DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design - Social Sound Design

DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design

2011-01-19T17:14:15Z

Hey sound designers!

I'm thinking of buying a Dave Smith Instruments Mono Evolver Keyboard edition both for musical and sound design purposes.

I will also add a Moog CP-251 for CV control.

I'm pretty convinced on the overall sound of the synth, but sometimes I doubt about its expandability and because it's monophonic.

If you have rare and/or experimental sounds from this synth, I will be grateful if you post it here, because it's difficult to find non-traditional uses of the DSI MEK.

Are you using it? Are you happy with the synth? Someone using this combination of hardware? How does it perform live?

Do you have any suggestions about other synths you think are best suited for sound design (and between $1000-$1500 brand new)?

Thanks!

Alan.

Answer by Filipe Chagas for DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design

2011-01-20T04:47:45Z

I've never used Dave smith's stuff, but i really like the nord lead 2X, and the good old roland jp8080 (although you can't find that new), and i love the moog littlephatty and it fits your price range i think.

Answer by Morten Green for DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design

2011-01-20T14:58:21Z

I would say go for the DSI!

I don't own one myself, but I have tried a couple of DSI synths, and they are really good! The analog sound of these things is incredible, dense and textured.

If you need polyphony, I believe you can expand the evolver by connecting it to other DSI synths via a special interface. I know you can do it with some of the new DSI synths, but I'm not completely sure about the Evolver.

I have started using modular synths for Sound design and I love it, but sometimes I wish I had bought a DSI instead.

Answer by unicity for DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design

2011-01-20T15:18:26Z

The MonoEvolver is a great synth for sure, but adding a CP-251 to it won't greatly extend its usefulness. Unless you have some other gear that generates CV, the CP-251 will bascially be useful as an extra LFO (and the ME already has 4!) and an additional noise source.

Answer by Dr3Tri for DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design

2011-02-25T12:30:48Z

DSI's does not need any special interfacies to be polychained together. If wanting to add more polyphony all that is needed is evolvers and MIDI cables. There is polychain parameters in units that just needs to be turned on. I have MEK and desktop in polychain. Works well.

You can find more info about polychaining evolvers from DSI site. It is good to know that earliest desktop models need newer OS chip that can be ordered from DSI. (Models from certain serial number forward can be polychained withh newer models without chip upgrade..).

All other evolvers can be chained together without upgrade. :)

I don't find it very wise to group too many desktops together as their audio signals also need to be mixed together.. and they need space. Also price point needs to be concidered carefully, like when it's good move to go to poly evolver rack instead of desktops.

For me having MEK / PEK with knobs is mandatory for editing sounds.. desktops interface is just painfully slow. :)

Answer by Syndicate Synthetique for DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design

2011-02-26T04:38:42Z

A friend of mine used only his DS PolyEvolver for a film score last year and won some awards. That machine is a beast.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/186191/indieflix-shorts-222

Answer by miksa for DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard synth for Sound Design

2012-02-22T15:29:01Z

Hi All,

I recently finished my first soundset for DSI Evolvers (Trance/Progressive Soundset). I tried to use all of its features to make really fat sounds, even unison-style presets on a mono Evolver.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCCm00KESUk&fmt=18

I definitely love and recommend this synthesizer. Regards,

Miksa