Superlative Launches SB-01, Rechargeable Analog Synth, Crowdfunding Campaign


Today Massachusetts-based synth startup Superlative Instruments kicked off the crowdfunding campaign for their SB-01, which they are touting as “the world’s thinnest and first rechargeable” analog synthesizer.

The SB-1/Space Bee, which had its debut at Superbooth 2019 this spring, combines a vintage analog synth voice with modern connectivity and a dual-channel sequencer that allows the user to sequence the synth plus external gear.

Superlative Instruments’ SB-01 Features:

  • Replica 3340 voltage controlled oscillator and classic 4-pole OTA VCF with discrete envelope
  • USB, MIDI, and CV/gate input and output allow for simple musical interfacing with other synthesizers and modular gear.
  • The SB-1 utilizes a newly-developed full-size keyboard based on tactile rubber dome switches for a fast and responsive feel.
  • A precision engineered chassis enables a new form factor that is thinner than one inch, yet rugged enough for everyday portability and use.
  • The SB-1 is the first ever analog synthesizer to incorporate a rechargeable battery, allowing all-day playability between charges.
  • A new dual-layer sequencer allows for synchronized control of a second instrument via CV/gate or MIDI for a dynamic synth duet.

While the SB01 is a new form of synthesizer, Superlative’s inspiration was one of the sonic engines that laid the foundation of electronic music, the classic Roland SH-101. Superlative worked with Open Music Labs to create and hone a 1:1 version of the signature circuits that bring it to life.

The Kickstarter campaign page explains how the instrument works: “A 3340 voltage controlled oscillator feeds into a 4-pole OTA filter that makes for an iconic and unmistakable sound. Make it snap and sing with responsive analog envelopes, modulation, and portamento, or bring in external CV for deeper VCO and VCF control.”

The SB-01 incorporates a fully rechargeable battery power with a 16-hour battery life, allowing for extended usage between charges. In addition, the battery is user-replaceable.

The instrument also has a powerful live performance sequencer – a flexible step sequencer, centered around live performance and intuitive use for the broad range of skill levels. Patterns with up to 256 notes can be saved in 64 different locations.

While playing, the user can queue up stored sequences with CHAIN mode or launch them immediately with JUMP. In addition, SB-01 developers have included a unique MODULO mode for interleaving sequences. A sequence direction modifier and transpose latching function enable new possibilities, while the arpeggiator gives the user several modes including random play.

A dual-sequencer allows the user to simultaneously run two different independent sequences on internal and external tracks. This means the user can drive external CV or MIDI gear with the SB-01 keyboard, arpeggiator, or sequencer while having the same freedom onboard. To aid with performance, a color-coded layer feature always lets you see which track is active.

More Features. The SB-01 comes with “comprehensive” connectivity to other analog and digital instruments, enabling it to act as a controller in both a stage or studio setup. Pitch and filter control along with vibrato can be added with the unique 360° bender joystick (pictured). Take it “back to the future” with an optional keytar grip that offers 3-axis accelerometer control.

Pricing and Availability. Superlative Instruments has just today launched a crowdfunding campaign for the SB-01 synth. A limited number of “super-early-bird” and “early bird” backers can pre-order a synth for $899 or $949 US. The “regular” Kickstarter price to back the project is $999US. The $101,000 crowdfunding campaign (two hours after its kickoff, the campaign is at $66,000, over half-way to its goal) runs for another 29 days, and Superlative expects to ship the SB-01 in June 2020.

For more information, technical specifications, design and form-factor insights, and additional details, check out the SB-01 Kickstarter project, and the Superlative Instruments website.

95 thoughts on “Superlative Launches SB-01, Rechargeable Analog Synth, Crowdfunding Campaign

  1. Looks great and has some interesting features but at a ludicrous price. It is as if they are saying look how lovely this looks – you’ll pay a premium for that. I would suggest anyone considering this reign in their ascetic urges and buy a Roland SH-01A or Behrginger 101 instead.

    1. Agree. The concept of this synth is very interesting, but the backer’s discount is ridiculous and the price is not so competitive. There is now huge amount of synths around this price that you can buy now. Or buy now another one, wait until the Bee will be produced, then pay 50 bucks more or even try and NOT buy.

    2. You seem to have issues well beyond the realm of this forum to delve into and solve. You clearly do not understand the costs associated with a relatively small production run for a premium instrument.

          1. Wafflesomd, that was not a personal attack. Yet this individual has carried on this forum with a strange venom against a small manufacturer on the basis of price point whilst completely ignoring the relatively small production run and all of the associated costs involved in such an endeavour.

            This synth is not for me, I have no interest in it, yet having been involved in synthesizer design and production for more than 20 years, the relative cost is not by any means overpriced for being produced in the America with such a small run.

            It is overpriced for what it is, probably, however I would argue it is not overpriced for how, where, and by the means it is being produced.

            1. This ‘individual’ thinks that there’s a lot of people being very precious about this synth in part because it is American. Price should reflect the quality not some lazy, biased assumption of it based on its origin. so arrogant of some to think that because it is made in the USA it is by default higher quality.

              There are also high quality British, Greek, French and no doubt other country produced (including American) synths that don’t charge a premium like this does. If it is being justified because your costs are higher in the US then with respect that’s your problem, not everything that isn’t made in the US is knocked together haphazardly in some sweatshop. It seems the supposed expert US economists on here who majored in insufferable arrange if nothing else might be believing too much of the hype used to justify high prices.

              I don’t believe in manufacturers ripping off staff or suppliers or ripping off consumers but there is a 3rd way.
              Also, if a new manufacturer attempts a premium product and can only afford to produce it by charging as er this synth then it really does need to be worth it. In my view it falls short.
              It is being lionised on here by people yet to hear it properly, play it, touch it, use it etc.
              I can say without using it that the feature-set and sound engine don’t, in my view, justify the price. But the claims of its supporters that it sounds wonderful, is quality/premium etc. are unproven.
              As for using the Kickstarter performance to justify it? Really? Do you think there have never been turkeys on there that sold out quickly?
              I hope that’s not the case as there are clearly willing customers on here at least who would be very disappointed.

              PS Thanks Wafflesound, appreciated 🙂 I think the moderation is biased but I did overstep and in nay case I can dish it out and take it.

              1. Volume counts for everything in purchasing components for productions. It’s basic human economics. Everything to do with small runs. Nothing to do with quality. A kickstarter is by definition a small run.

                1. John, regrettably this individual simply does not understand basic economics and the realities they bear within specific geographies. This person has repeatedly conflated geography, quality, pricing, and perceived price inflation into one convoluted mental thread that cannot be reasoned with….hence it is pointless.

                  1. Read what John says, it’s nothing to do with quality. It is you that has consistently failed to understand and just set yourself up and fawning fanboy for this company about which quality cannot yet rationally be determined and that haven’t yet made a synth for people to buy, own and feedback on. Your personal attacks may slide through the mods but I’m glad as they highlight the arrogant pseudo economics that you are spouting. The plain truth is this largely derivative synth has achieved nothing yet. It was you and others who kept highlighting where it was made and equating that with quality, not me. Good synths are sold around the world not just at home. I will genuinely be interested if Nick Batt reviews one to see how innovative he feels it is and whether it is fairly priced. I would trust his and almost as anyone’s view more than yours given the naive claptrap spouted on here.

                    1. Re. innovation:
                      Rather, I thought the project objective here was to take a classic synth and make it deeper. As it says in the description post. (Derivative, homage, etc…. the project is clearly not based on pushing the edges of synthesis, but rather, focusing on other elements of functionality and build.)

                      Re. price:
                      Seems a factor of what they think people feel is appealing, rather than a consequence of utility, no? It’s just like watches. They all basically do the same thing, yet cost wildly different.

                      Re. opinion:
                      Well, I guess one man’s rubbish is clearly another’s treasure.

        1. As noted previously, your comment was deleted because it contained a personal attack (name calling).

          Express your opinions intelligently and constructively and do not waste the admin’s time.

          1. Why on earth bring this up now when this is all old news? Incidentally, personal attacks on me were let through so moderation was inconsistent anyway.

  2. personally i dont really understand the concept of hardcore innovation on the back of hardcore emulation… especially at such a price point, as mentioned, but just in general also…

    there are plenty of SH101 clones out there, and there are plenty of innovative, portable controllers out there… and no there arent any combinations of those two specific things, but who actually wants that? this seems to be the definition of a “niche product” … probably more of a “passion project” actually

    personally i have zero interest in this, but i wanted to comment on just how odd this kind of concept is to me… maybe someone else can give another perspective

    1. The pricing comments above are idiotic. The Kickstarter is 75% funded after 4 hours.

      The market can support originality and clones both, which is fantastic. And this looks like an amazing synth!

      1. “the SB01 is a new form of synthesizer” aka a clone with a rechargeable battery. Nothing you can’t get from an original SH-101. Not even an extra oscillator, envelope or anything. Good luck to them.

        1. I mean…it kind of does? There’s not some objectively fair price out there. It’s a new instrument being built in relatively limited quantities. You have no idea of the costs of designing/producing this.

          Obviously you can get the Behringer clone or any number of other similar synths for cheaper, and if all you care about is the core tone, that is likely better value for your money. But this looks like it has a really nice build quality, some sequencer upgrades, and serious battery life. Plus I think it looks beautiful. You might not care about any of that, but clearly other people do.

    2. 1K for a premium analog synth is ok imho.

      (Also keep in mind this is from a synth service company – so it should last for a very long time and wil have good repair support when something breaks.)

    3. Are you aware of that not everyone has the manufacturing options on same level as Behringer? ?

      If this was made by Behringer, then it would have been much cheaper no doubt about that (due to that they have control over most of the supply-chain), we should also also support the small innovative guys sometimes…

      1. I would agree, if this product were innovative. It’s very derivative and there are plenty of cheaper alternatives. It’s pretty much the opposite of innovative.

    4. I think this requires a different discussion, one that revolves around certain realities. This is a small scale company that is undoubtedly using various suppliers to build this synth. It is expensive for what it is, certainly, however there is hardly the economies of scale here. This is not say Teenage Engineering, let alone Behringer.

      And note that this is designed and built in Massachusetts.

      1. Why should the buying public make any allowance for it being designed in Massachusetts? The synth world (or any for that matter) doesn’t revolve around the USA. Would it seriously make a difference to you or anyone if it were designed in Berlin, Manchester or Stockholm?

  3. Good Analog “premium” Synth!

    Yes we need “clones” of synths! Yes there should be cheap and expensive ones!

    (Think of it like Guitars – why so many clones? 😉 )

  4. I’d pay 6-700. A G is a bit much tho. This will end up being one of those niche synths that one of your friends of a friend has.

  5. Looks and sounds good. I think the price is reasonable.
    The originals, with all of their wear-and-tear and quirks are selling around $15k US.

  6. Sure it inherits the panel design but I think this is one of the best looking synths to come out since the Virus TI2. Change my mind.

  7. Already funded- all the early bird discounts gone- looks like the sexy looks were more than enough for gearslutz!

    £86,439 pledged of £78,629 goal
    121 backers
    29 day to go!

  8. Laughably overpriced. Like ridiculous. Milking nostalgia for all it’s worth.

    Sure, it looks cool. Your $1000 are better spent on something else like ASM Hydra or any new synths on the market.

    1. this makes no sense. how is this “laughably” overpriced?

      if what you wanted was a banging 101 rubber sound and form-factor, this seems like a great price for the 101 sound PLUS a hugely upgraded build quality. and brand new. SH-01a is a solid 98% of the original sound, and a great price, but absolutely crippled in the interface.

      if you wanted the performance, polyphony, or digi/wavetable sound of a Hydra, why would you even be looking at monosynth 101 clones to begin with?

      1. Reasons to buy:
        It’s based on a SH101 (so are quite a few other synths)
        It’s black – or is it dark grey
        It’s got an internal sequencer and an external one – novel but not enough on its own
        Its pretty…
        It’s thin, no I mean REALLY thin. So if the courier tries to deliver it while I’m out they can slide it under the door
        It runs on a rechargeable battery – well ok. There’s other battery synths and you can get rechargeable batteries for them
        It sounds ok
        It interfaces with other gear – it’s not alone there then
        It has a fancy Dan rubber keyboard – where do I sign?
        It’s a keytar

        Reasons not to buy:
        It’s monophonic and based on a fairly basic if nice synth – rubber bass and all
        It has no FX
        They are taking the p**s with the price because some people will look at it and think it’s cute
        It hasn’t got audio over USB
        Did I mention the price?
        It’s a keytar
        The company is unknown as a synth manufacturer
        Even the manufacturer found it necessary to stick the sound through some reverb

        So there you have it, plus or minus a few dozen other points that I am too unbothered to think about.
        Yes, clearly I was wrong and in analysis it all stacks up – so rush away now one and all and oversubscribe their Kickstarter campaign while they book the flight to Barbados!
        Will be interesting to see A) if they’ve the nerve to send this to Nick Batt to review and B) if they do what he says about the value/point of the thing.
        Fools and their money…

        1. i’m going to suggest that it seems like you’re looking for a different synth here than a very close to OG 101-style mono…?

          if you have a need for the 101 in your music, you might see this differently as there actually aren’t a lot of solid options. hence the scramble on their kickstarter — it clearly served a need.

          but you seem to be searching for something else entirely, and have somehow ended up here…

          1. You misunderstand me Mark. I am not looking to buy one I was being sarcastic with my list. Some on here seem to think that you can only comment if you are praising a product.
            I have no problem with people liking it or buying it – they can do what they like with their money – but I stand by my own opinion that it is overpriced. As yet no one on here will have played one or owns one so the proof will be when that happens and when it is reviewed and scrutinised. Either way I am not in the market for an SH101 clone, as pretty as this is, and if I was would settle with something less expensive as I am not that into that particular sound. Good luck though to anyone who is and for whom this, in their view, represents the best option.

            1. no — you may not have a problem with people liking or buying it, but then there is no need for this kind of sarcasm or extensive fictional, assumptive, negative characterisation of what the owners or potential users are doing (Barbados??), how they do things (nerve??), or “fools and their money” (huh??).

              no one has to praise a product, and its fair you think it’s overpriced for what you see are its features and sound. but it seems this is synth you are not even interested in musically (or maybe don’t even know about, in terms of its relevance, history, and uses), and that you’re here simply to pass arm-chair judgement on peoples shopping habits.

              1. You and others have been happy to make armchair judgements and assumptions about quality that are completely untested and based perhaps on the price and it being USA made

                1. Sorry Barjeelik. I did test a full prototype of the synth at their stand at Superbooth (which was next to the Uno fellows, which I also tested). What I heard and played, I liked. That was before any price was known.

                  Anyhow, good luck with your music. cheers.

  9. If an instrument is inspiring you to play it a lot 1K$ is well spent!
    It is not always about the number of features.

    Quality not Quantity?

  10. It looks awesome, but as a long as a freshly serviced original SH-101 with Tubbutec upgrade is available for 1,3k before taxes, I don’t see myself going with the clone. It has to be either priced more competitively or offer additional features.

    1. The tubutec 1oh1 is a nice upgrade – but the SB01 has similar features and then some. The option to have two sequences (internal and external) running is very nice.

      Great that there seems to ba a 101 for everyone – cheap one, tiny digital one, refurbished ones, premium one!

    2. I’m not overly familiar with the SH-101 but isn’t the extra sequencer track an extra feature above and beyond the original?

      I do think it’s a bit disingenuous to use the Ventris for your entire 4 minute demo and not once come clean that you’re running your signal through reverb.

    1. Absolutely NO ONE on this site seems to understand business or supply chains, just wow.

      The fact anyone on here even remotely compares this small startup to giants like Roland, Behringer, Korg and the like is absolutely laughable.

      GUESS WHAT, if most companies made this (except Behringer since they only clone and do nothing original so they’d never make this) I’m willing to bet my left nut it’d be the same exact price.

      I’m so glad they destroyed their Kickstarter goal and proved the music industry isn’t likened to a whiny bunch of entitled babies one might experience on this website because they didn’t produce this thing in China using in house components and the cheapest labor possible to get it out at embarrassingly low prices.

      1. #1 Behringer have made original synths such as the Deepmind and Neutron

        #2 People are only complaining because it is a clone at almost the same price as the original. If this synth was an original design no one would be complaining (except for the real crybabies)

        #3 it is a cool new design…but such a new cool design would have benefited from an original synth engine design more than a clone of one already flooded on the market from other manufacturers.

        But my original point is….why not get an original for around the same price? The Behringer one is out of the question because the sound and sequencer are both way off.

        1. #1 the DeepMind is a Juno clone masked as an original. It’s obvious, it has been declared many times before. The Neutron, sure. A single synth. They have a 20+ year history of cloning guitar pedals. This isn’t new. They’ve made quite a few synths the past few years. ONE has been original, the Neutron. The Crave is a ripped off Mother 32 when you inspect it beyond anything but its layout. They’re cloning synths that are still in production, but that is neither here nor there.

          #3 We need these designs to push the industry forward. Yes the market is saturated, but who wants a flood of analog monosynths that have already existed in the past and permeated entire genres of music for decades? I personally want 0 of them. This synth sounds amazing, is sexy as hell, is the thinnest synth ever made, and has a 16 hour battery, perfect for people that like to produce in nature.

          I do not disagree with your final point. When it comes down to it, this offers some things the original doesn’t, as well as modern support. Someone mentioned the battery 2-4 years down the road. I personally believe modern components will not be in short supply 20 years down the road because we will have the technology to reproduce everything we’ve begun making in this industrial tech boom.

        1. The Behringer and Superlative are both copies of a plastic budget synth from the early 1980s. Neither is steak, one is just prettier.

  11. It’s a keytar, so all relevant comparisons should be a to a keytar. Which leaves you the B with a wall wart and apparently missing a portamento setting this one has, that god ugly digital Roland, or a midi controller.

    Guy cornered the keytar market. Stop being mad. Go look at that Roland and tell me it wasn’t a market BEGGING to be cornered.

  12. Have they said anything about replaceable batteries in this thing? Because in 2-4 years, they will be dead, and the “selling feature” will be gone.

    1. This is a synth for those with too much money or not enough sense to look at rather than play. The Monologue XD offers infinitely more possibilities (to name but one alternative) for a fraction of the price. Those trying to justify the are welcome to pay it as they are just the sort of mugs that Superlative (even the name is trying too hard to be classy) are looking for. This lot didn’t see what it would cost to make then add on a decent profit or see what the competition were charging, they just thought to themselves, what’s the most we can get away with charging for a pretty mono-synth. They must have borrowed their pricing strategy from the worst moments of Teenage Engineering. I love that long battery life and them being a repair company are given as justification for the price. Who’s to say they’ll even bee around when the synth dies?

      1. i don’t see how your logic makes sense… the XD does not do the SH101 sound.

        if i wanted that rubbery bass, it really is only the 101. the XD doesn’t do that.

        and if i wanted to get that 101 sound with that excellent form factor, the options are limited: a Behringer clone, or an original. there are a few other clones and of course the Roland Boutique, but they don’t give me the original interface. therefore, the SB-01 looks quite good to me.

      2. Can you strap a Minlogue around your neck and play it while standing up? Then it’s not a relevant comparison. I’d venture to guess *most* of the people backing this thing want a keytar.

      3. … the monologue has always retriggering digital envelopes and adigital filter control that is steppy. (Use self oscillation of the filter without oscillators to test that!)
        And no it has not infinietly more possibilities – it has less!

        Sure the cheaper synths are very cool too – i even like volcas!

        But play let’s say a grandmother and you will see there is a reason for high end truly analog instruments (no stepping filter.)

        There has to be high end products – it rly would be sad without them!

      4. … also ther is no: “monologue XD”
        The minilogue xd has the same mediocre problems as the monologue though.

        If you are up for a more feature rich nstrument i would rather look at the “elektron analog four mk2”, it’s price also dropped to nearly 1000 lately.

    2. > Have they said anything about replaceable batteries in this thing?

      It literally says “the battery is user-replaceable” in the article above.

      And speaking of user-replaceable batteries, my 2012 Android phone has an easily removable battery, and a SD card, and USB and is easy to move mp3s and photos etc to and from. I’ve never had to replace the battery and the phone goes for days between charges.

      My 2017 iPhone with a non-replaceable battery needs to be recharged after a day of use and its capacity already is around half what it was originally.

      It seems to me that the non-replaceable batteries Apple uses might somehow be lower quality than the replaceable ones other manufacturers use, that that policy might be slightly anti-green, and it might have something to do with the immense profits they get from constantly selling new hardware to people.

      1. Or maybe your battery is dying after a couple of years and you should spend $49 to replace it?

        I have had the opposite experience with my iPads. I’ve got an original iPad 1 that still holds a charge and can run for about eight hours on it. That’s crazy good from my perspective.

        In the case of this synth, though, it seems like a good thing that it’s running on a commodity battery. It’s like synth makers using USB for everything, the fact that it’s a commodity standard means that it’s a dirt cheap feature.

      2. >It literally says “the battery is user-replaceable” in the article above.

        Not enough info, at least for anyone who cares.

        “User replaceable”, but what is the supply? Is it a custom battery only from these guys, and if they go out of business you are out of luck? Or is it a standard battery freely available? Or do you need a license to buy and install the battery? How much does it cost? Are you refreshing $500 worth of a $1000 synth every four years?

        These are all reasonable questions to ask before buying something that touts a battery as a primary distinguishing feature, yet says almost nothing about it. Asking doesn’t mean I’m raging against the synth, so don’t be jerks in the responses.

  13. lol haters… somehow all your whining and bitching didn’t stop them from blowing past their kickstarter goal in less than a day. guess you’ll have to hate harder next time!

  14. A lot of whiners on here. No wonder I’m spending less time looking at this site. If you can’t afford it or don’t want it, move on. It’s obviously not overpriced to a lot of people as they’ve already reached their goal (plus some).

    1. The entire synth community has become i”f I can’t get it at Behringer cheap prices, it’s overpriced and there are better, more logical options out there”. Just what we needed, truly excellent.

      1. I think you’ll find “good enough” counts for everything in modern consumer buying patterns.
        Screaming into the wind will only make YOU hoarse, S.M.S.

  15. Only one oscillator?? Well, of all the colossal impudence. If you just plain like the form and sound, no problem, but I do wonder where you’d slot this one in, because its pretty minimal. If you have a stack like the 1000+ unit synth warehouse Look Mom No Computer got all manic exploring, its a bit of a waste. If this becomes one of your Big Four in a rig, OTOH, then you’re doing it with focus. It has some smart connectivity, too. Seeing MIDI, USB and CV grouped on more synths lately is welcome.

  16. I’ve been a CNC machinist and I’m not sure why they chose this option, because CNC machining is a pretty expensive and tedious process. In order to earn back the programming hours, jigging, cutting tools and the actual machining, it’s only viable to make a large run.

      1. It would still be much cheaper than cnc’d metal. If you’ve ever tried to spec out custom metal work, you’ll quickly figure out it is one of the most expensive materials to machine into products.

      2. The injection mold for plastic is just a one-off. To avoid the aluminium from warping you need a high grade, aviation type material as well, which is pricey as hell. They will definitely outsource the CNC machining and whomever takes on the job will charge ‘m plenty. The only way to keep cost down is to use robot arms to load the parts into the machine and have ‘m run overnight, but I doubt that’s possible as you need to jig it up and robots can’t do that yet. I’d love to know how they keep the cost down.

  17. Why are synthesists the only musicians obsessed with buying cheap instruments, when every other type of musician aspires to having gorgeous, tricked-out gear?

    Look at how guitarists want beautiful wood in their guitars, or wind players get instruments plated with brass or silver, or how violinists want to play classic stradivarius designs.

    It seems like synths attract a much high percentage of people that are fascinated by novelty, rather than by performance, composition and musicianship. Those people seem to be best-served by cheap synths that are best suited to making well-known synth sounds.

    There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting a cheap synth so you can relive your teen fantasies of being a synth god – but it’s too bad that these people think that they can talk for all musicians.

    For musicians that want to play an instrument the rest of their life, a thousand dollars is NOTHING. We don’t want an instrument that’s designed to be disposable, that feels clunky to play, that’s not inspiring, etc.

    Here’s an instrument that’s gorgeous and well-made, that sounds good and is well-thought out for musicians. It’s sad that so many synthesists don’t understand the value of a great instrument.

  18. There there…….hopefully the marketplace is mature enough to embrace both realms. The issue is that the likes of Behringer have been both simultaneously revelatory and yet misleading.

    Economies of scale and a brutally inexpensive labour force has shown consumers, musicians in this case, just how inexpensively an instrument can be produced, and yet this has clearly skewed and distorted some into believing that all manufacturers are equal in their capacity and capabilities in delivering a product.

  19. It seems some on here think you should only comment if you like something. Free speech. I think it is overpriced and the company is milking buyers. Seen some plain daft justification of that. It would be more acceptable if it was a company with genuine heritage like Moog but it isn’t. Similarly if it was really innovative that would attract a premium price but it isn’t. It’s an sh101 clone with a few clever tweaks. I’m not of the opinion that all synths should be behringer priced but I do think that premium priced ones need to justify it. It doesn’t imho sound all that great but if you think it does – great, go and buy it.

      1. Spoken like a little boy who judges objects by the price they are and not their intrinsic quality. I imagine from your attitude that the bank of mum (or mom) and dad bankroll your purchases?
        By the way, the Volca’s for all their faults and qualities, arguably helped kickstart (ironic that) a resurgence in the analogue synth market for the wider market at least and anyone railing against that its surely just an elitist individual gaining satisfaction mainly from paying a high price for their gear. If so, keep paying over the odds mate 🙂

        1. mate, this is all getting a bit out of hand as you’re putting yourself in a corner.

          all well and good to have an opinion. we all do.

          however, let’s not say you are the gatekeeper of what is “genuine heritage” or “innovative” or “acceptable” synth-wise. that’s ridiculous and this is what your post is saying, whether you realize it or not, when you say, “it would be more acceptable if…”

          And combine that with some cockamany owners-taking-off-to-barbados-after-kickstarter line, and you’re simply in hot BS.

          back to the point. there are pros and cons to the synth mentioned here. the original is a much loved and much used model, so its got a fan base. the company has blown all expectations out the park on the first day. BUT it doesn’t appeal to you for reasons of X and X — fair play. let’s leave it at that, shall we?

          1. There’s a tonne of crap been spoken on the ‘for’ side mate, too. But seeing as you’ve just set yourself up as the arbiter of this thread and everything you pronounce on, I’m happy to bow out and leave others to it. ‘Blown out of the park?’ Hmmm. Happy synthing.

  20. I’ve played around on a prototype of one of these (albeit briefly) at the New England Synthesizer Festival this past Spring. Felt awesome, looked cool. Don’t really recall the sound, but I for one am happy this guy is getting the opportunity to make something that many people are apparently excited by. Also, I’m from Massachusetts – it’s an expensive state filled with smart creative people that are being driven out by the high cost of living, and anyone doing something successful here has got love from me. I don’t personally have the budget right now for a new synth, but this thing is SEXY.

  21. Wow the Apple buzzwords, machine engineered extruded aluminum chassi, recharagable lithium batteries, thin and light, grayscale theme, a few lines about caring for the enviroment.
    Synths always seem to be late on the trends like how most workstations are still running 90’s spec user-accessable-memory.

    On their kickstarter they yearn that you give them 200k extra so that they can implement a microtuning feature, this is pathetic and it
    bares this as a simplistic company that wants to make a cash grab by going with the methods
    of what seems to work, this is the design philosophy of a Macbook done over 10 years later on a replica of an old synthsizer.
    A shame that people have handed them cash on their Kickstarter project.
    The device looks as if it has been run over by those trucks that lay out asphalt.

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