Artisan Electronic Iliad is built-to-order, customisable polysynth
At Knobcon 2022, using its Nucleus synth voice, Artisan Electronic Instruments is preparing a new expandable polysynth known as the Iliad. It is a customisable polyphonic synthesizer.
Iliad will be built to order, so only around 20 will be made per year. As such, anyone who buys one is guaranteed a certain amount of exclusivity.
You’ll also be able to spec how many voices you want your synth to have, ranging from four up to 16. The price will start at $3,400, with each additional voice costing you another $400.
Each voice offers two analogue oscillators and a digital oscillator with a choice of waveforms. Additionally, you can expect masses of modulation and effects, as well.
Roland has announced SPD-SX PRO Sampling Pad, the new flagship model in their long-running SPD series.
SPD-SX PRO offers customizable trigger LEDs, increased audio outputs and trigger inputs, massive onboard memory and more.
The SPD-SX PRO features nine pads with Roland’s latest sensing technology, including three shoulder pads with revised sensor structures for increased sensitivity when the instrument is mounted at a shallow angle.
In addition, improved crosstalk protection throughout prevents accidental triggering of other pads.
Pad-dividing trigger LEDs increase visibility on stage and help players organize kit setups. Custom colors can be assigned to any of the horizontal or vertical LEDs. Colors can be renamed and combined with tags to group kicks, snares, backing tracks, and other sounds for easy identification. The horizontal LEDs can also be set to light in various ways to suit the performance application.
The SPD-SX PRO’s interface includes a 4.3-inch color LCD and hands-on controls with backlighting for easy operation on stage. The LCD provides access to deep parameters and shows essential info such as A/B layers, WAV sample names, sample playback progress, and more.
With 32 GB of internal memory, the SPD-SX PRO holds nearly 44 hours of crystal-clear 48 kHz/16-bit stereo audio. Users can load 48/44.1 kHz WAV, AIFF, and MP3 files with varying bit rates, and the SPD-SX PRO will automatically convert them to its native audio format, simplifying the process of importing sounds.
Features:
Nine pads with Roland’s advanced trigger technology, including six large pads and three top-row shoulder pads
High-visibility, horizontal and vertical LEDs with multi-color customization
Increased shoulder pad sensitivity and improved crosstalk performance
3-inch color display for easy navigation and viewing during performance
Import 48/44.1 kHz (16-/24-/32-bit) WAV/AIFF files and MP3s (32–320 kbps) with automatic conversion to 48 kHz/16-bit upon loading
Stereo main output, four direct mono outputs, balanced for easy mixing on stage
Connectivity for up to eight external individual triggers/pads (four stereo triggers or eight mono triggers with Y-cables)
Dedicated SPD-SX PRO App for Windows/Mac for easy importing, managing samples, and deep kit editing
32 GB of internal storage for samples, backing tracks, and click tracks
Input for hi-hat or footswitch expression control
Connect hi-hats, kick, and snare for a ‘mini drum kit’ setup
Up to 200 kit patches (43 erasable preset kits and 157 user kits)
Over 1550 pre-loaded, high-quality samples and sounds
16-step pad sequencer function
Onboard effects engine with up to four effects in parallel, plus side chain with output routing
Built-in click/metronome
Create in real time by recording performances as WAV files and assigning them to pads
The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation has introduced a new poster, celebrating 50 years of the ARP Odyssey synthesizer.
The poster is designed for the Foundation by Oli Freke, author of Synth Evolution. The poster features Freke’s illustration of the Odyssey, along with milestones in the synth’s history.
Oli Freke is a London-based musician, artist and author who has had a life-long passion for analog synthesizers and electronic music. He has spent twenty years in the music industry, variously supporting the Human League on tour with his electro band Cassette Electrik, writing music for television and seeing success with dance tracks, which placed in the UK club charts.
In the last few years, he’s published Synthesizer Evolution, an illustrated book that celebrates the impact of synths on music and culture, and created the Synth Evolution posters, that show the evolution of synths through hundreds of illustrations.
The ARP Odyssey prints are poster sized 18 x 24, and printed using the Giclee process on archival matte paper, suitable for framing.
The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the legacy of inventor, musician, entrepreneur and engineer Alan R. Pearlman.
