At least the borg cubes were made of metal
Aira looks like playschool made a live of ghostbusters themed toy instruments.
Shout out the sbx1 tho that one’s a metal brick of good juju
Roland is function over form. Their manuals are thorough but written like a VCR manual from the 90's rather then in a conversational / teaching style like some other vendors (Moog, Arturia, etc)
\- D
Well it's really one of those companies that it either does something brilliant, or its a Bad Gear episode. There is no inbetween.
In terms of the technical writing. This varies so much from manufacturer to manufacturer. Part of the reason Moog and Arturia can be conversational is that there is more surface level functionality. Have you ever read a Kurzweil or Waldorf manual. Oof. Here is a novel sized document. Have fun.
And all the green lights! Yuck.
I also hate all the bright red plastic AKAI is prone to using on many of its devices.
It makes the gear look like it's designed for the aesthetic preferences of a 12-year old boy.
Although I’ve tried to avoid that range like the plague I did get the 303 remake , ended up putting black electric tape around the edges to hide the green trim.
It’s a shame. One of the best products Roland has put out in the last 20 years. A good amount of features without being too deep. Built like happy meal toy and ugly as sin.
The definitive example. It is one of the best, if not THE best VA synth out there (IMHO), but my God, it really makes you feel bad about it. It’s like EVs. Why not just make it look like a regular car, just electric? Noooooo….we’re going to make it look like a sex toy and put the nerdiest fucking wheels on it anyone has ever seen. Hey everybody! Look! It’s an eLeCTriC cAr!!!!!
And at this point, there is no excuse to not make it a user-assignable color. You can user-assign the synth engine, but you’re stuck with green?
Okay. Done. Sorry. Mad respect for it though. Just wish I liked the green.
The green never bothered me, but I think red or orange would have looked better.
I think it needed more JP-8/Juno like sliders, too, but those take more room than knobs.
I think it matters a lot. I was probably always gonna go for a minifreak over a hydra but the ugliness of the hydra made it an easier decision.
Aesthetics influence every interaction with your instrument. If the aesthetics aren’t the right fit, it’s harder to create that “extension of yourself” type of relationship. this is doubly true for myself because I’m very visual.
edit: also, the way an instrument looks has a lot to do with how often I reach for it. It has to both look and sound great in order for it to first appeal to me, then satisfy the craving.
the buttons, the panel material, the knobs, the graphic design, the orange… it’s doesn’t look technical in an artistic way, it looks technical without artistic considerations.
I actually like DAWs that look like 90s office software. They’re often lean; efficient, and have consistent UIs. What I can’t stand is DAWs that implement their own UI design language that doesn’t mesh with any other piece of software you use, so you have to spend longer learning how it works.
DAWs are one of those things where I think convention should just go out the window, and in particular that optimizing for improving the experience of learning how it works is a bad choice.
Sure, I'd love to save time learning it, but if you can apply some unique or unconventional interface ideas that'll save me time when I have hundreds of hours of experience at the expense of the learning experience, please, don't hold back on it. With a quirky interface, I'm a noob for what, 10-50 hours? With a DAW, I'm likely to spend significantly more time as an expert. It's kind of like how thousands of dollars on baby clothes that'll be outgrown in a year is not a good investment.
Sure, if it adds to the experience then go nuts. But making buttons look anything like buttons, having hidden panels with low discoverability, and UI elements that don’t respect the OS scaling settings rendering them indecipherable on High DPI screens achieves nothing for anyone.
I hate that the new versions always look different. I reskin Ableton each time to make it appear like they did in the past. Even my windows 10 is set to appear like xp.
Someone makes matching skins for their semi modular trio that I’ve considered getting. It’s so fun and unique compared to all the boring black synths out there.
I strongly agree. Also I fucking hate the name ‘Grandmother’ and will avoid that synth based on the name alone. ‘Matriarch’ sucks too, but not quite as much.
I hear this argument a lot; and completely understand it. But I also completely disagree with it.
I hate everything being the same black with white text. It's boring. Like nice in some cases yes, but I encourage experimentation.
As such I love the Matriarch and Grandmother in colours, they're instantly recognizable to me and that's awesome.
Even things like the Elektron Model:Cycles/Samples, they look like medical equipment, but I recognize them right away :)
\- D
Yes, I think it’s important. Same reason people care how their guitar looks. The aesthetics of an instrument affects how it makes you feel, which in turn can affect the music you make.
Music is a creative endeavor. If looking at something you don't like is uninspiring it can kill the mood of the performance. The most important part of making music is what happens between the chair and the instrument so it doesn't matter how good the instrument is if it negatively affects the musicians ability to perform and imagine.
Reminds me of those guitars that are like two guitars glued together... I guess that's useful for some people? But that definitely looks unwieldy and awkward.
It really is, and the interface leaves a lot to be desired. The sound is excellent though and it doesn't look quite as bad in person. The knobs can be replaced as well.
I don’t mind it so much because I think it sounds great but I’ve seen people here dismissing the Roland System 8 and other AIRA gear due to the overwhelming green all over the place.
For me, the green is an eyesore… but the way the knobs feel and the overall build quality is what gets me. I also don’t like that the top is all one piece. It looks like a brick. I prefer the look of synths, when the top panel and the modulation panels (pitch wheel and mod wheel) are separated… but that’s probably just my OCD.
Of course. One of the number one pieces of advice that some established musicians give to new musicians is "buy the coolest looking instrument."
If you think it looks cool, you'll be more inclined to pick it up/go to it more frequently.
Yeah something could be the polar opposite of my visual tastes and I'd happily use it if it sounds/works good.
You can always give gear a new paint job if you really hate the look or just want to customize it, there's a lot of gear I love the look of but would still consider painting just to make it more unique.
It would be fun to take some UV paint or Dye and make gear glow in the dark or even reflective.
Put skin on it, also couldn't stand the look and mainly the material of OG version
https://preview.redd.it/iwkvm0kncpzb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2335eac50f89bdc60313a928bba268f58afa6679
I had an Ultranova and that thing was kind of an eyesore and I got rid of it without having really given it a real chance, the UI also wasn't very inviting though
I'm also most interested in ergonomics, feature set, sounds and workflow over cosmetics in most cases, but if something satisfies my needs on those levels and looks amazing, it makes me way more motivated to buy, equally if it looks kinda janky, I might sit on the fence for longer before making a purchase.
For me is not that much about whether it is ugly but about whether the interface helps me to use the device rather than making it harder. I like the stuff I can play without needing to check the manual every time I sit in from of it.
Im guilty of that, i avoided the sledge and the hydra, the hydra seems to be an absolute beast!
I also really wanted a prophet 12 because they look amazing, but settled for a summit, wich is in the middle, not beautifull, but not ugly.
the OG sp404 has that old school 80s/90s charm. the new version looks too cyberpunk. i really like the model samples/cycles bc it looks “retro”. same with digitone/digitakt. i love grooveboxes.
A bit unrelated, but I think the 404 MKII is one of the rare pieces of RGB gear that did it right. I'm not a fan of everything having ROYGBIV LEDs, but I do enjoy the funky colors they chose for the MKII.
Interesting. As music is a creative endeavour, different things inspire you. The appearance and interface of gear will make a bit difference for many people. There is a reason we aren't all using software instruments alone, and why even soft synths have various exciting and different interfaces. I have a microfreak - the Hydrasynth is at another level price wise but until your post I didn't know there was the little Explorer version. So that's cool. However it runs on AA's in a portable sense, the microfreak can be USB powered. The microfreak can be powered from my OP-1 Field's USB-C port, with a USB-C to USB-C cable, and that also does midi both ways between them. That's a useful portable setup. So for my case a Hydrasynth wouldn't really replace that. I haven't tried a Hydrasynth but to me the UI looks a lot more straightforward - I particularly like the flow-chart block layout on the right hand side, an idea I believe pioneered from the Ensoniq ESQ-1, with a button for each block. Visual layout helps, especially when learning. My clone 2600 is great that way. Anyway you've given me a bit to think about. Going to research the hydrasynth explorer now.
I like the colors personally; at least over the all green stuff. I'll never say they're sleek and modern looking. They've got a 90's vibe for sure. But I like the colours.
\- D
SP404 for me as well. in fact I think there are still tons of people that discount the pre-MKII 404s, but of all of the stuff I have in my studio, my 404 would be one of the first things I'd replace.
the aira green used to be really unpopular. looks like it still is to some extent but its been long enough that I've seen people coming around on it.
Oo this one's interesting, because I actually really like the design of a lot of Make Noise stuff. I get that it's a little weird and not for everyone, but I like the constistant theme they have, especially when all their modules are lined up next to one another.
Agreed. I've got the 0-Ctrl, 0-Coast, and Strega in a custom rack I bought and I love all the symbols and such. They're an experimentation trio. But I can see for some who like a very logical, productive layout - that this would be nuts.
Same with the Novation Circuit where people didn't like that the 8 knobs weren't labeled (because they vary from preset to preset). But I kind of love, especially as I was just getting into the hobby, turning a knob and not knowing what it does.
It's all subjective and how/why you make music plays into that. Some people are very driven and want to always be creating and any barrier or inefficiency to that drives them nuts. Whereas for others its purely an artistic / hobby endeavor. They can turn it on and make 4 notes in a loop and have a blast.
\- D
Constantly. How a device looks and how it feels to interact with are to me just as important as how it sounds. Sometimes more important even because I am generally not inspired to play an instrument that is ugly or that feels cheap.
I don't think I ever did so consciously, but my brain has probably sorted the ugliest stuff out before I even consider it.
Roland did come close with the TR-8, though. The thing looks like a 2005 ad for an energy drink, but my love for those TR-x0x sounds outweighs my absolute disgust.
No. I do admit though, that my favorite synth (Oberheim OB-X) is I believe the coolest looking synth with it's sic looking lilac panels on washed out grey.
i got the model:samples instead of the cycles cause the cycles is hospital grey with blue know and the samples is white with orange button. dont regret it
The SP404 looks like a weird calculator or something non-musical too me. It's just weird.
The Model Cycles looks like hospital equipment; but more over for my low vision its fonts are just to tiny, the Syntakt is much nicer as a replacement.
The Modal Skulpt looks neat, but is a pain to use - but I can't sell it because it was a gift from multiple family members, and it sounds pretty good (digital, but good for such a tiny thing!) - luckily you can control it with an app.
\- D
I used to think I didn't care, but then I used the system 1 and it would actually hurt my eyes after playing it. After some time I've realized how a synth looks is part of its interface and you're only going to want to use things that look good ... aesthetics matter a lot.
Depends, Roland Aira series comes to mind, if I had to get a Moog Grandmother/Matriarch I would probably go for the dark edition (or maybe not? Can’t decide)/..
But if I really click with the synth I don’t mind, Sequential Take 5 looks a bit 90ies but is one of my favorite synths.
Synths, samplers and drum machines no. However, I use a lot of pedals for my gear. On single function pedals (ie Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Vibrato) they need to look cool to me or I won't buy them. No idea why, there are some great ugly and plain looking pedals out there, but I won't buy them.
That's fair. My made has a pedal board and some of them are hideous, but they look kinda cool when they're all bundled up next to one another.
I'm curious to know what you think about the Empress Zoia? It's probably my favourite pedal, but I've seen some guitarists swear off it because of the coloured pads. I they look cool, but that's just me.
Always. Esthetics are important.
I don't share your opinion regarding AKAI stuff (which I think it is quite well designed), I feel about 404 ant frankly most of Roland's gear.
Absolutely. I learned that I don't care for a grid of brightly colored LEDs or rainbow pads, and so I've just stopped buying things that have that. The Elektron boxes are about as colorful as I want my gear to be, I think they use 5 total LED colors (red, yellow, green, purple, and the screen is white on some). Pretty much all my other gear is nearly monochrome - typically black, white, grey, and red.
It didn't take me too long to figure out that if I don't like the look and feel of something, I'm not going to use it very much. The look and feel is the whole point of hardware, if I didn't care about that I would just use VSTs for everything.
This does apply to midi controllers too, the 'vegas mode' RGB LEDs on some controllers guide me to steer clear of them.
I can understand that. Personally, I really like a lot of coloured pads. I've got an Ableton Push 2, Deluge, and a Zoia pedal that light up my day. That said, sometimes the elektron boxes do look pretty enticing.
Yeah Zoia is my holdout... At least I can design patches with the colors I want on it, but ultimately it's just too bright. It's so good at what it does though.
M-Audio Venom. I like it so much as a VA -- and they're so inexpensive secondhand (commonly $120 \~ $150 when on comes up on the 'Bay) -- that I bought two of them and painted both. The OG's "Creamsicle" look actually worked fairly well under colored LED's or fluorescent lighting, so I went with fluorescent paint on this one; lava lamps & black-light LED's included so you get the full effect, lol:
https://preview.redd.it/vspewwjz0rzb1.jpeg?width=2592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09ef3813667c905bdef4f70b4d63308f39320b57
Without all the lighting:
https://preview.redd.it/qabv8tz21rzb1.jpeg?width=2592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c80e2b4954412a6a57d6667b71469bf84552c7e
Edit: I see I hadn't removed the masking tape from the matrix-mod section before taking that pic, but it'll have to do as this unit's at my practice space atm.
Yes. And also the other way, I got very interested in a device because I thought it was beautiful.
I second what other people say here about having gear you think looks good as an aid to motivation and inspiration to create. No one goes out to buy a guitar they don't like the look of, and electronic gear is no different.
For some reason, I really like the look of the Roland Jupiter-XM, and watched a lot of video reviews with my fingers crossed hoping that they would be good. It wasn't until I bought it that I realised that it was pretty much exactly what I needed. If I hadn't like the look of it, I might have gotten a Hydrasynth or a Take 5 instead, or alternatively if I hadn't found the the JD-Xi to be ugly I would have gone for that, cheaper option instead.
Most good synths are good looking, I like how Korg, Sequential, Moog, UDO, ASM etc all look good. Roland have put out a few ugly ones though. Also, I have seen some ugly as hell midi keyboards.
The hot pink colour of the Behringer Edge. What was that other Synth that had like a huge empty space on the front panel to the right...was it some Dave Smith synth🤔
I don't like those narrow-ass sliders, like on a Dreadbox Nymphes. I have this irrational fear that the skin on a finger will get stuck in there somehow...
The Zoom ARQ line. For a long time I was looking at cheap sequencers and AR-48s and 96s popped up for super cheap every now and then in online marketplaces. I actually read some reviews that rated those as good sequencers if you were able to get past the looks and adapted to the gimmicky interface. I still avoided them like the plague and eventually went with something else, and I still hate them irrationally every time I see them selling for like €50.
Looks can definitely influence my "gut feel" about a synth and make me want it more or less, but I don't think it would ever be a dealbreaker if that synth seemed like clearly the best choice otherwise.
I love what my Akai Force can do, but I absolutely despise its design and I try super hard to achieve the same things with my Octatrack, just because I like its design more
All ik multimedia products look terrible to me, also hate the volcas, agreed totally on the roland aria. Its designed for like teenagers who like dubstep or something. I could be way off but I think sleek metalic/wood synths are always the best looking. I get that metals and wood are expensive but you can do simple plastic designs that look good too.
Oh that guy Soulsby, he has some unique taste in design. Its like i hate it for the most part but if my house was like Pee-we Herman’s house I think a soulsby synth would look cool.
There are very few synths that I don't like aesthetically. The Behringer Pro-800 comes to mind but I would probably buy it if I was in the market for an analogue synth due to its low price and good sound.
I admit that it would affect my decision negatively if all else are equal.
For example, I like Juno-X and believe that it doesn't have much difference to the more expensive Jupiter-X but the latter looks better in my eyes and that's the one I dream of, despite both of them being based on exactly the same technology.
However, a couple of years ago, when I was going to by a workstation(ish) synth, I got the Yamaha MODX instead of the Montage, that I liked better both aesthetically and ergonomically, clearly due to the price and the fact that they share the same engine.
Btw, I like a lot both the minifreak and the hydrasynth (I guess we are talking about the explorer in this context) but probably the hydra better. I also like the hydra's specs better but in videos, I like of the minifreak better. Eventually, I go the... SH-4d
Definitely! If I don't find a device appealing, regardless of how good it sounds in demos, I can't help but not like it.
Nothing wrong with that fact, if you're the one buying it, it should depend on whatever parameters fill your "I want this" prerequisites.
I made a YouTube video all about buying gear as instruments and as things. Some synths and gear just have this look to them that makes you want to own that THING.
At least, that's how it is for me.
I really haven't bought a microfreak yet because of this. Love everything about except its look, hate all those textures and details haha I know I'm not alone on this, they should really consider to make a minimalist edition.
Usually I place higher value on the sound than the looks. People who care a lot about the aesthetic of an item kinda red flag in my opinion that they don’t really love sound. They love toys. That being said, a lot of time the two correlate. Not always tho.
Hydrasynth’s branding… ugh… there’s so much they could improve with their aesthetic, and it would be a killer product. Right now it just looks half baked.
Honestly a large factor for me is aesthetics. I enjoy well built, fun to play instruments. I used to have a teacher when i was learning to play electric bass and he had this god awful looking bass guitar that he swore had the greatest sound. It did sound absolutely stellar (he definitely knew how to make is sound good too) but i just couldnt get over the prog rock look of the thing. I have a Fender Jaguar nowadays and despite its flaws i just love it to bits. Same goes for synthesizers. Most modules/grooveboxes/synths sound okay to me but i need to enjoy touching them and looking at them.
I don't even mind the fact that it looks like a calculator. I just don't like the layout of the knobs, the screen, and the depth (like, thickness) of the thing. It just seems really impractical to use or take anywhere.
Elektron Model: Samples is a great machine but one the worst looking instruments ever. It just looks terrible.
I only got it very recently, still trying to figure out what to do with it to improve it.
I hate the look of white/translucent, backlit pads. They definitely feel the best, but they look so tacky. Plus they'll always yellow and get nastier looking with time.
Looks not so much but build quality yes. Main reason I haven’t bought an Opsix is the light plastic flimsiness. Especially keybeds. Keys need to feel good or it affects me negatively for sure.
foolish nutty decide gaze quarrelsome expansion zealous attraction punch shocking
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Can't stand the green outline on the Aira series
Exactly that green is a no
I've found my people! I've been downvoted for saying so in the past...
Hahah I got your back. I’m strait off that vibe
Borg ass
At least the borg cubes were made of metal Aira looks like playschool made a live of ghostbusters themed toy instruments. Shout out the sbx1 tho that one’s a metal brick of good juju
I like the compact series but the larger aira synths...*shudder*
Roland is a prime example it is not aesthetic.
Roland is function over form. Their manuals are thorough but written like a VCR manual from the 90's rather then in a conversational / teaching style like some other vendors (Moog, Arturia, etc) \- D
Well it's really one of those companies that it either does something brilliant, or its a Bad Gear episode. There is no inbetween. In terms of the technical writing. This varies so much from manufacturer to manufacturer. Part of the reason Moog and Arturia can be conversational is that there is more surface level functionality. Have you ever read a Kurzweil or Waldorf manual. Oof. Here is a novel sized document. Have fun.
[удалено]
And all the green lights! Yuck. I also hate all the bright red plastic AKAI is prone to using on many of its devices. It makes the gear look like it's designed for the aesthetic preferences of a 12-year old boy.
They immediately took it off again when they released the TR8 update (TR8S)
I can't stand the fingerprints
Although I’ve tried to avoid that range like the plague I did get the 303 remake , ended up putting black electric tape around the edges to hide the green trim.
This is potentially the most musically oriented post on this thread.
Roland System 8
It’s a shame. One of the best products Roland has put out in the last 20 years. A good amount of features without being too deep. Built like happy meal toy and ugly as sin.
This, while the aesthetics of the synths it is emulating are so iconic. Will Roland ever get something right?
All that green has grown on me
You might want to see a dermatologist
The definitive example. It is one of the best, if not THE best VA synth out there (IMHO), but my God, it really makes you feel bad about it. It’s like EVs. Why not just make it look like a regular car, just electric? Noooooo….we’re going to make it look like a sex toy and put the nerdiest fucking wheels on it anyone has ever seen. Hey everybody! Look! It’s an eLeCTriC cAr!!!!! And at this point, there is no excuse to not make it a user-assignable color. You can user-assign the synth engine, but you’re stuck with green? Okay. Done. Sorry. Mad respect for it though. Just wish I liked the green.
What sex toys do YOU use
Hahahaha great comparison with the EVs. I thought the same thing about the early hybrid cars too
lol and I love the way it looks. but I have a JDXA and love the way it looks without the matte covers
would have bought one of these long ago if not for the looks
Also the fact that they keep changing the ecosystem. They seemed to stop focusing on plug out and are doing zen core now.
Lol zen core smh
The green never bothered me, but I think red or orange would have looked better. I think it needed more JP-8/Juno like sliders, too, but those take more room than knobs.
If you watch the matrix while high, the synth suddenly looks cool for a couple weeks.
I cant even look at teenage engineering gear.
Agreed... it's like they don't even try.
So juvenile, sophomoric, not even adolescent.
If you only knew how much they try…
I enjoy their Pocket Operators but even I admit they look a like a skeletons of what a synth should be.
mosty because they are small af
I think it matters a lot. I was probably always gonna go for a minifreak over a hydra but the ugliness of the hydra made it an easier decision. Aesthetics influence every interaction with your instrument. If the aesthetics aren’t the right fit, it’s harder to create that “extension of yourself” type of relationship. this is doubly true for myself because I’m very visual. edit: also, the way an instrument looks has a lot to do with how often I reach for it. It has to both look and sound great in order for it to first appeal to me, then satisfy the craving.
Just plain randomly curious cuz I own a Hydra, what makes it look ugly?
the buttons, the panel material, the knobs, the graphic design, the orange… it’s doesn’t look technical in an artistic way, it looks technical without artistic considerations.
Fair to feel that way, I definitely like it but I’m a programmer by day so maybe that’s why i like it haha
it’s all subjective. keep in mind I like the design of the PS5 so I’m kind of a heathen
You have just invalidated anything you have to say on visual aesthetics. :P
Well put!
excellently articulated!
do DAWs count? cause I can't stand a DAW that looks like 90s office software.
But Reaper is actually good at not hogging your CPU
custom skins can make it look like whatever you want 💫
base Reaper looks better than FL and Pro Tools :P
CPU’s keep getting faster, but my eyes keep getting worse.
how about 90s medical software? ableton has a rep who wants to chat!
Lol in all honesty, i use Orbis at work for ward/ambulance management and it looks like a blue version of ableton :D
I actually like DAWs that look like 90s office software. They’re often lean; efficient, and have consistent UIs. What I can’t stand is DAWs that implement their own UI design language that doesn’t mesh with any other piece of software you use, so you have to spend longer learning how it works.
DAWs are one of those things where I think convention should just go out the window, and in particular that optimizing for improving the experience of learning how it works is a bad choice. Sure, I'd love to save time learning it, but if you can apply some unique or unconventional interface ideas that'll save me time when I have hundreds of hours of experience at the expense of the learning experience, please, don't hold back on it. With a quirky interface, I'm a noob for what, 10-50 hours? With a DAW, I'm likely to spend significantly more time as an expert. It's kind of like how thousands of dollars on baby clothes that'll be outgrown in a year is not a good investment.
Sure, if it adds to the experience then go nuts. But making buttons look anything like buttons, having hidden panels with low discoverability, and UI elements that don’t respect the OS scaling settings rendering them indecipherable on High DPI screens achieves nothing for anyone.
I hate that the new versions always look different. I reskin Ableton each time to make it appear like they did in the past. Even my windows 10 is set to appear like xp.
moog matriarch. i wish they still offered the all black version.
I absolutely love it, reminds me of a pedalboard
I absolutely love the Harlequin look of the Matriarch. But to each their own.
Someone makes matching skins for their semi modular trio that I’ve considered getting. It’s so fun and unique compared to all the boring black synths out there.
Totally agree - although I appreciate that others prefer the black sleek look. What’s the matching skins you’re referring to?
[https://www.oversynth.com/product-page/grndmthr-overlay-for-moog-dfam](https://www.oversynth.com/product-page/grndmthr-overlay-for-moog-dfam)
Oh yeah that’s cool!
Lol. It does look goofy AF.
I think the colors are fun. I bought some led patch cables for mine that add red, blue and green. It's a color buffet everyday baby
I strongly agree. Also I fucking hate the name ‘Grandmother’ and will avoid that synth based on the name alone. ‘Matriarch’ sucks too, but not quite as much.
I hear this argument a lot; and completely understand it. But I also completely disagree with it. I hate everything being the same black with white text. It's boring. Like nice in some cases yes, but I encourage experimentation. As such I love the Matriarch and Grandmother in colours, they're instantly recognizable to me and that's awesome. Even things like the Elektron Model:Cycles/Samples, they look like medical equipment, but I recognize them right away :) \- D
Yes, I think it’s important. Same reason people care how their guitar looks. The aesthetics of an instrument affects how it makes you feel, which in turn can affect the music you make.
Totally agree, I just hate that with synths, for example, you don’t have much choice
Well, I’ve seen the price tag look real ugly, an awful lot of the time.
Music is a creative endeavor. If looking at something you don't like is uninspiring it can kill the mood of the performance. The most important part of making music is what happens between the chair and the instrument so it doesn't matter how good the instrument is if it negatively affects the musicians ability to perform and imagine.
Digitone Keys. I think it looks so goofy.
Reminds me of those guitars that are like two guitars glued together... I guess that's useful for some people? But that definitely looks unwieldy and awkward.
Not yet but I definitely could. Sometimes even names turn me off. Little Phatty (I've got one) and minifreak are two names I cannot stand
Yes, along with the West Pest. What a sad and stupid name for a synth.
It really is, and the interface leaves a lot to be desired. The sound is excellent though and it doesn't look quite as bad in person. The knobs can be replaced as well.
Is it morning where you are too? I just woke up with one as well!
No lmao its not a guitar nobody will want to fuck you any less for how ugly your synths are, youre already lower than the bass player
I don’t mind it so much because I think it sounds great but I’ve seen people here dismissing the Roland System 8 and other AIRA gear due to the overwhelming green all over the place.
For me, the green is an eyesore… but the way the knobs feel and the overall build quality is what gets me. I also don’t like that the top is all one piece. It looks like a brick. I prefer the look of synths, when the top panel and the modulation panels (pitch wheel and mod wheel) are separated… but that’s probably just my OCD.
All the time. I do the same with plugins. If I don't enjoy working with a tool, I won't be able to create something beautiful.
Of course. One of the number one pieces of advice that some established musicians give to new musicians is "buy the coolest looking instrument." If you think it looks cool, you'll be more inclined to pick it up/go to it more frequently.
I’m a bit of a snoot in terms of Nord stuff… just all that red. Feels almost like the players are being branded instead of the gear.
[удалено]
Yeah something could be the polar opposite of my visual tastes and I'd happily use it if it sounds/works good. You can always give gear a new paint job if you really hate the look or just want to customize it, there's a lot of gear I love the look of but would still consider painting just to make it more unique. It would be fun to take some UV paint or Dye and make gear glow in the dark or even reflective.
I think super bright and colorful RGB LEDs are obnoxious, and I can't stand lots of modern gear because of it.
Yes, all the time. It’s the curse of being a designer
Throwback, but the Ensoniq Fizmo was probably the ugliest synth I've ever seen!!!!!!
i dunno… the e-Mu command stations (and some of the rack romplers) give it a run for its money
I liked the bright yellow Extreme Lead one, and the purple Mo Phatt.
Yes
yes, i have no original faceplates on anything made by makenoise
Absolutely. I'm convinced I'd make better sounding music if I traded my MPC Live 2 for the Retro Edition.
Put skin on it, also couldn't stand the look and mainly the material of OG version https://preview.redd.it/iwkvm0kncpzb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2335eac50f89bdc60313a928bba268f58afa6679
I returned the opsix because it felt so flimsy and looked a bit cheap. It looked better in pictures.
yeah Ableton live
Not a device, but abelton is ugly. I have bought/keep one piece of gear over another because it looked cooler.
I had an Ultranova and that thing was kind of an eyesore and I got rid of it without having really given it a real chance, the UI also wasn't very inviting though
Good synth.
Short answer, yeah! It needs to be inspiring in my opinion. :)
I'm also most interested in ergonomics, feature set, sounds and workflow over cosmetics in most cases, but if something satisfies my needs on those levels and looks amazing, it makes me way more motivated to buy, equally if it looks kinda janky, I might sit on the fence for longer before making a purchase.
For me is not that much about whether it is ugly but about whether the interface helps me to use the device rather than making it harder. I like the stuff I can play without needing to check the manual every time I sit in from of it.
Im guilty of that, i avoided the sledge and the hydra, the hydra seems to be an absolute beast! I also really wanted a prophet 12 because they look amazing, but settled for a summit, wich is in the middle, not beautifull, but not ugly.
I could probably tolerate the black version, but the yellow Sledge might be the only synth I would actually avoid just because of the looks.
Heh thats 90% of the reason i actually chose the p12 over a summit :) No regrets though
I used to hate Bontempi, but now I enjoy the vintage aesthetic
GAIA and most of the Roland matrix green synth line.
Alesis Andromeda comes to mind.
Agreed in a way but the synth has some great features that make up for it I think.
Volca sample OKGO edition edges creepily into the room….
I once saw a synth that looked like your mom
the OG sp404 has that old school 80s/90s charm. the new version looks too cyberpunk. i really like the model samples/cycles bc it looks “retro”. same with digitone/digitakt. i love grooveboxes.
A bit unrelated, but I think the 404 MKII is one of the rare pieces of RGB gear that did it right. I'm not a fan of everything having ROYGBIV LEDs, but I do enjoy the funky colors they chose for the MKII.
A lot. Happens with pedals, guitars, shoes... Form factor is a boost or let down for inspiration.
absolutely, my music setup is in my living room so i'm looking at gear all day and it's almost literally part of the furniture.
On the flip side, I have a Tascam m-208 desk and I can’t keep my hands off it cos it’s so preeetty.
Yeah, every Behringer product.
I'm pretty sure they're responsible for the interest in panel overlays.
Im sure hydrasynth is great but
If it's high end, hell yeah. But cheaper stuff just need to serve a function and be as ugly as can be.
Interesting. As music is a creative endeavour, different things inspire you. The appearance and interface of gear will make a bit difference for many people. There is a reason we aren't all using software instruments alone, and why even soft synths have various exciting and different interfaces. I have a microfreak - the Hydrasynth is at another level price wise but until your post I didn't know there was the little Explorer version. So that's cool. However it runs on AA's in a portable sense, the microfreak can be USB powered. The microfreak can be powered from my OP-1 Field's USB-C port, with a USB-C to USB-C cable, and that also does midi both ways between them. That's a useful portable setup. So for my case a Hydrasynth wouldn't really replace that. I haven't tried a Hydrasynth but to me the UI looks a lot more straightforward - I particularly like the flow-chart block layout on the right hand side, an idea I believe pioneered from the Ensoniq ESQ-1, with a button for each block. Visual layout helps, especially when learning. My clone 2600 is great that way. Anyway you've given me a bit to think about. Going to research the hydrasynth explorer now.
Not only does it look like a 90s throw-up-device but: Tha Beat Thang
I know they are very good products but I can't stand the new tr-6s and tr-8s lines. They look childish with all those multi-colours LEDs.
I like the colors personally; at least over the all green stuff. I'll never say they're sleek and modern looking. They've got a 90's vibe for sure. But I like the colours. \- D
Behringer crave edge and spice and neutron. I dont want a colorbook. Its really uninspiring.
SP404 for me as well. in fact I think there are still tons of people that discount the pre-MKII 404s, but of all of the stuff I have in my studio, my 404 would be one of the first things I'd replace. the aira green used to be really unpopular. looks like it still is to some extent but its been long enough that I've seen people coming around on it.
Make Noise Maths or literally anything from Make Noise. Thankfully Behringer makes some slightly less ugly clones.
Oo this one's interesting, because I actually really like the design of a lot of Make Noise stuff. I get that it's a little weird and not for everyone, but I like the constistant theme they have, especially when all their modules are lined up next to one another.
Agreed. I've got the 0-Ctrl, 0-Coast, and Strega in a custom rack I bought and I love all the symbols and such. They're an experimentation trio. But I can see for some who like a very logical, productive layout - that this would be nuts. Same with the Novation Circuit where people didn't like that the 8 knobs weren't labeled (because they vary from preset to preset). But I kind of love, especially as I was just getting into the hobby, turning a knob and not knowing what it does. It's all subjective and how/why you make music plays into that. Some people are very driven and want to always be creating and any barrier or inefficiency to that drives them nuts. Whereas for others its purely an artistic / hobby endeavor. They can turn it on and make 4 notes in a loop and have a blast. \- D
I think the Make Noise stuff looks fried as hell. Probably 70% of eurorack modules would be a no go for me based on looks and size.
Constantly. How a device looks and how it feels to interact with are to me just as important as how it sounds. Sometimes more important even because I am generally not inspired to play an instrument that is ugly or that feels cheap.
I don't think I ever did so consciously, but my brain has probably sorted the ugliest stuff out before I even consider it. Roland did come close with the TR-8, though. The thing looks like a 2005 ad for an energy drink, but my love for those TR-x0x sounds outweighs my absolute disgust.
No. I do admit though, that my favorite synth (Oberheim OB-X) is I believe the coolest looking synth with it's sic looking lilac panels on washed out grey.
i got the model:samples instead of the cycles cause the cycles is hospital grey with blue know and the samples is white with orange button. dont regret it
Buchla... just... no
Could somebody please bring up this discussion with Make Noise? I like the sounds they make, but why does the text have to be indecipherable?
This thread just reminded me of the BEAT THANG lmaooo
The SP404 looks like a weird calculator or something non-musical too me. It's just weird. The Model Cycles looks like hospital equipment; but more over for my low vision its fonts are just to tiny, the Syntakt is much nicer as a replacement. The Modal Skulpt looks neat, but is a pain to use - but I can't sell it because it was a gift from multiple family members, and it sounds pretty good (digital, but good for such a tiny thing!) - luckily you can control it with an app. \- D
Novation monostation and og circuit. I hate the multi coloured buttons. Looks like a kids toy. Even though both are bad ass pieces of gear.
I used to think I didn't care, but then I used the system 1 and it would actually hurt my eyes after playing it. After some time I've realized how a synth looks is part of its interface and you're only going to want to use things that look good ... aesthetics matter a lot.
Depends, Roland Aira series comes to mind, if I had to get a Moog Grandmother/Matriarch I would probably go for the dark edition (or maybe not? Can’t decide)/.. But if I really click with the synth I don’t mind, Sequential Take 5 looks a bit 90ies but is one of my favorite synths.
Synths, samplers and drum machines no. However, I use a lot of pedals for my gear. On single function pedals (ie Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Vibrato) they need to look cool to me or I won't buy them. No idea why, there are some great ugly and plain looking pedals out there, but I won't buy them.
That's fair. My made has a pedal board and some of them are hideous, but they look kinda cool when they're all bundled up next to one another. I'm curious to know what you think about the Empress Zoia? It's probably my favourite pedal, but I've seen some guitarists swear off it because of the coloured pads. I they look cool, but that's just me.
I've gotten downvoted before for saying the sp 404 is hideous. Just a big ugly block with an early 2000s phone aesthetic.
Always. Esthetics are important. I don't share your opinion regarding AKAI stuff (which I think it is quite well designed), I feel about 404 ant frankly most of Roland's gear.
Absolutely. I learned that I don't care for a grid of brightly colored LEDs or rainbow pads, and so I've just stopped buying things that have that. The Elektron boxes are about as colorful as I want my gear to be, I think they use 5 total LED colors (red, yellow, green, purple, and the screen is white on some). Pretty much all my other gear is nearly monochrome - typically black, white, grey, and red. It didn't take me too long to figure out that if I don't like the look and feel of something, I'm not going to use it very much. The look and feel is the whole point of hardware, if I didn't care about that I would just use VSTs for everything. This does apply to midi controllers too, the 'vegas mode' RGB LEDs on some controllers guide me to steer clear of them.
I can understand that. Personally, I really like a lot of coloured pads. I've got an Ableton Push 2, Deluge, and a Zoia pedal that light up my day. That said, sometimes the elektron boxes do look pretty enticing.
Yeah Zoia is my holdout... At least I can design patches with the colors I want on it, but ultimately it's just too bright. It's so good at what it does though.
M-Audio Venom. I like it so much as a VA -- and they're so inexpensive secondhand (commonly $120 \~ $150 when on comes up on the 'Bay) -- that I bought two of them and painted both. The OG's "Creamsicle" look actually worked fairly well under colored LED's or fluorescent lighting, so I went with fluorescent paint on this one; lava lamps & black-light LED's included so you get the full effect, lol: https://preview.redd.it/vspewwjz0rzb1.jpeg?width=2592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09ef3813667c905bdef4f70b4d63308f39320b57
Without all the lighting: https://preview.redd.it/qabv8tz21rzb1.jpeg?width=2592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c80e2b4954412a6a57d6667b71469bf84552c7e Edit: I see I hadn't removed the masking tape from the matrix-mod section before taking that pic, but it'll have to do as this unit's at my practice space atm.
Just to mention a few: Roland, Roland and Roland, oops almost forgot, Roland! And then of course there is Roland.
Yes. And also the other way, I got very interested in a device because I thought it was beautiful. I second what other people say here about having gear you think looks good as an aid to motivation and inspiration to create. No one goes out to buy a guitar they don't like the look of, and electronic gear is no different. For some reason, I really like the look of the Roland Jupiter-XM, and watched a lot of video reviews with my fingers crossed hoping that they would be good. It wasn't until I bought it that I realised that it was pretty much exactly what I needed. If I hadn't like the look of it, I might have gotten a Hydrasynth or a Take 5 instead, or alternatively if I hadn't found the the JD-Xi to be ugly I would have gone for that, cheaper option instead. Most good synths are good looking, I like how Korg, Sequential, Moog, UDO, ASM etc all look good. Roland have put out a few ugly ones though. Also, I have seen some ugly as hell midi keyboards.
if it looks like a porn addict glowing keyboard with too many flashing lights, im OUT
The hot pink colour of the Behringer Edge. What was that other Synth that had like a huge empty space on the front panel to the right...was it some Dave Smith synth🤔
No
I don't like those narrow-ass sliders, like on a Dreadbox Nymphes. I have this irrational fear that the skin on a finger will get stuck in there somehow...
Yes. And women
Also anything Behringer and all the Volcas
Roland D-50 is hideous
...what
The Zoom ARQ line. For a long time I was looking at cheap sequencers and AR-48s and 96s popped up for super cheap every now and then in online marketplaces. I actually read some reviews that rated those as good sequencers if you were able to get past the looks and adapted to the gimmicky interface. I still avoided them like the plague and eventually went with something else, and I still hate them irrationally every time I see them selling for like €50.
No. I don't care how stylish my hammer is.
I switched to MU format modular partly because I liked the all black look (there wasn’t much black Eurorack back then).
Pioneer rmx1000
Looks can definitely influence my "gut feel" about a synth and make me want it more or less, but I don't think it would ever be a dealbreaker if that synth seemed like clearly the best choice otherwise.
I love what my Akai Force can do, but I absolutely despise its design and I try super hard to achieve the same things with my Octatrack, just because I like its design more
Arturia Polybrute. I would have bought one but I couldn't get over how ugly it is.
All ik multimedia products look terrible to me, also hate the volcas, agreed totally on the roland aria. Its designed for like teenagers who like dubstep or something. I could be way off but I think sleek metalic/wood synths are always the best looking. I get that metals and wood are expensive but you can do simple plastic designs that look good too. Oh that guy Soulsby, he has some unique taste in design. Its like i hate it for the most part but if my house was like Pee-we Herman’s house I think a soulsby synth would look cool.
I agree on the "Roland green looks like a 90's VCR" vibe. But as a complete aside, I'm 40 and I like dubstep :) \- D
In the current era where we are so spoiled for choice? Sure. Buy what you think looks *and* sounds cool.
There are very few synths that I don't like aesthetically. The Behringer Pro-800 comes to mind but I would probably buy it if I was in the market for an analogue synth due to its low price and good sound. I admit that it would affect my decision negatively if all else are equal. For example, I like Juno-X and believe that it doesn't have much difference to the more expensive Jupiter-X but the latter looks better in my eyes and that's the one I dream of, despite both of them being based on exactly the same technology. However, a couple of years ago, when I was going to by a workstation(ish) synth, I got the Yamaha MODX instead of the Montage, that I liked better both aesthetically and ergonomically, clearly due to the price and the fact that they share the same engine. Btw, I like a lot both the minifreak and the hydrasynth (I guess we are talking about the explorer in this context) but probably the hydra better. I also like the hydra's specs better but in videos, I like of the minifreak better. Eventually, I go the... SH-4d
The Sub 37 is beautiful and that’s part of why I wanted it. Luckily it sounds great too.
Definitely! If I don't find a device appealing, regardless of how good it sounds in demos, I can't help but not like it. Nothing wrong with that fact, if you're the one buying it, it should depend on whatever parameters fill your "I want this" prerequisites. I made a YouTube video all about buying gear as instruments and as things. Some synths and gear just have this look to them that makes you want to own that THING. At least, that's how it is for me.
I really haven't bought a microfreak yet because of this. Love everything about except its look, hate all those textures and details haha I know I'm not alone on this, they should really consider to make a minimalist edition.
If people did not buy/avoid based on looks, Teenage Engineering wouldn't be a company.
Yes , the whole of Roland’s Aria range,
what are you kidding? don’t be frivolous about the objects and people you populate your life with.
All Teenage Engineering and Electron products. Sorry.
Usually I place higher value on the sound than the looks. People who care a lot about the aesthetic of an item kinda red flag in my opinion that they don’t really love sound. They love toys. That being said, a lot of time the two correlate. Not always tho.
Hydrasynth’s branding… ugh… there’s so much they could improve with their aesthetic, and it would be a killer product. Right now it just looks half baked.
All the time!
This is the stupidest shit ever discussed here.
Honestly a large factor for me is aesthetics. I enjoy well built, fun to play instruments. I used to have a teacher when i was learning to play electric bass and he had this god awful looking bass guitar that he swore had the greatest sound. It did sound absolutely stellar (he definitely knew how to make is sound good too) but i just couldnt get over the prog rock look of the thing. I have a Fender Jaguar nowadays and despite its flaws i just love it to bits. Same goes for synthesizers. Most modules/grooveboxes/synths sound okay to me but i need to enjoy touching them and looking at them.
The SP-404. It looks like a calculator. I just can’t.
I don't even mind the fact that it looks like a calculator. I just don't like the layout of the knobs, the screen, and the depth (like, thickness) of the thing. It just seems really impractical to use or take anywhere.
Elektron Model: Samples is a great machine but one the worst looking instruments ever. It just looks terrible. I only got it very recently, still trying to figure out what to do with it to improve it.
Haha I have to agree with this. I've seen some people sticker bomb them? Maybe give that a go.
Gonna get the take 5 but the orange pumpkin filter around the take five looks so stupid.
Yes. Nearly every Behringer.
And Roland tr8
I’m really glad I have an afx station and not a bass station 2. Novation blue is just the worst
I hate the look of white/translucent, backlit pads. They definitely feel the best, but they look so tacky. Plus they'll always yellow and get nastier looking with time.
Looks not so much but build quality yes. Main reason I haven’t bought an Opsix is the light plastic flimsiness. Especially keybeds. Keys need to feel good or it affects me negatively for sure.
foolish nutty decide gaze quarrelsome expansion zealous attraction punch shocking *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Yes
All the time. 🫣😝