The Steampipe is a true physical modeling synthesizer developed in close collaboration between Erica Synths and the Dutch company 112dB.com.
Features
8-voice polyphony
Physical modeling engine with 32 adjustable parameters
5 assignable LFOs with delay and sync
Extensive modulation matrix with MIDI controller-specific configurations
64 factory presets and 192 user preset memory
Preset export and import via USB
DIN5 MIDI Input
MIDI Thru/Out
All parameters are MIDI CC controllable
Stereo line level output
Headphone output
Dimensions:45.5cm x 27cm x 7cm
Weight: 3kg
The Steampipe is an 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer, but it has no conventional oscillators. Instead, it mimics the way sound is created in wind and string instruments and it is fine-tuned to create a wide range of sounds. The Steampipe is optimized for performance with wind MIDI controllers and it works great with any MIDI keyboard. The overtones the Steampipe produces are very organic and rich. It also comes with great-sounding presets.
The Steampipe is quite versatile and allows for nuanced sonic exploration, conjuring sonic imagery ranging from from wisps of cloud to fairground band organs, then to industrial horns of the railroad and finally, to massive, otherworldly ambiences. Due to detailed controls over multiple physical modeling parameters, the Steampipe is capable of generating very organic emulations of real instruments, but it goes well beyond the conventional pitch and dynamic ranges they can produce – imagine how a flute or clarinet would sound in C1 or C7!
I own an Osmose, but the “editor” is unbearable. This could be a more “hands-on” experience.
I find the manual to be a bit sparse.
A few things that I don’t get :
Manual mentions destinations in the mod matrix, but what are the sources ?
EDIT : they seem to be 4 assignable CCs. But does it mean that every MPE dimension can work, on a per-note basis ?
MPE is not very much advertised. It makes me suspect that it’s half-baked. I mean, on such a synth, it should be one of the most important marketing argument, shouldn’t it ?
The point of MPE is that each control can be expressed or understood (depending if you’re a controller or an instrument) per channel.
Steampipe is an instrument that says it supports MPE controllers, so I would assume it listens for and makes sense of CCs, aftertouch, etc sent per channel. I don’t think I get what else there is to say about it?
Well, a lot of instruments says they are MPE, but basically just have the ability too route Poly AT to Filter cutoff and note PB to pitch.
To m, in the end, it’s a matter of how many MPE dimensions it handles, and what destinations can be modulated by these dimensions.
EDIT : according to loopop video, it seems to accept polyAT, cc74 and PB as modulation sources, so…relieved.
Instant pre-order for me. I’ve been waiting on this for a while. Kind of a dream synth for me and I was starting to worry about whether or not it was going to make it over the finish line. So happy to see it in its final form!
I think the folks at Erica Synths are really leading the way in terms of hardware interface designs in terms of their “big synths”. Large knobs and good spacing make them a pleasure to use. I love my Perkons and the Syntrx, and this looks equally accessible and fun to twiddle.
I like the clean appearance and the wood cheeks; it seems very cool and like it has a ton of power under the hood.
Physically, I feel like some of the knob groups are a little close together, but I guess that’s just working within the confines of the space and so in this regard (in practice) it’s probably no worse than any other modern synth.
Be interested to hear what jemmons and others think of this after having a go with it.
When I watched the SB23 videos, it felt like “My daughter plays woodwinds, I want to build something for her.” As a father, I completely sympathize; as a synth fan, I wasn’t sure. These videos are much more convincing.
I know those knobs and switches, and it will feel nice, though perhaps a bit crowded. It looks very playable, even without a wind controller (though I’d want poly AT or MPE, and I have only a tiny QuNexus Red for these right now). Everything looks quite usable and it doesn’t seem as if there are a lot of plateaus or chaotic noisy zones (though I have not seen sound design from scratch yet). Kudos to Erica Synths for doing something different (though very grounded in known techniques).
I don’t think I want to own one, but I will definitely play with one at the first opportunity.
