1010music is introducing bluebox Eurorack edition at Knobcon 2023 – a new Eurorack mixer with effects and multichannel recording/playback, based on their bluebox desktop mixer.
The Eurorack version adds new features, like USB-C ports for connecting external MIDI controllers and sending 2 channels of audio to your computer.
Bluebox delivers high-quality mixing, effects and integrated recording and playback in a 30hp Eurorack module. It features a touchscreen and knobs to let you quickly control volume, gain, 4 band parametric EQ, pan, effects, mute/solo and record/play functions for each track.
You can map the 3.5 mm TS inputs to 12 mono tracks or 6 stereo tracks, all with independent control for recording and playback. You can route each track independently to outputs and effects sends. Record independent tracks or the Main mix to a standard microSD card or send/receive audio to your computer via USB-C.
Features:
Mix 12 mono/6 stereo tracks of live or prerecorded sound.
Independently route each track to any combination of outputs:
4 mono / 2 stereo outputs
Stereo headphone output
6 CV inputs for modulation and control
1 analog clock output
TRS MIDI input and output
USB-C for external MIDI controllers and MIDI sync/clock
USB-C for 2 channel audio
microSD to record/play hours of multi-track/stereo music as 48k, 24 bit WAVs and for firmware updates
Ability to playback pre-recorded tracks while recording new ones
Master control of the same mixer parameter across multiple tracks for faster mixes
Touchscreen gestures and knobs to quickly and easily tweak parameters
Four band EQ per track with Cut/Shelf/Parametric settings for each band
Reverb and Delay effects with independent sends for each track
Global compressor to maximize loudness and ‘glue’ your mix together
Save and recall Project settings, including all parameters for tracks, outputs, EQ and effects
Conductive Labs co-founder Darryl McGee let us know that – after a 2 year absence, due to the chip shortage – the NDLR is back and “better than ever” – and making its official debut at Knobcon 2023, being held September 8-10, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago.
The NDLR (‘noodler’) is an ‘ultra-arpegiator’, designed for people that want to play or perform with a lot of synths. The NDLR fits between your sequencer or keyboard and your synths and sound modules. It translates what you play into up to four parts – a drone note, bass line, pad notes, and a motif sequence – and can control up to eight synths at once.
Here’s McGee introducing the NDLR five years ago at Knobcon 2017:
The NDLR v2 features a soft power button, is now powder coated with a beautiful red base, and has been redesigned internally for a more readily available (and faster) microcontroller.
Otherwise, the new model has the same feature set as the original, which had gained many additional features since its introduction, plus a couple of new features to coincide with this launch.
Here’s Loopop‘s in-depth demo of the original NDLR:
The NDLR v2 is available to pre-order for $379. It will also be available at retailers later this month.
Knobcon organizers have announced that their guest of honor for Knobcon 11, being held September 8-10, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago, will be pioneering modular performer Doug McKechnie.
McKechnie helped pioneer live modular synth performance, starting in 1968, playing live with one of the first Moog modular systems. Between 1968 and 1972, McKechnie gigged with the Moog modular synthesizer, doing solo performances in the Bay Area. He made history as the first person to play a Moog synthesizer at a rock festival, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival.
While some of his performances were recorded, they were never officially available until 2020, with the release of San Francisco Moog: 1968-72:
Listening to them now, the performances sound like precursors to the some of the music that came out of Germany in the mid 1970s. And they make you wonder how electronic music history might have been very different if there had been more of an audience for it at the time in the US.
At Knobcon, McKechnie will be featured in an interview and AMA, moderated by Suit & Tie Guy. He will also be the Guest of Honor at Knobcon’s ‘Golden Knob’ Banquet. The Banquet is an optional add-on for attendees, and features a catered buffet with vegetarian options, a raffle, a presentation and live music. View the event website for details.
