The Feeltune Rhizome VST Workstation At NAMM 2011

Feeltune Rhizome at NAMM

The Feeltune Rhizome has been available for a couple of months, but the 2011 NAMM Show was the first time we’ve had the chance to check it out in person.

It’s an impressive piece of gear.

The Rhizome basically takes the power of software synths and puts them into an extremely powerful groovebox.

So, instead of a mouse, you’re working with an extremely tactile interface, rich with feedback:

Feeltune Rhizome

While you’ve probably seen many groovebox style sequencers, the Rhizome features tiered color screens that present detailed information. Nothing is buried away in menus, it’s presented logically directly next to the associated control knobs and switches:

Feeltune Rhizome

You don’t have to remember what the buttons do, because the screens update, depending on what you’re doing.

The core idea of the Rhizome is that you’re not using a computer, but a groovebox instrument that happens to have all the power of a computer inside of it.

Feeltune Rhizome full on

Here’s a demo video from the NAMM Show that gives you a taste of the Rhizome’s power.

Yes – it’s a German guy interviewing a French guy…in English – but the Rhizome, and designer Nicolas Piau’s enthusiasm for it, come through clearly.

See our earlier post on the Rhizome VST Workstation introduction for details, or visit the Rhizome site.

Images: Synthesizers; Video: MusicStoreTV

41 thoughts on “The Feeltune Rhizome VST Workstation At NAMM 2011

  1. That's pretty awesome, actually. I really like the combination of real controls with the touch screens.

    4000 euros is a lot of money, but if i had that sort of money to try out a new instrument with, it'd probably be worth it.

    I'm really liking this trend of performance orientated hardware coming out lately. Everyone has had a slightly different approach too, which is a nice change.

  2. Looking through their site, it looks like it comes in three levels of power, which I'm guessing changes the cost somewhat, but the cost isn't listed. Differences are mainly in the amount of ram 2/4gig and the number of audio outputs.

    It's running Windows XP under the hood, but a special version compiled by them apparently. They have Intel CPUs and RME soundcards.

    Comes with 15 Vsts/Vsti despite the spammy message above.
    The page is in french, but from what i can tell, it comes with a couple of G-Force plugins (oddity/minimonsta), some OhmForce plugs and a bunch of their own Feeltune plugins.

    Doesn't say if the screen is multi-touch. I suspect not.

  3. Looking through their site, it looks like it comes in three levels of power, which I'm guessing changes the cost somewhat, but the cost isn't listed. Differences are mainly in the amount of ram 2/4gig and the number of audio outputs.

    It's running Windows XP under the hood, but a special version compiled by them apparently. They have Intel CPUs and RME soundcards.

    Comes with 15 Vsts/Vsti despite the spammy message above.
    The page is in french, but from what i can tell, it comes with a couple of G-Force plugins (oddity/minimonsta), some OhmForce plugs and a bunch of their own Feeltune plugins.

    Doesn't say if the screen(s) are multi-touch. I suspect not.

  4. is it me, or did it look like the rhizome is a pain in the ass to use? There were multiple button presses for almost everything, and changing samples seemed tedious… maybe it was just a bad demo, but the rhizome seems horribly inefficient.

  5. I agree, looks very slow and tedious..If one is so ashamed of using a laptop on stage, then just hide it behind some boxes or something!

  6. tried it in germany @ musikmesse. crashed a couple of times, while someone tried to demo it for me. also when you turn it around it's standard pc at the back, so it looks kinda cheap.

  7. It seems like half the people around here complain about big, expensive knob-covered hardware and the other half are complaining about cheap mobile apps.

    If you don't like it, don't buy it.

  8. I saw a demo at NAMM and it was much more impressive in person. Yes, it looked a little complicated at first, but then I realized he was tweaking VSTs in real time while making a beat. They also had two synced at the same time and it was pretty cool to see this guy and a guy who looked like his twin rocking out.

    One of the the most interesting things at NAMM this year if you ask me.

  9. This is the kind of small company indie developments I like to see at Namm along with the custom modular analogue synth makers.

  10. hello jojo, the 2010 Musikmesse was the ocasion to show a prototype … at nAMM it was a Unit a real ! So NOW ! it's a Huge Machine ! a VST stand alone multi mode sequencer, a real time sampler, a VST 64/8/2 Mixer, a Song maker .. with it's own audio card from RME ( yes !!!) by the way it is a PC then you can install waht ever soft as Cubase, Live … or other audio interface & controllers … Rhizome is a limitless machine !! and for the crash … we are speaking about 2010 !!! but we are definitly in 2011 !!! fee free to visit our booth this year … you will enjoy !!!

  11. Hi jin … I think that you had a very Bad demo , because the Rhizome in exactly the contrary of what you felt !
    I mean ! all is very accessible ! you don't need any mousse or Key board ! all you need is in front of you !
    a 8 year old kid can make a loop in 5 minutes !

    the sampler is very reactive and so simple to use ! by the way all is in real time ! even the recording !
    then i advice you to watch on the site http://www.feeltune.com
    or to search on You tube ! many videos are showing how great & simple this instrument is !!!
    or ask to our French Users what they feel !

    they all say that Rhizome is so efficient that they don't need anything more !!!
    thank you for you coment.
    see ya. (in frankfurt ?)

  12. Hi jin … I think that you had a very Bad demo , because the Rhizome in exactly the contrary of what you felt !
    I mean ! all is very accessible ! you don't need any mousse or Key board ! all you need is in front of you !
    a 8 year old kid can make a loop in 5 minutes !

    the sampler is very reactive and so simple to use ! by the way all is in real time ! even the recording !
    then i advice you to watch on the site http://www.feeltune.com
    or to search on You tube ! many videos are showing how great & simple this instrument is !!!
    or ask to our French Users what they feel !

    they all say that Rhizome is so efficient that they don't need anything more !!!
    thank you for you coment.
    see ya. (in frankfurt ?)

  13. Hi jin … I think that you had a very Bad demo , because the Rhizome in exactly the contrary of what you felt !
    I mean ! all is very accessible ! you don't need any mousse or Key board ! all you need is in front of you !
    a 8 year old kid can make a loop in 5 minutes !

    the sampler is very reactive and so simple to use ! by the way all is in real time ! even the recording !
    then i advice you to watch on the site http://www.feeltune.com
    or to search on You tube ! many videos are showing how great & simple this instrument is !!!
    or ask to our French Users what they feel !

    they all say that Rhizome is so efficient that they don't need anything more !!!
    thank you for you coment.
    see ya. (in frankfurt ?)

  14. Hi jin … I think that you had a very Bad demo , because the Rhizome in exactly the contrary of what you felt !
    I mean ! all is very accessible ! you don't need any mousse or Key board ! all you need is in front of you !
    a 8 year old kid can make a loop in 5 minutes !

    the sampler is very reactive and so simple to use ! by the way all is in real time ! even the recording !
    then i advice you to watch on the site http://www.feeltune.com
    or to search on You tube ! many videos are showing how great & simple this instrument is !!!
    or ask to our French Users what they feel !

    they all say that Rhizome is so efficient that they don't need anything more !!!
    thank you for you coment.
    see ya. (in frankfurt ?)

  15. Hi jin … I think that you had a very Bad demo , because the Rhizome in exactly the contrary of what you felt !
    I mean ! all is very accessible ! you don't need any mousse or Key board ! all you need is in front of you !
    a 8 year old kid can make a loop in 5 minutes !

    the sampler is very reactive and so simple to use ! by the way all is in real time ! even the recording !
    then i advice you to watch on the site http://www.feeltune.com
    or to search on You tube ! many videos are showing how great & simple this instrument is !!!
    or ask to our French Users what they feel !

    they all say that Rhizome is so efficient that they don't need anything more !!!
    thank you for you coment.
    see ya. (in frankfurt ?)

  16. Hi jin … I think that you had a very Bad demo , because the Rhizome in exactly the contrary of what you felt !
    I mean ! all is very accessible ! you don't need any mousse or Key board ! all you need is in front of you !
    a 8 year old kid can make a loop in 5 minutes !

    the sampler is very reactive and so simple to use ! by the way all is in real time ! even the recording !
    then i advice you to watch on the site http://www.feeltune.com
    or to search on You tube ! many videos are showing how great & simple this instrument is !!!
    or ask to our French Users what they feel !

    they all say that Rhizome is so efficient that they don't need anything more !!!
    thank you for you coment.
    see ya. (in frankfurt ?)

  17. sorry dude, but what touch screens are you taking about. the rhizome has no touch screen. it´s all about knobs & buttons. and it´s not plug 6 play and the manual is a must have. otherwise it will cost you ages to get through. cheers

  18. That's weird because I could have sworn I saw them touching the screen at various points, but now that you point it out i can't imagine why i thought that.

    Actually think I like it better as a completely tactile experience.

  19. I really enjoyed what you had to say. Keep going because you definitely bring a new voice to this subject. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see more of this from you.
    quartz

  20. I really enjoyed what you had to say. Keep going because you definitely bring a new voice to this subject. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see more of this from you.
    quartz

  21. I really enjoyed what you had to say. Keep going because you definitely bring a new voice to this subject. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see more of this from you.
    quartz

  22. I really enjoyed what you had to say. Keep going because you definitely bring a new voice to this subject. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see more of this from you.
    quartz

  23. I really enjoyed what you had to say. Keep going because you definitely bring a new voice to this subject. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see more of this from you.
    quartz

  24. I really enjoyed what you had to say. Keep going because you definitely bring a new voice to this subject. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see more of this from you.
    quartz

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