Muff's Modules & More

soundmachines

Dear All,
after having spent 15 years splitting interests at home (not.only.electronic music) and at work (electronics), I decided to re-join those two beautiful fields into one, and so I started writing down business plans and product family projections... My company is already developing and manufacturing electronics (consumer and industrial market, mainly) so, on the operations side, let's assume that we have the 'numbers' to manage such a scenario (high mix, low volumes).

Well, what we will sell ?
Basically we will start with eurorack modules, more on the sound processing, sequencing, performance, specialty side than vco, vca, vcf side (I think that we already have on the market plenty of excellent products in these area). Then we have some interesting designs regarding stand-alone effects, performance oriented controllers and some products related to lighting. We already started the design of a full blown analog polysynth that should be prototyped at the beginning of next year. Don't hold your breath tho', that's a really heavy project, especially for what regards industrialization, manufacturing process and sustainability of production.... There is also in the plans an analog monophonic, complex synth and (to be defined) some kind of analog/digital groovebox.
Obviously, we are just the last one to enter the market, and we will be careful and realistic about what could be done, but nevertheless, we will come!
Last but not least, many of our products will be opensourced, to leverage the people out there that have talent and the love for tinkering with stuff.

The roadmap (two years are already booked!) is dense enough to scary me and all the guys that will work on the development side, but it's really exciting, open, and we hope, innovative.
As of today we are still working on the planning and I don't really have a fixed date to give you, everything is positioned circa 'after the summer', meaning anywhere between the end of September and late November.
Anyway, this is just a 'be prepared' thing, we have about 4 modules coming in the following 4/5 months. Then, later next year, other toys will arrive...

So, I will keep you informed in this very thread, as long as news are coming, including renderings, spec sheets, videos, prototypes etc..
To start, we will setup a very small on line shop. We are still in the definition phase. And we will ship worldwide.

Soundmachines is based in central Italy, ancient home of [/b]many beautiful exercises in synth magic !!!!

Stay tuned, we are coming!!

goab · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:51 am Post subject:

Welcome and best of luck! Great first post. smile

arnoux · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:54 am Post subject:

Glad to hear about an Italian eurorack manufacturer! If you need a beta tester I'm behind the corner!

Good luck Soundmachines! screaming goo yo

amsonx · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:24 am Post subject:

en. · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:31 am Post subject:

benebenebene w00t

can't wait
good luck

Kent · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:34 am Post subject:

Sweetness! I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing more.

VomitFlowers · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:54 am Post subject:

Best of luck - looking forward to seeing some of your ideas!

evirob · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:59 am Post subject:

Exiting news indeed! Best of luck to you guys smile

Mr White · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:14 am Post subject:

as co-founder of MEET THE KNOBBERS synth & production meeting I will be glad to know something more of you project, please write us at meettheknobbers@gmail.com we are based in Italy too w00t

rasseru · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:32 am Post subject:

brilliant news. always nice to have new synths.

analogue poly is a great idea thumbs up

need a competent graphic designer? i would love to be part of the design of a polysynth

lombrose · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:35 am Post subject:

I love Italian synths and Italian prog rock Mr. Green

Welcome and good luck!!!!! SlayerBadger!

Microscopial · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:53 am Post subject:

Best of luck

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:21 am Post subject:

I would like to thank you everyone that took his time to read the post!

Just to put some more gasoline on the fire, I will disclose the first modules by their name!
The first wiggler that correctly guesses what each module will actually do will receive one of the prototypes that certainly will be built (please allow some manual soldering or rework here hihi

) before getting the production ready!!!!!!
He will be obliged, tho', to capture at least a couple of vids and upload to youtube for "dissemination" !!! hihi

(I think that this is actually a good idea that could be used also for the other modules... yes!)

Ok, there you go:

RB1 Robotto
RC1 RadioStar
CS8 ChromaSeq8
MC1 ModularCommander
DC1 Drumcomputer
SP1 Slicer
CG1 GridConnector

...have a nice weekend! Guinness ftw!

Orbless · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:34 am Post subject:

Is the RB1 Robotto a vocoding module?
GridConnector sounds like a matrix mixer?

Mitchk1989 · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:44 am Post subject:

Is the chromaseq a sequencer based off of the Rhodes chroma? Did that thing even have a sequencer?

Otium · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:46 am Post subject:

OK, let's have a try:

Robotto: a programmable and cv-controllable modulation source

RadioStar: some kind of electromagnetic, theremin-style motion tracking device

ChromaSeq: performance oriented 8-step sequencer with integrated quantizer

ModularCommander: kind of centerpiece module with clock generator, offset, level meter, I/O section with 1/4" jacks

Drumcomputer: well ... hmmm ... Drumcomputer with kick, Snare, OH, CH, Perc. with trigger-sequencer

Slicer: a chopper, that chopps audio according to clock-input with different rhythmic patterns (programmable an cv-controllable of course)

GridConnector: EMS-style patch-grid with multiple ins and outs, so that you can change important patch connections very fast during a live performance.

This is fun!

did I win? hyper

lombrose · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

RB1 Robotto - vocoder
RC1 RadioStar - VC fm or am radio
CS8 ChromaSeq8 - Sequencer
MC1 ModularCommander - Matrix control
DC1 Drumcomputer - VC drum module with sequencer
SP1 Slicer - Slicer Mr. Green

CG1 GridConnector - mixer

blinosynth · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:02 pm Post subject:

RB1 Robotto vc random ?
RC1 RadioStar vc radio fm/am?
CS8 ChromaSeq8 sequencer with chromatic led ... help

MC1 ModularCommander wtf... d'oh!

DC1 Drumcomputer drum module hihi

SP1 Slicer ... slicer
CG1 GridConnector matrix mixer

grandi cmq! aspetto notizie sui nuovi moduli !!!
ciao!

DougD · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:12 pm Post subject:

Is the SP-1 like the Plan B Wave Slicer? I've always been intrigued by that module but never seen one for sale.

arnoux · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:27 pm Post subject:

Let's go:

RB1 Robotto:
8x8 trigger sequencer with 64 led/push-button, it would be great for the Tip Top 808HH, maybe you can save 8 different rhythmic figures and manually or with cv from another sequencer chose the pattern.

RC1 RadioStar: quasi stellar radio source, VC noise source.

CS8 ChromaSeq8: Quantized 8 step sequencer where you can chose key and scale

MC1 ModularCommander: an external 84HP skiff like something with manual triggers and sliders and tons of CV outs and a clock in, something like this: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4178Jx8WBHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

DC1 Drumcomputer: something like the MFB seq1, but more deep, with 64 step and more than one pattern for instrument, for sure with a little monitor, something like LSDJ for Game Boy

SP1 Slicer: VC granular tool

CG1 GridConnector: 8x8 matrix router with manual mute

Or maybe not!

.

mOBiTh · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:02 pm Post subject:

can you make an italo disco module please hihi

lombrose · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:11 pm Post subject:

Queiroga · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:23 pm Post subject:

That's a great way to start as a user here! hahaha

Best of Luck, looking forward to hear from SoundMachines!

paulstone · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject:

Hi Soundmachines Good to know
hope to try soon your module .

Jen filter style coming smile

ciao

mOBiTh · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:01 am Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:46 am Post subject:

First of all thank you for being so interested in this game!!!!
Methinks, anyway, that I should try something simpler for giving away modules! I have time until september when the first proto will be in my hands... smile

Anyway, to give further details (without spoiling anything, and not giving too much hints at the 'competition'..... mmh wait, I AM the competition hmmm.....

):

Robotto: no it's not a vocoder, nor a cv generator... Robotto is this:

As you can see, it's something boiling since 2009.. And Yes, that guy is ME.
(And yes, the smaller human on the bottom left is my little boy).

RadioStar A part from being a gratitude nod to the song, no it is not a radio (look at the work of Tom Whitwell, or ADDAC). Let me just leave this here: tablet,smartphone,cv,gate... OK?

ChromaSeq Sorry no Rhodes Chroma love here.. seriously, i just don't get it

It's a sequencer.... the fact that it's full of RGB leds it's not for a light show, though....

ModularCommander I think that this one will remain mysterious for another while.. cool

DrumComputer Yes it's a drum sequencer but with a couple of interesting twists... Yes you can drive those beautiful Tiptop drum modules... Patterns, songs, leds!!!!!

Slicer Think about slicing things in the frequency domain, not in the time domain. + more twists.

GridConnector It's not a matrix mixer, it's the last module before the PA or the DAW....

Here it is terribly hot, so, a part from drawing schematics I'll have a shower!
Have a nice weekend!

jjclark · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:58 am Post subject:

Excellent!

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 11:33 am Post subject:

By the way, everyone needs a logo.
I cannot upload a pic because this is just my fourth post but you can see it in the avatar just left of this post!!!

Cheers!

markjamesriver · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:29 pm Post subject:

Great video It's peanut butter jelly time!

Little Lorenzo can't help himself, gives new meaning to the term "wiggle". Very special.

DonKartofflo · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject:

very cool! I always love seeing new manufacturers! Looking forward to seeing more! good luck!

Don

10011001 · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:37 pm Post subject:

robotto is cool thumbs up

ikkini · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 1:06 pm Post subject:

Love Robotto ! SlayerBadger!

L · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject:

Oh this is a great news!!

Hope to discover something more about your project very soon!

bouzoukijoe1 · Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 11:58 pm Post subject:

very cool. and most certainly wish you all the luck in launching your company! looking forward to seeing and hearing the modules.

Robotto: sounds like possibly a random formant generator? or full formant sculptor?
RadioStar: some kind of computer GUI to cv interface module?
ChromaSeq: blind guess, but perhaps something like a next-level z8000/JAG/Rene where it's possible to create custom algorithms that generates new chromatic phrases
Slicer: this sounds crazy - a granular frequency shifter? or a discontinuous un-wavefolder? I don't even know what that means. haha
GridConnector: maybe a cv/audio to midi/usb interface?

Matos · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 12:18 am Post subject:

The baby is the best part. Can he be in every video?

DougD · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 12:33 am Post subject:

So then, revising my guess to: Slicer is a CV-controllable frequency splitter, so that you can for example split high and low parts of a sound to different outs, fuck with each individually using other modules, then recombine them in a mixer module.

Sort of like a filter that doesn't filter, just separates.

cool

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:51 am Post subject: Materials test

It is really interesting seeing what came up!
Many mix & match, & many near-guesses!

Anyway, I want to show you something. We are locking-in on the choices for materials, chromatics, and panel components.

I would like to go the stainless steel way.

(in the next post, the pic!!!!!)

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:32 am Post subject: Materials Test

So, here it is:

What you see is a 1mm brushed stainless steel (ScotchBrite), a couple of red-striped knobs, and a switchcraft 3.5mm jack.
Do you like the material? I'm just meeting some suppliers to ask for oleo-phobic treatment on the surface.... As is, stainless steel is a fingerprint party all around!!!!

Soundmachines is a 'local' project, and I am trying to stress, use and exploit all the relevant competencies that we have near here. Cutting, pressing and engraving stainless steel is one of those.

I'm still not 100% sure that this would be viable. But on the plus side we have a sturdy, laser cut material and fresh, not yet seen on the modular arena look and feel.
I like it. razz

a100user · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:39 am Post subject:

Love the stainless steel look but have a minor concern that the material thickness will not balance with other modules in a panel as they will be thicker, unless you have padding between panel and rail?

David

paulstone · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:51 am Post subject:

I prefer anodized aluminum, there is also a variety of anodized colors, blue, white, red, and many others.

ciao

ether · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:57 am Post subject:

iamgoldman · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:02 am Post subject:

ModularCommander should be one big VCA with a lemony zest.

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:20 am Post subject:

Yeah Anodized Aluminium is the other option. I am also fond of RED !!!

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:30 am Post subject:

a100user · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:15 am Post subject:

nickster · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:06 am Post subject:

Drum computer yeah! After my recent post regarding lack of variety of drum sequencers in euro, bingo this pops up. Now the gnarly questions when can we expect this module to be available to buy and for how much?

Wishing you all the best of success with these modules.

Rockin' Banana!

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:11 am Post subject:

Just for reference:

DRUMCOMPUTER as a drum sequencer (panel leakage!!!!)

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:17 am Post subject:

Arturo00 · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

Hey Soundmachines, the Robotto sounds amazing!!! I have a Talking Synth and would gladly trade it away for what you have there. Would love to see/hear more demos and perhaps a comparrison between the two.

Very excited to see what else you're coming up with.

Mitchk1989 · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:53 am Post subject:

The robotto may save me from repurchasing a mono machine :p

Kent · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:21 pm Post subject:

ether · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:39 pm Post subject:

Want!

Especially if you can get long sequences out of it, 16, 32, 64 steps or more.

vanderLooy · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:31 am Post subject:

Nice! Best of luck!

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:26 am Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:27 am Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:29 am Post subject:

anselmi · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:59 am Post subject:

this is beautiful! I´ll grab one for sure if it has different track lenghts and a reset input!

pulplogic · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:02 am Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:21 am Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:23 am Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:37 am Post subject:

This is the old proto, the one featured in the YouTube video....
The placement of controls and jacks will be different..
You can see his good (and bad!!) friends there!

[/img]

anselmi · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:43 am Post subject:

soundmachines · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:04 am Post subject:

Can't resist....
I lowered the resolution enough to piss you a little smile

Just to fill the lowcost koffer, put there some other friends.

Enjoy!

pas · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:10 am Post subject:

Where did that piston Honda picture come from? Is that the redesign? Old design? The fuck?

soundmachines · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:19 am Post subject:

exper · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:40 am Post subject:

pas · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:04 am Post subject:

Ok, I see never saw that one, I thought the original design was the one w/ 2 outputs not the whole layout shift.

Spir4L · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 12:35 pm Post subject:

Wow, didn't catch this before... very frustrating

Interesting project and...in Italy thumbs up

where are you guys located?

anselmi · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:12 pm Post subject:

Mitchk1989 · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject:

LOL

soundmachines · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:15 am Post subject:

bassanddoublebass · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:20 pm Post subject:

Good luck from Spain. I'm waiting to buy soundmachines' modules.

dalasv · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:42 pm Post subject:

Very interested in that drum computer. I've started to realize how much fun rhythm based patching is.

soundmachines

Lovely lovely texture!!!!!!!

Alwaysnew · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:37 am Post subject:

Is there a waiting list for Robotto? Been looking for something like this for a long time!

applause

soundmachines · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:46 am Post subject:

Plan is to produce 50/100 RB1robotto at the end of september....

During this weekend i'll give more information about several new modules...
Stay tuned and awake!

D

soundmachines

We got listed, thanks to Muff our host, in the manufacturer subforum.
Wwe have important information for you there!

see ya!

Paranormal Patroler · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject:

I see you have a TenoriOn on the video, did you get the Drummachine panel idea from there? hihi

radiodread87 · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:03 pm Post subject:

Ciao Davide will catch you in your sub-forum smile

roqeja · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:39 pm Post subject:

best of luck to you. Robotto sounds gorgeous!

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 12:22 am Post subject:

Paranormal Patroler · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:56 am Post subject:

I love using the TO to control (almost) everything on my modular. It's quite complicated to pull it off though. Maybe a dedicated module for that?

Just kidding, not enough modular/TO users out there. razz

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:19 am Post subject:

Paranormal Patroler · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:40 am Post subject:

You're kiddin' eek!

I suppose it's a MIDI-to-CV module. You'd have to beat the heat of Vermona's qMI and the upcoming Doepfer a-190-5 Polyphonic MIDI-to-CV if indeed it is.

In case you're interested yourself I've been using a MidiSolutions's Event Processor Plus to remap MIDI channel information from Note On values to CC's. So with the use of a MIDI-to-CV module you have the Tenori On controlling parameters like CV, Pitch, whatever, apart from your typical Frequency and Gate.

Way cool.

deastman · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:24 am Post subject:

Lots of interesting module concepts here. I look forward to seeing all of these come to fruition!

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:39 am Post subject:

Paranormal Patroler · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject:

If it's not an envelope follower/external input or a usb-to-CV then you're way ahead of my league of imagination capabilities ...

is that competition still on?

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 4:37 am Post subject:

BUMP!!!!!!!! booty wiggler

Important and sexy new informations on soundmachines subforum !!!!

check it out!!!!! SlayerBadger!

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=63

Cheers

soundmachines · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:15 am Post subject:

BUMP BUMP!

Sorry forgot this thread on the new RC1

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66815

Thanks!