Manatee Multitimbral MPE Synthesizer - Kickstarter
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Kickstarter presentation for the Manatee Synthesizer from Fred's Lab.
Manatee is a 16-voice 4-part desktop synthesizer based on a unique Spectral Synthesis engine and various Virtual Analog algorithms. It offers a wide range of characterful digital sounds in compact and sturdy steel case.
Link to crowdfunding campaign:
www.kickstarte...
For more information:
fredslab.net/e...
I've not been interested in a new synth for a minute now, but I'm sold on this one! Looking forward to early 2024.
Thank you, that's very encouraging ❤
up to 16 voices in such a teeny package, this is a real sleeper hit that I hope takes off friend❕
Thank you for the nice comment ;-)
Sleeper hit incoming. Backed and ready to rock 🤘
Thanks. What's a sleeper hit? This machine can keep you up all night :-)
Looks great! PLEASE keep it black!
The Manatee that will be manufactured after the Kickstarter campaign is over will look exactly like the one showed in this video.
Yeah man I really dig your design philosophy. Taking the best of 90s hardware dsp and making it fit for the modern age. They stopped making stuff like this by the mid noughties it was all about midi controllers and vsts, and now we have the analogue renaissance. But if you think about it in terms of actual spontaneous hardware synth programming, there's a certain pedigree of 90's dsp desk top synths that were probably as intuitive as you can get. After that everything became a hodge podge of sort of trying to be in the computer and also not in the computer. I have to say your synth engine looks and sounds so incredibly inspiring its so good to see someone actually pushing the boundries with hardware dsp but also creating this familiar and intuitive hardware design, all packed into such a small form factor as well. And when I say small form factor I don't mean stupid form factor like roland boutique or behringer mini, thats a stupid form factor, yours is a small form factor. I'm unequivocally buying this before I become nomadic and I think I will probably use it on everything. Only thing I wish it had was multitimbral audio out. No audio over usb or anything like that? Thanks
Thanks mate, you made my day ;-)
Actually you can set all the 4 parts in mono and output them individually on the 4 jacks. Then you have your separate outputs. For Corona related reasons, the Manatee was designed without USB.
ohh 4 mono audio outs?! Thats great. Well I don't care about USB then. Might see about getting that tiny teenage engineering usb mixer. Still not quite sure if I can justify that though. Was thinking about maybe pairing your synth with a roland sp404 mk2 for the road you know. Coz you got a lot of synthesis and sampling functionality between the two there. I spend all day looking at my screen already you see. But I could probably draft some quite developed techno songs between those two things I think. Then maybe just do the build ups, editing and mixing on the computer. I missed the kick starter whens the general release for this? Thanks
@@FredsLab
Backed! And this night the funding goal will be reached. I was sure this would happen within 24 hours.
Even less ... less than 8 hours :-) Thanks to you!
@@FredsLab So it can be delivered 1 month earlier in November? 😉Only joking🙂
This synth sounds amazing, I hope your kickstarter succeeds!
Many thanks Justin :-)
very excited, seems like you've done some amazing hard work! I love how it sounds, it has some nice subtle character and even sounds a little analog sometimes. the envelope sections seems interesting, curious to see a tutorial to get how it works.
Thank you so much Devon.
One thing which most people might not know: This machine is made in Germany. Don’t know if this is worth today but I wanted it to be mentioned 🙂
It's assembled in Germany. The electronics also. Metal work and basic components are from Asia.
Looks great
Thank you Jeremy 😘
Congratulations!!
Thank you @DawlessHouseMusic :-)
If it's anything like the Nord Rack 2 in the video, then take my money!
Base sound of the VA part has been tuned against the Nord Rack. It's my personal all time favorite :-)
Florida electronic musicians here. We approve of the synth name 😁 Hit us up if you're ever in Central Florida. We'll take you to a dugong destination.
Amazing! And backed.
Thank you very much!!!
Regarding the _Jack Outputs,_
can you route the *four* spectral synth part to *one output each?*
Yes. It was confirmed on Reddit.
@@basic_npc Awesome! Thanks.
Yes, you can use the two stereo buses as individual part outputs if so is your wish!
I love it! Awesome job looking forward to getting one! I wish you would get with Christopher Kemper and design the next Virus TI3 and get Kemper to make synths again! You guys could really knock it out of the park. This reminds me of a new Virus!
Blofeld and Virus Ti is still on the market :) But great initiative.
Sure, I have / used them both. Manatee is something different though given the compactness, sound quality and easy UX compared to the machines you are mentioning. Manatee is overall easier to operate and promotes a faster / more intuitive workflow. Thanks!
Well, things have changed since 😉
Cool project!
This person sounds a little like Cenk (aka DataLine) from Elektron... 👀
Have never met Cenk but thank you!
Can I be so bold to ask for specific MPE controller settings. Like Swam has to some extent. In Swam you pick Linn for instance and it will set all the MPE settings to the right ones that match the Linnstrument. This was amazing because it saved so much time, and it makes it a breeze to switch between controllers. Something I sometimes wanna do mid set, but can't because changing the settings on my synth takes too long. There aren't that many MPE controllers out there at the moment, 10 or so? Or just do the 5 most popular. Some settings cover multiple controllers also.
Dear @GTChris, nothing wrong with asking about the MPE implementation!
the MPE support will be identical to Töörö = strictly sticking to official MPE specifications.
When in MPE mode, accessed by toggling it manually or by having the MPE controller sending the specified sequences of NRPN messages to configure the zones, the Manatee will act as a 2 part synthesizer (actually 2 parts per zone to allow layering) respecting the master & member channels configuration. Other MIDI channels will be left ignored.
No, I will not provide any "controller specific" settings, it is up to the controller to set the MPE configuration of the MIDI expander. Also I have not the resources to track / follow the implementation, firmware evolution of non Fred's Lab products. Thank you!
Looks good. How does multitibrality work alongside MPE? Is it possible to assign keyranges to multitimbral parts so that we can play different sounds at the same time using an MPE controller?
MPE mode is two zones. I don't plan to run MPE & multitimbrality at the same time, at least in Firmware 1.0. So basically you will have either 2 zone MPE OR multitimbral mode.
After thinking about it, the MPE mode will allocate 2 MIDI parts per zone to allow layering.
Manatee will then perform as a bi-timbral synthesizer and the non configured - as MPE members - MIDI channels will be left ignored.
@@FredsLab For sequencing purposes, I think it would still be very cool to have four multimbral parts defined by keyranges. But then, I can't say how many users would find this useful. :)
I like the idea of having a bi-timbral MPE synth. As an experimental musician/improviser who uses MPE a lot, it would be cool to have access to two different timbres/patches without having to change presets mid-performance.
The EssenceFM by Kodamo allows this in a very comprehensive way and I find that very useful. I'm not comparing the two synths, obviously. Just pointing out to a synth that can do multitimbral/multilayer MPE.
What makes this an MPE?
Manatee implements full MPE specifications, meaning when you switch it to MPE mode with a compatible controller, each note played can be articulated around 3 independent axis. Also the machine supports 2 zones so it's possible to have a split and 2 different parts enabled for the play.
This thing looks amazing. Can you clarify the AUX functionality? It's listed as both a stereo out and as an input on one page, and as having return functionality on another page.
I'd love to know this as well.
For sure, the AUX is like MAIN, it is a stereo line output bus. But, if you use a "TRS Insert cable", you can attach it to an external effect unit, let say a PCM70 reverb and the output of it will be mixed back into the MAIN bus. Avoiding the need for a mixing desk.
@@FredsLab So if you use the return you lose the stereo and it becomes a mono return?
@@_s.d.s._ no. If you want a stereo return you use the full AUX bus as send with 2x insert cables.
@@_s.d.s._ I will publish a diagram in the user manual as there are different configurations with mono summing or not. I am not sure how to describe this in a few lines.
That BoDeS So WeLL ! ! ! 😀
Indeed, amazing !!!
I have the Tooro, which is a beast! This looks like it's going to be another. Are the filters analogue?
Töörö 🙂
@@lummsmusik3219 ¡ţôõřø!
no USB-C connection?
Dear @jean-jacquesandre9931, Manatee has no USB connection. It's pure old-school MIDI IN / Audio out. No drivers, no USB noise, no ground loops issues.
Muchas palabras y poco tiempo para poder escucharlo. Un sonido dice más que mil palabras. Bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, ...
More examples are available on Fred's Lab Soundcloud.
Have tried to reach Freds Lab via their website and the mod wiggler forum but haven’t heard back yet. Would love to preorder one but have a couple of questions!