This video, via DECIMA1, offers a sneak preview of the upcoming Donner L1 synthesizer, a new analog synth that builds on the design of the Roland SH-101.
The Donner L1 is not a straight knockoff or clone, but appears to be more of a modern take on the original SH-101.
Official details are not available yet on the Donner site, but the L1 has a feature that promises to be very interesting. The synth is designed in two parts – the synth module and the control keyboard. This is similar in concept to what Roland did with their Boutique series, but looks like it may be a more robust design.
It will be interesting to see how Donner develops this concept. It would be cool to see them develop a series of synth modules that you could attach this keyboard to, so buyers could add a keyboard to their synth whenever they want to.
We’ll share additional info once official details are available. In the meantime, check out the video and share your thoughts on the Donner L1 synthesizer in the comments!
Interesting! Their 303 clone seemed decent and was affordable, likewise their drum machine. I’ve been wondering what they’d do next. A 101 clone is more than I expected, and I like the look of the extras. I guess this is a good excuse to say ‘begun, the clone wars have.’
I really like the detachable keyboard idea. It looks a bit different from other offerings and I like that the synth is available with or without it.
This video though…woulda preferred just a blog post. The author clearly hasn’t heard it and is just describing the content of some photos.
Lol, give Decima credit, but it’s an exclusive Synth Anatomy x Midifan collaboration. Is Synthtopia ignoring SA, or why don’t you credit his work?
We shared the DECIMA1 video, with credit, because it offers a good summary and perspective on the features of interest with the L1.
When Synthtopia has featured news that’s directly via Synth Anatomy (or Sonic State, CDM, etc) we try to provide a ‘via’ type credit. Here are a few examples:
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2018/04/10/valkyrie-synthesizer-sneak-preview-audio-demo/
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2021/07/01/behringer-four-play-short-on-creativity-coming-soon/
https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2022/01/18/buchla-modules-now-available-in-affordable-eurorack-format/
If there’s more useful information available than what DECIMA1 provided – via Synth Anatomy, MIDIFAN or elsewhere – I’d encourage readers to share a link in the comments!
Hahaha!…is not a Behringer clone….but we do tvhave demos nor price?…what a tool!
Donner hasn’t shared official info yet. We frequently share similar introductions from Behringer, when they’ve introduced new synths before they have pricing, demos, specifications, etc.
These ‘sneak previews’ of upcoming synths are of interest to a lot of readers, as the comments on this story reflect.
Woah! How cool
What a surprise this was to see that first on first synthtopia visit in a little while
Hopefully they can pair this up well in jamming with their D1 drum machine/sample player
must be other types donner synths coming out to use that magnetic keyboard add on
It sounds like they’re intending to develop this line similarly to what Roland has done with their Boutique series. But the magnetic keyboard seems like a genius design compared to Roland’s tiny keyboard.
What would be really awesome would be if they offered a full-size keyboard also, so you could buy as much or as little keyboard as you wanted. How about a full-size keyboard that connects to two of these synths, and supported splits and layers?
Donner coming out of nowhere and going hard
Looks like the keyboard has shortened keys
havent you ever heard of “mini keys” bro
they are like miniature keys bro
on a keyboard bro
Donner make a dream come true.An analogue synth with a plug-in keyboard. WOW!
I don’t mean to be rude or offend (and maybe you were being sarcastic), but hasn’t midi been around since the 1980s? Surely any synth with a midi input is a synth with the possibility of plugging in a keyboard?
I don’t see what this adds other than a clunky attempt at persuading customers to buy Donner’s magnety/clicky minikeys midi keyboard at a premium instead of just picking one of the dozens of cheap midi keyboards available on the market. It’s a dream that already came true, years before you or I even had that dream. The gimmick of it being attachable with magnets hardly seems like some amazing new innovation that we really needed or wanted.
Someone saw the complaints about the Roland Boutiques and decided to do better. Keyboard works stand-alone and doesn’t require the module to function, uses OLEDs instead of arcane 7-segment LEDs, and the synth will be fully analog just like the B1.
The B1 and D1 have been good, modern takes on classic staples at competitive prices. This is a real shot across the bow of other mass manufactured synth-makers. Price and sound will matter a lot, this one just looks like a mockup like the D1 they showed in 2023.
look like we’ll have enough for a band to play at the next Donner Party.
Sounds tasty. We’ve all been hungry for that.
I know I’m being greedy over a toy-ish synth, but I’d like to see 2 oscillators per voice and 4 voices of polyphony. That would be the model I’d see as more viable. I wouldn’t demand more. I’m just hoping Donner will move up a notch or two and release a superior “toy” synth. This one isn’t half bad as it is.