2025: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2025)

[justin3am]

Will be onto a winner if they can exchange firmware to work as different models like their recent eurorack modules.

These are all analog distortion, like their small Ruina modules. I think the Super Saturator one is based on the Kith Ruina, the other two are based on common fuzz and overdrive circuits. It sounded like they might be working on a DSP based effect in this format but they didn't say much beyond that they wanted to get these three out later this year or early next year.

Oh I take it back then, I would have been interested in them as digital swappable pedals.

A few of the people at the event were wondering if that was planned and they said it was, but wouldn't offer any details. Understandable if they are trying to finish these quickly. I don't know if this is the same for them but I have an overwhelming compulsion to talk about projects which are not ready to be discussed yet, and it is very difficult to put a wet blanket on that impulse.

I really enjoyed talking with Kris and Stephen. They clearly love making stuff and get really excited about their products. It's a little infectious.

[vurt]

so what have your company got in the works?

[justin3am]

so what have your company got in the works?

We just shipped the 3rd generation of our Impact LX controllers. We have some software updates planned for later in the year and some other things. It's been a rough year so far but I'm really happy to get the new products out. I think people who use the DAWs which we support will be really happy. Some cool features our competitors haven't caught up to yet.

[vurt]

so what have your company got in the works?

We just shipped the 3rd generation of our Impact LX controllers. We have some software updates planned for later in the year and some other things. It's been a rough year so far but I'm really happy to get the new products out. I think people who use the DAWs which we support will be really happy. Some cool features our competitors haven't caught up to yet.

ooh i look forward to the release!

[justin3am]

Look backward not forward, Impact LXmk3 was released last week.
https://nektartech.com/products/impact-lxmk3/
There was an announcement on this very website, though I didn't see it because I don't often venture away from the forum, lol.

The 'Selected Parameter' thing was a bigger effort than it might seem and I think it's really useful. Most DAWs aren't really set up for that but we were able to make it work, even in some cases where it wasn't part of the DAW's control surface API.

What we call the 'Looper' was another feature we've been trying to get working across a number of DAWs and we're really happy with how that works. Core features give you the ability to navigate the timeline and see the arranger's playback/loop positions via the fader button LEDs but they also act as kind of macros for common recording functions. When you press the 'Loop Record' button, it starts recording but also activates the metronome, when you press it again, it moves the loop markers around the recorded performance, to loop a useful region and activates the loop markers. From there you can choose to overdub, move the looped region and record something new or accept what you recorded. It kinda automates parts of the recording process which would normally take your hands away from the controller.

Anyway, I hope people find these features useful, like I do. We don't really do much in the way of marketing and we just kinda make the things we want to use ourselves. I'm no sales person, so I don't know how to make people excited about a product announcement.

[foosnark]

A few of the people at the event were wondering if that was planned and they said it was, but wouldn't offer any details. Understandable if they are trying to finish these quickly. I don't know if this is the same for them but I have an overwhelming compulsion to talk about projects which are not ready to be discussed yet, and it is very difficult to put a wet blanket on that impulse.

I really enjoyed talking with Kris and Stephen. They clearly love making stuff and get really excited about their products. It's a little infectious.

Yeah, they are fun folks.

They always have a lot of stuff in different stages of development. Even though I beta test some stuff for them, there are always multiple new releases per year that come as a complete surprise to me.

There's definitely a niche for this form factor. I don't know if it's my ADHD tendencies or what, but I really prefer having my stuff in racks/on stands, all ready to go. The chaotic nature of individual little gizmos in different sizes, shapes and jack configurations with their own power supplies kind of stresses me out. I have a couple of things like that but they don't get used as often.

[justin3am]

There's definitely a niche for this form factor. I don't know if it's my ADHD tendencies or what, but I really prefer having my stuff in racks/on stands, all ready to go. The chaotic nature of individual little gizmos in different sizes, shapes and jack configurations with their own power supplies kind of stresses me out. I have a couple of things like that but they don't get used as often.

I totally hear you on this! I can handle modular spaghetti but I don't like the power cables running everywhere. It's why I affix all the stomp boxes and desktop boxes onto pedal boards, when I use that kind of stuff. I do the cable routing and have centralized power distribution, so it's about as neat as it can be but I prefer working with a modular rack or rack mounted gear in general.

[vurt]

Look backward not forward, Impact LXmk3 was released last week.
https://nektartech.com/products/impact-lxmk3/
There was an announcement on this very website, though I didn't see it because I don't often venture away from the forum, lol.

wait? theres more to kvr than the forum?

The 'Selected Parameter' thing was a bigger effort than it might seem and I think it's really useful. Most DAWs aren't really set up for that but we were able to make it work, even in some cases where it wasn't part of the DAW's control surface API.

What we call the 'Looper' was another feature we've been trying to get working across a number of DAWs and we're really happy with how that works. Core features give you the ability to navigate the timeline and see the arranger's playback/loop positions via the fader button LEDs but they also act as kind of macros for common recording functions. When you press the 'Loop Record' button, it starts recording but also activates the metronome, when you press it again, it moves the loop markers around the recorded performance, to loop a useful region and activates the loop markers. From there you can choose to overdub, move the looped region and record something new or accept what you recorded. It kinda automates parts of the recording process which would normally take your hands away from the controller.

Anyway, I hope people find these features useful, like I do. We don't really do much in the way of marketing and we just kinda make the things we want to use ourselves. I'm no sales person, so I don't know how to make people excited about a product announcement.

the looper thing sounds cool, good to see that controllers are starting to intergrate with the hosts, rather than just be hands on synth controls. i know theyve always had transport, but this is getting into the meat of itb work, editing.
probably no use to me, dont think i use any of the hosts, although i do have an itch to try bitwig one day...

[justin3am]

Thanks vurt! Definitely check out Bitwig if you haven't.

Back on topic...
I'm starting my audio interface overhaul, and this time it doesn't require making any changes to the patch bay! A miracle.
I ordered a Rednet TNX: https://us.focusrite.com/products/rednet-tnx
It will double the amount of I/O I can get into my computer through the Dante Network, with 128 inputs and outputs. I could even expand to 256 inputs and outputs with a software upgrade but I figure I'll be okay with the stock configuration now.

[ghettosynth]

There's definitely a niche for this form factor. I don't know if it's my ADHD tendencies or what, but I really prefer having my stuff in racks/on stands, all ready to go. The chaotic nature of individual little gizmos in different sizes, shapes and jack configurations with their own power supplies kind of stresses me out. I have a couple of things like that but they don't get used as often.

I totally hear you on this! I can handle modular spaghetti but I don't like the power cables running everywhere. It's why I affix all the stomp boxes and desktop boxes onto pedal boards, when I use that kind of stuff. I do the cable routing and have centralized power distribution, so it's about as neat as it can be but I prefer working with a modular rack or rack mounted gear in general.

Exactly, if you're going to have free boxes then the optimum number of boxes is one. One tube screamer, in the guitar case, no problem. Two pedals, it's time for a pedalboard.

[foosnark]

Well I may need a (cheap) pedalboard, because I just ordered one of these:



Slöer and Dark Star fit side by side on an Ikea laptop stand, but three pedals won't...

[ghettosynth]

Ooh, of course, yes, I need another reverb, and another, and another, another, another, other, othereotherothsssssshshshshshshsh.

[elxsound]

Well I may need a (cheap) pedalboard…

I still love my $30 cutting board. It’s worked better than I thought.

[Constructed Identity]

I don't want to get this far. I have decided I'm going to give my nephew my delay petal, Lust V2 for Christmas.

[elxsound]

Each to their own. None of it makes sense unless it’s useful and gets used.

I really enjoy my setup. The only swap coming up is changing out Rev C for another Rev C (different color).

The board is meant for guitar but I have the output connected to Eurorack Bluebox, and sometimes will send an aux out from BlueBox for FX loop fun.

Plus, I still haven’t been able to play much guitar due to a shoulder on the mend. I did just get the Wildkat back in great shape. I replaced the bridge and then my brother did setup work on it. That one is light enough to play and no more buzzing strings!