John Bowen Synth Design

John Bowen wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2018 12:00 pm The Quantum looks fantastic! I had a brief go at it at NAMM, and was most impressed (also a bit jealous, as I was hoping to have some granular function and resonant filter banks in the Solaris by now!).

I dream to be able to play on the Quantum a day but since few days I play in my computer with a little granular software named Borderlands (https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~carlsonc/256a/Borderlands/) or Frontiere (http://linuxmao.org/Fronti%C3%A8res) which is a Borderlands cover but with more commands and a lot of features: amazing. I like a lot the granular experience, I do not know if it is possible, but if one day the Solaris had granular functions, it could be great.

Hi John,

I wish I came onto the forums more often, but live gets in the way. I noticed you're looking for some feedback on the Solaris expansion project. I would be interested in an internal upgrade if possible, or a 1U rack unit controlled by the Solaris Keyboard Synthesizer and as you said mixed externally to increase the polyphony.
I do wonder if an internal upgrade, either an addition, or replacement would be better since it may allow the OS to include features currently not supported by the existing ICs, or is it just pure processing power that is limiting features/polyphony at this moment?
If you need some help in design, I'll be happy to do layout for you the PCB in exchange for the product, only one unit. Let me know how many layers, speed of the devices and all the other details, and I'll design you a board your design engineer would like, all length matched to a mil. I'm doing high speed data products at 28.5 GHz so signal integrity is my life or death.
If you are already progressing with a project, I would like to participate and put a deposit. Please let me know if this still is the option, and what the product would be. Good to hear from you as always.
Best,
Christian

John Bowen wrote: ↑Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:12 am Please contact Sonic Core directly for more information on the Solaris rack: info@soniccore.com

Thx,- I´ve sent a request and hope for something insightful also for the question if we can expect some SCOPE controller device for the SCOPE platform to control the 1HU "blackbox".

I´d been not happy w/ some iPad or smartphone controller-app solution at all.



Hein

Please contact Sonic Core directly for more information on the Solaris rack: info@soniccore.com

Option #3 peaks my interest. My studio is very crowded, but a rack style expander would be nice.

For the 1U rack version, only trick I see is to get the power switch back to front.

I would see 3 main use for the 1U Rack:
- Solaris expander to get extra voices or workaround to have a kind of Multitimbral mode by stacking such units for those who have the Solaris keyboard (limited user base to the actual Solaris owner). Or to have a compact solution for Gig while leaving the keyboard in the Studio.
- Solaris preset box for the majority of people who like the sound but are maybe intimidated by the front panel (and are just using presets on their synth to make music rather than spending hours on sound design tweaks). Here you buy the Solaris sound not the fancy sound design UI.
- intermediate more affordable solution for people having no space for the keyboard version but interested in the sound but would require a solution to allow remote sound design (i.e. editor, either hardware/Solaris Kbd or software)

Adding a limited UI (beside on/off switch) on the front panel to add limited features (volume pot, small display to have the preset name, a few key to navigate inside the preset list).

John Bowen wrote: ↑Thu Mar 01, 2018 11:47 pm OK, people - those of you seriously interested in the 1u simple rack Solaris (as described as Option 2), please send a deposit of 500 Euros/$600 to sales@johnbowen.com via PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account, please contact me at info@johnbowen.com and I’ll provide a German bank account for the transfer.

This way we will be able to judge how many are definitely interested. If we don’t see at least 50 deposits, I will refund everything within 30 days.

I´ve read in the other thread S|C will manufacture and sell the unit.
That´s great !
May I ask who will do the software editor ?
And,- is there a chance we´ll see a device for the SCOPE environment as the "software editor", so we can use the unit being connected to S|C XITE via MIDI and analog/digital audio ?



Hein

I saw it - thanks, Toby!

Put in my deposit for 1U rack unit w/software editor.

John Bowen wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:43 am Yes, I know - although I'm not a big believer in the Gearslutz audience as being those who are interested in high-end instruments. I'm not familiar with Muffwiggler, so I’ll have a look there.

I did send out an email a little while ago to all of the Solaris owners I have in my database, but it’s only those who purchased directly from me. About half of the units sold were through dealers/distributors, plus any units purchased second-hand, so I need to reach out in other forums, as you say.

Facebook page might be a good place to post

Yes, I know - although I'm not a big believer in the Gearslutz audience as being those who are interested in high-end instruments. I'm not familiar with Muffwiggler, so I’ll have a look there.

I did send out an email a little while ago to all of the Solaris owners I have in my database, but it’s only those who purchased directly from me. About half of the units sold were through dealers/distributors, plus any units purchased second-hand, so I need to reach out in other forums, as you say.

John I would not assume that there are a lot of people regularly reading this forum. If you want to really gauge interest I would do a post on GS or Muffwiggler as well as sending an email out to all existing Solaris users. I am very interested in a Solaris expansion bit strained for cash right now as I pre-ordered a Quantum.

Great! Just sent you my deposit for two units. Hope this project will fly!

OK, people - those of you seriously interested in the 1u simple rack Solaris (as described as Option 2), please send a deposit of 500 Euros/$600 to sales@johnbowen.com via PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account, please contact me at info@johnbowen.com and I’ll provide a German bank account for the transfer.

This way we will be able to judge how many are definitely interested. If we don’t see at least 50 deposits, I will refund everything within 30 days.

bennethos wrote: ↑Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:30 pm ...I would appreciate a massive sounding ring-modulator !

There are 2 ring modulators in the Solaris. You have to use the AM1 or AM2 sections and select the Ring Mod algorithm.