monome + mannequins friendship

GmbH · Post by **GmbH** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:30 am

monome tweeted they would be bringing something new yesterday at Machines in Music (NYC), and Mr Whimsical Raps (aka Mannequins) already put a placeholder on the website.

Can anyone comment?

Dogma · Post by **Dogma** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:46 am

Possble CV strip ala make noise? id buy that in a heartbeat

GmbH · Post by **GmbH** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:50 am

who knows?

at the moment, the only hope is to hit refresh here the next days
http://www.whimsicalraps.com/pages/just-friends

enj_music · Post by **enj_music** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 10:34 am

The just friends is a hex-function generator, with all functions having interesting timing relations, with seemingly loads of self-patching fun to be had. Around 14hp if I remember correctly - might have been 16.

The bus is a 120hp utility bus called "isms", containing control inputs for external usb control, a 2 channel attenumixer, a passive mult bus, 3 vca/lpg/lpfs, a couple attenuators, an LFO with noise, an audio input with trigger and envelope outputs, and a spring reverb interface, topped off with a 3-channel stereo output mixer. As I gathered, it'll be sold in a monome/mannequins case with a mix of their modules.

Shitty panorama image of the handout from MiM:

Leverkusen · Post by **Leverkusen** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:18 pm

Th ism looks very interesting I just wonder why they don't do a triple USB switch as the monomes build a trilogy.
I understand that the switch module is primarily for switching between laptop and modules because repatching the USB cable between the modules is easier than from the rack to the computer but having a switch for all three modules would just be so versatile.
Anyway, I am looking forward to their case.

search64 · Post by **search64** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:33 pm

120 hp isn't going to fit the majority of racks.

enj_music · Post by **enj_music** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 1:57 pm

search64 wrote:120 hp isn't going to fit the majority of racks.

I don't think it's supposed to. It seems mainly designed for the case Monome and Mannequins are going to release together, as the outs and spring jacks are part of the case

chapelier fou · Post by **chapelier fou** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 4:42 pm

Glad i've seen that before making plans for my new case !

Leverkusen · Post by **Leverkusen** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 4:46 pm

enj_music wrote:
search64 wrote:120 hp isn't going to fit the majority of racks.
I don't think it's supposed to. It seems mainly designed for the case Monome and Mannequins are going to release together, as the outs and spring jacks are part of the case

Yes, you can see the USB connecting to the long side of the case which is not a bad idea combined with the switch.

L.C.O. · Post by **L.C.O.** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 4:53 pm

enj_music wrote:
search64 wrote:120 hp isn't going to fit the majority of racks.
I don't think it's supposed to. It seems mainly designed for the case Monome and Mannequins are going to release together, as the outs and spring jacks are part of the case

am not sure how i feel about this...
feels somewhat counter-modular?

i wonder what the rationale is for having it just slightly outside of the common width standards. (unless 120 hp is becoming a new standard, and I am just not aware of it?) perhaps there is a bigger picture context that is not revealed yet?

skiffs are cool, but if one plans on traveling with the instrument, they become an issue. so, personally i prefer things in cases that I can move/fly with. My 104 hp case is just about exactly the carry-on size limit...

though the feature set seems super useful!

looking forward to finding out more about this and the new module!

bobbcorr · Post by **bobbcorr** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 5:12 pm

Deleted!

bobbcorr · Post by **bobbcorr** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 10:36 am

A comment on the Monome forum points to an announcement coming tomorrow, Tuesday October 20 on the "isms" 120HP utility row.

Also worth mentioning is a passing comment on the same thread that the utility strip is actually "slightly bigger than 1U". Looks like a proprietary Monome thing that is unique to that 120HP case. We will have to wait and see.

GoneCaving · Post by **GoneCaving** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 2:16 pm

Details have been posted.

isms is a eurorack modular synth case with an integrated top row of fundamental circuits. we've packed a ton of functions into the case itself so you can focus available space on control and synthesis modules. rear-mount jacks are integrated into the case, providing the feel of a beautifully contained standalone instrument.

functions → output mixer (3 input) with integrated rear jacks — headphone driver (independent level control) — spring reverb send/receive with mix level — external signal input with gain, envelope follower, and gate — 3 gates (vca/lpg/lpd modes, vactrol based) — 2 attenuverters (also serve as voltage source) — noise (pink and white) — LFO (tri and square) with voltage controllable rate — active mixer with attenuverters and offsetting — 3 bus points with LED indication — USB switch

Pre order for December delivery, $1100 pre-order price.

Looks really neat.

Kummer · Post by **Kummer** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 2:24 pm

GoneCaving wrote:Details have been posted.

isms is a eurorack modular synth case with an integrated top row of fundamental circuits. we've packed a ton of functions into the case itself so you can focus available space on control and synthesis modules. rear-mount jacks are integrated into the case, providing the feel of a beautifully contained standalone instrument.

functions → output mixer (3 input) with integrated rear jacks — headphone driver (independent level control) — spring reverb send/receive with mix level — external signal input with gain, envelope follower, and gate — 3 gates (vca/lpg/lpd modes, vactrol based) — 2 attenuverters (also serve as voltage source) — noise (pink and white) — LFO (tri and square) with voltage controllable rate — active mixer with attenuverters and offsetting — 3 bus points with LED indication — USB switch
Pre order for December delivery, $1100 pre-order price.

Looks really neat.

Wow, that's pretty nice actually.

GmbH · Post by **GmbH** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:08 pm

Again, monome made something which is not for everyone.
I applaud their boldness

search64 · Post by **search64** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:08 am

So... Am I the only one who thinks that's superexpensive for a small case with some basic modules included?

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:41 pm

search64 wrote:So... Am I the only one who thinks that's superexpensive for a small case with some basic modules included?

Well, it's not cheap, but you might be underestimating the value of the included modules. Do a cost comparison against modules with the same functionality (external input amp, USB switch, LFO+noise, 3 low pass gates, etc), it might be hard to match for under $500. So then, what's the average price for a 3U/120HP skiff with pretty good power specs? $500?

Personally, the case seems a bit stingy on depth (less than 2") but heavy (6 lbs. of steel!).

jwm · Post by **jwm** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 2:19 pm

looks like pre-orders are up

here

DonaldCrunk · Post by **DonaldCrunk** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 3:36 pm

yay a new proprietary format

tehn · Post by **tehn** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 4:11 pm

DonaldCrunk wrote:yay a new proprietary format

it's a case with some functionality built-in, not a format. 120hp of eurorack. the value-proposition of the top row represents much more hp.

the top row is not modular. it's fixed. connected to the case. it *is* the case.

david_rothbaum · Post by **david_rothbaum** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 4:35 pm

Beautiful design.

metaBit · Post by **metaBit** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 4:49 pm

search64 wrote:120 hp isn't going to fit the majority of racks.

This is a 120hp case, not something to put in another case.

vaxoid · Post by **vaxoid** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 5:01 pm

$1100

it's monome style. one row of tile modules + simple case for $1100? really?

MATSmile · Post by **MATSmile** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 5:14 pm

vaxoid wrote:$1100
it's monome style. one row of tile modules + simple case for $1100? really?

Haha

. Indeed, it's a monome style. You can buy 4 row flight case for this money. It's not even that good looking. I don't get it

DonaldCrunk · Post by **DonaldCrunk** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 5:26 pm

tehn wrote:
DonaldCrunk wrote:yay a new proprietary format
it's a case with some functionality built-in, not a format. 120hp of eurorack. the value-proposition of the top row represents much more hp.

the top row is not modular. it's fixed. connected to the case. it *is* the case.

Thanks, I understand now. May I ask why you made the decision to keep the utility bank fixed? i can see the utility (har har) in consciously trying to limit module-swapping and the typical rampant consumerism of Eurorack in your case, and if the utility row is fixed for _that_ reason then it makes some sense - but at the same time, there's quite a lot of irony in an $1100 anti-consumerism solution.

i'm really just trying to suss out 'where you're coming from' with this product.

i hope that you're not married to the case depth, you seem to be open to some input on that in your forum - I appreciate the form factor but that case will only service something like 60 - 65% of the modules out there right now at its current depth. 'legacy' modules can be useful too!

MUFF WIGGLER

MUFF WIGGLER

monome + mannequins friendship

monome + mannequins friendship