Drew Schlesinger

Thanks for these, I will check them all out!

Does anyone have a recommendation for a 3-4 octave midi keyboard controller that has aftertouch, wheels and a few (3 minimum) assignable knobs? Thoughts would be most appreciated, thanks.

That's odd as I see it above, maybe because I posted it, or maybe because I'm not allowed to post videos until I get more action on here. Thanks for letting me know and I'll check on it.

Amazingly and completely stupid on my part was the Roland D-50 which came out at the same time as the Casio CZ-1. I took the D-50, stripped off all the chorus, reverb and effects and said to myself "well, as a synth this ain't much really". I decided to focus on the CZ-1 (which I still use to this day as a plug in) but from a business point of view I should have realized I could have sold boatloads of Sound Cards for the D-50 as it was selling boatloads. I missed the boat big time, one of the worst decisions I made back then...stupid is as stupid does I guess.

I thought I'd post one of my Randomatic videos of the EMS Synthi being triggered and modulated by a tiny Eurorack POD with a few Random modules and a Slope Generator. It's all noise but amazing how much can be modulated in a device designed back in 1969! IMG_0205.MOV

That's good to hear as it's been on my want list for a while and is an elegant device. Kicking myself for not buying sooner especially the Thunder overlay. I'm on the notification list so hopefully something will happen sooner than later. Thanks Mark!

I use Ableton LIVE as my main platform and specifically look for great synth and effects devices, (free or paid), that work as direct devices in LIVE (as opposed to VST, AU etc). I came across a new company called FORS (fors.fm) and got a copy of the Chiral synth which sounds amazing, is well designed, easy to use very unique and supports MPE. It's not like anything else and I plan to buy their other devices based on Chiral, especially Doublet which is only 15EUR. So many LIVE devices are less than well designed (some just downright awful) and this one is elegant and very well done. Chiral is totally worth the 29 EUR IMO and I think you need to have Max for Live / Live Suite. YMMV of course but color me impressed.

Jeez...I didn't even know this was out there! 😀

OK, maybe I'm too old but the 4 or 6 new tiny $49 Behringer "skittles" synths with those touch keyboards are really quite...well...either weird or brilliant. Of course I've not heard them but when you see all the folks with a bunch of desktop boxes and effects these may be like adding cumin, tarragon and wasabi to your hamburger (or impossible burger) set up. $49 seems crazy cheap with full size midi included and a keyboard. Will be interesting to see what the uptake is on these....once they have "chips" available. And I thought the IK Multimedia Desktop UNO as "really small and kind of cool". "Hey honey....I shrunk the synth" 😜

That one seemed really quirky to me as well...

That's an interesting point but (IMO only) I care what 1) a synth sounds like, 2) what it can do/features, 3) how easy it is to use, 4) what it costs. Promo stuff I usually pass by and the unit offers quite a lot for the money, is small (important to me) and is 90% of the larger models (one less LFO and only chorus and delay). The fact that there's an editor out of the gate for all platforms including iOS is very helpful. I too am looking at the Hydrasynth Explorer which seems awesome as well and think Modal may have done this based on the positive response to that device. It sparked my interest as I've heard some great sounds from the Modal 8 and again, the size is really desktop friendly. YMMV of course!

Modal just released a small mini version of the Cobalt with 5 voices, a mini keyboard but the same engine as the larger versions. Looks pretty cool and the keyboard has aftertouch as well. Will be interested in trying this one on....for size. https://www.modalelectronics.com/cobalt5s/

I recently heard that Sensel have stopped selling this device and they are no longer available. Trying to confirm this...

Thanks for this, it looks like quote a good synth with excellent features for the price.