Munich-based electronic music and new-media-artist Perplex On shared this video, featuring the sounds of Granular for the Playdate gaming system.
Granular is an experimental ‘grain sampler’ for Playdate that plays subsamples from a recorded parent sample, it’s inspired by the old Reaktor ‘Travelizer’ instrument. Granular includes various modifiable parameters and effects to change the sound, which can produce “a beautiful glitchy ambience” that can be used on its own or as a background for other instruments.
The Playdate is a new portable video game console, developed by Panic &Teenage Engineering.
While designed primarily for gaming, the system has a free software development kit, and developers can create other types of applications for the system. The device offers a built-in speaker + microphone, stereo headphone out + TRRS mic input.
Synthesist Hainbach, in his latest video, demonstrates the Chilton Talentmaker – a rare optical sample playback keyboard from 1973.
Talentmaker plays back audio loops that were encoded optically onto film disks. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the Talentmaker was a copy of the Mattel Optigan, which was releasd in 1971.
The technology of these instruments was extremely lofi, even in its day, and paired with terrible build quality, which made the instruments immediate failures. Rediscovered a generation later, though, the sound of these instruments can be appreciated for their lovely awfulness.
What Hainbach say about it:
“The Chilton Talentmaker is one of the first samplers, or rather loop players. Like the slightly more famous Mellotron, it allows playback of recorded instruments, but it can play them back as loops. This allows for all kind of endless playback of music, from “German Band” and “Polka Band” to “Waltz Guitar”, made famous through Michel Gondry’s “Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless mind” soundtrack.
The Chilton and its close relatives, the Optigan and Orchestron, were used by Kraftwerk, David Lynch, Tom Waits, The Clash and many more.”
Have you ever played the Talentmaker or the Optigan? Let us know what you think of them in the comments!
IK Multimedia today introduced the UNO Synth PRO X, a new paraphonic, dual-filter analog synthesizer that they say “takes the UNO line to new dimensions of sound design, control and portability.”
The UNO range of IK instruments has been around since 2018 and includes three synths and a drum module.
The UNO Synth PRO X takes the UNO ‘Pro’ concept to a new level. The new analog synth has more control, portability and sequencing options, but lacks a full-sized keyboard, replacing it with 13 buttons to audition sounds. The portable synth features a dual-filter, 3-oscillator paraphonic design, 256 presets, a 64-step sequencer and more.
Other key features include true-analog overdrive and 10 studio-quality effects (including a new shimmer reverb and uni-vibe-like modulations) in three simultaneous slots: modulation, delay and reverb. External signals can be also routed through the filters and the effects, in addition to UNO’s original thru-put for daisy-chaining multiple units together without using a mixer.
Sequencing and Performance Options:
The UNO Synth PRO X offers a 64-step paraphonic sequencer, with parameter automation, including CV and Gate. It has step and real-time recording, with a sequence randomizer (following the scale selected). Additionally, UNO Synth PRO X features a 10- mode arpeggiator with pattern designer.
In addition to legato, mono and paraphonic modes, users will find a new Bassline mode which modifies the behavior and interaction between core parts of the synth like the filter and envelopes.
The UNO Synth PRO X features over 30 hands-on controls plus a 16-slot modulation matrix.
UNO Synth PRO X stores 256 user-editable presets. Presets can be further managed with the included Editor/Librarian. The Editor works as both a standalone application and as a plug-in inside a DAW allowing users to program and play the UNO Synth PRO X just like a virtual instrument.
Connectivity includes USB-C and 5-pin DIN MIDI In and Out, making it easy to integrate with other synths and Mac/PC, while assignable CV/Gate connections let UNO Synth PRO X interact with Eurorack or other modular systems.
Watch a roundup of early Youtube demos and reviews:
We’d say that sounds like an awful lot of synth packed into a small box.
