Bad Gear

Today we are going to talk about Elektron Model:Samples. Is this entry level groovebox and sample-based drum machine the perfect introduction to the Elektron workflow? Is it "My First Elektron"?

Today we are going to talk about Waldorf Kyra. Is this high-end synth and VA synthesis flagship even a real Waldorf? Is it a wavetable synthesizer? What's an Exodus Valkyrie? Who's Manuel Caballero, what's so great about FPGA technology and do we really need another digital synth in a world full of software instruments and plugins?

Today we are going to talk about the Casio HT3000. Is this 80s home keyboard with an analog filter the last affordable vintage synth. Will it replace your Moog or Prophet? Did I want to ride the Shakira vs. Piqué Casio controversy hype (of course I didn't;)?

No he didn't... Today we are going to talk about the Bass Bot by Cyclone TT-303. Is this carbon copy of the original Roland TB-303 Bass Line the perfect acid synth. Is it still relevent with all the clones like the Behringer TD-3 around? Is the build quality a dealbreaker?

Today we are going to talk about Moog Little Phatty. Did this modern take on the classic Moog formula and one of the last instruments Robert Arthur Moog worked on age well? Can the analog synth engine be tamed with the UI of a MicroKorg? Does it live up to the legacy of masterpieces like the Minimoog Model D or other synthesizers created by the legendary Bob Moog?

Today we are going to talk about the Roland JD-08. Is this digital synthesizer, member of the Roland Boutique family and miniscule version of the somewhat legendary Roland JD-800 a worthwhile alternative to the 1991 original? Did they emulate the red glue too? Is this synth just ri-di-cu-lous ?

Today we are going to talk about the IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro. Can this analog synthesizer and bigger sibling of the original UNO Synth and UNO Drum still hold up in today's music tech landscape of abundance? Why are there no memes about this analog synth? Should I get it or draw 25 cards?

Today we are going to talk about the Roland TR-6S. Is this modern drum machine and little sibling of the critically acclaimed TR-8S only a sketch pad for quick ideas or is it up to the job of being the centerpiece of setups both live and in the studio. Well, Roland's Gonna Roland.

Today we are going to talk about the Roland JV-1080. Is this classic Roland rack synth the Roland Cloud of the 90s? Can these sounds still be used in modern music production or do we have to subscribe to Zenology? Can it hold up with analog synths?

Today we are going to talk about the Evolver by Dave Smith. Is this very first instrument and hybrid synth released by DSI a modular synthesizer in a box or the false prophet? Is it still in the tradition of classic Sequential Circuits synths?

Today we are going to talk about the Korg Drumlogue. Is this brand new digital/analog drum machine the game changer we have been waiting for or is it just another unfinished hotchpotch of old technologies? Can it keep up with Elektron machines like the Octatrack or Digitakt?

Today we are going to talk about the Korg MS2000. Is this virtual analog synth and older sibling of the Microkorg still worth getting or is its compact successor the more convenient option? Is it the Macrokorg?

Today we are going to talk about the Lennar Digital Sylenth1. Is this ancient virtual analog synth plugin similarly influential as hardware classics like the Yamaha DX7 or Korg M1. Can it hold up when compared to other software instruments like Serum, Massive or Spire?

Today we are going to talk about the Arturia MiniBrute 2. Is this eurorack compatible analog synthesizer and successor to the original Arturia MiniBrute worthy of its legacy? Is it the best beginner instrument for modular synthesis?

Today we are going to talk about Sonicware Liven XFM. Is this 2022 FM groovebox able to compete with the big players in both, the groovebox game and field of FM synthesis like Elektron, Korg and Roland?

Today we are going to talk about Elektron Syntakt. Is this member of the Elektron Dark Trinity just a rehash of recycled technologies taken from instruments like the Digitakt, Digitone, Model:Cycles, Octatrack, Analog Rytm and Analog Four? Does it provide real innovation?

Today we are going to talk about the Pioneer Toraiz AS-1. Is this DJ tool designed by the legendary Dave Smith of Sequential Circuits fame a real Prophet. Is it the Sequential Profit?

Today we are going to talk about the Roland Boutique JX-08. Is this digital recreation of the classic Roland JX-8P from the 80s up to the job of creating classic vintage synth sounds? Is it not the 80s?

Today we are going to talk about Waldorf Pulse 2. Is this recently discontinued modern analog synth ticking all the boxes? Was it discontinued for a reason?

Today we are going to talk about Oberheim Matrix 1000. Is this 80s analog synth in the compact 19" rack format and little sibling of the Oberheim Matrix-6 on par with timeless classics like the Oberheim OB-X. Are you willing to enter the matrix of arcane sysex midi commands?

Today we are going to talk about Roland System-8. Is this soon abandoned flagship synthesizer, little sibling of System-1, part of the Roland Aira range, virtual analog synth, Roland Cloud plugout host and overall eye-sore a future classic or just another expensive plastic toy? Is it worthy of the rich Roland Jupiter-8 and Roland Juno-106 legacy?

Today we are going to talk about Roland Aira Compact S-1. I this super compact virtual analog synth inspired by the legendary Roland SH-101 and striking sonic similarities to the Roland Boutique SH-01A and Roland System-1 made for Bad Gear?

Today we are going to talk about Moog Mavis. Was this eurorack ready semi-modular analog synthesizer DIY kit with a twist of Buchla style West Coast synthesis the beginning of the end of the iconic synth company founded by Bob Moog.

Today we are going to talk about Korg OpSix. Is this next level frequency modulation synthesizer with its faltered FM synthesis a Yamaha DX7 on steroids or is it just another Korg "OopsSix" with its build quality issues and plasticy enclosure? Is it the best FM synth for beginners???

Today we are going to talk about Roland V-Synth. Does this highly misunderstood former Roland flagship synth deserve the online hate and why did it fail back in the time when it was released? Is it on par with other classics like the Roland Jupiter-8, Roland D-50 or Roland JP-8000?

Today we are going to talk about the Casio RZ-1. Is this classic 80s drum machine and sampler the holy grail for nailing the vintage sound of early De La Soul (Three Feet High and Rising), Wu Tang Clan (The RZA), Daft Punk and the Chemical Brothers or is it just a corny lofi beats maker? Can it stand it's ground when compared to the Roland TR-707 or lofi sampler instruments like the Roland SP-202 or Roland SP-303?

Today we are going to talk about the 1010music nanobox Fireball wavetable synthesizer. Is this ultra-compact digital synthesizer just another lifestyle accessory or can it keep up with its big software counterparts like Serum VST? Is it a better choice than its granular (nanobox lemondrop) and FM drum machine siblings (nanobox razzmatazz). Is it too smol to be a performance synth???

Today we are going to talk about the Roland JD-XA hybrid synthesizer. Is this analog and digital flagship synthesizer fail the last analog Roland synthesizer and is the Roland JD XA worthy of the legacy of 80s classics like the Roland Jupiter-8?

Today we are going to talk about the Roland Boutique SH-01A. Is this digital synth clone of the iconic Roland SH-101 analog synthesizer still up to the job or is it surpassed by the Behringer MS-1 or the even more compact Roland Aira Compact S-1?

Today we are going to talk about the Polyend Tracker Mini. Does this successor to the original Tracker and compact sampler, sequencer, groovebox and dawless centerpiece with its gameboy controls and compact form factor even make sense or is it another hipster toy with its field recording features? Is it the "Tracker Field" as Teenage Engineering might have called it?

Today we are going to talk about the Arturia MiniFreak. Is this hybrid digital and analog synthesizer the long-awaited superfreak? Is it more powerful than its little sibling, the Arturia MicroFreak and can it compete with the other synths in this pricerange like the Korg Minilogue XD, Modal Argon and Hydrasynth Explorer?

Today we are going to talk about the cre8audio West Pest. Is this affordable semi modular analog synthesizer and hommage to Don Buchla 's West Coast synthesis The Pest? Can it keep up with competitors like the Korg Volca Modular, is it worth it without adding even more Eurorack modules and can it create the strange sounds of the antithesis to Bob Moog 's East Coast synthesis? Should I get the cre8audio East Beast instead?

Today we are going to talk about the Roland MC-101 Groovebox. Is this youngest member of the Roland Groovebox family and little sibling of the Roland MC-707 on par with competitors like the Teenage Engineering OP-1, Elektron Digitakt or Korg Electribe?

Today we are going to talk about the Korg Electribe EM-1 Music Production Station. Can this all-in-one music production tool from the year 2001 give us the sound of the 90s??? Is it on par with its more famous sibling, the Korg Electribe ER-1 rhythm synthesizer and can it keep up with contemporary grooveboxes like the Korg Electribe 2, Akai MPC One, Roland MC-101, Elektron Digitakt or Teenage Engineering OP-1??? The 90s called... they want their crunchy lofi samples back.

Today we are going to talk about Novation Bass Station 2. Has the immensely popular successor to the original Bass Station from the 90s become a classic in its own right for a reason? Should you get the AFX Station? That's no moog, it's a...