NINA synth: dreams come true (review & jam)

Melbourne instruments NINA shows how synthesizers should be built to provide the best of both worlds: the look and feel of a real instrument and the total recall comfort of a software plugin. Thereby NINA defines total recall in the most consequent sense with an approach that makes up a milestone in synthesizer history. The only disadvantage: once you have played with NINA any other synth feels incomplete.
00:00 Intro
01:05 Overview
01:33 Old problem
02:03 Nord solution
02:31 Nord vs. Nina
03:03 Nina experience
05:03 Demo 1
06:03 Demo 2
07:59 Demo 3
08:55 Demo 4
09:50 Multi Layer Jam
Setup: Melbourne instruments NINA recorded via Zoom AMS-44 audio interface on iPad pro running AUM. MIDI: KMM K-Board directly connected to NINA, Multi Layer jam with KORG Nanopad and iPad Mozaic app for sequencing and “meta” morphing of 4 layers

[@garaughty]

Lovely work on this, excellent demos Pete !

[@PeteMidi]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@modularsoundbath]

Great video! Lovely sounds 😊

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@JamesRussller]

The sound is absolutely amazing my god

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@Pheonix0114]

Beautiful jams

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@YanivhmTube]

It sounds great! 👍

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@OryShihor]

Great demo - honestly my favorite one on KZbin of this synth (especially the last track). I now need to go learn mine..

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot for the feedback! 😊

[@OryShihor]

The last track is amazing. I have this synth and have a to learn

[@videosuperhighway7655]

That score at the end reminds me of the Tangerine Dreams score in the movie Wavelength.

[@rodolfonothstein]

I fell in love with this synth! 🙂

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@jayallison3514]

Fantastic Pete!

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks! 😊

[@brandonaikin5445]

Thank you for your passionate demonstration. I am also a loopop fan. Sometimes, however, he can be so objective that it's difficult to see the beauty. I guess that's by design... Anyway, you've done a great job of showing what someone can do with this instrument from a creative perspective. Thanks!

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot for the great feedback! 😊

[@RayR]

I personally stay away from popular influencers on whether to buy a synth, it just doesn't make sense to listen to them when you can use your ears and make your own decisions. Pete's demo at the 6 minute mark showed me every thing I need to know about the NINA. Thanks Pete.

[@GNeuman]

Years ago I had a Yamaha AW2816 HD portastudio, it had motorised faders, was pretty freaky and cool! This synth sounds wonderful! Thanks for your excellent demo! Greets from across die Grenze🇨🇭👍😁

[@PeteMidi]

😄Many thanks for the great feedback!

[@johnrichardson3297]

Excellent!

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks! 😊

[@weltenbummler_3-ey6sz]

Fantastic. That's the best I've heard so far. Thanks.⌨️🎛️🎧

[@PeteMidi]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@GiltaxRPG]

Se ve precioso, y más con la estética de los botones que son las de un teclado de computadora

[@drofdissonance]

Awesome video

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@Dogboy73]

Amazing, revolutionary synth. I want one. But too expensive for me. Hope they make a 4 voice version with less features but the same knobs. Would still be amazing and I could probably afford it! 😅

[@IrrationalRecreation]

I don't think I'm sold on the motorised knobs but it does sound very good and you made some lovely music with it.

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@gumbochamp]

That first patch is a killer

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@liamg6328]

Very nice 🙂

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks! 😊

[@bonaventura_AKA_ben]

😂😂😂😂😂3600 bucks!!!! And I thought musicians were poor. Covid made a lot of people insane! Pete it is always a pleasure to see you in my KZbin feed. Danke for the laugh 😃

[@PeteMidi]

😉

[@shaunm1030]

Very nice. Perhaps they'll release a cheaper version just with that knob in the bottom right, because thats all you seem to be adjusting.😄

[@PeteMidi]

😅

[@citruesilver]

Nord modular g2 und g2x haben ebenfalls endlosencoder mit LED Kranz... Aber Nina ist schon sehr nice... Top Video, danke!

[@PeteMidi]

😊 Die nord modular synths haben die guten Knöpfe nur für einen Teil der Parameter und die wechseln auch...

[@klstay]

The price seems quite reasonable given the size of the company and evident build quality. There seems to be no problem paying about the same for a 4 octave monotimbral Sequential with a far less capable voice architecture and the "pickup or snap" patch change knob issues all other synths have. (Granted they keybed is quality, but still...) The biggest question for me remains why not the Nord Lead 3 path? Would high resolution encoders and the LED surrounds have been less reliable or added greatly to the cost? Also, given it is multi-timbral there is perhaps room here that still comfortably sized knobs and dual concentric LED rings might have been used to show 2 layers simultaneously - push down for outer ring. THAT would have opened my wallet.

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks for the feedback - I don't know why there is no consequent realization of the nord lead 3 principle anymore... I guess it would be possible at much lower cost than high precision motorized knobs.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Are all those sounds coming from the Nina? No other instruments or effects? I placed an order for the studio it would be used for Film scores,foley. It sounds unlike any other instruments in the studio including Moog modular etc..

[@PeteMidi]

It's all Nina incl. internal Fx, it really sounds refreshingly different

[@DetroitMicroSound]

I used the Nord Mod G2, for several years. At the same time, I used Behringer BCR2000 with Reaktor, and Ableton Live. The LED encoders are great, as long as the encoders are durable. I used to also be an SU700 sampler user, a few years before that, and wore out more than half of those encoders in about 2 years, to the point of not functioning. This thing is super cool, but really expensive, and the dependability of the motorized encoders is not yet proven, for aggresive stage use. Latching a standard pot, so it grabs when you find the location may not be glamorous, but it's proven to prevent jumps in data values.

[@PeteMidi]

Good point, I have the nord 3 keyboard and rack since 2004 and 2007 in my studio, no issues so far. I had problems with other kinds of knobs, on my evolver keyboard (horrible!), volcas, etc. From the Nina knobs I have the impression of really high quality, the technology is different from everything I know, not comparable with motor faders or any other controller. But finally about durability, only time can tell...

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@PeteMidi I hope it's proven out. And you know that because this company is doing it, others like Behringer who have massive component buying power, will jump on, immediately, if they think can make a product come to market for a lot less, with the same amazing motorized encoders. Before long, if it proves out on stage, every company will want their best synths to have the feature, then, not long after, even middle of the road gear... BUT we can make very tiny LED'S today. VERY CHEAPLY, even.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@PeteMidi Got my G2 new, in 2005. Such a great synth. Too bad it didn't come on the market today, instead of the mid 2000's. It would be a true giant today. Stock. Probably just connect a tablet via bluetooth, and noodle away...... Like 16 pages per perf worth..... And vastly more powerful processing...

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@PeteMidi What I love, is when pots/encoders feel designed for years of continuous frontline warfare. -But I excuse the wobbly ones, as long as no jumping occurs.

[@PeteMidi]

Yes, the feel of the Nina knobs in my opinion is really excellent 👍

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Very interesting. This has some awesome features ! Aussie Aussie Aussie 👍 LoL

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@P-S-T]

Great! Any wishes in a future firmwareupdate?

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks! On top of my list is MPE 😉

[@P-S-T]

@@PeteMidi Perhaps on it’s way. 😉

[@GNeuman]

Defo a Vangelis Bladerunner vibe going on in the last jam...

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@vers1fier]

It has four independent synthesizers, does that mean you can have four sequence loops running together?

[@PeteMidi]

Yes, four independent synths!

[@MadelnMachines]

I've sold every synth with presets that i've ever owned for this reason. I absolutely hate it. I think I need this! I could actually use it as 4 synths no problem and recall my presets.The hydrasynth seems to solve these problems to some extent. I'm not yet convinced about the Nina's sound really. Any synth can sound good coated in reverb and effects. I wish it had a multimode filter too.

[@GiltaxRPG]

😮😮😮 WOW, si mueves la perilla de morph se mueven los otros parámetros 😮😮😮

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@crime_wavcorp]

i've watched a few demos and the reverb sounds amazing. the filter is a bit harsh for a VCO synth, but all in all, the synth is pretty nice.

[@TheDavidPoole]

Hi Pete. I've wanted this synth for about 40 years. It may be a tiny bit gimmicky, but I love it! Now, I just need to sell some children to afford it 😅. Beautiful demo, as always! Cheers.

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks for the nice feedback! 😊

[@SonicVibe]

4k it better sound good lol

[@PeteMidi]

😉

[@Subtronik]

Highly innovative synth but it’s price puts this way out of reach for most home studio musicians.

[@jeffevansmusic]

The problem with this is it is way too expensive. Its close to $6000 here in Australia. (Its actually made here and it should be affordable for Australians but it is not) For half that you can get a mint condition second hand Sequential analog Prophet synth which still basically kills this for sound. After all its the sound that really counts. This is still not in the league of the Oberheim OBX8 or Sequential. So before you rush in, do some research and check into what's available for half the price. These boutique synths are way too costly. We are all going through hard times with cost of living going way up. They will not sell many of these. Then the company might go broke and there will be no support years later. Have you thought of that.

[@PeteMidi]

Yes, for sure, it is expensive. But this is the synthesizer user interface I always wanted. The sound is refreshingly different from all these classical analog synths. So I'm quite happy with this device in it's current state (now with MPE!) and I hope that the company will be able to make it a bit cheaper after some time so that more users can enjoy this unique instrument...

[@jeffevansmusic]

@@PeteMidi So its about $5600 here. The wholesale price then assuming 66% would be around $3700. So they must make some money at the factory say. That leaves the cost of actually making it. If they made $1000 per unit at the factory then that means it cost them $2700 to make it. I don't think so. I might be off with these figures but it sounds like a money grab to me. It should be around $2000- $3000 retail here in Australia. Then I would be very interested. Its sound is not that unusual either. In the scheme of a busy arrangement you would not know the difference. Ideas count, not the tools. Look I get it is a nice synth for sure but there is tons of competition in this price range. All I am saying is look into them. Modal Electronics has gone out of business now so pity for the people that bought their synths.

[@jeffevansmusic]

Look if Melbourne Instruments loaned me one for a bit to test out and I was able to do some serious sound design stuff I am sure I would be impressed.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

What are you talking about it not sounding good? This instrument sounds amazing and I have oberheim,sequential,moog instruments etc.. even a Moog modular and eurorack modular. I placed an order because of the sounds, moving knobs is icing on the cake. It’s priced competitively look at the price of an OB-8X module.

[@jeffevansmusic]

@@videosuperhighway7655 Its not breaking any new ground sonically though. Its still just an analog synth with a wave table oscillator. Its not a lot different from the synths you already have. For less money there are synths that are way more interesting and adventurous sonically.

[@Jimbo386000]

I'm always afraid to watch new synth videos because then I might get GAS.

[@Sharkwhisperer]

3600 dollars

[@microfx]

out of my way low wage peasent! (German translation of a meme 😀 no offense!)

[@Sharkwhisperer]

Yes, I guess complaining about the 3600 dollars price tag makes me a pauper...

[@PeteMidi]

It only happens once in 20 years that I buy such a synth, so next time in 2043 😉

[@Confuzius]

i don't need this