DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard

[namnibor]

Wanted to know if anyone else has DSI Evolver(s) in set-up? Have owned the Desktop Evolver for a bit and wanted the extra hands-on control of all parameters the Mono Evolver Keyboard offers and to polychain for duophonic/4 real analog DCO's and 4 digital osc's with FM, Ring Mod, and all the wavetables of the Prophet VS.
The Mono Evolver keyboard was discontinued in June this year and because it's going to be a future classic, prices will go nowhere but up so snatched one that matches my desktop one in that it has Prophet 8 knobs--58 of them, plus 30+ switches! These have a true stereo pathway and output as well as L/R stereo external input like our Virus. However, running the Evolver THRU my Virus KB or KC to use effects and extra filtering is pure DELIGHT! Kind of alien abduction-like because time seems to fly-by when diving deep in programming because the Evolver has 4 LFO's, with ability to modulate anything with everything. Thought I'd share my findings with this genius of Dave Smith. Once I have some finished tracks from newly put togethr home studio, will start a SoundCloud account and post. The 16x4 sequencer can ALSO work as a modulation/wav sequencer, with ability to have each step as far away from previous step as you can think of with no glitching.

[boreg]

Hi Namnibor,
Congrats on your purchase! I would love to have a MEK too, but got no funds/space for it. Got a MED (desktop version), which is cool in its own way - packing so much sonic power in such a compact box. Yeah, I can spend hours tweaking sequences and modulations on this thing - the name 'evolver' fits it perfectly :)

FWIW, this track features the Evolver prominently:
http://soundcloud.com/grooveboreg/drop-theory

[namnibor]

Yes, the desktop's interface has never been an issue for me as it's very simialr to alot of Waldorf gear. The Mono Evolver Keyboard (MEK hereafter) is night and day difference in the immediacy to ALL tweaking madness and FYI the three ocatve velocity/aftertouch keys are REALLY NICE! Using aftertouch as one of plethora of mod sources is also incredibly responsive! Having now polychained two beasts with the MEK controlling the desktop, when isolating the coupled 4 DCO real analog osc's, I dare to say duophonic actually BEATS the sound of the Mopho hands-down!
Thought I'd add that in an alternative set-up where using midi rather than polychaining the two for sonic madness, when not using the polychain 5-pin midi extra port, it acts as a fully SECOND MIDI OUT!!! Talk about versatility!! If you DO get a MEK, make sure your Desktop Evolver has been upgraded to O.S. 3.0, which required either a do it yourself exchange of an eprom/pic for $25. and then a sysex/midi O.S. update. This wa done to maintain backwards compatibility and also places the same soundsets on it that the MEK/PEK have and also adds ALOT of midi cc controllable parameters whereas version on desktop previously was primarily sysex. DSI will do this update for the $25. plus shipping as well--FYI in case you are not updated.
I really believe the Evolver is a nice match-up with ANY Virus!
What did you think when you first listened to "Dream Sweets" program and it's preset assigned sequence of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams"??? Blew me away from just ONE evolver! I truely is hard to believe at times it's actually monophonic but when you see the twin stereo signal flow, in all it's complexity, it's actually very simple. Hope you can get a MEK to add to your desktop in future!

[namnibor]

Hi Namnibor,
Congrats on your purchase! I would love to have a MEK too, but got no funds/space for it. Got a MED (desktop version), which is cool in its own way - packing so much sonic power in such a compact box. Yeah, I can spend hours tweaking sequences and modulations on this thing - the name 'evolver' fits it perfectly :)

FWIW, this track features the Evolver prominently:
http://soundcloud.com/grooveboreg/drop-theory

Wanted to let you know I REALLY enjoyed that, especially the incredible modulations going on in the intro!!! Because i have not taken the time to set-up a SoundCloud account yet, thought I'd give kudos here and thanks for sharing that. I am just learning REAPER, and love the very helpful REAPER community/Forum. Started-out with AVID's ProTools but their customer support actually really sucked and unfortunately even on a forum they have, I encountered predominantly elitist snobs whom have unjustifiable disdain for any form of the Virus. Glad I found REAPER and actually purchased s DVD tutorial from GROOVE3, by Kenny Gioia. Cool beans!

[boreg]

Namnibor, thanks for the feedback mate! :)

My MED came alive after I've programmed the MIDI controller (Novation Remote SL) - for instance, now I have dedicated knobs for filter parameters (LPF, HPF, resonance, filter env) and sliders for controlling individual oscillator volumes. I even figured out a way to set the sequencer steps with sliders, albeit with decreased resolution :cool:

[namnibor]

Namnibor, thanks for the feedback mate! :)

My MED came alive after I've programmed the MIDI controller (Novation Remote SL) - for instance, now I have dedicated knobs for filter parameters (LPF, HPF, resonance, filter env) and sliders for controlling individual oscillator volumes. I even figured out a way to set the sequencer steps with sliders, albeit with decreased resolution :cool:

Yes, of the plethora of midi controllers out there, I too love my Novation SL MK II 61 key. I do not bother with the Automap rather, pretty easy to assign controllers/CC's. Also like an older Korg Kontrol 49 which I use with Wavestation SR Rack because Kontrol 49 has a vector joystick and rest of it is so similar to the Novation that can't help but thinking there was a bit of "borrowing" by Novation.
You probably know this already but DSI Evolver's ability to assign deeper modulation to aftertouch, freeing-up the Mod Wheel, footswitch, pedal to do an awful LOT with just one evolver program. Having the step sequencer setting at very low speed and having each step do whatever you may want as well makes it such a utilitarian instrument.

[Rick Boogie]

Haven't been here in a while, but wanted to jump in with more praise for the MEK. It's quite alot of features for a small monosynth, and sounds great. I'm trying to trim down and sell ONE of my synths, but MEK is not going anywhere. Right now, it's my Virus KB that may go, but I can't part with it either. Other 2 are Little Phatty and Blofeld kb. Only want to keep 3, but can't part with any of them. At least it's a good problem to have. Love that MEK track above!

[namnibor]

Haven't been here in a while, but wanted to jump in with more praise for the MEK. It's quite alot of features for a small monosynth, and sounds great. I'm trying to trim down and sell ONE of my synths, but MEK is not going anywhere. Right now, it's my Virus KB that may go, but I can't part with it either. Other 2 are Little Phatty and Blofeld kb. Only want to keep 3, but can't part with any of them. At least it's a good problem to have. Love that MEK track above!

Now, when I say this, I am not throwing any disdain or the like toward Moog; with having to make a choice amongst yours mentioned and being forced to thin the herd and myself ALSO knowing how DEEP the Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard Black (in my case) edition is...I mean REALLY deep but I still hold onto my Waldorf Microwave XT for nothing touches what it can do but chose NOT to get a Waldorf Q when I had a chance because I had just started to dig within the heart of the Blofeld and figured it really would be redundant to have the Q, so I went with SOME redundancy and purchased a Virus KC, already having a KB....if given a life of death situation of making a choice to let one go, realistically, the Moog Slim Phatty is easily replacable and actually, the DSI Mopho Keyboard would give you so many MORE modulation possibilities while remaining true all analog DCO with two DCO's and two different sub octave osc's, etc. would even be able to still stay below the replacement cost of slim phatty with an used Mopho Keyboard and buying a Moogfooger 101 lowPass filter, so you would have best of both world, yet more versatile than Slim Phatty's kind of shy of being a "one trick pony". Heck, even when isolating the two analog osc's on DSI MEK, those sounds are really FAT then poly chaining an evolver module for duophonic, THAT's mind-blowing! There's actually advantages having a MEK using to expand voices up to max of TWENTY over the Poly Evolver because there's some things the MEK can do PEK cannot. With the PEK, for every combo voice set-up you make, you actually end-up losing a voice, so two combo's leave you with monophonic keys whereas the archetecture of MEK does not do that and the MEK has an arpeggiator hidden within it as well:-) Again, no "hate" for Moog but the Slim Phatty's porker price is 75% the "name" MINUS the features you can get elsewhere.
Glad to see another infekted member has found the surreal world of madness with the MEK....it's "Alice In Wonderland's" Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat all rolled-up into one!!!

[Rick Boogie]

Thanks for that. After spending a few hours playing these monsters yesterday, the Phatty has been nominated as the guy who goes. Forgot to mention, I do also own a couple of Moogerfoogers, but without CV OUTS on the Phatty, I've never really utilized them much. Main reason I wanted to get down to 3, is keyboard stand space, and inputs on my mixer. That, and I also have guitars/basses/amps in my music room, and wish to keep it orderly. So, Little Phatty will go, and I'm left with Virus kb, Blofeld kb, and MEK, which is a pretty freakin' nice trio, I think. Again, appreciate the advice and inspiration, have a great holiday!

[namnibor]

Thanks for that. After spending a few hours playing these monsters yesterday, the Phatty has been nominated as the guy who goes. Forgot to mention, I do also own a couple of Moogerfoogers, but without CV OUTS on the Phatty, I've never really utilized them much. Main reason I wanted to get down to 3, is keyboard stand space, and inputs on my mixer. That, and I also have guitars/basses/amps in my music room, and wish to keep it orderly. So, Little Phatty will go, and I'm left with Virus kb, Blofeld kb, and MEK, which is a pretty freakin' nice trio, I think. Again, appreciate the advice and inspiration, have a great holiday!

You are welcome! I thought you might like this info as well re: adding an Evolver Desktop to PolyChain to your MEK with minimal space utilized. You can get them on ebay used for like $400. BUT MAKE SURE it has had the upgrade to O.S. 3....this was ONLY for the Evolver Desktop Module to make it completely backward compatable with MEK/PEK and was NOT just a simple sysex dump as it firstly required paying $25. usd to DSI for the pic/eprom like chip to be exchanged THEN doing the sysex dump. This info is on DSI website and even for $35. plus shipping and prepaid shipping back to you DSI will do it for you!!!! SWEET! This placed programs/presets that are also on MEK/PEK in order to polychain AND it gives ALOT more midi cc's controlling abilities outside of just polychaining rather than the former's sysex exclusivity.
Lastly, if you do NOT know this already, there's a FREE download from both DSI and/or do a web search for this COMPREHENSIVE EVOLVER USER MANUAL a motivated lover of the Evolver did that is SO GOOD, even DSI gives it seal of approval and it comes from a musician's mindset rather than DSI's engineering view....it has openned up a whole new universe of using the MEK and is what actually prompted me to purchase a MEK to add to my firstly purchased Evolver Desktop: "The Definitive Guide To The Evolver" by Anu Kirk and can be downloaded for free http://jinsai.blogspot.com/2005/10/definitive-guide-to-evolver.html It's a labor of love and hope this helps you as it is what should have come with it and yes, it applies to all varieties of the evolver series.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Robert

[TweakHead]

You are welcome! I thought you might like this info as well re: adding an Evolver Desktop to PolyChain to your MEK with minimal space utilized. You can get them on ebay used for like $400. BUT MAKE SURE it has had the upgrade to O.S. 3....this was ONLY for the Evolver Desktop Module to make it completely backward compatable with MEK/PEK and was NOT just a simple sysex dump as it firstly required paying $25. usd to DSI for the pic/eprom like chip to be exchanged THEN doing the sysex dump. This info is on DSI website and even for $35. plus shipping and prepaid shipping back to you DSI will do it for you!!!! SWEET! This placed programs/presets that are also on MEK/PEK in order to polychain AND it gives ALOT more midi cc's controlling abilities outside of just polychaining rather than the former's sysex exclusivity.
Lastly, if you do NOT know this already, there's a FREE download from both DSI and/or do a web search for this COMPREHENSIVE EVOLVER USER MANUAL a motivated lover of the Evolver did that is SO GOOD, even DSI gives it seal of approval and it comes from a musician's mindset rather than DSI's engineering view....it has openned up a whole new universe of using the MEK and is what actually prompted me to purchase a MEK to add to my firstly purchased Evolver Desktop: "The Definitive Guide To The Evolver" by Anu Kirk and can be downloaded for free http://jinsai.blogspot.com/2005/10/definitive-guide-to-evolver.html It's a labor of love and hope this helps you as it is what should have come with it and yes, it applies to all varieties of the evolver series.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Robert

Hello Robert, you've asked me if I was the tweakhead from another forum on some thread here, I'm not eheh. But it's ok. How's the music making going?
Best regards

[namnibor]

Hello Robert, you've asked me if I was the tweakhead from another forum on some thread here, I'm not eheh. But it's ok. How's the music making going?
Best regards

Hello! Just thought I'd ask on the namesake! It's coming along but perhaps not as fast as would want but then I am kind of an impatient fart at that, LOL! Having completed a military career in which last eight years of many were involved actively engaged in an UNJUST war, and in that time frame had no outlet musically, I took the time to build my studio and am at very same time learning the ins and outs of each instrument, also pounding out creative angst--of which, will have alot of material once it all comes together. I wasted time trying to adapt Pro Tools in work flow to finally go with REAPER, which I find MUCH more intuitive and you actually get BETTER support than from the snobs at AVID! If I release an INDY thing, you can be sure there will be my "monkey-throwing-feces-at-AVID" ode! Realistically, have also had to come to terms with physical injuries incurred amidst an unjust war that continues to this day. It indeed is that musician's and artist's "fly in ointment of personality" or "thorn in side" that propells me daily in this wonderful sonic journey!
Not until 110% satisfaction will I set up a SoundCloud account, though. How goes it with your musical endeavors? A few days ago, drove a few hundred miles to do USA Thanksgiving and Christmas with parents and brother, Today cooked my own 20 Lb turkey for me and my maine coone cat and just awoke from a turkey coma!! I feel so much like an alien this evening because the parking lot at apartment building is void of all but my car and motorcycle...all are probably in lines somewhere for that dreaded "Black Friday" thing! I never fell into that crap of marketing and prefer to shop online than to deal with a mob mentality! Every day of the year is Christmas for me these days and I honestly think humans are getting dumber under the guise of oxymoronically named "Smartphones"!
Peace!

[Rick Boogie]

Robert, I like how you think. We are much alike, military service aside. Will stay tuned to this Virus station for further communications, and musical updates. Thanks again, and take care, Alan

[TweakHead]

Yeah, me two. Your story inspires me in some very pleasant way. Was really impressed the first time I read about your life experience and how music has become your personal way of dealing with it and all. And you really come across as a good guy. My musical endeavours are sort of taking off, starting fresh and also investing making sure I'm 110% satisfied before turning on the lights on me eheh

Most recently had some trouble with an HDD, and I'm going through recovery of some files right now, which is going well but very very very sloooooooow. So afterwards, I'll get my super sayen powers back and will drop some music for you guys to listen. Cheers

[namnibor]

Yeah, me two. Your story inspires me in some very pleasant way. Was really impressed the first time I read about your life experience and how music has become your personal way of dealing with it and all. And you really come across as a good guy. My musical endeavours are sort of taking off, starting fresh and also investing making sure I'm 110% satisfied before turning on the lights on me eheh

Most recently had some trouble with an HDD, and I'm going through recovery of some files right now, which is going well but very very very sloooooooow. So afterwards, I'll get my super sayen powers back and will drop some music for you guys to listen. Cheers
I hope you have or NOW plan to get or use an additional HDD to back everything up always. An external HDD used soley for this and ONLY having it connected when wanting to back-up because have also heard of a few horror stores when you leave an HDD connected whilst doing tasks like regular Windows Updates, with sometimes file corruption even happening. I also use Norton 360 Total Security but place in Silent Mode when using DAW PC, which is ONLY connected to internain order to update O.S. or Norton 360 updates. Norton Ghost is a great inexpensive program that actually makes a mirror image of your Windows or otherwise O.S. for really easy recovery.
Are you in the USA, Tweak? I am in Marble Cliff, Ohio, USA--a way Western suburb of Columbus that's like living in country yet only 10 minutes from metro city area. It's a very quiet neighborhood with no ghetto rats as what I experienced where I lived first few years when found myself in Columbus. Marble Cliff location now exactly two years and have not heard a gunshot even one day!! LOL It was a daily occurance where previously lived and NOT good for military PTSD!! HA!

[namnibor]

Have been so blown away by new sonic universe openned-up by the DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard! All the immediate tweakability and visual feedback with so many knobs and buttons really opens the Evolver to consideration if you have been wanting to add a real analog to your set-up that is more than a one trick pony--because half, 2 of the 4 osc's are DCO analog osc's, 2 analog LPF, analog vca, etc.
My MEK happens to be the endless encoder version that has been pro-serviced with no skippy encoders and have it polychained to a desktop evolver for duophonic, 4 real analog and 4 digital wavetable osc's. Originally, was going to polychain this second Evolver Desktop in this set-up but came across ANOTHER DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard at a great price, condition, and is the "PE Version", so will have best of both worlds and plan on polychaining other desktop Evolver to it. FYI--you can isolate those analog or digital osc's or of course design sounds with best of both worlds. The keyboard's feel and after touch is as equally great as my Virus KC! Mentioning this because I personally do not like the sound of DSI Mopho or Prophet 08, yet the analog side of the Evolver has so much more character and versatility and sounds very "juicy", much better IMO than the other DSI analog osc's. Perhaps having 4 LFO's, and able to modulate everything by anything is this phenomenal difference?
Anyway, the Evolver makes a GREAT addition to any Virus and synth set-up and cannot wait to have the second MEK this time next week and will run all for stereo outputs of 2-MEK's and the 2 Desktop Evolvers to a Kawai MX8 mixer that has 4 stereo pair inputs, effects send A and B, AND this gem of Kawai MX8 rack mixer from early 90's ALSO has built-in midi In and THREE Midi Thru's, of which are not affected by mixer's inputs as it is a completely independant midi thru and thought perhaps people should know about this versatile and quiet mixer from past with features on it hard pressed to find today in newer equipment. One of two effects sends go to post-fader and the second gives you a choice of pre/post fader. It's a non-powered mixer and actually Kawai calls it a Keyboard Mixer, very nice knoby box and can be found on ebay for $99. usd or less. I actually purchased a second one because of the versatility and utilitarian nature of it in any synth-based set-up. The second MEK is going to rest on far right half of my Virus KB securely, having heavy duty On Stage Stands Z two-tier racks, with just tiny bit of overhang. Once all set-up, will send gear porn pics then start posting compilations on SoundCloud. Hope this helps someone in some way!

[Rick Boogie]

I know we're here on a Virus board, but want to add that DSI Mono Evolver kb is exactly as described above. Lush, and infinitely tweakable. I also have the PE edition, and spent several hours yesterday, creating wild new sounds, mostly with just the 2 analog DCO's. What I like, is you can still use the 2 wavetable osc's as modulation sources, or destinations, even if they're not actually being used to create a "sound". Amazingly versatile synth, and a great addition to anyone's Virus set-up.

[namnibor]

I know we're here on a Virus board, but want to add that DSI Mono Evolver kb is exactly as described above. Lush, and infinitely tweakable. I also have the PE edition, and spent several hours yesterday, creating wild new sounds, mostly with just the 2 analog DCO's. What I like, is you can still use the 2 wavetable osc's as modulation sources, or destinations, even if they're not actually being used to create a "sound". Amazingly versatile synth, and a great addition to anyone's Virus set-up.

This area is exactly place to talk about studio equipment ASIDE from Virus but with the Virus and DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard having External Audio Ins, the MEK is a beast of many faces and even whilst polychained, the midi out will send note data in number of voices you have polychained or not to another instrument or act as a midi trigger for instance initiate an arp pattern or make a multimode-set-up play with whatever trigger set-up. Cannot imagine a better match for an advanced and versatile Virus set-up and even run Virus through true analog VCF...it's like giving a sculptor new specialized set of carving tools that carry-over to use with what one already has at their disposal. Glad to see other Virus owners using this as well!

[MBTC]

Over the last couple of months, the poly evolver has shot up to the top of my wishlist.

[namnibor]

Over the last couple of months, the poly evolver has shot up to the top of my wishlist.

I am telling you, as odd as it may seem, the Mono Evolver Keyboard (MEK) is alot of bang for buck and a great user interface and polychaining a used desktop evolver for duophonic is ALL you need for VERY intensely interesting sounds, esp. if you most probably have more than one or two+ other synths in your mix because monophonic, it does not sound as such at all! My precious!

[namnibor]

Using ONLY the digital side of the Evolver, the PolyEvolver in this example, using the modulation sequencer to simulate "ppg-ish sounds", of which the DSI Evolver has the exact wavetables of the now-vintage Prophet VS. Each Evolver has 2 wavetable digital osc's and 2 real anaolg DCO's; and one can isolate and play and program only the digital and or analog or of course. Each Evolver's archetecture along with the sum of the 4 osc's has two analog VCF's, VCA's, and two digital hpf, 4 freely routable LFO's, 3 instances of digital delay, output hack which is a form of bit-crushing, and distortion, and 16x4 step sequencer and of course everything is modulatable to anything, even back into itself through external input----that's all in just 1 Evolver so in the Poly Evolver simply multiply x4. This is an example of a comrade in arms that has a polyevolver using ONLY the digital wavetables: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc2-E4Rh0so

Here is same with using ONLY the analog osc's to show how freaking versatile this beast is and same bud:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx4YO6Dwvy0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it_nyGjQZUQ
Now, I have 2 DSI Mono Evolver Keyboards with a Desktop Evolver polychained to each, making them both duophonic and I went this route not out of thrift rather, the MonoEvolver Keyboard is only one that has also an arp built-in as well and decided to have two duophonic Evolver Keyboards for the verstility in the ambient/ethereal, IDM-ish stuff I have cooking-up that when ready will set-up SoundCloud and surely share this along with what am doing to incorporate our wonderful Viri synths as well. Lastly, here's a great demo of what the MonoEvolverKeyboard is capable of and ONLY scratching surface http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyLBDiuzj34
You just have to love reverse-engineered alien technology made into musical instruments:-)
Robert

[namnibor]

Thought people might be interested in Doc Trippler's audio example of processing a nice drum pattern through the stereo external inputs of DSI MEK. It's a few minutes long as he routed signal through various parts of the Evolver's signal and is quite nice, especially latter 2/3. http://www.trippler.net/files/mp3/evoinputproc.mp3 :shock: