Members carbon111 Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Here's John at NAMM courtesy of Sonic State: http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2009/01/26/wnamm09-john-bowens-solaris-nears-production/ ...and here's a few of the pics I took when I was there: It sounds as good as it looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ElectricPuppy Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 NICE pics, James! Thanks! I got a little gas going on here. Nothing I can't manage, though. I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AfroRouge Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Meh, I guess that's an ok feature set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members evildragon Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Bitchin'! That's all I have to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChristianRock Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Everybody should have a joystick plus wheels. Well done. Also, the interface looks quite impressive, as does the feature set! What do all 6 envelopes control? X number of Filters, amp and?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AfroRouge Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 I assume they're freely routable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members evildragon Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 I'm afraid to ask the recommended price for that beauty and the beast 2-in-1 package ^^' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carbon111 Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 I assume they're freely routable. Yep...though #6 is hardwired to the VCA (though you can decouple it and use it elsewhere). The oscillators and rotors can be used more than once in a patch and routed to any mixer(s) of choice which in turn can be routed to any filter(s) of choice...and fed back in at choice points...whatever you desire. So each patch is sort of like a multi with inter-patch modulation and signal flow. Hopefully John will get some demos up soon...it's very sweet sounding. Very organic. Once again, the specs: * Price - retail US price will be $3,999 * General availability - April 2009 (after all pre-sales are filled) * 4 Oscs, 2 Rotors, 4 Mixers, 4 Filters, 4 Amp/Pan sections, 8 Envelopes, 5 LFOs, 4 External Inputs, Flanger/Chorus, Phaser, Delay, 3 band EQ, Overdrive * 2 Vector Mixers * 2 separate AM (amplitude modulation) sections, with Ring, AM, Rectify, & Clip algorithms * Joystick and multi-touch Ribbon controllers * Arpeggiator and control Step Sequencer provided, with MIDI output * Performance buttons include 2 assignable switches, Arpeggiator Start, Sequencer Start, Hold, (Tap) Tempo, Unison * Polyphony count - expected to be 24 voices with all 4 oscs, 4 filters, 4 mixers, envelopes, LFOs, etc. running * 96 kHz internal processing rate * Insert FX pre-/post each filter section, with BitCrush, Decimate, and Distortion * 4 pair of outputs; Main pair for v1.0, additional outputs reserved for future use (when Multi-Timbre Mode is implemented) * separate Headphone out Detail per section: Oscillators - each osc type selects from standard waveshapes (MultiMode Osc), wavetable (PPG) type, sample (WAV) playback, CEM (Prophet 5) type, or Prophet VS type. The MM (MultiMode) type provides the following waveshapes: Sine, triangle, ramp, saw, pulse, noise, S&H, morphing sine-to-saw, morphing sine-to-square, and a stacked "supersaw" with varible detune (based on the Shape parameter). Hard Sync is only available for MM saw, ramp, pulse, and the CEM osc models. New types will be added as they are developed via an upgrade to the OS. Individual "analog-style" glide is available for each oscillator. There are 4 mod paths. Each one is freely assignable to select exponential frequency (normal pitch mod), Linear FM, or Shape as their destination. Mod Sources include any oscillator, any filter, the 4 external inputs, any of the lfos, envelopes, controllers, etc.. A 'sidechain modulation' function is provided for each path, using Controller (non-audio rate) signals. Controller signals are all lfos and envelopes, velocity, note, aftertouch, mod wheel, ribbon, joystick, select MIDI controllers, assignable CC knobs, etc. Filters - 4 filters, each with selectable inputs. Filter types include: 1) all pole possibilities for the MultiMode (MM1) filter, including 24 dB Lowpass, Highpass, and Bandpass, 12 dB Lowpass, Highpass, and Bandpass, and 6 dB Lowpass, Highpass, and Bandpass, along with some other combination modes, for a total of 23 variations. 2) 24 dB Lowpass modeled on the Prophet 5 Rev1 filter (SSM2040) 3) 24 dB Lowpass modeled on the Rev 3 Prophet 5 (CEM3320) 4) 12 dB Lowpass modeled on the Oberheim SVF 5) Comb/Tube filter (the "tube" is a comb with negative feedback) New filter types will be added as they are developed via an upgrade to the OS. For filter modulation, it's the same structure as the Oscillators - there are 4 mod paths. Each one is freely assignable to select Cutoff, Resonance, or Damping (if Comb/Tube is selected) as their destination. Mod Sources include any oscillator, any filter, the 4 external inputs, any of the lfos, envelopes, controllers, etc.. A 'sidechain modulation' function is provided for each path, using Controller (non-audio rate) signals. Controller signals are all lfos and envelopes, velocity, note, aftertouch, mod wheel, ribbon, joystick, select MIDI controllers, assignable CC knobs, etc. ADSRs - there are 6 standard DADSRs. Each overall amount can be modulated by Velocity, and each segment can be individually modulated from Velocity, Note, Mod Wheel, and assignable Midi Controllers (CC1-CC5). Also, each segment can have a variable slope, from linear to exponential. Looping Envelopes - there are also 2 looping envelopes, each with 8 Time&Level segments. There is overall modulation possible of Time and Level. LFOs - there are 5 identical LFOs, with the fifth being permanently connected to the frequency of all oscs (therefore, it is called the Vibrato LFO). The LFOs have the standard waveshape types, and range from 0-524 Hz. There are parameters for Delay Start, Fade In, Fade Out, Rate, Waveshape, Retrigger, Phase, Level, MIDI Clocking, and Offset (offset provides a positive unipolar signal for the lfo outputs). There are 3 mod paths, similar to the Oscillator modulation structure. The destinations here are selectable for Rate or Level. VCAs - There are several models implemented for the final output stage circuit. VCA Types include: Linear, Log, and Sigma (Minimoog style). There is 1 mod path for the VCA, and 1 for the Pan position. Vector Synthesis - There are 2 Vector Mixer sections. The Joystick (non-spring loaded) in the leftmost section is normally connected to both Vector Mixers, but can be disabled. AM Sections - 2 Amplitude Modulation sections, each of which have Carrier, Modulator, Algorithm and Shaper parameters. Ring Mod is one of the algorithms provided. Effects - Initially available will be delay, flanger/chorus, reverb, EQ, Overdrive. As with the other sections, additional FX types such as a vocoder or resonant filter bank will be added as they are developed via an upgrade to the OS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bruto Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Those look good. I still like the white one. Does John Bowen have a release date yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AfroRouge Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Amazing stuff. Hope it finds some buyers in these tough times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carbon111 Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Amazing stuff. Hope it finds some buyers in these tough times. The first couple batches are pretty much spoken for so there's no immediate worry. I honestly think John will do fine in spite of the economic downturn because of the Solaris' unique desirability based on its depth and ease-of-use especially for sound design. John Bowen Synth Design has solid financial backing as well. That said, I'm glad I preordered mine as it would be harder to afford at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bloopbleep Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 DLP, you know you want it:love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members evildragon Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Looking at those specs, I think we have a synth packed with features, and exquisite looks, and all this reminds me of Waldorf Wave somehow. I think that Solaris has the most beautiful UI I've ever encountered on a synth. Really. It's well worth the money. I mean, c'mon, FOUR FILTERS? That's, like, crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ElectricPuppy Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 The UI is what appeals to me most. Looks very straight-forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carbon111 Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 The UI is what appeals to me most. Looks very straight-forward. When I first spoke with John about the Solaris, he'd come over to our house for one of our "synth parties" and he told me about how he was thinking of making one of his plug-ins into a hardware synth...his two major concerns were, first, the quality of sound and, second, the ergonomics of the UI. ...it's a few years later now and none of that has changed. The internal rate is 96k throughought, the filters and oscillators are lush and organic sounding and the UI makes getting to and tweaking 800-some parameters relatively quick and painless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stikygum Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 ...it's a few years later now and none of that has changed. The internal rate is 96k throughought, the filters and oscillators are lush and organic sounding and the UI makes getting to and tweaking 800-some parameters relatively quick and painless. 800? That would be quite a feat to accomplish. Looking forward to demos. I think the cream colored one looks the best. This thing screams Xpander for design, which is very cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members evildragon Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 This really looks and sounds great. However, 4 voices is not enough for me. You have read wrong. It says TWENTY FOUR voices with ALL oscillators and filters active! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flowthrough Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Once again, the specs: * Price - retail US price will be $3,999 *cough* *cough* - great pics, design sure looks similar to the OBMx (the 'white whale') Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hogberto Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 Here's John at NAMM courtesy of Sonic State: http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2009/01/26/wnamm09-john-bowens-solaris-nears-production/ ...and here's a few of the pics I took when I was there: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carbon111 Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 DUDE IS THAT A JUNO? No! It's a Mewg sympathizer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fuzzlabs Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 WANT!!! No idea when I can afford to buy one though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChromaLord Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 How solid do the wheels and keys feel? I only ask because just from the pix- it looks a little "plastic". Other than that, I'm impressed and am eager to get my hands on one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members evildragon Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 I think that owning an OASYS and this beast alone is a fearful rig that can shake the stage. I doubt carbon will do that, because I think he also loves his Waldorf gear too much (XT in particular, IIRC?) to get rid of it, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members whatwhat808 Posted January 27, 2009 Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 I really hope I don't get my expected raise because that will more than likely guarantee I get one of these and I don't need to spend that much money on a synth right now. If retail was $3000, I could totally justify it but $4000? : | Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carbon111 Posted January 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 27, 2009 I think he also loves his Waldorf gear too much (XT in particular, IIRC?) to get rid of it, right? You know it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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