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From: DaveSmithInstruments
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  • Does it have front panel markings printed on a sticker, or painted on the panel?

  • @dvamateur

    The graphics are printed on an overlay (sticker) mounted to the front panel.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Well, I very much prefer painted graphics on instruments. That's one of the reasons I sold my Voyager OS, and kept D-50, DX7, and Nord Lead 2, because the Voyager had a sticker on a front panel. Now you can shoot me for criticizing the manufacturing method of someone who invented pretty much synth everything together with Mr. Curtis, my apologies for that. But I have to let the sticker thing out of my chest :)

  • Will we ever see a tetra keyboard? That's what Im waiting for.

  • @aikighost

    Nope.

  • I've been to so many pages for synths claiming to be cheap and powerful, yet I can't ever afford any of them.

  • @zwerty007 You cant go wrong with a MicroKorg.

  • How does the arpeggiator speed (bpm) control work ? Is it just a knob, or are there values on the lcd screen ? Thanks.

  • @HelasTV

    BPM is selected by a dedicated knob on the front panel. It can also be synced to external clock.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Thanks for a swift answer.

  • i wish i could afford it...

    it may be affordable but not for a polish civil engineering student ;(

  • NICE!!!

  • why doesn't the tetra feature an audio in?

  • @meninrevolt

    Typically analog mono-synths have audio inputs. The MoPho and the MoPho Keyboard both have an audio input for processing external signals.

  • Hey Dave! Just wondering since I already own it. Is the Mopho's pitchbend double precision?

  • @faderfab

    Not sure what you mean by double precision. The pitch wheel changes the pitch between a range of 0-127 values and you can set the Pitch Bend range in the Misc Parameters. You can extend the range even further by assigning Osc All Frequency to the pitch wheel using one (or more) of the 4 Mod slots.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments My bad for not being precise. I'm using the Mopho as a midi controller as well. Just wondering if the Pitch Bend was sending out just an MSB or an MSB and LSB. Like from $E( ) $00 $00 to $E( ) $7F $7F. Thanks!

  • @faderfab

    The MoPho sends standard MIDI pitch bend messages, they aren't NRPNs.

  • Is this good for solos.

  • @numanuma20

    Yes. It's a mono-synth (one voice) so it excels at lead and bass sounds.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments I also want to know if I can plug my electronic drum set to a tempest and get the sound out of a tempest into my electronic drums.

  • @numanuma20

    If your electronic drum set can sample audio from an external source, yes.

  • @HDeadmau5 Southand bucks for a car? Dude, buy a synth.

  • This thing sounds like a Moog, looks like a Moog, its analog, its like 800$, and its fucking YELLOW!!! I have to get one of these things.

  • @scarabmasta a moog sounds warm and deep. i dont think this comes near to a moog...my opinion.

  • @scarabmasta /watch?v=A-HY757mffk&feature=r­elated

  • Does it come in any color besides yellow? Because I will buy one if I can get it in black or white.

  • @mattstank

    It comes in any color you want, as long as it's yellow :)

    Fortunately, it sounds the same as the black or the white model.

  • I´ve got my mopho kb today, it has a VERY different sound to the moogs, but it´s ok and has fantastic mod-possibilities. BUT: Is there no "real" hold-knob? The push-it always holds on a fixed note (i know, i can change this note in the menu, but thats ugly to do in live sessions....). I can open the VCA via the menu, ok....but the best would be a hold-knob. Is this funktion hidden? And: Can i transpose the sequences? Do i always have to press a key for let the sequencer run? Cheers Martin

  • @BitSnapper You can set the PushIt mode to "Toggle". In this mode one press of the button or a key will start the sequencer and it will keep playing until you press the button or a key again. You can transpose sequences simply by pressing another key while the sequencer is running.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Thank you, yes, thats what the manual says, too. I spended last night with mopho and a boddle of redwine and looked under mophos hood. THAT WAS A NIGHT!!! This synth is worth every penny, thank you, Mr. Smith, thank you so much for building this synth! Best regards Martin

  • can you start with a blank program with this synth and pick your own wave forms? how manny oscilators?

  • @skinnypuppy1

    Yes. 2 oscillators and 2 sub-oscillators.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments 2 OSC? I thought this is a monophonic synth.

  • @MrKnnknn

    Indeed it is monophonic. The voice is made up of 2 oscillators and 2 sub-oscillators.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments So one key a time, but a full sound. Are there plans to build a polyphonic model of similar characteristics?

  • @MrKnnknn

    We already have, it's called the Tetra. 4-voice polyphonic with the same voice architecture as the MoPho. No plans to make a Tetra keyboard at this time.

  • does anyone of you compared the Mopho to the Moog Slim Phatty to make a short report?

  • can anybody tell me how the kyboard and desktop versions of the mopho actually differ?

  • @lucadepu

    The keyboard and the desktop are identical in terms of voice architecture and functionality with the exception of the Feedback Gain parameter. The desktop has a manual feedback gain knob on the front panel, and the keyboard has a digital pot that controls the feedback gain. The advantage is the keyboard can store your feedback gain settings in program memory. Not a huge deal either way, but a nice addition.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments fair enough :) what i am trying to figure out is is it better to go desktop version + midi keyboard or just go for the keyboard version, cosidering that i should take it out in a live environment

  • @lucadepu

    The keyboard is more suited for live performance out of the box since it gives you access to many more simultaneous parameters and they're already mapped. It's also a perfect controller for the Tetra if you choose to expand your polyphony later.

    If space is a premium in your live setup and you already have to bring keyboard controller the desktop takes up very little space. You can also use the MoPho keyboard as a controller for other gear, although its MIDI output is fixed.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments thank you so much for your clear explanation. since i use my midi controller to control my daw i think i'll be opting for the keyboard version!

  • I'm very keen on getting one with a tetra for school in September at LIPA. Problem is my country, Singapore, overcharges DSI stuff. And thanks for the reply. I'm quite happy to put money in great customer service.

  • Is there any documents that I can see the routing of the synth internally? And thats an awesome backing at 0.42

  • @faderfab

    There's a signal-flow diagram for all our instruments in their respective manuals, downloadable from our site. Go to Support, then under the Downloads section find the MoPho.

  • Is there any documents I can see regarding the routing of the internals for the Mopho?

  • I am going to be buying one of these soon and i was wondering how durable the pots and buttons are. I really want to be able to keep this thing in perfect condition and i just dont want anything falling apart.

  • @imme12356

    They're solid. Not sure what kind of benchmark we could give you to compare, but the parts we used to build the MoPho Keyboard are quality.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments ok thanks. I mean I knew it would be. Ive always chosen dave smith over any other synth brand. I was just worried cause this is a very affordable synth and I didnt know exactly how it was made.

  • can tetra patches load over the mopho patches?

  • @009relic1

    Yes, it works both ways so the MoPho patches can load over the Tetra patches too.

  • is it fuul analog? how many wave forms does it have?

  • @lukuntri full analog, 4 waveforms saw, triangle, a mix of the two, and square but the filter does self-oscillate so you get like a sine wave but its hard tune...

  • @hongdekong thanks for information

  • @lukuntri

    hongdekong is correct, and I'll also point out the "square" wave is a Pulse Width wave, user selectable from 0-99, with pulse width of 50 being a square.

  • I heard you can do poly chains with these. Can you chain it with other instruments like the Moog Slim Phatty or is it just with other Dave Smith products?

  • @aw5omeFRAZA

    Poly chaining is for extending the maximum # of simultaneous notes you can play. It works with the Tetra, MoPho, and Prophet because they all share the same voice architecture. Of course, you can still use the MoPho Keyboard to play any other MIDI instrument.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments

    Ahh, okay. Thanks!

  • Comment removed

  • I really want to buy the tetra, but the table-top form factor is no good for me.

    Any chance the Tetra could be made into a keyboard version?

    I'd definitely buy it & I know others who would buy it too :-)

  • @ShynAwkward

    Tetra keyboard is not coming. We tried to make one before the MoPho Keyboard, actually, but it turned out to be too expensive. It would have cost almost as much as the Prophet 08 Keyboard but with 1/2 the voices so we decided against it and made the MoPho Keyboard instead.

    We've got our eyes on new designs at this point, so be on the lookout for some new cool stuff!

  • Hey Dave;

    Does the keyboard have any features the modular is lacking, or is it mostly the amount parameter control via the front panel that sets the two apart?

  • @androidophanium

    The MoPho Keyboard and the Module arethe same in terms of functionality with the exception of 1 parameter- the feedback gain. The Module has a manual pot (white knob on the front) to adjust feedback gain, while the Keyboard has a digital pot for the feedback gain.

    This allows the Keyboard to store the feedback gain setting in its presets. The parameter control via the front panel is the only other difference, the voice architecture is identical as are all other functions.

  • the yellow peril, but in a good way! or Big Yellow Taxi - transport to other worlds, and lots of knobs to let loose and naughty with. Great demo!

  • 05:25 glass distortion :P just kidding... this keyboard kicks some serious ass... love it!!

  • Loving this..... and I thought I was a guitar/bass player. Gonna make some spacey jams when I get my paws on one of these :)

  • On behalf of Sequential Circuits, welcome to 1984. Max Mofo?

  • Damn, I want one of these.

  • i now have it..but there is a one big thing missing: delay/reverb

  • sounds incredible! 

  • too bad it s not battery operated...i woild love to play it at the beach...

  • wow that second beat you put on was pretty awesome ! So does that mean that keyboard has some kind of drum machine capabilities?

  • @V19torrent

    The MoPho Keyboard has a built in sequencer with 4 sequencer sources, so 1 for each oscillator and 1 for each sub-oscillator makes 4 total sequences that can run simultaneously.

  • can a fx machine like reverb be connected to the mopho?if yes in which port?

  • can a fx machine like reverb be connected to the mopho?

  • Hi Mr. Smith,

    I've been trying to register my mopho keyboard for some time now, but after doing so on your website, I receive no email, and therefore am currently unable to use the editor. i think the editor would aid me greatly in developing new sounds, and so would very much like to use it. what am i doing wrong? I bought the keyboard in Toronto, but i then moved it to Paris where i current reside. was it wrong for me to enter my French address in the registration?

  • @PlateauEast

    You should receive a confirmation for registration, using your French address is fine. It is not necessary to register to use the included editor software- it is downloadable from SoundTower.

  • the sequence on 4:32 sold me this synth, now i'm waiting for it to arrive to start making some ill yet relaxed downtempo beats! thanks dave! you have one new customer on board!

  • Holy Mopho! This thing seems to have multiple bandpass filtering, I hear some serious formant shaping starting from 2:19. One would have to shell out some serious cash for a couple of Cwejman modules to get that kind of sound.

  • We successfully duplicated the Mopho on the pc. Exactly. Not in the form of a sample library or plugin either. Please have a look at our channel.

    Who says PC's can't sound analog?

  • I got this keyboard and it kicks ass, im just wondering what the best way to hook it to the rest of my stuff. I have an er-1, kaoscillator pro, casio ct670, and i have a ddm4000 mixer. Any suggestions??

  • @BeckMiguel5371 I lol'd

  • Dave, make a keytar!! Bring back Keytar 2011!!!!

    They are so cool, only the Roland AX is made these days, lets make a new, 2011, KeyTar model, with tons of effects, and small and compact!

    I donno, give the keytar some thought though!

  • Very cool synth. Great job Dave.

  • I have more than enough Synths in my studio, but after trying out the Mopho Keyboard, I am really tempted to buy one. Awesome interface, good build quality, nice encoders, and everything in a "punk package"... Love the crazy yellow.

    Good job, Dave.

  • All I can say is the mopho keybd rules and I can't get enuf of its fat ass sound. It soon will be gov't regulated its so damn good!

  • another vote for tetra in a keyboard

  • hey I bought this keyboard a few weeks ago and it's a real pleasure to use; however, i've been having one problem in particular... sometimes i find that the synth sounds are inexplicably out of key. i'm playing an A but it sounds more like a B or somenote close to it but not exactly. it's very noticable and it seems that restarting the machine is the only way to clear up the problem, though this wouldn't be possible if i were in the middle of a performance. advice?

  • @PlateauEast

    Is any MIDI I/O connected? Disconnect if so to start.

    Try a Global reset, located near the end of the Global menu.

    Hard to troubleshoot over YouTube, if you still have problems email me: support dave smith instruments com and we'll get it sorted out.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments no midi. only audio to an amplifier. i'll send you an email. thanks for your quick response.

  • sounds like you have mooved the tune controle without realising

  • @PlateauEast The nature of analog .

  • @ 2:38 - 2:56 Dave gets dirty with the MoPho!

    RAD man!

    you are one of my favorite synth designers thanks for the years of warm ear candy.

    :)

    Top dave smith moment @ NAMM 2006 > Herbie Hancock walks up to a PEK shakes daves hand then rocks out for 10 min. wild!

  • @ 2:38 - 2:56 Dave gets dirty with the MoPho!

    RAD man!

    you are one of my favorite synth designers thanks for the years of warm ear candy.

    :)

  • 3:13 sound a little bit like a song from the new tron soundtrack by daft punk!

  • @Viseual1

    The keys are semi-weighted. It's the same keybed used in the Prophet 08 and they feel quite nice.

  • right click "stop download"

    Fuck I am sick of this shit. Have heard nothing innovative since The Prodigy- William Orbit era. There are no new sounds, just old stuff rehashed.

    Ah well, if it keeps the average joe entertained and it pushes tech forward....I will just use a USB keyboard then update my latest softsynth.

  • We love you Dave, it's just great to have people like you still making analog synths in these times, you and you're instruments are amazing. Much respect for your work.

  • You made a buyer out of me.

  • hey. great machine. i just bought it. i have a question though... i've been wanting to save some of my modifications to the preset synth sounds, but i don't want to lose the original preset. how can i do this? it seems that to use the "write" function necessitates that i write over something. sorry if this is a relatively dumb question... but i'd really like to know.

  • @PlateauEast

    There is no separate "user" program bank area. There are 384 program slots you can write to, and it does overwrite the factory programs. You can choose any of the slots for any program you want to save, and using the Compare feature you can even see what program you're overwriting first.

    You can always download the factory sounds again at any time from the support section of our site.

  • how about a tetra in a 3-octave keyboard with as many knobs as a prophet desktop?

  • That's awesome.

  • I wanted to say that I sold my Mopho because I found the interface very frustrating, but this looks like a very intuitive, more analog style control interface. Something I'm definitely going to have to try out, and by the looks of it, purchase.

    I think you guys are making some of the best analog synths currently, but I don't want to get frustrated the interface when making music. However this looks like a more readable interface than others I've seen from DSI. Keep up the good work!

  • Beautiful!!!! DO WANT

  • Lovely looking and great sounding analog synth. Excellant price point too.

    Do these synths use a variant of the CEM3396 chip? In what way have they been 'tweeked/modified' ?

    Its great to see you're using POTS on your synths now - they feel better on analogs...

  • @DIGITALSCREAMS

    Yes, it is similar to the CEM3396. That's all I can tell you though, trade secrets ;)

  • I got mine a few days ago, sounds great , but I'm having real issues with it in Logic 9, notes are getting stuck constantly so i reset all midi connections from logic & it works for like a minute beforeeverything gets stuck again, filters and all knobs on the mopho stock responding too until i reset. I believe it could be a midi data loop, I turn off input record on the logic track and I still get the issues, making it hard to incorperate this into my logic songs.

    please help! thanks

  • @thesystemite

    @thesystemite

    Definitely sounds like a MIDI loop. Email me: support davesmithinstruments com and we'll get it sorted out.

  • lets see a video with all the different presets

  • esta chulo ,chulisimo!!!!!

  • Sounds great, Dave!

  • All of these knob tweaking videos are pretty much useless for someone looking to use this in a "traditional" band situation. I want to hear the lead-sounds and the bass-sounds, but 95% of all the videos are concentrated around the sequencer... I like to think that you put a keyboard on it for a reason. Well I'm still very much interested in it, and I hope you post some videos where you show some different sides of the instrument

  • @Fagleboo if in a band situation wouldnt you want more than the 2 octave? how about sticking to the motif or a roland kb mate

  • @evil999

    Well actually no. I'd really like to have a small keyboard that I can bring to all rehearsals without it being a pain in the arse. Granted sometimes you might want to play a note that's just out of reach. I want a analog, monophonic, small synth. I think I'll go vintage instead, sure patch memory is nice, but I don't need a sequenser or any of that.

  • @Fagleboo You can also take your arse to the stores and play it yourself..?

  • @deathlove13 DSI isn't really a household name in sweden, haven't seen any in stores... yet! when I do I'll be sure to try one out.

    I ended up buying a Little Phatty instead, though I still think the portability of the Mopho is tempting.

  • @Fagleboo Little Phatty looks nice but haven't tried it to be honest.

    Well, you would find one if you would have searched a bit more I guess :P

  • @Fagleboo Hell, I wanted to buy MOPHO Keyboard but ended up buying a Little phatty too XD..

  • So when is the Tetra keyboard coming....? I KID, I KID!

    I would rather see a new analog keyboard with the works. Maybe a Prophet 08, plus sub-oscillators, feedback, combo mode, analog delay (think MXR Carbon Copy), Maybe 64 step sequencer per voice with their own BPM settings.

    I think a REALLY cool feature would be a small internal cpu to process the editing GUI. No need for 3rd party software or a computer. A real stand alone unit. Just add your own monitor. Maybe even HDMI out.

  • I've just finished restoring my Pro-One and went out and bought one of these lovely units...the Pro-One is too darn fragile for the road while the Mopho is just a super-solid build, great sound with loads of modulation possibilities...great product!

  • What's the Attack time of the envelopes on the Mo'Pho Keyboard? Are they punchy and quick like on a old analogue mono synth?

  • @vinyljunkie07

    Minimum attack is around 1 ms and they are definitely punchy. A lot has to do with the VCAs and filters, and how they respond to the envelopes. In fact you might be able to program in even more snap than that by routing Env 3 to another parameter.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Thanks for the reply Dave :-) Regarding the routing of Env 3 to another parameter you mean things like the pitch of a oscillator right? I'll get one of these puppies one day

  • All I can say is thank you! Finally picked this up this week, you guys put a lot of thought & care (metal chasis, good keys) in creating this little beast. And to anyone who is turned off by the color, you're missing out!

  • @VcoLabs It's a Mopho, it's supposed to be yellow! People put off by the color needs a good slapping!

    Awesome work Mr. Smith! It looks and sounds great!

  • Comment removed

  • Can we have a no-compromise Prophet please? A BIG keyboard? Compact synths are cool but we want BIG.

  • what do keyboards like this hook up to, could i use my guitar amp

  • @docBOSS1444

    They have a regular line-level output, so you can hook them up to anything with a line-level input.

  • i buy the prophet 08 PE a few months ago (i love it) and looking forward to have eventually those "mopho updates" like multi octave mode for the arpeggiator!

    Greetings from The Netherlands!

  • @gretschoogie

    The new OS with the arpeggiator modes should be out within 2 weeks :)

  • Love it. Quite simply EPIC!

  • Quiero uno desesperadamenete¡

  • Comment removed

  • @Nillerbabsen

    The feedback range is directly proportional to the feedback gain, which can be often overlooked on the MoPho module because it is in a menu. The feedback range is very wide on the keyboard and the module if you simply adjust the feedback gain setting first and then play with the feedback volume.

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Just wondering dose this have the same universal plug as the tetra? I cant decide if i should or get an analog synth with VCO's. Are there actually any difference in terms of sound with VCO's and DCO's? Thanks!

  • @MadeInGreatBritain

    If you mean the power supply, then yes. All our instruments come with a universal supply.

    There is a difference in tonality between VCOs and DCOs, but that is beyond the scope of characters YouTube allows for a reply. It is sufficient to say DCOs stay in tune :)

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Yeah i did mean power supply, As long as the synth sounds good then Im happy. Thanks for the reply

  • @DaveSmithInstruments does DCO only mean it's digitally controlled in the voltage/pitch or does it mean it has another soundcharacter than a usual VCO?

    Does the synth have to calculate for each step like a digital synth or does it just run through based on voltages?

    thanks :)

  • @Goth108

    Correct. Digitally controlled voltage. The audio signal path is still 100% analog. Sound characteristics are different for every instrument, it's like comparing one car to another. Search wikipedia for DCO for more info.

    The oscillators are free-running like pretty much every analog synth, meaning they are always on and when you gate the envelope it allows the signal to pass through and you hear it.

  • hey Dave, does this little beast has the same presets as the tabletop version?? are they exactly the same?? you know, besides the keyboard and amount of knobs!

    BTW congrats on managing to make such an incredible and affordable synth, still loving and exploring my tabletop Mopho!!!

  • @peasant2general

    Some of the presets are the same as the tabletop version, but many of them are different. The keyboard presets can be loaded into the tabletop, the Tetra, and the Prophet 08.

    The voice architecture is identical to the tabletop version so they sound the same. There are a couple new features on the keyboard version like sequencer slew rate for acid sounds and extended arpeggiator modes/ranges. These features will be added to the tabletop in the next OS revision- out soon!

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Nice to hear that you are doing such an update! BTW a thing that I do not know if I am doing wrong or something, is that I tend to press sustain pedal and expect to play notes and keep them arpegeating, but when sustain is pressed, only one note is "heard" by the arpegeator :( You should add a sort of arp latch feature in this big update :D

  • @peasant2general

    That's right, arp and sustain are 2 completely different things. Now that you mention it, we are in fact adding an "arp latch sustain" setting in the new OS update so you'll be able to latch the arp with the sustain pedal just as you're asking :)

  • @DaveSmithInstruments Thanks Dave :D You are just one step towards creating the perfect Mono Synth ;) That is truly the only "thing" I have found that makes me go "whut???" in the Mopho :D Cheerio!

  • This sounds as good as my Little Phatty, yet has more features.

    Great job Dave!

  • @DaveSmithInstruments ok...i thought id ask nonetheless. My studio is choc a block with synths for all the scores, idents and remixes i do , and a p8 would be a bit much, but a keyboard this size with 4 voices and the multi-timbrality would be nice with the voyager, system 100, system 100m et al.

  • Thanks Dave! Nice design, looks like great fun. I cant wait to get mine!

  • tetra in a keyboard please dave?

  • @armalyte

    Sorry, no plans to do so. However, the MoPho Keyboard is the perfect controller for the Tetra! All parameters except for Multi and Combo (which the MoPho doesn't have of course) are mapped for direct control over it.

  • @armalyte Yes pleeeaaase.. Tetra in a Keyboard-Version!!

  • @armalyte i "polychained" tetra with mopho keyboard - works great!

  • @armalyte pro 08? surely would cost nearly as much im guessing

  • @armalyte

    Yes please ! The new 4-Voice. *lol*

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