Superlative SB01 (Space Bee) :: Live Sequence :: Boss DM-101 :: Strymon BigSky

video upload by Harry van Mierloo

"Tweaking a live sequence from the new Superlative SB01 (Space Bee), with the Roland JX-8P singing along here and there and pepper & salt from the Boss DM-101 analog delay and Strymon BigSky reverb. Background noise is from the notoriously noisy JX-8P chorus, not the other devices..."

Superlative SB01 (Space Bee) :: Soma Cosmos :: Roland JX-8P :: Ambient live jam :: PART I

video upload by Harry van Mierloo

"This week I've received my Superlative SB01 (Space Bee)... after 6 years of patiently waiting! 😅 Super happy with it so far. Very beautiful to see and built like an American tank. Sound wise I cannot distinguish it from my SH-101 here. The SB01 actually sounds slightly better, probably due to the age of the components of my good old SH-101. And it's definitely a lot more solid and thinner than the original, due to the metal casing.

Instead of a full review or demonstrating all the classic 101 sounds that you find all over the internet already, I thought let's just practice a bit more with my ‪@somasynths‬ Cosmos and put the SB01 through it for some real-world sounds and live ambient, together with my good old JX-8P (always a great companion for 101 sounds).

All recorded in one take in Ableton, with a touch of salt from the ‪@strymon‬ BigSky.

Enjoy!"

Superlative SB01 (Space Bee) :: Soma Cosmos :: Roland JX-8P :: Ambient live jam :: PART II

video upload by Harry van Mierloo

"New day, new recording... With exactly the same setup as yesterday I've recorded another dark ambient jam, again with a primary role for the new Superlative SB01 (Space Bee), together with the Roland JX-8P through the wonderful ‪@somasynths‬ Cosmos.

This time I’ve managed to fix the video latency issue when exporting from Ableton, so video & audio should now be in sync. 😅

Enjoy!"

The Superlative SB01 Is Ready

via Superlative

"After a summer of continued development and polish, we were able to push the design of our synthesizer beyond what we had already imagined.

This new model represents an upgrade in every dimentions: from a machined aluminum chassis to a full day's worth of battery life, along with a completely new visual identity."

"Picking up where the golden age of analog synthesizer design left off, Superlative is building electronic instruments for the next generation of musicians. We believe that the best in electronic instruments is yet to come.

Our synthesizers are engineered and built in the U.S.

We want to design products that last - both in their original design and with the goal that their repair and maintenance be as transparent as possible."

Kickstarter launches tomorrow at 1PM.

Additional pics below. Be sure to click on them for the full size shots.

See the Superlative label for additional posts including demos.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Superlative SB01 with Roland SH-101 - production unit 2025

video upload by Antony Fewster

"Very quick play around with the new Superlative SB01 (last minute thing, apologies for the lack of lighting and shaky iphone). SB01 sequenced by the Intellijel Metropolix, SB01 keyboard (running on internal battery) controlling external SH-101.
u-he uhbik 2 beta on delay duties.
Not the best quality lighting, nor does it (not intended) show the breadth of what this can do (I only had one hand free), but wanted share an initial take how this looks and sounds in a style I'm familiar with. I'm a fan."

Superlative SB01 filter mod

video upload by Antony Fewster

"Metropolix sending gate, cv and additional cv into the mod CV input of the SB01. Gives any baseline more movement and life - a really nice addition that takes it beyond the standard sh-101. Playing around with the filter and resonance for effect."

Superlative SB-1 Synthesizer (First Look)

Published on May 13, 2019 Synthtopia

"At Superbooth 2019, Superlative introduced the SB-1/Space Bee synthesizer, described as ‘The sound of the past, crafted for the future.”

Here's an overview and demo of the futuristic take on the classic Roland SH-101."

Superlative SB-1

Superbooth 2019 Superlative Instruments SB-1 Space Bee (Roland SH-101) Demo

Published on May 9, 2019 SynthBae

Here it is. See the Superlative label below for more.

"Superbooth 2019 Superlative Instruments SB-1 Space Bee sh101 super flat portable battery powered. Fat 101 sound. apologies for the handcam."

Superbooth 2023: Superlative - Monolab 1210 - Space Bee

video upload by sonicstate

"We spoke to Ben from Superlative at Superbooth 2023 about their latest product, a fully self-contained, semi-modular synthesizer Monolab 1210. Based on various synthesis concepts from the 70s and 80s, this synthesizer offers a compact semi-modular format with a clear and well-mapped workflow. It is aimed at beginners, as well as those who want to dive deeper into the world of voltage control.

It was good to see Space Bee back at Superbooth, and though it is clearly inspired by the SH101, it has a lot of enhancements, such as ADSR cycling mode, CV control and more. The synthesizer is powered by USB C and is surprisingly thin, measuring less than an inch deep.

Space Bee Available Autumn 2023. Price TBC

Monolab 1210 Available Autumn 2023. Price TBC"

Analogue Solutions Announces Colossus #4

I almost skipped posting this as the only news here is there's a 4th production run of the Colossus. I guess it's interesting knowing how many are out there. What's also interesting is I always assumed the Colossus was either built in a limited initial run, or it was built per order only. This is a mammoth endeaver and each one costs 25,000 GBP which comes out to $35,000 US. It is $4500 less than this little Sennheiser VSM201 Vocoder!

Note, the images in this post appear to be stock. You can find demos of the Colossus in previous posts here.

Press release follows:
""Analogue Solutions announces forthcoming fourth run of Colossus supersized synth that trips back to the future of analogue

KINGSWINFORD, UK: following a showstopping showcase during its introduction at SynthFest UK 2019 in Sheffield, British boutique electronic instruments innovator Analogue Solutions is proud to announce a forthcoming fourth run of Colossus — its supersized synth that trips back to the future of analogue, albeit symbolising so much more than a powerful analogue ‘workstation’ with no fewer than 12 VCOs (Voltage-Controlled Oscillators) beating at its monumental musical heart, rather representing art, architecture, and superlative studio furniture at its hand-built best by taking its design cues from the colossal classic that is the EMS Synthi 100, although no Synthi circuit was cloned or copied in making the destined-to-be-classic Colossus fit for a new generation of high-flying owners — as of February 15…

CLICK FOR MORE »

Arturia Introduces V Collection Classics

Published on Apr 1, 2015 Arturia Web

"Arturia launches legendary soft synth classics collection to lead into musical temptation

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: following in the footsteps of its super-successful V Collection 4 premium software collection, launched to critical acclaim late last year, music software and hardware developer and manufacturer Arturia is proud to announce availability of V Collection Classics — conveniently rounding up five of its most sought-after Analog Classics soft synth emulations of five legendary analogue synthesizers from five legendary brands into a musically tempting, competitively-priced package — as of April 2...

ARP, Moog, Oberheim, Roland, and Sequential Circuits... classic analogue synthesizer-manufacturing names all. And all of those classic companies — past and present — have produced at least one legendary instrument that truly impacted the music industry throughout the Seventies and into the Eighties and beyond. Indeed, the sought-after sounds of these instruments still resonate today. Think ARP 2600 (1970-81), MinimoogTM (1970-81), Synthesizer Expander Module® (1974-79), Jupiter-8 (1981-84), and Prophet-5 (1978-82). And Arturia has played a not inconsiderable part in bringing these still- sought-after sounds into today’s computer-centric recording and performance workflow thanks to TAE® (True Analog Emulation), an advanced proprietary technology allowing accurate modelling of analogue circuitry behaviour on personal computers. Conveniently, all five of Arturia’s award-winning Analog Classics soft synth emulations of those analogue classics are available to musically tempt as a must-have, competitively-priced package... please welcome, V Collection Classics! Come join us, then, as we make the musical introductions...

Arturia’s ARP 2600 V is a truly versatile sound creation tool with a massive musical bite; indeed, its raw and dirty character is perfectly suited to creating massive drum ’n’ bass stabs to growlin’, funky bass lines and spaced-out drones, with much in-between. From the starship funk lead lines of the Seventies to the gangsta whine of mid-Nineties hip-hop, the ever- present MinimoogTM has been making its phat presence felt for four-plus decades; Arturia’s award-winning Mini V even offers polyphony and additional modulation options, effectively turning it into an authentic-sounding Memorymoog emulation... well, sort of. Oberheim’s Synthesizer Expander Module® (SEM) started life as an add-on synthesizer module for fattening up Minimoogs before becoming a sought-after sound in its own right, with up to eight embedded in Oberheim’s groundbreaking Seventies-vintage polysynths; still sought-after today for its stunning-sounding multimode filter, Arturia offers all this and more in its outstanding Oberheim SEM V emulation. The runaway success of Roland’s then-flagship Jupiter-8 programmable analogue polysynth took the synth world by storm upon its 1981 release, boosting its already superlative sonic capabilities by adding an arpeggiator that helped make many mega hit singles shine forth musically — think Duran Duran (‘Save A Prayer’) and Howard Jones (‘New Song’); similarly, Arturia’s Jupiter-8 V is a real musical workhorse, capable of creating a very versatile range of sounds — stretching from fat to ‘crystalline’ — while going above and beyond the capabilities of the original instrument, thanks to its additional modulation possibilities and inbuilt effects. Last but not least, the Prophet-5 is truly a legend in its own lifetime as the world’s first fully-programmable polyphonic synthesizer; again, Arturia’s Prophet V faithfully brings back to life those historic and superlative sounds, together with those of the 1986-vintage, California-created classic Prophet VS Digital Vector Synthesizer, Sequential’s first digital design (and, alas, the final synth, sadly, from the iconic innovative instrument manufacturer). Must we say more?

Maybe just one more thing, then: thanks to V Collection Classics"

Superlative Introduces MONOLAB 1210 SEMI-MODULAR SYNTHESIZER

via Superlative

"The Monolab is our distillation of subtractive synthesis in its most accessible, portable, and configurable form. A tactile canvas of sound with a clear conceptual mapping that equally invites an educational or performance approach.

Deep dive and full specifications coming June 2023
INPUT
USB TYPE-C
OPTIONAL POWER FROM SB01
OUTPUT
PROFESSIONAL +10V AND +/-5V
POWER
ULTRA-LOW-POWER DESIGN
ACCESSORIES
L-STAND
U-STAND
DIMENSIONS
220 X 220 X 22MM
WEIGHT
2.8 POUNDS / 1.3KG"

Superbooth 2023: Superlative Audio Monolab 1210

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Superlative Audio launch their Monolab 1210 synth, in a suprisingly compact form factor."

Superlative Instruments SB-1 @ Superbooth 2019

Published on May 10, 2019 Bedroom Producers Blog

"Superlative Instruments SB-1 is a replica of the classic SH-101 with a portable design and some additional features for the modern studio. We're checking it out at Superbooth 2019."

Superlative SB01 Is Funded - 44 Hours to Go for Microtuning Stretch Goal

The Superlative SB01 has reached funding on their Kicstarter campaign. They are currently at $171,557 pledged of their $101,000 goal, however they added a stretch goal to add microtuning as a feature for all future models. The new stretch goal is $200,000. The funding campaign has 44 hours to go. If you are interested in getting in on the SB01 early and would like to see microtuning added, now might be the time.

Superbooth 2025 Superlative Instruments SB01

video upload by Padawan Studio

"First impressions at Superbooth 2025"

Superlative Instruments Roland SH-101

Rob Papen pulls out all stops with all-encompassing eXplorer-III bundle

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of eXplorer-III — combining all of its award-winning Mac- and PC- compatible virtual instruments, including the recently-released breathtaking BLUE-II soft synth, alongside its critically-acclaimed effects plug-ins into an attractively-priced performance and sound design dream bundle to die for — as of May 1...

Self-confessed synth freak and world-renowned sound designer Rob Papen knows a thing or two about creating the sounds that people want to hear. He’s even published an informative instructional book/DVD set based on his subtractive synthesis masterclasses called The 4 Element Synth — perfectly pitched for the long-running analogue revival, but is best known for his namesake software company, dedicated to producing its trademark Inspiration Soundware. Several years after its inception, Rob Papen, the company, collectively has 11 superlative software products to its well-known name: Blade (representing the cutting-edge of today’s synthesizers), BLUE-II (so-called ‘Crossfusion synthesis’ since it covers so much musical ground so effectively), Predator (‘phat’ analogue synth with killer presets and first-class features), Punch (speaker-busting, body-rattling drum machine), SubBoomBass (ultra-deep bass synth with built-in step sequencer), RG (electric and acoustic guitar grooves with sequencer and synth effects), RP-AMOD (modulation effects to spice up vocal tracks, enliven instruments, or even beef up drums and loops), RP-Delay (with six delay lines, eight filters, four LFOs, reverser, and more), RP-Distort (for distorting and dramatically altering tracks), and RP-Verb (advanced, transparent, and musical algorithm reverb).

Now all of those award-winning Mac- and PC-compatible virtual instruments and critically acclaimed effects plug-ins that have found favour with so many of the world’s leading music producers and artists are available in the all-encompassing eXplorer-III bundle — billed as being The Complete Rob Papen Synth & Effect Collection. To quote a few notable names for whom Rob Papen’s Inspiration Soundware has proved inspirational indeed:

“I love BLUE-II! The patches are so good. I opened it up and started using it immediately in my current project. You read my mind on what I was looking for.” (Rod Abernethy: RAGE, TERA, Alpha Protocol, Star Trek, and The Hobbit composer)

“Rob Papen definitely makes some amazing plug-ins; we use Predator all the time, because it has such amazing sounds!” (Dave Stewart: musician, songwriter, record producer, and Eurythmics co-founder)

“[Punch is] very cool and delivers very fast results for instant creativity! It’s easy to use and sounds great.” (Armin van Buuren: music producer and DJ)

But best of all, anyone purchasing eXplorer-III is saving themselves around 50% when compared to separately purchasing each and every Rop Papen virtual instrument and effects plug-in included. Imagine what they could do with the money saved? Treat themselves to a nice new pair of studio monitors to listen to those thousands of superlative sounds in all their professionally-programmed glory? Go for it! Open your wallet and your ears to take your productions to hitherto dreamed of levels of Inspiration Soundware sublimity with this attractively-priced performance and sound design dream bundle to die for. Just ask Rod Abernethy, Dave Stewart, and Armin van Buuren — or even Rob Papen himself!


eXplorer-III can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €585.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$699.00 USD or downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-explorer-3.html

Various upgrade options are also available: eXplorer-II bundle owners can upgrade to eXplorer-III for €44.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$49.00 USD while owners of the original eXplorer bundle can upgrade to eXplorer-III for €119.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$139.00 USD."

Superbooth 2019 -SB-1 SH- 101 Clone - Sounds Only

Published on May 14, 2019 sonicstate

"Jim took a look at the Superlative SB-1. Here's what he had to say about it:

The prototype of Superlative’s new 101-based synth, the SB-1, is sounding quite nice. The short travel keybed feels really good and is fast to play. The sound makes you want to keep playing as well. A fun little synth!"

Superlative SB 1 Sound Demo (No Talking)

Published on May 9, 2019 Bonedo Synthesizers

Superlative SB 1

Superbooth 2019: Superlative Instruments SB 1

Published on May 10, 2019 Future Music Magazine

First analog synth with a rechargeable battery. I am curious how easily it will be able to replace the battery if it goes out over time. Also curious how long the charge will last (update: user replaceable, 10 hours). And yes, you can pop rechargeable batteries into an original SH-101.

Superlative SB 1

Superlative is Hiring

Superlative, makers of the SPACE BEE SB01 (pictured below), are hiring.

You can find full details here.

"Join us in building the next decade of synthesizers.

We are looking for electrical, mechanical, and embedded engineer positions across the US."

Superlative's Beautiful Modular - Superbooth 2023

video upload by True Cuckoo

"More info about Superlative: https://www.playsuperlative.com"

XILS-lab Releases Syn’X 2 Polytimbral Virtual Analogue Synthesizer Plug-In

Tutorial videos previously posted here. Press release follows:

"XILS-lab relaunches revolutionary virtual analogue soft synth with modern-day makeover

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software company XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of Syn’X 2 — a multi- format (AAX, AU, RTAS, VST), 32- and 64-bit polytimbral virtual analogue synthesizer plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.5 and later) and PC (Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7/8) that not only continues to pay perfect homage to the legendary Elka Synthex Eighties-vintage Italian instrument from an original-sounding sonic standpoint, but balances that musicality against a multilayer card-based architecture that is inspired by similarly sophisticated hardware analogue synthesizers, such as Oberheim’s mighty Matrix 12, to create one of the most powerful and complex virtual analogue synthesizers of the modern era — as of June 22...

At the time of its 1982 launch the eight-voice polyphonic Elka Synthex sounded like no other synthesizer around — analogue or otherwise, and brought with it high hopes of being instrumental in ending the dominance of oversized (and overpriced) Japanese and American analogue programmable polysynths, thanks to the eight monophonic synthesizer circuits central to its innovative 16-DCO (Digitally Controlled Oscillator) driven design by independent Italian synth-master Mario Maggi. Many — meaning 1,000! — ICs (Integrated Circuits) were used in that design, however, meaning that it was not necessarily the most reliable around and did not come cheap. Consequently, not that many — not much more than the number of ICs in each instrument, in fact — were sold before being discontinued in 1985 (with one last production unit being made especially for legendary American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder) as a ‘new wave’ of considerably cheaper and more reliable digital synthesizers boasting better MIDI (Musical Instrument Interface) implementation brought about its untimely demise. Not that this mattered much to French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, who has three to his not insignificant name to this day, with well-known Laser Harp performances still emanating exclusively from an amazing-sounding Synthex patch produced by one-time UK demonstrator/programmer Paul Wiffen (and audible in isolation in ‘Second Rendez-Vous’ on Jarre’s super-selling Rendez-Vouz album of 1986).

Today the Elka Synthex is one of the most sought-after synthesizers around. As a result of its superlative sound design and avant-garde architecture, it’s a true musical instrument that’s truly stood the test of time. Today it sounds as fresh as it did back in 1982. Just ask Jean-Michel Jarre, who is on record as saying, “The Synthex allowed me to also develop something I had in mind with electronic music — epic, symphonic type of sounds that you probably had with the modular Moog before, such as those that Walter/Wendy Carlos used for Switched On Bach or A Clockwork Orange — a deep, mad, classical approach to a polyphonic synthesizer.” Truly, madly, deeply, indeed.

Indeed, given that finding an Elka Synthex in fine working order has become such a pricey (and patient) proposition, is it any wonder that in 2011 XILS-lab decided to effectively emulate it in software, even going so far as to enlist the eager ears of Paul Wiffen himself. “The sonic results are uncannily close to the original,” he promptly pronounced. Surprisingly, Syn’X has already been available to purchase and download from the XILS-lab web store for longer than the production lifespan of the original hardware synthesizer from which it drew so much musical inspiration. It’s time, therefore, for a serious update, and with it some fanciful features that look beyond merely modelling the Elka Synthex...

So what, exactly, is it, then, that makes Syn’X 2 so different and so much better than its predecessor? Well, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could create a synthesizer with the sophisticated multilayer architecture of Oberheim’s mighty Matrix 12 analogue polysynth, say, with an abundance of modulation matrixes per layer — effectively enabling flexible routing to rival the monstrous modular systems that preceded it in decades gone by, but then musically married that to the expansive Elka Synthex sound? Well, with Syn’X 2 that’s no longer a dream synth, but rather reality! Roll up your sleeves and delve deeper into sound design than was previously dreamed possible, thanks to the talented teamwork of XILS-lab.

Lest we forget, Syn’X 2 offers a unique combination of clear and punchy DCOs with cutting-edge analogue-modelled multimode filters to faithfully reproduce the superlative sound that so clearly defined the Eighties era, but, because it’s polytimbral, users can access up to eight individual synthesizers simultaneously with 16 oscillators, eight 0DF (Zero-Delay Feedback) analogue-modelled filters, 32 D-ADSR (Delay, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) envelopes, and modulation matrixes addressing any of 132 possible destinations when creating their own patches — truly a sound designer’s dream come true!

This being a XILS-lab product, predictably, perhaps, there are many more features to make a serious song and dance about. All-important additions to Syn’X 2 include: oscillators with (up to 40) cumulative waveforms (per patch); new 0DF PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)/hard sync oscillator algorithms; unique CHAO (2D space movement) and (five rhythmic effects) RTHM LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators) with (up to 50) cumulative waveforms (per patch); two arpeggiators; two keyboard zones — Upper and Lower, suitable for split and layered instruments; guitar multitimbral mode — whereby all layers can be assigned to independent MIDI channels, so playing different sounds with each guitar string, for instance, is possible; polyphonic SEQUENCER (that also acts as a modulation source); vintage-sounding CHORUS, DELAY, PHASER, and EQ effects (with proprietary True Stereo Technology); and 300 phenomenal presets programmed by professional sound designers, to name but few.

Fortunately for some, a helpful Easy mode provides programmers with an intuitive and powerful yet streamlined environment, similar to XILS-lab’s recently released miniSyn’X polyphonic, duo-timbral virtual analogue synthesizer plug-in, but with additional envelopes and LFOs, etc, easily accessible. Alternatively, the Advanced mode makes all aspects of Syn’X 2 available, allowing users to create complex, thick, and never-heard-before patches with a radically reworked workflow, which, it turn, makes it one of the most powerful and complex virtual analogue synthesizers of the modern era!


Syn’X 2 is available to purchase as a USB eLicenser or iLok (1 and 2) protected plug-in for an introductory discounted price of €127.00 EUR until July 21, 2015 (rising to €169.00 EUR thereafter) on the XILS-lab web store here: https://www.xils-lab.com/products/Syn'X-%3A-iLok-or-eLicenser-protected.html

Syn’X 2 can also be purchased as a bundle together with the miniWork’X sound library — featuring 268 miniSyn’X sounds for Syn’X 2 programmed by Lotuzia — for an introductory discounted price of €148.00 EUR until July 21, 2015 (rising to €198.00 EUR thereafter).

Note that owners of the original Syn’X can upgrade to Syn’X 2 for free while owners of miniSyn’X can upgrade to ‘full-blown’ Syn’X 2 status for an introductory discounted price of €93.00 EUR until July 21, 2015 (rising to €124.00 EUR thereafter).

Syn’X 2 can be directly downloaded as a multi-format (AAX, AU, RTAS, VST), 32- and 64-bit polytimbral virtual analogue synthesizer plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.5 and later) and Windows (XP, Vista, and 7/8) from here: https://www.xils-lab.com/pages/Syn%27X_Download.html

Several superb audio demos showcasing Syn’X 2 can be heard here: https://www.xils-lab.com/pages/Syn%27X_Audio.html"