Abstrakt Instruments is a new company from the creators of the x0xi0, a heavily modified x0xb0x that is considered to be the ultimate x0xb0x. The Avalon is a new instrument and is not based on the x0xb0x. Full details will follow in time, but for now you can get a good feel for what it is via the pics. Click on each for the full size shots. Note there is a white, silver and black version. Also note the cartridge slot and swappable 24db Transistor Ladder Filter and 12db State Variable Filter cards. There's Dinsync IO in addition to MIDI IO, and extensive CV IO.
You can find an interview with Abstrakt Instruments' Brian Castro previously posted here.
Update: some initial info from Brian (press release is still to follow):"ok guys, we just got done at NAMM. If we don't sleep for 3 days straight the official press release will go out Monday for those of you who weren't able to attend NAMM and get a demo in person. There will be more content coming as everyone starts to upload more pics and edit videos. For those who can't wait for the NAMM content and debut of the website here are some bullet points of the basics.
The avalon bassline synth is an analog monosynth based on the TB-303. It combines a 100% mirror of TB-303 RevD mainboard together with a panel board containing additional analog and digital circuitry.Uses all original spec parts of the original TB-303 (transistors, caps, IC's, diodes, transformer, etc..) together with a BA6110 VCA with current gain calibrated to match the original BA662.
Fully backwards compatible with the original TB-303 (actually works with an original TB-303 CPU).
Sub oscillator has saw, sqr, and tri both -1 and -2 oct.The cartridge slot is for filter carts which can be hot-swapped and used in place of the internal TB-303 filter.
Additional analog controls include sub/ext level control, filter tracking, accent decay, vca decay (goes full off), AD utility envelope with bi-polar modulation of the VCA and VCF.
I/O on back includes CV & Gate In/Out, accent sweep cv out (amplified and normalized to 0-5V), filter cv input. Audio out consists of saw and sqr out (+/-5V), external input, and vca & filter outputs.
Sequencer control has TB-303 pitch/time modes as well as a new realtime mode making use of the the step led switches (yes those are switches). Too many features to list - browse the panel to get an idea. patterns can be 64 steps in length with numerous time signature options. There are 448 internal patterns and 56 tracks. These can also be saved and loaded via sysex.
Sync modes are internal, MIDI and DIN, and it outputs both MIDI and DIN Sync. Also has USB-MIDI, and synth can be played externally.
Extremely high build quality including custom pots, german key switches, and 4-piece steel enclosure.
Can't comment yet on price except to say it'll be under $1000US."
