Best New Drum Machine Of NAMM 2015
At this year’s NAMM Show, there were several new drum machines, a category that hasn’t seen a lot of activity in recent years. Two drum machines stood out.
At the Show, Teenage Engineering made the official debut of their ‘Pocket Operator’ line of micro synths – a new line designed to be cheap ($59 each) and fun. Their PO-12 is a drum synth that offers 16-step sequencing, pattern chaining, effects and an alarm clock – and it fits in your pocket. These are going to sell like crazy.
Our pick for the best new drum machine, though, is the new Akai Pro Tom Cat, above. For $200, it’s a fun analog drum synthesizer that offers retro sounds, step sequencing, MPC-style pads, packaged in a sturdy metal case.
I’m as excited as anyone about the new Odyssey and I’m not saying it doesn’t deserve ‘best monosynth,’ but at the same time you guys seem to have completely ignored/neglected the Vermona ’14.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDwZhWf21As
What do you have against Vermona?! Was this guy even a contender for ‘best monosynth?’
The Vermona ’14 looks does look interesting. As we see it, though, they’ve previewed the synth, vs introducing it.
Vermona has not put any information about the new synth on their website or on their social media pages; they have not shared any press information on the new synth with Synthtopia; they haven’t published any audio or video demos for it; and they haven’t announced pricing or availability.
We look forward to learning more about The Vermona ’14 and hope we can share more information on it, soon.
hmm.. yeah, but nonetheless, they’ve showcased the product.
So, you just could’ve gone there and asked them nicely.. 😉
Thanks for the feedback.
There were a wealth of new synths at NAMM this year where the manufacturers actually introduced them, provided specs and audio demos, had pricing and availability information and have websites we can point people to for more information.
Unfortunately, Vermona isn’t at that stage yet with their new synth.
If we select a keyboard as a ‘best of NAMM’ choice, readers are going to want to know how many oscillators it has, envelope types, filter slope, keyboard characteristics, modulation options and much more. They’re going to want to know the synth’s pricing and availability, so they can weigh its value compared to other keyboards out there.
We hope you’ll understand that we have to consider these things in compiling our ‘best of’ selections, in addition to a company just showing something interesting at NAMM. For example, longtime readers will remember that Dave Smith showed drum machine prototypes for several years prior to actually introducing the Tempest.
Vermona’s products so far are completely beautiful in sound! I would be as excited about this even as a preview as i would be for any number of variations on the idea of the Xi or Timbre Wolf! The synth ’14 looks a lot like what I’d hoped Vermona would go for next, from the Lancet mono towards a more full featured moog-style mono. the sound of the lancet was very beautiful, I hope they kept those designs intact.
I’m with you here!
For me, besides the Prophet 6, the best looking synth at Namm this year.
Sounds very nice as far the youtube vids go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtCHJAO-HB4&spfreload=10
did anyone get a noise violation this year?
I didn’t see any company booths shut down for noise violations this year.
I think the Prophet 6 was far and away the winner. If you look at the Prophet 12, I think it beats the Modulus/Modal as well. Designed by a legend, the Prophet 6 is destined to be a classic.
If the Prophet 12 had been introduced in 2015, we would have had a much harder time compiling our ‘best of’ list!
The fact that a startup like Modal Electronics has introduced a synth that can be compared with other great polyphonic synths is a huge deal. The more you learn about the 002, the more you realize that has some interesting ideas built into its design.
As far as audio interfaces go, the Rane smashes these other two IMO. Did you overlook the overhaul at UAD, where we can now daisychain devices and enter an I/O and plugin walhalla?
I agree with the Prophet being the most interesting synth in this year’s NAMM.
My second choice is the ARP Odyssey, no doubt about it.
Let’s see what 1983 NAMM will bring us. Because we are in 82 right?
Nah, just teasing you
No ms20 module mention???
I’d pick the updated Kronos as the most exciting new synth. Of course I’m not an analog fanatic. I would rather have something like the Kronos that can do analog AND a lot of other things.
Not a big workstation fan here but the Kronos is legit. Amazing price for what you get and it sounds quite impressive. I don’t think I’ll be buying one but it’s definitely well worth owning if you’re in the rompler market.
Worst of NAMM? The Akai Timbrewolf… If they release that thing as is, for even 200 dollars, it is one of the worst sounding synths I’ve ever heard. But it costs $500… What a joke…
I am ordering all the Pocket Operators and an SQ-1. But my favorite thing was the update for the Sub-37. That synth is a must have…
I tried the timbre wolf and thought it was actually a pretty interesting synth. Great build quality and 4-voice analog polytimbral! We’re getting jaded if that’s not a good deal for $500.
The demos didn’t do it justice, akai doesn’t know how to sell stuff anymore!
If you’re used to synths with built in effects, the timbre wolf will sound weak to you. It’s really four independent analog monosynth voices, more like a really basic version of a Oberheim four voice, rather than a traditional polysynth.
A friend of mine tried it at NAMM, admittedly I haven’t heard it in person. But Nick Batt and Correy Banks (Sonicstate and Bboy tech report) also said it sounds “ghastly”. Nicks exact words. They said it’s the exact same synth used in the rhythm wolf, which I own and it leaves a ton to be desired…