Molten Music Monthly - December 2018

good month.... missed the chronoblob coming out. happy hohos!

Very nice once again, always a pleasure to listen to your, may I say, rambling? In a good way? Just one request: If doing a sponsored product review always causes you to do a 17-minute apology in the next video, please don't do them anymore. If you can handle it without the apology, go for it, man. That said, thanks for a year of monthlies and seasonal greetings and such.

I wonder if they would modernise the OP-1 hardware a little if/when they start the next batch.
USB-C like the OP-Z would be nice so that you can use the same cable.

Robin, it’s the first time I’ve written you. I watch and listen to your videos often...for several reasons. I like your style, you make me laugh. But you also have a very interesting way of explaining processes with modular that I truly understand. This stuff doesn’t come easy to me....but some how after watching you over and over ...and even going to sleep at night listening to your voice it sinks in....does that sound crazy or what....well it’s true.
Next, I’m a commercial photographer in Detroit. Been in commercial automotive advertising for 30 years. Yes , I get so tired of launching products but it is what keeps my kids going to college and puts food on the table for sure.....but it isn’t easy. Like you said, everyone wants to be invited to see the lastest product before the public...
I myself like being invited to shoot a vehicle coming out in 2020.....so I jump at the chance to photograph it.....it is our ego wanting to be the big dog.
In closing I just want to say...after 30 years in my biz I’ve discovered that I had to play a game for a long time, take the pictures everyone wants to see., Really the last 5 years or so I’ve started marching to my own drummer and stopped being something for everyone......and do you know what happened. ......my client list has grown and I’m even happier myself......this social media world your ( we ) are in the middle of isn’t easy......it is a fine line we must have to walk. I like you and your channel because you are entertaining as well as have a gift to chat and really dig in....keep doing that ....in my opinion, your true viewers will continue.

didn't impress by the Arturia one...Serum is still the king of VST synths imho (and Zebra is the Prince)

I used to think that the reviews from people who paid out of their own pocket for something are the most objective ones, because they are not sponsored by the manufacturers. But I increasingly notice the tendency to either make the product look better than it is by reviewers (to look like a savvy consumer or to make themselves attractive to the manufacturer) or to completely rip the product to shreds (to attract views or make a competing product look more attractive).

Hi Robin, another awesome diatribe, about virtual and some not so virtual hardware stuff (although apparently in preproduction) from across the pond. Like you we have had the builders in, although we have the floor down at last. Wait a minute, that floors got to come back up in the new year, so the plumbers can change the pipe work again! Great to have more space but trying to make some tunes with hammers and drills going bish, bash, bosh. But wait this could lead me into an industrial sound revival. So before I get the extension miked up for a spot of builder sampling. Have a great Christmas and maybe your dreams of a rich benefactor will come true. One word of of caution though "Beware of rotund men wearing red and riding about on flying sleighs.🔔🔔🔔

Hi Robin, I really enjoyed watching your comment on Pigment and how elegant you struggle with it. How you think about a product is important to me. I trust you will not become a review machine who praises everything that passes by. I trust that for every product you select there are 5 others that didn't make it to the review phase. The reality of these times is that there are so many products created and promoted that it's not feasible to make the right choice every time. There's always this nagging feeling that you overlook something that is much better suited to my musical aims. And right now that happens almost every time I purchase something; in the week that follows that purchase, I'll almost certainly come across a product that would have been a much better choice. That's where you come in: you're saving me from buyers remorse, which is a very unpleasant feeling. Also: I'm not a reviewer but I can imagine that when reviewing new gear you must feel a sense betrayal towards the old wonderful stuff you've reviewed in the past. It seems that for every new love you have to abandon an old love (;-) That's true for both relationships and music gear. (:-).

Your voice again so mid and compressed. Same problem that Eric Perry has I think. Fine reviews though...

With the rise of all these "Influencer" type reviews/demos, we as the average consumer need to exercise some media literacy and not take things at face value (and to be honest, most do, but I feel for those people who get swept up in the hype).

The embargo lifting and a shed load of videos dropping within minutes of each other is quite annoying though. Reflects badly on Arturia I feel, which is a shame because I like their gear a lot.

I don't mind all the reviews, I watch certain people for certain opinions and prefer to listen/watch to reviews from chosen channels. I had already watched Andrew Huang review pigments, otherise I would have watched yours but I chose not to watch other reviews. It's simple, just don't press play and watch other vidoes on the channel you love. You work hard to teach and provide experience, you deserve some recognition from manufacturers. 'ave a good crimbo

Not to burst your bubble, Mr. V - but I too was sent a Pigments demo and I am REALLY a nobody!
I'm guessing Arturia sent EVERYONE on their mailing list a demo ( which is new-worthy onto itself).

Arturia Pigments: I tried to watch five or so 'review' videos of Pigments, yours was the only one I watched to the end, because it was the best. By far. I've now installed the trial version, and may well buy it it January. €99 if you have another Arturia product.

"It's just gear, innit?". That's got to count as "Quote of the Year"!!!! Looking forward to the live stream...it's in the diary now, after I got told off for being late to the last one! Hope you get sorted domestically before the festivities and that the floor goes down without any hitches - always a worry when you are having things like that done! Have a lovely Christmas.

I’ve been playing with the OP-Z for a few days now. I think you’re right about the lack of demos but I think TE think of themselves more as much as a design company as a music instrument company so maybe they’re not quite sure how to go about doing demos in a “high end design” kinda way. Cuckoos stuff is good and in depth but his style isn’t for everyone. The unit itself is pretty nifty. I think they put a lot of time into the usability of it and the integration with DMX and Unity is really smart. If you compare it to other things in the price range (mother32, Dreadbox, Minibrute2) its features should make it pretty desirable to a lot of people. The other stuff is great, analog, fat sounding synths but you can’t stick them in your bag and sketch out full tracks with them.

Man...you talk too much about your own channel and your own problems on a monthly video that was supposed to inform people about the market, trends and new products.

One thing I would say about software instrument reviews - I agree you are likely guaranteed something good - the thing you can't see easily from the makers demo videos is how playable it is - I'm after instruments not just raw technology. I think that's where people like yourself can add real value

This is a hardware revolution. I don't care if software is easier, cheaper AND faster. It's just not FUN. It's for the people who have chained themselves to the Industry and become pandering slaves to be dangled out in front of the masses like carrots, leading them further down the path of materialism. I'm sorry am I at the wrong channel again? 😂

Loved the existential crisis! Made me laugh. It is all marketing. Obvs. Keep keeping it real ; )

Is this the real life is this just fantasy caught in a landslide no escape from reality open your eyes look up to the skies and see I'm just a poor boy I need no sympathy because I'm easy come easy go little high little low anyway the wind blows doesn't really matter to me to meee mama I just killed a man put a gun against his head pulled my trigger now he's dead mama life had just begun but now I've gone and thrown it all away mama oooooo didn't mean to make you cry if I'm not back again this time tomorrow carry on carry on as if nothing really matters too late my time has come sends shivers down my spine body's aching all the time goodbye everybody I've got to goooo gotta leave u all behind and face the truth mama ooooo I don't wanna die I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all...

Read more

No beer Robin? I like when you are having a pint and talking about music.

A Very Happy Christmas to you and yours, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Robin do you have any plans to build a Midilar unit to control virtual moduar?

Don't really think it matters as long as you keep it honest, if your not people remember your bad advice. Your approach won't suit everyone, there's other reviewers to hear from for a more general view overall, but good to hear from people like yourself who look at things in their own unique way.