Winter NAMM 2020 Roundup! (Patreon)

Hi all!

My first time going to NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Conference is all wrapped up. It was a wild time with lots of cool gear and cooler people. Here's my roundup of synth experiences there: 

KORG WAVESTATE

The first synth I filmed and an absolute favorite. This is a reincarnation of the Korg Wavestation from the early 1990s. 4 channels per patch of sample oscillators (lots of them) or PCM sounds, or both. Lots of modulation and sequencing options. Lots of filter types, lots of effects. It's an incredibly unique synth that packs a ton into a small package. I desperately want one.

Watch my demo video here: https://youtu.be/V5HY5-PgySU 

ASM HYDRASYNTH

If you want a hardware wavetable synth, this is your best bet right now. It's got all the shit you love about Serum packed into one of the more intuitive layouts I've ever used. Seriously, whoever designed this thing knows what they're doing. It sounds great, has poly aftertouch, and lots of macro knobs for tweaking on the fly. I really enjoyed it and wouldn't kick it out of my studio.

Watch my demo video here: https://youtu.be/U2_3iNMtDwU 

Waldorf KYRA

I gave this a try to finally hear if there was any reason to actually want it. It's as close to an Access Virus in 2020 as we'll get, but I found myself really frustrated with the controls. The sound is like a very polished VST, and while I assume it's capable of a TON of great sounds, I didn't really feel that wonderful playing it.

Watch my demo video here: https://youtu.be/wFhvQGmZDIE 

Sequential Pro 3

You know how we're not supposed to call synths beasts anymore? Well, too bad, because this synth is one. I loved playing this thing. 3 osc mono/paraphonic synth with great effects, great sequencer, great filters, and TONS of distortion options. This thing get dirty and gritty and huge and everything in between. This and the Wavestate are the two synths I walked away from NAMM really wanting to play more with.

Watch my demo video here: https://youtu.be/yxj0q6hQu0M 

Sonicware LIVEN

From the people that brought you "OP-1, but not OP-1" we have a surprising entry in the chiptune hardware market. Robust sequencer with p-locking and other cool stuff. What I learned that was most exciting is that it will resample itself up to 4 times internally, so you can build up some pretty complex patterns. The effects sound really good too.

Watch an intro and demo video here: https://youtu.be/pf0SnVgWcBM 

OTHER THOUGHTS

I was super disappointed that Expressive E didn't have an Osmose there. I had booked time to go see it and demo it, but when I learned they didn't have a unit there, I noped out.

Novation and Elektron had strong showings. The new Launchpad Pro is legitimately cool and absolutely packed with neat sequencer functions like generative, mutation, etc. Both companies hinted at something neat in the synthesizer department coming soon, but they weren't able to tell me anything else.

There was a neat little modular case from what I think is the same company that makes the iConnectivity interfaces (https://www.cre8audio.com/niftybundle). Really good price point and some intriguing modules that come with it.

And that's about all I really checked out! Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks!