Trogotronic

[Balor/SS1535]

My Trogotronic 669v arrived in the mail today, and I have been playing with it throughout the evening.  While I am starting to get a grasp on some of the features, much of its functionality seems like it will take a while to get a clear understanding of.  It doesn't help too much that the instruction guide that it comes with is pretty minimal (maybe it's enough for others, but I am no synth expert).

Any tips for the 669 from those who have had it longer?

Also, thoughts on the brand in general?  Other favorite synths or gear from them?

[Stipsi]

https://youtu.be/iYViVluRrF4?si=iEKUxOlTv8ZFhNHE

This was helpful for me when mine arrived years ago

[Balor/SS1535]

https://youtu.be/iYViVluRrF4?si=iEKUxOlTv8ZFhNHE

This was helpful for me when mine arrived years ago

I always wished this was extended and more in-depth, but revisiting it with the synth in my possession might make it more helpful!

[anusenvy]

My Trogotronic 669v arrived in the mail today, and I have been playing with it throughout the evening.  While I am starting to get a grasp on some of the features, much of its functionality seems like it will take a while to get a clear understanding of.  It doesn't help too much that the instruction guide that it comes with is pretty minimal (maybe it's enough for others, but I am no synth expert).

Any tips for the 669 from those who have had it longer?

Also, thoughts on the brand in general?  Other favorite synths or gear from them?

Nelson is intentionally vague to promote experimentation/gatekeep.

However, he also responds to e-mails and when my first device (first model of 669, "3 button model" as he put it) was not working correctly/had grounding issues: he fixed it for free and gave updated warranty.

Nelson is more likely to go into a rant about Bebe and Louis Barron than instructions on how to use instrument.

From over a decade of owning 4 Trogotronic devices, my best advice is to spend a lot of time exploring different knob/button combinations and document knob settings as best as possible. Sometimes, it is not easy to replicate sounds especially unintended artifacts that are inherent in this type of synthesizer. Much like random sounds that can come from AM/FM radio if you fiddle enough.

If you feel lost in the current output/lost in space: sweep knobs and engage/disengage switches. Small turns of knobs can greatly alter sound or hardly alter sound at all. Large sweeps can usually do both. If sweeping a knob does nothing, switch to another.

[Balor/SS1535]

My Trogotronic 669v arrived in the mail today, and I have been playing with it throughout the evening.  While I am starting to get a grasp on some of the features, much of its functionality seems like it will take a while to get a clear understanding of.  It doesn't help too much that the instruction guide that it comes with is pretty minimal (maybe it's enough for others, but I am no synth expert).

Any tips for the 669 from those who have had it longer?

Also, thoughts on the brand in general?  Other favorite synths or gear from them?

Nelson is intentionally vague to promote experimentation/gatekeep.

However, he also responds to e-mails and when my first device (first model of 669, "3 button model" as he put it) was not working correctly/had grounding issues: he fixed it for free and gave updated warranty.

Nelson is more likely to go into a rant about Bebe and Louis Barron than instructions on how to use instrument.

From over a decade of owning 4 Trogotronic devices, my best advice is to spend a lot of time exploring different knob/button combinations and document knob settings as best as possible. Sometimes, it is not easy to replicate sounds especially unintended artifacts that are inherent in this type of synthesizer. Much like random sounds that can come from AM/FM radio if you fiddle enough.

If you feel lost in the current output/lost in space: sweep knobs and engage/disengage switches. Small turns of knobs can greatly alter sound or hardly alter sound at all. Large sweeps can usually do both. If sweeping a knob does nothing, switch to another.

That's been pretty much my approach to figuring things out---expect nothing from the "demos" and just experiment away.  My sense is that the knobs on the unit I have (will have to double check the model number) each influence the others in some way, making consistent usage rather difficult or even impossible.

Overall, the biggest challenge for me has been getting it to sound "not Trogotronic."  While I get that's what they are for (and why I bought it in the first place), I would like to subsume it into my own sound to some extent.  So far, running it through pedals has greatly lessened its power and/or simply made it sound weaker.