IK MUltimedia UNO Synth

[BONES]

I don’t want/need a flexible sound engine, I have 200hp of modular...I want a portable fun little analog sequencer to go with my OP-1. For me, this is perfect...I guess you don’t want one, so why are you even on this thread, to try and persuade other peiople they domt want one?

Did you not read the reply you quoted? Because you are basically agreeing with me. I'll probably get one, too, for similar reasons to you - as bit of a fun toy to play around with and develop ideas. That's why I am posting on this thread, and why I've listened to most of the demos, but I have no illusions about its limitations nor am I going to make my mind up on the basis of a few videos and mp3s. Seriously, for $200 it doesn't need to be the greatest synth ever, which is why I'm baffled that some people feel the need to talk it up so much. OTOH, it really is impossible to overstate how amazingly good the Rocket is.

[ghettosynth]

A video from the Soundmachines design/architecture perspective:

Cool, thanks for posting that. Obviously that's very high level, but still interesting.

[OneOfManyPauls]

The delay is digital. Can't say I'm surprised, but IKM should have caveated "all-analog audio path" and/or explicitly labelled the delay as digital imo.

[Magnut]

The delay is digital. Can't say I'm surprised, but IKM should have caveated "all-analog audio path" and/or explicitly labelled the delay as digital imo.

Well it is IKM marketing. What else to say. Still waiting for someone opening this synth to see what's really inside. Suddenly it's the "all-analog audio path except x, y and oh z"

[perpetual3]

I just looked at prices for the Waldorf Rocket.

In the US it is $299-$329 new on eBay, slightly over $200 used.

As a threshold issue, I believe that comparisons should be made in the same category. In other words, I won’t be comparing new to used, especially since the Uno will also be, one day, sold second hand and will be cheaper then $199. Since Volcas on eBay also list for $199 retail and are typically marked down to $160-170, we could use that as a comparison. That being said, at the moment, a used Rocket is the same as a new Uno, for what it’s worth.

So, comparing new synths, the Rocket is at least 50% more expensive then an Uno, or $100. That’s not an insignificant amount of especially. Especially considering that one needs to buy a keyboard or sequencer to use the Rocket in the first place. A quick Amazon search shows the Arturia Beatstep (not pro) for $99. So, if buying new, the cost of a Rocket that can be played is $398, let’s round to $400, so double the cost of an Uno. A Beatstep pro, new, is $249, so the cost with a Rocket would be approx. $550 - $150 more than two Uno’s

My first thoughts, however, is how cool it would be to have an Uno and a Rocket, sequenced from and chained to the Uno. Cheaper then a Rocket and a Beatstep (not to mention pro). I wonder if it is possible to route the incoming audio to the delay on the Uno and leave the Uno synth dry... .

Anyway, since the BSPro is more expensive then the Uno (25%), a better comparison price wise for new devices is Uno vs Rocket and Beatstep. Since you can’t actually play a Rocket by itself, it makes sense to look at the sequencers in addition the the sound architecture. Both are 16 steps. Uno has parameter locks. BS has velocity and pressure sensitivity, more knobs, and can be perhaps more easily used with other gear.

So, the bottom line:

(1) New or used, the Rocket is more expensive in the USA. New, significantly so - 50% more.
(2) The addition of a sequencer/controller is needed to play the Rocket, further increasing the price - a Beatstep cost 50% of an Uno. Cost of Rocket plus Bearstep is double that of Uno alone.
(3) The ideal choice is, as usual, to buy everything.

EDIT: Limit pricing to US prices on eBay.

[OneOfManyPauls]

In the UK, you can get the rocket new for less than the price of the uno (£170 vs £210).

[chk071]

The Rocket costs 178 € new at Thomann...

[perpetual3]

Seriously, for $200 it doesn't need to be the greatest synth ever, which is why I'm baffled that some people feel the need to talk it up so much.

But is anybody saying that? The gist I got is that it’s a simple synth that has some cool features for a very affordable price.

Who is saying that it’s the greatest synth ever?

[ghettosynth]

The delay is digital. Can't say I'm surprised, but IKM should have caveated "all-analog audio path" and/or explicitly labelled the delay as digital imo.

Yeah, I don't think that this price point would support a synth + analog delay. Frankly, I don't really like them (bucket brigade delays) anyway so, for me, it's not only not a deal breaker, but good news. I think the issue here is the fetish with "all analog signal path" that so many people seem to have.

FWIW: I think the extent of soundmachines involvement with this is a plus for the product.

[perpetual3]

In the UK, you can get the rocket new for less than the price of the uno (£170 vs £210).

In the UK the Uno coasts £210 pounds? That, quite frankly, is a ridiculous markup. IK themselves state that the retail is €199. I don’t know the conversion but £210 is quite a bit more than €199.

[perpetual3]

So I checked Thomann.de setting UK as my location.

Indeed, they are marking up the cost of the Uno by €30.

In that case, the value proposition is lower.

However, you still need something like the Beatstep, which at Thomann costs €99/£87.

So, the cost of a Rocket plus Beatstep is £266. That’s £55 more than an Uno. Again I don’t know conversation but £55 would be something close to $90? It used to be anyway.

I’m baffled why in the EU and UK the Uno is actually marked up. In the US it will likely be the same as retail or marked down. Is this due to VAT, I assume?

[Robmobius]

I've not really paid much attention to the Rocket before. Sounds damn nice and is pretty affordable at 178e on Thomann. That said, I'd probably go for the Pulse II just because it has more features (bigger price tag of course).

I do like Thoman's 3-year guarantee... That's certainly helped me out in the past.

[OneOfManyPauls]

In the UK, you can get the rocket new for less than the price of the uno (£170 vs £210).

In the UK the Uno coasts £210 pounds? That, quite frankly, is a ridiculous markup. IK themselves state that the retail is €199. I don’t know the conversion but £210 is quite a bit more than €199.

IKM's price is €199 excluding tax - UK VAT adds 20%.

[perpetual3]

In the UK, you can get the rocket new for less than the price of the uno (£170 vs £210).

In the UK the Uno coasts £210 pounds? That, quite frankly, is a ridiculous markup. IK themselves state that the retail is €199. I don’t know the conversion but £210 is quite a bit more than €199.

IKM's price is €199 excluding tax - UK VAT adds 20%.

Yeah, I thought so. Interesting that the Rocket price is so different in the States and EU, even including VAT.

[perpetual3]

In the States, at Sweetwater, it is $199, tax included.