NAMM 2014 thread of broken dreams

[StepLogik]

There is some talk on gearslutz with the usual speculative justification that roland will finally do something this year after being the ugly chick at the prom last year.

My opinion: At best, they have a new ROMpler groovebox, full of bugs and to be abandoned shortly after release. Press release: "We swear that our new Integra ultra-VA transistor modeler really sounds like a 303! Really! We finally nailed it!" While everyone yawns.

I wouldn't get too hyped, pretty much everyone shot their wads last year and it was a BIG year for analog nerds. We got more than we could have dreamed of.

I think the best shot at something with a big "wow factor" would be a poly from Moog or Korg.

[synthroom]

I'd like to see the Fairlight App for Android or Windows.

[Stab Frenzy]

2 Osc 3 octave patchable Big Brute would be cool, but I reckon it's more likely at Messe or just to get announced in between trade shows. It seems like nobody waits until the trade shows any more to announce stuff.

[volumetrik]

Not sure if this has been mentioned on VSE, but there has been speculative Roland analog talk indeed

So far this is what we know:

A Guy Called Gerald after visiting and long discussion at Roland Japan said "big things"
Hardfloor were visited by Roland from Tokyo in Germany with their prototypes for the "dance production"
Roland visited Moog and hinted at something big
A Roland rep told a music store that the vintage synth crowd would be happy with their next product, didn't say if it was analog or digital

And this post I found on KVR take with a grain of salt

Pure specualtions without any real hard evidences of the afformentioned companies profits charts. Now, an ex collegue of mine, who was repairing equipments for ages, was called a few weeks ago to japan to work on a roland project... They used the word ''modules'' when they spoke to him. I am holding my breath... They are keen to jump on the current trend/revival, this is something they clearly said. But anything they made post mid-eighties has been nothing but dissapointments to me. Even the jp8000. Fair play to them for delivering the VA concept (which i hate in hardware form, by the way... Especially from them...), or the "groovebox" concept, but they still can't develop descent digital filters or OSCs as far as i am concerned. My SH09 is still the house of the fattest OSC i have ever heard, tho... I sold so many classics when i got it years ago (moogs included).... Come on Roland... Your schematics are all over the net... Bring that sound back!

[Bitexion]

Actually I predict Korg will announce a Femto range of synths, patched with human hair inserted into microscopic holes. They'll come with tweezers and a magnifier, and a cocktail stick to play the keys. They'll be 20 pence each, and you can fit an entire system in your hat.

Or a 1-octave piano. For cats.

Imagine the potential for viral YouTube videos!!!

[TheKeytarist]

So if last year was the year of analog, maybe this year (or next year) will be the year of modular.
Not to say there isn't already a big following. but it's always seemed kind of the "cool kid's" territory. Not quite mainstream.
just a thought.

[Kenneth]

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Korg and Arturia do next. Both companies have been consistently blowing my mind in the past few years, and I am looking forward to giving them MORE of my hard-earned dough. Seems like Moog has been losing steam with the Minifoogers, and the SubPhatty doesn't quite hold its own against the cheaper, more versatile analog offerings from Korg, Arturia, and Novation. Not holding my breath on them this year.

This is a great thread, btw. Cool hearing everyone's thoughts.

[commodorejohn]

A Guy Called Gerald after visiting and long discussion at Roland Japan said "big things"
Hardfloor were visited by Roland from Tokyo in Germany with their prototypes for the "dance production"
Roland visited Moog and hinted at something big
A Roland rep told a music store that the vintage synth crowd would be happy with their next product, didn't say if it was analog or digital

I would really love it if Roland got back into the analogue game, but that "dance production" nonsense makes me uneasy...damn it, Roland, stop f**k around with "groovebox" c**p and give us a real, playable instrument! (You too, Yamaha!) This attempt to sell prefab style-in-a-box makes me nauseous...

[Cybercardinal]

A poly Moog and a Waldorf PPG Wave thingie with analog filter

[Black Tomorrow]

So if last year was the year of analog, maybe this year (or next year) will be the year of modular.

Following this logic, will 2015 or 16 be the year of the tube synth?

*crossing my fingers for a Novachord reissue

[adamstan]

There already was Novachord remake in '70s. It was called Polymoog

[Bitexion]

Hasn't every year been "year of the modular" recently? There's tons of new and interesting eurorack stuff out there already.

[garranimal]

*crossing my fingers for a Novachord reissue

Now that is a fantastic idea. Hammond could totally make this. Transistors could be used instead of tubes keeping everything discrete, but would it sound anywhere near as good? Especially with modern SMT manufacturing it could be quite small and lightweight even compared to today's hardware.

[sentientprogram]

I just want a 64+ step cv/midi sequencer that I can program rests/holds and accents with, using the keyboard on whatever synthesizer I'm working with, as a module. If the microbrute could program holds and accents it would be perfection...an extra oscillator and env might be nice too.

[sourwookie]

*I think Roland would be wise to upgrade the Gaia. Ditch the sampled waveforms for real (albeit digital) oscillators, allow (the already existing) GM implementation through its own keyboard, heck, even a step sequencer.

*Korg should create a Vola based keyboard synth with the Beats module built in.