XILS-lab KaoX coming soon ...

[teilo]

That's a pretty extreme contrast between a modern flat UI on top and a skeuomorphic 70s wooden synth on the bottom. I guess it sort of works in the teaser video but I am afraid it will look weird in the actual synth UI.

No more weird than what Arturia does.

[pedrosura]

A few years ago, I suggested to Xils-Lab to do the GS-1 and this is what they wrote...

“ Thanks for your kind words about the PolyM !
Yamaha GS-1 is a very good idea ! We don't have yet a totally FM dedicated synth, and as the DX7 has be done by plenty other company the GS1 could be a good think !”

Now, Im thinking, coincidence??
I love the PolyM and PolyKB..
If this thing sounds anywhere near the GS1, it will be great. Considering the PolyM, I am very hopeful.

[WatchTheGuitar]

Must admit I'd never even heard of the original GS-1, obviously didn't make much of a mark at the time, but maybe the DX7 was so ubiquitous eventually that everyone just treated it as 'the' FM synth for studios/bands to have in their arsenal at the time so GS-1 never got a foothold.

[NikkiA]

Yamaha went through a weird phase at the turn of the 80s where they were coming out with great synths that had very very limited market. The GS-1 nestles in there with the (not FM, but related to the analog side of the GS-1) GX-1 and DX-1 as part of that heritage before the DX-7 and DX-11 (Edit: I think I mean DX-21 here) made FM a market winner. (The CS range was a similar development of the analog side)

Interesting to note that for the weird skeuomorphics, the GS-1 had an optional expansion that married a VDU with 4 programming screens to the system for programming, making the GS-1 have a weird 19th century + 20th century mix of skeuomorphics itself. Seeing Xils reproduce that by mixing the original GS-1 style to the modern flat UI seems a bit of a nod back to that.

[WatchTheGuitar]

That's really got me intrigued I must admit even if I know it's probably just going to sound like one of a million FM synths with some chaos operator stuff tacked on.

[NikkiA]

Also, bear in mind that in today's $, it cost just under $100,000

[WatchTheGuitar]

Also, bear in mind that in today's $, it cost just under $100,000

Well sure, but then I use A*rturiaFairlights and Synclaviers all the time

[Effectsworks]

Sound good so far.

[NikkiA]

Also, bear in mind that in today's $, it cost just under $100,000

Well sure, but then I use A*rturiaFairlights and Synclaviers all the time

Sure, but I meant as for why the GS-1 and GS-2 failed to capture much market share.

Fairlight were only slightly more succesful in market share at 300 units total, and that's over 3 incarnations that reduced the cost each time.

[Garrincha]

Must admit I'd never even heard of the original GS-1, obviously didn't make much of a mark at the time,

Well, it was used by some heavy-weights on some very famous records. Steve Porcaro played the marimba sound in the intro of "Africa" on a GS-1. He also used it with Michael Jackson while recording "Thriller". Benny Andersson from ABBA had a GS-1 in his studio that got played on the last ABBA albums. German Producer Edo Zanki had one in his studio and it was on all records he produced in the 80s (Herbert Grönemeyer, Ulla Meinecke "Tänzerin").

The GS-1 had a configuration of the OPs that couldn't be done with a DX7 (because there was no suitable algorithm).

The GS-1 was also obviously aimed as a studio instrument. It was to heavy for a touring musician. So they might only built 100 of them, but considering that means 100 studios who had one makes for many records actually made with them

[DocAtlas]

Yamaha went through a weird phase at the turn of the 80s where they were coming out with great synths that had very very limited market. The GS-1 nestles in there with the (not FM, but related to the analog side of the GS-1) GX-1 and DX-1 as part of that heritage before the DX-7 and DX-11 (Edit: I think I mean DX-21 here) made FM a market winner. (The CS range was a similar development of the analog side)

Interesting to note that for the weird skeuomorphics, the GS-1 had an optional expansion that married a VDU with 4 programming screens to the system for programming, making the GS-1 have a weird 19th century + 20th century mix of skeuomorphics itself. Seeing Xils reproduce that by mixing the original GS-1 style to the modern flat UI seems a bit of a nod back to that.

I never knew about the expansion; that's an interesting piece of equipment.

I think you were thinking of the DX9, not the DX11 or DX21, which both came later. The DX9, in hindsight, was a bit of an oddball; it had the same 4-op/ 8 algorithm engine that the later 4-op synths had, but the more complex envelope generators and 16 note polyphony of the DX7. It doesn't seem to have caught on, since it was only $600 less than the DX7, but lacked much of its power.
I have a DX21 and still use it. The DX11 was basically a TX81Z with a keyboard.

[BoogerSnot]

Now listed on KVR:
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/kaox-by-xils-lab


But still in pre-release status:
https://www.xils-lab.com/

[toddle guitar]

this guy's synths were always terribly self-indulgent and overpriced.

179 euro? for one FM synth? I don't think so, no.

[WatchTheGuitar]

€179 is too rich for my blood. I'd maybe consider it if it's 50% off at launch, but chances are I'm passing.
If I was really into FM I'd put that sort of money as a deposit on a Korg Opsix

[WatchTheGuitar]

Xils Labs site says this is now available and €99 until 15th May which is a tad more afordable. Worth a demo at least I reckon
https://www.xils-lab.com/products/kaox-p-168.html#