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Discuss John Bowen Synths - Solaris
Ski
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Post by Ski »

Hey John, great to see that you're still pushing forward. And a new HARDWARE Solaris synth! Looks awesome, and I can't wait to give one a test drive.

Take care.
Ski
www.ex5tech.com
faxinadu
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Post by faxinadu »

hi to all :D

excited for john and sonic core, and hope my broke ass can buy this beast :D
in 1861
we licked the yankees at bull run
www.faxinadu.net
midiwhale
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Post by midiwhale »

IMHO the Solaris hardware is probably THE most significant music technology release in the past decade.

I say that based simply on the sound of the Creamware Solaris plug-in - it's versatility, it's cleanness and its ability to merge well in a mix and not over power. As you can also use sample oscillators, it's also fairly limitless.

I also predict sales of Scope boards and the plug-in will increase too ;-)

A hardware version would be so cool, because the Scope version is pretty hungry - 3~4 notes on a 6 dsp board, on my system. I'm not complaining, it contains a ridiculous amount of features (i.e. oscillator/filter types), I just have to "track" a lot.

My only concern about the hardware is the price.
Any $2000+ keyboard is in the "dream list" category of most purchasers.

I appreciate it's an incredibly difficult balance between units and price, and maybe you only need modest sales to meet your target.

My dream is it would be sub $3000 (not Euros), so in the UK at the moment that would be £1500, which would be a steal AFAIC.
Making it £1700 or above, just puts it past psychological barriers IMHO.

I appreciate it might need to be this way to cover RND and tooling and market conditions, but alternatively if you could release a modular expandable version cheaper, or a rack unit, to achieve this price point, that would be my professional advice.

Another thought is to offer the dealers a reduced margin. They will discount within 12 months anyway, but this thing should sell steadily, so maybe they can help from the outset...

I appreciate it is a connoisseurs keyboard and they can (and will) probably afford it.
Just selfishly, I can't ;-) So if it was possible to do a units to price recalculation, I would be a happy bunny ;-)

JMTW.
Peter.
Proud owner of Scope Solaris, Orion and RD Drums.
Analog Kid
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Post by Analog Kid »

The Solaris hardware synth looks more exciting than anything else on the radar right now, including the new Waldorf, Arturia, Clavia and Access synths. Hopefully the market will appreciate just what they have here, but we all know how hard it is to get the masses to understand a synthesizer.
I'd love to see the Scope algorithms in there.
rsmus7
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Post by rsmus7 »

hi all there

I just joined,
and I'm happy to be here at the heart of the developement of the new solaris hardware.

I was very impressed at the Musikmesse from the little demonstration John made
with the prototype of Solaris. Tho it was nowhere near a final stage,
I can imagine what it will be.
And I had a nice chat with Antti too.

ATB to you John and the new creation of solaris.
let it sound
synthetic
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Post by synthetic »

I believe he mentioned that they're projecting to be "less than the Waldorf Stromberg" which is supposed to sell for $3500. Things change, especially during development, but I took that to mean he was hoping for $2999 MSRP.
John Bowen
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Post by John Bowen »

synthetic wrote:I believe he mentioned that they're projecting to be "less than the Waldorf Stromberg" which is supposed to sell for $3500. Things change, especially during development, but I took that to mean he was hoping for $2999 MSRP.
Hi,
Yes, this is still the target range of pricing for the Solaris - between $3000-$3500. I will know more exactly around September.

Still hoping for a late November release date....

-john b.
synthetic
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Post by synthetic »

John Bowen wrote:Still hoping for a late November release date....
Hmmm, my birthday is in November. :)

Do you know who is distributing it in the US? Any dealers signed on yet?
B787
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Post by B787 »

Solaris - Got one ? :wink:
John Bowen
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Post by John Bowen »

synthetic wrote:Do you know who is distributing it in the US? Any dealers signed on yet?
The first batch will not be sold through dealers, but directly from this Web site. Although I've had many inquiries from dealers and distributors, I probably won't decide on such until the January NAMM show.

-john b.
reptor
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Post by reptor »

John Bowen wrote: The first batch will not be sold through dealers, but directly from this Web site.

-john b.
Does that mean that purchasers in Europe will have to import from the US?
John Bowen
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Post by John Bowen »

reptor wrote:Does that mean that purchasers in Europe will have to import from the US?
No, actually the other way around, as I'm having it built there in Germany. But initially, I will process all sales here.

-john b.
reptor
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Post by reptor »

OK, thanks, its good to know.
B787
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January ? ?? ?

Post by B787 »

A Jan release seems more likely, I kinda figured you'll want to get it right from the get-go (unlike our friends @ Alesis). Anyhow, John are they any plans (not sure i read it) for analog filters on the output (VCF's) ? or a sturatiom type modelling to heat up the outputs ?, I know it maybe a strectch. Also i was wondering since you oscillators will be digital/software will there be beat-clock sync os the OCS's ?. I'm only really getting into synthesis per se. Continue to push on with the Solaris. [/b][/u]
John Bowen
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Post by John Bowen »

B787,

No plans to have real Analog filters on the outputs (I assume you are thinking like the new Waldorf Stromberg?). That really adds to the cost. Certainly there will be some saturation type modeling in there, though.

When you say beat-clock sync for the oscillators....the oscs and LFOs can be sync'ed to internal or external MIDI clock, which I think is the same thing as you are asking. Check the screenshot close-up (the first one as you scroll down) for the MIDI Clock button in both Osc and LFO sections. Maybe the question is, how will the time values be displayed?

http://www.johnbowen.com/closeups.html

cheers,
John B.
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