Reface DX + DTronics R-DX synth controller/programmer

Here's a little ambient/atmospheric jam using the reface DX and the extremely capable R-DX programmer made by a company called D-Tronics.
Comment if you have any questions and thanks for watching!

[@microgrampy]

Thank you for making this video, been waiting to see more of the R-DX in action. Love the sounds coming out of the DX as always.

[@thebrackett]

Sure thing! More to come, too

[@AviPFine]

wish i knew about this programmer module a few years ago. that is way cool

[@KatherineAlicia]

Beautiful sound, Thanks! xx

[@chintimin]

This is incredible

[@thebrackett]

Thanks!!

[@stanisslaz]

Hi, it’s a great instrument for eletronic and spatial music, stan

[@samuelgrainge2297]

amazing, thanks for sharing. do you know if this device when connected to the DX still allows you to midi control them with weighted keys?

[@thebrackett]

I don't have the unit to check right now, but I'm pretty sure it has full midi pass-through, so you connect midi to the R-DX and then it connects midi to the DX.

[@lewhughes3079]

This totally sounds like something from Blade Runner.

[@thebrackett]

Thanks! I love the reface DX so much.

[@splashmagnetism5923]

I know you're able to edit all four operators at the same time but I'm wondering how that works specifically for the EG rate and level. If you do that does it just set all the operators to the same setting or if I hypothetically had a patch set up with different settings for each operator would I be able to edit the rate and level proportionally? (That would be my dream come true for this synth)

[@thebrackett]

Hiya, there may be some way to adjust it's settings that I'm not aware of, but as far as I know it just snaps the value for all "active" operators to that value being sent by the knob, so it would be the former of the two situations you described. That said, you can use the buttons along the right-hand side of the unit to tell which operator you are targeting, so if you just wanted to lengthen the release for OP1 you can quickly turn off the other three operators, and then go turn the EG knobs, and then easily turn them back on before altering another setting. Proportional adjustment would be DREAM though, you are 100% correct :)

[@splashmagnetism5923]

@@thebrackett Thanks for the response. Still better than nothing, lots of patches end up with the bulk of the shape living in one or two operators anyways although I'd still love to see a sweet override mod someday that lets us play with the overall envelope

[@thebrackett]

Michael Halls sure thing! Yes, I find that to be true for me as well. Still though that would be awesome. Maybe it’ll show up in firmware some day 🙏

[@valdiskrebs566]

Sounds great! Any patch storage available on the R-DX?

[@thebrackett]

Thanks! No patch storage on the RDX itself, but you can store whatever you dial up into the reface DX. But as I’m sure you know the kobs aren’t motorised or anything. Fortunately the reface DX architecture is relatively simple (for FM), but using the RDX effectively definitely requires that you know the patch that you are working with really well so you aren’t surprised by the jump in value that could take place when turning any given knob.

[@valdiskrebs566]

thebrackett That’s even better. Nice to store all of the patches in one place.

[@henriquenicolau]

this thing is amazing ! it completely makes the DX comes alive

[@Iwtbaf]

Is the DX a good buy? I had one for a week or two but thought the sound was to thin and not big enough any comments will be appreciated. Thank you.

[@thebrackett]

Depends on what you are looking for, but I think it’s a great buy if you can get it $250-275 used or 300 new. It’s pretty sonically diverse, but it does lush pads which can be quite big, glassy and bell percussive sounds and clean and sweet leads really well. It also does a nice bass sound quite well. It doesn’t do dirty/gnarly leads as well, and I do think you have to work to get a “thick” sound, but to some extent that’s true of a lot of digital synths. But sometimes a “thin” sound is exactly what your mix needs, so I guess it comes down to what tool you need? I think it’s a great synth though, and a great tool for understanding FM synthesis in a more hands on way as well.

[@Iwtbaf]

thebrackett thank you so much for the quick reply that’s so kind of you! Thank you for that comment too I love that you care about people having a good time I will probably get it now seems like a fun thing either way.

[@Iwtbaf]

thebrackett do you think there’s a way to get the more we’ll rounded sound of the DX7 in post from the reface?

[@thebrackett]

digital canon I would recommend not trying to make it sound like another synth, it’s very much it’s own synth engine and there’s a grit and balance from the DX7 and even the cheaper DX100, that is hard to replicate. That said you BBC oils probably do some gentle, slower modulated chorus and EQ’ing to help round out the sound a bit. Hope that helps! Also check out the Casio CZ101 and CZ1000 for other options of Fm synths that are pretty great! Good luck!

[@Iwtbaf]

@@thebrackett thank you so much for letting me know about the CZs they are so awesome would have never seen them if it wasn't for you thank you!!!

[@SPAZZOID100]

Have this but selling due to the MEGAFM and VOLCAFM2 being easier to program.

[@atommachine]

R-DX programmer 2 BABY.

[@idilio1976]

no suenan ni parecido...