Joy Synths #15 Ide(a)s of March

Talking about Solana String Ensemble in this non-musician’s guide to creating sounds for podcasts, videos, and sampling for music using analog synthesizers.

Mar 14, 2024

SOLINA STRING ENSEMBLE

I preordered this synth on Amazon price drop from $299 to $199. The motivation was and is price, plus the ability to return it to Amazon if it makes no sense for current projects. Finally, in contrast, Arturia makes a software Solina instrument that runs $159.

The physical Solina String Ensemble should arrive by 3/19/24, after ordering back in Nov 2023.

What’s so special about it?

The Solina String Ensemble has a number of voices that are hidden beneath the hood.

It has a means of connecting some controls to control voltage, which requires another synth with outputs for that second synth’s low frequency oscillator (LFO) or envelope generator (EG).

How does that work?

The Solina has a trigger and gate out. Does this function as a MIDI to voltage converter?

I could see connecting a MIDI keyboard to the Solina by MIDI then connecting the Solina’s gate out to an envelope generator on a second synth with a patch cable. You’d need another patch cable to connect the envelope output to a Solina input.

The second synth just needs a gate in on its envelope generator plus an output. I’ll have to test if the $199 Behr Kobol Expander works as a mod source.

To summarize, you would need to trigger the EG with a gate signal at key press, or a low frequency oscillator with a square/pulse wave to start.

Two outputs from one controller

Another way is to directly patch voltage from a controller with CV out jacks. So that means connecting to Solina by MIDI and the second synth via patch cables connected to the controller. This can be achieved w Behringer Swing controller and Korg SQ-1 sequencer.

Holy effects unit!

I was looking at a phaser Eurorack module earlier this month. Alas, I dont have a proper eurorack so powering the module presents a hurdle. That Solina comes powered is a nice feature, even though you could remove it from its “box” and mount it to a Eurorack case. I’m not even sure when this would make sense given how expensive powered Eurorack cases can be.

Turns out the Solina is a powered effects box with phaser in/out and chorus in/out. Use of these effects with external audio from another synth cuts off the internal strings audio signal but that’s ok. Solina dremains an effects box and you can maybe use the 1/4 jack output on the Solina for the final audio recording.

That’s very exciting because most Behringer synths lack delays or chorus effects and phasers. Their Model D and Kobol Expander have 1/8” eurorack audio outputs. These signals can now be processed through the Solina as the final effect.

Alternately, I could take a second semi-modular synth’s oscillator output, run it through Solina’s phaser, then mix that back in before it goes to the filter. So yes, NOW I’m excited to hear the Solina process a synth sound.

Last time for last times

As the Solina was purchased in 2023 and billed and shipped in 2024, I’m being flexible with my no buying gear policy of truth for 2024.

Gaining a phaser and chorus is plenty enough to alter sounds and justify its purchase, particularly for $199. If I had to pay asking retail of $299 then a Eurorack module may make more sense because it would occupy less room.

But I’m not even considering the strings portion of this Solina instrument.

Finally, the Solina claims to be analog. The chorus is advertised as a Bucket Brigade Delay, which is analog. So we’ll see.

Wires that form the words "Joy of Synths"

END NOTE

The actual review of the Solina String Ensemble will come next newsletter.

Joy #16 will arrive on before April Fool’s day. Cheers! - Anthony Torresd

This issue is sponsored by CoWolves. Buy vinyl at https://discogs.com/seller/cowolves.