a dual filter with 24 modes my friend

[@Nonpartisanmusic]

Imagine if your car didn't have individual pedals for each function, but instead, just one pedal, requiring a button press to switch between accelerating, braking, and changing gears. That's why the UNO, like the Blofeld, flew under the radar. Everyone craves the simplicity and joy of one knob per function. While the UNO gains points for being analog, its downfall lies in the reliance on four multifunction knobs, making it difficult to access important features easily. The UNO Synth Pro X serves as evidence of this flaw.

[@brentvirgin4902]

I wonder how this compares/contrasts with another budget analog synth, the Behringer Deepmind. Obviously the Deepmind is polyphonic, whereas this is paraphonic. But I must say I am digging the sounds of the Uno Synth Pro. Hard to tell on a video, but it sounds a little "beefier" than my DM12. The sequencer could be used to sequence the DM12, as well. Any thoughts on whether this would be too redundant with a DM12, or would it potentially pair well due to different strengths?

[@StarskyCarr]

It would definitely pair with different strengths. This is essentially a 3 osc dirty mono. The deepmind is 2 osc Poly. Completely different from most aspects … I think they’d be great together.

[@Jason75913]

Uno Pro compares more to the Pulse2 and Bass Station 2, and maybe the Monologue, plus the Behringer monos otherwise, it is a companion for the Deepminds because the Uno Pro kills them at bass, and boasts nicer trebles than any Behringer to boot, so better for leads as well depending on what you want to achieve

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

The Deepmind 12 sounds fairly enough anlog when using unison, but then it turns into 6, or 3 x polyphonic synth! I owned one.

[@thegoony]

Grabbed one of these, Andertons have them on offer at moment £80 off. Waiting for it to come. :)

[@StarskyCarr]

Excellent - it’s such a great sounding little synth.

[@thegoony]

@@StarskyCarr yep likewhat I have heard on many demos, cant wait to get it. Did try a dreadbox typhon, but had horrendous USB noise from it, which a USB isloator fixed but that knocked out the usb midi= no win situation.

[@AcidTechnoMan5000]

Did it come? :D

[@AtmelcoolBeatsZ]

Poor desktop quality. Warranty expired and broken. Problems with the power supply, the choke inside the synthesizer and the TPS6 5131 chip are heating up, there is also no sound and the display does not light up, apparently a short circuit.

[@alexanderbluhm8841]

Uhhhh the stranger things animation 😍

[@moritz_schoenermann]

Really Niiiiice ! ! ! ! ! Could you synthesize PolyMoog´s VOX HUMANA on the UNO? :)

[@StarskyCarr]

You could recreate the tone - as it's got 2 LFOs (1 per oscillator)... but you could only play a single note at a time as each note uses 2 oscillators. The paraphonic mode would need 4 oscillators to play the low and high notes simultaneously.

[@moritz_schoenermann]

@@StarskyCarr That is really fantastic to know. This is a lovelly little monster and your reviews always make me think about buyng every single piece of tech release! :D !

[@emmanuelsalesiani7987]

Il. A des prise. CV Gate....entre audio.

[@TooSlowTube]

It's good that they actually put MIDI sockets on this one, but did they really have to go with micro USB, the most fragile and crappy version of the USB connector available? Presumably, they think synths should be disposable, like the way most people seem to feel about phones, because a lot of these sockets are going to break. The 3.5mm phones socket is probably doomed to have a short life too, for anyone who uses it regularly. Why are IK obsessed with putting such shitty connectors on relatively expensive gear?

[@JayTheLane]

Totally agree.

[@Silanda]

I agree. Micro USB on a instrument is a dumb decision. Space isn't hugely constrained, so why not go for the much more robust B type connector?

[@StarskyCarr]

I have to say it’s my least favourite design choice as well.

[@Jason75913]

the headphone socket never failed me on any smartphone in many years - the USB socket is a different, less fortunate story, and the 3.5mm sockets in pro audio gear seem much less robust to me I even used to make a little cash servicing MIDI controllers with broken USB sockets in the past. Freelance.

[@troublesomecorsair]

If you pair this up with a Faderfox EC4, you'll be adding four rows of 4 knobs to your knobless UNO Pro but it doesn't work very well....

[@femto859]

Why are faderfoxes being used? They are so expensive comparing to other controllers with endless encoders

[@waggon321]

Choon!

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks :)

[@SendyTheEndless]

18:18 Basement Jaxx Where's Your Head At : )

[@StarskyCarr]

Good spot… also Gary Numan (the original sample).

[@Jason75913]

You feel the tone is vintage? Sounds modern to me.

[@StarskyCarr]

Yes, all those gnarly little bits in the filter and the sound of the VCOs has a real vintage feel.

[@edmundtrebus4084]

In your face sound. Like it

[@wreckage-vs5jv]

Nice demo but I suspect that TAG to be fake.

[@StarskyCarr]

Cheeky!! Haha. Nah it’s the real deal. I traded in the tag connected for it. It was a special edition made for folks like me who started to have difficulty reading the tiny text 😂🫣🤓

[@smalltown4855]

a massive pelicans feet

[@fjfrancois]

Not to popular is what I see. But who cares is Analog 😊

[@Jason75913]

@Snake Plissken not an analogue, or as good sounding

[@StarskyCarr]

I know, it feels like it gets more -ve than it deserves. Maybe people are so used to knob per function these days from things like the Behringer clones that a matrix doesn't compute?

[@HiLoMusic]

Purely from an aesthetic angle, this is the ugliest synth I think I’ve ever seen, especially the big one

[@davidsynge7030]

Maybe it’s their strategy to stop Behringer from copying them...

[@Jason75913]

can't say I agree, I think Casio takes the cake for producing some of the ugliest synths in the past, then there's the Microfreak, Timbrewolf, and Akai stuff in more recent times, and some of the Roland Aira gear have too much green, looking like they were meant for a Romulan market (a Star Trek alien race), the Uno Pro looks a lot better than any of these, better than the lower end Moogs, too and if the red puts you off, remember that Nord established red as a "pro" color decades ago 😝

[@valley_robot]

@@Jason75913 I have a micro freak and I think it’s great looking , it’s a future classic

[@valley_robot]

Massive no from me, the original uno was a piece of plastic junk ,sent mine back after a few days with it

[@dancarter5595]

IK need a new designer.

[@Jason75913]

nah

[@thegoony]

maybe you need a new optician.

[@JayTheLane]

Only paraphonic. Real shame.

[@teamphil]

Don’t buy! It just stopped working correctly and sounds like garbage! I got it on reverb and it was unopened. Ik multimedia will not give me any warranty on it. Worst company

[@davidbanner9001]

Sounds great, looks like crap. It really doesn't appear to be the easiest synth to use?

[@Jason75913]

we have plenty of worse

[@nilsvanderplancken]

looks like a $25 midi controller, tasteless design

[@synesthetica]

Fantastic, oldschool sound! IK just has to do something about their design, because it simply doesn't match the sound this synth produces. It looks like a midi controller and not an oldschool sounding synth. Very unattractive, un-inviting,I have to say.

[@StarskyCarr]

… and that’s why they’ve just released this… ** NEW** UNO Synth Pro X // review and demo kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJuraqqJYq6tb68

[@Harukazedonmon]

Test this with the moog voyager