Dave Smith's Mopho keyboard prototype wows analog fanboys at NAMM (video)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted January 21st 2010 12:01PM
posted January 21st 2010 12:01PM
Dave Smith's name is as revered in the synth business as those of Tom Oberheim and "Handsome Ron" Casio. Having had his hands in everything from the Prophet 5 synth to developing the MIDI specification to his own company (Dave Smith Instruments), the man has given electronic musicians plenty to be thankful for. The boutique's latest, the Mopho Keyboard (seen here in prototype form at NAMM 2010) takes the existing Mopho synth module -- a pretty sweet deal with its sub-octave generators, audio input (you know, for modulating stuff), and feedback options -- and adds a thirty-two key keyboard and a whole mess of controls. Like original, this new Mopho has a 100 percent analog signal path, ships with a sound bank editor for both Windows and Mac, and it sounds pretty, pretty bad ass. Look for it in the near future for around $800. Video after the break.
DO WANT
@doug parks WHAT FOR?
Oh, ANOTHER monophonic keyboard, and if we're good little soldiers we might get a 5 voice later.
Whoopy-doo.
@Threlly you kids and your plugins are spoiled. it's an analog synth. it will sound better than any plugin out there, and for that you must make sacrifices. if you want 32 voice polyphony with 2 oscillators on each voice, that would require 64 individual analog oscillators. that would translate to a gigantic keyboard that weighs 100 pounds. just look at the alesis andromeda.
if you don't want to spend the money on nice gear to get a better sound then don't. be happy with your flat boring sounds that any 15 year old with bittorrent could make!
That was probably the most useless video I have ever watched.
Yo man, why wuch I want dis mof'o ?
Sometimes these music articles are great, sometimes they're just a reminder that Engadget cares about music.
@glibglop
Sadly, My Access Virus can make noises that thing can only DREAM of, and if I ask it to, monophonically also.
I know it isn't a real analogue synth, but if I put you in a blindfold and played a whole host of keyboards at you, I'll bet you couldn't tell the difference between the DSP and the resistor types, not only that, between the genuine mono's and Poly's playing only one note.
You see.
It's all SUBJECTIVE.
In this day and Century there is no reason to make an analogue mono synth, the only people who want them are the same people who pay $1500 for TR-808's.
Idiots.
@Threlly
STOP talking about me
@Threlly
Dammit. You had to bring up the Access Virus. OK, so there are a handful of DSP-based synths that sound pretty damn good. I will concede with that example. Other digital synths actually worth purchasing would be the elektron machinedrum and monomachine, or nord modulars. Most other digital synths are pretty stale sounding, and they all sound alike. Take that new teenage engineering OP-1 synth for example, which has a bunch of hype surrounding it. it sounds like shite! at least the demo video did not sound good.
Please though, don't be so naive. None of those actually sound like analog synths, or even come close (the virus probably comes the closest, compared to everything else). Your virus can make things an analog synth can't do BECAUSE it is digital, like the built in granular processor or the other gillion effects. it's all based on code, running on a motorola 56k chip. i know this because i have taken one apart just to see what is under the hood, so please, spare me the insult that i could not tell the difference between an analog synth and a digital synth in a blind test. i could absolutely school you in my synthesis knowledge. (did you really call analog synths "resistor types" ??? is that what you think an analog synth is made of? a bunch of resistors? do you know anything about analog circuitry??) and what the fuck does the polyphony of a synth have to do with its signal path? you proved your idiocy in your second paragraph.
But boutique analog gear still has a certain sound that dsp has not been able to accurately emulate just yet (notice I did not say "never" - one thing technology has taught us is never say never). Sure DSP algorithms are sounding better every day, but anyone who has actually used an analog modular synth can attest that they are able to produce sounds that the DSP engineers at Access and Elektron can only dream of producing.
If you can't hear the difference does not mean the difference is not there. That just means you need better ears....
The most idiotic thing you can do as a musician is blow off a particular kind of gear because it's analog or digital. You would be a moron to think that you couldn't get some good use out of something like the DSI Mopho or Tetra - just like I would be a moron to think I don't want an access virus TI snow (ohh how i do want - i do).
if you don't get it, then you just don't get it. but don't call people who buy TR-808s idiots (no I don't own one). they can just appreciate the fine things in life. do you think hans zimmer is an idiot for owning an entire wall of analog gear? i'm sure he would have something to say about this as well.
you my friend, are the idiot.
@Threlly
On the flipside, my computer with a $300 copy of massive can make sounds your $3000 access virus can only dream of. And when I need sounds they can't cover, I have a DSI mopho for that.
Likewise, there are sounds a $4500 pacarana can make that you couldn't hope to come close with an access virus, or a mopho, or any other analogue, digital or computer assisted synthesizer.
That all said, I have been able to make sounds with my $75 copy of CDP that could rival all those other pieces of equipment.
Like you said, its all subjective. It doesn't matter what the processor, chips or bunches of resistors can do. If the person using them isn't creative or talented, then its all going to suck anyway.
@glibglop
Before insulting others with your supposed "expertise", please pass a blind test comparing a virtual analog (say, Minimonsta) with a real analog synth. Even better, have a double-blind standardized test in a controlled environment proving with statistically significance that any difference can be perceived and *then* start acting like the king of synthesizers. Jeez.
@Radiophobic
i'm tempted to vote you down because you mentioned CDP.. shhhhh people aren't supposed to know about that secret weapon! but alas i voted you up for both a kyma and cdp reference on engadget.
@glibglop WTF is CDP?
Its the restrictions of analog that give it its character. Its about being closer to the source, the manipulation of a pure electrical signal.
The analog vs. digital debate is completely worthless. This is an instrument built by a master builder. The passion, history, and love that went in to creating it is something that will translate into the music of the person playing it. The sound of a trumpet could be perfectly repilicated on a good synth, but the acoustic instrument has not lost its charm. Its not just about the sound it makes, its about the instruments ability to allow the musician to express himself. And for me, nothing is more inspiring than a good analog synth.