Events and News
Published on 22/05/2024
Like every year, the Superbooth is a must-attend event for all fans of synthesizers and Eurorack modules. The 2024 edition did not disappoint, showcasing a myriad of new instruments, emerging brands and amazing innovations, we of course couldn't miss it, so we scrutinized every nook and cranny, and here are the products that impressed us the most.
Befaco presented Oneiroi, its new Eurorack module really very complete and deep, perfect for creating ambient soundscapes or complex drones. Inspired by Greek mythology, the name "Oneiroi" refers to the winged creatures that emerge from their cave each night to bring dreams and nightmares.
The module offers a stereo input for external signals with three switchable gain levels indicated by convenient LEDs, 2 oscillators (the first with a sine wave while the second is selectable between a JP-8000-inspired Supersaw or a 2048-sample dynamic wavetable oscillator that uses the looper buffer), a 5-second looper that can record both the stereo input and output of the module, 4 effects including Resonator, Echo and Reverb, a multi-mode filter and also includes auto-modulation and an internal LFO with selectable waves of various shapes not to mention that it also has a very powerful randomizer inside.
Oineroi is the perfect tool for soundtrack composers or anyone who wants to create dynamic textures or complex atmospheres.
FrapTools from their beautiful wooden chalet presents 2 new Eurorack modules and a very powerful series 500 compressor.
Bagài is a multifunction analog module, it can be a random generator, an S&H generator, a clock burst, it can become a voltage controlled bit crusher or even by connecting an audio signal to the S&H input it can also become a dynamic downsampler, it is a really deep module with a thousand possibilities, in only 12 HP.
Frap Tools 411 on the other hand is a linear quad VCA for audio signals and CV signals, the signal and CV inputs are semi-normalized, which means you can also use the module as a mixer. Signals are passed to the next channels, provided no other signals are inserted into the inputs, interrupting normalization.
In addition, each channel has a switchable -6 dB attenuator. All and Unpatched are the two main outputs, very convenient for splitting signals.
Xaoc Devices introduces Berlin, its new 8HP, square-wave, sawtooth oscillator with hard sync, FM input, and octave switching. The most interesting part is behind the panel and is the Leibniz Binary Subsystem interface, i.e., the two parameters LBZ out and LBZ in.
The LBZ LINK button on the front panel and the corresponding gate input allows you to select between the default sawtooth wave and a signal passed through any Leibniz module (or a combination of Leibniz modules) connected to Berlin, e.g. it can be used to turn Berlin into a Wavetable oscillator.
The entire frequency range is from 30 seconds in LFO mode up to 250 kHz, with the clock even being able to reach 20 MHz in frequency. Berlin is an extremely versatile module, capable of creating a very diverse range of unusual waveforms.
Joranalogue's new module, Cycle 5 is an oscillator with a triangular circuit core that offers wide tonal versatility for a simple VCO and millimeter precision regarding pitch, all in a compact 6 HP package, a 7-position octave selector and a dual V/Oct input for experimenting and using the second input as an FM or for creating a precision summing.
It can of course also be used as an LFO but The highlight of Cycle 5, is its vari-wave function. Vari-wave, allows you to transform the waveform on the matching output, it starts from a sine wave, goes to a triangular, sawtooth, square and finally to a very narrow pulse. The vari-wave parameter can obviously be controlled in voltage.
Cycle 5 is a formidable and extremely accurate oscillator that contains a unique amount of additional functions in perfect Joranalogue style.
Udo introduces the Super 8, a middle brother between the Super Gemini and the Super 6, it inherits all the best features of its predecessors, the timbral power of the Super Gemini and the convenience of the Super 6, trying to balance power and portability.
Polyphony is incredibly increased to 16 voices with polyphonic Aftertouch for unprecedented expressiveness.
If we were already facing an incredible hybrid synthesizer with the Super 6 now that it has been upgraded it will take its expressiveness to greater heights and will surely be one of this year's leading Synth players.
Sawtooth Stack, the newest and latest arrival in Verbos, is the first module produced by the company that can be completely independent, an instrument with a very powerful timbre (like all Mark Verbos modules on the other hand), it is composed of 5 oscillators that can be deaccorded with each other and managed in the stereo space by being able to insert 2 in the left listening hemisphere, 2 in the right and one in the center.
The pitch can be controlled via MIDI or via V/oct, it has 2 A/D envelopes (Attack and Decay) that can be cycled and used to control amplitude or create really interesting morphing, Definitely one of the most interesting modules at the show.
The Polybrute was already a powerful and incredibly deep instrument, Arturia decided to make it even more powerful, the polyphony voices increase to 12, along with the Polyphonic Aftertouch and a velocity management that surprises, thanks to the brand new keyboard named by Arturia, FullTouch, the instrument becomes a very powerful means of expression, for example, simply touching the keys is enough to create truly mind-blowing "Pianissimo", at the timbral level it is confirmed to be exceptional, with the possibility of continuous Morphing between two selected presets.
Polybrute 12 really has everything you could want (and more) from a polyphonic analog synth.
Since time immemorial the challenge between the ultras hooligans of the hardware world and the four-eyed nerds of the software world has inflamed the audiences of electronic and electroacoustic music composition, there are those, however, who like to be in the middle and consequently enjoy and rightly deserve all the privileges and conveniences of both.
4MS is presenting at Superbooth 2024 its new module, MetaModule, which has all the cards on the table to be one of those modules that will have a strong impact on users, this because of the so many creative possibilities it allows.
MetaModule, which as the name suggests is a possible infinity of software modules within a hardware module, to be inserted into one's case, thus combines the world of software with hardware and allows one to have an army of patches and modules pre-loaded into one's system, the software used is fully compatible with VCV racks and it is therefore possible to create patches on VCV and transfer them directly to the MetaModule or create them directly on the MetaModule. Currently, 160 modules are provided from 4ms Company and third parties (e.g., Befaco, HetrickCV, Nonlinearcircuits, and Eightfold).
These include clones of popular modules from Mutable Instruments and physical modeling algorithms. At the hardware level it has 12 knobs that can be mapped to virtual knobs, each knob can be mapped to up to eight virtual knobs, and each mapping can have a different range and offset.
You can also save a group of mappings as a Knob Set and switch between Knob Sets with an encoder. The 8 inputs and 8 outputs can be mapped to virtual module jacks, and also as if that were not enough, MetaModule is a USB MIDI host, so you can map MIDI CC, note, gate and other parameters to knobs and jacks.
This provides many creative options for exploring new ways of making music and an infinity of creative possibilities that are limited only by the load on the CPU, but 4MS has assured that MetaModule in this respect will be very performant.
Enjoy Labs has introduced DEFEEL, a new module that promises and enables the destruction of rhythmic monotony and more. With DEFEEL Enjoy Labs applies and deconstructs the Fill concept to make it usable in the world of modular synthesizers and beyond.
With a capacitive multitouch display and 2 independent lines of gate and cv outputs it allows you to destroy, modify, and add complexity in any context, the intuitive touchscreen makes it easy to create and modify parameters, you can draw modulation curves directly on the screen, and it also offers clock division and multiplication functions to create complex rhythmic structures, not to mention that it can be used as a super custom envelope generator to control other modules.
DEFEEL can be inserted before or after a sequencer and is ready to reshape the concept of rhythmic sequencing, intervening where, how, and with ease where at the time you feel you need it most.
Moog presents, Spectravox, a slightly revised version of what was reserved for Moog fest attendees back in 2019, Spectravox is a semi-modular analog spectral processor and offers a wide range of creative possibilities, the heart of the instrument is its 10-band filter, based on the classic Moog 907 filterbank from the 1960s.
This filter allows you to shape timbre in a truly dynamic way, partly because unlike the more classic Vocoders, there is an analog oscillator inside Spectravox with saw waves, pulses and a noise generator, this allows it, with its XLR/jack programmable combo input, to be a 10-band analog vocoder with a bank of secondary filters ready to analyze the spectral composition of the input sounds.
In VOCODER mode, the 10 analysis filters map the timbral characteristics of any external sound onto any other sound imaginable, with innovative built-in modulation for all its filters. Alternatively, it can be used as a stand-alone synthesizer to create spectral sounds and intriguing sound textures.
The event once again demonstrated how dynamic and innovative the world of synthesis and modular synthesis specifically is, from new modules to emerging brands, every corner of the Superbooth was filled with sonic and technological inspiration.
It was fascinating to see how manufacturers are continually pushing the boundaries of musical creativity, offering ever more advanced and exciting solutions for musicians.
The Superbooth is not only an opportunity to discover the latest technical innovations, but also a meeting place for the global community of synthesizer and electronic music enthusiasts. The conversations, demonstrations and live performances made the event a unique experience, reinforcing the sense of belonging to a constantly evolving movement.
We can't wait to get our hands on some of the new instruments we've discovered and see how they will influence our music and that of my colleagues.
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