Viper Synths shared this video intro to Robotron, a MIDI controller that’s designed to look and feel like vintage synth gear.
Robotron features an anodized aluminum body, Sapelli wood sides, and the same knobs used on Sequential Circuit and Moog synths. It’s created by David Jacopin, who wanted an alternative to the usual plastic MIDI controllers that would feel more like a real synthesizer.
“I like solid, beautiful, well finished, metal and wood cases, like it was made in the 70s and 80s,” notes Jacopin. “Inspired by legendary Moog, Oberheim, Roland and Sequential Circuits, I designed Robotron, a beautiful USB MIDI controller that makes you feel virtual synths.”
Features:
- 26 High Quality Potentiometers
- 20 Original Bakelite Moog Knobs
- 6 Original Prophet 5 Knobs
- 1 High Quality USB Cable (USB-C to USB-A male)
- Anodized Blue Aluminum Top Panel
- Black Powder Coated Steel Case
- 8 Switches
- 100% Assignable
- 16 MIDI Channel Selection
- OLED Screen
- USB MIDI Compliant Plug & Play
Robotron MIDI Controller Demo:
Pricing and Availability:
Robotron is available now for €490,00 EUR.
I agree on controllers almost always looking like junk. What amuses me here, though, is thinking about where gear like this belongs, considering the dumb and endless debate between hardware nerds and vst nerds. This might be for people who don’t waste their time on such nonsense and actually make music.
I mean it definitely checks the box of paying a lot of money for something that looks boutique lol. honestly though I think they make a lot of claims on it’s functionality when I don’t see how it does a whole lot more that a launch control xl does for way cheaper – it is just in a much prettier package
We pay a lot for plugins with nice knobs & wooden end cheeks so we need a controller to match!
Glad to see they are touting high-quality pots– that is important.
IMHO, it should have included more buttons– each with toggle/momentary mode options.
None (!) of these types of products include multi-turn precision pots with full 14/16-bit resolution (high-res CC, NRPN, or MIDI 2.0). I understand there are some design challenges with this, but it really would be a useful option even if it was only on 2-4 of knobs. This would also help justify that price tag.
Also absent are any jacks for external (foot, breath, alt) controls; switch or CC.
I can understand that the purpose of this product is simplicity and build-quality over power and complexity. So the above features are out-of-step with the dumb-it-down approach.
beautiful piece of kit but for €490,00 EUR I would rather buy an actual analog synth and use it as a MIDI controller. If it was about a rotary midi controller Im waiting for the BCR32 and get like 2 of them.
It seems this is for whoever don’t want shitty quality and shitty look controller that actually exists.
Oh my dude, it’s ok. You are free to do with your money whatever you want even if it is buying a €490,00 EUR midi controller that YOU in particular will never buy lol.
Behringer gives you a 3-year warranty for free when you register. What do you prefer, a 3 year warranty or a 1-year warranty but a nice paid review made by Payola-ing influencers? Like, check ALL your stuff… where does it say it’s made? lol.
It’s beyond funny you sound hurt by everyday market disruption which is what has been happening in the world of music making tools for a while now. MusicTribe, InMusic, Noritsu, SoundWide… all China made stuff but you have a perception they not the same due to what? Payola Influencers who made money telling you what to get lol.
As for the looks, if you get swayed by a €490,00 EUR midi controller with wood ends then you are truly what synthfluencers easily sway with success lol.
LOL – Behringer has been one of the the worsts offender about sending ‘synthfluencers’ free gear and not requiring transparency.
Behringer has recently changed their policy on this, because people called them out on their bullshit. But Behringer still says that they plan to give free gear to synthfluencers that test their gear.
The traditional, ‘legit’ way for companies to manipulate reviews is to only send gear before it’s released to people that provide generally positive reviews. You see this happening with Loopop and Sonic State. They’re not getting paid to do reviews, they’re not getting free gear, but they’re getting access to the gear a few weeks before anybody else, which is valuable.
Midi Fighter Twister blows it away in terms of functionality. looks, and value for money. (Needless to say, I’m also not a fan of the old Moog industrial design style either.)
For that price you can buy a real synth and use it as a controller. Also didn’t get if it has only midi over USB…
For €490,00 EUR and 26 Potentiometers I will give you anal-log feel. Tell me how you like it.
I will spank you with my Anodized Blue Aluminum Top Panel.
Here is the issue manufactures don’t produce real midi controllers any more since the DAW Revolution, they decided to make cheap keyboards but not good cheap midi controllers.
This company fail in my book no DIN Midi but nice woood(wink wink)
MIDI controllers without endless encoders are completely worthless and a waste of money.
I absolutely agree.
Nice idea. There are also the SoundForce controllers, which are a very similar price. This one is handy in that it is slightly more generic. I expect you could also use the Behringer Pro 800 in this way, which is a bit cheaper than either of those options. Economies of scale, I guess. Has anyone tried that?
You are correct you could use Behringer CAT or Behringer WASP DELUXE, yes 200 bucks with a synth to boot.
Do those send cc for the knobs? The Behringer Pro 800 does. Looks like the Korg Monologue does too, maybe that’s the cheapest option.
This thing has doorstop written all over it.
LOL. Agree!