HyperSynth has introduced the Xenophone – an advanced analog mono synthesizer with 100% analog signal path.
The Xenophone is an advanced analog mono-synth with 100% analog signal path.
It has three oscillators, two subs, three ring modulators, one multimode VCF and analog distortion, all based on discrete analog circuits followed by a high quality stereo digital delay and reverb. In addition to its synthesis capabilities, it can be used as a powerful audio processor to colorize an external input signal by analog filter, distortion and DFX.
Control and User Interface:
26 encoders and 27 buttons put all the major parameters easily reachable with no menu diving. The Encoders smoothly turn and provide you 96 steps per rotation that mimic pot’s feeling and sweep range. The layout is designed in a way to be simple and intuitive. Using 88 LEDs and a free-angle OLED display, it is easy to get the idea of the current preset at a glance. Master Tempo and all LFOs have blinking LEDs that show the BPM and rates. The presets can be previewed without external keyboard using 3 buttons in 3-octave range or pre-defined notes.
Enclosure and Connectivity:
Xenophone has a rigid Aluminum enclosure that comes with a pair of vintage style hand-made wooden side panel that made out of maple wood in two options: flat and tilted.
The box connects to the outside world using 2x balanced outputs (stereo), 1x headphone jack, 1x external input, 1x CV input, MIDI in/out, USB and DC power in.
MIDI and DAW Integration:
Xenophone can function as a standalone instrument or fully programmable synth. It responds to the standard MIDI messages plus dedicated CC and NRPNs. The maximum implemented resolution in NRPN mode is 12bit, 4096 steps for filter frequency that provides super smooth sweep over the frequency range in compare to 127 steps CC standard!
Xenophone comes with a software editor called: XEditor. Using this editor you can control and automate every parameter of the sound engine remotely via MIDI and storing your patches on your PC and vise-versa. It also helps you in deep and precise editing the patches. “XEditor” will be available as standalone and VST plug-in.
Oscillators
- 3 Oscillators with 6 Waveforms: Saw, Square, Triangle, Variable Shape Saw-Sqr and Tri-Sqr
- 2 Subs + 2 XOR rings
- Oscillator special features: Hard sync, Phase sync, Phase adjustment, Square PW, Shape Modulation, Detune, FM, Analog Drift
- 4 types of noise: White, Pink, Red, C64 (pitched)
- 1 Analog Ring modulator
Filter
- 1 Multimode VCF with 6 filter types and 3 selectable slopes: 12,18, 24dB (Lowpass , Highpass, Bandpass, Notch, 18LP>6HP, 12LP>6HP)
- VCF self-oscillation with Sinus, Triangle and Clipped Triangle wave in different modes
- Filter FM via Oscillator1 (audio rate modulation of filter freq)
- Precise filter keytracking including: note pitch, portamento and pitchbend signal
Modulations
- 3 LFOs with 6 Waveforms (Sin, Tri, Saw, Sqr, S&H, S&Glide)
- LFO Features: Sync, Reset, Freq Range= 0 – 100Hz
- LFO1 and 3 have 6 easy access mod targets independent from mod matrix
- 3 Envelope Generators: Amp, Filter, Mod (6-stage DAHDSR from 1mS to 30S)
- 4 Envelope Styles (Analog RC1, RC2, Exponential, Digital Linear)
- 3 Envelope Trigger modes (Always, Legato, LFO2 S&H)
- Loop option for all envelopes
- 8-Slot Modulation Matrix (up to 33 mod sources and 50 mod targets)
- CV Input as mod source
Effects and Main bus
- 3 Types Analog Distortion (light, harsh, massive)
- 24-bit Stereo Digital FX (Room, Hall, Cathedral, Gated, Plate, Delay, Delay+Reverb, Ping Pong Delay)
- Feedback loop via external audio input
- Stereo output with balance control
- Low noise and high quality VCAs for amplitude and balance
Arpeggiator and Sequencer
- Arpeggiator with gate adjustment, various spans and 15 clock divisions (syncable to MIDI clock)
- 16×4 step sequencer per program
- Sequencer features: Note Slide, (Note, Velocity, AUX Track1, AUX Track2)
Hardware and Controls
- 26 Soft touch knobs + 27 Buttons
- 88 LED indicators
- 2×20 Character OLED display
- 3 buttons for previewing presets
- 2 knobs acting as Mod-wheel and After-touch
- 512 Sound Programs
Ins and Outs
- Stereo audio output: 2x 1/4″ TRS jacks (Balanced)
- External audio input: 1x 1/4″ TRS jack (Unbalanced)
- Headphone Out: 1x 1/4″ TRS stereo jack
- CV input: 1x 1/4″ TRS jack
- MIDI In, MIDI Out
- USB port
- DC Power input
Physical Specs
- Rigid aluminum enclosure + wooden side panels
- Dimensions: 12.9″ L x 6.5″ W x 1.9″ H (32.8 cm x 16.7 cm x 5 cm)
- Weight: ~2.2 lb (1 kg)
- Includes universal power supply for 110V – 240V AC operation (12 VDC, 1A)
Pricing and Availability:
Pricing and availability are TBA; Hypersynth hopes to start taking orders in late October.
Check it out and let us know what you think of the HyperSynth Xenophone!
Hypersynth plans t to start taking pre-orders by the end of the October 2013.
via Sonic State
So far, what we’ve been shown is no more than a computer rendering. For me, this pushes it a bit too far in terms of a product announcement for a physical product of this type of complexity.
This is a photo. The imperfections are always the givaway, In this case the slightly battered woodsides. Obviously more info will be available in time. What is your point?
Thats a photo. Are you blind?
Same thing happened when the Volcas were leaked. Idiots saying they were CG renderings.
Cant you see its a photo, cant you tell the difference?
I like how the right end-cheek looks kinda like a sloth yawning!
and I like how there are no depth knobs for the LFOs… no wait, I don’t like that at all! 🙂
cv in but no gate in or any cv/gate outputs? not very advanced
Wow! What a beautiful piece of gear… can’t wait to see some reviews and more info on this one.
I can already tell this will hurt my purse… I must 0_0
This look glorious. Wonder what sort of filter chip it has.
The font choice is abysmal though. Impact?
I agree. What’s so wrong with some Eurostile and Helvetica?
Din for the win mate. Would fits this like a glove.
What about… hmmmm…. Papyrus?
#runhide
This one’s gonna be more than 500 bucks, methinks….
If it comes to fruition I’d say $999 – $1500 price range..
Looks pretty cool. Also looks like they’re chasing the Elektron ‘Analog Four’. Same size, same idea (sort of), same basic look, but without the super advanced sequencer and effects chain of the Analog Four. However, the Xenophone has a software editor which will certainly grab some people (I got back into hardware to get away from the computer, but that’s another topic).
I also wish synth manufacturers would hire REAL graphic designers to design their interface graphics. I agree with the poster that mentioned the font choice being “abysmal”. It’s a shame to do all the work of creating a cool piece of gear only to cut corners on the visuals. After all, you will be looking at the darn thing a lot!
Why is there only a 1/4″ TRS CV input?
Would be neat if it had Eurorack style ins and outs!
No, 1/4in jacks are better because if you need to adapt to a smaller jack, a simple, cheap 1/4-1/8in adapter is like 3 bucks and you can use your existing cables. But if your whole setup uses 1/4in cables, you have to buy a special cable that only works with this one box, as the adapters to take 1/4in to 1/8in are really flimsy. Eurorack is great, but it’s not the only modular out there, btw, and most keyboards with cv/gate out do so with a 1/4in jack.
oh and the TRS means that cv and gate are probably both controllable with a trs cable. There are cables that split the TRS into two mono cables as well so this is how you’ll access both, it seems. It’s how my doepfer midi/cv functions.
Not enough LEDs.
what is it about sexy synths that I always want 2 of each?
Diggin’ the addition of phase sync – gives an option to the Minitaur, wish more manufacturers would jump on this
1. Dear Synthtopia, when you copy press release texts, please mark it so. Just like they do on the Sonicstate website that you refer to.
2. Where is the 3rd OSC being edited? Am I blind or is the only reference to OSC 3 the noise level knob?
3. 512 sound programs is great! But are they all user editable or is half of them fixed presets?
old new concept : hardware vaporware !
So is this thing monophonic or not?
You call it a mono synth which means it has only one output.
But what about the polyphony?
It has stereo outs, so it’s not a mono synth.
It’s a monophonic synth.
Try not to confuse people in the future.
Right. Because you always see the phrase “stereophonic synth” in advertising copy. 😉
Monophonic (adj): Having a single melodic line.
the number of outputs has nothing to do with the number of voices that can be produced at once.
hit one key, hear one note
hold two keys, hear one note. monophonic.
hold three keys, hear a chord – polyphonic.
It’s one note at a time, and has a mono analog signal going into a stereo digital effect (it might have a digital panner). I’m hoping it sounds real good, I’de buy it in a second if it does. They can nix the owl design on the front panel though. To bad I’m a Mac guy cause the VST editor/plug-in is PC only.
Is there uk distribution