analog synthesizer – StromKult

Video: GRP – A1

The GRP AA1 is the smallest GRP synthesizer you can buy at the moment, but sonically it is anything but small. Of course you have to live with some limitations, e.g. that it is a single oscillator synthesizer. But you do have a sub-oscillator and a noise source that you can fade in. The single envelope is routed to the filter cutoff frequency and can also be applied to the VCA. There are also two other options available for the VCA: Gate + Release and Hold. With its many CV inputs and outputs and the well-implemented MIDI interface, you get a small synthesizer with great potential. Yes, it has limitations, but the sound, size and price make the GRP A1 a good choice if you are looking for a analog mono synthesizer.

Let’s listen to the GRP Synthesizer A1 – a very small analog monosynth with a high-quality sound, MIDI, CV connectability – it can be used stand-alone in its very solid case, or mounted in a eurorack modular synth. It has a good size for jamming and a quality feel.

The sound is similar to the bigger GRP synths. The filter design has a lot of character and is capable of producing formant/vocal-like sounds and a liquid sounding resonance. The great sounding distortion parameter offers many more options for designing sounds. With its MIDI and CV/Gate inputs this is a synthesizer that fits in all studio or live-environments.

Learn more about the GRP Synthesizer A1: https://schneidersladen.de/en/grp-synthesizer-a1

Two Voice Pro is ready

This massive stack of boxes in the picture is the long-awaited next delivery of Oberheim Two Voice Pro synthesizers which we are very much loking forward to receive in the next couple of days. Each of these babies has been hand-calibrated by Mr. Tom Oberheim himself.

NAMM 16 – Sputnik Modular

Unstoppable, lilac-colored Roman Filipov aka Sputnik Modular has a number of new stuff – he hasn’t yet decided which will go into production first.

The 16-step voltage source is like the small 5-step but way bigger.

Dual Multisegment Function Generator and Multistage Voltage Source are both really complex digital sequencer modules, especially the first one is pretty incredible.

Roman licensed late Jürgen Haible’s all-analog Frequency Shifter circuit! The booth was noisy so we couldn’t really tell how good it sounds but it’s really promising.

The Sequential Filter design resembles an existing 200e Buchla module. It comprises of three identical filters which feature frequency, resonance and level control. The eight-step sequencer saves all three parameters into one sequence and eight sequences can be stored. Proceed from step to step and from sequence to sequence with clocks. Look at one self-oscillating filter as a sine oscillator with VCA – the module can be used as a triple synth voice with sequencer as well!

The Dual Envelope & Gate combines the envelope and lopass gate functions of other Sputnik modules to one compact module.

NAMM 16 – mixed news

In WMD’s big collective booth a lot of manufacturers were displaying a massive amount of gear so you had to look closely to get all news. Here is a mixed overwiev of things we discovered.

Soulsby Synths presented the Oscitron, a voltage controllable Eurorack version of their 8-Bit synthesizer Atmegatron. It features more wavetables, allows for recording your own wavetables and it has 128 samples resolution instead of 32. Price will be 299€ and release is in April ’16.

Synthrotek’s new MIDI/CV interface offers something unique: it can be used in opposite direction, too so you can use it as a Clock-to-MIDI/USB interface. Imagine synchronizing your DAW to your modular’s clock – exactly this is possible! Cost is $199 and it seems to be available now

An expander will add arpeggiator functionality to the MIDI/CV interface for $150.

The Expressor module is a dual foot controller with a twist: each of the two channels having a pedal-controlled VCA allows for direct volume control by foot. Adjustments to the CV characteristic can be made as well.

Pittsburgh Modular have a new line of rather heavy yet really beautiful wooden flightcase enclosures and two modules from the new Lifeforms line:

The sv-1 is a new synth voice, bigger and more flexible than the Synthblock modules from the past. $699.

The kb-1 will be really interesting for users who like to have a touch plate keyboard but dislike the size and/or price of the existing ones. This one will cost $499, it is pressure sensitive, has an arpeggiator, one octave, four adjustable preset plates and two manual trigger generator plates.

No picture of Harvestman here but we were told his killer über-sequencer Stilton Hammer II will be available late February.

NAMM 16 – Make Noise

Make Noise leavin’ the past and are ready for the future .

Rob demonstrates for us the new Make Noise desktop synth O-COAST

A little well designed analog stand alone semi-modular unit, merging west- and east-coast philosophies into a powerful synth with unusual sounds and routing possibilities and an incredible warm low Bass. No filter needed – a harmonic generator and a wave multiplier are used to shape the sound. It should be ready in ~3 months for less than $500.

On the eurorack side they anounced their allready orderable modul TEMPI – a 6-channel, polyphonic time-shifting clock module. It provides an intuitive method for creation and recall of complex clocking arrangements within a modular synthesizer system. Using HUMAN and/ or MACHINE programming you could re-create most classic Clock Divider and Multiplier arrangements and then continue on to create new ones. Store up to 64 for later recall and Select them using control signals from within your system or the Select Bus.The price will be 269 $.

And we are glad to see them at Superbooth in berlin end of March.

NAMM 16 – Doepfer

Our friends Dieter and Sibylle again showed up again with two huge systems and a couple of small ones, displaying as well all their recent modules as new units and prototypes.

A-168 PWM Generator is able to alter pulsewidths of inputs e.g. triangles by changing them into squares with variable width. Basically it’s a comparator but smaller than the A-167.
A-110-3 and -6 are early prototpyes of Thru Zero VCOs capable of generating more than just sine waves.
A-106-5 SEM filter might be released in a vintage special edition with cream faceplate.
A-121-2 is a protoype for a new multi mode filter with individual inputs.

The most classic synth A-100 modules needed for creating an “old-fashioned” synth will be available in a vintage edition, sporting nicely black anodized faceplates, white legending and custom-made knobs. Price difference to standard version depends on the amount of knobs used for the module.

On top of the black cases you can see the new, universal, Miniature Power Supply with IEC mains socket.

The final pre-production version of the A-157 sub system was shown – a complex trigger sequencer with 8 rows, each with plenty of options like direction, first/last step, step inversion and mirroring. The expanders are included and can be mounted where you prefer them to be.

doepfer-afrodutch — This happy guy rocked the Doepfer booth and had so much fun creating really good sounds.

NAMM 2016 – Audio Damage

The funny buddies from Audio Damage had a very nice illuminated rack full of their modules. Two new ones draw our attention, both drum voices yet entirely different:

Boomtschak, a super flexible analog drum voice with excellent layout, an oscillator, envelopes and a filtered noise. From bass drums, toms, percussions and snares pretty every analog drum sound is possible except cymbals. BLD module, watch out!
Neuron, a crispy and aggressive, digital FX drum voice.

Boomtschak needs several weeks and will cost around 450, but the Neuron is available and goes for $325.

Namm 16 Impressions 2

Here some fotos taken from the neighbours’ booth around ours:

Moog’s Mother Island

Roland & Malekko showing the 500 Series and Roland’s new Case / Desktop Synths & their MIDI controller.

Korg’s new Polysynth & the Odyssey

and some good guys

Namm 16 Impressions

Hi folks – here’s some foto impressions from the 2016 NAMM show –

from our colleagues & friends all around our booth:

Micro KEN now!

Finally the Micromac module by Ken Macbeth did arrive today and we started shipping them to those who already ordered. Luckily we did order more than that so you are welcome to check it out in our showroom berlin.

TODAY… basic electricty berlin 6 .. (!)

Join Navs & Richard Scott tonight for some hand-made electronic electronic music and delicious Andechser beer at Basic Electricity #6 with Derek Holzer, Vanessa Ramos-Velasquez & JenaMu6. Doors open at 21:00, music at 22:00 sharp at Kastanienallee 77, 10435 Berlin P-Berg.

Tag: analog synthesizer