Archive for September, 2024

Aodyo Says Production Of Loom & Omega Synths In Limbo, Bankruptcy Coming If They Can’t Raise Additional Funds


Aodyo has shared an update on their Kickstarter crowdfunding project to fund production of the Anyma Omega polyphonic physical modelling synthesizer to say that the project is at risk of failing, because costs have been much higher than they anticipated, and further more, the company is at risk of bankruptcy.

228 backers pledged €218,498 to help fund production of the new synth.

Their update summarizes the company’s current status:

Current Situation

Over the past months, we’ve encountered significant difficulties with both the Loom and Omega projects, which have severely impacted our financial situation.

Loom: The production costs and delays we encountered have turned out to be much higher than we initially anticipated. Due to extended lead times for the electronic components from our manufacturer, we have been unable to launch production.

Omega: The system’s complexity has far exceeded what we originally planned. The powerful nature of this synthesizer required multithreading due to the characteristics of the processors available on the market. We also faced setbacks from architectural changes necessitated by component shortages. These combined factors have led to much longer delays than expected.

We had hoped to raise additional funds by leveraging the campaign’s momentum, but unfortunately, this effort has not been successful. As a result, we are now in a difficult financial position and have been unable to secure the working capital necessary to move forward.

What’s Next

Our sales of remaining stock should allow us to continue our operations. During this time, we will continue doing everything we can to secure an investor and unblock the situation. If we can manage to start the first batch of Loom, this would allow us to deliver to stores right after fulfilling your pledges, stabilizing our situation and enabling us to finish the Omega development.

However, if we do not succeed in securing new investments or partnerships in the coming weeks, we will be left with no other choice but to file for bankruptcy.”

Risk is always a factor with projects to fund production of new musical gear. We tries to always note this as part of our coverage of crowdfunding projects, including this project. Complete failures on music gear projects have been fairly rare, but as this one proves, it’s a real risk. Backers of this project should see the project site for Aodyo’s full update.

Behringer introduces K2 MKII with Expanded Synthesis Options


Behringer has introduced the K2 mkII, and updated version of their Korg MS-20 knockoff in Eurorack module format.

While their other mkII instruments have primarily focused on fixing sonic differences between Behringer’s copy and the original, they say the K2 mkII sounds the same as the mkI version but adds some useful new synthesis options.

New in the Behringer K2 mkII:

  • V/Oct CV/Gate control – the original MS-20 was one of the few synths that use HZ/Octave control, since the original was released before V/Octave became the industry standard. Adding V/Octave support means that you can control the K2 mkII directly with standard Eurorack gear.
  • Reverse Trigger input
  • Pulse Width Modulation
  • Oscillator Sync
  • FM to Oscillator 2

In addition, Behringer has updated the styling of the K2 mkII, with a white on black color scheme, instead of the mkI’s gold on black.

Features:

  • Dual VCO design
  • MK II Version featuring OSC Sync, FM and PWM plus V/Oct. for all CV/Gate in/outs
  • Reproduction of original circuitry with matched transistors and JFETs
  • Analog signal path based on VCO, VCF, and VCA designs
  • Semi-modular architecture with default routings requires no patching for immediate performance
  • First and second-generation filter design (high pass/low pass with peak/resonance)
  • 4 variable oscillator shapes with variable pulse widths and ring modulation for ultimate sounds
  • Dedicated and fully analog triangle/square wave LFO
  • 2 analog Envelope Generators for modulation of VCF and VCA
  • 16-voice Poly Chain allows combining multiple synthesizers for up to 16 voice polyphony
  • Eurorack compatible – module can be transferred to a standard Eurorack case
  • 36 controls give you direct access to all important parameters
  • External audio input for processing external sound sources
  • USB/ MIDI implementation with MIDI channel and Voice Priority selection

The Behringer K2 mkII is now shipping from their factory, so it should start showing up at retailers in the next couple of months, with a price of $219.

Synth & Pedal Expo Returns To Brooklyn, October 5 – 6


The Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo, returns to Brooklyn, NY, on the weekend of October 5-6 at Greenpoint’s warehouse venue 100 Sutton, once again in partnership with New Jersey synth store Three Wave Music.

Hosted in a 6k sq ft warehouse in the heart of the Greenpoint neighborhood, between Williamsburg and Queens, the Synth and Pedal Expo is a hands-on, interactive event, and is free to attend.

The schedule of the presentations also includes two Eurorack classes hosted by Ben Atchouel of the New York Modular Society and two workshops about online performances curated by the team at GSG.live.

The Expo features vendors from a wide variety of companies, over 80, with an assortment of well-known synth and pedal brands and smaller boutique builders, including several Eurorack companies. Full list below.

Event Sponsors

D’Addario

Decksaver

Headliner

PRS Guitars

Voodoo Lab

Synth Exhibitors

1010 Music

After Later Audio

AI Synthesis

Artiphon

Arturia

ASM

Beetlecrab.Audio

BPMC Glitch Video Devices

Buchla

Copper & Cedar

Decksaver

Dreadbox

Elektron

Entropy & Sons

Expressive E

Groove Synthesis

IK Multimedia

Landscape

Leaf Audio

Melbourne Instruments

Mixware

Novation

Null Modular

Oberheim

Olydian Musical Instrument

Robots are Red

Roland

Sequential

SetonixSynth

Spaceage

This is Noise

Tidbit Audio

Vector Synths

Zlob Modular

plus, a selection of Eurorack modules by Three Wave Music

Pedal Exhibitors

Acorn Amps

Aviate

Black Ice Battery-Free Boost & Distort

BOSS

Caline Music

Catalinbread

Chase Bliss Audio

Cosmodio Instruments

Cusack Music

Days of Yore

Death by Audio

Dunlop

Electro-Harmonix

Fairfield Circuitry

Flamma

Gear Ant

Hotone

IK Multimedia

Keeley

KMA Machines

KODEX Audio

Line 6

Maxon

Mendaudio

Meris

Mooer

MXR

Nobels

Pigtronix

PRS Guitars

RAT

Red Panda

Rock Ready

Sonicake

Spooky Circuits

Summer School

Strymon

Tone City

Tubesteader

Voltic Electronic Devices

Voodoo Lab

Whimsy Machines

Walrus Audio

Way Huge

For more information about the Brooklyn Synth and Pedal Expo, visit the Brooklyn Synth Expo website. The event is free to attend.