The Prophet 12: Dave Smith's Newest Monster is Genius

DSI unveiled their newest synth today, which Dave is calling the finest he's ever made. It's the Prophet-12, an incredible 12 voice, 4 oscillator-per-voice synthesizer for the price of $2999.  This keyboard has everything.  While the oscillators seem to be purely digital, the VCA and filters remain analog.  There's an effects section, with delay and distortion.  There are knobs to change the character of the oscillators.  Just by hearing it, you can tell its one of the most fantastic and innovative synths around.  I applaud Dave and his small team of engineers.  He's created a synthesizer that you could sell the rest of your gear for and not regret it.

Don't just take my word for it.  Listen below, in DSI's official video, and an additional demo.

"ANAHEIM, Calif.—January 24, 2013—Dave Smith Instruments today introduced a new polyphonic synthesizer, the Prophet 12, at the 2013 NAMM Show. “After 35 years of creating synths, this is simply my best synth yet,” said Smith. “We sort of started from scratch on this one rather than spinning off another product from our previous designs.”

At twelve voices, the Prophet 12 boasts the greatest polyphony of any instrument designed by Smith. Each voice features four oscillators capable of generating classic and complex waveforms, a sub-oscillator, resonant analog low- and high-pass filters, and analog VCAs. The new Character section adds a variety of wave shaping and sound sculpting options, like Drive, Hack, Decimation, Girth, and Air. Additional features include a tuned feedback path, a four-tap stereo delay per voice, expanded arpeggiator functionality, deep modulation capabilities, and bi-timbral operation. The LFOs, delay, and arpeggiator can all be synced, either to the internal clock or an external MIDI clock. Two programmable position- and pressure-sensitive touch sliders take the performance controls beyond the standard pitch and mod wheels (also included).

“We’re already blown away by the sonic breadth of this synthesizer’s new voice architecture,” Smith continued. “It doesn’t sound like anything else and I’m very excited for people to hear it.”

The Prophet 12 is expected to be available Q2 of 2013 with a projected MAP of $2,999."

Korg MS-20 Mini Information and Video blowout!

So many people have been waiting for this day, and for it to be official-- the Mini MS-20 is finally a reality, with an astounding price of $600.  By now you've probably read the full details on Korg's site, but there's still alot to be said about this instrument.  It's been such a long time coming-- the dreams of everyone who's bought the Monotron series.  The MMS-20 is the perfect addition to the family.

Sit back, and enjoy some of the videos of the new beast.

Why the Moog Sub Phatty is More Impressive Than You Think

NAMM officially starts up tomorrow so it's my last chance to write something like this for a little while, since we'll be inundated with debates of what to buy starting tomorrow, due to the shiny new offerings of Korg, Dave Smith Instruments, and Moog.

Moog's new synth was the first news to come out (unless you count the earliest Mini MS-20 rumors) a few weeks ago.  While initial speculation had some fans pretty excited, I think a portion have dropped out already-- some complaints of cost, keyboard size, and lack of new features have been floating around the message boards.

Sure, it's smaller than the Little Phatty, and it's not polyphonic, but this is the true evolution for Moog.  The video above demonstrates the fantastic small changes that really take this synth to the next level-- in my opinion, enough to sell your current Phatty.  I'll paraphrase some below.

I'll start with my favorite.  It's small, but it's this attention to detail that really has my excited.  Moog has found a way to have fantastic control over oscillator frequency, so a new trick in the Sub Phatty allows the user to control "beating" frequency, rather than oscillator frequency.  When two oscillators are played slightly detuned, they have a warm "beating" sound as the waves constructively and destructively interfere.  There's a sort of sweet spot around .1-2 Hz, but as you change octaves (an oscillator's frequency doubles when you increase an octave) this beating becomes faster, and less appealing, so jumping an octave or two spoils the sound a bit, and you leave the sweet spot.  With beating frequency, this is no longer an issue-- you can set the slow, warm oscillator interference to be the same regardless of note on the keyboard.  I've never heard of this idea before, but it's this attention to detail that Moog has that is really cool.

A feature recycled from the Minitaur is the VCO reset, which allows the waves of the oscillators to return to a starting point each time they're pressed.  Standard oscillators don't leave the point in the waveform so pressing the same note causes slight variations in the sound, and can really drag down performance.  VCO reset negates this pretty nicely, so a bass sound is always smooth.

The bold choice of dumping out the larger memory is one of my favorite parts of this synth.  I've always thought that the future would be pure patching through a computer (who likes dealing with scrolling through a ton of sounds, and stifling creativity in the process?), but Moog has found a happy medium between.  There's patching still available through the computer, but a very basic 4 bank 4 patch memory still exists, to help account for live performances, or the days where you jam on your synth and don't turn on your computer.  Still, it's nice to know that if I start a track in a DAW I can always count on my sound to be right where I left it, and put it right back into the Sub Phatty.

The part most worth hearing of the above video is the multidrive circuit, which apparently distorts post filter.  The oscillators can be distorted going into the filter, and the filter can be distorted, giving two distinct styles of warmth or growl-- the beauty is in the detail.  You can hear an incredible range of what can be done with the multidrive circuit, and it's pretty promising as a tool-- not something you'll never use.

And finally, the suboscillator and noise knob just sweeten the deal.  I'm really glad they put the noise right on the front panel, because it's so essential to percussion creation.  You can hear some really fantastic examples of kicks and snares on the web of this thing.

Also, there's always room to expand this thing-- the use of the "under the hood" button means that any of those unused buttons can be triggers for cool features in the future.

This thing is awesome.  I'm torn between what to buy next, but this is no slouch.  Don't dismiss it.

The Legend Returns: The Korg Mini MS-20

We've all been dying for the moment-- Korg steps up, and releases something full fledged and analog, after the efforts of the Monotron and Monotribe.  Finally, the day has come, and not just in the form of a Monotron XL, or Monotribe + keyboard.

A full on recreation of the original Korg MS-20, redesigned at 85% of its original size.

Although it was taken down, an official German Korg page listed the Mini MS-20 as a product, complete with full specs.  85% of the original size, all analog, parts chosen to reflect the original MS-20, USB and MIDI, and the design is supposedly made by the designers of the original.  It is also set to come with throw-back style packaging and patch diagrams, just like the original.

The best part?  Estimated price is somewhere between $600-800.  Listed at 600 euros, the current exchange rate puts this at $800 but we could see it fall a bit as the European prices are often higher than the US's.

I don't know what else to say, besides the fact that this thing is a surefire hit if it manages to stick in that price.  The MS-20 is beloved to this day, and most customers aren't willing to pony up $1500 for one.  Watch out for more details and sounds from NAMM this weekend!

Some notes via Matrixsynth, who copied and traslated what was on the German page:
"The MS-20 is reborn! 1978 original circuits come to life

Presented in 1978, the MS-20 monophonic synthesizer, thanks to its rich, robust sound, his powerful, iconic analog filters and flexible patching options to be popular today. The typical sounds of the original MS-20, the Korg MS-20 synthesizer plug-in the Legacy Collection and the iMS-20 app for the iPad, now attracting more than 300,000 users.

Now the sounds of the MS-20, MS-20 are in the mini wakes to new life. The same engineers who developed the 1978 MS-20, today's circuits reproduced faithfully and its physical size reduced to 86% of the original size, without changing the traditional and timeless look of the model or to waive details!

The MS-20 mini fascinated today with absolutely authentic analog synthesizer sounds of his ancestors.

Developer comments

The 50-year anniversary KORG we again engaged in an analogue synth and this effort to create flowing parameter settings that characterize analog synthesizer especially. The original specifications of the MS-20 should remain intact. The developed by us 35 years ago, analog circuits still deliver the same unbeatable, powerful sound, from the lowest bass to the extreme heights. To experience the depth of the MS-20 mini, you have to play it yourself!

Highlights

The MS-20 mini was realized by the engineers of the first MS-20 and used a complete reproduction of the original analog circuit
2VCO / 2VCA / 2VCF / 2EG / 1LFO structure
Self-oscillating high pass / low pass filter with a unique distortion
External signal processor (ESP)
Extremely flexible patching system
Reproduction of the MS20 at 86% of its physical size
Reproduces every detail of the original, down to the packaging, the manual in the original style, the template for the patch panels and patch cables
MIDI IN and USB port

"Keyboard - control voltage output (exponential) (0 - +8 V)
Keyboard - trigger output (+5 V -> GND)
VCO-2-1 + VCO control voltage input (linear response) (0 - +8 V)
VCO-2 control voltage input (linear response) (0 - +8 V)
Second VCO:
VCO-1 + VCO-2 external frequency control input (OCT / V) (-5 V - +5 V)
Third VCF:
External signal input (max 3 Vp-p.)
External control input for the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter (2oct / V) (-5 V - +5 V)
External control input for the cutoff frequency of the lowpass filter (2oct / V) (-5 V - +5 V)
4th VCO + VCF:
Total external modulation input (T.EXT) (-5 V - +5 V)
5th VCA:
External control input of the initial gain (0 - +5 V)
6th EC:
EC 1 envelope - Normal output (-5 V - 0 V)
EC 1 envelope - turned output (+5 V - 0 V)
EC EC 1 + 2 trigger input (-> GND)
EC 1 trigger input (-> GND)
EC 2 envelope - turned output (+5 V - 0 V)
7th MG:
Delta output (sawtooth positive - Triangle - Sawtooth inverted) (5 Vp-p)
Square-wave output (pulse width - rectangle - narrow pulse) (0 - +5 V)
8th Noise Generator:
Pink noise output (5 Vp-p)
White Noise output (5 Vp-p)
9th Sample and Hold:
Clock trigger input (-> GND)
Sample signal input (5 Vp-p max.)
S / H output (5 Vp-p max.)
10th Modulation VCA:
Control voltage input (0 - +5 V)
Signal input (-5 V - +5 V)
Signal output (-5 V - +5 V)
11th Game Help Manual:
Control Wheel-output (-5 V <-0 v=""> +5 V)
Non-locking switch output (-> GND)" 

Full Sub Phatty pricing, specs announced, plus video

 
Well, here it is.  Moog's latest and greatest, the Sub Phatty, in all its glory.  A 25 key pure knob affair, coming in at $1,100, meaning we'll see it at about $1000 as the street price.  It's incredibly similar to the Little Phatty in form, with the wedge shape being identical.  The main new ingredients are the improved oscillators, which take less time to warm up and are more stable, and the multidrive circuit, which should allow for better aggressive tones.

You can hear a myriad of demos on Moog's Soundcloud, or watch the video below for the full experience.  I'm really impressed by the Sub Phatty's drum sounds.  It seems like a full on improvement in sound quality from the Little Phatty, and that's no easy feat.

 

Specs from Moog:

·      Sound Engine: Analog

·      Number of Keys: 25

·      Type of Keys: Semi-Weighted

·      Other Controllers: Pitch Bend, Mod Wheel

·      Polyphony: Monophonic

·      Sound Sources: 2 Variable Waveshape Oscillators, 1 Square Wave Sub Oscillator, 1 Noise Generator

·      Oscillator Calibration Range: 22Hz-6.8KHz.Guaranteed note range at 8’ of Note 18 to 116

·      Mod Sources: Triangle, Square, Saw, Ramp, SH, Filter Envelope

·      Mod Destinations: Pitch, Osc 2 Pitch Only, Filter, Waveshape

·      Filter: Moog Ladder Filter 20Hz-20Khz

·      Audio Input: 1xTS

·      Audio Output: 1xTS, 1xTRS Headphone

·      Presets: 4 Banks, 4 Patches Per Bank

·      MIDI I/O: DIN In, Out, and MIDI over USB

·      CV/Gate Inputs: Filter CV, Pitch CV, Volume CV, KB Gate

·      Transposition: +/- 2 Octaves

·      LFO: 0.1Hz-100Hz

UNDER THE HOOD FEATURES:

·      Filter Velocity Sensitivity

·      Volume Velocity Sensitivity

·      Ext. Audio Level

·      Osc2 Beat Frequency

·      VCO Gate Reset

·      LFO Gate Reset

·      Pitch Bend Up Amount

·      Pitch Bend Down Amount

·      Glide Legato

·      Glide Type

·      Filter Poles

·      Wave Mod. Destination

·      LFO KB Tracking

·      LFO Range

·      Filter EG Reset

·      Amp EG Reset

·      Legato

·      Gate On/Ext.

·      MIDI Ch. In

·      MIDI Ch. Out

·      Local Control

·      14-Bit MIDI Output

·      MIDI Path In

·      MIDI Path Out

·      MIDI Merge DIN

·      MIDI Merge USB

New Moog is the Sub Phatty, according to NAMM Flyer (and First Front Panel Picture!)

Via Audiofanzine by way of Matrixsynth

So here it is.  The front panel of the new Moog, the Sub Phatty.  Looking at the image, we can see the new panel is a sort of mixture between the Voyager and Little Phatty, shedding the LED circled knobs and LED buttons, yet making up for them with a function-per-knob interface.  The obvious guess here is that this Moog dumps the Little Phatty's digital side, keeping only MIDI.  Without the digital brain, Moog should hopefully be able to reduce the price, hopefully bringing this down to the under $1000 level.  The new features mentioned before in the promo video are present-- noise, multidrive, and sub oscillator.  While the Sub Phatty doesn't seem to reinvent the wheel (and doesn't seem to feature any of Moog's mysterious new synthesis ideas,) the (hopefully) lower price point will bring in new customers.  The suboscillator and multidrive might swing back owners of the previous Phatties or Voyager as buyers as well.

Watch Herb Deutsch discover Moog's next analog synthesizer [Video]

Well, here it is.  The new Moog for NAMM.  Haven't even watched the video yet, just wanted to post it.  Awesome long video!