IK Multimedia Intros UNO Synth Pro Analog Synthesizers

Ahead of the 2021 NAMM Show, IK Multimedia has announced the UNO Synth Pro and UNO Synth Pro Desktop.

The new synths, developed in collaboration with Italian boutique synth-maker Soundmachines, expand on their earlier UNO Synth design in many ways. They feature three wave-morphing oscillators, dual filters with 24 modes, deep modulation options, 3 effects slots with 12 effects, a sequencer with automation of 80+ parameters and MIDI/CV/Gate connectivity.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“UNO Synth Pro gives you the power to create nearly any analog synth sound you can imagine. With its unique dual-filter, 3-oscillator paraphonic design, 256 presets, 64-step sequencer, studio-grade effects, expanded connections and much more, UNO Synth Pro breaks new ground for music makers.

Available in two form factors to suit all players’ needs—stage-ready with metal housing and premium keybed; or ultra-portable, USB-powered with capacitive keyboard—UNO Synth Pro offers everyone the next generation of analog sound design in a smart format that fits any space or budget.”

Features:

  • ‘First-class’ analog sound
  • 3 discrete wave-morphing oscillators
  • PWM, sync, FM and ring modulation
  • Dual state variable filters with 24 modes
  • Original UNO Synth OTA filter
  • New SSI-based filter with self-oscillation
  • 16-slot modulation matrix
  • 256 user-editable presets
  • 12 studio-quality FX in 3 slots
  • Reverbs, Delays, Modulations
  • 64-step sequencer with 84 parameters
  • 10-mode onboard arpeggiator
  • USB / MIDI / CV / Gate in/out
  • Audio input to filters, FX or pass-through

The UNO Synth Pro is available in two form factors:

  • UNO Synth Pro
    • Compact, stage-ready 37-key keyboard
    • Fatar synth-action keys with aftertouch
  • UNO Synth Pro Desktop
    • Ultra-portable 32 capacitive-key tabletop
    • Powered by USB or powerbank

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the UNO Synth Pro:

The UNO Synth Pro features two filters, one of which is based on a new chip from Sound Semiconductor, Inc. SSI was founded by Dave Rossum and Dan Parks, two members of the team that created the famous SSM integrated circuits back in the ‘70s and early-‘80.

In the following interview, IK’s Erik Norlander speaks with the two about their legacy and the new SSI chip that’s incorporated into the UNO Synth Pro:

Pricing and Availability

The UNO Synth Pro and UNO Synth Pro Desktop are available to pre-order now, priced at 649.99 USD/EUR and 399.99 USD/EUR.

44 thoughts on “IK Multimedia Intros UNO Synth Pro Analog Synthesizers”

    2. You can use a passive ground isolator (basically a 1:1 transformer) on its audio output.
      I use it on all analog synths controlled by USB.

    3. UNO Synth Pro is a completely new product and we’ve taken care of these concerns specifically. Note that UNO Synth Pro has balanced output and the keyboard has a separate power supply. These are improvements in the design that directly were related to getting rid of noise.

      1. That’s very good news!! It does sound like the result of a form of User-Centric Design. Congratulations on that front!
        Now, if the same could apply to your software products… 😉

  3. Interesting – BUT the interface – Four (4!) multi function knobs and they are NOT endless encoders.
    All you will do designing sounds is catching up with the knobs and guessing where their actual position should be and then you ruined your patch – unusable for live knob tweaking.

    Synthheads asking for many knobs since the 1980s when things like the DX7 happened – cutting on the interface by removing knobs is just a terrible decision.

    Sry flaming it.

    1. Not endless encoders is a bad choice indeed. You need some knobs on a synth and they need to endless encoders to have direct control not only for live performances.

      1. Ofc if it is “one knob per function” you do NOT need endless encoders.

        It rly sounds good tho – much more “range” tehn the original unosynth (where everything sounded like a variation of the same patch.)

        Still without a live playable interface with many knobs it is a nogo for me.
        Maybe their next synth …

  6. You people are frickin’ nuts. Only 3 osc mono synth sub $1k I know of is Behringer D. And here is 1 for $399 that also has 2 filters.

    Also, we know Moog, Sequential, Roland, etc. never do discounts (feel free to go read the fine print on your 15% GC coupon), IK discounts constantly. They were hawking Uno Drums for $170 on black Friday. So the introductory price is not the price many will purchase it for.

    The 4 knobs, the layout, the sound, it ain’t for me, but it ain’t overpriced. Get over yourselves.

    1. Roland SE-02, same price, 3 oscillators.

      So… Right there you have a company with one of the best reputations in the synth world, vs. IK Multimedia, a SOFTWARE company that has made a couple cheap synths that everyone says has unresponsive keys on them. This synthesizer doesn’t exist in a vacuum. IK does not have the reputation to make something in this price range.

      And say what you will about us cheapskates scouring the pocket synth market (which is a legit market btw), we are interested in synths in the 200 dollar range, max 300 dollars. This is why the elektron model series is 300. IK expanded into the hardware synth world into that niche market, and even in that niche market they’ve done ok, but they haven’t exactly blown us away.

      And 649 is the price of a minilogue xd. Again… if I drop that amount of money, I’m dropping it on Korg or Roland, not these guys.

      1. We’re not just a software company. We’ve been making many products, including having our own factory in Italy for hardware (see the “Made in Italy” video and also know we’ve been manufacturing hardware and investing back into our own factory for years and making products on our own terms for that reason).

        On top of that we’ve worked with Soundmachines for multiple products and Fatar for the keybed on this one, or do you feel they do not have the proper “street cred” you desire?

        Beyond that, if there is anything else influencing your feelings toward IK that makes you feel this way about a product that you have not tried directly please contact us directly and I’m sure we can help and work things out.

        1. IK – thanks for taking the time to respond to reader questions, concerns, etc on this article.

          Doing this goes a long way towards letting people know that you’re listening to user feedback.

        2. I appreciate that you are asking for feedback from us on here… ‘street cred’ is too simple of a concept for what I’m trying to say. And full disclosure, I haven’t bought any of your stuff. I have watched plenty of reviews of the uno synth and drum, and in both cases I have seen a fair amount of criticism of the knobs and buttons, specifically the capacitive touch buttons.

          In my own amateur opinion, I think it makes sense when companies like you all update or improve on issues with existing designs before moving on to bigger and better things. That’s it.

          At this point this stuff isn’t out yet, and maybe people will love these products, and I’m wrong. I’m not trying to say you can’t compete with other established companies, it just seems to me there were issues that could be addressed with the existing products, and addressing those would give someone like me more reason to take a chance and buy your stuff. It would make you seem like a more reliable brand.

          Thanks.

        3. Dang, I responded and it disappeared, I hope this isn’t a duplicate response.

          Yes, what synthhead said is true.

          ‘Street Cred’ isn’t what I mean, I think it’s great for anyone to get in and put some sweet gear out there. Full disclosure I haven’t purchased any of your stuff. I have watched plenty of reviews, and I have seen a lot of criticism about the capacitive touch buttons on the uno and drum. I think that if you improved on the design of existing products to address issues like this, it would give someone like me more of a feeling that you are a reliable brand.

          These aren’t out yet, and maybe I’m wrong, they might be wildly popular, but at this point that’s what drives my perception.

          Thanks.

  7. I like that they went with a Fatar keybed on the larger one. Seems so many manufacturers make good hardware and then put a dreadful feeling action on their product. If it doesn’t feel good to play it’s a real lunch bag letdown. I look forward to this. The three note paraphonic capability is cool too – that’s one of my favourite features of my Matrixbrute.

  8. Micro USB means it’s a no go for me.
    Why release a new product with a micro USB?
    They always, and I mean always, break.
    USB C surely isn’t that much more expensive to put in.

  10. Right, so yeah, USB chips designed for computer uses create ground loops. For audio uses they need to have an isolation circuit. There are actually USB chips that integrate this, but not the popular cheap chips. They cost more. So guess what happens. I don’t know if all the major manufacturers are clueless or ridiculously cheap, but they go with the nonisolated chips. MIDI has optoisolators built into the standard for exactly this reason, to break the loop. USB MIDI standards need to specify it HAS to have isolation or can’t be called USB MIDI. Years have gone by, it’s not going to happen. The whole situation is so absurd because it’s just bad engineering and it’s being practiced by most companies.

    Solutions are to forgo USB MIDI and go with 5-pin, to buy an external isolator, or if you have balanced outputs sometimes that will at least reduce the problems. Balanced outputs are necessary anyway if you are operating near a lot of video monitors which induce noise.

    I hate moving the mouse and there’s all this noise coming from the very expensive pro quality USB connected mixer suddenly. It’s unprofessional. I am convinced many companies just have clowns designing products. This problem is solvable and should never have happened except in garbage no-brand stuff.

    edit: This was supposed to be a response to the comment above discussing USB noise, but the forum software put it down here for some reason.

      1. Hey I didn’t say you were clowns, that I do not know. The person raised the issue of manufacturers producing instruments that have USB ground loops. I have been a leading engineer in this field for decades and was sharing the problems and solutions, which are well known. So people stop doing it. There’s no excuse for designs that have these design errors and yes as an absolute fact designers and companies releasing such products are clowns. I’m talking about these shoddy designs in general, because it was brought up, and not your specific new design, which hasn’t been released.

        1. The more I think about this, the more the price seems WAY too expensive.
          However, I think this is deliberate from IK.
          The original UNO is now half the price that it was at launch in just over 2 years.
          I’m thinking that they hope to recoup their costs with early adopters.
          That may well happen, though I expect this to be half the price in 2 years too.

  14. Do you think the Bass Station 2 is a fair enough comparison with this?
    I really like the look of these synths. IKs’ video is really slick. Also getting it announced now before all the others is a good idea! Good luck!
    I think I will prefer Namm online. I can’t stand all that shouting watching videos…. I don’t bother.
    The market will decide here if they got the pricing right. I guess it is a difficult balance to judge.
    There is some stiff competition!
    I’ve thought Uno was a good little first synth.

  15. This looks fantastic. I can see myself buying the small one and your drum machine.

    q: are these made in Italy?

    Congrats on a fantastic release!

  16. LOL – What little kids on this talkback are crying about “expensive” synths? This is a very feature-rich analog for FOUR HUNDRED. There’s absolutely no reason to complain. I guess you can save your paper route money for a few more years and buy the Behry clone for $199

    It gets soooo tired when chatterboxes here complain about synths they haven’t even played yet, just because they can find a different synth out there for less. It’s completely useless, and it barely even functions as an opinion.

  17. Always happy to see a new analog synth on the market, especially by a new player, but it sounds pretty meh so far. For my ears anyway.

    That said, I still can’t imagine why anyone would think either version is ‘over priced’. Fatar keyboards and a ton of analog IO ain’t cheap!

  18. i’ve got the original UNO and I hate the way the knobs and capacative touch buttons feels. There is ZERO tactile/forcefeedback of any kind. The knob feel too sensitive. Its difficult to set them and sometimes even letting go of them is enough to change a value. I hope the new ones are are less touchy.

    1. Right, this is my point. A lot of guys on here to go out and buy five or six synthesizers at a time don’t care if something is actually good they just want more product headed to the market. Other people like myself on here I only ever going to have one or two synthesizers in this price range, in the bottom line is ik multimedia has not established the reputation to make something in this price range and have us think it will actually be good. They are a software company. Overpriced is not the right word, it’s a question of whether these products will be 400 or $650 quality. And just because some people are indiscriminate in how they purchase their gear doesn’t mean other people are wrong for questioning that.

  19. It’s amazing how many good, affordable analog synths there are now.

    Look at the features on this or the Bass Station 2 and then think about what was available 5 or 10 years ago!

  20. The more I think about this, the more the price seems WAY too expensive.
    However, I think this is deliberate from IK.
    The original UNO is now half the price that it was at launch in just over 2 years.
    I’m thinking that they hope to recoup their costs with early adopters.
    That may well happen, though I expect this to be half the price in 2 years too.

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