Good sh1t 
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boom, massiveâŠ
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Interesting. Visually it looks like a collab with Keith McMillen.
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from the Gearnews article :
Gone are the Prophet 5-esque buttons and in comes an expressive â3Dâ keyboard. Sensors allow for an improved level of expression. Aftertouch, velocity, pitch bend and vertical modulation are all handled by these new keys. The same 3D sensors are now also employed in the sequencer and page buttons. This enables features such as live-playhead and pattern morphing.
Certainly KMI has the expertise in these sort of sensors with their âSmart Sensor Fabricâ technology, but it is not impossible that this sort of thing could come from another source or even been developed in house. This should make this a very expressive instrument, though not sure that matches with the present owners of the first version.
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Cool! Iâm glad theyâre using their time to evolve.
The Gearnews article doesnât mention MPE, which is another technology that KMI is big on.
Not that this would be conclusive, either way, but MPE, might work well for control in this sort of thing.
( MIDI 2.0 too but i really doubt that with this. )
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It is intriguing. The Mono has become one of my favorite synths, so maybe a MK2 is on the horizon as well.
Hmm yeah perhaps some potential for it to be a MPE controller for something? It being a Monosynth MPE doesnât really make sense on the device itself. Anyone try their Morphos and have anything to say about the soft touch morphing stuff?
I dunno canât help hope this prompts someone to sell an MK1 for cheap⊠I much prefer the look of it, even if it doesnât have the new features.
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Yeah youâre right.
I also prefer the look of the MKI, and, the way I use it, may not utilize all the features of a MKII. But, the soft clip sounds interesting, and I although I donât like the looks of them, the step buttons being connected give better visual feedback. Iâm just not sure Iâll like those gummy keys. I do have a Keith McMillen keyboard thing, and those keys take some getting used to.
I will say this, if the MKI prices drop and anyone is on the fence, just do it. Love the Mono.
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Love the mono. Iâm gonna be very tempted to get the mk2 because of course I am. Ugh.
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My experience with the Norand Morphos Eurorack module was disappointing, and it became one of the two modules I have gotten rid of, but one positive aspect of that experience was that it has rendered me indifferent to this mk2, because I have experienced those touch strips, new-style buttons, and â3D morphingâ, and I want none of them. I canât help but wonder if component shortages played a role. SD storage, USB-C, USB host, and aluminum body would be nice, but these are not must-haves. I will continue to treasure my Mono mk1, and hope that the new version can still be recommended to newcomers.
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Yeah having a avalon in a perpetually âsomeday on its wayâ state and my recent purchase of the cascadia which lets me get up to some through zero FM shenanigans I really shouldnât but I was quite tempted by the Norand before I preorder the avalon.
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Also this quote from the GN article made me laugh:
âafter working closely with the Mono user communityâ
They set up a forum and then pretty much ignored everything on it. From their point of view it is for broadcast. I think Mathieu even said at some point to just send them email. And they have responded to my emails reasonably promptly (like within 48 hours). Donât believe any release dates from them. I understand component shortages affect things, but the latest firmware was almost a year later than initially claimed. Sorry, this is more negative than I like to be on this forum, but this is also the place I feel safest venting, soâŠ
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I donât have a Cascadia, but I used to own an Avalon, and I can definitely say that the Mono is different enough to warrant both in my opinion, if you liked both. I also have a thing for state variable filters though, and I love the way it is implemented in the Mono.
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I think your hopes for mk1s coming onto the used market may be fulfilled.
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The Mono is one of the few pieces that have tempted me over the last year, and Iâd certainly take a cheaper MK1 over that⊠that⊠monstrosity above. So fingers crossed, and I urge all Mono owners to upgrade at the earliest opportunity,
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I have to say I was slightly pissed when I saw that announcement, knowing that weâd been waiting for this FW for so long.
Too long for me, I ended up shelving this synth I had a special relationship with. Now itâs time to get it out but it will never be the same again.
But, yeah, like several other members here, I think I can live without the new hardware features.
The aluminum body and the drive knob would have been appreciated, though.
And strangely enough, although Iâm definitely no Liberace, Iâm surprised to admit that these rubber keys, combined with the new expressive features, might have opened doors to new sound territories and nuances.
Although I cherish my MKI (prefer the looks as well), âplayingâ melodies or whatnot with its keys is awful.
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