NAMM & BAF 2025 - January 21 - 26

Kegeratorz · 2025-01-17T15:05:40.001Z

As my bank account nervously watches!

michaeljk1963 · 2025-01-17T15:11:32.873Z

Selling the Cobalt might make sense, but my main consideration isn’t cost, but space, and the Cobalt 8M takes such little space for what it offers in terms of easily tweakable sounds and probably wouldn’t fetch me too much money. The reality is I totally don’t need the Multi/Poly since I already have both the Cobalt and the Wavestate for digital versions of “analog” sounds. Heck, I have what could still be considered the Mothership of Korg Digital synths: the Korg Kronos, which has a very deep and robust Virtual Analog engine (I mean, arguably, it has two or three different engines that could be characterized as virtual analog, including one that mimics the original Mono/Poly). So, once the “oh cool, they made a desktop module of that synth” excitement passes, I may see better options for expanding beyond what I already have/can do (Modular keeps whispering to me).

icaria36 · 2025-01-17T21:09:11.354Z

If the 24 knobs, 24 buttons, and 8 faders in the channel strips are mappable in perform/device mode via MIDI-learn, then this alone makes this controller very interesting. The 8 big knobs seem to be endless encoders and the 16 small ones potentiometers. Curious about the feeling of all those moving pieces. And wireless midi out of the box is very interesting too.

They have had a predecessor for over a decade (that I have never seen). I wonder whether this is just an expanded version or a serious mk2.

clickclack777 · 2025-01-17T21:24:52.330Z

Those new reverb algos look juice.

Jukka · 2025-01-17T21:43:39.518Z

Jukka:

The Nord Organ 3.

An organ and a piano.

Nord Piano 6

Info from Nord

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image2048×670 260 KB

Jukka · 2025-01-17T22:29:06.181Z

4517:

new iteration of the Kronos

From what i’m reading this is a revival of the discontinued Kronos – the external synth is close to the same – it does have a powder-coated metal body with black wooden side panels. The software got a rev bump, but not to a major new release. But inside its different, faster processor, and a built-in SSD with 120GB with 62GB of free space for extensive user sampling and sound library expansions.

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The synth has the same nine engines, including the physical modeling engine. ( I point this out for a certain person who has been asking about physical modeling synths recently. )

Korg is likely bringing this synth back, due to the marketing misstep by the replacement for it, the Nautilus. ( Though this is only supposed, and not verified to my knowledge. )

All these keyboards this year, may be a bit of a trend.

ADDED :

Korg UK

KRONOS

KRONOS defined the modern music workstation. Now it’s back, and better than ever. Combining unrivalled power, speed, and versatility, the new KRONOS features a reengineered architecture with 60% faster startup, an enhanced TouchView® interface, and a...

Price: GBP 2,649.00

Monobear · 2025-01-18T11:41:26.167Z

Any Tradition that Elektron annoncing anything at Namm? Toneverk taking loooing.

Jukka · 2025-01-18T12:31:12.469Z

Monobear:

Elektron annoncing anything at Namm?

They’re not registered as an exhibitor at NAMM. But besides Elektron having an office in LA …

Jukka:

Elektron is also at the special Buchla and Friends event that is overlaping with NAMM.

and announcements do get made there.

But keep in mind projects in development from any company is an unpredictable journey, that sometimes takes unexpected and surprising directions along a long route. And sometimes they end up no where.

That’s part of the adventure.

Jukka · 2025-01-18T12:50:09.508Z

Speculation, but not that far out there, perhaps at the BAF event Black Corporation’s Source of Uncertainty division will have more Buchla recreations.

SOURCE OF UNCERTAINTY STORE

Explore the sonic avant-garde with our curated selection of Buchla synthesizers. From iconic modular systems to cutting-edge electronic music gear, our store is your destination for authentic Buchla synths.

ADDED : Tiptop and Tobinski are also there and they also do similar recreations.

ADDED : Also M.E.M.S. Project do recreations. And Verbos but they’re not there.

Jukka · 2025-01-18T14:42:35.612Z

Flock Audio is showing their new eight stereo input selector SWITCH.

image1960×1258 380 KB

There is a ninth option – mute all. The outputs are XLR.

It is shipping later this year.

Flock Audio Inc.

SWITCH | Flock Audio Inc.

SWITCH - 8 Channel Input to 2 Mono - Analog &/or Digital Audio Signal Switcher/Router

How many other products will we see at NAMM / BAF 2025 with this circular control knob first shown on electronic music gear, secretly last year at NAMM by Arturia ?

ADDED : A nice possible feature for this would be a MIDI control on the switching.

michaeljk1963 · 2025-01-18T14:52:51.477Z

This is really interesting news. I remember when the Nautilus came out, thinking, why would someone want a “downgraded” Kronos?

If Korg is going to “re-issue” the Kronos, my biggest question is, will it have KARMA? Stephen Kay, the guy who created KARMA has long since retired, and no longer involved in its continued development. KARMA is the main reason I bought a Kronos (yes, the 9 engines are nice but I also have quite. few VSTs on my Mac, so…). I’ve owned my Kronos for more than 10 years, and I still use KARMA regularly. I was just using it yesterday to drive a complex arpeggiator through the MRCC simultaneously into an A4, Hydrasynth, and Voltage Lab 2, creating truly wild fluctuating sounds!

Jukka · 2025-01-18T14:55:18.490Z

michaeljk1963:

will it have KARMA?

Good question for Korg at the show. I expect a video from SonicState ( at least ) on the Kronos from the show.

michaeljk1963 · 2025-01-18T15:01:58.974Z

According to the link to Korg’s website, it does have KARMA. I’d be curious to see a spec comparison between the Kronos, Kronos 2 (my version) and the most recent/upcoming iteration.

Jukka:

The synth has the same nine engines, including the physical modeling engine. ( I point this out for a certain person who has been asking about physical modeling synths recently. )

I’ll be sure to start re-reading pages 255-301 of the 1,124 page “Parameter Guide” (about the STR-1 “Plucked Strings” physical modeling engine) along with re-reading parts of the 305 page “Operations Guide” of the Kronos.

I can say, without hesitation, that the Kronos is still, after I think 12 years, my all time favorite purchase of any musical instrument. It is so deep and varied, I could get rid of everything else I own, re-learn its insides, and spend the next 20 years continuing to learn what it can do. It is basically about 20 different instruments all tied to a beautifully built keyboard controller. I only wish (dream) of a version with the keyboard of the Osmose with upgraded internal MPE-capable engines. I know it will never happen, but a guy can dream.

Edit: also this: “For previous KRONOS and NAUTILUS owners, KORG will release a Soundpack in the second half of 2025 that brings the latest KRONOS sounds to earlier models, ensuring every musician can benefit from KORG’s ongoing innovations.”

Nice.

Jukka · 2025-01-18T15:42:30.204Z

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In some sense like the revival of the Kronos, Kurzweil revives the K2000.

KURZWEIL It's the Sound®

K2061 - KURZWEIL It's the Sound®

KURZWEIL It's the Sound®

K2088 - KURZWEIL It's the Sound®

Definitely NAMM 2025 is showing a keyboard trend.

( thread )

Jukka · 2025-01-18T16:23:35.901Z

Jukka:

Rhodes is also there.

Rhodes has three things they’re showing at NAMM.

The MK8 has new integrated MIDI capabilities, which adds high-resolution monitoring of key position and both channel and polyphonic-aftertouch.
A more compact and portable 61-key version.
The NAMM debut of their new Rhodes Custom Shop, which offers artistic customization options for the MK8 piano.