Dave Smith Instruments "TETRA" Synthesizer Review Pt. 1

Video Disclaimer: Correct pronunciations of various words in this video should include:

po•lyph•o•ny

pol•y•phon•ic

po•ten•ti•om•e•ter

Thanks to the "Too Much Time On Your Hands" crew for correcting this (repeatedly). You are right... I am wrong. So what? HA HA. Funny... I guess you neg-posters must use your blinker every time you make a lane change, never interrupt someone when speaking, and have never sent an email with ALL CAPS that wasn't meant to be yelling your point. Clearly no commenter here talks on their mobile phone in restaurants, eats with their mouth open, chews gum on the phone, or puts elbows on the table at dinner. Crossing the street without a crosswalk, using bathroom without washing hands, or dropping trash on the ground also never happens with this fine group of analytical gurus. C'mon gang. After all, it is "Synth DIY" not "Synth I Was Taught How to Say Everything Right."


Here is my two part review of the new Tetra Synthesizer by Dave Smith Instruments. This is intended as an overview of the sounds and features of the synthesizer, with a small narrative about the over complex expectations of today's synthesizer enthusiasts that sometimes push the fringe of synthesizer elitists. Treat it like an editorial, take it or leave it. I love this powerful little synthesizer and have had more time to play with it since making this video footage last week. I hope you enjoy the sounds, and at $800 for a 4 voice true analog synth, you can't go wrong. Want more knobs? Use the editor and one of your multiple MIDI controllers.

Thanks for stopping by! Check out www.davesmithinstruments.com for more information on the Tetra and the other Dave Smith instruments.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dave
• Smith
• Instruments
• Tetra
• Prophet
• Analog
• Synth
• Synthesizer
• Sequential
• Circuits
• Pro-1
• Review

[johnnycastello]

so this would blow away a Roland Gaia or M-Audio Venom...right?

[djthomaswhite]

@johnnycastello - Interesting question. Hard to compare modeling synths to analog synths. Gaia makes great pads and leads but lacks focus in the low end compared to a true analog (had one, sold it). Haven't played with Venom, but sounds like Virus by Access at best. Have a Virus, love it. But Tetr4 has warmth none of the other synths mentioned have. Depends on what you are looking for really.

[jigneish]

Hi Thomas. Thanks for this video. I watched it a couple of times before finally purchasing the Tetr4. It was my first piece of "Analog" gear and i must say, great sound. Can you tell me a little about hooking up via Midi to a drum machine? Im being a little lazy here, i could sift manuals but was curious, i have Maschine (by native instruments), what is the process of getting it hooked up to this drum maschine as you did in this video? I currrently use Tetra inside logic pro for music production

[djthomaswhite]

@jigneish Send MIDI out of Logic into both the Tetr4 and your drum machine if you want Logic to be the master clock. If Machine generates a clock (sorry, don't know much about it), then you can send the clock from Maschine to the Tetr4. I hope this helps!

[wsplatinum]

i like to think the screwholes in the sides are meant to be used to attach wood end panels like the prophet 08 has. Or rather some device for rack mounting. But the again who cares.

[freezazoid]

@djthomaswhite : nah, I was just being a dick. sorry.

[AlexisNembrode]

Im really trying to decide whether to get this or the mopho. This one is two times more expensive and doesnt have an audio input (which is a bummer for me). On another hand, the 4 voice polyphony is quite incredible when compared to mopho's monophony. mmm...decisions decisions.... this one lacks an on/off button too :)

[angie4josh]

nice try dave, 4 notes poly = lame.

[M3sslah]

Would you say this unit is like a small prophet 08, which one to go for, I was planning for a prophet 08 but I wonder if they have the same build otherwise and the same sound?

[Exalcoholic]

I have a question for you. I guess you send midi from both your drum machine and your keyboard to the Tetra? So how do you set this up with only one midi in? Great demo btw!

[squeakyfromme69]

thanks for the great review! a good mix of explaining the features and actually letting us hear some good usable sounds that are possible in decent audio quality.  the resonance sounds a bit harsh to me, but i dunno. i guess it has it's own thing goin on.

[SuperVillaingroup]

@freezazoid Sorry, it is PO_LIF_AN_E