IK Multimedia has been in hyperdrive promoting a new bit of kit that they labeled as a “paradigm shift.” While that may have been a bit over-the-top, we can say that the new monophonic UNO analog synth, a collaboration with Sound Machines, looks very promising, especially at the $199 / €199 street price.
IK partnered with Italian boutique synth-maker Soundmachines for their first hardware synth (will the next one be Duo? —Ed.), as well as, Erik Norlander, who assisted in the development of the over-priced and short-lived Alesis Andromeda. So how did these two companies connect? Norlander elaborates…
IK claims the UNO’s synthesis engine “not only excels in producing the rich, warm, punchy, deep bass sounds that are the core of a high-quality monophonic synth, it’s also perfectly designed to bring a wide sonic palette of leads, drones, arps, sequences, sweeps and effects.” While UNO Synth is monophonic nature, its two independent oscillators can be tuned differently to also generate interesting pad-like interval sounds as well as octaves. Pulse width modulation of each oscillator provides the ability for a single oscillator to sound like two while the second oscillator can be tuned to an octave or interval for advanced modular-style timbres from the greatest classic synths. Although IK is positioning this as a portable analog synth, all the demos scream “ACID BOX!!!” Considering the step-sequencer, Filter Overdrive and Delay, the UNO should certainly give Roland’s spendy TB-03 a run for it’s $349 price point. And while the 03 does a commendable job as a 303 emulator, it just doesn’t have the true grease to achieve those squirrelly acid lines your brain craves.
IK Multimedia UNO Features:
» All-analog audio path with two VCOs, noise generator, resonant multimode VCF and VCA
» Two independent VCOs with Saw, Triangle, Pulse waveforms with continuously variable shape including PWM of the square wave plus a separate white noise generator
» A 2-pole OTA-based analog resonant sweepable multimode filter with LPF, HPF and BPF
» Dual-stage overdrive that provides filter input overdrive for classic synth saturation tone, from subtle warming to aggressive distortion
» LFO with Sine, Triangle, Square, Up Saw, Down Saw, Random and Sample-and-Hold to modulate Pitch, Filter, Amp and continuous oscillator wave shapes including PWM
» Mac/PC editor is available to fully control UNO Synth with a computer
» ADSR control available via MIDI CC or software editor)
» 40 onboard controls and LED display
» 10 mode, 4-octave arpeggiator
» Real-time and step edit 16-step sequencer with 20 automatable parameters
» Onboard multi-touch 27-note chromatic and scale keyboard with 13 scales
» Sync Delay audio effect and 5 performance effects
» Self-tuning with auto-tune calibration
» USB MIDI and 2.5 mm jack MIDI IN/OUT (cables included)
» Audio In to daisy chain other audio devices with no need for a mixer
» Complete MIDI implementation with all parameters and clock can be controlled via MIDI CC
» Battery (4xAA) or USB powered
» Size: 25.6cm/10.1″ x 15cm/8.9″ x 4.9cm/1.93″ – Weight 400g
The multimode resonant filter can be used for subtle tonal modification or screaming aggressive resonant sweeps. A custom-designed overdrive circuit lets you easily dial in modern saturated tones. And of course, you can modulate the filter with the filter envelope, LFO and performance buttons, as well as automate it in the sequencer and via external MIDI controllers. The built-in delay effect, synchronized with UNO Synth tempo settings, further expands its sonic palette and the type of sounds it can generate, adding depth to repeating arpeggio or sequence patterns as filter and oscillator parameters are modulated and adjusted on the fly.
UNO Synth comes with 100 presets (80 fully rewritable), making it ready to play right out of the box. Each preset not only includes the sound programming, it also includes an associated arpeggio and sequence for even greater musical expression and portable sonic power. Over 40 onboard controls are available on the UNO Synth’s top panel to give direct real-time access to its synth engine parameters, for immediate sound sculpting capability, with no deep menus to scroll through. for added power, a Mac/PC editor is available to fully control UNO Synth with a computer and program, store and manage an unlimited number of presets.
The UNO Synth’s 27-note on-board multi-touch keyboard offers over two octaves of sound control as both a chromatic keyboard or as a predefined scale keyboard, including 13 available scales. The UNO also contains a multimode built-in arpeggiator with 10 different arpeggio modes and a 4-octave range. The UNO Synth keyboard also doubles as a step-edit control for its built-in sequencer. Sequences can be programmed both in real-time or in steps and include up to 20 synth parameters for every step. Five instant performance modulations are also available (Dive, Scoop, Vibrato, Wah and Tremolo) to further enhance UNO Synth’s real-time playability.
IK claims the UNO Synth’s ultra-compact dimensions make it among the smallest monophonic synth available. With its 400g weightand its battery-power supply (4xAA included) or USB power-supply (for battery power banks), UNO Synth gives musicians of all kinds the freedom to make music everywhere without being tied to a location.
IK’s UNO costs $/€199 and will be available in July.
IK Multimedia
