New Portable Instrument, The Fingersonic EXP-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTTgae5a78g

Fingersonic has introduced the EXP-1, a pocket instrument that offers a drum section, bassline and polyphonic virtual analogue synthesizer.

EXP1, aka EXPerimental unit 1, features a 14-part pattern sequencer and 3 arpeggiators. A digital mixer is present to set instrument levels, and a mute function is also available for live usage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAwhTwZHLnE

An LED matrix allows you to quickly select the voice/instrument to play or edit. Two rotary controls are provided to tune the synths and drums sounds.

A 16-keys keyboard allows to program the patterns or even play live with various modes (Sequencer, Live or Arpeggios). When edited, it is possible to save the complete pattern context on 16 pattern memories. A song mode is also available to assemble your patterns and make a complete song.

EXP-1 has a dedicated external track allowing to simply control another instrument.

An FX section is also present providing distortion for the bassline and reverb for each instruments.

Audio Demo:

 

 

Technical Specifications:

CPU:

120 mhz ARM CORTEX M4
1 MB Flash
196 Kb Ram
32 Kb Eeprom for user data

Power supply

6 X 1.5V AA batteries or through USB port.

I/O:

USB 2.0 High speed
3.5mm Line out / headphones
8 ohm 1 Watt internal mini speaker
3.5mm MIDI input & output port (Only for Gold version or with Xpansion2 optional)

Display

128 X 64 graphical FSTN display

Firmware

FingerSonic FaderOS EXP-1 V 1.0

Audio

Sample rate 44,1Khz
Bit depth 16 bit
Channels: 1 stereo
Virtual analog synthesis
Multitimbral
15 voices total

Dimensions

173 X 161 X 44 Gold edition/Xpansion 1 mounted
173 X 161 X 39 Base edition

Pricing and Availability

The Fingersonic EXP-1 will be formally introduced at Soundmit in Turin (3-5 November 2017) and be priced at 299€ V.A.T. included. See the Fingersonic site for more info.

20 thoughts on “New Portable Instrument, The Fingersonic EXP-1

  1. After watching the video its actually not bad. I did not expect it to make drums and multiple tracks. But I am really put off by the grand piano look

  2. This is hawt. I like the sound. Plus, you could sneak this in2 the retirement kastle an drop techno bombs. “I’ll give yer ‘Walk the Line’ alright!!!..1-2-3-GOOOOO!!!!”

  3. Thanks for not making it square. Seems Volca sync (in and/or out) would be a good candidate for one of the expansion cards.

    Doesn’t mention it in the specs but the site says it ships with USB MIDI. 3.5mm/DIN MIDI is on the expansion card.

  4. it is neat but too expensive – for the same price you could get say, a monologue and po drum or used beats or for cheaper, the minijam studio that is dropping soon – and could create a lot more sonically

    1. For myself i think this is amazing, I carefully read the manual and this truly is a mini workstation. Here you get a bassline, which seems so good from the video, nice tweakable drums, mixer, effects and a VA polyphonic synth: https://soundcloud.com/fingersonic/exp-1-virtual-analog-synth-engine-demo
      I would let alone comparison with minijam which is nice but is wavetable, no MIDI…
      From what i hear, to compare you would need a TB03, TR09, minilogue, mixer, effects, cables… a setup that surely costs a lot more than 299€, let alone the portability.

  5. Does it come with a jeweler’s loupe and a stylus? The miniaturization trend ignores the fact that many of us don’t have praying mantis tips on our fingers. As a tabletop module fan, I might play this from a larger controller if that was its purpose. Guess I’m just spoiled by my DAW. Some clear thought went into it, but that money would probably serve you better if invested in an iPad. Gear like this represents a cost/benefit analysis between your casual disposable income for ‘fun’ items versus how musically useful a tool will be over time. A certain number will like its form-factor, but most people will be playing Volcas when this thing is gathering dust.

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