I’ve been a huge fan of Donner’s instruments for years, but I know not everyone in the music production community shares that opinion. Donner is often criticized for a variety of reasons, and while I’ve always enjoyed their products, it’s important to re-evaluate them from a fresh perspective – both by critically evaluating new products and by reviewing past releases in light of new developments. We’ve been following the Donner MEDO sampler and sequencer since its debut at NAMM a few months ago, and are excited to see how it stacks up against the rest of their product lineup.
We received one to test and I’ve been using it both in and out of the studio for a few weeks now. I’ve formed several opinions – some that agree with common criticisms and some that differ from the usual online discussion about Donner.
Before I get into my specific thoughts on MEDO, I’ll explain what Donner stands for as a brand, general assumptions about them, and my personal experiences with their products over the years. Then I’ll share my thoughts on MEDO and what I like and don’t like about it. Finally, I’ll talk about who this product is best suited for so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Let’s dive in.
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Is Donner a good instrument brand?
Donner is a Chinese manufacturer of synthesizers and instruments that generates a lot of differing opinions. One of their strongest selling points is that their products are mainly aimed at beginners and intermediate players on a budget. They offer a variety of products including keyboards, synthesizers and travel-friendly samplers like the MEDO, all at very affordable prices, which comes with both pros and cons. These instruments are great for beginners, as a replacement and for those who are still learning or playing at an intermediate level without wanting to spend too much.
However, Donner has also come under criticism, especially from die-hard enthusiasts who consider the compromises in build quality and functionality compared to premium brands such as Moog, Roland or Arturia to be unacceptable.
I have personally used many Donner products and like their synth bass and drum machines. As an equipment reviewer, I think Donner serves its target market well. While there are a few friction points, you get what you pay for and the fact that they offer such products to this audience is commendable.
Donner Medo review – The advantages
The built-in microphone is cool!
The coolest thing about the MEDO sampler and sequencer in my opinion is the built-in microphone. It really is the most important X-factor and without it I couldn’t recommend this product as highly.
The ability to take this sampler anywhere and record sounds – whether it’s musicians at a street festival, an interesting noise while traveling, or instruments you have on hand – is a really fun feature. It makes the whole experience fun. While the mic can’t compete with high-end condenser or tube mics, it captures audio at a similar quality to an iPhone mic, which is impressive considering the advances iPhone mics have made in the last decade. The MEDO’s mic captures clean, high-quality audio that’s good enough to use to make beats or sketch ideas on the fly, no matter where you are.
It’s a fun toy
Since the MEDO was introduced at NAMM (video below), it has been generating a lot of buzz and criticism in the more tech-savvy, tactile and instrument-oriented online community. What I often missed in this section, however, is that it is not a professional studio tool like your Prophet, Torso Sequencer or Korg MS-20 Mini might be.
My experience with the Donner MEDO is that it’s just fun to use. It’s not going to be one of the studio-defining tools I use to make my most streamed records – at least not anytime soon, who knows? But it’s great for passing the time when you’re traveling, hanging out outside, or just enjoying the sun and making fun beats. It’s a super accessible, stress-free, and no-brainer way to make music on the go.
Of course, it can’t hold a candle to a high-performance sampler or an MPC, but if you’re looking for a cheap, fun toy to play with your kids or work on the go, it’ll meet all your needs.
It is very portable
It’s super travel-friendly, which adds to the fun, toy-like quality I mentioned earlier. It fits easily in your pocket and has a long charge time, so you don’t have to worry about the battery running out quickly. There’s a lot packed into this device, making it perfect for use on the go.
Combine that with a decent microphone and you have a highly portable device that performs well outside the studio.
I am convinced that this is exactly what Donner wanted to achieve with this product and they succeeded.
It’s getting better and better
Donner is still actively updating the firmware for this device, which means significant improvements are possible in the future. While they haven’t released much information or hinted at what’s to come, this is encouraging, especially considering some of the bigger criticisms I have of the Donner MEDO sequencer and synth, which I’ll get to in a moment. By the time you read this article, whether in a few months or later, some of these issues may already be resolved thanks to these updates.
The hardware itself is solid and you get what you pay for, but I’m a little skeptical about the software. However, the fact that they are actively working on updating the firmware and software gives me hope that my biggest issues with this device will be fixed over time.
What I didn’t like
The drum sounds are shit
The biggest disappointment with the MEDO is the default drum sounds. They feel cheap, almost like something you’d find on a Casio digital keyboard. This wouldn’t be a problem if you could swap them out or upload your own samples, but unfortunately that’s not possible at the moment. I really hope that future firmware updates will allow you to upload your own drum samples.
If you could load even a small library of your favorite drum kits onto this thing, it would make a huge difference. Being able to sequence and layer your favorite drum sounds underneath what you record on the go would be a real game-changer.
So, Donner, if you’re listening, please make it possible to change the drum sounds – because right now they’re pretty lackluster.
It doesn’t feel stable
This is a common complaint that Donner has with many of their products. Despite the actual quality and durability of their instruments, they don’t always feel sturdy right out of the box. They lack the robust weight that we often associate with something that will endure wear and tear, whether in the studio or on the road.
I’ve been using the MEDO for about six weeks now – I got an early copy before the official release – and so far it’s held up well, with no dents, dings or issues. That doesn’t change the first impression when you unbox it though. Some may find it not sturdy enough, which is a common complaint with many of Donner’s products, not just the MEDO.
I have personally used a lot of their gear. As I write this, I have their SYN BASS next to me, getting acquainted with their new drum machine in the studio. A review will follow shortly. I have never had any issues with the durability of Donner’s hardware, but I understand that first impressions count and the first feel for the product is the most important of all (at least for some).
Who is the Thunder Medo for?
Producers on the go
If you’re a music producer who spends a lot of time out of the studio but still wants to make music, this is the perfect device for you. There’s music ripe for sampling everywhere – whether you’re at a farmer’s market and hear a band playing that you want to record and turn into a beat on the bus ride home, or you’re just sitting in the park or on your lunch break and want to cook up some sketches.
This device is ideal for this purpose.
You don’t have to lug your laptop around or carry expensive sequencers that take up your entire backpack. Instead, you can have a small beat machine right in your pocket or shoulder bag to create beats on the go that you can easily take back to your studio later.
A big advantage is the ability to sync via Bluetooth MIDI, making it compatible with many other MIDI controllers. You’re not limited to just tapping the sequencer with your fingers; you can also control it with a smaller device or via an app on your phone.
This feature makes it perfect for producers on the go. You might hear a cool sample while you’re on the road, and even though the drum sounds aren’t that great, as I mentioned, you can still capture a rough idea behind that sample. When you get back to the studio, you can replace those drums with your favorite kits and samples. It’s a really efficient way to quickly generate ideas when you’re in a creative space outside of the studio, which can often lead to some of your most innovative and expressive work.
Occupational therapists
I know this is more anecdotal and specific to my world, but my wife works as an occupational therapist and has found that her patients with autism spectrum disorder, who are often musical geniuses themselves, respond incredibly well to musical instruments during therapy. While her patients usually have their favorite instruments with them like a violin, piano, or keyboard, these small handheld devices really enhance treatment, especially outdoors and in environments with more sensory load. Lately, she’s had a lot more success using devices like this to enhance children’s sensory experiences and enhance treatment sessions with her musically inclined patients.
I know this is a specific use case for us, but for all the occupational therapists out there, my wife and I highly recommend this device. It’s small, lightweight, easy to pack into a therapy kit, and can really open a lot of doors for treating patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Parents
Anyone with a toddler knows that kids love things that make noise. Many of us have toys like vacuum cleaners with lights or dollhouses that sing songs – fun the first time, but giving you a migraine the thousandth time – but this device offers a fantastic alternative. It has a volume control on the side so you can turn the volume down, but it still satisfies kids’ desire to press something and hear a sound, preferably a musical one.
My son definitely prefers instruments that make noises over other noisy toys, such as the dollhouse that most parents have hidden somewhere. This is a lightweight but sturdy toy that he can bang on, fiddle with and play around with. It makes sounds that are more musical and far less intrusive than the endless stream of Bluey or Cocomelon songs that flood the market these days.
