"The Ultra Proteus contains the same 32 Z-plane 14-pole digital filters found in the Morpheus and contains 288 different filters in ROM. Its sound set is based on the Proteus 1, 2 and 3 plus the Pro/Formance piano module. It can store patches on a 256kbyte Type I PCMCIA SRAM card and uses a standard CR2032 3V lithium battery for its memory backup. It is powered by a 25 MIPS Motorola 68020 processor.
Six ROM cards were released containing new presets but no additional waveform data. These cards were produced:
9211 Proteus 1, 2, 3
9212 Expressive Orchestra
9213 Real World
9214 Dance/Techno
9215 General MIDI
9216 Trance Track
Specifications
Year Released: 1994
Polyphony: 32 notes
Multitimbral: 16 parts
Preset Patches: 640
User Patches: 128
ROM: 16MB (470 waveforms) at 16-bit, 39 kHz
Screen: 16 x 2 character LCD
Power Consumption: 25 watts
Dimensions: 19 in. x 8.5 in. x 1.75 in.
Weight: 3.1 kg"
"Samplr, ipad mini, isupr8 filter 6 (8mm android video effect), canon eos 760d + efs 17-55 f2.8 1080, bose soundlink mini, audioshare, shareit (video file tranfert between android and ios), made on ipad mini 1 with imovie.
"Create music in the style of the classic video games of the 80s with this MIDI synth. Now on Kickstarter: http://kck.st/2adRRSu"
See the Arcano channel here on MATRIXSYNTH for previous incarnations and kickstarter campaigns. From what I can see they have three core models, the NES, Obscura and GEM-8. The NES is Nintedo only. The Obscura is NES and Famicon C64, and the GEM-8 covers home computer sounds like the Commodore 64, the Apple IIe, and the ZX Spectrum. This appears to be the second incarnation of the Obscura 8-bit engine. Details follow.
"The Obscura 8-bit Chiptune Synth 2 is a MIDI synthesizer that enables musicians to create music in the style of the classic video game themes of the 1980s. The device is the successor to the Obscura MIDI 8-bit NES & C64 Chiptune Synthesizer, a project launched on Kickstarter in 2015.
No programming is required and there is no software to install. Simply connect a MIDI controller to create your own original chiptunes or play your favorite retro video game theme tunes live.
This monophonic music synthesizer features several improvements on the original including:
more waveforms
more patches
improved volume envelope system for reduced latency
greater vibrato depth
faster arpeggio frequency
The Obscura 8-bit Chiptune Synth 2 comes in two hardware versions. The SMD version is based on the original Obscura MIDI 8-bit NES & C64 Chiptune Synthesizer hardware design, and is available with a handcrafted wooden base. The through-hole version is based on the Arcano MNCS2 hardware design, and is available with or without a wooden base.
A prototype production run of 18 units has already been completed, and 16 of these synths are available as early-delivery rewards. Help fund a second production run and receive an Obscura 8-bit Chiptune Synth 2 as a reward.
If the Kickstarter campaign is successful, you can share the music you create with your Obscura 8-bit Chiptune Synth 2 by tweeting a link to @ArcanoSystems."
Published on Aug 9, 2016 Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers
Update: This is the Lifeforms SV-1 in desktop format. Details added below.
"DESKTOP PORTABILITY WITH ANALOG POWER AND MODULAR FLEXIBILITY
The Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers Lifeforms SV-1 Blackbox is a complete, standalone desktop format modular synthesizer. A full compliment of analog tools for sonic experimentation stuffed into a portable steel enclosure. Two patchable oscillators and our legendary state-variable filter are paired with a perfectly curated set of synthesis components including a dual sub oscillator, dual, chained mixers, a plucky, four stage envelope generator, sample and hold, noise, low frequency oscillator, voltage controlled amplifier, a feature rich MIDI to CV converter, and a pair of utility signal splitters.
A standalone modular powerhouse, the Lifeforms SV-1 Blackbox provides absolutely everything you need to create gigantic and iconic synth sounds: roaring bass, shimmering leads, lush pads and warm drones are only a few knob turns away. Instantly, out of the box, a rich feature set with a fluid, easy to understand interface empowers you to create vibrant, thick tones. A few patch cables Modulation and Tools sections fill out the analog SV-1 modulation capabilities with a triangle and square LFO, two sub-octave oscillators chained to the main oscillator, and noise with sample & hold.
Price, Availability, and More Information
The suggested retail price for the Lifeforms SV-1 Blackbox modular synthesizer is $699 and it begins shipping to authorized resellers August 12. More information is available at lifeformsmodular.com/blackbox."
"The Ultra Proteus contains the same 32 Z-plane 14-pole digital filters found in the Morpheus and contains 288 different filters in ROM. Its sound set is based on the Proteus 1, 2 and 3 plus the Pro/Formance piano module. It can store patches on a 256kbyte Type I PCMCIA SRAM card and uses a standard CR2032 3V lithium battery for its memory backup. It is powered by a 25 MIPS Motorola 68020 processor.
