I wouldn’t be surprised if TE announced that the OP-1 was discontinued in favour of the (much cheaper to produce) OP-Z. It’s been a long time since there was any new stock going to retailers.
Wireless midi controllers. With everything going wireless these days, I’m surprised that we don’t see more.
Is it time for a Keystep Pro yet? I’m envisioning a keystep with loads of assignable knobs and maybe pads.
From Elektron: Overbridge, Digitakt and Digitone software updates with a few new features, maybe a tease of a mixer or looper in the Digitakt format.
An update to the Boss RC loopers would be sweet.
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He said in a recent interview that he was working on something but it was a long way off from showing off. Maybe Lin2?? That would be cool.
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Elektron will unveil Ryan(from elektronauts) Editions of everything in my studio(DT, OTmk1, A4mk1, and MD)
There will be little llama sketches on the side of each unit.
Each unit will be shipped with a series of projects of half finished patterns and scrapped together patches/presets.
It’s the only new thing that would make me want to change my current setup
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On some post on here somewhere, some months back, some user said that Elektron had something very special planned in regards to an Octatrack.
So there’s that.
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So it’s safe to assume that we’ll see a ton of new stuff.
I’ll try to get a little far out – what’s the use in predicting what we already know? I will mostly be wrong. [We need to keep in mind what is prediction and what is wish.]
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Elektron digital effects box, the Digital Heat.
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Elektron Digital Synth with analog filters in DT DN box.
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Pioneer – New synth, done with the help of another establishment company. This also might be surprisingly good and affordable.
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Moog – Fruit of the Sub-Harmonicon, though you might not exactly recognize it.
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Roland – redo of the MX-1, that actually is more practical as a controllable performance mixer.
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NI Komplete Kontrol ‘X’ Series controller. NI can’t be done yet overwhelming the controller market.
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IK Multimedia – another synth, maybe two, like the Uno Synth. They will be making a Volca like series.
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Casio – Low cost digital synth keyboard, that actually might be at least a little interesting.
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Arturia Matrix Mini – lots of controller type features, and a synth or drum sounds and effects, a CV interface, a patch-bay area, and a smaller matrix. $1200 price range.
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Novation Peak Mini – I think this is a lock.
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Waldorf STVC – redone with improvements, but same price points.
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Empress Zoia – redone, larger and very powerful.
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Polyend Seq controller V2 using bendable keys like Medusa. Maybe a built in CV interface. Likely smaller than the Seq V1.
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Ableton hardware – but not the Push 3. Maybe a hit.
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Presonus interface hardware larger than the Atom.
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Yamaha MODX Desktop – This is a wish only, sadly it won’t happen.
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Sequential Prophet X Desktop – Maybe, maybe not.
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Behringer Arp 2600 – This is more in the category of wish – my wish.
Trends
- Several companies will do variations on hive or very high voice count digital synths.
- Midi controller makers will follow on with competition to the Novation SL MKIII, and be adding more diverse functionality to their controllers.
- More multifunction mixers, like the Tascam Model 24, and the Zoom L-20. Combination mixer, audio interface, and stand-alone recorder. Will there be midi control?
- More semi-modular synths with patch-bay to the side, like the Moog DFAM, Behringer Neutron and Arturia MiniBrute.
- More ‘kids’ showing up with amazing synths and devices they did in their parent’s garage.
In the Wings
The following items are already in the cards, but may still be waiting in the wings by January. Perhaps some early protos:
- Linn Drum 2
- Waldorf Kyra
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Keen for more on the Waldorf Kyra
Last I heard was that when Waldorf jumped onboard the price skyrocketed 
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Where did you see that info? I was really interested in the original Valkyrie project but never caught wind of any price expectations anywhere.
Can’t remember now
Think it was mentioned about $2500 which was more than the developer originally announced.
If it’s like a turbo charged TI it could be worth it
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A pro spec Roland mx1 would be interesting.
Does anyone do a multi track recorder with din midi sync?
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It’s to early for them to have set a price, certainly nothing public, we don’t even know in detail what it is yet. They would have thought through targets and market analysis sorts of things, so there is a target range. BUT this is a thread for prediction, so there’s yours.
I think as far as complexity of electronics given my understanding of things, it’s more like a Blofeld x 2 than it is a Quantum. FPGAs are generally very economic in implementation.
I am with you though, this definitely is something to watch.
I’ve got my fingers crossed for Korg to step up and showcase a true successor to the legendary EMX-1…
The Minilogue sound engine in a groovebox that has a SONG MODE! I would be all over this thing… Don’t think it’ll happen but one can dream… Right?
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Yeaaaa lot’s of new gear will be coming… love it.
I made a gear budget for 2019. Don’t want to spend without keeping it in a frame. As I will have a new space to work with I will also force myself to make “something” happen in exchange to spend the budget. Even if it is a small accomplishment. (Like making a sample pack).
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My 2 cents…
Excited about the Waldorf Kyra, could be the first “expensive” synth I consider buying.
Would love to see a new Roland SP sampler, the last update to the 404 was a bit lame.
Very interested in seeing what Elektron unveil of course, any update to Digitakt and Digitone OS is most welcome. New looper/mixer/fx box would be awesome.
Apart from that, looking forward to being surprised!
I’m looking forward to the Empress Zoia.
Regarding the Roland SP samplers… how the hell is the new SP404a the best part of £400?? That’s ridiculously expensive for something so limited.
I’d love to grab an SP but quite frankly that’s extortionate.
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Sequential OB.Prophet-16, 16 voice vco 5 octave keyboard with configurable Curtis and SEM filters.
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Someone will tell Cenk to turn it, whatever it is, down.
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The 606 was what the SP line should of evolved to. The velocity on it was good. The effects on it were good and so was the DA/AD. It was the poor mans MPC1000 at the time. All these years and the 404 doesn’t have velocity sensitivity. Oh well.
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Hell, it doesn’t even have a simple 2 stages amp envelop, nor pitch… I love it but working with it sometimes really demands a warrior level motivation.
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Yes, but after hearing a few Valkyrie audio demos from last NAMM, i think i like the sound of the Virus more. I can’t tell exactly what it is, it’s like something is missing in the sound.
But still one of the hardware synths i’m exited about. Unfortunately no wavetables Import and editing options, unless Waldorf implements this function.
Still hope Accsess delivers a real successor.
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I was curious what happened with this thing. A lot of buzz a while ago has dissipated. If it’s still being worked on, then hopefully they lean back on their purely hardware ideals and include a USB port and software editor
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