Asking synth manufacturers to say the F word...at London Synth & Pedal Expo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Being a collection of interviews I shot at the London Synth & Pedal Expo '24, after they hired me to cover the event. The format was up to me. So I put the SAME two questions to industry folks at the show: 1️⃣ What is your favourite thing you sell? 2️⃣ What your favourite thing you DON'T sell?"

CHAPTERS
00:00 The Journey Begins
00:41 Divkid
02:44 Endorphines
03:53 Knobula
06:07 Lord Morts Thoughts
08:29 Nick Batt - Sonic State
11:29 Signal Sounds
14:35 ASM/Arturia
16:52 Scanner & Daniel Troberg
18:12 KMR Audio
19:51 ALM Busycircuits
24:05 RYK Modular
26:14 Enjoy Electronics
27:41 Erica Synths
29:04 PWM Synths
31:08 Journey's End

Good people make for good events and good gear, so lets meet them // London Synth & Pedal Expo 2024

video upload by DivKid

"What an amazing weekend we've just had! Here's a video with some of the people at the London Synth & Pedal Expo 2024. Held over this past weekend (Saturday and Sunday the 16th+17th of March 2024) in Studio 9294 in Hackney Wick, the London Synth & Pedal Expo is a free to attend show with plenty of synths, modular and pedal FX on show for people to come and play with.

As it takes good people to make good events (and the good gear we love) I wanted to focus on the people, asking who they are and what they do, more specifically how would they explain what they do to someone with no idea about synths, pedals and music tech. That led to some funny answers, all spread around various bits of b roll and footage from the event."

2nd London Synth & Pedal Expo Set for March 16-17

The next London Synth & Pedal Expo is set for March 16-17. Entry is free with an RSVP here. Details follow:

"The organizers of the Brooklyn and LA Synth Expo are delighted to announce the second appointment with the London, UK edition of the event.

Free to the public, the London Synth and Pedal Expo is an annual, strictly-in-the-headphones event featuring:
A gear expo – where musicians can try pedals and interact with builders

A pop-up market – where exhibitors can sell their products to attendees
Workshops and clinics

Gear giveaways and other promotions (discounts, deals, etc)

After an extremely crowded one-day launch in 2023, the 2024 edition of the London Synth & Pedal Expo will be hosted during the course of a weekend in a larger venue in Hackney Wick, offering gear lovers the opportunity to check out and try the latest devices by big and small builders belonging to two increasingly cross-pollinating niches.

It will also feature an educational component with workshops and clinics, and an assortment of media partners and influencers that will allow it to broaden its relevance beyond the physical constraints of a real-life event.

---

The Story behind the Expo
Launched in 2018 in Brooklyn, NY, the Synth & Pedal Expo is a dynamic and compact gear exhibition in a pop-up format, specifically tailored for the vibrant, city-based music communities shaping the most lively scenes in North America and Europe.

Unpretentious, free to the public, and pop-up in nature, this strictly in-the-headphones event was born from an NYC music blog covering local emerging bands called The Deli as a way to entertain the community of musicians it served.

After expanding to several other big North American music scenes like Los Angeles, Toronto, and Portland - the Synth & Pedal Expo launched its London show on March 18, 2023 - although it was initially scheduled for 2020.

Event Details:
When: March 16-17, 2024
Where: Studio 9294, Hackney Wick, London
Tickets: Free to the public
All Info and free RSVP here:
https://delicious-audio.com/london-synth-pedal-expo-2024/"

Synth Expo Booth Coming to NAMM

"The Synth Expo, which organizes some of the best attended synth parties in North America, will be present at NAMM with a strictly in-the-headphone booth featuring eight boutique synth builders:

Circuit Happy
Conductive Labs
Gamechanger Audio
LA Circuits
Madrone Music
Playtronica
Soma Laboratories
This Is Noise

The booth is located in Hall A at #10708 within the NAMM Synth Showcase, and it will look somewhat like this.

The event's organizers have accumulated years of experience at NAMM since 2018 by setting up a shared guitar pedal booth (that this year will be at booth #5239 and involve over 30 builders), but this is the first year they'll also give small synth builders the opportunity to be at NAMM at a fraction of the cost through this shared synth booth.

All synth lovers heading to Anaheim are invite to come and check it out."

Synthesthesia 2020 Schedule of Events and Full List of Vendors

"Synthesthesia 2020, free to the public and scheduled for Sunday October 4th from 2 pm until 10 pm ET, promises to be the biggest online synth event of the COVID era.

Today the organizers are sharing the schedule of streaming events and the full list of participating vendors.

Just like its real-life sibling Synth Expo (same organizers), Synthesthesia will be Free with RSVP, and will allow synth lovers of all stripes to catch up with the industry through interactive content and promotions.

Here's a list of what visitors can expect:

- Live streams with product specialists
- Product launches
- Q&A with experts
- Synth Giveaways
- Deals on new synths through sales partners American Musical Supply and Synth City.

The event is in open format and will be visible through any Internet browser.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Synth Expo organizers launch Synthesthesia 2020, a Metaphysical Synth Experience

"The organizers of the Synth Expo are excited to announce Synthesthesia 2020, their first online event entirely focused on synthesizers! The event is scheduled for Sunday October 4th from 2pm until 10pm and will be free with RSVP.

Since 2014, the Synth Expos have become an unmissable real-life appointment for all the synth lovers in several North American cities (including NYC, LA, Toronto, Austin and Montreal) to get a chance to try the new synths released by large manufacturers and discover new devices by boutique and modular builders.

This year, after launching a very well attended event in Portland, OR, the organizers had to cancel all the following scheduled shows due to the pandemic. Synthesthesia 2020 will be an opportunity to catch up with the industry through live streams with product specialists, product launches, Q&A with experts, and performances, and also to buy new synths at a discount through special promotions via sales partners American Musical Supply and Synth City.

If you are interested in attending, you can RSVP for free here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/119511200217"

You can find additional details at: http://synth-expo.com/synthesthesia

Portland Synth + Modular Expo 2020 Set for Saturday March 7

If you'd like to attend the event, you can RSVP here.

"The Portland Synth Expo is a free for all interactive marketplace of synthesizers – pictures from previous expos we organized in NYC, LA, Austin and Toronto can be found here.

Hosted at Portland's premiere downtown venue Holocene and co-organized with local synth store Control Voltage, the first Portland Synth and Modular Expo is scheduled for Saturday March 7th from 11.30am to 5.30pm."

Strange Electronic at Synth Expo LA 2019

Published on Oct 10, 2019 Strange Electronic

"After a successful Kickstarter we were proud to finally show the world the Lightstorm Module and Eurorack Case at Synth Expo Los Angeles!"

Free L.A. Synth Expo Returns to Echo Park with Increased Modular presence

RSVP Here "After the 2018 launch, which brought over 1,000 musicians to a warehouse in Echo Park, the free Los Angeles Synth & Pedal Expo will return on September 28-29, 2019 in the same space on West Temple Street, in collaboration with local stores Analogue Haven, Noisebug and Truetone Music.

The involvement of Modular specialists Analog Haven and Noisebug (selling most products at a discount for the occasion) boosted the presence of Eurorack builders: this year there will be an entire room dedicated to the format.

A larger space will host the large format synth companies (see floorplan), where many established builders will have the opportunity to showcase their latest products.

There's a lot of curiosity, in particular, for the new ASM Hydrasynth and the EarthQuaker Devices Eurorack version of their Afterneath Reverb. Their presence at the show will represent some sort of West Coast debut. Tangible Instrument will also showcase the soon to be in production prototype of the company's new synth.

As usual, the show will feature a rich presence of pedal manufacturers. The stompbox format in recent years has developed in creative ways that have attracted the attention of the more creative synth players, with devices by companies like EarthQuaker Devices, Red Panda, Meris and Chase Bliss Audio (among others), whose effects will be represented at the LA show.

Like all the other Synth & Pedal Expos, there's no charge at the door. Here's the list of confirmed manufacturers

SYNTH BUILDERS

1010 Music
Analog Cases
Arturia
ASM
Elektron
Eventide
IK Multimedia
LA Circuits
MOOG
Mystic Circuits
Novation
Roland
Rosen Audio
Ruach Music
Sensel
Steady State Fate
Strange Electronic
Tangible Instruments
WMD
Yamaha

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland TR-8S Masterclass

Published on Jun 16, 2019 Synthtopia

"This video captures a Roland TR-8S drum machine masterclass, presented by Roland's Peter Brown at the 2019 Brooklyn Synth Expo.

In the video, Brown goes beyond traditional 808/909 style programming and digs into some of the more advanced capabilities of the TR-8S, including using custom samples, modulation sequencing, effects sequencing and polyrhythms.

From Synthtopia's coverage of the Brooklyn Synth Expo:

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag..."

Gamechanger Audio Motor Synth Sneak Preview

Published on Jun 15, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 Brooklyn Synth Expo, Gamechanger Audio’s Ilya Krumins explained the details of the Motor Synth and gave an in-depth demo of how it works.

The Motor Synth is a unique synth design that uses drone engines as oscillators. It's being funded via a crowdfunding project on Indiegogo (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mo...), which has already raised 5 times their project goal.

From Synthtopia's coverage of the Brooklyn Synth Expo:

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag..."

If you are interested in mechanical based electronic instruments be sure to check out the mechanical instruments label here. Both Gieskes & Bastl have been known to dabble in mechanical based designs. Check out Gieskes Reverse DC Motor (eurorack module), Motor Keys Tape from 2009, and Bastl's servo based modules.

Using MPE With The Sensel Morph & Buchla Thunder Overlay

Published on Jun 15, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 Brooklyn Synth Expo, Sensel's David Abravanel presented an overview and demo of using the Sensel Morph controller with the Buchla Thunder Overlay as an MPE controller.

The Thunder Overlay is a joint project of Sensel & Buchla USA, and is inspired by Don Buchla's classic Thunder controller.

From Synthtopia's coverage of the Brooklyn Synth Expo:

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag..."

ROLI Instruments & Expressive Performance With MPE

Published on Jun 14, 2019 Synthtopia

"At the 2019 Brooklyn Synth Expo, ROLI’s Ruben Dax gave a presentation on MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) - a new standard for expressive musical performance.

From Synthtopia's coverage of the Brooklyn Synth Expo:

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag..."

Brooklyn Synth Expo 2019 Recap

"Brooklyn, 06.14.2019 - This year the organizers of the Brooklyn Synth Expo (and its sister event the Stompbox Exhibit, now part of it) were able to take the event one step up with the adoption of a new large and suggestive venue in East Williamsburg, and the addition of informative classes and presentations - including a live performance by synthesist extraordinaire Lisa Bella Donna to close day one [third video in the playlist above and posted here].

Roughly 2,000 musicians attended the expo, evenly divided between guitarists and synth-heads, but with a good share of players interested in both formats.

The educational side of the show included a memorable class on FM synthesis by Yamaha's own Phil Clendeninn, a discussion about MPE featuring reps from ROLI and Sensel, introductory Eurorack courses curated by STEM Modular, and classes on synthesis by NYC music school 343Labs.com (who also shot this video of the event) [second video in the playlist above]. A more DIY walkthrough of the Synth side of the show can be seen here [first video in the playlist above].

Several synth companies used the stage to present their new products recently introduced at Berlin's Superbooth; the Brooklyn show's timing works well in this regard, being the first relevant synth event in the US after the big German synth convention, including the new and yet unreleased Motor Synth by Gamechanger Audio. The Latvian company's reps sported classy red and black clothing in perfect Kraftwerk style.

The Synth Expo organizers have other events coming up: the next one will be another synth and pedal expo called Sonic Circuits in collaboration with Montreal's electronic festival MUTEK on August 24-25."

Also see:
Spontaneous visitor feedback (with links to posts) here
Solicited visitor feedback here

Lisa Bella Donna Improvisation At The Brooklyn Synth Expo (Excerpt)

Published on Jun 9, 2019 Synthtopia

"This video is an excerpt from a live improvisation by synthesist Lisa Bella Donna at the 2019 Brooklyn Synth
Expo."

Free Brooklyn Synth Expo to Showcase the New Synths Released at Superbooth

If you are in area you do not want to miss this event. This might be the final announcement, so be sure to bookmark this post if you need to get back to it. The press release follows:

"Brooklyn, NYC - Thanks to the 6th edition of the Brooklyn Synth Expo, on June 8-9 synth fans in the NYC area will have the opportunity to catch up with many of the new synthesizers launched at Berlin's Superbooth 2019 - and buy them at a discount, if they so wish!

The Synth Expo is a free, strictly in-the-headphones synth showcase and marketplace smack in the middle of the NYC scene, featuring a heavy guitar pedal component through the embedded sister event the Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit. The show represents a unique opportunity to get new electronic gear at a discount through the participating vendors.

Workshop and Presentations about Synthesis, Eurorack and more
After last year's record breaking attendance of 2,500 musicians, this year the event organizers have decided to add an educational component consisting in a series of presentations and workshops in an adjacent room.


The schedule can be found here, and its highlights include a performance by Lisa Bella Donna, a panel on MPE curated by ROLI and Sensel, Synthesis classes organized by Yamaha and 343labs.com, and a series of Eurorack workshop organized by STEM Modular.

Growing Presence of Eurorack, Controllers and Virtual Synths
This year's show features 80+ vendors and over 500 devices to play with, with a growing presence of Eurorack, Controller and Virtual Synth manufacturers.

As usual, there will be plenty of deals on synths and pedals, and also the opportunity to sell and exchange synths through the presence of legendary New Jersey synth store Three Wave Music.

The event is free but requires RSVP, all info can be found here."

Sequential Coming to Next Weekend's SYNTH EXPO in Brooklyn - June 8 - 9

via @sequentialLLC

"Next Weekend in NY! #BrooklynSynthExpo 2019 … #Sequential #ProphetXL"


Details and RSVP Here!

Brooklyn Synth Expo Set for June 8 - 9

6th Brooklyn Synth Expo - 80+ builders & 500+ devices in a room, coming up on June 8-9

"Brooklyn, NYC - One of the first synth gatherings of its kind, and the only one 100% free to the public, the Brooklyn Synth Expo is an in-the-headphones show of electronic instrument that was launched in 2014, three years after its sister event, the Stompbox Exhibit.

After noticing a growing affinity between the synth and guitar pedal formats, the organizers in 2018 decided to unify them under a big Synth and Pedal Expo, which attracted a record number of 2,500 visitors, making it one of the best-attended synth events in the US.

This year's event, scheduled for June 8-9 will feature for the first time also a series of presentations and workshops in an adjacent room.

While most expos of this kind are hosted in far-flung hotels or convention centers, the Brooklyn Synth Expo is located close to where musicians live, and because of this feels very much like an underground party: this year's event will be hosted in a large (for NYC standards) video facility in Bushwick, the industrial-turned-cool neighborhood many local musicians call home.

This year's show features 80+ vendors and over 500 devices to play with, with a growing presence of Eurorack and Virtual Synth manufacturers.

As usual, there will be plenty of deals on synth and pedals, and also the opportunity to sell and exchange synths through the presence of legendary New Jersey synth store Three Wave Music.

The event is free but requires RSVP, all info can be found here."

Brooklyn Synth Expo 2018 - A Video Tour

Published on Jun 12, 2018 The Deli's Synth Expo

Two videos from last weekend's event.

"This past weekend, around 2,500 musicians made their way to the Brooklyn's Synth Expo and Stompbox Exhibit, to play with synths and stompboxes. Tens of thousands of knobs were twisted while hundreds of ears evaluated the results.

The organizers' goal behind the idea of joining these two already established expos was to foster cross-pollination between the formats, and therefore generate more interest in each. The effort seemed to succeed, with many of the more experimental pedal lovers trying out synths and many synth lovers looking at the edgier stompboxes to add an extra variable to their synths' effect section."

Reminder: Brooklyn Synth Expo This Weekend - Try/Buy Synths by 30+ Builders & Gear Giveaway!

One last reminder. The Brooklyn Synth Expo is this weekend!

****JUNE 9-10****
(12-7pm on Sat, 10am-5pm on Sun)

You can enter the giveaway here.

"Win more than $7k in Synths and Pedals through the Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo!

These are all the giveaways linked to our Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit and Synth Expo!

You need to submit to each one individually – good luck!

SYNTHS
$1,000+ in Synths by Waldorf, Native Instruments and Teenage Electronics!
Arturia Beatstep Pro
Elektron Digitakt
MOOG Grandmother
Novation Circuit Mono Station
Pioneer DJ Torais AS-1
Roland SE-02
Yamaha reface DX

PEDALS
$1,431 in pedals by EQD, Meris, Walrus Audio, Tech 21, Wilson FX and Farm Pedals!
Strymon
Eventide Space
$400+ in pedals by One Control, Animals Pedal and Outlaw Effects!"

Reminder: Brooklyn Synth Expo 2018 Set for Next Weekend!

Full details here.

****JUNE 9-10****

(12-7pm on Sat, 10am-5pm on Sun)

Do not miss this event.