Molten Music Monthly January 2025 - NAMM Special

Here's my pick of the most exciting products from the NAMM show and Buchla and Friends over in LA, plus a few more bits and pieces.
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Index:
Intro - 0:14
Potato Audio Choplifter - 3:02
PWM Mantis Update - 4:32
Tracktion Biotek 3 - 5:03
Arturia Pigments 6 - 7:08
Flat Six Seventh Summoner - 9:18
Korg bunch of things - 13:42
New Systems Instruments Discrete Map - 19:26
Endorphin.es Cockpit X - 21:24
Arcana Instruments Strum - 25:30
Donner Essential L1 - 28:25
Dog Paw Music MPE Controller - 30:41
Behringer back at NAMM - 33:01
Bitwig Connect 4.12 - 38:36
Melbourne Instruments RotoControl - 40:11
Reloop KeyPad Pro - 41:53
The Sound Stone String Armonica MkII - 42:59
Rain City Modular Sequencer Construction Set - 45:35
Stylophone CPM DF-8 - 47:31
Molten Plasma - 49:48
Synth East update - 54:07
Coming Up... - 55:55
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[@Psychlist1972]

It was nice to be at NAMM this year and see it getting close to its pre-pandemic busy atmosphere.

[@TheSoundStone]

Thank you so much for the String Armonica review! Happy to answer any questions anyone has about it. We’re almost done building 50 of them, but are releasing batches as we go. We’re selling them for $1600 and they all come with a free custom hard case. Cheers! -Will (co-owner of Merkaba Electronics)

[@farawaytree471]

A fabulous instrument. It makes me so happy that, in these tumultuous times, people like yourselves create things like this and give me hope.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

You're welcome! Fascinating machine.

[@TheSoundStone]

@@farawaytree471 thank you so much

[@wightmand]

Choplifter was definitely a game. It was available on multiple systems including the Commodore 64.

[@ishkaiam6532]

the most solid shirt game in the business

[@FlatSixModular]

Thank you for the shout!

[@farawaytree471]

Wow! The string armonica is absolutely beautiful. I need it.❤

[@expandingknowledge8269]

Smashing recap Robin. Really love the new Behringer Poly synths, quite lovely. 😎

[@FileTransferProtocol]

Awesome roundup, Robin! You hit the nail on the head in the Behringer section. For me, if they would just not pick on the small companies, and not lash out at everyone, they could do so much! Also, congrats on the Molten Plasma instrument. I have it loaded on an iPad (decent sampler is available on iOS as well) and it is very cool to work with. WELL worth the cost, or Patreon subscription.

[@RobertFisher1969]

Thanks for this. You caught a few things I'd missed from other coverage. On the B front: Imagine if companies like Roland and Korg actually showed off prototypes and got early feedback instead of working on a product for years only to find out after they've released it that there's some decisions people don't really like. And, you know, you could just ignore the showing of such prototypes if you didn't want to know about them.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

It's a double edged sword. Getting loads of user input could put us on a road to very homogeneous synths, whereas what we need (perhaps) is innovation. That most often (not always) comes from inspired designers rather than a committee.

[@enkaytee-01]

The Stylophone CPM DS-2 is (or was depending on stock levels) is definitely available - I've had mine for a couple of weeks now and it's flipping amazing. 😊

[@jonaseggen2230]

Yes please make a video about those 1u sequencer thingies. I to use a fancy sequencer for pitch and then other things for gates. Why? Because I usually play only one melody, or whatever you could call it, at any time, but give different oscillators different gates, so that it sounds like they are playing different melodies, but everyone to the same scale.

[@jimivandebeek]

I love the sound of the Molten Plasma! I own an early (detuned) version, is it possible to update it?

[@jimivandebeek]

Nevermind! I found the updated version! Thank you!

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Ha, yeah, that was crazy 😁

[@snurkergerm6168]

Ignoring your disparaging comments - I love my Kronos v1. What shocks me is how little progress we see between v 1 and v3 in .. 13 years?

[@cmnit61]

Not sure someone pointed out already, but the NSI Discrete Map concept seems very close to a Relabi generator on steroids … (see the ADDAC module with this name).

[@sammadden5540]

Vocoder are way more fun as a sound design tool for spectral sounds then the daft punk vocal thing

[@jdor7354]

Will you be releasing these instruments in Kontakt as well, or just decent Sample? They look great. I'd happily pay for the Kontakt (Full version) in order to integrate directly with the NKS format on my Kontrol S MK3 (and Novation SL MK3).

[@MoltenMusicTech]

If I can find the time I will look into it. There is conversion software that could potentially achieve this, but it all takes time to research and learn about. It's a good idea going forward.

[@jdor7354]

@@MoltenMusicTech yes especially given how much an industry standard Kontakt is + How Kontakt 8 is about to get even more widely adopted (with NKS + a lot of innovative features)

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Yeah, there appears to be a whole load of costs and hassle involved in producing instruments for Kontakt - so, no, sorry, I don't think so - www.native-instruments.com/en/specials/komplete/this-is-nks/licensing/

[@KordTaylor]

😂 Loved the defender reference.

[@ProfessorHumblesDelusions]

It seems like you’ve had roosters and construction around you for years. Enjoy your videos.

[@lesliemakin]

Hey Robin - when’s your next live chat ? I would like to ask you about your shed as I’m thinking of moving my home studio from my loft to my garden shed. got some questions to ask 😀Promise I’m not going to start wearing paisley patterned shirts and reviewing modules 😀😀

[@lesliemakin]

Ah … this Sunday you say at the end. Might tune in and ask a question

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Not Sunday I'm afraid - Some time next week i think - i want to work on the live rig and might turn that into a a live stream, but feel free to ask away in any form.

[@KordTaylor]

Modal is a physical modeling thing that traditionally I’ve heard is good for percussion sounds.

[@Andrew-rz7qt]

I must admit do like things that do stuff.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Re Pigments, the new Modal Engine is a Physical Modelling engine, n’est-ce pas?!

[@cakebabyman5090]

Great Robin, it appears that Behringer were the adults in the room at NAMM this year as many 'main stream' channels appeared to have missed their stand and products??? Well done to Sonicstate for covering the BX1 at least.

[@lbGkifoo1bj12e9plhjfWA]

when are you gonna sample those lovely birds that always interrupt your show? you could sample them and play them in your rack if you have a sample module :)

[@FrankPSF]

Thanks Robin. So much to keep up on. … I don’t know how you do it all!

[@KordTaylor]

Nice recap Robin! ❤

[@ishkaiam6532]

molten moustache man for PM

[@PWMaarten]

I use vocoders quite often. Almost never for my voice though.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

weirdo

[@PWMaarten]

@ hahaha. Right back at you man.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Cool with Drums, yes.

[@PWMaarten]

See Robin, Kieren knows what’s up

[@odmusicman]

Behringer is democracy.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Why would that be a good thing? Musical tools being created by commitee rather than innovation. Ideas based on an echo-chamber of public opinion leads to homogeny, not genius or inspiration. I don't think Behringer is somehow noble - they're a business designed to make money on popular ideas - that can be good, but don't make the mistake of believing that they care about you, or fairness, or democracy. A democracy is built by debate, criticism, ethics - Behringer rejects all those things. So...... no making synths cheap is not somehow democracy, it's just capitalism.

[@odmusicman]

@@MoltenMusicTech No no, you are misinterpreting what I am saying. I mean that Behringer providing inexpensive accessible alternatives gives users more freedom of choice/options and thus democratizes the buying options for users rather than having us locked into an expensive dictatorship of choices. That's all. By the way, I enjoyed your recent guest appearance on the ProSynth Network.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

I don't think I am - it's a concept I hear a lot and I feel it has many mistaken implications. It implies that there's some level of fascism or elitism out in the synth world - there's not - I know many of the manufacturers and no one is trying to rip anyone off, they are simply running a business where they make cool things and everyone gets a decent wage. People act like it's some kind of human right to own synthesizers. The very fact that synths can be expensive has created a cottage industry of small makers who innovate and come up with little cheaper machines - the DIY market comes from the same place. It also implies that Behringer are in it for the "everyman" for the poor musician on the street and are "sticking it to the man" - no, Behringer saw an opportunity to capture a market by selling cheap synths made in far off factories without workers rights, decent pay or flair or innovation. Behringer are an international corporation - they ARE the man. They are absolutely within their rights to make and sell synths cheaply and there's a lot we can celebrate about that - they've done some great work - but they are not democracizing synths, choice has always existed - they are simply offering us more products. If they acted more ethically or even just politely they would have a lot less hassle doing it. So, while I totally get what you're saying I don't agree with the narrative Behringer paints about itself. Thanks for the comments - always welcome and sorry if you weren't expecting such a firm response to a throw away comment :D

[@odmusicman]

@@MoltenMusicTech 1) I did not say anyone was ripping anyone off. 2) I do not think there is a cabal forcing me to buy with limited choices. 3) I have been composing, playing out and recording since 1987 and I am as pro freedom any anyone. I run my own business so I have sympathy for companies selling products. 4) I am saying that Behringer has allowed people with more limited budgets to get started in a market that usually starts at $1000+ for an analog synth. So, someone who was locked out of that analog synth market because of price can now enter the analog synth market. 5) I do not mean to say that companies like Oberheim, Sequential, Moog or Nina purposely jack prices. They use better circuitry and components and have a higher base cost of operation. That equals some better stuff at higher prices. But for someone who wanted that OBX analog experience, they were relegated to a 4-5K purchase. The UBXA allows those who couldn't to now have it, albeit not with technical parity, but pretty good. All that said, my next synth purchase will be the Korg Mono/Poly. That thing blows away any Behringer synth and at a competitive price.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Well, you did say "locked into an expensive dictatorship of choices" so forgive me if that sounds a lot like you are implying 1 and 2. Otherwise I agree completely with the sentiment, but not so much with the language of feeling locked out because something is more expensive that you can afford. I don't feel frustated that I can't buy an Aston Martin and I don't feel the right to a cheaper version - if you see what I mean. I get it, I totally get all your points and I'm not calling you anything - I'm just pushing back against the concept that expensive gear is somehow unfair. Thanks for the thoughtful discussion.

[@synistersoundsanddesign]

In studio I mute my Roland and it’s a 16 channel midi controller with all the splits and layers with midi

[@BinaryDad]

Big agreement on your Behringer stance. Hear, hear, sir.

[@EaselCat]

That bad part of town is where I live pompous hwite man on the internet.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

I imagine it's like living in a Cyberpunk movie