Synthstrom Audible has released the Deluge – an all-in-one, stand-alone, portable synthesizer, sequencer and sampler, designed for the creation and performance of electronic music.
The Deluge lets you do grid-style sequencing, using 128 RGB pads; play samples from SD card (up to 32GB); create new sounds with an internal synth engine (FM & subtractive synthesis); control other gear, via MIDI & CV/Gate outputs; and work anywhere you like, since it has a built-in battery, mic and speaker.
Features:
- Piano-roll-style sequencing on 128 full RGB pads (16×8) with scrolling and zooming.
- Full-featured Internal synthesizer engine (subtractive and FM).
- Plays samples from SD card (up to 32GB SDHC).
- Sequencing limited only by device RAM (many thousands of notes).
- Polyphony limited only by CPU. Typically around 48 synth voices or 64 unaffected sample voices may play.
- 64MB of sample ram – work with up to 12 minutes (if mono) of CD-quality samples per song.
- Live adjustment of synth and effect parameters with two endless-turn encoders with LED level-meters. Easy buttons to select the functions these control. Parameter automation recording.
- Advanced syncing capabilities. Weird time signatures supported. Adjustable swing.
- Dedicated volume and tempo knobs.
- LFOs and envelopes on each synth / sample. Highly customizable patching matrix.
- Synthesizer engine features LPF / HPF, arpeggiator, portamento, oscillator sync, ring modulation, unison detune, and more. Four basic waveforms, or select any WAV file from the SD card.
- FX including delay, reverb, chorus, flanger, phaser, bitcrushing, sidechain effect, live stutter, and more.
- Time-stretching of samples
- Keyboard mode, where the pads become a live instrument on a 2D grid.
- Preset or custom scales, or chromatic mode.
- Internal speaker, rechargeable Li-ion battery (6+ hours of operation), and microphone.
- 3.5mm mic and ¼” line inputs.
- Two ¼” line outputs, and 3.5mm headphone output.
- 2x CV outputs. 0 – 10V, individually configurable to 1, 1.2, 0.26 or 0.32 volts per octave, or to hertz per volt.
- 4x gate / trigger outputs individually configurable to v-trig or s-trig, with shared voltage switchable between 5V and 12V. Trigger clock output configurable, up to 192 PPQN.
- Trigger clock input, also with adjustable PPQN.
- MIDI input and output via hardware connectors or USB. Syncing via MIDI beat clock as master or slave.
- Simultaneously output separate sequences to all 16 MIDI channels, 2 CV / gate channels and 2 additional gate outputs, in addition to internal synthesizers / samples (limited only by CPU and RAM, as above).
- Powered via USB or 9 – 12V centre-negative (pedal-style) power supply (500mA) (not included).
- User-upgradeable firmware – expect updates from Synthstrom Audible.
- Dimensions: 305mm x 208mm x 46mm (12 x 8.2 x 1.8 inches).
- Weight: 1.5kg
In additional to final specifications, Synthstrom has released a massive series of walkthrough videos:
Deluge Video Walkthrough:
- Part 1 introduces you to “Track View”, “Song View” and the Deluges scrolling and zooming, shows how you construct songs and introduces you to some of the sample playback features..
- Part 2 goes deep into the Sound Editor and patching matrix and explores the sampling capability of the Deluge.
- Part 3 brings a few other instruments into play and showcases the Deluges ability to play with others.
In addition, they’ve shared some audio demos of the Deluge synthesizer:
https://soundcloud.com/synthstrom/deluge-audio-demo
Pricing and Availability
The Deluge is available with a launch price of $780 USD + $55 shipping (through Nov 25, 2016). At this point, the lead time on production is expected to be four months. They have not announced pricing for the Deluge for orders after Nov 25th, but they expect it to be several hundred dollars more. See the Synthstrom Audible site for details.
Ok, so they made up for the weak intro with a nice in-depth video. So if you purchase it now, its about 800 bucks and you wait 4 months to get it. If you purchase it a month later, it could possibly be 1600 bucks. This is starting to sound like the “Worlds greatest dildo” scheme they tried to pull in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels after they realized they owed a ton of money to Hatchet Harry. They are asking for a lot of money upfront for a 4 month lead time. Sounds like a kickstarter.
After reading their website, I’m a douchebag!
They seem pretty legit and aern’t trying to take a big hit trying to mass produce these boxes. Makes sense form a business standpoint. Trying to gather PO’s before going into full production.
Again, I’ve been a total douche to this product but hey, what is the internet for, nice comments, meh.
765 usd and I might have gone for it. 780 places it just over our Australian personal use import limit of $1000, attracting local import duties and taxes 🙁
The guy is based in NZ (AFAIK, unless he has moved recently) so maybe message if in Australia, may be able to work something out?
If it makes you feel better just think about us, brazillians, who pay around 60% to 90% over the regular price (and shipping costs) of any electronic item over the 100 usd limit, while waiting for months for the packages to be checked and cleared.
Pedro that’s terrible,
your government appears to be greedier than the UK gangsters.
Free Trade, Free Markets and Freedom.
Something worth making music about if you can afford it.
Perhaps on a second hand Casio which this device really sounds like.
Hi Johnno, check the page – we are offering it to Australians for $990AUD for this very reason!
Rohan from Synthstrom Audible
Very, very cool! I SHALL take advantage of this. You’ve even given me a month to fit it into my budget…just WOW!
Sounds just like a Casio CZ-101.
Not sure if that meant as a criticism or not, since I love the CZ 101!
But if you think phase distortion sounds like subtractive synthesis, you know nothing about synthesis.
Maybe I’m crazy or just blind but I can’t find anywhere how many simultaneous tracks this thing runs. Also, how many bars can a pattern be? These are pretty big bits of info imho and it doesn’t seem to be mentioned anywhere in the specs. Please correct me if I’m wrong as I am very interested in this thing
edit: Okay, I think I see it now. It says 16 MIDI sequences and then mentions that can me internal or external. Still nothing on the sequencer length though
Hi Smanman. That info was mentioned in the videos. You are only limited by ram with any feature on the device – effectively sequences can be as long as you want – it is unlikely you would ever reach the limit. You can have as many tracks in a “song” as you wish, in the video Rohan mentions 100’s or even 1000’s . You are limited by ram as to how many voices may play at any one time/run simultaneously – that info is in the specs.
Ian, does the deluge have follow actions, and can it do quintuplets, also can the tempo be automated?
some simple things I can’t seem to find answers to anywhere, are the pads velocity sensitive, can you record live drum playing into the sequencer in addition to the step sequencing?
Probably most intelligent hardware sequencer ever made, plus it’s a synth and sampler, I’m impressed! Might even make me switch from Ableton for studio use (probably not), but for live scenario and/or addition to studio for quick writting, this is perfect. I assume with some MIDI splitter you can connect even more gear. While reading the article, I was expecting it to be out of justifed reach with a few thousand dollars price, seeing the numbers was a final shock. Plus returnig half of the taxes for Europeans, unbelievable! And I just had a thought, this would be a great new product without synth and sampler, if it would reduce the price to make it noticeable enough. Maybe add more CV/Gate and MIDI outs in that case. Wish you all the luck, nice to see people like you showing up. : )
What’s with the placement of knobs and buttons!? Small buttons between big knobs are asking for trouble.
Want my buttons in orderly rows!
(Confessions of an Elektronite)
I’m impressed too. It has everything needed for standalone hardware composition. Those who like tactile interfaces should be delighted.
The moment they make a version with 8 outputs I would buy one. I use samplers and have for 25 years . My MPC is worn out and nothing is available I am impressed with output wise.
Can it transpose the sequence?
Can it play chords ?
nice idea but a little pricey for me
Anyone knows if you can load up full songs on this? Through SD?
Very, very impressed!!
Audio examples sound terrible but it looks like it would be a ton of fun as a MIDI sequencer.
Not pricey at all if you ask me, at least at this point.
For the price, all of the available tracks for sequencing, MIDI & CV out control, sampling, this thing looks wonderful. I love the note input grid, as it makes this look to be a very viable and flexible live performace tool. Was thinking about picking up a Squarp Pyramid or a Social Entropy Engine, but this looks like it would fit my workflow far better and with more immediacy.
At first I thought it looked to be a good idea. After watching the 2nd video they put out and he started menu diving to get some basic synth action…I turned off. More knobs and less matrix I reckon would be better. What a shame 🙁
Few things have caught my eye. SynthstromDeluge is top of the class right now
Love the grid. Love the standalone. Thank you for making it so sick.
The size is cool. But hoping someone puts a brain in the back of one of those sleek looking TV remotes with the low profile buttons, scrolling thru a tetris screen picking sounds to drop on a pad. Mashing tactile buttons. Just add the mic, bluetooth, plug and battery from the phone body, couple small encoders, and your golden. Just saying because it looks like you guys are capable. On behalf of the nomads, thanks