In case you’re Rip van Winkle, the ARP ODYSSEY is a classic 2-VCO duophonic synthesizer played by the greats like Herbie Hancock. Korg have been manufacturing and selling the ARP ODYSSEY Full Size (FS) and will now offer the FS as a kit.
The Korg ODYSSEY FS has all of the ARP basics: 2 VCOs, sync, sample and hold, pulse width modulation, high-pass filter, two envelope generators and proportional pitch control (PPC), which was ARP’s take on modulation control. Korg extends the original spec covering all three generations of VCF circuitry: Rev1 12 dB/octave, Rev2 24 dB/octave and Rev3 resonance stable filter.
Korg ARP ODYSSEY FS synthesizer kit
Like other Korg kits, the ODYSSEY FS requires assembly, but no soldering. Judging from the picture, assembly will be more involved than the NTS-1, for example, due to the number of components and printed circuit boards. It does look manageable, however.
Korg also kick in a bundle of music software. European prices are £1,699 and €1,889 recommended retail price (RRP). I’m still waiting for official USA pricing. Update: And that will be $1,800 USD street. Ouch.
This week’s launch Thursday goes to the Roland SH-4D Desktop Synthesizer (AKA a “module”). I don’t know which is worse: the over-the-top marketing-speak, the seizure inducing media, or endless scrolling through pop-up site graphics. Save some eyestrain and go right to the Soundcloud demos.
Pattern plus mixing mode (level, pan, chorus, reverb, delay)
LCD display 128 x 64 pixels
USB-C, 5-pin MIDI IN/OUT, clock IN, audio IN
12 channel USB audio
USB (500mA) or battery power (4 AA LR6 or HR6)
Battery life: Approximately 4 hours
14.2″ x 7.7″ x 2.6″ (360mm x 195mm x 66mm)
3.9 pounds (1.78kg)
All of this for a fairly reasonable asking price of $650 USD (available March 2023). If you skipped the Boutique series so far, the price and models make the SH-4D irresistible.
The front panel and its controls are small — designed for elfin hands. That would make real-time performance a little tricky. Listening to the demos, I like the sound of this thing.
“Future Retro” in 1960s OCR font? Pu-leaze! I’m sure Roland will be featuring the SH-4D at NAMM, 13-15 April 2023.
If you need a small format mixer and USB interface for mobile, the new Astatic M2 from CAD Audio might fit the bill. The Astatic M2 is a multipurpose 2-channel (2 mic/line) analog mixer with a built-in USB interface:
USB Type C interface for data and power (rear panel)
2 XLR combo inputs
High/low shelving EQ per channel
16-bit/48kHz digital audio
Reverb (on/off, level, decay controls)
Bus powered
+48V phantom power (switch on rear panel)
7″ x 7″ x 2.3″ (18cm x 18cm x 6cm)
1.3 pounds (0.6kg)
The price is certainly right: $60 USD. So, if the M2 gets nicked or trashed, you’re not out much dough.
Astatic M2 mixer/USB I/F
The documentation is kinda sketchy, however. We have to assume class compliance and it looks like the digital audio level into the mixer is set at the source.
Hercules keyboard stands
Hercules keyboard stands aren’t as well-known in these parts as other brands (e.g., Ultimate Support, K&M, On-Stage, Gator), but that’s about to change. Hercules USA offers two product lines, X and Z with a full complement of accessories.
Lately, I’ve been searching for a stand with small front-to-rear depth. My keyboard stand, music stand, and seat need to fit on a four foot deep choir riser. Yeah, I could play standing, but dancing on the pedals is difficult. Pickin’s are slim if you need to minimize your front-to-back footprint.
Stands for mini-keyboards (e.g., Reface, Arturia, etc.) is another niche waiting to be filled. My Keylab Essential 49 is just a bit too narrow for most keyboard stands opened wide for a comfortable sitting position. Worse, manufacturers do not publish height/width for the intermediate positions of an adjustable stand. Only Quik Lok publishes this essential information. (See example diagram below.)
What we need, people (Quik Lok T-10)
Most of us are buying on-line, people. Give us what we need to make decisions!
Acquisitions
Yamaha continue to grow. Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc. (a U.S. subsidiary of Japan-based Yamaha Corporation) have acquired the Córdoba Music Group (CMG). CMG started out as a purveyor of nylon guitars. CMG itself eventually acquired Guild Guitars, HumiCase, and DeArmond. The big fish eat the little fish. Now add “Guild” along side of “Ampeg” in the Yamaha line-up.
Synths are the tail of the big dog. Strings — pianos and git-tars — still rule the roost at Yamaha in terms of sales (by dollar and by unit volume). Ponder that while waiting for AN-X. 🙂 Or, CK61/CK88.
Nordic hearts are a flutter as the new Nord Stage 4 breaks cover. The official premiere is 16 February 2023, and, as usual, details are escaping early. Surely, Nord will feature the NS4 at NAMM 2023 (13-15 April 2023).
The prices are high — typical for a premium product. Forum folk like to trash the Yamaha Genos price, $6000 MAP. When it comes to premium keyboards, please don’t click on the Buy button. Shop around. Find a reliable independent dealer who is willing to negotiate. When it comes to arrangers, I recommend AudioProCT in Connecticut. Visit the store or call to see if they will beat the Minimum Advertised Price (MAP). I bought Genos for less than the MAP price of an NS4 Compact.
Also, there is a rumor of a partnership agreement between Nord and Fazioli for Fazioli/Nord hybrid grand pianos. Fazioli craft beautiful “Special Models” like the Marco Polo.
Of course, I’m interested in learning more about the recent aerial incidents over North America. I hope the U.S. and Canadian governments release more information and images, soon. Surely, someone had a camera. 🙂
Recovery in Alaska and Yukon will be difficult. The objects are relatively small, the weather has been bad and the days are short (about six hours of daylight).
Flightradar24 has been a good resource along with ADS-B Exchange. Here are a few screen snaps of the Lake Huron incident (February 12, 2023).
USAF KC-135T over Lake Huron (February 12, 2023)
The U.S. has flown a variety of aircraft, especially tankers. Tankers have aircrew who have a lot of experience operating in commercial airspace. Tankers are well-suited for the job, i.e., relatively slow. Plus, their avionics have been upgraded for multiple roles including Link 16 and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Link 16 assists information fusion for military and civilian decision makers.
Tankers are the most visible on Flightradar24 or ADS-B Exchange. The first track above is a KC135T (shout out to Pittsburgh ANG) following the unidentified object. Its path is similar to what I observed during the Chinese balloon incident. They squawk loud and clear for civilian ATC. Fighter jets? No. That’s why the FAA issues a temporary flight restriction (TFR) or ground stop when fast movers are operating. If you want to catch fighters, try ADS-C Exchange or DIY (if you have line of sight).
USAF E-3 AWACS near Lake Huron (February 12, 2023)
In addition to tankers, the U.S. has launched a variety of ISR aircraft. The Lake Huron incident was monitored by an E-3 AWACS (Sentry). None of these aircraft are strangers to people monitoring the airspace near Ukraine!
U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J over Lake Huron (February 13, 2023)
After action is recovery. The HC-130J Super Hercules is the tool for the job. Aircrew are trained for low-level night operations and can drop illumination flares. The avionics suite is extensive including night vision. It’s dark up there in the Yukon and Prudhoe Bay. The HC-130J can conduct air-to-air helicopter refueling, too. An USAF HC-130 was observed over the Prudhoe Bay incident (February 10, 2023).
Let’s give the professionals a chance to do their jobs. Hopefully, more information will be quickly forthcoming. In the meantime, read my posts about do-it-yourself ADS-B monitoring. 🙂
Brief flight over the region of interest (Lake Huron, February 13, 2023)
[Update] Canada’s turn! Looking at the Lake Huron depth chart, the object may be under 300+ feet of water. This will not be an easy recovery.
Looking for an alternative to everybody’s plain-Jake MIDI controller? Try the Buchla Lunar Excursion Module (LEM 218v3).
Buchla Lunar Excursion Module 218v3
LEM218v3 is version 3 in the ancestral line with an improved, redesigned touch bed. The LEM has touch-capacitive “keys” including channel pressure. It has a host of I/O ports: USB-C, MIDI IN/OUT via 3.5mm jacks and four 3.5mm output jacks (1V/octave pitch, 0-8 Volts pressure, touch strip pressure and gate). MIDI output is polyphonic. The manual is here.
Save your pennies, though. The LEM218v3 is $1,299USD — a big commitment if you’re not made of money. 🙂
The slow NAMM 2023 roll-out continues. Today, it’s Korg, again.
Korg are introducing two new models in the 61-key Entertainer Keyboard line.
The EK-50 U focuses on musical genres with “American roots”, that is, jazz, country, alternative, dance and rock. Korg breaks down the main features:
New styles
New sounds: electric and acoustic guitars, electric basses, brass, and drum kits
Performance record mode
Built-in amplification and speakers: 2x10W, 2x120mm dual-cone
Add-on styles from the Korg library
Operation on eight AA batteries (optional)
Song playback: MP3, WAV, Standard MIDI File
USB TO DEVICE and USB TO HOST ports
Weight: 16.5 pounds (7.5kg)
Street price (MAP) is $500USD. The EK-50 U and its sister are positioned in the high entry-level niche (i.e., against the Yamaha PSR-E473 and PSR-EW425).
Korg EK-50 CSA Entertainer Keyboard (don’t say “arranger”)
The EK-50 CSA focuses on Central and South America (“CSA”). It, too, has new styles and new sounds. New sounds include trumpets, saxophones, brass, guitar, bass and regional instruments like sampoña, quena and charango.
Both instruments have new speaker grill colors so I guess you can tell them apart if you own more than one. 🙂 I’m not real fond of the blue, Korg.
Listening to the audio demos, I would give the edge to the EK-50 CSA. The USA styles sound like… Well, they sound like an arranger playing rock and roll. I’ll bet the CSA out-sells the U simply due to anti-arranger bias.
BTW, the term “American” encompasses North, Central and South America. A bit chauvinistic or at least geography challenged. 🙂 “CSA” sometimes has a whole ‘nother meaning in the USA.
