I think Aodyo hinted at some point that they were thinking of a poly version of the Anyma at some point? Alternately, I suppose you can always buy a stack of them and a midihub…
I’ve wanted to post this here for a while.
A good option for polyphonic physical modeling hardware is the Korg Prologue or Minilogue XD with the Physiq user oscillator from DirtBoxSynths.
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And now we can add another, just teased, the new Anyma Omega from Aodyo. ( thread )
ADDED : The Anyma Omega gives a choice between a keyboard and a desktop unit. They are 16 voice 4 part multitimbral, and both give a ton of user configurable real time controls. The physical modeling sounds quite good in the videos shown so far.
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Not very common, but the Technics SX-WSA1 from 1995.
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Not really polyphonic in the true sense but it has 8 voices: Qubit Surface eurorack module. Sounds really good but, alas, I bit limited on models.
Not hardware but the best PM synth to my ears is Kaivo by Madrona Labs
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Ok, you said “not”, but I just got a Z1, and I’m kicking myself for having waited 25 years (!). Enough said.
I also just got an Anyma Phi and waiting for the Anyma Omega. Different beasts though.
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If paraphony is ok the Arturia MicroFreak has Karplus Strong and Modal Resonators. The Arturia MiniFreak presumably gets those to full polyphony.
On the software side there’s Rhizomatic Plasmonic, AAS Chromaphone, and Imoxplus Respiro (not sure on polyphony? only used it with a wind controller).
Korg Opsix can do some physical modeling, with the 2.0 update adding the effect operator with comb filter as one of the effects.
Prophet 12 tuned feedback - really cool as you can synthesize the exciter and FM the LPF/HPF waveshaper
Be interested to hear your take on the differences between the Phi vs Z1, in regards to sound definition and character (and models). Mostly love the Z1, but been tempted by the Phi.
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Anyma Omega looks very interesting. I hope it comes to fruition.
If anyone wants physical modelling polysynth in hardware form there is Maschine+ with Prism loaded up. Kind of clunky but it is a solution, the presets sound great and with the onboard Raum reverb is sounds very nice.
I tried Waldorf Iridium and didn’t jive with it.
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So as the prospects for the Omega fades, Steampipe from Erica Synths is making a resurgence.
Steampipe will be an eight voice physical modelling synth, primarily for strings and winds with its own style and sound.
Here’s a very short ( no sound ) snip from a discussion with Girts of ES done at a recent show in Montreal, with him saying the synth is in its final stages of development and is likely to ship by some time in early November.
ES is also scheduled to show at Roma Modulare today, and Machina Bristronica in two weeks ( thread on those shows ) so we may have some more news on this soon.
I tested the Korg Prophecy plugin (as I understand it’s a sort of simplified one voice Z1) and it surprisingly well stood the time, a very nice tone and sounds, despite it’s a 30 years old technology. To my ears, Ayodo are a different direction
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I’ve been so curious about the progress of this. Wasn’t this introduced at SB 2023? Looking forward to hopefully hearing more from the upcoming shows.
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Also Loopop
Officially on Thomann. I have not had GAS for a long time, but i always wanted a cool physical modelling synth and the Omega didn’t work out…
Polyend Synth
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Yeah, but two voices only, that’s the major drawback.
If you got the bank I think I remember Nonlinear C15 being great at modeling. Very interesting instrument. Was meant to be played as opposed to sequenced, but they’ve now implemented MIDI.
For very inexpensive polyphonic physical modeling there is the 2hp Pluck Eurorack module. Four voice polyphony ( with decay set slower ), tiny, inexpensive ( $149 USD ), good sounding Karplus Strong module, for all the essential string pluck sounds, and more.
Divkid did a good demonstration video which does a good job of displaying how this module can be used.
2hp also makes Bell similar idea, but 6 note polyphony done similarly.
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Will include Plonk from Intellijel which uses software from Applied Acoustic Systems who also makes software physical modelers like Chromaphone and Collision.
I will include it here despite limitations with it in polyphony. It at best is duophonic, and there are things you can’t change, between the two notes, although you can use things like 4 part drum kits to compensate. Plus it is CV control, and that control is on the last note triggered. So a bit of an asterisk in the category of polyphony.
Plonk ( not to be confused with the aforementioned Pluck ) is 12 hp, and does provide a decent amount of front panel controls and feedback from a module it’s size. It uses an exciter and resonator model for physical synthesis ( so different from Karplus Strong models ) with those having many assignable CV controllable modulation sources, including pitch of course.
Check out the video if this is new to you and you’ve not heard the sounds it can produce.
