The Official Sequential/Oberheim Forum

OTHER DISCUSSIONS => General Synthesis => Other Hardware/Software => Topic started by: LoboLives on December 08, 2017, 10:32:51 PM

Title: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: LoboLives on December 08, 2017, 10:32:51 PM
Saw a post on the GearSlutz forum.

“Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzcabbage  View Post
For why?
I asked them on FB. Here is their response:
Quote:
Hello Anton, thank you for reaching out and your interest in Dave Smith Instruments.
DSI will not be exhibiting at NAMM 2018 - we are focusing our energy on developing new and exciting products. Stay tuned for updates on our website and social media pages!
Regards,
Dave Smith Instruments”
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: chysn on December 09, 2017, 03:22:54 AM
Makes sense. They’ve already got the industry’s attention, so why shoulder the expense? Stay home and work, and let Facebook take care of the publicity.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: Paul Dither on December 09, 2017, 04:14:52 AM
Without jumping to any conclusions based on a couple of single cases (DSI, Linn, Oberheim, Moog, Modal Electronics, and Behringer not being listed among the exhibitors this year), it may very well be assumed that NAMM can lose its significance in the digital age and turn into an event for mainly industry giants producing for the mass market. Let's also take into account the not insignificant amount of registration fees for NAMM and the recent rise of alternative synth events like Knobcon and Moogfest in the US, Superbooth in Germany, or Synthfest in the UK. So I wouldn't be surprised if things dissipate a bit in the near future. And the rest is being taken care of via social media.

Apart from that, I guess it's safe to say that DSI are either not ready to present anything new in January and they could estimate this already a couple of months ago (i.e. in the typical NAMM registration period for exhibitors). Or they have something new, but think going to NAMM isn't really worth the money anymore. Same for Moog basically, who might just announce their new synth in May at Moogfest. Moogfest already replaced NAMM's function for a couple of past Moog announcements and the rest is pretty much happening via newsletter.

So DSI might either announce something independently around the time of NAMM, or later next year, in spring or summer, granted they didn't decide for a sabbatical after the Rev2 releases, which could also mean that there won't be any news until Winter NAMM 2019. After all, DSI have been releasing new products pretty much nonstop over the past couple of years. So taking a little bit of extra time from this year on doesn't seem too surprising in my view.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: DavidDever on December 09, 2017, 06:20:29 AM
It's not just NAMM, but other large international shows as well - trade-only shows are going by the wayside. Good on DSI and others for skipping it.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: dslsynth on December 09, 2017, 10:10:17 AM
This is the perfect place for DSI to provide an official statement about NAMM participation and new product announcements.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: LoboLives on December 09, 2017, 10:46:38 AM
I think it comes down to a few things as well. I think Dave and DSI are sort of stumped what to do next. We are up to 16 voices, bi timbral synths, hybrid synths, boutique VCO synths, the most advanced analog drum machine on the market to date, even a mono synth in the AS1 what else can they really do? Dave reportedly has no interest in multitimbrality and although some of DSI’s products could use better midi implementation (sequencer midi out for example) Dave is apparently hesitant to adopt that as well as it wasn’t a part of the original midi code. So I think they are in a ways stuck. I don’t think we are going to see another digital synth or sampler from DSI.

Maybe it’s just a case of sitting back and waiting to see what’s released and seeing what the competition brings.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: dslsynth on December 09, 2017, 10:53:56 AM
There are so many more and very much interesting obvious things they could do: sampler with analog filters, new take on vector synthesis, hybrid voice with analog/digital oscillators, a polyphonic version of Pro2, .... !

The polysynth market may seem more crowded but there are still plenty of options for new machines.

The NAMM absence have to be related to something else.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: LoboLives on December 09, 2017, 11:44:29 AM
There are so many more and very much interesting obvious things they could do: sampler with analog filters, new take on vector synthesis, hybrid voice with analog/digital oscillators, a polyphonic version of Pro2, .... !

The polysynth market may seem more crowded but there are still plenty of options for new machines.

The NAMM absence have to be related to something else.

I’m speaking more in terms of analog synths. I don’t think DSI is going to do a sampler or another hybrid again.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on December 09, 2017, 01:23:37 PM
I highly doubt DSI is out of ideas.  More likely, their current project won't be ready in time for NAMM.  Perhaps the yearly January schedule doesn't suit them, and now, having a well-established name and reputation, they simply don't need NAMM as they once did.  It's ideal when you can take the time you need to complete an important project, rather than be pressured to meet an artificial deadline.  All the better for the results.  Good for DSI!

Although this news almost completely deflates my interest in NAMM 2018, I think it may be an indication that something big is on the way.  I'm optimistic.  Besides, I'm content with the DSI line just as it is.  I have no musical needs that aren't already met.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: LoboLives on December 09, 2017, 01:29:32 PM

Although this news almost completely deflates my interest in NAMM 2018, I think it may be an indication that something big is on the way.  I'm optimistic.  Besides, I'm content with the DSI line just as it is.  I have no musical needs that aren't already met.

Yeah other than the Korg synth and possible new Artuira synth I don't see much else being of even slight interest to me.

I also don't think Roger, Tom or Moog have booths this Namm either from what I'm hearing.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: Paul Dither on December 09, 2017, 01:48:22 PM
I also don't think Roger, Tom or Moog have booths this Namm either from what I'm hearing.

That's correct. There's going to be a notable absence of well-known US-American manufacturers.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: Razmo on December 09, 2017, 02:10:28 PM
If DSI want to compete with the Quantum, then they WILL need to do some kind of Sampler/granular synth, it's that simple... and it is still one of the few niche synths not available at all, plus I think a lot of musicians would actually want a sampling synth... hardware samplers today goes for nothing... except for the older ones with analog VCF/VCA, which seems to still be rather pricey... this is a clear signal to me, that there must be at least some demand for a modern one.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: Paul Dither on December 09, 2017, 02:10:48 PM
I think Dave and DSI are sort of stumped what to do next. We are up to 16 voices, bi timbral synths, hybrid synths, boutique VCO synths, the most advanced analog drum machine on the market to date, even a mono synth in the AS1 what else can they really do?

They are certainly not stumped, otherwise Dave wouldn't have mentioned at last Moogfest already that they're working on something new, which ideally shouldn't be another Prophet. Maybe they're rearranging things quite drastically and need a bit more time. They announced work on the Tempest long before it was ready and released it without all planned features being implemented the way they would have liked it to be. So that's a counter example, which caused much more immediate pressure on DSI's behalf. It takes away a lot of pressure to just keep quiet and continue working on things until they're ready to be released. DSI will get immediate attention anyway via social media and all dedicated synth sites and forums, once a new instrument is ready to be announced.

What also shouldn't be forgotten is that DSI have pretty much released one flagship after the other since the announcement of the Prophet 12 in 2013: The Prophet 12 as their hybrid poly flagship, the Pro 2 as their flagship hybrid mono synth, two VCO-based analog poly synths (Prophet-6 and OB-6), and last year the Rev2, which can at least be considered a flagship with regard to its 16 voices and the multitude of modulation capabilities. Those are more "big" instruments than companies like Korg or Roland would ever release back to back. And there's also no golden rule that says, "thou shall announce a new synth at every NAMM."

So I'm with Sacred Synthesis on this one: The fact that it may take a bit longer this time around, may indicate that something big or substantially different is on its way, and that's rather a reason for optimism.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: LoboLives on December 09, 2017, 02:21:41 PM
Just have to wait and see. I just hope your Sequential Waves prediction is right. ;)
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: Paul Dither on December 09, 2017, 02:30:20 PM
Just have to wait and see. I just hope your Sequential Waves prediction is right. ;)

In that case I expect a check in the mail.   ;D
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: LoboLives on December 09, 2017, 03:19:55 PM
I also hope we see the name Sequential again. It be a waste to simply use it as a one and done.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: megamarkd on December 09, 2017, 06:49:41 PM
I like the official statement regarding their absence, nice a polite.  I've seen other statements of non-attendance for other non-music shows that come off as rather snide.


If DSI want to compete with the Quantum, then they WILL need to do some kind of Sampler/granular synth, it's that simple... and it is still one of the few niche synths not available at all, plus I think a lot of musicians would actually want a sampling synth... hardware samplers today goes for nothing... except for the older ones with analog VCF/VCA, which seems to still be rather pricey... this is a clear signal to me, that there must be at least some demand for a modern one.

I'd really love to see the synth world move forward and step away from the now bog standard subtractive model of osc generated waveforms/resonant filter/amp.  I finally stopped being angry at my Microgranny for being half broken on arrival and plugged it into a sequencer.  Playing grains of a sample from a subtractive synth being pitch and tone swept is very interesting, as is some of the ways you can have it travel along the sample.  Similar to PPG style wavetables but only with one sample and completely different ways of sweeping.  And that's just a monophonic sample based granular synth with really only 10 parameters besides the AR envelope.
when it comes to filters, analogue still reins supreme.  Waldorf's digital filters are amazing and I still pine for my Z-Plane filters, but analogue has that something to the sound, thus why the Ensoniq samplers from the 80's still go for more than an Ultra sampler.  Which is why a sampler/granular synth should have analogue filters *AS WELL AS* a multimode digital filterbank.  Analogue amp section is much of a muchness to me.
This topic of sampling hardware in any form has arisen on another forum with the owner suggesting a the start of a community based project in lieu of the companies doing it, which sounds great considering even in the arduino world samplers are thin on the ground.


[Warning, I go slightly off topic below]
It's not just NAMM, but other large international shows as well - trade-only shows are going by the wayside. Good on DSI and others for skipping it.

I build exhibition and tradeshow stands for a living and this is the long and the short of it.  Compared to even 5yrs ago there is a massive drop in events.  We lost a good amount of work due to a convention centre rebuild, which propped up the other capital city's work during that time, but really it's dying and I do think it's due to poor attendance more than anything. 
This year the organisers of the Home Show/Mind Body Spirit combined the two and made entry free in an effort to get punters in.  I don't know how those two show cross-over but I did want to set up a stall in the MBS side selling "Spirit Levels"; the balance bubble out of a builder's level on a watch band aimed at helping the wearer level their spirit.

There are certain areas of technology where the tradeshows have become bi-annual such as printing.  As much as the noise about 3D printing is loud, it's still an infant with most exhibitors still demo'ing their additive milling and plasma cutters.
My uncle has been inside of the international food industry for a long time and he said the associated tradeshows have become industry junkets with them serving more as a yearly get-together where little business is done and a lot of "networking" occurs (read as: "getting drunk with long time business associates").  And by looking at what goes on at the medicals shows while I'm servicing, same again but only with different equipment sitting on their stands.

Oddly enough pop-culture/comic book expos are on the rise, though the patrons at those shows tend to wreck everything somehow....
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: DavidDever on December 10, 2017, 06:16:53 AM
So I'm with Sacred Synthesis on this one: The fact that it may take a bit longer this time around, may indicate that something big or substantially different is on its way, and that's rather a reason for optimism.

Can't agree more!

Sustained development efforts for a major project require a degree of focus that is hopelessly shattered by concern for tradeshow tick-tocks, let alone EoY accounting / tax concerns.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: chysn on December 10, 2017, 08:03:57 PM
I'd really love to see the synth world move forward and step away from the now bog standard subtractive model of osc generated waveforms/resonant filter/amp. * * * Playing grains of a sample from a subtractive synth being pitch and tone swept is very interesting, as is some of the ways you can have it travel along the sample.

You can look to eurorack for stuff like this. I have a Phonogene by Make Noise, which offers lots of ways to chop up a sample and sweep through its grains. The newer Morphagene is even better. It's the sort of thing that would be really neat to see built into a keyboard instrument; but at the same time, it's so far away from a "traditional" sampler that its mass appeal might be small.
Title: Re: DSI will not be at NAMM?
Post by: LoboLives on December 11, 2017, 04:51:26 AM
This may be a blessing in disguise anyway so I can focus on getting things that are already available at the moment while still keeping an eye on Korg and Yamaha. I tend to automatically go to DSI, Linn, Moog etc so it be sort of nice to take a breather. Still have my eyes set on the Oberheim TVS Pro.