Type “monster synth” into Google and what do you get?
“Monster Synth” Defined
A monster synth is a large synthesizer that could potentially kill you, if it fell over on you. Monster synths also are named, ie., Tonto or The Synth of Doom.
We never thought that a MIDI controller playing a soft synth could challenge that definition.
But Mario Jurisch’s Synth-Project Alphatron/Pure-MCone Controller may just be the first monster synth MIDI controller ever.
If it fell over, it could probably kill you. At least if you’re on the small side.
And the combination of 176 knobs, 45 switches, H.G.Fortunes’ and TubeOhms’ software synths offers the immediacy of classic hardware and the power of modern software.
Thank you, Mario Jurisch, for showing us the monster synth potential of the MIDI controller/soft synth combination. And thank you Ramona, for your patience.
Check this demo video out and let us know if you think that it’s time to update our definition of monster synths……
This is very cool, and I actually thought the music demo was, too.
I can’t see spending a couple of thousand bucks on a midi controller, though. And you know this would be in that price range.
What are you going to do when the software gets updated?
Cool but impractical.
The Alphatron SP (SP = Synth-Project) is a special version for the controller. It needs no update.
Agreed, I mean Midi controlers are notoriously inexpensive (for the most part) because they dont produce their own sound. So when you're spending a couple Gs on one instead of the usual $200-$250 that says something haha. Although she is gorgeous and if I have the extra cash Id have to have it.
There are a lot of midi controlling gear that is well beyond 200-250, that only gets you the most basic controllers.
And you would have to buy quite a few of those to get as many real time controls as on this one.
So stating those prices are not fair at all.
However you could argue that this is limited by its design to function best with only certain instruments, and that might prove the price a bit steap.
Hate to say it, but an iPad app probably would make more sense for a controller.
What are you going to do when the iPad app gets updated ? ;o)
How do you figure?
The touchscreen has very little physical feedback, none to be honest.
And with iPad you are in the hands of Apple, when your units breaks, you might no longer be able to exchange it for a unit that can run the same software… and the software could by that time even been removed from app-store, so even if you got yourselsf a compatible iPad, you would still be without the software.
iPad can be used as controllers, for sure, and the visible feedback can make programming easier, but it lacks physical controls. You can add controllers to it, and control the software that way, but if you also want the unit to send midi from the software that you control with hardware to another unit, things might be a bit tricky.
And after all by that time the iPad would be little more than a screen, with the risk of updates breaking the compatibility.
You could build one hell of an analogue synth in that case, though
Did you listen to the video?
One could claim that there is little need for analog gear when digital sound this good.
Sure, there is a certain charm to analog gear that can never be fully emulated, but you can capture most of the chareteristics. And after all, if technology would have been perftect when those analog synths were created, they would have sounded very “digital”, its the coloring of the imperfection of the components that makes that analog sound, not the theoretics behind it all.
And there are a lot of digital synths that have a charm on their own, based on technology that can never be made using analog components.
Or for that matter, a digital subtractive synth can have how many modulations as you could dream up, and still be manageble and fit in one room, compared to the analog module system that would ever even get half the way there.
You could build one hell of an analogue synth in that case, though.
This is an awesome concept. Kicks pants and pants full of ass. Nicely done, buddy.