Erik    Norlander    talks about    IK   Multimedia's                      (   new )  UNO    Synth...

In the following interview, veteran keyman Erik Norlander talks about his involvement with the design of IK Multimedia's ( new ) UNO symth ( -and tangentally about "his baby", the "Syntronik" soft-synth suite ). Read through to the end for "things to come"    ( -or at least my suggestions  for some cool products I'd love to  see Erik and IK tackle in the future ). Would you like to see these products made as well?  Weigh-in and let us know!    

( -RIGHT  )  ERIK  ON  THE  TRADE  SHOW  CIRCUIT. 

 

Explaining IK's ( new ) UNO Synth to the music media. To Erik's right is Enrico Dell'Aversana, IK Multimedia product manager. Soundmachines  is the Italian boutique design firm that collaborated with IK on the UNO.  

( -RIGHT:  ERIK  NORLANDER  AT  THE  ALESIS  ANDROMEDA  )   

Session player ( -on Arjen Anthony Lucassen's "Universal Migrator, Parts

1  & 2" ), "Rocket Scientists" band member and solo artist in his own right,  Erik's fascination with old-school analog instruments has resulted  in two decades of analog-oriented albums. If you haven't already, check out our review of his "Galactic Collective Definitive Edition" CD/ DVD and his latest album "Surreal".  Tapping into Erik's extensive knowledge of vintage synths and design expertise ( -hone on such synths as Alesis' "Andromeda" ), has given IK a distinct "edge-up" in the R&D department!     BEWARE:  THE "WALL OF DOOM"! 

 

*NOTE:  The paragraph ( above ) is but a "quick snapshot" of Erik's career. For a more extensive "bio" and

discography visit Erik's Website.

Okay, I'm just going to say it:  IK Multimedia's new UNO synth has the BEST feature-set of any ( $300.00 or under ) synth currently on the market! Check out all of these cool features and "sonic goodies":

* An ALL ANALOG  signal path ( -with two continuously variable wave shape VCO's  -including PWM of the square wave, a Noise Generator, a Two-Pole Multimode VCF            ( -with LP, HP and BP responses ),                                                   ( -ABOVE)  IK's UNO SYNTHESIZER 

 

* An LFO with all the usual waveforms PLUS "Sample & Hold" and "Random" ( -routable to pitch, filter, amp ), 

 

* Attack and Decay Envelopes for the Filter. Attack and Release Envelopes for the VCA ( -accessible from the front panel with the other stages accessible via MIDI CC or the unit's software editor ), 

 

* A ten-mode/ four octave Arpeggiator, 

 

* A sixteen-step ( -20 parameter automatable ) realtime/ step edit Sequencer, * Five Performance Buttons 

( -similar to those on Novation's Mininova ), * A ( 27-note) touch-sensing Chromatic/ Scale Keyboard ( -with thirteen scales ). Whew, are we done yet? Nope, not yet!

 

* A Sync Delay effect, * Self-tuning with "Auto-Tune" calibration ( -no "drifty" Oscs -yeah! ), * USB MIDI and 

2.5 mm MIDI In/ Out ( -proprietary cables included ), * A nifty Audio In "Daisy Chain" connection ( -a thought-ful accommodation for the mixer-less ), * A Mac/ PC software Editor/ Librarian ( -which I'll never touch! ),  

* Full MIDI Implementation of all Parameters, * Clock controllable via MIDI CC., 

 

And lastly, two features that make me very happy:  * Economical ( 4 x AA Battery ) or USB Powering -freeing    you from the tyranny of AC outlets! The unit's compact, lightweight Italian design ( -courtesy Soundmachines ) virtually screams: "Play me in a secluded mountain meadow next to a babbling brook". Nice stuff !  -Tomm.

(  -LEFT  )  CLOSE-UP  OF  THE  UNO's  CONTROL  PANEL. 

 

( 40 ) onboard controls, an LED display, a four-knob by four      row matrix of control parameters, extra knobs for filter cut-off,  tempo and volume, 5 performance buttons, up & down buttons for choosing from ( 100 ) presets, arpeggiator and sequencer buttons and various buttons for glide, octave, delay, global and  alt functions -along with a 27-note chromatic/ scale keyboard.           -CHOOSING  AN  UNO  PRESET               That basically sums up the UNO's front control panel. 

Beaming like a new papa showing-off the latest addition to his "family". Erik and IK Multimedia are justifiably proud of the "new kid".  And a cute little tyke he is too!  But watch out for this toddler's analog "snarl". He may be teething but the little bugger has some real old-school "bite"! 

 

Combining lightweight ( 4 x AA battery ) mobility, an all-analog signal path and a stellar set of features ( -and doing all of this for an insanely low price tag of just $199.99 ), Erik and IK have really pulled-out all the stops in creating this nifty little "Everyman's Synth".  And at this price why not buy TWO?                                                                                                                                                 ( -ABOVE )  THE  "NEW  KID" 

                                                                                      With a pair of headphones and four AA batteries, you can    play the UNO Synth anywhere!  On a park bench. In a grassy meadow.  On a train or buss. You name it!  No longer do you have to be tethered to an AC outlet to CREATE  your music! 

 How cool is that?  The UNO can also be USB powered.   

 

( -ABOVE  ) UNO  PARK  BENCH  "CONCERTO"

( -RIGHT  ) THE UNO'S  REAR-PANEL  CONNECTIONS

The diagram to the right shows the UNO Synth's extensive rear-panel connections. In addition to headphone and line out jacks, IOS/ PC and Mac

MIDI In, USB power in and 2.5 mm MIDI In and

Out ports, a thoughtful audio in "daisy chain" jack

is also provided. Nice!                                                   ( -TOP  RIGHT  ) THE  UNO  IS "WELL  CONNECTED" 

( -LEFT  ) GETTING  "HANDS  ON"  WITH  THE  UNO        The UNO's programming matrix and clever front panel design make getting around the unit a breeze. The sheer number of features is amazing. Especially, considering it's  tiny $199.99 price tag!  Products like the UNO, Syntronik and Modo Bass make I.K. Multimedia a company worth

keeping an eye on!                                                                  "UNO"  IS  TOO  COOL  FOR  SCHOOL 

STAY  TUNED!  

 

For my upcoming "Hands On Review" of IK Multimedia's UNO Synth. You'll find it right here on this webpage. The folks at Sweetwater tells us it should be delivered

sometime in mid-July. Can't wait!                                                                                                                                                                                                           ( -ABOVE  )  GETTING  "HANDS  ON"  WITH  THE  UNO

At the UNO's suggested retail price of $199.99 it's almost a "no-brainer" to buy TWO!  For what a lot of "starter" synths will cost you, you can purchase TWO UNO's. 

 

Imagine the sonic potential... 

Not only will you double the oscillators ( -FOUR instead of the two you generally get with the standard $399.99 "starter" synth ), you'll also get double the Filters, LFO's, Envelopes, not to mention the extra arpeggiator, sequencer and OTHER "sonic goodies" ( -like S&H, delay, etc. ). 

 

And since BOTH units have identical features, controls and layout -you won't have to learn a new synth. Double the              -"DOUBLING"  UNO'S  SONIC  POTENTIAL!  sonic firepower minus  the new synth  "learning curve"!

 

 

C'mon admit it. You're a "Synth Freak"! You wouldn't be reading this article if your weren't.

So, why hide your passion?

 

Let the world know you're a proud "Synth Freak"!    Required garb and a great "conversation starter"    at concerts and "Synth Cons". 

 

Get your's today! *( -See below ).

 

 

 

 

Available in a variety of T-Shirt styles, sizes and colors. Order your's today from: 

 

www.redbubble.com/people/tommdesigns/shop/

 

 

"Syntronik Deluxe"  presents THE BEST CASE YET  for turning a computer softsynth into a "Hybrid Hardware" Synth. "Syntronik Deluxe's" suite of twenty two authentic sounding analog emulations virtually screams "tweak me"! And what better way to do that than by giving musicians a control panel with the  "live-performance" knobs and buttons they need to unleash "Syntronik's" potential! 

A laboratory full of vintage analog synths and key- boards. That sums up "Syntronk Deluxe"! One or more "Plugiator" style instrument ( s ) affording keyboardists the immediate tactile feedback of      old-school "instruments" ( -with front-panel access to their various synth and keyboard parameters ). Wouldn't that be a "dream come true" for any synth freak?  Weigh-in. Give us your "feedback"!                ( -see below ).                                                                    A  SYNTRONIK  HARDWARE "INSTRUMENT"?    

DSP Audio Processor hardware instruments are nothing new. Arturia took their well-known "V" Series of soft-synths and tranformed them ( -via the magic of Analog Device's "Tiger Sharc" chips ) into a knobby hardware module they called the "Origin". It allowed users to create and play new hybrid "instruments" ( -by mixing and matching oscillators, filters and other synth components from the "V" Series ) into new "hybrid" synth creations. Problem was, the "Origin" didn't come cheap. Few could afford it!  Check out our interview             ( -ABOVE )  ARTURIA'S  "ORIGIN"                  with Arturia's co-founder Frederic Brun  for more details. 

 

Around 2005/ 2006 Creamware/ Sonic Core

( -known for their Scope and Minimax software ), came out with their "Authentic Sound Box" ( ASB ) line of hardware instruments. This, in the midst of the company's break-up and division of intellectual property rights. The ASB's presented gorgeous hardware instrument replicas mimicking the control panels of their software emulations of the Mini-moog, Odyssey, Sequential Pro and even Hammond B3. As nice as they were, it was inDSP/ Use Audio,    ( - co-inheritor of Creamware's intellectual property rights ) that really did something special.                                                                                                              ( -ABOVE  )  THE "MINIMAX" ( ASB ) 

They introduced the "Plugiator". This compact, desktop hardware module allowed users access to ALL of the ASB softsynth emulations ( -along with a few new ones ) and did it all form ONE BOX!  A brilliant concept! I owned two of these units myself. "Plugiator" came with three of the instruments factory installed and one free for download. The rest of these "plug-ins" were available for a nominal        ( -ABOVE  )  USE  AUDIO'S "PLUGIATOR"             charge ( -downloadable from the Use Audio website ). The unit's front panel presented you with a matrix style grid of knobs ( -across the top ) with eight lines            ( -each dedicated to a particular "plug-in" synth ). It afforded some basic parameter programming tweaks from the front panel ( -with deeper programming via computer ). While brilliant in concept, the "Plugiator's"Acihlles Heal  was it's over-dependence upon the computer ( -both to download/ install it's "plug-ins": a confusing, arduous process that involved voucher and activation codes ) and it's equally nightmarish "Plug-In Manager" interface that required Adobe Flash V 9 to run! 

 

LESSONS  LEARNED:  Needless to say, IK Multimedia should pay close attention to the lessons learned from these earlier "Hybrid Hardware" Instruments and avoid their pitfalls ( -especially that of depending too much upon external computers and online downloads! ). A fully-stocked, self-contained instrument that can be played like an old-school vintage "instrument" right-out-of-the-box ( -INDEPENDENT OF and APART FROM EXTERNAL COMPUTERS and WEBSITE DOWNLOADS!  ) should be amongst it's top design priorities! 

( -RIGHT )  MOCK-UP  OF  EMS'  "PUTNEY"   VCS3  SYNTHESIZER

 

The British EMS Company's VCS3 Synth has been heard on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" ( -it was actually the Synthi-AKs briefcase version -though the circuitry is nearly identical ), on many of Brian Eno's "tone poems" and on too many other avante garde recordings to mention. It's been faithfully emulated in Syntronik Deluxe. Imagine having this unique synth ( -along with 43 OTHERS ) available from ONE ( -or several ) "Plugiator-sized" HARDWARE instrument( s )!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ( -ABOVE  RIGHT )  SYNTRONIK'S "VCF3"                                                                                     ( -THEIR  VERSION OF THE  LEGENDARY EMS  VCS3 ) 

WHAT?   JUST  THREE-OCTAVES?   MINI-KEYS?                 

I can already see some keyboardists "rolling their eyes" saying this.  If you're one of them then yeah, this work-station isn't for you.  It's for keyboardists who are tired      of hefting around big, bulky workstation keyboards.      It's for touring axemen sick of stressing about having  their ( $1,500.00 - $2,500.00 ) "livelihoods" stolen            ( -or having it "bite the dust" due the rigors of the road ).                     -FOR  THE  "EYE-ROLLERS"        *NOTE:  loosing a $600.00 keyboard hurts a lot less  than loosing $2,500.00 keyboard!  It's for the people who want the entire "analog era" available from a single keyboard ( -compact enough to "ride shotgun" alongside you on the passenger side of the front seat -as opposed to occupying the entire rear seat or hogging up most  of your car's available trunk space ). 

 

A THREE OCTAVE MINI KEYBOARD is the best compromise you can expect for a lightweight ( -under 5 lb. ) "Grab & Go" sized workstation keyboard. Three octaves is more than enough to play both monophonic leads and bass lines. In fact, it'll even allow you to do some chording -even two handed stuff!  And by the way, isn't the whole point of a workstation keyboard to build-up your compositions one part at a time ( -recording these "backing tracks" internally -so you can play along with them during your live performances?  So, really, who needs 5-6 octaves and keyboard-splits anyway? Just record your backing tracks one-at-time using the entire keyboard! ). 

Currently, the smallest full-featured workstation keyboards you can buy are Korg's Kross-2 61-key and Roland's Juno DS61. Teenage Engineering's  OP-1 doesn't count ( -not  in the same league! )                                                                                        ( -ABOVE  )  KORG'S  KROSS-2 61-Key

At almost half  the size and weight of these key-  boards, a Syntronik and MODO BASS-powered "Grab & Go" Workstation Keyboard would be a      very attractive option for many touring keyboardists!                                                                                                                                                                             ( -ABOVE )  ROLAND'S JUNO DS61 

"KEY  ISSUES"  Key to the success of such a "grab & go" workstation would be it's keyboard. A 3-octave mini-key keyboard ( -with the same premium keybed and velvety "feel" ) as those used in Yamaha's ReFace line would      be essential! A cheesy, clunky or stiff-actioned key-      board would sabotage things from the get go.          Special attention would need to be paid to                               ( -ABOVE  ) YAMAHA'S  REFACE  LINE               this aspect of the instrument! 

 

*NOTE:  Take a look at the ( 4 ) ReFace models above. The compact Syntronik Workstation Keyboard that      I've described would have nearly identical dimensions and weight as the ReFace models shown above! 

Drums, bass, rhythm guitar and effects in a single box. That's the idea behind my "Rhythm-Section' Machine. 

 

No more having to compromise for just drums ( or ) maybe drums + a few bass sounds thrown in. This puppy really has EVERYTHING you need

for a complete backing rhythm-section all in one box!  ADD in "MODO BASS's" cool instrument and playing style "tweaks" along with ( 6 ) selectable guitar strums ( -for your rhythm guitar parts ) and you have something really special that no other manufacturer has! This is another product I'd love to see IK tackle. 

My "Syntronik Hardware Instrument" idea has garnered favorable response from synthesists        as far away as Spain and the Netherlands. The  synth media has taken note as well. Check out      the Gear News piece below. Weigh-in: Should        IK Multimedia turn their "Syntronik" software      into an actual HARDWARE Synth? How about a                    ( -ABOVE ) "GEAR  NEWS"  TAKES NOTE.                 Desktop Module ( or ) a Compact Workstation?