M-Audio Venom - inexpensive 12 voice, 4 part multitimbral virtual analog synthesizer

[@expandingknowledge8269]

I use my Venom everyday. I run hard and soft synths with it. Also use Four outboard effect devices with my equipment. The Venom cost me five hundred dollars when it first came out. This is a much underated synth, that just needs exploring ! Cheers !

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! Yes, this one flew under my radar, I noticed it exists some time last year when browsing ebay.

[@ET2carbon]

If it flew under your radar🪂 the subjects target altitude had to then reach altitudes over your radar range therefore I Stanley see the subject

[@jordanWAH]

@@ET2carbon BOOO!! Somebody report this guy to the know-it-all division of the Joke Police! That was a crime against all KZbin comments, sir!

[@ET2carbon]

@@jordanWAH must have been on something ha ha aha

[@djjuno106]

I got mine last year.. It was brand new for £100 I bought it from a guy who had bought it for his son who was at uni years ago. He'd put it in his attic and was gonna surprise him with at Xmas when he came home but he forgot he'd bought it and never have it too him because his son went travelling instead. It's an amazing synth and m audio should release it again but this time as a desktop synth. The sound engine on venom is superb it's got a dirt I've never heard on anything else the filters are great too. I love the ppg sounds and has some brilliant synthwave type sounds if anyone sees one for sale buy it you won't regret it.

[@mr_floydst]

Hi, thanks for watching and sharing your story! I found a handful of these on online market places for around $120. That's a ridiculously low price considering what you get. This synth has some unique features and a very unique sound. But one day, the editor will stop working because of windows updates. Hope someone will make a plugin for one of the general purpose librarians&editors. Best regards!

[@andresbarahona1782]

Its an excelent machine

[@MasterMainak]

My God!!! The Venomous Patch!!!!!!!! i also love the Accension patch a lot as well as the Ang Piano. also bro lol at the Please Stand by Screen :P i almost felt like your face was looped there lol!!!! very entertaining

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching :)

[@MasterMainak]

@@mr_floydst Always Broski

[@Flangad]

wow! ths is the best Maudio Venom demo!

[@mr_floydst]

Thank you very much!

[@astrogerry]

Wow ... wow ... I am impressed ... it's really a great synth !!! Thanks for sgaring and ... a big like for you, my friend !!!

[@mr_floydst]

Thank you too!

[@astrogerry]

@@mr_floydst 🙂😊😀

[@tobytoxd]

GLASS PIANO and some Filter and Resonance adjustments will beam you away! Amazing synth!

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching!

[@tobytoxd]

@@mr_floydst Thank you for sharing!

[@jamesharper5850]

Thanks so much for this review, it helped me a lot in deciding whether I should buy a second hand venom, and I did, yesterday! I have a Mac computer and I see that there are some difficulties getting the software to run on macOS. Have you any suggestions what to do? Do you know of any third party interfaces that work on more recent mac operating systems?

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! I found you can use the software editor with a normal USB MIDI interface (like this one amzn.to/2DGCrKb ) and it will work just fine. But prepare for a ever so slightly longer booting sequence, as shown in the video. :-) If I remember correctly, you have to choose the standard MIDI interface in the software editor first and then restart the app.

[@jamesharper5850]

Floyd Steinberg Thanks so much for the reply Floyd. Sorry, I am new to this so I need to ask a clarifying question, maybe it’s a stupid question. Do you mean to say that I can easily access and manipulate native patches of the venom by using this cable and following the steps you just listed OR that I can just use it as a MIDI by following the steps you listed?

[@mr_floydst]

@@jamesharper5850 Both. You can use it for MIDI and editing sounds and settings.

[@jamesharper5850]

Floyd Steinberg Awesome thanks again Floyd you’ve really helped me out, I appreciate it

[@xp50player]

Sounds good. Wish they had kept going with development.

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! I agree. While working on this video, I came across some bugs.

[@sawtooth808]

Alas when M Audio was sold to InMusic, support for The Venom was cut, sadly

[@remisolmusic]

hello sir can is venom good as midi controller i would like to use it with my DAW programs and vst 's.

[@mr_floydst]

You can use it as a MIDI controller, and while it's certainly not bad, a dedicated MIDI controller might give you more... control.

[@remisolmusic]

@@mr_floydst thanks for your reply so what about they keys quality? I'm confused between this keyboard or m audio axiom pro.

[@mr_floydst]

I thought the keyboard action was quite good, very playable. The keys didn't wiggle and had a good response.

[@remisolmusic]

@@mr_floydst okay thanks sir 😊

[@powers_media]

got mine in 2011 and I still use it from time to time. It has one of the best multi modes out there. my filter knob is dead! ☹

[@mr_floydst]

I agree, it's pretty good. Reparing the filter knob should not be too hard - those encoders are standard components and soldering them does not require special tools...

[@powers_media]

@@mr_floydst thanks for the encouragement. wouldn't be the first time I switched a pot. I was afraid they would be hard to find because they are the "endless" kind.

[@blahblah606]

I've had mine since 2012. I've been really happy with it. The data wheel is broken now though. When you go through patches or parameters it jumps around instead of going numerically. I still use it but rarely because of the data wheel. I hope to fix it someday. Great budget synth!

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! You could first try to use contact spray on the encoders. You'll eventually have to replace them, though, but often, this fixes the problem for a year or so.

[@blahblah606]

@@mr_floydst Thanks! I'll give it a shot.

[@2112jonr]

Dude, DeOxit is your fix. Just mind how you use it, stains clothes line crazy.

[@sophiabozok]

Thank you for sharing all the details of information.

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@jordanWAH]

WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME ABOUT THIS? This thing is absolutely amazing for the money! PS, your nose whistles when you breathe in! I expect this to be fixed the next time I watch this video. Thank you!

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! And uhm... no, that's not possible. KZbin doesn't let you change a video after uploading (I guess for legal reasons)

[@jordanWAH]

@mr_floydst ok, I'll talk to my lawyers. Thanks 😆

[@KazmaHD]

This is a sick sounding synth, but the lack of knobs and sliders really deters me

[@matiasmartinez7208]

mine doesn't take as long to boot up. im using Windows 8.1 64 bit. idk why the editor takes so long on your PC. also i don't have any problems with the midi usb

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching. The USB drivers do work on Windows 8, but break on Windows 10. I used a standard 5 pin midi interface as a workaround, which is considerably slower than USB. That's why the boot process takes so long.

[@CharlesTetaz]

@@mr_floydst the drivers do work on Windows 10 - I am using 5.1000.5142 on Windows 10 Home 2004 - Also I have the full version of Midi Quest Pro which supports Venom and all my other Synths for editing. Venom editing via USB works fine in this way. (Vyzex is pretty old now)

[@mr_floydst]

@@CharlesTetaz Hi, thanks for your feedback! It's a while ago now, but I remember the audio driver worked while the USB midi stuff didn't work properly (I couldn't get the patch editor to import data from the Venom via USB). But I can't rule out it was my mistake. :-)

[@Cmensailing]

I want one to link with my arq ! Sold where do I get one in a semi lock down!

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! There are a couple of these on ebay right now. Put an alert on new posts and you should be able to pick one up for the same price as the one seen in this video (I had to wait for two months).

[@emmanueljoste195]

Selling one in London if you're still looking?

[@felipearroyomelo8031]

Hi! I'm still waiting for the next video about this synth 😅 Anyway, did you realize that every change is sent via midi? It makes the venom to be controlled by hardware, without the need of the software. Do you accept the challenge of creating a midi controller for this synth? Excellent video by the way, maybe the best demo for the m-audio venom. Best regards!

[@mr_floydst]

Hi, thanks for your kind words! The Venom is a good synth, I mostly remember it's extreme filter resonance whistling ;-) Unfortunately, there'll be no f'up video, I sold the Venom in the meantime (I don't have space for lots of hardware...)

[@felipearroyomelo8031]

@@mr_floydst ok, I understand. I also sold mine, because I moved to another country, but I'd like to buy a new one to do what I told you in the previous post. I want to build a midi controller for this unit. Well, if you get a new venom I hope you keep this in mind. Best regards and thanks for your response!

[@baertnicola6440]

I have a brand new one , i still dont know how to save a bas or a drum on the multi part without pc , so i have loop to play on with other sound .. it whas my dream ,but its so hard to figure it out how eveything works ... i just whant 2 play and record something , and then play again on the recorded loop with another sound ... can anybody help me 😔

[@mr_floydst]

Hi, thanks for watching! I'm afraid you can't record songs with the Venom only, as it has no built-in sequencer. You'll need an external hardware (a PC with a DAW or a dedicated hardware) or an external multitrack audio recorder.

[@baertnicola6440]

@@mr_floydst thanks for you reaction !

[@WildAnalog]

Do you still have your Venom?

[@baertnicola6440]

​yes ,i still have the venom .. now i just buyed the minifreak , and they sound amazing together! now the problem is to find vyzex working on win 11 ... i downloaded the vyzex but cant find how to Find the venom .. in this video ive seen the solution with the 5pin midi cable but my pc dont have that connection . any help someone ?

[@romulinprince]

What is the circular lighted device that is in sync with the music?

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! It's a ZOOM ARQ 96, a sampler / synthesizer / groovebox jack-of-all-trades music thing. I made a video wiz verry batt englis pronouncition some years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnXcoqWop7Cdg9k ;-)

[@wighttoan]

The other demos I've seen on this always show off the aggressive, dirty sounds you can get from the Venom. You made some great ambient drones here. I missed the chance to get one locally, pretty much "new old stock" barely used, box, papers, even a t-shirt still in the package. They were asking $360 Canadian though :/ Currently on Reverb there are a few for sale in Europe at higher prices, then shipping.

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! The filter on this thing is pretty insane ;-) You'll often find this one for around $120 to $160 used. If you don't have any hardware synths or MIDI keyboards yet, that's a no-brainer.

[@wighttoan]

@@mr_floydst I have one coming to me from Austria. I paid way too much thanks to shipping. But I wanted it for a while now. I was watching demos of 90's E-Mu gear and noticed that the Venom looks a lot like the E-mu Halo and PK-6, XK-6. It's like M-audio painted an E-Mu white and ripped out some controls.

[@mr_floydst]

@@wighttoan Congrats! It's a unique sounding synth.

[@stevetidwell612]

Hey, folks. Nice video. I noticed you had trouble with your usb and had to use 5 pin midi. SOLUTION I'm using windows 10. You have to turn on the usb. 1st turn on syth, next slam the edit button. Then go down to the edit global value, next 1 thru 16 Again, slam midi out until usb is turned on. A heads up, you may hit edit top right button until you get the jest of it. Ps I may need your help with my yamaha mu2000ex, my Japanese isn't so good. Thanks for all the help you share. Oh yeah, start the venom software AFTER you make the usb setting Mine has worked every time. Greetings from Atlanta Georgia

[@mr_floydst]

Hi, thanks for your advice! It's been a while, but I think USB was on - must have been some other problem. I think I used a USB hub at the time (as I always do) and some devices don't like that.

[@khalylehagood3222]

How dare you make this while I'm waiting for prices too fall, especially so soon after sonicstate's Friday fun smh.

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! Well, that video by Sonic State came as a surprise... I had been working on this for some time now (see my community tab). Now I'm looking like a copycat, omg. ;-)

[@christianssonicspaces494]

Very nice video!!! It's one of the most underrated synths in the past. The Venom can sound "different" and extremely agressive and is a good fit to other VA/analog synths. I really like it. BTW, the first thing I did when I received my one was to remove the orange lable on the right side :-D

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! I don't want to do that. I kind of like that sticker, looks like it belongs there. ;)

[@Xerion404]

The sticker fits better than the unreadable gray on white, let alone the gray on gray ;)

[@degardin]

Where can i get this patches please?

[@mr_floydst]

These are the factory patches - if you don't have them, try this page www.venom-synth.com/patches/

[@kolvaman]

Good video thanks, time to re’use my Venom 👍

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching!

[@boimesa8190]

when will u release ure follow up video?

[@mr_floydst]

Hi! I'm afraid there will be no follow-up to this one, as I already sold the synth again. It's a uniquely - sounding keyboard, but the MIDI driver issues I experienced really didn't help. (Some commenters mentioned the drivers work for them, though).

[@boimesa8190]

​@@mr_floydstwell that sucks

[@XavierRadix]

Seems like a great synth if you're on a low budget! I'm sure this thing sounds great with a few outboard effects or some good plugins. That boot-up time is a bit sad though... Hahaha.

[@mr_floydst]

That's some british understatement right there. Waaaaiiiiit... ;-)

[@can1424]

Thank you !!!

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching!

[@kolvaman]

I had luck when i bought my Venom new, the price was 150 euros, directly i said that price is a mistake, and i had luck , the week after they said SOLD OUT,.. it was not sold out, because of the price mistake, the price was then 450 euros big difference to go from 150 to 450, i had luck and still happy

[@mr_floydst]

Congrats! That's a good deal. The venom could use some more interface elements. Sadly M-Audio never tried their hand at a hardware synth again.

[@campobasso]

they call it steal, I think ;)

[@valley_robot]

i have been after one of these for ages , very cool little keyboard based groove box , sounds great as well , a bit of bitch to program but so what

[@mr_floydst]

Hi, thanks for watching! I only recently noticed this synth exists. They're not too uncommon on ebay and other marketplaces, and every now and then, someone sells them for 120€ ($130). For that price, you get a lot of features.

[@emmanueljoste195]

Selling one in London if you're still looking?

[@sokoleski]

Love my Venom , it keeps surprising me soundvise, i'm a happu camper as long as the editor works, which it does so far on my mac. There is (i think) two different iPad editors aswell, and a great Venom group on Facebook. facebook.com/groups/m.audio.venom/

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! Yes, it's a deep synth. Lots of possibilities.

[@sokoleski]

@@mr_floydst YES, looking forward to more of your explorations and see what you come up with.....beyond all the Vanilla sounds, that Venom also does so well, BUT i love Venom when you start pushing it to 11. It gets nasty like nothing else!

[@removalist1995]

Too bad it's a software dongle. 😔

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! I've seen the "Bad Gear" show, too ;-) Well, yes and no. Once you edited your patches, you don't need a PC. But the editor will stop working one day...

[@removalist1995]

@@mr_floydstI came very close to buying one once, but that was the ultimate deciding factor in be going elsewhere with my money.

[@campobasso]

Why are you affraid about it is not going to work? Do you mean they are going to shut support in Windows 10? Anyways, having a Windows 7 machine is not much of a sacrifice considering that there are plenty of older hardwares which cannot be used because of the shitty Windows 10 line.

[@removalist1995]

@@campobasso I vastly prefer to have all of my sound editing stuff in one machine and not relying on anything else. I ended up with a Yamaha V50 which I still adore and use today. I can edit everything on it without much trouble. Besides, back when I made that comment, I was very much into the DAWless crowd and wanted the least amount of computer stuff in my workflow possible.

[@pquic]

DISTRO KID... oh you mean the service thats recently scamming multiple artist for up to 30 percent of their earnings

[@mr_floydst]

Thanks for watching! Yeah I heard about that, but this video and ad was planned long before that happened. I only saw one video claiming they are scammers?

[@pquic]

@@mr_floydst yeah i saw two videos but they referenced other artist that have experienced this or some sort of other unlawful behaviour from distrokid and in my opinion one or two really scammed people are more than enough to completely distrust a company

[@2112jonr]

@@pquic Ever though it might be someone with a grudge? Everything I read said that basically the guy who claimed that was a lying dweeb who was complaining about having to pay his taxes on income, just the same as the rest of us do. And usin DistroKid as click bait for his whinging. Zilch to do with DistroKid. Just some thicko from the "But moooooom, I expect everything to be free" generation of hard done by princesses.

[@mr_floydst]

Yeah, that was my suspicion, too. DistroKid have a "brash" way of communicating things and perhaps they didn't communicate the fact that there's a tax imposed on money transfers from the US to foreign countries clearly enough, but for real. Everyone should expect that. My personal experience with them was super friendly.

[@maxhult830]

Why not rip off that awful ugly orange sticker?

[@mr_floydst]

Hi, thanks for watching! I bought this synth only for doing a couple of videos and then resold it. :-)

[@2112jonr]

Because it's not allowed. Synth lore.