Superbooth 2018: Polyend has announced details for Medusa, their new collaboration with Dreadbox:
Medusa hybrid synthesizer materialized from the genuine passion and a positive relationship between Dreadbox and Polyend synthesized in the proper way.
At first, there was a simple desire to add a sequencer and preset functionalities to the famous Dreadbox analog voices. But as the more you have, the more you want, this liaison grew up to something utterly unique and totally different than initially planned. We literally had to limit ourselves from tucking more and more new ideas for Medusa functionality, just like you’re going to have to withhold yourself from tweaking it all the time. Careful, Medusa might be dangerously absorbing and can drag you in for a long time.
Features:
- 64 fully responsive and customizable, three-dimension expressive pads.
- The Grid is storing 256 independent sequences and voice presets.
- Choose any modulation parameter per pad for X and Y pressure axis.
- Three sequencing modes: step, live and incremental.
- Both a musical controller and sequencer fixed in one powerful Grid.
- Sequence notes, parameter locks or even entire synth voice presets per step.
- Advanced voice and sequence randomizer onboard.
- All necessary Grid information is given on a crispy OLED display.
- Customizable user menus.
- Three synchronizable analog oscillators with the choice of four classic wave types for each of them.
- One 24dB classic Dreadbox analog filter with three different types (2pole LP, 4pole LP, HP).
- FM frequency modulation separately for oscillators and filter.
- Noise generator with color shaping.
- Three wavetable digital oscillators.
- Three different play modes: monophonic, paraphonic x3, paraphonic x6.
- Audio input lets you use the power of Medusa with external audio sources.
- Second OLED screen to display all necessary synthesis data.
- Five independent and adjustable low-frequency oscillators with an extensive pool of parameters to control.
- Five independent, adjustable and loopable DADSR envelopes with a wide list of parameters to assign.
- Mixer for all seven paths of independent analog, digital and noise voices.
- Separate volume control for headphone and main audio outputs.
- Implemented MIDI protocol with bi-directional USB and DIN input, output and through
- All that analog and digital functionality connected in one clearly marked layout sealed in a sturdy tabletop aluminum chassis.
- Aluminum covered knobs, informative LED buttons for the comfort of use.
- The Grid pads made of specially designed silicone, so their ‘immaculately matched density and firmness are providing an instant and precise response’.
Pricing and Availability
The Medusa is expected to be available mid-2018 for 999€. See the Polyend site for more info.
Love the look.
Three different play modes: monophonic, paraphonic x3, paraphonic x6.
What huh?
I guess as there are 3 analogue oscillators and 3 digital oscillators that means the paraphonic modes group those in a 2×3 or alternatively a 6 note paraphony mode where every oscillator can play a different note but through the same filter/env-amp
It’s Medusa with one `s` only. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medusa
Yes – post updated.
I would have put the grid on the right side since I think it’s easier to tweak knobs with my weak hand than playing notes.
Surely made by a left hander
Become ambidextrous like me!
I’d give my left arm to become ambidextrous (“,)
Sounds like a sinister plot
Turn it around upside down??? Pads on right, knobs on left, albeit in new places with funny labels 🙂
Guitar players would disagree. 🙂
Guitar players would disagree 🙂
There is no emoticon for what I am feeling right now.
Polynerd? :p
Features WOW
Aesthetics WOW
Let us hear it!
It looks fantastic but at 1000 bucks it’s not going to be in my buy list any time soon. There are just too many new affordable synths I could buy instead.
How may of them have 3 wavetable oscillators, analog, fm and all the mod routings + sequencer functionality with 5 stage EG’s, 5 LFO’s, analog filters, paraphonic options, multimode filters and filter slopes, looping envelope generators, multiple scales etc. Its also in a quality case and shows some seriously great design aesthetic. The mod matrix is easily as deep as modular without the patch cable mess too. Looks like a winner to me.
It’s a fantastic synth. I’ve listened to the demos and it sounds great. It’s deep and different from most things on the market. It’s certainly sounds better and is much deeper than the mono station.
Here is what you can get for 1000 bucks though
5 ik unos
Or
Model d
Neutron
Used monologue
Uno
Or
Bass station 2
Microbrute
Original Medusa
Or
Microbrute
Monologue
Uno
Ms-20
Volca bass
Or
Notation Peak
Just saying
I think it will depend on the buyer. $500 is the current comfort zone for synth purchases it seems. And there are a number of good mono synths (and 1 poly) in and around that number. But once you have several of these less expensive synths, you’ll start wanting to consolidate and buy newer, more feature rich and in some cases, better built gear. I was originally disappointed when the Medusa doubled in price and added the sequencer I wasn’t sure I even needed. But the Erebus 3 fills that gap pretty well, and now I’m realizing I DO want that sequencer, and presets, and all the additional features. So it’s a buy for me. Still, I would love it if it were UNDER $1000.
Me too, 1000 bucks can get you a lot more synth in the current market.
@imposcar
A Novation Launchpad Pro + a Deepmind 12 Desktop, is a tonne more synth than this for the money.
Yes, but you might support small manufacturers.
Like anything, it’s always interesting (if you have money, of course) to make “conscious” choices, not by thinking only money-wise but also humanly 😉
@Meg: A Launchpad Pro is not a sequencer though.
Apples and oranges. The Launchpad Pro + Deepmind doesn’t even sequence, much less do p-lock/motion sequencing like this does. The LP’s pads aren’t 3 dimensional either. $500 analog/digital paraphonic synth + $500 sequencer/grid controller. $999 sounds about right.
It’s more polyphony it isn’t more synth – the DM12 at its core is a single DCO with SAW/SQ waveforms + Sub. Yes it has a modmatrix but it doesn’t have 5 LFO’s, 5 loop able DASDR Envelopes, Wavetables (20 which can be custom) 3 independent analog oscillators VCO and not DCO like the DM12 (1 being continuously variable) and it lacks the pure number of waveform shapes and types from the oscillator section from the get go. XY Expression, parameter and full sound locking per step, dual paraphony modes. Slap a launch pad on a DM12 and call it what it is but it won’t have the sonic scope of this in many ways even if it has more polyphony. If you pulled the DM12 effects section and included effects mod matrix (as this doesn’t have any effects) you’d get a much better feel for what is here on the raw synthesis front. In a word or three a hell of a lot.
Not detracting from the DM12 but it isn’t doing the same thing this is with a launchpad tacked on.
If you’re going to price a monosynth at $1K+, *this* is what it should be like.
Does it sequence external gear?
How many sequencer tracks does it run simultaneously?
Same questions.
1 sequencer track 64 steps max. Will be able to send out notes and notes sequence, but the output will be limited.
too many.must haves? this.is problem no?
fantastic.
So nice, but how about some CV i/o?
if you build it… they will come…
One of my personal highlights of SuperBooth18! It sounds and feels super premium and it looks so incredibly sexy, you just have to touch it. The price point is amazing for what you get, I was actually expecting it to be at least 300 bucks more.