8 special features // NORAND MONO mk2

[@SONWU]

Get your NORAND MONO: shorturl.at/foLY2

[@OrangeDrinkMusic]

out of stock! that's the "Son Wu Effect"

[@SONWU]

:D @@OrangeDrinkMusic

[@jasonnicholas4336]

Great overview; it’s a lot to get one’s head around. I had one for a couple months. It’s a beautiful synth with so much potential…however, I ended up selling mine as it had so many bugs that it was nearly unusable (it would hang or lock up completely at some point nearly every time I used it). I could not consistently reproduce sounds or automation; that said, it made great sounds! The developer is actively working on firmware and I do hope that he can eventually iron things out as it’s such a wonderful effort for what is basically the brainchild and output of one man with an idea. I probably should have kept mine as it’s likely a future classic but just be aware that you are likely to have some teething issues if you pick one up (saying this with the awareness that this is a community that will tinker with modular gear for weeks on end to get two oscillators in sync).

[@SONWU]

Thanks for your comment. I can imagine a project like this, from a small company, can be problematic in terms of bugs (especially early in its release)…but they seem to be working on and constantly improving it! I hope this will do well in terms of sales, as I can't wait to see what they come up with next :)

[@GTChris]

It's great to see this synth getting some love, it's high on my radar since it's (correct me if I'm wrong) using FPGA technology. Super easy to route the mod matrix and it's small enough to put in a backpack and has MPE, which is almost everything I'm looking for in a new synth. If only this was 8+ voice polyphonic then I would have already bought it, but I believe that isn't coming for a couple more years. I also don't need effects on it since I prefer to handpick the effects I use through pedals anyway.

[@SONWU]

Yes, I think it's FPGA based! I agree on not having onboard FX. Makes it more focussed and won't sound dated in a few years. I wonder if they will make a digital polysynth at any point? That would be interesting :)

[@bojangprodoktschns5428]

I'd agree on the effects with most synths, but not with this one. If you'd get the same control for all the effect parameters (i.e. lfo and envelope) it would be fantastic even if the effects themselves were mediocre. But yeah, that would be a much bigger synth with lots of expensive knobs. Actually thinking of it, I'd happily buy individual Norand Mono-style effects boxes you could send a trigger/gate to, to do their magic... but first we want the poly of course. :) Oh, and it does do overdrive!

[@P-S-T]

Thanks! Got MK2 yesterday. Do you still like it? How´s the stability (firmware)?

[@SONWU]

Hey! I still got it and like it…but it is somewhat on the chopping block right now as I have accumulated a fair bit of gear :/

[@GTChris]

Any serious performance with this synth from you or maybe a track that heavily relies on this synth. Very curious to hear some of your work if it's out there.

[@SONWU]

I'v been a bit in a musical slump the past month…so I haven't gotten any more work with this one done, but surely will use it in future!

[@djfromdaback]

best tutorial - thank you so much - really nice drum sounds as well - would it be possible to share them some how :) - i have a little hard time programming a decent snare sound!

[@SONWU]

Thank you very much! I am afraid I already overwrote these drums. In order to get a good snare drum you have to create NOISE, which can be done using a audio rate lfo on one of the oscillators… Play around with the shape and the speed, and you'll find something. Also use and adjust different envelopes for the mixer volume of each oscillator. For example have the NOISE osc fade out longer than the BODY osc of the snare, or vice versa. Hope this helps!

[@djfromdaback]

@@SONWU thanks mate :) - I found a tutorial for the mono mk1 and tried it out as well and got close enough - so many sonic possibilities with this little monster!

[@ankh7777]

Now you're talking... I'll go get one.

[@SONWU]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@ZombieLincoln666]

god I already have 3 303 clones but I want this

[@SONWU]

😉

[@Dekalboy]

Morph feature il already exist since many years on the ❤GOTHARMAN devices ❤, I own 4 Gotharman device but this norand mono sounds so good I want it 🎉

[@SONWU]

Never tried one of them, they seem very capable!

[@Matt4star]

It’s my favorite synth, the mk2 is a lil buggy but I’m betting the creator will get it sorted. He was great at updating the mk1. It’s completely unique to any hardware out there. Bass station 2 has the mod notes but all the lfos, randomizing and the sequencer makes this thing tons of endless fun. 😊

[@SONWU]

Yes, and how intuitive these functions are is also very impressive!

[@kh485]

I’m trying to see the value compared to other offerings.

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

Can it send mpe over midi

[@adamsaffron6721]

That's a cool watch! What is it?

[@SONWU]

TIMEX COMMAND URBAN :)

[@adamsaffron6721]

This is a great video. The only thing it’s missing are some more musical demonstrations. In the smallest form factor, this could pull off lovely sequences like eg the NiN Closer bass line. I almost got it for the sequencing alone. I have to agree with another commenter that MPE is not as great as one might think. I had a linnstrument and sold it. It takes very subtle control and hard restraints to work well. You focus a lot on mod notes. I find the capability to do within pattern preset changes, pointless. I’m trying to be open minded, but it has never sounded good to me for a melody to sound like it’s played by changing instruments. Percussion, ya ok I get it. But I’m not interested in this as a drum machine.

[@SONWU]

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I should put in more musical demonstrations next time, that's true. I personally really like the mod notes for creating some freaky stuff, but I can understand it's not everyone's cup of tea.

[@vertigev]

Man I wish it had an internal battery..

[@Tripwelleverday]

800 is a lot for another mono synth I ve got 6 already I’ve been waiting to see one on reverb for under 500 but it’s not happening uhhhh I’m gonna wait a lil longer but idk if it’ll get that low I like it a lot more than the uno pro x but it’s really inbetween this and that super bee thing …. Im really digging that one too but still haven’t seen a video on it, have u played with either of those but what the world needs right now is a poly fm based 303!!!!! With ym chips dang it

[@SONWU]

I haven't tried any of the ones you mentioned, but I imagine none of them will have as much modulation as the Norand…that's not to say that the Superbee doesn't look great in its own right. 6 monosynths is a fair bit :) I guess I have some more to collect!

[@commodoor6549]

MPE is an interesting idea. As it applies to keyboards, I don't think it's where it needs to be to provide the type of expression we're use to hearing on traditional instruments, i.e, stringed instruments and brass and woodwind instruments. Those intruments afford expression in natural ways. I don't doubt that many people will acquire the skills that will allow them to express themselves, but it seems to me that most people pick up those expression skills as they're originally learning the instrument. I say this because every demonstration I've seen with an MPE sounds artificial. As far as the NORAND MONO mk2 goes, the size and the structure of the keyboard doesn't provide the range or flexibility for the types of expression one would want that give you a sense of an acoustic analog instrument. IMHO, at this stage MPE is a novelty that some will play with, but it will not give the performer the range and flexibility to become a virtuoso in the traditional sense. But let's see if some prodigy proves me wrong. But there's a reason that jazz musicians will tell you not to pick the trombone, it's just not the easies instrument to play jazz on... which is just saying that there are structural limitation in the design of the NORAND MONO mk2. Where I think it will excell is in sound design... if I had the money, this is why I'd buy it.

[@SONWU]

Thanks for sharing! Sure, it might not compare to acoustic instruments, but it surely beats non-MPE. It‘s certainly fun to play with!

[@adamsaffron6721]

Agreed

[@AKJ828]

Wow that expensive for a 303 with more mod options!

[@SONWU]

I think it's not just a 303 with more mod options…MPE, built quality, smaller batches…it all ads up. Also, a Minimoog is pretty expensive for "just" a monosynth and it doesn't even have as many features as the mono mk2. All a matter of perspective.

[@AKJ828]

This ain't no Minimoog

[@kh485]

You don’t get much for your money here?😢

[@AKJ828]

​@@kh485 You really get a lot but 839 euros thats suuuper expensive!

[@kh485]

@@AKJ828 Gotta pay for that unique sound ig.

[@randydarklight]

They sound German.