Developer Frédéric Meslin has launched a Kickstarter project to fund production of the Manatee, an advanced multitimbral MPE synth that he says has an ‘unabashedly digital’ sound.
Manatee is a new multitimbral digital synthesizer, with polyphony ranging from 10 to 16 voices (depending on patch complexity), 4 parts, MPE support and more.
Here’s what he has to say about it:
“Featuring a unique take on Spectral Synthesis in combination with a fine selection of classic Virtual Analog and 2-OP FM algorithms that can be influenced by many modulations options, the Manatee engine covers a lot of sonic ground.
Powered by 2x dual-core 200MHz 16 bit DSPs, Manatee offers a MINIMUM of 10 voices of digital madness, spreadable over 4 independent MIDI parts, to play full arrangements or generate massive and complex sound layers when stacking them.
With an ergonomic, hands-on user interface, carefully designed to expose all major synthesis parameters at immediate reach, Manatee is simply a joy for the sound-design enthusiasts, composers, live performers and all electronic musicians.”
Manatee Audio Demos:
Pricing and Availability:
The Manatee is available to project backers starting at €544.
Note that crowdfunded projects can involve risk. See the project site for details.
A fine creative approach
Digital/Analog is a needless war
This will work well for many than some of the stuff larger companies are doing nowadays
Beautiful Digital Synth!
Needs USB Audio for true Digital Dominance!
Strange that transmitting audio data digital is so rare in the digital age.
it’s not so easy to implement, many times buggy and for allot uneeded
Fred demo-ed this for me at SuperBooth, awesome synth, super clever design and different sound. He’s the man behind the Waldorf Streichfett, and has a great track record on KickStarter with his other synths. Can’t wait!
This is about the same price as an Arturia Minifreak, which is also a synth with flexible digital oscillators. While the Manatee 4 looks and sounds cool, it’s hard to sell at that price.
Not everyone wants what everyone else has.
This is a LOT more voices, and it’s multitimbral. I really dont think the two products are comparable at all, imo. imo I am not at all interested in the minifreak, but this one looks ace.
Minifreak is monophonic, with no effects. Manatee is 4 parts multitimbral with up to 16 voices of polyphonic, includes delay & reverb, and has a completely different synthesis approach. Comparing prices doesn’t make sense here.
You’re talking about the MiniBrute, I think? “MiniFreak is a polyphonic hybrid keyboard that unites dual digital sound engines with analog filters, playful modulation, instinctive sequencing, and rich stereo effects for sounds that are immediately curious, beautiful, and chaotic in equal measure.”
But MiniFreak is not multitimbral …?
4 x multitimbral = 4 x ability to play 4 patches at same time on their own midi channel. [Its like having 4 of the same synth]
The minifreak is mass produced in china, this one is made in Germany hand built by one man boutique manufacture and probably built in higher standard, one cost more to manufacture, for whoever cares, I do, i know allot don’t.
Are the components also made in Germany, which this device is built with?
Don’t be fooled by “made in…” It likely it’s merely assembled in Germany, otherwise the price would be way higher.
Well, Don’t be fooled by commenters who guess and assume without providing facts. I put my trust on the word of Fred.
https://youtu.be/2LidWGIqBYQ
Maybe, Fred emphasis the use of high quality, long lasting and easy to find substitutes parts. I liked that.
looks good
multitimbral is essential… nearly every synth had this 40 years ago… theres no excuse to leave it oit now except cutting corners for more money, which deserves to be punished as harshly as possible
So i guess now it is only shamefull if a synth uses samples..
Probably not even that, if implemented well, of course. These days, everything is both in and out of fashion at the same time! The global trends of the past are… A thing of the past.