As Superbooth 2021 continues in Berlin, the annual synth convention is playing host to a heap of new releases and product announcements. With the 2020 show canceled due to the pandemic, it seems many companies have seized this moment to save their most exciting announcements of the year.
See highlights from the show below.
Tiptop Audio's Buchla 200 Series Modules
One of the most exciting announcements of the show is Tiptop Audio's collaboration with the legendary Buchla. Introducing seven modules that offer Buchla's 200 series designs into Eurorack standards, Tiptop is hoping to bring a wider audience into the unique world of Buchla synthesis. The prices that have been announced so far puts each module in the $160–$210 price range.
The modules include the Dual Oscillator Model 258t, the Source of Uncertainty Model 266t, and the Quad Function Generator 281t. Some modules will begin to come out as early as this winter, while others are planned for next spring and summer.
Erica Synths Pērkons HD-01
Erica Synths makes a bold claim about its new Pērkons drum machine and synthesizer, saying the Pērkons HD-01 "will change your approach to electronic rhythm synthesis."
How might it accomplish this? It has four different voices: built from digital sound engines (each with three modes) and then an analog multi-mode filter section that offers high-bass, band-pass, and low-pass filtering. Then there is a built-in bucket-brigade delay, as well as an optical compressor and master overdrive. With individual outputs for each voice, it's built to be played with external gear.
Pērkons is set to be released this winter, at a retail price of $1,999 USD or €1650.
UDO Audio Super 6 Desktop
UDO Audio's Super 6 12-voice binaural synthesizer made quite a splash at Superbooth 2019, back when it was still a prototype. A year later, the Super 6 arrived in full. With six true-stereo voices, split through the left and right output channels, it is an enormous-sounding polysynth that makes the word "lush" an understatement.
At Superbooth 2021, UDO Audio announced that it will soon be releasing the Super 6 Desktop unit—packing all of the original synth into a more affordable and compact form factor. It is set to retail for $2,399 USD.
Empress Effects ZOIA Euroburo
First teased over a year ago now, the new ZOIA Euroburo from Empress Effects is finally set to start shipping this Friday, September 17. The developers describe this new digital modular system as "a real Russian nesting doll situation," as it can be installed in your Eurorack system or used as a desktop device.
The Euroburo features four freely assignable CV ins and outs and is designed to get you away from complicated menus and into tactile patching, deleting, editing, and music-making. Users can create signature effects, synths, sequencers and use the Euroburo's 90-plus modules to fill just about any gap in your setup..
The new ZOIA Euroburo will start at $649 USD for the module only, while $748 USD will get you the additional desktop enclosure and power supply.
Neuzeit Instruments Quasar
The market for stereo modules has been growing in Eurorack over the last few years, and German manufacturer Neuzeit Instruments is taking advantage of that interest this year with its new Quasar—a 2-channel 3D audio mixer.
Uniquely, the module creates a 3D sound image of two inputs using binaural algorithms and makes them available in two positions with very flexible routing options from there. You can really achieve an immersive sonic space, with sounds coming from every direction.
More details and pricing are still to come, but in the meantime, check out a sneak preview of the module's sound on the brand's Instagram page—and don't forget your headphones for the best experience!
Waldorf M
Waldorf also unveiled a new wavetable synthesizer called the M at this year's Superbooth show. "With M, we are musically returning to our roots by bringing back classic Microwave and ‘modern’ Microwave II tone generation," writes the brand on its website.
They go on to say that the M is "a new-generation classic hybrid wavetable synthesizer with an analogue lowpass 24 dB/Oct VCF—SSI 2144 Improved Ladder Type—with resonance and analogue saturation feature, true stereo analogue VCA with panning option, and much more to explore in a desktop-friendly form factor featuring a wide range of unique sounds."
Information about pricing and availability is still to come, but be sure to check out the video above to hear a sound sample of some of the things the new M wavetable synth is capable of.
PWM Malevolent
PWM is a brand-new company started by Paul Whittington, a musician with over 20 years experience working for various big name electronic music companies. The Malevolent is the brand's first-ever synthesizer release. It's equipped with two VCOs, playable performance controls, and is also a pre-patched, semi-modular standalone synth.
Sonicstate released an informative video with Paul Whittington that gives a great rundown of the synth's features and is worth checking out to hear all of the expressive, playful, and gnarly sounds it can make.
Dreadbox Nymphes
Lastly, Dreadbox has released a new analog, 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer called the Nymphes. It features one VCO with wave forming, an LFO per voice, two envelope generators, octave low- and high-pass filters, and more. It will be available starting in November.
The brand has faced criticism for its marketing of the Nymphes, however, having "dedicated [the synth] to all abused and oppressed women" without offering any portion of the product's sales to a charity or organization actually dedicated to supporting abused and oppressed women.