Donner B1: the most affordable analog synth of 2024

Рет қаралды 16,756

3 ай бұрын

Donner Essential B1 Analog Bass Synthesizer & Sequencer: datasink.rantion-admin.com/t/XR
Price is $130, but it's less with PROMO CODE “supmilesaway” for 15% off Donner sitewide
Review and demo of the most budget friendly / cheapest analog synth! Is this a good first synth?
Custom Synth Patches:
shop.milesawayofficial.com
Stream my music:
beacons.ai/milesaway
0:00 - intro / what is the Donner B1 synth?
1:17 - original demo song
2:54 - how I made the song, every synth sound is only the B1
4:05 - synth panel walkthrough
4:49 - making a basic sequence
5:59 - synth controls
7:19 - built in effects, delay and distortion
9:17 - editing the sequencer
10:08 - editing slides, accents, gate length and ratchet
12:53 - performance mode and randomize mode
14:20 - jamming on the sequence we made
14:40 - i/o and midi connectivity
15:34 - combining the B1 with pedals
16:13 - final verdict, pros & cons
#synthesizer #analogsynthesizer #synths #budgetfriendly #donnerb1 #sequencer #dawless

Пікірлер: 126

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Get this synth for $115 after using PROMO CODE “supmilesaway” for 15% off! datasink.rantion-admin.com/t/XR

@OMNI_INFINITY Ай бұрын

PS: Thanks for posting that! The production quality sounded surprisingly nice!

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

@@OMNI_INFINITY my pleasure! Stick around my channel for more synth demos :)

@OMNI_INFINITY Ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial I am visiting china now and bizarrely that company said they don't sell them in china. Factory is maybe a few km from here. Sigh... Any friends at donner can arrange to get one of those to Me? I have literally built similar synths as iOS and iPadOS apps before and also thankfully made some AWESOME commercial tracks advancing that genre to another level. Made those tracks mainly with ABL3, so it would be nice to have a B1 as that is the specific style of diode clipper sound I like. Thanks in advance, if can introduce somebody at donner to get one of those here!

@tjwalkup7155 Ай бұрын

This is great. Cool jam

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

@timetraveller3063 Ай бұрын

Really good review,.I have one in the box, played with it, one trick pony, but I have learned from your lesson... especially the Random sequencer function. Thanks.

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

My pleasure!

@EchoKraft 2 ай бұрын

Wow ! Great video!

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Glad you found it helpful!

@meistudiony 3 ай бұрын

This is fantastic!

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!

@yourcitysleeps 3 ай бұрын

Great video! I'm a believer now 🎹

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching and enjoy!

@MagicRoosterBluesBand 24 күн бұрын

Thanks for this excellent review. Just got one from Amazon.

@MilesAwayOfficial 23 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed!! Have fun!!

@RaverOperatorGeeza 2 ай бұрын

Great video, and i liked your Erica Synths one too! New to your channel... I love these little units. I picked up two (separately) at a nice price secondhand online recently and looking forward to learning more on the programming/sequencing elements to it. I've got a TT-303, but I'm blown away at how much this unit squeals and love it, acid sound on steroids!! A few drawbacks on the background noise and the slightly wobbly 3.5mm jacks, but overall it's a great unit and at a nice price even as new

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

Thank you for watching and welcome to my channel! New videos weekly :) that’s pretty much my thoughts on this too, for the price it’s great

@RaverOperatorGeeza Ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial thanks my man! Keep doing what you're doing! Excellent breakdowns on the two videos I watched already and looking forward to discovering more 🤗

@Nenko_Music 3 ай бұрын

Great review m8

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

@Jason_Drums_ 2 ай бұрын

Wow 😃 I think Donner will be blown away with that demo 🤩 Incredible 👌 a joy to watch and listen 🎶 🎧 🤩 🙌

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching man!!

@Jason_Drums_ 2 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial Absolute pleasure always 😊 have a fantastic weekend my friend 🙏🏼🤩🙌

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

@@Jason_Drums_ you too !

@djkanyon 3 ай бұрын

Finally this one gets recognition it deserves. One of the absolute best piece of gear i've ever own. Bought it about a year ago and could not imagine my life without it. My only regret is that i only bought one instead of three.

@dankeplace 3 ай бұрын

You probably think this analog needs 24 bit depth too eh?

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed! I agree its a lot better than it has a right to be at this price. What do you like using it for mainly?

@djkanyon 3 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial everything bro, from sequencing Crave to providing analog arps to work along Electribe, as a midi - keyboard for Volca Keys and of course to sink stuff. I don't even think anybody anywhere can do something cheaper and better.

@dankeplace 3 ай бұрын

@@djkanyon you wanna sink stuff, like the kitchen sink?

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

@@djkanyon yea for real I actually like the sequencer better than the synth itself! It's genuinely such a powerful little unit for the price

@kvmoore1 Ай бұрын

Dang! This thing is so much easier to program than the 303 and my Behringer TD-3, plus it has a built-in delay. I've passed and slept on this synth for a while. However, I may consider getting one of these now after watching this video. That square wave sounds so good with the squelchy filter and the delay on it! A 303 with presets? CRAZY!!!!! Yeah, I think I'm gonna get one. Okay, I just ordered one!

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

Glad I could help you out there! Yea for the price its really a steal. I'd love to see them make a 4-5 voice polysynth with this same layout and sequencer for 200-300. Give Behringer a challenge, since Donner I feel understands sequencers a lot better.

@kvmoore1 Ай бұрын

@MilesAwayOfficial Yeah, I ordered it a week ago and I am still waiting on it to arrive. I agree, ir would be nice if Donner could make an affordable 4 or 5 voice poly. Hmm, that kinda reminds me of when Korg first released the silver Minilogue several years ago. Was it 2016? I don't remember the year.

@tomn.8475 2 ай бұрын

Great song!

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

@jmd76family 2 ай бұрын

Great video. Was looking for a sequencer for other synths that could be used on the fly no computer.

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

yea this is great for that, the sequencer is arguably even better than the synth, its really usable and fun for such a cheap unit

@jarikensenat1282 2 ай бұрын

Got one a year ago. Love it👍

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

congrats and thanks for watching!

@tylerzerbe6861 2 ай бұрын

wish i woulda seen this 6 months ago. this looks way easier to use than my dueling td3s

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

I definitely find it a lot easier, I did not like the Sequencer on the TD-3 which is why I sold it, but it sounded great! Made it onto a couple songs before I let it go :)

@payt01 3 ай бұрын

Hard to underestand that people used to pay $3500 for a genuine 303 a couple of years ago. And now you get an improved version almost for free with a bag of potatoes. Times are a-changing :) Anyway it reminded me that I still have the Roland TB-3 lying around unused in a corner. Maybe I should give it a whirl again :)

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

For real! It's a golden age for synths. 303s are tons of fun but the price of the originals has always astounded me. Enjoy your jamming friend and thanks for watching! :)

@realmchat6665 3 ай бұрын

Good review, I have one and I love it.

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Nice! What types of sounds do you mainly use it for?

@EnochDark 2 ай бұрын

I wanted one of these when they were announced but hit some financial troubles... Also thought since I've already got a Bass Station 2... But there's still something appealing to me about this B1, I think it's those rubbery pad keys. Thanks for reminding me about the thing!

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching friend!

@travisthornton1792 2 ай бұрын

This plays well with the Arturia Drumbrute Impact.

@keekeefries6298 3 ай бұрын

Can you modulate the filter during the sequence to store a nice sweep as it plays? Nice review!

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! No filter sequencing, but it does store the ratchet, hold, slide, etc

@scottpatrickvest 2 ай бұрын

sick song, subd

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Thanks and welcome!

@DetroitMicroSound 3 ай бұрын

That sequencer is making it do things I've never really heard in a single osc 303 clone. I think my 1010music blackbox needs to feed on sequences created by this little monster. Also, bet this thing will really scream, running through the tc electronic tube pilot with a 1960 long black plate Baldwin branded Raytheon 12AX7A. (Which came out of an early 1960's Baldwin tube organ.)

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Yea the sequencer really takes it up a notch! Biggest plus over the Behringer model imo, delay too. I'd love to put this through Tubes! It already sounds epic through my Walrus Eons fuzz

@exionem 20 күн бұрын

Any budget drum machine that you might recommend to go with the Donner? I listened to the Behringer rd -6 but didn´t like the sound. Much appreciated.

@alexwestconsulting 3 ай бұрын

I finally got one very recently. I'm well aware that when this came out there were many paid reviews "a la, this is a sponsored video, but I'm going to give you my honest opinion (wink, wink)". Never mind that they are giving the PR at all. Anyway, I have to say that it's a great machine. It's simply stunning for what I paid for it used, and even the retail price is amazing, but that kind of talk rather unfortunately takes away from the basic fact that this is a good device and that I would keep it around no matter price league it's at. I'm a sucker for it's industrial design, I have and have had quite a few tb-303 clones over the years, and while this isn't my favorite, it's a solid device nonetheless.

@dankeplace 3 ай бұрын

Yeah paid reviews, just like your paid subs eh? Wink wink!!!!

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoy yours and congrats on the good deal! For what its worth, pretty much every company sends free gear to reviewers like me, I can't speak for other channels but I get messages asking me to review terrible stuff that I decline pretty frequently, so if something makes it on this channel, its gonna be solid. Life is too short to spend 10+ hrs making a demo video for something I don't like!

@PlayBackRate 3 ай бұрын

Hi! Is it possible to edit the seq during playback?

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

@@PlayBackRate yes!

@djtomt 2 ай бұрын

Badass little synth!

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

thanks for watching!

@gru_day 16 күн бұрын

There are some new features worth mentioning after a firmware update... like chaining patterns. In my opinion this needs some more work from Donner but its there. Hope Donner will look in to my e-mail :)

@MilesAwayOfficial 15 күн бұрын

Agreed! Thanks for commenting :)

@directfighter225 Ай бұрын

Can you use this as just a synthesizer.....I have a kawaii k1...I like the sounds in it....and want to get a sequencer that's comparable......will it work

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

Im not sure i follow? Do you mean to sequence a poly synth? it can only sequence mono synths, 1 note at once

@joshberrios3604 3 ай бұрын

if i can only have 1 but thinking on have more in the future (not near) Prophet 6 or Ob66? Thanks man also, great video, sad that only have decay, i would priorize ADSR instead of effects

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Good question! If you have no other synths, Prophet 6 is pretty hard to beat, as it sounds great doing literally anything. But if you go for a more distinct (and imho beautiful) raw character and tone, then Ob-6 for life. I sold my Prophet 6 and kept my Ob-6 if that tells you anything!

@joshberrios3604 3 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial thanks for answer! now im thinking on have the OB X8 Desktop hahah ur fault not gonna lie, that beast sound amazing, but well.. il just gonna think more during these days , i think that also the prophet can sound a bit more plugin and i have dozens of cool ones... while the ob's can really be a differential sounds to my trakcks.. so idk, lets see what the pillow say during the week hah

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

@@joshberrios3604 I agree 100%! The Prophet 6 sounds can be more easily achieved imho with UHE Repro, whereas a real OB SEM filter to me still just sounds bloody unreal. Even though the Gforce plugins sound pretty damn close! If you like the classic OB sounds go for the OBX8. If you want a modern synth with OB flavour but some Prophet DNA, go OB-6.

@joshberrios3604 2 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial thanks! i ended up buying the obx8! haha

@leolovetoparty 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video. I would be surprised if they had used an actual BBD delay as these tend to go for more than the price of the synth. This is the only thing that was a bit misleading to a pedant like myself ;-) I won't be buying one but if I was starting out I would choose it over the Behringer. Thanks again.

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! I could be wrong but I am pretty sure it is a real BBD, just a cheap noisy one with very little ms of delay. I'm pretty sure they just ported their 30$ Yellow Fall Analog Delay mini pedal into this thing, cause Donner sells bucketloads of those BBDs (pun intended)

@FatSynthDude Ай бұрын

Yeah, it's a BBD. You can tell because the delay time's max is really low compared to a digital or tape delay. BBD is a fairly cheap technology, but with good vibes.

@leolovetoparty Ай бұрын

@@FatSynthDude the delay time of a BBD delay depends on the number of chips. Regardless, it's impressive that they included an actual BBD delay. Even the cheapest actual BBD delay pedals cost a hundred bucks or so...

@leftmono1016 3 ай бұрын

Can this do the original 303 style sequencing? I know it’s quirky but to me it’s the essence of the 303 sound.

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

What were some of the quirks of the 303 sequencer? If you tell me I can confirm!

@leftmono1016 2 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial - hard to explain if you’ve not programmed the original style sequencer before!

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

@@leftmono1016 I've used the Behringer clone! But I must confess I hated the Sequencer, one of the reasons I sold it a while ago.

@leftmono1016 2 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial - I love the original sequencer, you never quite know what’s going to come out!

@butsukete1806 3 ай бұрын

Sounds like a fun party, but how does it do in the snow?

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

hah, will have to take it up next time i make a song on the mountain!

@butsukete1806 3 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial I think you missed the joke, search "Donner Party". You don't want to be on that mountain.

@planetclay 2 ай бұрын

dang!

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Much love!

@planetclay 2 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial No doubt were i in the market for a hardware synth this would be the one....and were i requiring suggestions/instruction as to it's various possibilities, tasteful possibilities might i add, this would be the place to go. am i correct to assume this could double as a keyboard controller?

@MilesAwayOfficial 26 күн бұрын

@@planetclay yep, its not the nicest to play keys on but it could. The sequencer is where the power lies

@Nenko_Music 3 ай бұрын

But does it makes kebabs ?

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

synth lines as tasty as kebabs!

@Nenko_Music 3 ай бұрын

@@MilesAwayOfficial :D Indeed!!

@Cameronwatt 3 ай бұрын

Shiiish

@audiolego 2 ай бұрын

Stopppp, you're giving me the munchies.

@JesusChrist-vf3xd 2 ай бұрын

Is has been done !!! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rsVxi9Sgmc6mkYU.htmlsi=Y-qpX3_rmajRasUF

@disomniatijuana2363 2 ай бұрын

Is it better than the volka keys?

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Totally different beast! It’s not polyphonic, but the keyboard is nicer, the sequencer is mint, and the tone I prefer

@user-gk7hb7jp5v Ай бұрын

How many sounds does it have !

@MilesAwayOfficial Ай бұрын

this is just a super basic mono synth 303 style, really only this one sound. You are better with software if you just want lots of preset sounds!

@jfn467 2 ай бұрын

Wow, a full track with everything can be created with this little machine, it beats the MPC big time both in terms of size and price, stunning!!!

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching, I mentioned this in the video but to clarify, all the SYNTH parts in that track are made on the Donner. I recorded the guitar myself and the drums are samples from my computer. This is a analog subtractive synthesizer, it can’t do guitar or drum sounds

@Mecha_Mothman 2 ай бұрын

This isn't remotely comparable to an MPC...?

@Hyperslob 2 ай бұрын

Do we have to pay a subscription for every key on the keyboard?

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

No! Absolutely not! :)

@sound-wizzard 2 ай бұрын

I know its stupid but i wish they would rebrand their name, it puts me off buying any of the gear soooo much 😂

@theallseeingarmpit5519 2 ай бұрын

But it's eating the competition

@karlofandango6108 2 ай бұрын

I guess it's not all that kebab afterall

@mikemorrisonmusic 3 ай бұрын

So if I have a Hydrasynth Deluxe and a Roland Fantom 8, what will this add? 😂

@MilesAwayOfficial 3 ай бұрын

Mainly just the authentic analog sound of the 303 style filter! Nothing squelches like that, love it or hate it, haha

@AveragePicker 3 ай бұрын

Your setup and your gear and you know what you do so...how is someone else suppose to know if this suits you or not?

@seanboyle2455 Ай бұрын

The live performance capability of this is the big selling point for me. Imagine if you are playing live and using a Fantom/Hydrasynth just to run an acid line, you would be wasting their capability when something the B1 allows for a lot of live playability and great analog sound (infinite upper harmonics), which makes a solid foundation to let the more sophisticated synths play over top of it. These 303 clones are good for a studio but their main appeal to live players like me is their performability which is way more fun than plunking things into a DAW. Just set it up running, go live sequence some other synths, come back to it and add variation etc. other clones aren’t built for that and it seriously limits their live use

@EnnioPalanca 2 ай бұрын

Is the manual useful? Sonicware's manuals are freaking nightmare...

@MilesAwayOfficial 2 ай бұрын

It’s a good manual! Really easy synth to use, trust me I hate cryptic manuals and confusing synths. The biggest advantage of this over the Behringer 303 clone is how much simpler the sequencer is to figure out