Where I'm landing is as follows, the
SY-1:
- is an update of their current SYB-5, but has gone from 11 to 121 available sounds, better tracking and poly capability;
- seems closer to the SY-300 in terms of available sounds but doesn't have the tweakability or presets of the SY-300. However, importantly, it's just one third of the price and size of the SY-300, both of which are major plusses;
- has the immediacy and easy work-flow of being able to adjust in 'real time' via six pedal knobs rather than needing to deep menu dive via a PC editor;
- the flip side, and the only major negative for me, is a lack of presets for being able to switch quickly between your favourite 3 or 4 settings which would have been very welcome for live use;
- sounds good and tracks well, certainly on normal guitar.
Overall - this packs in a great deal and seems to deliver a lot of what we could be asking for when it comes to synth, other than presets.
For me, the new Source Audio C4 seems much more akin to the FI in terms of needing to deep menu dive via a PC editor and I'm not yet convinced about the C4's tracking from the short clips I've seen so far - hopefully the final version will prove me wrong and be very good at tracking as that is such a key feature for live use. Whilst the SY-1 doesn't have presets, it's accessibility via its six knobs provides a welcome break from having to menu dive on yet another of my pedals - HX Stomp, FI and two existing SA pedals are plenty on that score!
Would love to hear a few more bass focused reviews to see if it tracks equally well on bass. If it does, I'm in!