MakeProAudio has announced that its new DIY MakeKit synthesizer DinoPark is now available.
The platform lets you run classic CreamWare virtual analog synths – with additional polyphony and features – and other virtual instruments.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
The first multi-model DIY synth MakeKit and best sounding maker project board ever produced, offers the finest quality and most affordable Classic Synth emulation available anywhere – the only classic synth emulation offering as latency-free hardware.
Dino Park is a multi-specialist that performs as responsive zero-latency hardware, that can emulate a very large sonic spectrum of synthesis and delivers superior sound quality.
Every Dino Park ships with the Creamware Minimax, Pro12 and Prodyssey pre-installed. The platform can hold up to 32 plugins in on-board memory, though, and MakeProAudio plans to offer additive, wavetable, FM and drum/percussion model synths via its online store.
Dino Park can be operated and played directly as a MIDI device – without a computer. For even more control and settings options, MakeProAudio offers a free VSTi Editor plug-in (PC/Mac), which allows for convenient editing of every Dino Park parameter. The Editor makes it possible to program and tweak your own custom sound presets and save them directly in Dino Park.
Dino Park has a wide range of connection options. A USB MIDI Device Port (MicroUSB) is used to connect the Dino Park to a computer. There is an integrated USB host port for connecting USB MIDI devices such as keyboard controllers. Output analog audio signals via 6.3 mm jacks, the EX version also includes digital SPDIF inputs/outputs and MIDI sockets (In, Thru, Out) as 3.5 mm mini jack (MMA specification).
Features:
- DIY Multi Modeling Synthesizer in different versions
- Easy to assemble using a screwdriver
- Three Classic Synth models pre-installed and ready to play
- Up to 32 Synth models can be stored in on-board memory
- 50 factory presets and 50 user memories per model
- Simple user interface
- VSTi Editor Software (free download)
- Compact, robust housing
- Available in different versions
- Can be integrated into Arduino or Raspberry Pi projects
- Extended hardware control with “Dino Dials” (available soon)
- Expandable without limits
- Can be integrated via glue into networks in which the network itself becomes an instrument
- More synth models planned
Pricing and availability
- Dino Park Board (DSP Board with many connection possibilities) 279 EUR
- Dino Park Maker board bundle (DSP board with many connection options, connectors, Dino display) 299 EUR
- Dino Park MakeKit (DSP board with many connection possibilities, connections, housing, power supply) 399 EUR
- Dino Park MakeKit EX (DSP board with many connection possibilities, connectors, housing; expansion board with MIDI, SPDIF, analog inputs), power supply 469 EUR
- Dino Park MakeKit EXL (DSP-Board with many connection possibilities, connections, larger housing (space for two DSP boards with many connection possibilities), expansion board with MIDI, SPDIF, analog inputs), power supply 519 EUR
See the MakeProAudio site for more information.
Do the “Dino Dials” offer parameter control? Otherwise I assume the VSTi editor is the only way to control the sounds. I’m very interested in the additive synth and FM synth coming later.
Yes Dino Dials offer paremeter control 😉
As it has a host USB port I’m thinking a Novation Launch Control XL would match this well. Eight user templates for the eight synths, perfect!
Does it ELK OS based
project?
No, it’s based on the Sonic|Core (Creamware) DSP platform.
I see the USB/MIDI on the back panel, but the MIDI in/out/thru jacks, in the upper left, don’t look like MIDI ports.
As the post says, the MIDI jacks are to the MMA specification (TRS mini-jack) versus the more common 5 pin DIN.
Great price for the super high quality creamware sound, but that hardware design is yikes, worst UI I’ve seen in a while
you don’t like bricks?
I don’t see much of a reason in using a hardware digital synth that has no control and has to be edited via PC. Why not just use a VST?
Because a VST takes processor cycles away from other tasks.
Buy a Ryzen 3900x, job done.
I bougt, in time, Scope, Scope Pro and the Plugiator.
I’m quite tired to buy always the same when, especially for the plugiator, it was left without support after few years.
Please, support (windows 10 drivers/VSTi dlls) or make a sort of cross-grade for the Plugiator hardware.
It’s still a very good sounding (maybe the best) software synth. Unfortunately too many declinations of the same tech/company.
agreed, having a plugiator shaped brick has harmed my confidence to a degree
It would be good if the company included all of the old creamware synths that they offered with the Plugiator series as standard. Having to pay for the same stuff over and over again *is* incredibly frustrating. I owned a variety of Scope cards that are now useless, and wish I could crossgrade to this platform.
I’m also somewhat confused by their pricing. Their prices include German VAT, but there is no discount for those of us in the USA who shouldn’t pay European tax. Perhaps this is just a mistake?
And PLEASE: do the Modular for this box!!!
This would be THE pivotal product for the sales.
Yes !
Modular 4 with Adern FleXor v3 would be amazing. But I believe only legacy Creamware synths would be possible.
Nice format for a Vocoder box :O
I wish, the screen and all the controls would be on top. Now….if i wanna use it in live situation, this will be completely uncomfortable to put Dino on the table or keyboard stand and try to look at the screen.
“Available in different versions”. What does that mean? What are the other versions?
I used to own a Creamware Pro-12, truly loved it, still regret selling it off to buy something else, so I had to get a Dino Park. Proud owner of a first-batch board now, and there IS a small conceptual problem with it.
The sound is great – but let us be honest, what made those Creamware ASB boxes great was the combination of a very good emulation with actual vintage controls. You could make your own controls for the Dino Park – but would you ever? And which synth would you choose? In a way, the combination of all those VA vintage synths is less than the sum of its parts.
To solve this dilemma, I came up with touch screen controls – no substitute for the real thing, conceded, but much better than VST controls on a computer, and with the additional benefit that the controls show the actual settings for the sound – no Catch mode necessary. I also came up with a cheap and simple way to build the whole thing – short 2-minute video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN37TIKddI
Also did a template for my Novation SL MKII controller, which works fine with the Minimax (=Minimoog) model but is running out of knobs for more complex machines like Prophet and Odyssey. You can find it for download in my blog.