8 Sep, 2021
The RK008 beginings: Showing the basic of the RK008: real-time, multitrack and complete midi recording.
Ahead of Superbooth 2021, Dutch MIDI tool developer Retrokits shared this sneak preview of their new RK008, a compact MIDI sequencer that looks like an old-school calculator, but provides a compact solution for recording and sequencing MIDI.
Details are to come. Check out the video and share your thoughts on the RK008 in the comments!
8 Sep, 2021
Knobcon Number Nine kicks off this Friday, September 10 at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, with two full days of synthesizer and pro-audio exhibits, informative lectures and workshops and live music throughout the weekend.
There will be special precautions this year, to align with state guidelines and to make the event as safe as possible for attendees. Changes include mandatory masks, larger rooms to allow for social distancing and eliminating the Saturday synth banquet.
Knobcon 2021 will offer three days of events and a chance to connect with synthesist from around the country and around the world.
Organizer Suit & Tie Guy of STG Soundlabs let us know some of the highlights planned for this year’s event:
Two Days of Informative Workshops
- The Littoral Myth: Dismantling a Coastal Metaphor with Marc Doty.
- Sampling, Re-Sampling, and Generative Sequences with Circuit Rhythm & Tracks with Novation Technology Evangelist, Enrique Martinez.
- Presenting Electronic Sound Naturally with synthpop polymath, Jon Sonnenberg.
- Additive Synthesis with Synergy presented by long-time Synergist, Fred Becker.
- Simplifying Complexity: Live Rig Breakdown, a show and tell by Suit & Tie Guy.
- Learn the basics of Synth DIY and soldering with build workshops where you can build an EasyEi8ht Step Sequencer with Modular for the Masses, or a 2hp MiniAtt 2hp Utility module with Zlob Modular.
- New this year is the Lecture Luncheon, an informal get together on Sunday afternoon where attendees can further interrogate any of our presenters about their ideas.
Door Prize Giveaway
- On Sunday, attendees can enter the drawing for a chance to win one of over twenty door prizes including Nu:Tekt NTS-1 synthesizers from Korg USA, an Uno Drum from IK Multimedia and a gift box full of patch cables and accessories from Hosa Technology.
Live Music Friday and Saturday
- Welcome Reception (Friday Night) – Kri Samadhi, Moot Booxlé vs Cory Flanigan, Suit & Tie Guy vs Alexis Rogers, Also Special Guests
- Knobcon Big Room (Saturday Night) – Trovarsi vs Nasty Nachos, Scott Danesi, Glacial 23, North Coast Modular Collective Relay Performance
- Knobcon Chill-Out Room (Saturday Night) – Dysonant, Valcove, Meridian Alpha, Aaron Higgins, Witchbutter, R. Mann
Knobcon Number Nine is September 10th through to 12th, 2021, at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg in Chicagoland. Tickets are $60 and are available for purchase at the event site.
7 Sep, 2021
Doug Slocum, founder and Synthetic Sound Labs designer let us know that they have released a new 2 MU width 1651 Mini Sequencer II module – an updated version of their 1650 Sequencer.
The module is a Moog format sequencer that is designed to offer a more compact alternative to traditional knob-per-note analog sequencers. It trades the immediacy of traditional step sequencer for the power of digital sequencing, letting you save and recall sequences and songs and offering features like built-in quantizing and ratcheting that would require multiple modules with traditional analog sequencers.
Here’s what’s new in the 1651 Mini Sequencer II:
- 7 sequence memories
- 5 song memories (string sequences together)
- SLUR- change pitch between steps without firing gate
- Variable gate timing (including ratcheting)
- ACC can be set to drop or not drop between steps, or follow gate timing for that step
- Auto-advance step when programming
- Live transpose (use the keyboard to shift entire sequence up or down while running)
- Live edit (buttons you push while running get saved to the sequence)
- 1X mode (disable to use XP IN as a reset without requiring an external gate mixer)
- Clock out (use ACC out jack to output clock if using internal clock)
The 1651 provides standard CV and gate outputs, plus an ACC gate output out (Accent? Accessory?) The ACC output can be used to open up a filter, enable a glide, trigger a drum, and more.
It provides an internal clock, but you can also connect an external clock for greater control of tempo or syncing with other devices.
The module can store up to 5 songs of 16 sequences each, and 7 sequences of up to 16 steps each.
Features:
- CV OUT covers 5 octaves
- Sequences can be set to any length up to 16 steps by using LOOP feature
- Setting a step to REST holds previous pitch and doesn’t fire PULSE out
- Setting a step to SLUR changes to the new CV and doesn’t fire the PULSE out
- In Standby mode, sequencer can be used as a tiny keyboard without altering programmed sequences
- 7 sequence memories with up to 16 steps per sequence.
- 5 song memories string up to 16 sequences together
- Live transpose
The 1651 Mini Sequencer II is available now via the Synthetic Sound Labs website and its partners for $325.
