NAMM leaks, announcements, and rumors

[lordgalvar]

Experimental Noize Aphazing
https://www.experimentalnoize.com/

• Experimental Noize designed and sells the Spin FV-1. Frank, the owner/designer, worked at Alesis during the Quadrasynth and HR-16 days. He was one of the designers of the quadrasynth. Co-designer of the Spin FV-1 too. Really an awesome, nice, knowledgable guy to talk too. They released the Spin Cycle last year, but are releasing a 2, 4, 8, or 12 stage phaser with adjustable peaks and valleys on the LFO plus different four phasing modes (two additive and two subtractive). Really sounded awesome (all analog too). The pedal looked freaking great and rugged (all steel...smd too). Also has resonance and depth. 9v. I think he said it would be out in April/May at 229 USD street...their shop is down the street from my house. I really like the sound out of it.
  
  However, it is mono (which really isn't a problem for me) and has no CV or exp functions...which is ok, but some might want that these days. Franks said they had to draw the line somewhere. With the four modes, I think that is cool enough. Forgot to ask about the rate range on the LFO (just says wide). Hopefully it gets into moog territory!
  
  I think the black box next to the yellow one was the prototype.

Speaking of phasers, at the Mu-Tron booth, they were using the pi-phase bi-phase clone...maybe it is licensed/endorsed by Mike Mu-Tron? If so, maybe that is as close as we get to a reissue?

[Chankgeez]

Speaking of phasers, at the Mu-Tron booth, they were using the pi-phase bi-phase clone...maybe it is licensed/endorsed by Mike Mu-Tron? If so, maybe that is as close as we get to a reissue?

That's kind of hilarious.

[Bartimaeus]

The Mellotron Micro is expected to run $800-1000 (laughs). For two octaves, this thing ought to have amazing action, stereo outs, real MIDI (no MIDI-to-USB) and run around $450 tops.

It kills me that this thing even exists. You might as well get rid of the keyboard and just release it as a tabletop processor. Two octaves isn't a player's instrument, and if you want a nice bass drone underneath for textural stuff or scoring a film, it'd be much more usable with at least 3 octaves. If you're just going to slave it to a controller, then the keyboard becomes moot. This thing just seems like a lose-lose. If you've got $800-1000 to drop on this thing, why not just buy a Nord and load it with some Tron presets? I just don't see the user for this thing.

THIS IS ADORABLE!

I think that it could really have a nice place in a live setup.
Computers are a pain to carry around, so a lot of people might stick one of these on top of their main digital organ/piano/synth rather than use a plug-in. They could slave it to the main keyboard, or play Mellotron melodies on the small keyboard and chords/pads with the built-in sounds of their main Hammond or Nord.

It's still overpriced, but I bet a bunch of classic rock keyboardists are really excited for this thing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_Ixs_g8EhE[/youtube]
Watch this video at 3:55.

[echorec]

• Experimental Noize designed and sells the Spin FV-1. Frank, the owner/designer, worked at Alesis during the Quadrasynth and HR-16 days. He was one of the designers of the quadrasynth. Co-designer of the Spin FV-1 too. Really an awesome, nice, knowledgable guy to talk too. They released the Spin Cycle last year, but are releasing a 2, 4, 8, or 12 stage phaser with adjustable peaks and valleys on the LFO plus different four phasing modes (two additive and two subtractive). Really sounded awesome (all analog too). The pedal looked freaking great and rugged (all steel...smd too). Also has resonance and depth. 9v. I think he said it would be out in April/May at 229 USD street...their shop is down the street from my house. I really like the sound out of it.
  
  However, it is mono (which really isn't a problem for me) and has no CV or exp functions...which is ok, but some might want that these days. Franks said they had to draw the line somewhere. With the four modes, I think that is cool enough. Forgot to ask about the rate range on the LFO (just says wide). Hopefully it gets into moog territory!
  
  I think the black box next to the yellow one was the prototype.

Speaking of phasers, at the Mu-Tron booth, they were using the pi-phase bi-phase clone...maybe it is licensed/endorsed by Mike Mu-Tron? If so, maybe that is as close as we get to a reissue?

When you posted the other day, I thought you might talking about these guys. I saw their Leslie simulators on Amazon last year, but the $449 price tag has kept it out of my cart. (it does sound robust and lush though) I'm intrigued by the Aphazing. Thanks for sharing that. To this point their Web presence has been limited, only selling domestically through Amazon, but hopefully that will change this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ypLynfH8o

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0117Z ... ct_details

https://www.facebook.com/ExperimentalNoize/ (only 53 likes )

When you say Mu-Tron, I'm assuming you mean Mu-FX, not Haz Laboratories. Mike Beigel (Mu-FX) has previously discussed a desire to reissue the vintage Bi-Phase circuit, but I find it weird that he wouldn't bring one of his own vintage units. Maybe he's just been impressed by it and wanted to keep it around as a comparative conversation piece?

From Beigel's Mu-FX site:

[Mu-FX plans on recreating the remaining products from the original Mu-Tron product line in a smaller size, with improved sound quality and reliability and at a competitive price point.]

An FYI for anyone interested: the EN page has good info and data sheets for potential builders on this page:

https://www.experimentalnoize.com/products_makers.php

**Edit: BTW, when you mentioned a $3K keyboard from the Big City Music booth, I'm guessing you meant the Dewanatron stuff. They have those in their shop for demoing, but you need to call before you visit. The owner is usually on the phone or out running errands, but Stephie is great. She's really helpful.

http://www.bigcitymusic.com/search?type ... dewanatron

[Jero]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QxSn6kkXmk[/youtube]

All sound pretty good to me! The discman doesn't seem like the outcome is repeatable (it skipped a diff pattern every time he strummed) which I get. If there's a way for it to be random &/or controlled, I'm in.

[echorec]

Premier Guitar has some more to share on the Empress Reverb.

[There probably aren't many reverb sounds Empress Effects' new stereo midi-compatible won't make when it hits in early summer. The crazily tweakable unit starts with very nice hall, plate, spring, and room emulations--then the real fun begins. Modulation, octave effects, programmable expression pedal parameters--you could get lost for a long time in this thing. Expect a street price of around $449.]

I can live with $449. It's still cheaper than the BigSky/Space and seems much more intuitive and user-friendly.

[Bartimaeus]

Premier Guitar has some more to share on the Empress Reverb.

[There probably aren't many reverb sounds Empress Effects' new stereo midi-compatible won't make when it hits in early summer. The crazily tweakable unit starts with very nice hall, plate, spring, and room emulations--then the real fun begins. Modulation, octave effects, programmable expression pedal parameters--you could get lost for a long time in this thing. Expect a street price of around $449.]

I can live with $449. It's still cheaper than the BigSky/Space and seems much more intuitive and user-friendly.

I can't believe how blatantly they copied the Strymon layout, but this thing looks killer! I'm way more interested than I was in the BlueSky.

[Inconuucl]

What do ghost and beer reverb sound like?

[D.o.S.]

Beer is their glitch mode.

[echorec]

Working back to phasers, who has seen the Zvex Candela Vibrophase? It might make some of you envision a more refined, ornamental, and sophisticated cousin of the Radioshack optical box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31pgOcLlCo0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxVUP-VMPS0

[echorec]

What do ghost and beer reverb sound like?

Beer is their glitch mode.

...and the Ghost mode is supposed to be a resonant, modulated setting.

[UglyCasanova]

I'm going to need to hear that glitch verb.

[Inconuucl]

I'm going to need to hear that glitch verb.

I've done something similar to that on Audulus (awesome modular synth app) and it's pretty cool. Wouldn't call it glitchy though.

[lordgalvar]

• Experimental Noize designed and sells the Spin FV-1. Frank, the owner/designer, worked at Alesis during the Quadrasynth and HR-16 days. He was one of the designers of the quadrasynth. Co-designer of the Spin FV-1 too. Really an awesome, nice, knowledgable guy to talk too. They released the Spin Cycle last year, but are releasing a 2, 4, 8, or 12 stage phaser with adjustable peaks and valleys on the LFO plus different four phasing modes (two additive and two subtractive). Really sounded awesome (all analog too). The pedal looked freaking great and rugged (all steel...smd too). Also has resonance and depth. 9v. I think he said it would be out in April/May at 229 USD street...their shop is down the street from my house. I really like the sound out of it.
  
  However, it is mono (which really isn't a problem for me) and has no CV or exp functions...which is ok, but some might want that these days. Franks said they had to draw the line somewhere. With the four modes, I think that is cool enough. Forgot to ask about the rate range on the LFO (just says wide). Hopefully it gets into moog territory!
  
  I think the black box next to the yellow one was the prototype.

Speaking of phasers, at the Mu-Tron booth, they were using the pi-phase bi-phase clone...maybe it is licensed/endorsed by Mike Mu-Tron? If so, maybe that is as close as we get to a reissue?

When you posted the other day, I thought you might talking about these guys. I saw their Leslie simulators on Amazon last year, but the $449 price tag has kept it out of my cart. (it does sound robust and lush though) I'm intrigued by the Aphazing. Thanks for sharing that. To this point their Web presence has been limited, only selling domestically through Amazon, but hopefully that will change this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ypLynfH8o

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0117Z ... ct_details

https://www.facebook.com/ExperimentalNoize/ (only 53 likes )

When you say Mu-Tron, I'm assuming you mean Mu-FX, not Haz Laboratories. Mike Beigel (Mu-FX) has previously discussed a desire to reissue the vintage Bi-Phase circuit, but I find it weird that he wouldn't bring one of his own vintage units. Maybe he's just been impressed by it and wanted to keep it around as a comparative conversation piece?

From Beigel's Mu-FX site:

[Mu-FX plans on recreating the remaining products from the original Mu-Tron product line in a smaller size, with improved sound quality and reliability and at a competitive price point.]

An FYI for anyone interested: the EN page has good info and data sheets for potential builders on this page:

https://www.experimentalnoize.com/products_makers.php

**Edit: BTW, when you mentioned a $3K keyboard from the Big City Music booth, I'm guessing you meant the Dewanatron stuff. They have those in their shop for demoing, but you need to call before you visit. The owner is usually on the phone or out running errands, but Stephie is great. She's really helpful.

http://www.bigcitymusic.com/search?type ... dewanatron

I know it is Mu-Fx, but just typed Mu-Tron...sorry to offend you. And we do have a thread here for Mu-Fx/Mike Beigel...and I have kept a close eye on everything they have done...was just a funny side note...really sorry for not being an "expert".

Frank told me that the Spin Cycle was in the 300s I think direct. He does the old MSRP/Street price stuff...so Spin Cycle is 439 or what ever but 339 street (or whatever). Aphazing is 339 but 229 street/direct (is what I think he said). Anyway...

And, yes I know I could go to bigcity...just don't want to. No reason too. Didn't like how they talked to me (via e-mail). Prefer to go visit Perfect Circuit or Analogue Haven. Both have been awesome and really really great to deal with. Not really looking to give them business.

[lordgalvar]

Working back to phasers, who has seen the Zvex Candela Vibrophase? It might make some of you envision a more refined, ornamental, and sophisticated cousin of the Radioshack optical box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31pgOcLlCo0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxVUP-VMPS0

Saw that yesterday. They wern't demoing it though...I thought it was just for looks.

Met Bart from Effects Database too. Seemed nice, wasn't too talkative though. Gabriel from BestGuitarEffects was kicking it at the Lightning Wave booth. Met the guy that runs/owns Red Witch too. He was really awesome!