Sphero Specdrums Lets You Turn Color Into Music

Published on Feb 1, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 NAMM Show, Sphero introduced Specdrums - a new type of wireless music controller that turns color into sound."

Curious how sensitive it is - how many gradients it is capable of sensing. It it were fully programmable it could be interesting. I'm also curious how sensitive it would be to light - would brighter lighting change the perceived color and trigger the wrong thing? Makes me think of a realtime controller for ANS and Oramics type optical synthesis. A light sensitive controller capable of sensing color in addition to light. Could be interesting if applied right.

NAMM 2019 Floor Walk and Awards Handout

Published on Feb 1, 2019 sonicstate

"Sunday AM is when we hand out the awards, and usually we just take the photos, this year we decided to combine a floor walk with the awards. Contrary to most award ceremonies, this one is not at all organized.."

NAMM 2019 MOK Waverazor As A Eurorack Module

Published on Feb 1, 2019 sonicstate

"Two Waverazor wave slicinf oscillators in a Eurorack format - built on the 1010 Music Module with touch screen and MIDI control, - mmmmm....."

Dubreq Stylophone GEN R8 Sound Demo (no talking)

Published on Feb 1, 2019 Bonedo Synthesizers

STG Sound Labs - Suit and Tie Guy | NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 31, 2019 Under the Big Tree

"Welcome to 25 minutes of Bubba. He is hilarious, entertaining, energetic...and happens to know an awful lot about modular.

Bubba does a deep dive on the STG (Suit and Tie Guy) Sound Labs line of Eurorack modules. He shows us their newest products, including some still in the prototype stage. And he throws down the gauntlet to our viewers: which collection of modules do you like better to be included in a complete synthesizer product? I'm hoping the comments are going to be flowing like water.

So watch this video. Marvel at Bubba. Ignore the obnoxious rave music happening across the way at the same time. Come to Knobcon '19 in September.

And remember: bug music is the folk music of our people."

NAMM 2019: Buchla Red Panel [Episode 119]

Published on Jan 31, 2019 CatSynth TV

"We visit the Buchla booth at NAMM 2019 and check out the new Buchla Red Panel.

The Buchla Red Panel series of modules recreates the classic Buchla 100 series designs and sound.

"Announcing Buchla U.S.A.’s
introduction of a subsidiary company called “Red Panel.” Red Panel was created to pursue new and innovative Buchla-related musical instruments that are priced within the reach of the
average musician. For its first line of products, Red Panel has worked closely with Dave Small of Catalyst Audio and Buchla artist consultant Todd Barton in order to bring Don Buchla’s seminal product line, the 100 Series, to the Eurorack format. Nine modules will be introduced and demonstrated at the NAMM convention, including the 106 (Six Channel Mixer), the 110 Quad Voltage
Controlled Gate, the 156 Control Voltage Processor, the 156 (modern version), the 158 Dual Channel Oscillator, the 180 Dual Attack Generator, the 112 Touch Controlled Voltage Source, the 190 Dual Reverberator, the 193 (Combination of 194 and 191) Dual LoPass / Bandpass Filters, and a 6U 84HP case. These products will be available in the Spring of 2019."

For more, please visit buchla.com

For more NAMM 2019 coverage, please subscribe to this channel and visit www.catsynth.com"

NAMM 2019 Elektron OverBridge 2.0 - Here It Comes

Published on Jan 31, 2019 sonicstate

"As Overbridge 2.0 nears final release (no, really!), we caught up with Elektron who gave us a look at the new features."

Namm 2019 Retronyms Table Tour plus MPC Pro 2

Published on Jan 31, 2019 sonicstate

"Louis Gorenfeld gave us a quick look at their Wedge and Phase 84 products, but the main focus was their new MPC Pro 2 app, which takes an AKAI MPC beat-oriented approach to DAWs, and offers audio track recording, etc."

Korg Kross Update At NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 31, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 NAMM Show, Korg introduced an updated version of their Kross keyboard, with a new look and new sound library, focused on EDM."

Korg Krome EX At Winter NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 31, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 NAMM Show, Korg introduced a new version of the Krome workstation, with expanded PCM data and an updated sound library."

NAMM 2019: Black Corporation Xerxes Synthesizer Sound Demo - Elka Synthex Clone

Published on Jan 31, 2019 SYNTH ANATOMY

"At NAMM 2019, Black Corporation gives me a sound demo of the new Xerxes Synthesizer, a new analog clone of the Elka Synthex!"

NAMM 2019: MOK Waverazor Innovative Eurorack Oscillator Module

Published on Jan 30, 2019 SYNTH ANATOMY

"Taiho showed me at NAMM 2019, it's new innovative Eurorack oscillator Waverator which is based on a modified 1010music Toolbox platform."

Kind of reminds me of the rotors on the John Bowen Solaris. Taiho Yamada was one of the lead designers at Alesis and M-Audio. He brought us the Alesis Andromeda and the M-Audio Venom. You can find posts featuring him in the archives (by date or by relevance).

STG Soundlabs Intros Boatrocker, Radiophonic 1 Synthesizer & More

Published on Jan 30, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 NAMM Show, we talked with Suit & Tie Guy of STG Soundlabs, who gave us a quick update on his new Boatrocker power system, Radiophonic 1 all-in-one Eurorack synthesizer and more."

Bitwig Studio 3.0 Sneak Preview

Published on Jan 30, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 NAMM Show, Bitwig introduced Bitwig Studio 3.0, an update that introduces new modularity, with The Grid."

Nonlinear Labs C15 Synthesizer At NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 30, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 NAMM Show, Nonlinear Labs made the NAMM debut of their C15 synthesizer.

The C15 is unusual in that it's a keyboard that's designed to be closer to traditional instruments than traditional synthesizers. As a result, it doesn't have internal sequencing, ARP, LFO's or even MIDI - it's designed for you to play it expressively, not machines.

In the first section of the video, founder Stephan Schmitt gives an introduction to the philosophy behind the C15. Starting around 8:30, Schmitt demonstrates the C15 and explains how the keyboard's expressive capabilities dynamically control its synthesis engine."

Prophet X Receives 2019 TEC Award -- Best New Musical Instrument

First mentioned here, the official press release follows.

Congrats to Sequential! :)

"Prophet X Receives 2019 TEC Award for Best New Musical Instrument

San Francisco, CA—Jan 30, 2019—The NAMM Foundation has awarded the Sequential Prophet X its prestigious Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award for “Best New Musical Instrument.” The Award was presented at the Foundation’s annual awards ceremony at the National Association of Music Merchants convention in Anaheim, California. The award marks the third TEC award for Sequential and the second TEC award for 8Dio’s Troels Folmann, sample content developer for the instrument.

The TEC Awards are the “Oscars” of the pro audio and sound recording industry and recognize the most outstanding products and technical achievements in the world of music making, live performance, video games, television, and film. Winners represent superior accomplishments in their respective fields and categories.

In addition to the TEC award, the Prophet X has garnered wide critical acclaim from both the music industry press and users alike for its sonic versatility and depth. Its powerful, yet easy to use combination of synthesis-plus-samples technology powers two simultaneous 16-bit, 48kHz sample-based instruments plus two high-resolution digital oscillators with waveshape modulation — all processed through analog filters.

It boasts an internal library of 150 GB of sample content from Academy-award winning sample developers 8Dio, as well as the ability to import up to 50 GB of additional user samples and third-party add-on content. Users can shape the samples through loop manipulation, sample stretching, and a full complement of synthesis functions which include 4 envelope generators, 4 LFOs, and a deep modulation matrix. A dual-effects engine, 64-step polyphonic step sequencer, and arpeggiator add additional performance features.

Sequential founder Dave Smith commented: “We’re proud that the Prophet X has been recognized by both the NAMM Foundation and by the public for what it is — a great-sounding, easy to use creative tool that puts powerful technology in the hands of musicians. That’s always been our philosophy and that’s what we continue to do.” 8Dio co-founder Troels Folmann added: “Receiving a TEC award is always a gratifying experience, but we’re particularly pleased to receive it for our work on the Prophet X because the synth gives musicians a very immediate, expressive, and tactile way to use our deep-sampled instruments.”

The Prophet X ($3,999 US MAP) and Prophet XL ($4,399 US MAP) are available from Sequential’s worldwide network of dealers."

Haken Continuum Mini NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 30, 2019

"Haken has a new smaller version of the Continuum called the Continuum Mini that they were showing at NAMM 2019. Continuum controllers are MPE controllers with built in synthesizers, giving you expressive control over multiple notes at once.

Haken products available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/haken-..."

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Waldorf Kyra Synthesizer NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 30, 2019 Perfect Circuit

"The Waldorf Kyra Synthesizer was shown at NAMM 2019 and we got a chance to listen to some of the presets on it. The Kyra is a virtual analog synth with an impressive 128 voices, each with 10 oscillators, while being 8 part multitimbral.

Waldorf products available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/waldor..."

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Akai Force Sequencer, Sampler, Synthesizer NAMM 2019

Published on Jan 30, 2019 Perfect Circuit

"The Akai Force is a standalone music production tool that can be played with pressure sensitive pads in a pad per sample or single sample at different notes configuration. The pads can also be used to edit step sequences and launch clips. The Force works with loops and samples as well as having built in synthesizers and effects.

Force available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/akai-f..."

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The Panoptigon Updates Classic Optigan, Vako Orchestron

Published on Jan 30, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 NAMM Show, Quilter Labs introduced the Panoptigon, an optical sample playback device, based on the rare Optigan and Vako Orchestron instruments of the 1970's."