Melbourne Instruments has announced Delia, a bi-timbral polysynth named after pioneering BBC synthesist Delia Derbyshire (Dr. Who).
Delia builds on the motorized control panel and voice architecture of Melbourne Instruments’ Nina. Delia introduces a 49-key velocity and aftertouch sensitive keyboard, new multi-mode analog filters, high pass and low pass resonance control, 3-stage overdrive, and more modulation possibilities.
Features:
- True Analog Filters and stereo VCAs
- 4 Oscillators per voice:
VA Modelled VCOs, Wavetable, Noise/XOR/Aux - 6 Analog voice circuits with 12-note mode that retains 4 oscillators/voice.
- Unlimited Modulation Matrix – 20 sources x 40 destinations
- 3 x LFOs with variable shapes:
Sine, Triangle, Square, Ramp up, Ramp down, Random) - 3 x Envelopes: VCA, VCF, AUX
- Instant Preset Recall – every knob moves to position
- Interactive Morphing with parameter isolation
- Interactive Mod Matrix setup
- Instant Layer Recall – panel changes to active patch
- Multi LFO, Envelope and Filter Settings Recall
- Effects Level and Macro Parameter Recall
- Instant ‘INIT’ control panel reset
- Analog Low Pass Ladder Filter
- 3-stage Analog Overdrive
- Virtual Analog High Pass Ladder Filter
- Separate High Pass and Low Pass Resonance control
- HP/LP filter ‘LINK’ mode for Band Pass/Notch control
- Selectable 12dB and 24dB slope for LP Filter
- 2 x Effects Processors with parallel or series configuration
- Stereo Digital Effects: Delay, Chorus, Reverb with classic Preset Algorithms
- Extensive modulation matrix. 20 sources to 40 destinations. No bus count limitation.
- Morphable modulation settings.
- Quick to edit MOD mode. Select a source and dial in amounts instantly on control panel.
- All MOD amounts are through zero (bipolar)
- MORPH is a available as a Modulation destination
- Morph between A and B patches to create new timbres.
- Morph the entire patch including Modulation Matrix
Here’s an unofficial audio demo, via Bonedo Synthesizers. If you watch closely, you can see the physical controllers update with each patch change:
Pricing and Availability:
Delia is available to pre-order for $2399 USD, with shipping expected in early Summer 2024.
A nice gesture by Melbourne Instruments but Delia actually hated keyboard synths … her forte was sound creation using tapes and various electronic ‘treatments’ (to borrow from Mr. Eno) in order to create her compositions … anything that was out of the box or obtained by simply patching one module into another was anathema to her … she was incredibly talented, very headstrong and definitely her own person … I don’t think she’d be a fan of sampling or the whole digital/DAW revolution either by the sounds of it (excuse the pun). There’s an excellent podcast about her on the BBC Radio 4 website (posted years ago but still available) … there’s way more to her than just the Dr. Who theme.
I’m not into keyboards but this one looks nice and sound amazing, great price too, even without the motorised encoders. High quality build becomes so accessible lately. its like 20% more than the TEO-5 and its not made in china!
Could be nice to have such a midi keyboard with some kind of polyat keybed
“the made in” as argument is dead/invalid in 2024. In my opinion.
There is a reason they move manufacturing to China: it’s cheaper, which affects the manufacturing cost and retail price. A boutique manufacturer that can offer comparable instruments (or better) at comparable prices to a mass-produced product is admirable. And yes, it was very important in 2023, but now it doesn’t matter.
It sounds great, and I love the idea of motorized faders. I wonder how this is inspired by Delia Derbyshire. It certainly doesn’t sound like anything she ever did, since she primarily worked in tape music, and actually professed a disdain for synthesizers like the EMS VCS3, saying that synthesizing sound was a “cheap shortcut” around working with tape, or something like that. She must have thought of it similarly to how many of us think of AI these days. Anyway, this will be a fun one to try someday.
Is it “inspired by” Delia Derbyshire or just named after her ? Do they give any detail on features implemented because of her techniques ?
Cool Gear!
Delia seems more musical instrument then proof of concept then the Nina.
Great that the price is more compeditive now.
The Paraphonic mode that doubles the voices is very cool too.
What they need to do is hire someone who does a proper sound demo!
It is hard to guess how good the synth can sound from the demos so far.
I think only Wendy would work as namesake dedication? Most of the early female electronic artists would not bow to the limitations of synthesisers,
who is Delia Derbyshire? should i care? she sounds like another technofob fart that focus on the process instead of the end result.
always trust synthtopia commenters to focus on whats important 🙂
Wow, how clever that comment is.
Did you come up with “technofob fart” all by yourself?
I’m so jealous of your amazing wit and near impeccable knowledge of all things musical.
Your must live a truly amazingly awesome life.
Such a personal reply 🙂
Thank you but it’s not mine, I learned it from the best here.
Your observation is right, I do love my life and feel very lucky to be here, I hope you are too
Has your doctor adjusted your medication again? … give it time… you’ll feel better :-/
And miss all the fun conversing with a splendid person like yourself? Never!
A synth Delicatessen from Derbyshire perhaps.
I’m not one to tell strangers what/who they should or shouldn’t care about, but Delia Derbyshire was a highly influential electronic music innovator; I’m sure you can operate the google for more info. Speaking of her dismissively is sort of like people who insist that the Beatles suck – you may dislike them, which is fine, but saying they suck just makes you sound foolish.
The moving knobs are a neat feature, but this seems kinda expensive for a very conventional-seeming synth. It’s nice, sounds nice, but 6 analog voices isn’t really cutting edge, is it?
My main thing is it doesn’t sound good compared to any other polysynth at this price point. It’s like they’re selling a polysynth with motorized faders as its main gimmick.
This intro is underwhelming.