New MPE synths...

[FontaineBurnett]

Regarding Drambo, it a drum machine / sequencer app so I don't understand how it could benefit from or even use MPE. Their web site states only "In MPE mode, the track receives events from all channels and translates them to a polyphonic MIDI signal." This doesn't make sense to me. Perhaps they are confusing OMNI mode with MPE.

Tiantong, can Drambo act as an expressive polyphonic synth for pitched notes in which each voice responds to Pitch Bend for continuous pitch, Channel Pressure for continuous loudness, and CC74 for continuous timbre modulation, and independently and polyphonically for all simultaneous touches?

Hi Roger,
I found this on YouTube:

[tiantong]

Regarding Drambo, it a drum machine / sequencer app so I don't understand how it could benefit from or even use MPE. Their web site states only "In MPE mode, the track receives events from all channels and translates them to a polyphonic MIDI signal." This doesn't make sense to me. Perhaps they are confusing OMNI mode with MPE.

Tiantong, can Drambo act as an expressive polyphonic synth for pitched notes in which each voice responds to Pitch Bend for continuous pitch, Channel Pressure for continuous loudness, and CC74 for continuous timbre modulation, and independently and polyphonically for all simultaneous touches?

Hi Roger,
I found this on YouTube:

I was going to post that video too. Thanks Fontaine.


Drambo is a semi modular environment. It's described as a non linear sequencer but it can be used as a regular synthesiser too with different sound sources: sampling, subtractive, fm, physical modelling... I've had a quick test with the Linnstrument and it responds to pressure, pitch bend and cc74 per note. There are modules specific for MIDI CC and MIDI key pressure, as you can see in the screenshot.

IMG_0043.jpg

I couldn't find a way to change pitch bend amount but I'm not familiar with modular systems in general, so there must be a way.

Anyway, I don't think I have the patience to build a synthesiser when there are so many good ones available.

[Roger_Linn]

It seems that it's a drum machine app that can with much effort be reconfigured to act as a synth with most MPE capabilities. If so, I think it would be misleading to add it to the Recommended Sounds page.

[tiantong]

It's ok, Roger. That's for you to decide.

I would say it is more like VCV-Rack where you can build drum machines or synths, but you have to build it from scratch. The difference here is that is "pre-wired" and therefore easier than the traditional modular system.

Here is a short video (2:30 min) that shows how to build a 1-osc synth (non MPE)

[48cube]

It actually has a neat Instrument rack module with transparent MPE mode (you have to enable it on module). All works automatically. Simply build your voice design, set how many voices you allocate to it and it just plays in MPE fashion. Practically the same way like Bitwig rack works. Yesterday I did nice sounding (to my ears) Karplus-Strong physical model of guitar (no demo yet, sorry), the possibilities with so many interesting modules are vast.

[Roger_Linn]

Thanks for the help. I've added it to the Recommended Sounds page with the following description:

Drambo is described on their site as a "modular groovebox and sound processing environment", but its modular environment permits the creation of pitched synth sounds with MPE capability, not unlike modular patching environments like VCV Rack. However, it does not contain any pitched or MPE synths or sounds by default; you must create any such pitched synth (by connecting modules together) as well as implementing MPE capability in the created synth and making MPE sounds for it.

[SteveElbows]

edit - oops I missed the latest page of the thread and posted a video that had already been posted, sorry.

[Cepheus]

Roli has made their Studio Player suite available for non-Roli hardware owners
https://roli.com/products/software/roli-studio
Use your code below to SAVE 20% until April 30th*.
STUDIO20

Basically, you have the engines of Equator, Strobe2 and Cypher2 running in a shell that also contain a smart chord, a multilayer (3) arpeggiator and a set of 4 basic audio effects (filter, reverb, distortion).

What they say:

ROLI Studio includes:
2 plugins: ROLI Studio Player & ROLI Studio Drums
500+ sounds, including 300+ MPE sounds
Presets from Equator, Cypher2, Strobe2 synths
Expansive audio effects and macros
Groundbreaking production tools like Smart Chords
Intuitive, easily navigable interfaces
Works with all MIDI controllers and DAWs

The presets can be expanded with additional soundpacks. The description of the content is rudimentary but based on the soundpacks that come already with the Rise, I estimate around 50 presets/pack

From the Roli website
Can I use these sounds in the full version of Equator, Strobe2 & Cypher2?
All Equator soundpacks will soon be supported in the upcoming Equator update, which we’ll be releasing soon.

[Tj Shredder]

Or if you got a Novation hardware you get it for free with their sound collective...

[Tj Shredder]

Tal is going iOS:
https://apps.apple.com/de/app/tal-u-no-lx/id1505608326

[Roger_Linn]

I've added ROLI Studio and TAL-U-NO-LX (weird name) of iPadOS to my Recommended Sounds page.

[Rimwolf]

TAL-U-NO-LX (weird name)

As they say on their website, it's an emulation of the Juno 60, you know.

[mrspiral]

TAL-U-NO-LX (weird name)

As they say on their website, it's an emulation of the Juno 60, you know.

Just picked it up and am pretty impressed with the sound, although I have yet to integrate it with my LS.

[LarsDaniel]

I don´t know if this is on your list, but FH-2 from Expert Sleepers does MPE.

[Echoes in the Attic]

This seems to be a new granular for desktop and mobile:
https://www.imaginando.pt/products/frms
A first test though reveals that MPE mode does not make a sound. I sent them a message and will report back...

This seems to work fine now. Good mpe implementation. Timbre apparently is called "mod" in the matrix. Cool synth. FM and granular.