47 thoughts on “1010music Intros Nanobox Pocket Polysynths”

1. Woah neato

   Is this a Micrologue?
   Price seems like it’s doable for many

   How is the USB and midi and control implementation

2. Seems expensive to me, not a lot of controls and not very portable if you have to power it (no built in battery) and connect a keyboard (and sequencer!) Just 2 knobs on a hardware synth?

   It looks like identical hardware running 2 different digital software synths?
   Will you be able to load either synth in any box via the SD card.

   1. It has a sequencer and a “grid” keyboard!

      The “no battery” is a bummer – if i have to power it from my phone why wouldl i not use my phone with some cool app instead (?)

      I still find it cool for bringing it to places!

      1. I am pretty sure it doesn’t have a note sequencer, it’s just for sequencing modulation…and good look playing it on a 2 inch screen! Plug in a keyboard, PSU, speaker or headphones and it’s not so small!

         1. I think that is why I don’t get why units like these don’t include a usb midi host. ultra portable machines that can use highly portable laptop controllers even if they need to power off of a powerbank beome super portable

         2. watch the reveiws and in depht videos – it can quantize it’s sequencer to notes, strange but cool … youll see …

            1. I watched all the videos, it think its a terrible OS- 3 clicks just to lower volume and the sequencer is ridiculously small and impractical and not ‘designed’ for not sequencing notes (ties, slides or even basic 303 type sequinning). It is one of the worst designed products I have seen for a long time, total miss on every front for me….even the sonic state reviews struggled to see the point of it…never seen that before!

               1. to me it’s a good sign.

   2. Right on, not battery powered is a big let down for such a small device.

3. PPL nodding at each other in a glamorous studio LOL XD

   – The other video explains what the boxes are very well.

   – I like XS size but professional gear.

   – Many will complain about the price tho … i don’t.

4. Sorry to talk about the advertising, but i don´t get the story of it, or let´s say..it is too scripted and i don´t know…do people really need such a story behind those (probably interesting) synths? I don´t think so…
   But beside that, i quite like the formfactor…and reminds me in some ways of the old kaosspads (not only the color). Will check those out..hands on.

5. Not to be a wet blanket, but with fantastic free soft-synths out there like Vital, these types of hardware synths (and others) might be a tough sell for many, including those who have a budget for budget synths.

   1. Two different markets, no hardware buff will find themselves choosing between this and a plugin.

      1. Really? How many “hardware buffs” who have a home DAW studio only have/use hardware synths and never use soft-synths?

         Free synths vs. $399. Hmmm?

         1. i think he meant whoever interested in hardware will usually not compare it to a free plugins.
            only commenters do that…

6. needs to drop $100

   1. needs audio over usb

7. Anyone know what chips these are using? I’d love a beautiful enclosure like this for say a raspberry pi.

8. I understand some of the head-scratching on these, but…

   1) As noted elsewhere, not a lot of good hardware granular synthesis options out there. Key here is going to be ease of uploading samples and modulation options. The Lemondrop seems to offer a lot in both departments.

   2) As Gaz and Nick mention in the Sonicstate review of these device, the price point likely represents — or is tied to — the quality of the AD/DA converters.

   3) The Blackbox demonstrates that 1010 is pretty committed to frequent-ish firmware updates that add value to their devices. Would hope that’s the case here as well.

   4) Yeah, the screen are small. But styluses are cheap (and, for me, a must for the iPad anyway; I’ve already “invested.”)

9. These products should be iPad apps.

   1. FRMS – Granular Synthesizer for iphone/ipad is more powerful and costs $15

      – 4 synth engines, 4 layers per voice

      – Granular, FM, Additive, Subtractive

      – 8 FM modes, layers as operators

      – Granulate Samples or Live Audio

      – Up to 20 grains per layer

      – 1 modulation matrix per layer

      – 2 EG’s per layer

      – 1 filter per layer and a master filter

      – 4 voices polyphony

      – 4 LFO’s with 5 modes

      – Arpeggiator with 5 modes

      – Delay and Reverb FX as layer send

      – High Quality Sample Bank

      – Built-in Audio Recorder

      – MPE Compatible

      – Ableton Link

      1. “hmmmmmm he’s got a point.”

         **looks up ipad**

         $1100????? i can have an alienware gaming pc built for $1200. i think i’ll just buy the 1010 lemondrop.

         1. Nice try. I picked up an iPad for $299 this Christmas.

            1. ipad can do anything so better, no reason buying hardware at all

         2. Sure, if you don’t already have an iPad or an iPhone you may need to buy in (iPad Air will be more than powerful enough and costs £500)… iPad or an iPhone will also do 1000 other incredible music (and non music) related things…not just 1 synth on a 2 inch screen (and they have a dedicated volume control as well ;-))

            1. You’re right, but I think it’s a different use case.

               e.g. Some people want to have multiple synths at once, and then it’s really more intuitive to have a dedicated screen/controls for each.

               Or some people want to know that the synth is there and it’s going to keep working in the same way in the long term, rather than you lose your phone and it’s no longer on the app store or compatible with some upgrade.

               Or for some people they have an iphone but they’re also using it for social media, email, internet procrastination, so it’s nice to sometimes put it to one side and focus on a separate dedicated device.

               That said, obviously this isn’t a pro device because it’s not in 19″ rack format 🙂

            2. we also all have vst’s so we don’t need any limited and expensive hardware instruments

      2. you can say the same thing about porn vs real sex but maybe you should try them both before you jump to conclusions?

10. arguably any ipad app could be more powerful considering the hardware itself is also more powerful than these little boxes

    1. so no need to have any hardware…
       arguably you are here to argue

       1. your jokes arent funny and your comments dont make sense

          1. ha 🙂 this personal and broad statement will not help you. there is no logic comparing hardware synths to an ios app. i could explain to you why but your tiresome arguing for the sake of arguing as opposed to resolving argument is anticipated.

11. Yes, iPad or iPhone apps are probably far more powerful and have a much bigger touch screen.
    Borderlands is possibly the most advanced granular synth available in any format…
    http://www.borderlands-granular.com/app/

12. FRMS is a very nice app indeed. Ditto Quanta by Audio Damage. The latter runs on multiple platforms, at least (not iOS, though, as far as I can tell).

    1. Borderlands Granular may be the most advanced Granular on any platform and its on iOS! Beautiful to look at and sounds amazing!

    2. AD Quanta does run on iPads.

       1. Thanks…bought, nine quid…supurb

13. Comparing it to an app seems pointless. I like hardware as with plugins you never know when they stop supporting it. Specially on IOS it’s been a crap show from the beginning plus you can’t sell anything you bought on the AppStore. At least with hardware you’re somewhat in control and it holds its value way longer or even grow. Meaning Apple ends up with everything, you get nothing.

    1. …that is a good point!

14. Rational brain says “400$ can buy me 20 great iOS synths.” GAS brain says “These 1010 synths are cool!”

15. I’m gonna go to hell for this, but I’m having a hard time paying attention to the Lemondrop vid because that thumbnail is intense. I’m sorry! I do like the synth though!

    1. Hahaha I had the same thought. My goodness that’s a claw.

16. No MIDI/Audio over USB? Consumer grade audio connectors? The cost seems over by at least $150.

    1. can you give me a link to the document stating the bill of materials, cost of manufacturing and 1010music future update plan? Thanks!

       1. I’m sure you think it’s clever to ask that… but the fact remains that the release specs don’t justify the price point, no matter what their cost of manufacture. I hope they add MIDI/Audio over USB. That would make it worth the cost for me. If they are just releasing a minimum viable product, then they should give us the roadmap.
          But the consumer cable I/O is what it is. It seems like they could read the ire that comes up about Roland Boutiques regarding this point and predict that many will be annoyed by it.

          1. “Gadi” is right, there is no basis for you to critique the price. If you don’t like the price don’t buy one, it’s that simple.

          2. i think you guessing based on factors you believe make it worth it’s value