UNO Synth true analog synth announced!

[Peter_IK]

This is what we've been counting down to! UNO Synth is IK's first analog synth!

Visit http://www.unosynth.com for more info

[Peter_IK]

Since we've seen some discussion on how UNO Synth stacks up against some synths that may appear similar at first glance, let's start with a comparison that explains how much more you get with UNO Synth. First, let's compare to one that seems to come up the most:

1. UNO Synth has a wider sound palette, not just bass:

• More waveforms: 3 with PWM and a waveform shaper on both OSC that allows more creative “morphed” waveform to be generated, vs Volca “selector”. Plus UNO Synth has white noise, while Volca Bass does not.
• Multimode filter (LPF, HPF, BPF) with drive circuit vs Volca Bass's 2-pole LPF.
• Wider number of LFO modulations waveforms: 6 vs their 2 = More sounds, wider sound pallette.
• More envelopes controls on Filter and Amp
• Delay effect (synced w/tempo) vs no effects

2. Usability

• 100 presets vs none, which makes UNO Synth much more flexible and usable for sound storage and recall and ease of use. Presets also include sequences and arpeggiator settings as well.
• Full 27 note chromatic keyboard that doubles as a scale keyboard (and step sequencer) with 13 scales vs their 16 note chromatic keyboard
• UNO Synth has an arpeggiator with 10 arpeggio modes on 4 octaves vs none
• Our Sequencer can be programmed both in real-time (like Volca) but also step by step and we do have more parameters automatable for much more complex and animated sequences
• UNO Synth has 40 controls on board (excluding the keyboard) vs 21 on Volca Bass

3. Integration with other gear

• UNO Synth has MIDI IN/OUT while Volca Bass has just MIDI IN
• USB MIDI IN so no interface is needed to connect UNO to Mac/PC or mobile (Volca Bass does not)
• UNO Synth has an audio input to mix line signal directly with no need for a mixer
• All UNO Synth parameters can be controlled via MIDI CC, while Volca Bass has a limited set (no filters, no waveforms)
• UNO Synth can run on batteries (like Volca Bass) or any other 5V USB power-source with no need for a dedicated PSU

So, above and beyond the direct comparison above, you can basically get - at a sub-$200 price point - a quality true analog synth with features that can typically only be found only on synths that cost up to twice as much or more.

Also, at less than $200, UNO Synth is comparable to mid-priced software instrument plug-ins, but for that you get a true analog synthesizer that can also easily integrate into a studio setup (but not only there).

[sbn]

Pre ordered...

[sdesign]

It looks pretty good, might order one!

[emCar0]

Hi, I have some questions regarding UNO:

1. Is it easy to use a software DAW to send midi note and CC data out (via piano roll and/or DAW automation or via VSTs that output midi) to control UNO's parameters?

2. Is the background noise/hiss present in
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-33
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-48
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-49
and the end of
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-34
and some of the other demos due to the noise oscillator or is the UNO's circuitry really that noisy?

3. There is a slight higher pitched chirp/beep at the end of the notes of some of the demos.
For example:
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-15
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-18
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-42
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-44
and at the beginning of some notes of some of the demos like in
https://soundcloud.com/ikmultimedia/uno-synth-46 (at 0:00 and 0:21)
Is that sound kind of envelope + filter artifact?

[Peter_IK]

1. UNO Synth is like any hardware synth with MIDI IN. However, you will also have deeper control and setup options using the editor (making that editor a VST is on the table but not yet verified)

2 & 3. We were preparing for a launch at an event (Superbooth) so these demos were made with prototype units - UNO Synth will ship in July so we will have production units in the near future but these demos were made with prototypes so they will have some noise, etc that will not be present on production units according to what I was told by the creators of UNO Synth. That said, any full-analog audio path will have SOME noise.

[emCar0]

Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate the demos as they show a lot of great sounds that can be made with the synth. Also, the soundcloud demos sounded a lot better than the youtube video demos I've seen for the UNO. That said, I'm concerned about the issues I mentioned in my previous post. Is there any chance that the demos could be re-recorded with a production unit?

[unjay]

Amazing. I think I want!

[albertpauw]

Hi Peter,

what kind of pin out are you using for the MIDI breakout pins? Korg or Arturia?

As was suggested at the forum of gearslutz, will the final product have a key transpose function for the sequencer? It would make it even better for performance.

Thanks,
Albert

P.S. Just did my pre-order, can't wait for it to arrive!

[Peter_IK]

Hi Peter,

what kind of pin out are you using for the MIDI breakout pins? Korg or Arturia?

As was suggested at the forum of gearslutz, will the final product have a key transpose function for the sequencer? It would make it even better for performance.

Thanks,
Albert

P.S. Just did my pre-order, can't wait for it to arrive!

I will ask about the pin out and relay the request for the transpose function for the sequencer.

[albertpauw]

Hi Peter,

thanks. Few more questions:

i) Is the device USB-class compliant? Or do I need to install special drivers? I hope not.

ii) When will the manual be online, looking forward to that.

iii) Can you share any info on the editor, screenshots? Anything?

Again, many thanks so far.

Regards,
Albert

[sdesign]

Yes, would love to read the manual while we wait

[albertpauw]

Hi Peter,

one more question.

I read that this machine has auto tuning. Can you tell us a bit more on that?

Does it autotune only at start up? Can I trigger it later?

Cheers,
Albert

[Peter_IK]

Hi Peter,

one more question.

I read that this machine has auto tuning. Can you tell us a bit more on that?

Does it autotune only at start up? Can I trigger it later?

Cheers,
Albert

It does this during startup so you'd want to power it down if you wanted to go through the initialization again. The auto tuning is an initialization of UNO Synth that makes sure everything is ready to go and in tune.

[Peter_IK]

We also have tutorial videos posted. Here is part 1:

https://youtu.be/uROaDUZq9zU