The Vector Synth and the Organic Beauty of Lissajous Figures

Donald Jordan explores the Vector Synth and its unique synthesis style.
For a sounds only video of the Vector watch here - • Vector Synthesizer - S...
All synth sounds and music in this video were created using the Vector. The synth audio was recorded direct and zero post processing or external effects were used.
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Intro: 00:00
Architecture: 01:50
User Interface: 3:25
Corners: 5:21
Orbiter: 10:58
Voicing and Effects: 19:42
Patch Examples: 23:42
Conclusion: 34:15

[@thepreposterist]

this is prob the best video ive seen on the vector. ive had mine for a yr & still learned new things about it via this video. i also struggle to make good usable patches as you mentioned, so i appreciate your patch philosophy & look fwd to trying that

[@lesterfalcon1350]

Really nice practical demonstration of the synth. Alngside you 'No talking'video, with was really nice to see just the options of one corner before diving into too much movement and the orbiters. I've been putting this synth off for over 2 years now. who am I kidding, the GAS has got me wit this one.

[@cougarman8]

Your reviews are so well done and thorough! Big fan and your videos stand out!

[@coreynasfell1095]

Great channel - I hope your hard work pays off.

[@krazywabbit]

Thank you for sharing your story on your first synth on Matt’s channel. Love the passion. Hope this finds you well.

[@Bloom_Music]

Thanks, it was a fun experience!

[@sodiumlights]

Sublime video.

[@lafemmedevastation]

this synth is so special... clearly so from the amazing demo and patches you gave us. Thanks for this🤩 btw how'd you get a wireless scope going like that⁉

[@Bloom_Music]

It’s just a prop. I add the waveform in post. 🙂

[@twyjoshy7796]

Always love your videos. Bought a minifreak as my first synth after watching your informative and helpful video on it, and it has been helping me learn synthesis much faster than I would without it. Anyways, would you be interested in doing a video for the micromonsta2? I’ve been trying to buy one but I can never find it

[@twyjoshy7796]

And wow. Just finished the video, already had a crush on this thing from the midlife Synthesist video but this one just confirmed my next purchase. Your video showed its great strengths and it looks super fun. Do you have an affiliate link? Haha but sick video dude 👍🏻

[@twyjoshy7796]

Alright sorry last comment but the video showcased the little worlds and atmospheres around these worlds per patch in the perfect way 👌🏻🫶🏻

[@Bloom_Music]

Glad you liked it! Never say never, but I don't see me doing a Micromonsta video any time soon. I have a backlog of synths that I've bought that are pending videos, so it will take me a while to get through those! :)

[@mk1st]

Great demo and those were some fat patches. Need to get back into my Vector, been sitting unused to too long.

[@paulmapp8306]

Have been looking at this myself - so the vid came in perfect timing. After something more unique to go with my typical synths (Prophet 6, OB6, Polybrute, Peak, Iridium, Virus Ti2 and a Fantom). This along with Anyma Omega are the two im seriously considering. Im not keen in the mini TRS midi connections though. I live in the world of 5 pin DIN.

[@Bloom_Music]

Wow, that's quite a stable. I would love to get my hands on an OB6... But yeah, I think something like the Vector could be a good compliment to those (maybe a little bit of overlap with Iridium). And yes, I was surprised to see the mini-TRS connection on a synth this big as well. I understand it for smaller devices, but it just seemed odd here. I must have a dozen of those dongle MIDI adapters at this point. Interestingly, because my main controllers also have the mini-TRS out, I find myself just using a single 1/8" TRS cable to connect to several of my devices now. So that actually ends up being kind of convenient. But yeah, mix and matching the mini-TRS and the DIN is a huge PITA.

[@paulmapp8306]

@@Bloom_Music to be fair, all my Midi routing is done on an MRCC - which does have 2 Mini jack Midi in and 2 outs, so It would work - but only as Im using that. Before I bought that, about 2 months ago - it would have been a PITA.

[@NatalieVFX]

Does it use MPE? Like can I use a Roli Seaboard Rise to drive it? 😊 Just went to the site and it looks like it does. Very cool, I'm excited. Thank you for the great video

[@Bloom_Music]

Yes, it does MPE, but I don't have the chops to take advantage of it, so I left it out. :( There are already some other good Vector MPE videos on KZbin, though!

[@jaderington]

A very good job you did , thanks. I have one , but like the Hydrasynth I struggle with it. I'm not great at sound design but the MPE made it more interesting. It's me not the synth. I make dance music so I'm asking a lot from it

[@lesterfalcon1350]

My Hydrasynth is back being repaired at Thomann, but I also haven't gelled with it yet. The price increase on Vector has put it further down on my GAS list. But the Red Means Recording video got me hooked on its potential. It showed more of it's herder side as well as lushness. If you haven't seen that, maybe check it out for some inspiration.

[@jaderington]

@@lesterfalcon1350 Yes it wasn't cheep when I got mine in 21. By the time I paid for the import duty's ect . it worked out at just over £940 but that's the UK government and the EU trying to punish the people of the UK for voting for Brexit. But when I looked at the new update and seen the price of them now with the EU about to put even higher tariffs on exports because they took us to war, it's become totally unaffordable to most people making music on a budget. Bad luck on the hydrasynth breaking on you.

[@lesterfalcon1350]

@@jaderington Pre Tax on the Vector used to be 770 Euros, but went up to 940Eurors sometime in the past year. My eyes are now on the Taiga Synth, and I'll have to come back to this one another time. I'm from the UK, but I'd ship to Asia, at lease their delivery prices to here aren't so bad.

[@jaderington]

@@lesterfalcon1350 Funny things is the import is from Poland. Bug one of the two guys who make them are up in Scotland. You cane detour it to Asia cheaper , thats crazy.

[@lesterfalcon1350]

@@jaderington I think you meant the Czech Republic . Not Asia is cheaper, still have to pay import taxes. Although I'm out of touch with post Brexit duties since I left the UK 10 years ago. Shipping is little more to Asia,.not much though.

[@joelodge6556]

Would love to know how you get the simple wave forms like saw, square etc. I can get sine and square but it takes a fair bit if setup and i need to filter to round the sine. Your saw wave looks too perfect to not be a setting?

[@Bloom_Music]

Overtone slot 2 is a square and slot 3 is a saw. Make sure your Overtone Blend is set to G1 only (right in the middle) to get the cleanest waveform possible.

[@albshore8]

Look like the hardware version of Cube on steroids...I like it...

[@whirled_peas]

To be honest I'm finding it hard to discern the difference between this and a synth with a bunch of LFOs (like the Hydrasynth). I can't really hear much difference in the texture of the resulting sound. A touch screen is a neat way to sculpt the parameters of a patch though, and a visual representation of the parameters is definitely cool, just not sure if the concept of orbiting/vector controlled parameters leads to any realistic difference in sound?

[@kgbinfo]

Isn’t this a bit like Animoog?

[@Bloom_Music]

Animoog is probably Vector's most similar modern alternative. However, they have major architectural differences. Animoog uses the coordinate plane to morph between different, static waveforms, but after that, it's a very typical synth architecture. The output of the plane goes through a single filter, which is usually modulated by an envelope and LFO, pretty much as you'd expect. In contrast, the Vector has four filters per voice, which can be distributed amongst the corners as you see fit, and the generators within each corner can be blended and cross modulated in a multitude of ways. You can also put an ADSR directly on the plane for precise control of the morphing of your patch over time, which is a powerful and unique feature. Because of the nature of its waveforms and AM and PM implementation, the Vector can do gnarly digital sounds. It can also do convincing analog timbers. But it's strength is that it can glide dynamically between those two extremes. Whereas Animoog is focused solely on the more analog side of things. And then there's Vector's knobs, switches, and buttons, if you care about such things. :) They are both beautiful sounding instruments, but definitely two very different tools!

[@kgbinfo]

@@Bloom_Music wow, four filters per voice sounds pretty enticing! I am curious about it for sure. Have not been able to try one in person yet. Is there a way to control it as a standalone instrument, without using a MIDI controller?

[@Bloom_Music]

Negatory, no way to input notes without a controller. It does have USB MIDI host in addition to the normal MIDI input, so that simplifies things a little.

[@mk1st]

@@kgbinfoyou can run the built in sequencer and manipulate things while that is running. Good enough to noodle on a bit but pretty limited compared to external control.