Over the past decade or more, we have seen a cheap portable crossing explosion, mostly driven by strong and strong CORG volca lines. Even companies such as electronic capital, which are usually traded on upper class instruments that begin around $ 2,000, suddenly feel the pressure to compete in the sub-300 range. First tried with two simple DIY kits: craftsynth and craftrhythms. But then in 2018 it brought skulpt to Kickstarter, followed shortly afterwards with $ 149 Craftsynth 2.0. This is a far more serious shot at the entry level. But where both were impressed with their voice, the quality of the build was bad and the original skulpt was a little too expensive at $ 299.
Skulptsynth SE tried to overcome the problem. It’s a little cheaper with only $ 199, placing it more in line with the volcano, and the quality of buildings is also more sturdier. But under the hood most of the same instruments, and the question is whether it was interesting now like three years ago.
Alright, I will not make you wait: the answer is yes. The skulpt sounds good. Of course, many other synth has come and goes for the past three years, especially at the end of a cheaper spectrum, but it doesn’t take it from a very good virtual analog machine here. There are a total of 32 oscillators stacked in four votes (although using the spread function you can expand it to 16) with two different wideses per sound. This gives the thick tone skulpt, while you might not mistake it to be true for true analog, still many inviting. Even though it was really able to handle the bassline and lead tasks, the skulpt really shined when it came to the bearing where the oscillator was stacked really perfected the sound.
The skulpt has many modulation options, which provide a surprising amount of depth for something very small and cheap. There is a filter envelope and a dedicated amp, but also a mod amplope and a pair of LFOS, one of which is polyphonic. The last three can be assigned to a number of different goals, with a total of eight modulation slots available. In addition, there is a ring modulation, the modulation option of the FM width and pulse, plus the changed morphing filter from the lowpass, to the bandpass then highpass, not to mention the effect of delay and distortion. There are various design tools far here than you have the right to expect $ 200.
The choice of wealth is good, but actually navigating control is rather difficult. This unit is equipped with a cheat sheet and you will always want it. While the front plate has a graphic that is simpler, less confusing than the original skulpt, SE is still not intuitive. While there are rows that show you what control is connected to each other, they are not arranged in any way. And small orange and white text labels feel crowded and difficult to read at times. While the layout attracts visually, it also sucks. This place where the form clearly won over the function over, and not for the better.
Another enhanced thing in SE is the quality of build. But, just like a panel design, it’s not an upgrade as big as you expect. The buttons felt a little tighter and had a little more resistance than on crafts 2, but they were still quite shaken and cheap. At least they don’t slide out of encoders with soft pulls.
I am not sure how better to build overall than the original skulpt, and it’s only a little better than crafts 2. In general, the skulpt se still feels chintzy. But it comes with a cover that will help protect it in a bag, which is more than I can say for crafts. Unfortunately, the keyboard touch is as bad as before. It is not always very responsive and the layout somehow managed to feel both narrow and wide at once. Playing a simple triad requires a number of uncomfortable stretches and I rarely can play akor progression without accidentally triggering at least one note. The Volca keyboard certainly won’t be enthusiastic, but they make a touch strip of capital feels like cheap polloring.
One last complaint about the physical design: The skulpt has a MIDI port and exits full size, but 3.5mm lineout robes. While Dus Midi full size is appreciated, I prefer to see ¼ inch out audio and Jack TRS MIDI which is smaller if I have to choose. And honestly, on something that is battery powered and portable, TRS MIDI makes more sense. Save space.
Many of my complaints about the interface and quality of the build that are not impressive can be ignored even if you only use the application. Paste the skulpt in place out of the way and connect to your computer or phone via USB and you are ready. Then you can control it through MIDI via USB and do all your patches from within the capital application. It’s much easier than using the device itself. Even has a VST version so you can control the skulpt from your daw, but I have some problems running it on my Windows PC.
The skulpt can be used without applications, unlike crafts 2. But honestly, this might be the way you want to use the skulpt. While the whole thing is the portable battery powered good, the more interesting is its support for MPE, which is basically never heard at this price point. But the built-in key does not support MPE, speed or aftertouch, you must use an external controller.
Having access to aftertouch and polyphonic expressions gave more life paintings. As a digital synth trying to imitate the analog it can sound rather cold at times, but small fluctuations that come with Aftertouch and MPE make synth feel more organic. Just be warned that calls in MPE control requires a little trial and error (definitely turn off the pitch bend range in settings).
It also gives you more space to experiment with your voice design in an interesting way. For example, in one patch I set the mod wheel (slide your finger along the Y axis on Morph Sensil) to change the waveform, and aftertouch to control the filter cutoff. Then I can play the chord and slowly shift my fingers up on highernotes, causing them to fail because the waves change from saws for noise, but keep bass records clean. And then I can adjust the balance between these two sounds just by pressing harder or softer on the right button. This is not necessarily innovative, but it must be impressive at synth which costs only $ 200.
This makes me dream of enhanced craftsmen. As much as I enjoyed the skulpt, I prefer a sonic palette from wavetable-based crafts a little more. I want to see capital releasing the polyphonic version of it that supports MPE. Basically, give us the best of both synth in one device.
