The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The Medusa Hybrid Synthesizer is a fruit of a collaboration between Dreadbox and Polyend companies. It has emerged from both teams unusual approach to integrating analog and digital domains into a totally new quality. The innovative way of connecting a classic synthesis character with the digital versatility and unique musical controller brings out the best of these two worlds. Seems like a simple addition, but this fusion brings something that has never been available before.
The Grid.
Completely expressive.
Adequately configurable.
64 fully responsive and customizable, three-dimension expressive pads with assignable musical scales and different layouts.
The Grid is storing 128 presets of voices, chords memory, sequences and more than one hundred modulators per step.
Choose any modulation parameter per preset for X, Y and Z pressure axis.
Three sequencing modes: step, live and incremental.
Unique musical controller, sequencer and powerful modulation source fixed in one powerful Grid.
Sequence notes, modulation parameter locks or even entire synth voice presets per step.
Separate voice, notes sequence and modulation randomizer onboard.
All the necessary Grid information is given on a crispy OLED display.
The innovative way of connecting a classic synthesis character with the digital versatility and unique musical controller brings out the best of these two worlds.
Seems like a simple addition, but this fusion brings something that has never been available before.
Seems like a simple addition, but this fusion brings something that has never been available before.
You like it digital
or prefer analog?
Medusa has it all.
Three synchronizable analog oscillators with the choice of four classic wave types for each of them.
One 24dB classic Dreadbox analog filter with three different types (2pole LP, 4pole LP, HP).
Frequency modulation separately for analog oscillators and filter.
Analog noise generator with colour shaping.
Three digital wavetable oscillators with a choice of 64 morphable wavetables.
Three different play modes: monophonic, semi polyphonic x3, semi polyphonic x6.
Audio input lets you use the power of Medusa sound engine with external audio sources.
Second OLED screen to display all necessary synthesis data.
Independence. Times ten.
Five independent and adjustable low-frequency oscillators with an extensive pool of parameters to control.
Five independent, adjustable and loopable DADSR envelopes with a wide list of parameters to assign.
Mixer for all seven paths of independent analog, digital and noise voices.
Separate volume control for headphones and master audio outputs.
Implemented MIDI protocol with bi-directional USB and DIN input, output and through. MPE compatible controller.
Sustain notes using the Drone mode. Transpose the running sequences.
The build.
All that analog and digital functionality merged in a one clearly marked layout sealed in a sturdy tabletop aluminium chassis. Handily placed aluminium covered knobs, informative LED buttons for the comfort of use. The Grid pads made of specially designed silicone, so their immaculately matched density and firmness are providing an instant and precise response.
Once you start, you can’t stop.
It’s all about innovation, revealing new quality and ideas in music. Medusa Hybrid Synthesizer materialized from the genuine passion and a firm relationship between Dreadbox and Polyend synthesized in the proper way. At first, there was a desire to add a simple sequencer and preset functionality to the famous Dreadbox analog synthesizer. But as the more you have, the more you want, this liaison grew up to something utterly unique and totally different than initially planned. We literally had to limit ourselves from tucking more and more new ideas for Medusa functionality, just like you’re going to have to withhold yourself from tweaking it all the time. Careful, Medusa might be dangerously absorbing and can drag you in for a long time.
Endorsements
Reviews
"At first I thought I have enough synthesizers... but I really played with it a lot and built lots of elements with it for my live set and I have to say that this machine together with the sequencer really gives possibilities that no other machine has."
"Yay! So the Medusa is basically the sound of Audion. I had no idea it would fit so well. I absolutely love it..."
"What it accomplishes for me is an instant inspiration to make unique melodies and sounds, and it serves as a much-needed vacation from DAWs and step-sequencers."
"What a crazy design, a polyphonic mode where it cycles thru all the oscillators, lots of variation while pressing just one key, my kind of situation, really funky."
"Many totally unique sounds can be wrought out of its myriad modulation routings. It’s unconventional approach certainly leads you to unconventional places!"
"Medusa is like having a pretty packed modular rig, but with straightforward access. I'm impressed by how immediate it is in terms of doing something unique sounding."
"Kurwa, zajebiste to jest!" (eng.) "It's fucking awesome!"
"It’s really easy to shape the sounds that come to my mind with the Medusa. Yet, the best part of it is experimenting with its Grid mode, the outcome can be surprisingly unpredictable."
"I was surprised about the fun workflow of the Medusa. It sounds great but it is the unique design that really excites me. Being able to quickly set up different modulations and having great visual feedback of what is going. This is stuff that really sets this synth apart."
"On top of being an extremely powerful synthesizer and composition tool, the Medusa is just plain fun."
"We especially like smooth sounding wavetable of synth and FM knob which makes it a hell of fun! Medusa's Grid is a perfect tool to trigger not only internal synth. Its unique sequencer can be considered for a live performance DAWless setup."
"I’m in love. Benn and Gear’s video review sold me on this, and I must say, he was right, and the haters who’ve never owned one were wrong. This is my new favourite piece of kit and the centrepiece of my set up. It is best to pair it with a good fx pedal to finish the sound (I’m using Empress verb which he also sold me on), but as workflow tool and compositional aid alone, it sends me in directions I wouldn’t otherwise go. An absolute blast. I was still thinking about it at work! The new firmware is so. Friggin’. Sweet. You can route midi channels per voice like the classic MIDIpal unit. I’m using this in conjunction with Digitone and Digitakt, and it’s a match made in heaven. Polyend implemented about a dozen things I’ve always wanted from Elektron. A drawback for live setups is the tuning can require a recalibration from the main menu after extended play, and you gotta let the analog oscillators warm up for 20 min, but I highly recommend this unit. Great job to Polyend and Dreadbox for a landmark synth that truly stands out from the pack."
"I've just recently acquired Medusa - the collab between Polyend and Dreadbox. In terms of functionality, I could put it somewhere between the Pro2 and Analog Four - All of those have pretty well built and intuitive sequencers. However - with 12 synths in my studio, I've noticed one thing. The more convoluted and digital the interface is (in other words- the more control you got) - the more the lovely analogue sound is compromised. NOT SO WITH MEDUSA!- you can do a lot of stuff and assign different snapshots to each step of the sequencer - yet it still maintains a very, very, very awesome analogue sound. Rough and growly. My 2c. Cheers to you all!"
"The Medusa is a genuinely new prospect within the music technology sphere. There are plenty of new ideas here that stretch the boundaries expected of a hardware synth. Many totally unique sounds can be wrought out of its myriad modulation routings. It’s unconventional approach certainly leads you to unconventional places!"
"The Medusa has changed the way I program and perform music. The culmination of a massive synthesizer engine paired with a powerful and flexible sequencer make the Medusa my new go-to. On top of being an extremely powerful synthesizer and composition tool, the Medusa is just plain fun. This is an instrument that begs to be played and is nearly impossible to put down."
"The Medusa is like a futuristic marriage between the best features of a Tenori-On and DSI Evolver, two pieces of gear made iconic by their originality and innovative interfaces. What it accomplishes for me is an instant inspiration to make unique melodies and sounds, and it serves as a much-needed vacation from DAWs and step-sequencers. I'm honestly amazed by how simply enjoyable and addictive this thing is to play with."
"This synth has it all - thick oscillators, a smooth filter, mono or polyphonic modes, a 64 step sequencer with parameter locks per step (or save patch modifying data per pad without a sequence), countless routing possibilities, and most importantly a super intuitive user interface. Sounds great and is getting me to think about creating patches and chord progressions in new ways!"