At Knobcon 2021 and Superbooth 2021, Buchla USA is making the ‘soft debut’ of their new Music Easel.
The original Buchla Music Easel was introduced in 1972 as a portable ‘suitcase modular’. It was made up of two main units: the 218 Touch Keyboard Controller; and the 208 Stored Program Sound Source. The system has a unique card slot that lets you slide in hardware preset cards.
With the previous iteration of the Music Easel (and of Buchla), the iProgram card was introduced, which repurposed the slot to allow for patch memory and even wireless control.
The updated Buchla Music Easel expands on the original, with space on the left side for a new module that adds additional connectivity options, utilities and more.
Buchla is also considering making the 10-space case available separately.
Pricing and Availability
Buchla says that official details will be announced in a month or so, after they finalize a few things.
Photos via Marc Doty.
So much awesomeness in that little space !
Yes presets. Will I live to see the day?
The flat sensor board looks like a PITA.
Should remove the lower-left panel and soread the keyboard wider.
It’s the classic Easel with additional space on the left side. If they made the keyboard wider, there would be no additional space on the the left side.
that space is there for an additional module that isn’t pictured (going off off the reading) so it has a purpose, but I think the capacitive sensors are similarly spaced as standard synth keys.
Except does it cost $100,000?
They’ve suggested an MSRP of $3999 USD, but it remains to be confirmed.