The Strange And Powerful Vector Synth

[@BennJordan]

FYI: The price may be higher depending on your location due to regional tax. #VATlife

[@alternatv1997]

WHat synth would you recommend to control this ? Hydrasynth Sequential pro+ Polybrute/Matrixbrute Keylabb 88 Have a nice day ya'll

[@NunyaB1s]

@@alternatv1997 Ideally something with aftertouch if you want maximum CC options, but that questions alot like asking "what's the best MIDI controller?" which is terribly broad. I've used a Kurzweil K2661 and recently started using a keylab 61. That said, when working with synths like this, I usually sequence from my squarp pyramid and program the synth to loops, so the keyboard isn't as important to my setup as it might be for you. I hope that helps?

[@joaquinosiri6518]

@@NunyaB1s I meant from the synths I named tho, but thank you so much for your reply

[@alexlappano435]

jesus that initial synth flip at the beginning caught me off guard, you're trusting! great vid.

[@djaii328]

Totally agree - I stopped breathing for a second.

[@t3hjnz]

I was just thinking to myself "Trent would dig this" when I saw that you had named the section "Accidentally scored The Social Network". Well played, sir. Well played.

[@Pheonix0114]

Whoa that's ridiculously in-depth synthesis. I'd have to make myself use it as my only sound source for like a year to fully wrap my head around it lmao. Thanks for the share.

[@Xul]

I have one since last week and it really falls into a nice spot between "whoa this is some overwhelming complexity that I'll never completely understand" and "I gradually learn more and almost everything is sounding amazing and interesting" ... It definitely is one of the synths that impressed me the most of all of my other ones.

[@andycordy5190]

You have a young brain and you obviously assimilate tech quickly and instinctively. I am a total addict for exciting sound generators but having a room full of what an old school friend calls "bleep and fart" boxes takes up all my time to just make headway in learning entry level workflow. Your video on the talking Casio got me hooked instantly. That really was a dive in and do it kind of synth. This is a whole universe in a box with many ways in and out. I'm with you on the potential of hardware over software, even though I have access to vector synthesis through the medium of Kontakt VST options and I don't want to go back to the nest of vipers that was my midi studio cabling in the 1980s, knobs are where it's at. This is in my shopping list as of now, seeing this demo was a narcotic I cannot resist (Mr.Toad sees a Ferrari ripping down a mountain road overlooking the bay of Naples). Perhaps not this month.

[@Astra_Dystopium]

This is actually fucking sick. The GUI looks confusing but when you see it on the vector grid it makes it easier to grasp what’s going on.

[@Astra_Dystopium]

@John Verne I am with you on the confusion. I didn’t articulate my comment properly in hindsight. It looks like a graphical representation of an over-engineered German design of a nuclear reactor core control system. However when it’s represented with the animations of what the wave is doing on that grid system thing it helped me have a better grasp as to what’s going on.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

At 10:20 my life flashed before my eyes. Amazing video❤

[@SLRPS]

Some nice sounds you got going with it! I do think at the start you kind of make vector synthesis sound like it is a bit more complex than it is, all it is crossfading between 4 different oscillators or waveforms and using a "vector" to animate it. Also I think the oscillators or sound sources are not the vectors, the lines that the voices travel across are the vectors (like a vector drawing). Vector synth itself has some crazy stuff going on, on top of the regular vector synthesis which is where stuff really gets complicated. But if you take something like a prophet VS you are just using 4 sample based oscillators and using a vector to animate between the mix of all of them and then sending that into a filter.

[@justingoers]

Totally. In a lot of ways it’s some reasonably easy to understand synthesis but with vector based animation between the 4 parts.

[@cornerliston]

A very good example of when a synth gui is so complex it would benefit a lot as a software. Or a larger form factor so that plenty of the settings made in the touch screen can be easily accessed via pots and buttons instead. A really nice sound tool though.

[@8thlvlMage]

One subtle thing I love about this video: You were confident in giving two vague (but positive) semi-jokey ratings for the synth because you know that you gave us enough quality information to make a decision for ourselves. (That's my take at least, and seems to go along with how you operate generally.)

[@DumblyDorr]

I got the iPad version of the Animoog because I love its vector-synthesis via touch-screen... this is... really enticing.

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Oh wow, starting 7:45 things started getting really interesting. This thing is interesting, great sounds!

[@zacharyteibel8580]

Hey guys, owner of this synthesizer here. There's one glaring issue: The volume control is a digital and not external aspect, so every time you switch patches the volume will be insanely high or low and a new patch can at times be accidentally triggered and blast your ear drums out.

[@josephwright5921]

That is horrible. There is nothing like getting stabbed in the ear with a synth blast💥

[@zacharyteibel8580]

@@josephwright5921 Yeah it’s crazy how they overlooked that.

[@impulsecoupling]

@@zacharyteibel8580 Luckily, firmware.

[@zacharyteibel8580]

@@impulsecoupling I wonder if they know

[@impulsecoupling]

@@zacharyteibel8580 good question. Worth an email to them. They seemed pretty responsive when I emailed prior to purchasing.

[@mvsr990]

Can't decide if this would have to be my only synthesizer because of the depth of possibilities or a bonus synth where I would just randomly twist knobs until something cool happens and don't think too hard about it.

[@zariisofficial]

I'm really thinking of grabbing one of these to hook up with my Tasty chips GR1 and combine for some crazy soundscapes!

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

if there are any Logic Pro users here there is a little vector synth located inside ES2 synth.

[@jehwoh]

Love it. I want one 🤩

[@soejrd24978]

I've really grown to love your channel! I'm thinking of releasing my eurorack step-sequencer that I designed on Kickstarter, but no clue if that's a good idea.

[@Leo9ine]

Do it for sure! There's always someone out there who your design will be perfect for, even if it's a small audience.

[@mk1st]

Go for it. The beauty of eurorack is that it's so open ended people constantly think of creative and weird ways to generate and manipulate sound. The only limitation is the height of the module.

[@WeAreAllAstronauts]

Involved on a new AV project based on ice and so much of what I hear from the Vector makes me think of ice and light refracting through it. Going to have to buy one of these for the project now. Thanks so much for this beautiful walkthrough

[@toiletfriend420]

ps they'll take at least 2 months to get to you considering the wait list. ordered mine 2 months ago and still "manufacturing ongoing".

[@WeAreAllAstronauts]

@@toiletfriend420 Installation is for Burning Man 2022, so hopefully they'll have both ours shipped well in advance of that!

[@toiletfriend420]

@@WeAreAllAstronauts got an email this morning saying it has moved onto assembly/testing/calibration so it seems ~2 months from payment to delivery may be about right (assuming the waiting list hasn't grown too much since i ordered or that they're not being hit too hard in sourcing the relevant ICs for the build). (so i'm sure you're right :-) )

[@WeAreAllAstronauts]

@@toiletfriend420 good to know, thanks. Although I’d bet the BJ review and others will have lengthened that wait list. You did good to get in line early!

[@daytrace4635]

Apparently its mpe capable. One of the only synthesizers capable too, very desirable imo!

[@timdanyo898]

This looks so tactile and expressive. I might have to get one..

[@nomindseye]

This looks pretty cool to me, and the inherent customization does look like a lot of fun. But not sure I need more hardware.

[@infesticon]

If you don't feal like more hardware, Voltage moduler by cherry audio has a vector synth thingy, and it's awesome.

[@jawsh1971]

Animoog on the iPad and iPhone is also pretty damn good.

[@audeon_visual]

This demo is insane. You managed to make shredding on this look easy.. Just incredible..

[@andycordy5190]

Seeing this appear in your review of the Perkons drum machine, I came back here to watch this again. I believe this box really got you going in that stand-alone improve thing you did before the MPC came in. There was a gesture you made which seemed like you'd surprised yourself. It WAS really special! Do more of that bliss thing, it is absolutely you!

[@fundrivendev]

Wow. So nice and easy to understand introduction to this synth, thanks.

[@sleekitwan]

Benn, this poses a deeply philosophical question: would it be his right nut or his left arm, Edgar Froese would have given for this? It is an extraordinary tool or instrument, that has harnessed a visual method of altering parameters and representing them. I look on with awe, not sure it’s for me, as I struggle to make my synth app lock vibrato on to the mod wheel of my irig keys 37, but this was quite enlightening. Dare I say educational? No, let’s not kill the enthusiasm! Keep safe Benn.

[@equalequalslopezcartoons3702]

Ive been wanting this thing for so long great video!

[@Hummelsbusch]

Thanks! Now I want this synth:-)

[@redlinerer]

4:47 gives me goosebumps

[@kowloonbroadcast]

woah, this is a very impressive machine. reminds me of how FM synthesis works in its core, but with a ton of modern complex modulation on top. the touch screen doesn’t feel awkward in this context as well, which is quite a rare thing.

[@scottcampbell330]

This sounds pretty incredible - its like, a more intuitive way for making synth patches (vs. VSTs etc.)

[@TheOleHermit]

🤯 Can't believe how close this is to a laser controller I've been developing over the past 3 months. I thought I would be the 1st to use 2 7" Nextion touch screens to replace channel faders with multi-page, multi-functional, 2D image control touch pads. For example; bottom left is 0X & 0Y Swipe diagonally to the upper right to increase size. Swipe in a circle to change X/Y symmetry, rotate image, pan between oscillators, ... Gotta figure out how to display my vector imagery on the touchscreen, too. Very nicely done!😎

[@ErinIsBlueBlue]

Very impressive little machine, i'm sold. Thanks for the discovery !

[@DJPhantomRage]

A VST in a box as hardware. It sounds amazing.

[@fineiswear3020]

Thank you for calculating in Iranian currency but that thing costs like 240 million rials in here, without the shipping cost! The real price of Iranian rials is almost six times less than what the government portrays. Great Vector work btw XD

[@churlishbeardo]

11:00, well that’s like half of Front Line Assembly’s discography in a single patch. Damn.

[@blackvx]

That box is amazing, great demo! 👏 👏 👏

[@OVXX666]

i wish we had an uncut version sounds great

[@dr.greggeddins1723]

I appreciate you videos! You are highly knowledgeable and informative. You give succinct and concise demonstrations ! Keep up the great work my friend !!!

[@davidgoode7416]

Great video, thanks

[@Jin-Hu]

Oh goodness that’s lovely

[@heisaddison]

LOL laughed too hard when you said "if you're a synthesizer enthusiast" and flashed that 'relationship status: single'

[@DumblyDorr]

The "relationship status: single" screenshot during "if you're a synthesizer enthusiast"... ouch :D But, yeah...

[@nicosuj]

Have to admit, Vector synthesis was something I understood before but now I see so much potential that makes me want to do some music with it. Can't buy one of those even on a near feauture because I'm broke, will do when I can catch some gigs afterwards. Thanks for the inspiration

[@nickosinit]

damn you....finally put in my order after mulling it over for ages!

[@bartekglinski2665]

This is sick

[@joseblanco3889]

massive sounds

[@jodo985]

Damn Ben, easy on that keystep Mr. clickity clack

[@fishstickkitty8068]

My head just exploded

[@thelanavishnuorchestra]

That's a cool synth, though I'm not ready to drop a grand on it. But thanks for the nice vid

[@gdel5104]

This is f.....g cool! Damn... I could see this as a virtual instrument but the fact that its hardware is amazing.

[@Ferrichrome]

Yeah I see a lot of potential in a vector synth plugin! Someone needs to make a good one.

[@jfireclimbing]

Blue Album vibes @ 11:30

[@0v_x0]

Nice catch!

[@ocdude07]

Especially with the default UI screen it reminds me of Animoog.

[@airwindows]

Or the Qyooo

[@h2o1969]

Wow, that looks so fun. I think I may have only got 30% of what was going on. I am redoing my synth setup. I have just ordered a Zoia Euroburo. Going to study that for a while, but this thing is on my radar.

[@MikeFlex]

denggggg...makes the animoog look absolutely prehistoric

[@Hypnofunk]

Time for a Trent Reznor Benn Jordan collab perhaps :) Thx for your amazing channel and videos, all of your different content, and music also of course, such amazing quality.

[@dantarradellas7351]

Awesome.

[@mikolasstrajt3874]

Very, very, very confusing interface. But it sounds great and it looks like it's very versatile digital synth.

[@johnnyswatts]

So, how does the position of the ADSR points affect the sound? What do the Lissajou figures mean? How are those "vectors" actually vectors? What space do the bases describe?

[@SLRPS]

I think Benn got a bit of a terminology off on the Vectors. Traditionally in a vector synth the vector is the line that the mixer position travels on, each of the 4 corners are a different oscillator and in this case they are called additive generators. So it basically a 4 way mixer animated by a vector line with center being a mix of everything.

[@macronencer]

I was saving up for a Korg Modwave, but you might just have changed my mind. I did see the Red Means Recording demo and for some reason decided it wasn't for me. I'm not sure why your presentation made me see more positive things. Perhaps you used it more in the way I would use it... or perhaps I've had too much whisky tonight. Either way, thanks man - I enjoyed seeing this thing sing again.

[@sethpaul7447]

So much need

[@CrusaderGeneral]

this is probably the most futuristic synth ever, gonna get one before they stop making it

[@MikeKruggel]

After watching his video, my brain exploded. Time for some bourbon. Well done.

[@bmwolfe2786]

Is this basically a hardware version of the animoog app? The physics based, moving, "vector"/ generator animations in the UI seem very similar. Taking an effect or OSC and changing it by tying its values to xyz cords of a point in 3d space. This seems like what is happening

[@RaverOperatorGeeza]

Man I really like the look and sound of this, BUT, and a big but, ouch yeah the price tag, jeez! €825 is eye watering 😞

[@sustomusickillsyoutube]

That's fucking incredible!

[@Kizunaut]

Very cool!

[@OVXX666]

10:57 hotline miami vibes

[@housebandthexenos2569]

Good job not dropping the Vector during that flip in the beginning! My heart went to my feet for a second. Did you practice first using something of similar dimensions?

[@frien_d]

the longer I watch this the crazier the UI gets

[@frien_d]

Ok, I read wikipedia on the topic and now I get it. Though. That's a touchscreen. Why can't you freehand the path?

[@cccrow3348]

Just wanted to let you know the more info link has a typo. great video thank you :)

[@JustinKleinMusic]

The Strange And Powerful Benn Jordan

[@PaulLemars01]

Sounds quite a bit like Loom 2 (VST) from Air Music Research, but there again what do I know.

[@asoltani4792]

I'm thinking of buying Vector but no CV I/O for the price? You guys left out the whole modular synth community...

[@ts4gv]

That’s quite the GUI sweet

[@genebrady]

But does it acid

[@salif130]

this blue box sounds so good

[@VacancyOfDisco]

Oh wow! so its basically like a hardware AniMoog!

[@lrkx_]

That just broke my brain. But I want one…

[@counivers]

A vector synth without a joystick(!)? A joystick makes it much easier to visualize like the one on the wavestation and SY35. That said this is an awesome synth!

[@slipknotboy555]

That's what I was thinking; I thought "vector synthesis" was just blending between 4 different sources, typically via a joystick (not even necessarily an entire type of "synthesis," but still really cool). Is this basically the same thing, just with more going on from each "source"?

[@counivers]

@@slipknotboy555 Yes Vector synthesis basics is fading between (usually) four sources like in the Prophet VS and Yamaha SY35. For the Vector I guess the thought is that they replaced they joystick with a touchscreen. Not a bad idea, just makes it a little harder to understand what's going on. I also really like joysticks on synth, like the one on the modern Wavestate. A vector just means and XY axis so the movements can be applied to more than fading. It's still a vector synth by definition regardless of the mappings!

[@slipknotboy555]

@@counivers Ah, ok; yeah, I like vector synths, though I don't have any, heh

[@GizzyDillespee]

At least compared to the modern Wavestate, it's much easier to visualize the vector trajectories on Vectorsynth. Wavestate has the joystick and a simple 4 stage vector envelope, and you use it differently vs this one. With Wavestate, the complexity comes from the sequences. With Vector, the vector trajectories are much more paramount.

[@markacker3013]

oh dear, I've got GAS. I do have to ask though, what's your Vector, Victor?

[@codewizard58]

A lot of similiar sounds to the Moog Animoog.

[@hieksuave6555]

sounds good, some of the visualizations & sounds remind me of virsyn cube, but better :).

[@g3cd]

well thanks, I thought of buying this after seeing Red Means Recording's review but it looks more confusing than a modular synth with 100 patch cables. So I guess I'll skip it for now, even though it does sound AWESOME.

[@djaii328]

Wow, what an absolutely bonkers piece of kit. Just based on your hands-on demo here, I think I'm going to have to buy this creative little thing. Do you think you will integrate it into a live performance setup? Or does it feel more like a studio instrument that you would make stems from to use live?

[@jarvisbrazzel6975]

Bro is Heavy Handed. That poor Keystep.

[@tonal.states]

For a second I thought the Guys at Neural DSP did this since it looks soo much like the Quad cortex, still looks nice tho

[@stevebuchan6642]

watched the whole video. still don't know what vector synthesis is. I think it's non-linear envelopes? not sure though

[@ratlinggull2223]

sounds like a weird wavetable thing

[@mastermachetier5594]

Hey Ben awesome video thanks ! I am curious if you have advice for like groove box / sequencing for hardware synths I liked what you did with the mpc . Is this something you can do in a DAW do you have videos on the topic

[@atipsy69]

if it can score The Social Network, I'm in

[@jawsh1971]

I need another hardware synth like I need another hole in my head. I'll stick with the Animoog app on the iPad with sound and midi via USB.

[@jehwoh]

Vector vs Waldorf Iridium - comparison - would be awsome...

[@joyboricua3721]

Interesting

[@iszoloscope]

Well, that's something different!

[@terrordisco2944]

Reminds me a bit of the ipad moog animoog, although that one is simpler. And it sounds, uh, moog-er?

[@toiletfriend420]

has this one taken the title of "the weirdest synth i own" now?

[@UniversalHomeboy]

my gas just went digital

[@tessalater1967]

stop giving me GAS! NO! I DONT NEED NOOOO need

[@IsaiahGrande]

I have always wanted a hardware animoog

[@rowan1725]

"or november 2021 for those of you in the future" me watching this on november 2nd 2021 👀