FXpansion Cypher2 - Coming in 2018

[Ah_Dziz]

It’s kind of host dependent. For standalone use there are a few simple settings that will get ya going quickly. I never got why they didn’t make a MPE template patch for strobe, or cypher either.

JJ

[martinjuenke]

What MPE controller do you recommend?
Roli Seaboard Blocks or Seaboard Rise?
Do you expect they will bundle Cypher2 with the Rise?

[simmo75]

Did I read somewhere that Cypher 2 is free to Strobe 2 owners?
It may just be wishful thinking...

[jsp1979]

Did I read somewhere that Cypher 2 is free to Strobe 2 owners?
It may just be wishful thinking...

You definitely made that up.

I seem to recall a discount being discussed.

[simmo75]

Did I read somewhere that Cypher 2 is free to Strobe 2 owners?
It may just be wishful thinking...

You definitely made that up.

I seem to recall a discount being discussed.

Thanks for clarification.

[mholloway]

It’s come together quite nicely. Seems almost ready to go. It’s gonna rock your world, especially if you have an MPE controller. The mod system is ridiculous.

If the UI features the same over-bloated colors, pop-up displays, animated glowing strips*, etc that Strobe 2 has, I will be really frustrated. Strobe 2 looks great until you actually use it. Then it's instant information overload.

*the worst offender is hard to describe but surely anyone who has used the synth knows what I'm talking about: when you move a knob or slider, there is a "motion animation" that appears briefly next to the graphic to show, uh, that the knob/slider is currently being moved...

[Ah_Dziz]

What MPE controller do you recommend?
Roli Seaboard Blocks or Seaboard Rise?
Do you expect they will bundle Cypher2 with the Rise?

It depends. The rise has the x/y pad, transpose buttons, and sliders. To transpose the seaboard blocks output, or make any other adjustment, you have to use software, which would get extremely old to me. It is very noticeably cheaper though so I can see grabbing one instead to save cash. The playing surface was indistinguishable to me.

If I buy any more Roli gear it will be an extra seaboard blocks for live work, I’d also consider the linnstrument just for novelties sake. I’d buy a couple of blocks pads if they would make noise into a more well rounded application and make a pc version for it. I’m not really too excited to make music on my phone or iPad. At least not in a small closed environment like that.

I would guess Cypher 2 will not be bundled since strobe already comes with it. A big part of the cypher wait, I think, was because the company changed hands mid development.

[Echoes in the Attic]

I have a question for any developer or tester who has used cypher. I know it will be mpe compatible and also duo/tri-phonic, but what I’m wondering is whether the different oscillators/voices will respond to different midi channels in these modes. The only other mpe synths I know of with duophonic mode are a couple of the U-he synths bit in those cases the oscs respond on the same same channel.

I’d love to have a synth with duo mode where the oscs could pitch bend individually. This would be awesome with the classic odyssey style duophonic ring mod scream, because in between the note intervals will be all kinds of cool harmonic changes.

[Echoes in the Attic]

What MPE controller do you recommend?
Roli Seaboard Blocks or Seaboard Rise?
Do you expect they will bundle Cypher2 with the Rise?

You should spend some time trying them out if possible. I bought a seaboard block and while the feel of it was really good, I found the key sizes just a bit too small so I might go for a full sized rise some time. I actually prefer the feel and texture of the seaboard clock though. Slightly firmer and easier to glide so you might like it better if the size doesn’t bother you. I found that the full rise could sort of wrinkle and bunch up when sliding up on the keys which the seabird block didn’t do. I’d love it if they did a rise update with more of the feel of the seaboard block.

[himalaya]

and I found that the full rise could sort of wrinkle and bunch up when sliding up on the keys which the seabird block didn’t do. I’d love it if they did a rise update with more of the feel of the seaboard block.

That's a sign of bad playing technique.
Trigger a note on the RISE, and then immediately swivel the finger so that the very finger tip is flat on the keywave, and only then slide up. It takes a nanosecond to do but if done correctly the slide will be very smooth with no 'wrinkles'.

[Echoes in the Attic]

and I found that the full rise could sort of wrinkle and bunch up when sliding up on the keys which the seabird block didn’t do. I’d love it if they did a rise update with more of the feel of the seaboard block.

That's a sign of bad playing technique.
Trigger a note on the RISE, and then immediately swivel the finger so that the very finger tip is flat on the keywave, and only then slide up. It takes a nanosecond to do but if done correctly the slide will be very smooth with no 'wrinkles'.

I know what you mean (and the same technique is to some degree necessary with the seaboard block), but my point is that it is MUCH easier to avoid with the seaboard block due to the texture and firmness of the surface. The surface layer of the full rise is a bit looser, allowing folding slightly easier.

[Angus_FX]

I’d love to have a synth with duo mode where the oscs could pitch bend individually. This would be awesome with the classic odyssey style duophonic ring mod scream, because in between the note intervals will be all kinds of cool harmonic changes.

Sort of. You can take the interval between the current note and either the highest, lowest, newest, oldest.. ultimately this lets you do Odyssey-style duophonic playing, with MPE pitch bend, on any of the following:
- Sync
- Ring Mod
- FM
- Filter cutoff
- Intermodulation distortion / wavefolding

Certainly you can do a nice Rez cover this way.

[Tj Shredder]

What MPE controller do you recommend?
Roli Seaboard Blocks or Seaboard Rise?
Do you expect they will bundle Cypher2 with the Rise?

Clearly the LinnStrument, I demoed the Rise, and had little but not real fun, I bought the LinnStrument when there was a lowered deal at Thomann without even testing it (I could have sent it back). Though three times as expensive, I will never regret it, it changed my musical live. In the mean time I also got a Seaboard Block, as they offered 2 MPE synths with it which would have cost me the same (Equator, the best MPE synth on the market and Strobe 2). I use the Seaboard as a 29 fader box now which is quite nice as well (I made a little Max patch to translate the y-axis movement of each key zone into a fader value, plus two vertical faders for the upper and lower bend zone...)
But for playing expressively nothing can beat the LinnStrument...
Though to be honest I did not test the Soundplane, might be as good, but can’t be played without computer. Long time ago I tried the Continuum, but I would not exchange it with the LinnStrument...

[Angus_FX]

It’s kind of host dependent. For standalone use there are a few simple settings that will get ya going quickly. I never got why they didn’t make a MPE template patch for strobe, or cypher either.

Cypher2's MIDI CC map for 5D patches is pre-defined for Perf1/2/3/X/Y (for the sliders and X+Y controller).

One thing we should probably provide though is an INIT MPE preset with some of the MPE curves pre-mapped.

[martinjuenke]

I bought the ROLI Seaboard Block, installed it, played a bit with it and Equator Player and Strobe2... and it blew me away! Really an ear opener, so much more dimensions in sound and expression. I like especially the seamless integration between hardware and software. The whole concept reminds me of the good things done by Apple. So, obviously I became a fanboi of them...

One question: How shall the differentiation between Equator, Strobe and the finally upcoming Cypher work? What will be their uniqueness compared with each other?

However, as a newborn fanboi I‘ll find out by myself, I guess...