#21

I went and checked it out, though not for very long (was on my way to the airport).

I mainly focused on trying out things I wouldn’t normally be able to see in person.

My brief report:

  • @nevvkid’s automat is high on my list of things to get now (though @lijnenspel did let me play with his for a couple of days before Superbooth). Have big plans for this in combination with some of @tremblap’s upcoming software/tools.
  • @randy’s Soundplane feels amazing. Very responsive and subtle (as expected). The 4ths-style tuning felt more natural than I would have thought (coming over from playing guitar/bass).
  • The ROLI blocks feel better than they look, and latency of MIDI-over-bluetooth was not really noticeable. The seaboard block (mini seaboard) feels like shit. I’m quite comfortable with keyboard layouts, but this was pretty rough. I’ve not spent much time on a “real” seaboard, but the mini one feels awkward since the “negative” recessed space takes up more of the interface than the “keys”. Ugh.
  • I had a go on the new Landscape tape thing and wasn’t impressed. The tape bit was cool, though very similar to the previous one. There were some pads/knobs on it, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out what they did. /shrug. And the stereo field sounded/felt better than I thought, though it still sounds a bit “cracklebox” to my ears.
  • I went and had a look at the Bela/Rebel Technologies both, but didn’t properly try it out. I was, however, struck by what an incredibly different implementation of the ‘embedded music computer’ thing their Salt module was. None of the RT stuff has ever made sense to me, nor interested me. Just seems kind of slapdash. (then again, this was a few days into seeing @tehn’s beautiful Norns teasers. The contrast between those things were night and day…

Was also great meeting a ton of lines folks (@rknLA, @lijnenspel, @jonas, @kbk, @nevvkid)

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#22

I though I recall them looping?? Yep, checked the flyer I picked up, definitely looping. I’d be considering a quadratic and now this looks like a strong contender.

The Intellijel Planar 2 is a super update. Recordable input now that it’s digital!!

I think Erica synths win the most new things prize with a full new drum system. I was looking st the Endorphins Blck Noir, but I I think I’m leaning towards keeping the voices separate.

Falestri looks wonderful. Maths plus logic, but not a full maths replacement, at least that’s what they told me. So Maths ± perhaps?

I’m still strongly considering buying a Haken continuum and their Ondes resonators sounded wonderful when played in the auditorium away from the rest of the noise!

#23

I mean it does lack the attenuversion features that maths has but if you just want a DUSG it should replace it, I personally don’t really like to use the middle section since I like separate functions for separate modules.

The proof is in the pudding ofc so we’ll have to see how usable the module is compared to maths, probably won’t dethrone it since the price is very attractive.

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#24

On the Linnstrument I’ve been going back and forth from fifths to fourths and in spite of my guitar background, I really do think I prefer the fourths layout.

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#25

I don’t really have much experience with MPE-y instruments, so other than the left-to-right “linear” playing thing, it took a bit for my brain to kick back into guitar placement. Once I got that going, I tried to jump start my left-hand into the mix (I’ve owned a couple Chapman Sticks and even a Warr guitar in my day) but interestingly enough the combination of 4ths tuning + “keyboard” orientation of both hands was mentally confusing. (Interestingly and possibly relatedly, I have a hard time “thinking” on an accordion due to the orientation of the keyboard).

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#26

Anyone make it to the SSF booth? Surprised I haven’t seen any videos yet for them or WMD. Particularly interested in the new zero point oscillator and the new filter Andrew’s been showing clips of on Instagram. Pretty stunning sounding.

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#27

I didn’t go but I’m impressed by a lot of stuff that was announced.

Both of the Dreadbox devices (Medusa + Erebus 3) look great, especially the Medusa with that playing surface courtesy of Polyend. Prophet X is a definite purchase once there’s a desktop version. No more room for big keyboards.

Main thing which impressed me from the modular side was definitely 4ms’ Spherical Wavetable Navigator thing. Sounds incredible and has a shit ton of LED’s. That’s a winning combo for me. Also I really want some of their black panels. ALM stuff looked cool, too (especially those colors) but it seems like most of their new stuff is further away.

#28

I didn’t attend, but as a Deluge owner, I’m super excited about firmware 2.0. Arranger mode seems ace.

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#29

I tried a Haken continuum for the first time, and was so wonderfully surprised by it - agreed for the resonators. The two I met from Haken were super friendly (and delighted to speak French for a change!)
It’s one of the things I enjoyed about Superbooth a lot - the opportunity to pay attention to companies or instruments that you’d never considered before and be pleasantly surprised by the discoveries!

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#30

I got a linnstrument a few weeks ago and did much of the same. I’m learning to play (and build) tenor guitars so I’ve mostly stuck to 5ths to match all the material I have on hand. Even being a guitar player most of my life, fifths just made way more sense the first time I picked up a mandolin.

I wish there were more MPE synths at superbooth. I didn’t see many mentions. I know the Kijimi from Black Corp. will support MPE but didn’t notice anything else.

#31

generally, best thing at SB for me was the meeting people and the music… rather than products.

but notable product highlights were:

ContinuumMini - whilst the ribbon is ‘limited’, it gives full access to the Eagen Matrix, an entry point into the Continuum…

Onde - sounded fantastic in the auditorium, definitely on my list.

Soundplane CV interface - only a prototype/work to do, but great to hear that Brian and Randy had pushed it forward so much. cant wait…

Bela Salt/Salt+ - very nice, will be installing mine in my case tomorrow - lots of plans, watch this space :slight_smile:

Leaf Audio Microphonic Soundbox - not new, but my first hands on and loved it, I went back a few times, sorely tempted to get this, or at leat motivate me to finish off something similar with the Koma Field Kit.

Deluge - I previously had no interest in this, but having tried it (and seen demo etc), the UI is much better thought out that Id imagined, and sounded great… and with battery power, definitely a fun device.

fun times all around.

2 Likes
#32

I had a pretty great time meeting folks as well, though I wish I’d come across more lines folks.

For MPE, Peter from Sensel had one of the Snyderphonics Manta Mate modules, which looked like a reasonable way to get MPE into eurorack.

Besides meeting people, I think my biggest take-away is rather basic (especially considering this was my third superbooth, and I still don’t own any modular): modular is really complicated. Even though I didn’t hear much mention of it at the 'booth, I’ve decided to spend some time with VCV Rack to get an idea of what I might actually want before buying anything… I’m really grateful that’s a possibility now :slight_smile:

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#33

Hmm, maybe next year we should organise to meet up? I have no idea what most of you look like, although I think I spotted @Rodrigo.

There’s actually quite a couple of ways of doing this already. The Expert Sleepers FH-1 has support for the Roli keyboards, as has the Endorphines Shuttle Control.

#34

Sidenote: I’ve gotten increasingly interested the the Endorphines Shuttle system. It just seems like such a lovely instrument when you have all their modules together like that.

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#35

I should create a separate thread for it at some point, but can I add that the Sensel Morph was my favorite device at NAMM? I purchased one immediately after and haven’t regretted it. It’s been my travel companion for the last few months and will be my primary Norns MIDI/MPE generator, with future potential for OSC.

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#36

Their new Blck Noir module looks really promising.

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#37

Yep, though hands on I wasn’t entirely convinced, though with SB noise levels it’s hardly the ideal place to get a good demo. The utterly insane Erica’s drum case looked very tempting (or rather a subset) and I’m sold on the WMD Fracture.

#38

Blergh. I’m really not liking how someone from Xaoc has been answering people’s questions about the Zadar. I understand having a particular design vision, and limiting the scope of a module (when there is a good reason for it anyway) but being condescending toward potential customers about it is just not a great move.

It helped me decide that not only do I not need a Zadar, I don’t need an Odessa either.

Looking forward to some details about the Klavis Quadigy…

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#39

I love the concept for this synth, but it is way out of my price league at the moment. It reminds me a lot of the Nord Wave (which I own and think is awesome), but adds a lot of features I wish the Wave had when it came to sample manipulation.

#40

I saw the mw thread. Someone telling them their module ‘needs to go back to R&D’ and is a ‘control forge for kids’ was pretty insulting.

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