Early Design Renders of the Moog One / Polymoog by Axel Hartmann

Some early design renders of the Moog One from this interview with Axel Hartmann on AMAZONA.de, in via swissdoc. You can find a Googlish translation here.

Note it was originally labeled Polymoog.

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Schmidt Design Prototyping from Designer Axel Hartmann

Auto-translated via Axel Hartmann on Facebook:

"What does not come out on this rendering; - at the Schmidt you can adjust the color and intensity for all Leds (collected) and for the display accentuating free and above all floating over the complete spectrum by knobs. This is a very fine feature that always hits bright enthusiasm"

Update: according to Swissdoc, this was one of the initial design renderings of the Schmidt shared by Axel Hartmann on FB thread and not new: "the picture shown by Axel Hartmann is one of the first renderings he did for the Schmidt about 10 years ago. So that is nothing new. Very similar to the Little Phatty. Design was changed to what we know by today."

Hartmann Neuron Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"100% functional and in EXCELLENT physical condition! This synth has only light signs of use, with only a few very subtle surface markings/scratches, most of which are hardly noticeable. Overall it's super clean! The receiving nut for the top/right hex screw that holds the wood end cap in place was broken off and missing, so we epoxied a replacement in place. We did our best to align it with the screw, however in doing so, it made it so the upper/middle hex screw does not quite align with it's nut. We thought it was best to have the top/right screw in place, so the middle/center screw is not installed (although we do have it to include in the sale) --- see 2nd to last photo. Comes with upgraded hard drive, original box (as well as the original outer shipping box), original manual, original Hartmann USB-to-Ethernet Adapter, and Hartmann Neuron Sound in Motion DVD (contains interviews with Axel Hartmann, Hans Zimmer, plus more). No other accessories are included in the sale."

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Waldorf Demos with Saga's Jim Gilmour at the Frankfurt Musikmesse in 1992

Saga - Jim Gilmour Demo - Musikmesse Frankfurt 1993 1992 Published on May 12, 2013 MadSevenFilms

"Jim Gilmour ( Saga keyboardist) in a demo at the Waldorf stand during the musikmesse in Germany.
Humble Stance, Wind Him up, Don't be late, Careful where you step, On the loose,etc ...."

Update: according the swissdoc, these videos are actually from 1992. That would make the appearance of the prototype Wave in 1992, not 1993. This post has been updated to reflect that. Note swissdoc's write-ups are from 1993 as you can see in the datestamps for the links, and I believe the production model Wave was indeed released in 1993.

Here's a blast from the past featuring a bit of Waldorf history in via swissdoc. This may very well be the only Waldorf footage from the event. Check out the non-working prototype of the Waldorf Wave in the background. 1992 was the year it made its first appearance to be released in 1993. Note the Microwave rack was released earlier in 1989. Further below you will find some notes on Musikmesse 1993 (the following year after these videos) from swissdoc, followed by a transcription of the Wave flyer. This is a fascinating look back on synth history. But first, one more video from the 1992 Musikmesse.

Update2 via swissdoc: "In addition, for those who can read and understand German, there is a big series of three articles available for download (email has to be provided) from the German Keyboards magazine. Inside Wave. Amazing level of detail plus in part three an interview with developers and users plus additional interviews with the people behind the Wave.

https://www.keyboards.de/heftarchiv/1994-10/inside-wave-1-wave-intro/
https://www.keyboards.de/heftarchiv/1994-11/inside-wave-2-tech-talk/
https://www.keyboards.de/heftarchiv/1994-12/inside-wave-3-wave-story/"

Update3: The following scans have been added to the bottom of this post:
Messe.1992.TSI.Messeinformation
Messe.1992.Preliminary.Wave.Info
Messe.1993.TSI.Show.Information
Messe.1993.Wave.Flyer

Saga - Jim Gilmour Scratching the surface - Musikmesse Frankfurt 1993 1992

Published on May 13, 2013 MadSevenFilms

"Jim Gilmour ( Saga keyboardist) in a demo at the Waldorf stand during the musikmesse in Germany.
Scratching the surface"

---

The following is a Musikmesse 1993 recap via swissdoc aka George Mueller, who attended, from way back in 1993 (you'll find a transcript of the Waldorf Wave flyer text further below). P.S. for a quick look at the gear released at the 1993 Musikmesse see here and here, both from swissdoc.

"Before I go into this Wave stuff, I'd like to tell you a little about the Frankfurt Musik Messe. Those restless gear junkies, skip the next 24 lines.

The Frankfurt International Music Fair was held for the 14th time and was attended by a record number of exhibitors: 1194 from 40 contries. So it's the leading event for the music business.

The Messe Frankfurt has 10 halls of different sizes, three of them are used by the Musik Messe. Hall 9.0 is the most interesting, it's for electronic instruments, 9.1 is for guitars and amps, 9.2 is for stage light, sound and mixers. These halls are middle in size, rows range from A to F, with booth numbers up to 90 each. Hall 8 is for acoustic instruments and publishers; it's funny, all that noise from test-playing violins, flutes and so on. This is the biggest hall, rows from A to P. The monster booth of Yamaha is in the back of this hall with all their synths, FXs and personal keyboards. So it's a long walk to Yamaha. It's a bit risky in this hall, if you enter one booth, browse thru the pages of some book, after talking to the salesman you probably lost your orientation. Hall 10.1 is reserved for grand pianos and uprights. No elctricity allowed there.

It's funny, when you change from 9.0 to 9.1, all those long haired heavy metal guys. One amp or guitar company has a Hard Rock Cafe at their booth, evertime overcrowded with guys drinking cocktails or beer.

So, here we are, the promised report on the TSI shows WAVE MUSIC DEMO and INSIDE THE WAVE.

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Hohner Adam Digital Synthesizer

Published on Sep 8, 2017 Musicnectar

Here's an interesting synth from the past. The physical design was by Axel Hartmann. You can find all posts featuring the Hohner Adam here.

"Neuron" - Free VST based on Hartmann Neuron

Published on Jul 15, 2017 100 Things I Do

"The Hartmann Neuron is one of those synths that intrigues and seems full off possibilities. Somewhere between Sampler, modeller and resynthesis engine built for a short time in the early 2000’s

This is the VST based on Axel Hartmann and Stephan Bernsee’s creation that was also also for sale for a short time before the company folded. It came with a controller (Nuke) which also acted as copy protection. Fortunately Stephan Bernsee has updated the code as much as possible to make the Neuron no longer tied to the controller and it now is available for free via his website and the Neuron facebook group.

The VST is built around the older VST 2.1 SDK which means the code is not compatible with most DAW’s today. You will need an Intel Mac running a VST Host that supports the older system. A full list of supported clients & links to downloads are available at http://www.neuron-synth.com/

Unfortunately the windows code base has been lost and is no longer able to be updated.

The Clip was composed 100% on the VST and no effects besides some compression was used."

The Piino Portable Synthesizer by Jack Marple

Note this appears to be more of a design concept vs. an actual product in the works. An upcoming Axel Hartmann?

via Jack Marple's website:

"Jack Marple graduated from Arizona State University in May 2016. He is currently an industrial designer at TEAGUE in the Seattle area."

on the Piino:

"electronic music equipment can be bulky

The goal of PIINO is to create a compact, versatile and intuitive tool for musicians to capture ideas while on the go."

Teenage Engineering's OP-1 immediately comes to mind. Still cool though. New ideas are always interesting.


And via iF World Design Guide:

"Piino is a portable synthesizer that allows electronic musicians to create music on the go. Designers and artist have ways to record thoughts and ideas by sketching it in a sketchbook. Musicians have no such thing. Piino is the solution to this problem; it helps musicians express and compile musical ideas while they are traveling. It is a synthesizer and workstation that includes a 10 key range, customizable effect knobs and sliders, an interactive touch screen, and a trackpad for extra sound manipulation. Piino folds up and becomes a portable device that can go anywhere with you. Piino makes creating music on the go finally possible."

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The SynthSummitShow episode 18: John Bowen synth designs

Streamed live 5 hours ago Flux302 of Fluxwithit.com

Fascinating bit of synth history with John Bowen who started his career with synths during the early days of Moog Music, followed by Sequential Circuits. Dave Rossum in the early days of E-mu is mentioned as well. John now of course runs John Bowen Synth Design, and is the creator of the Solaris. You can find previous interviews with John at various synth events in the archives here.

Interesting little bit of trivia at 41:55 regarding John drawing some of the Prophet-VS waveforms as estimations of the waveforms on the front panel of I'm guessing either the KORG DW-8000 or DW-6000. It's interesting to know they are in there. It's worth noting all of the Prophet-VS waveforms and Waldorf, and therefor PPG waveforms, are in his new Solaris x 4, meaning four independent oscillators capable of having separate waveforms or wavetables from each. The Prophet-VS vector synthesis of course made its way to Yamaha's SY-22/TG-33, followed by Korg and the Wavestation where it morphed into vector sequencing. He also worked on the original version of the KORG OASYS which turned into the PCI card version. He then left to work with Creamware on Scope, on some of the first software models of vintage synthesizers. It's pretty incredible when you think of all the connections between synths John has not only influenced, but created over the years.

Note the Solaris 1U rackmount at 1:11:48. Two were made a couple of years ago but the idea was scrapped. John spoke with Axel Hartmann on it and they agreed that the lack of UI made it not worth it. The Solaris has over 1200 editable parameters and part of the magic behind the Solaris keyboard is the UI which makes it all easily accessible.

Funny note regarding the Yamaha DX7 at 1:23:00. John is referring to the Jellinghuas controller for the DX7 after that, and Flux is referring to the DTronics DT7 based on it.

Video description:

"The SynthSummitShow is a live streamed show dedicated to Synths, music technology and the people who make the gear we use possible.

Todays guest is John Bowen. http://www.johnbowen.com/about.html

John was instrumental in many of the products we all know and love, from the prophet 5 to the solaris John has been a staple in the music industry.

Host: Ken Flux Pierce is a sound designer, Music technology consultant and blogger you can find me at Fluxwithit.com"

The 20 Synthesizer - Axel Hartmann's High-End

Published on Apr 27, 2017 Synthtopia

"Industrial designer Axel Hartmann and his company Designbox have handled the industrial design for dozens of synthesizers - including the Waldorf Wave, the Alesis Andromeda, the Moog Voyager XL, the Arturia Minibrute and the Schmidt synthesizer.

At Superbooth, Hartmann was showing a personal project, the '20' synthesizer - a high-end synthesizer created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his company.

In this video, Hartmann explains the background of the project, some of the design ideas that he wanted to explore with the '20' and gives a demo of what it can do."

Hartmann 20 - exklusiver Synthesizer mit Waldorf Engine - Musikmesse 2017

Published on Apr 6, 2017 musotalk

Audio demo at 3:15.

"Das Designser-Studio studio design box feiert 20 igstes Jubiläum mit einem auf 20 Stück limitierten Synth für je 20.000 € !
Axel spielt das High-End Teil für mich an!"

MESSE 2017: Axel Hartmann's 20k Synth

Published on Apr 5, 2017 sonicstate

"The 20 is really something special as a design object, milled from a massive block of aluminium with custom hardware - even down to the knobs, only 20 will be made, its got the Blofeld based synth engine with high-end DA convertors too. Yummy. But not for the monetarilly challenged."

The Initial Designs of the Alesis Andromeda A6 by Axel Hartmann

The second render reminds me of the Alesis Quadrasynth.

This one in via Soviet Space Child.

"On the subject of the Alesis Andromeda, Axel Hartmann posted these on his facebook a few days back:

Anytime, I see the Andromeda popping up at FB, I remember the days, 20 years ago, when we have been working on this Mega synth together with the Alesis team around Erik Norlander and Rob Rampley. The working technique was a bit different from today back then . . . It was the time, when we have just been exploring the possibilities of 3D modeling. As most of the work of designing a user interface can happen in 2D, we have been using Freehand, to arrange the functional elements. We then built huge 1:1 cardboard mockups, to check the layout. I am still keeping these in the lowest drawer of our big paper Schrank, that we only use to keep these kind of memories today. I thought; - maybe, it is cool, to share these memories with all of you here . . . To me, the Andromeda has been the pinnacle of Analog synthesizers "of the past". . .

There was some accompanying text to these as well:

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The River, gestion des modulations issues du clavier

Published on Feb 19, 2017 laurent

"Présentation rapide de la gestion des modulations issues du clavier : pression, velocités d'attaque et de relâchement et molette
ainsi que le mode pseudo polyphonique...."

The UI screams Axel Hartmann's Waldorf designs. See the River Creative label below for previous posts.

Studio Electronics & Axel Hartmann

via @SE_BoomStar

"Big things ahead with the one and only #axelhartmann"

Hartmann Neuron Synthesizer Keyboard

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Jan 19, 2017 Tank J

via this auction

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The Waldorf Wave II

You are looking at renders of what was to be the Wadorf Wave II, designed by Axel Hartmann, the man behind the upcoming 20 Electronics synth, and hardware designer for numerous manufacturers including Access, Moog, and of course Waldorf. There was also the Waldorf Stromberg that never made it into production.

"Got to pull these out again . . . from somewhere in our archives. This baby was supposed to be the "Wave II", back in the days, somewhere around the year 2000. We have been working on some wicket ideas then; - wanted to use huge trackballs, to create animated surround sound coming directly out of that machine. Also, for the lefthand controls, we were trying to implement some ideas that I had years before, when working on the "Gambit" study. I was asking myself; - why should a keyboard player, who is capable of doing the wildest things with his left hand, be limited to using just the hand or the thumb to control things . . . so we came up with the 4 dynamic switches array; - one switch for each finger, in combination with a pitch bender, that we stole from Hans / Nord (sorry for that, but it is such a GREAT thingie . . .). The switches have been located ergonomically perfect, just below the left edge of the wheel block . . . Also, look at that display . . . oh man . . ."

"A synth with balls."


"The entire front panel is a glass surface; - printed from the back. Of course, the pots are all encoders with lightrings. OK; - it is a bad rendering; - but not too bad for the time, when it was created ;-)"

"Achja; - klar - polyphonic pressure . . ."

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20 Synthesizer by Axel Hartmann - Renders, Demos, Details & Availability

A few pics and some info in via Peter M Mahr who has a post up on the 20 by Axel Hartmann here. Do check it out for more.

According to Axel Hartmann & 20:

"We have 4 weeks left, until Christmas 2016 will be here. And one more year of hard work lies behind us. The 20 is working and sounding fine now. And per today, I am very proud to announce, that for everyone, who is willing to purchase one of the rare machines, the day has come. Right in this moment, I opened the 'reserve' button on our website“

Note the 20 was previously set to ship in June.

And the Sound Designers:
– Kurt Ader
– Dr. Peter Jung and Dr. Guido H. Bruch [boiling down Neuron samples to fit the 20]
– Peter Gorges
– Wolfram Franke
– Erik Heirmann

An interesting side note: Wolframe Franke was previously with Waldorf. He was the developer behind Largo, PPG Wave 2.V & 3.V, Attack and Steinberg's V1. He also released Stroke Machine for the iPad. Axel Hartmann of course was the hardware designer of Waldorf's synths and many other brands.

Axel Hartmann's 20 Synth Nearing Completion - Set to Ship in June

"Set up for final testing and sound design. Fatar has sent us a b/w keybed for checking into a modified aftertouch ribbon below the keys, which works perfectly. The final models will be back to an all black keybed. The Synth you see is the first with black anodized surface. The grafics are laser edged. I am quite positive, that we can finally release the 20 by the end of June...

The synth is based on the Studiologic Sledge which is based on the Waldorf Blofeld. From the original post here"

"Only 20 black and 20 silver will be made | Waldorf / Sledge Synthesizer Engine | SPL Supra Op-Amp audio technology | Wavetables | Hartmann Neuron Synthesizer Sampleset | Pure aluminium shell, milled from a massive block | Collapsable, milled ultra thin aluminium panel | Custom-built pure aluminium knobs and wheels | Custom-built acrylic-glass switches | Highest quality, custom-built, all black Fatar TP 8 Keybed" See the 20 Electronics label for more.

Last Call for The Schmidt!

If you have $25,000 to spare and want a Schmidt, now is the time! Just be sure to send some support my way for the tip.

"e:m:c calls last orders for final 25-unit production run of Schmidt subtractive super-synth

'I feel really honoured that musicians around the world love the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer, which simply started as a small-scale bass synthesizer project before I took a chance on building the synthesizer of my dreams. That e:m:c has decided to build another 25 units of this exclusive — and expensive — instrument makes me proud!'

- Stefan Schmidt, 2016


LANGENAU, GERMANY: e:m:c (electronic music components) — German distributor of several key electronic musical instrument brands, including Mellotron (Sweden), Moog (USA), Vintage Vibe (USA), and MIDI Solutions (Canada) — is proud to announce that it is taking orders on a second self-financed (and final) 25-unit build run of the exclusive (and expensive) Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer, surely one of the most ambitious analogue synthesizer projects ever undertaken...

The no-expense-spared Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer was, without doubt, a showstopper when namesake hardware and software designer Stefan Schmidt’s hand-crafted first prototype unit debuted at Musikmesse 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany. Within a year it was being shipped Stateside for its first proper public airing at The NAMM Show 2012 in Anaheim, California. Indeed, it is somewhat fitting that following a repeat performance at The NAMM Show 2013 that same super-synth prototype made its way over to Santa Monica for an audience with none other than Hollywood hotshot Hans Zimmer, one of the most successful, influential, and prolific film composers of all time with a sumptuous synthesizer-filled studio setup second to none! It’s still there... the rest, as they say, is history.

History has it, then, that the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer is quite possibly the most expensive analogue eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer the world has yet seen and heard. Hardly surprising given the investment involved in its drawn-out development, both in terms of funding and man hours. Hardly the stuff of commercial viability in an accepted age of market value-driven optimisation, often resulting in compromised products. Put it this way, though: this is the synthesizer that Stefan Schmidt always dreamed of, created against all odds without any compromises whatsoever (with more than a little help from friends Axel Hartmann — co-founder and owner of renowned industrial designers designbox, whose distinctive design talents took the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer prototype to another level entirely, thanks to some serious funding from e:m:c President Stefan Hund).

But bolstered by those tradeshow successes, supported by his partners at e:m:c, Stefan Schmidt set about putting his dream synthesizer into (build-to- order) production. A limited run of 25 units was admirably announced. Anyone arguing about its ‘second-tier’ five-figure price point probably couldn’t afford one. But bear in mind that those that could were buying into a thoroughbred analogue eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer with a fully- analogue signal path (with precise digital control) that’s truly a sound designer’s dream machine.

More meaningfully, a quick glance at its complex four-oscillator structure should be more than enough to convince even the most skilled synthesist that the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer is capable of creating complex timbres that go way beyond the capabilities of conventional analogue synthesizers. Speaking of which, Oscillator 4 is worthy of special mention. Thanks to its chain of five ring modulators fed by six pulse-waves, each with different pulse-widths, it can create colder, wavetable-like sounds — despite being fully analogue. These truly unique features are hitherto unheard of in any analogue synthesizer, let alone an analogue polysynth! Subtractive synthesis clearly knows no bounds here, helping to make the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer a shining example of no-expense-spared synthesizer design, deploying discrete sound generation circuitry throughout — no integrated oscillator/filter circuits on a single chip, for instance — in keeping with the highest possible production standards, while each and every parameter is directly accessible via dedicated controls on a seriously spacious front panel to die for.

Fortunately, for Stefan Schmidt and his supportive e:m:c production partners, all 25 units subsequently sold; Hans Zimmer would not be the only seriously satisfied Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer owner, after all. And that could so easily have been the happy ending to this success story, with the Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer surely going down in the annals of history as one of the bravest moves in electronic musical instrument design as a bold statement that flies in the face of the fast-paced and superficial age we unfortunately find ourselves living in today.

Today, though, with 25 instruments already hand-crafted in Germany and duly delivered to seriously satisfied owners around the world, e:m:c is proud to announce that it will be building a final batch of 25 more. Maintains"

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2015

Happy New Year everyone!  I want to thank you all for a great 2015 and I wish you all the best in 2016!

The following is my yearly round up for the year.  Feel free to dig into this post as much you like, or skip it and leave a comment at the bottom of the post. I'd be curious to hear what stood out for you in 2015. Do you like the direction the synthesizer world is headed in, or would you rather see more or less of any type of product?

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