Adamsynths shared this video preview of Warthog – their new Euro format modular system, which features total recall for patches and DAW integration.
They say it’s the first hardware modular synth system that lets you save your patches – including patch cable connections – and lets you integrated it with your DAW.
All the modules in the Warthog system are ‘supervised’ by a Central Unit, which is responsible for patch saving and recall.
Features:
- The Warthog saves and stores the position of all potentiometers, switches and patch cables, so you can recall patches like you would on a non-modular synth.
- You can create ‘snapshots’, which let you change the sound of the Warthog instantly. But you can also morph betwee snapshots.
- Patches can be saved and shared with other users.
- DAW Integration – you can integrate the Warthog directly into your DAW. All parameters can be controlled in real time via MIDI.
- Custom systems – you can configure the system as you like, or scale to larger systems.
- Compatibility – the CV/Gate connectivity is completely compatible with your existing Eurorack gear, though they don’t have the same patch saving capabilities.
Pricing and availability are still to be announced at the Adamsynths site.
it’s modular…. but why would you put wheels on the right?
it’s modular…. but why wouldn’t you put wheels where you want after purchase?
it’s modular… few folks play keys, so nobody really needs wheels; left or right handed. they look uncomfortable, and there are jacks placed around them. not ideal imho.
They are hands-on modulation/input sources, you don’t need keys. And there is a single CV jack at the bottom left. Maybe take another/closer look?
sigh.
Looks great, although I’m sure it will be very expensive. But I’m troubled by the promise at the bottom of the page saying ‘the first 50 customers will get lifetime free software upgrades…firmware will be available for other customers’, which sounds like the long-term plan is paid upgrades or subscriptions. Still, ambitious and very innovative looking.
yeah, i don’t do limited release products. fewer units usually yields more bugs in the end.
Wow !
I just dreamt ex-act-ly about that feature set and workflow, like 2 days ago !
Super idea @Adamsynths !
Patch save/recall seems a touted feature but how would you manage the knob positions. I think they are not motorised? Dealing with options (not solution) for knob catch-up value after a patch recall does make that less appealing.
that’s the problem with almost every synth with patch storage (to date, the exception are only two synths from Melbourne Instruments). Musicians get around with it and are simply glad to have patch storage. Just don’t touch a knob or lever while playing!
The perfect modular synth with patch storage would have LED-rings and encoders instead of potentiometers, or motorised encoders, and also include an LED patch matrix instead of cables. One Arturia synth has such a matrix (which can also function as a sequencer display).
Clavia Nord had it right, way back in 2004.
This problem was solved with 90’s VA, “pick-up” pot mode, or more recently “relative” pot mode.
The former (pick-up) has the knob-controller unresponsive UNTIL you pass through the saved parameter value, at which point the knob’s position will be unified with the patch data. By memory, I believe the Novation Supernova was the first to implement this solution in hardware synths.
The latter (relative), scales the knobs response as if that was the position of the saved value, shifting the “center” point of the controller itself. This mode features on the Waldorf Quantum/Iridium series.
*fly’s away*
It’s nice to have but it’s not a necessity. There are pickup modes as well as relative modes that work especially well. The DAW integration with an editor can also provide an overview of the patch. I’m all in for motorized knobs but it’s a freaking modular synth with presets!
On second thought, encoders might be a better option
The patch cable recall feature surely is a sort of game-changer for a hardware modular system, though it will certainly come with its lot of issues. For instance, let’s say you’ve got a patch made with all cables plugged in, you save it, unplug everything, and recall the patch some time later to build on it. Even though the connection will still be virtually made by the central unit, visually there’s no way to actually see where everything was plugged in the first place, so it’d be pretty difficult to continue working on the patch without all these visual cues.
What would have been awesome in an ideal world is to have a small LED above each socket, and when you plug a cable in one socket, both the LED from this socket and the one of the socket for the other end of the cable flash together to show you what the connection was. But this would of course demand a huge step up in the design and price, I’m conscious of that.
There is a screen. Ideally, the panel will be some sort of display that shows the connections. There is also an editor…
every patch point does have an LED looking at the close up pictures.
Incredibly tempting!
Love the piano note keys around the oscillators idea
And that it’s a self contained unit with so much scope.
+ 2 for the uniqueness
What a lovely machine. Congrats and respect to the Warthog team for taking a big swing.