Oh me oh my, how have I been unaware of the Gakken until now? It looks like a cross between the stylophone and a tannerin - is it anywhere near that good?
― emil.y, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 10:18 (fourteen years ago) link
It's better in a sense, because it has proper LFO (instead of the Stylophone's "Vibrato") and also an envelope generator and LP filter. On the other hand the pitch ribbon looks more difficult to play.
― snoball, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 11:58 (fourteen years ago) link
Gakken = $30 in Japan, $120 posted.
― ambience chaser (S-), Tuesday, 30 June 2009 12:28 (fourteen years ago) link
is the attack-decay applied when you slide along the pitch ribbon in any way or only when you remove the stylus?
also a quick look on ebay will find you gakken kits for like $60 inc. shipping.
― thomp, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 13:19 (fourteen years ago) link
should point out your 60 = my 80.12. Add $42 shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/REAL-ANALOG-SYNTH-SYNTHETIZER-w-EXPRESS-INSURED-packet_W0QQitemZ250452675806QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Musical_Instruments_Instruments?hash=item3a50248cde&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50
― ambience chaser (S-), Tuesday, 30 June 2009 13:44 (fourteen years ago) link
oh, those dollars
they're £35 posted in the uk. we win, for once
― thomp, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 13:49 (fourteen years ago) link
I think I'm going to try one out - have been lusting after new synths but loath to pay their ridiculous prices, so splashing out £35 on a cool little bleeps kit seems to be a good compromise. Also, I was having a discussion about the possibility of an unridged stylophone playing surface recently, so my interest is definitely piqued by this. I only hope the stylus wire doesn't cock up as easily as stylophone ones do.
― emil.y, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 13:56 (fourteen years ago) link
Make sure you pay your VAT on that.
― ambience chaser (S-), Tuesday, 30 June 2009 14:00 (fourteen years ago) link
daer americans: http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKGK8
― MC 900 FT CONSTRUCTION LABORER (jjjusten), Tuesday, 30 June 2009 14:36 (fourteen years ago) link
Emily, i was talking to alec earlier and he's apparently got this kit, with the theremin, but he says it's not very good. Then he says he hasn't built the synth yet. So, i think i'll buy one. i've broken 2 stylophones and i'm bored of them.
― j.o.n.a, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 21:32 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, I'm not sure about the theremin - the little ones are often crappy. And I think it's only a fiver more to buy them separately, so I reckon I'll go for the SX-150 on its own. We should totally start a Gakken band.
― emil.y, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 21:53 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Friday, 3 July 2009 23:01 (fourteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Saturday, 4 July 2009 23:01 (fourteen years ago) link
EMPHATIC
― still lolling, 'still lolling theme' (haitch), Sunday, 5 July 2009 09:40 (fourteen years ago) link
I didn't vote because I've never tried either one.
― naus, Sunday, 5 July 2009 10:19 (fourteen years ago) link
package has just arrived. guess i know what i'll be putting together over lunch!
― old chisel (haitch), Tuesday, 7 July 2009 01:20 (fourteen years ago) link
H where did you buy from?
― ambience chaser (S-), Tuesday, 7 July 2009 03:09 (fourteen years ago) link
juno, so it was kinda exxy. i shoulda looked at amazon japan, they're like $45! (no idea bout shipping tho)
― old chisel (haitch), Tuesday, 7 July 2009 03:22 (fourteen years ago) link
for anyone put off by the idea of the instructions being in japanese, they appear to have translated them and inserted them in as some A4 pages. shame the rest of the magazine isn't translated too because it is amazing synth porn.
small screws are a touch fiddly but i got mine up and running in under an hour. it's pretty good!
― old chisel (haitch), Tuesday, 7 July 2009 13:45 (fourteen years ago) link
Anybody got one of these?
http://www.ugsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/500x_Stylophone1-310x250.jpg
What's it like?
― Mark G, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 13:43 (fourteen years ago) link
got given one at christmas. p useless imo
― thomp, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 14:01 (fourteen years ago) link
ta.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 14:02 (fourteen years ago) link
the drum samples are pretty unpleasant and so much louder than the 'bass' as to be headache-inducing; the looping feels counter-intuitive; the 'beatboxing' samples are obnoxious and pointless
(xpost)
― thomp, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 14:03 (fourteen years ago) link
wikki-chikki-wikki-wa-ah-uh-STYLOPHONE, one of them goes
kidding!
OK, will save my £20.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 14:35 (fourteen years ago) link
wikki-chikki-wikki-wa-ah-uh-STYLOPHONE
sounds fantastic, this one's going on the list
― *makeitplop* (haitch), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 07:23 (fourteen years ago) link
Haven't played with my Stylophone beatbox since 4 days after I got it, the sounds are pretty bad and the looping is diabolical.
Korg enters the pocket-synth market: http://www.korg.com/monotron
― useless chamber, Wednesday, 24 March 2010 10:58 (fourteen years ago) link
There are a couple of short YouTube demos up. The ribbon controller puts it in the same Tannerin-ish bracket as the Gakken, only without that awkward stylus. The Korg has got an external audio input socket, so it could be useful straight out of the box, although I'll believe this "MS-20 filter!" claim when I see it.
― black jeans stained by (snoball), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 11:42 (fourteen years ago) link
I like the look of the Monotron, and definitely less to worry about without the stylus (though for those of the slightly stubby-fingered persuasion it may not be so great). It's not actually for sale, yet, right? I'm interested to know how much it'll cost.
By the way, does anyone know what leads are usable with the Gakken? The output thingies are too small for standard jacks, too big for standard headphones. I don't have any baby leads to try but I think they're the same size as headphones, right?
― emil.y, Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:31 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.korg.com/uploads/Images/monotoron_TOP_MAIN_634049404600190000.png
― thomp, Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:43 (fourteen years ago) link
... want
― thomp, Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:44 (fourteen years ago) link
I was going to say that it looks a bit like a shrunken Electro Harmonix Minisynth, and while GISing for pics of said EHX gear...http://kronemyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/electroharmonix.jpg
― black jeans stained by (snoball), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 13:16 (fourteen years ago) link
Also while we're on a stupidly insane Gakken tip - this is another one of their kits, about the size of a ukelelehttp://www.verycoolthings.com/vct/images/405605732X.jpg
― black jeans stained by (snoball), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 13:35 (fourteen years ago) link
does anyone know what leads are usable with the Gakken?
No idea, but the sockets look as though they are 3.5mm - whether they're mono or stereo I can't tell.
― black jeans stained by (snoball), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 13:38 (fourteen years ago) link
just came here to post about the korg monotron... ms-20 vcf and external audio input (minijack tho unfortunately) has got me pretty excited
― teresa banks (r1o natsume), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 22:38 (fourteen years ago) link
can't imagine wanting to use it as a tone generator though
Another demo herehttp://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/musikmesse-2010-korg-monotron-video-demo-241346...the Korg demonstrator lets rip a bit more this time.Various blogs are saying May and 50 euros but nothing offical yet.
― black jeans stained by (snoball), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 22:40 (fourteen years ago) link
sounds pretty good
― teresa banks (r1o natsume), Wednesday, 24 March 2010 22:59 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2010/03/24/messe10-palm-sized-analog-synth/
The Korg monotron will be available August 2010 with an MSRP of $85.00
― black jeans stained by (snoball), Thursday, 25 March 2010 09:48 (fourteen years ago) link
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/117/l_844547c563154c60956b6fe5326118fe.jpg
― the fantastic flaw (S-), Sunday, 28 March 2010 12:38 (fourteen years ago) link
^^^ would buy but I'm waiting for the Bahn Sage to come out...
― black jeans stained by (snoball), Sunday, 28 March 2010 12:59 (fourteen years ago) link
monotron: flawless victory
― green chunder (w/ sax) (haitch), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 04:22 (thirteen years ago) link
i impulse bought a monotron online last night, couldn't believe it was so cheap. looks like the best toy ever.
― emotional radiohead whatever (Jordan), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 15:43 (thirteen years ago) link
had a play with haitch's monotron, seems p cool
― the mandelbrot cassette (electricsound), Wednesday, 1 September 2010 01:10 (thirteen years ago) link
Called around yesterday after seeing this thread, spoke to a guy at the Guitar Center on 14th Street named Brick who had one in stock so I picked it up on the way home to play with on the subway. Lots of fun.
― Poldark City (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 1 September 2010 13:54 (thirteen years ago) link
Still pretty happy with the Monotron.
― glengarry glenn ross campbell (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 14 September 2010 01:19 (thirteen years ago) link
online monotron
http://www.synthgear.com/2010/software/online-korg-monotron/
― deep-fried cigarette (electricsound), Tuesday, 28 September 2010 06:58 (thirteen years ago) link
http://korgc383.tempdomainname.com/Product/Dance/monotron/welove/images/p2.jpg
http://korgc383.tempdomainname.com/Product/Dance/monotron/welove/#a2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF8skIOXp24
― 15-60-77 (S-), Tuesday, 28 September 2010 07:14 (thirteen years ago) link
working at korg must be awesome
― deep-fried cigarette (electricsound), Tuesday, 28 September 2010 09:18 (thirteen years ago) link
living in the bay area = increasing probability of encountering monotron flash mobs
― Milton Parker, Wednesday, 5 January 2011 17:55 (thirteen years ago) link
haitch, myself and s- all have one, but three people isn't exactly a flash mob
― poppagemoose (electricsound), Wednesday, 5 January 2011 22:14 (thirteen years ago) link
could be defined as one depending on the amount of penis exposure, i guess
― internet hardmanning clark (haitch), Wednesday, 5 January 2011 22:32 (thirteen years ago) link
oh hai can i has expanded monotronz
http://korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=601
― sailor moon frye (electricsound), Monday, 4 April 2011 22:55 (thirteen years ago) link
bastards took the page down. it was the 'korg monotribe' which is a monotron plus a shitload of other functions. must have been 'leaked' before time
― sailor moon frye (electricsound), Monday, 4 April 2011 23:49 (thirteen years ago) link
http://korg.com/uploads/Images/monotribe_MAIN_634375269280760000.png
:O
― Father Drongo (haitch), Tuesday, 5 April 2011 00:26 (thirteen years ago) link
i will take six, pls
― Father Drongo (haitch), Tuesday, 5 April 2011 00:27 (thirteen years ago) link
I thought this was Korg playing an April Fool's Day joke, but these pages have appeared:
description http://www.korg.co.uk/products/dance_dj/monotribe/dj_monotribe.phpspecs http://www.korg.co.uk/products/dance_dj/monotribe/dj_monotribe_specification.php
― did you notice "you spin me round" was playing in the background? (snoball), Wednesday, 6 April 2011 09:17 (thirteen years ago) link
...and there's a couple of videos on this Korg 'tube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/KORGINC#g/u
― did you notice "you spin me round" was playing in the background? (snoball), Wednesday, 6 April 2011 09:18 (thirteen years ago) link
Online Java version by the same guy that did the Webotronhttp://www.angryoctopus.co.nz/?p=53
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Monday, 18 April 2011 10:32 (thirteen years ago) link
could get a monotribe from jpn for less than A$350 shipped, feeling a little lusty..
― private parts & labia (electricsound), Thursday, 2 June 2011 03:43 (twelve years ago) link
cor
― hilarious meme-related pun (haitch), Thursday, 2 June 2011 05:10 (twelve years ago) link
since i have now discovered i have wasted $500 on something i have no use for today i think i might have to wait ;_;
― private parts & labia (electricsound), Thursday, 2 June 2011 05:23 (twelve years ago) link
boooooo
― hilarious meme-related pun (haitch), Thursday, 2 June 2011 05:34 (twelve years ago) link
$279 from store dj in richmond, when they arrive!
― hilarious meme-related pun (haitch), Thursday, 2 June 2011 05:36 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.storedj.com.au/products/KOR-MONOTRIBE
or, 'best price when it arrives'
― hilarious meme-related pun (haitch), Thursday, 2 June 2011 05:37 (twelve years ago) link
awes. will wait.
― private parts & labia (electricsound), Thursday, 2 June 2011 05:38 (twelve years ago) link
this thing's out, apaz. anyone got one?
― root 86 tram (haitch), Monday, 11 July 2011 01:52 (twelve years ago) link
not yet! decided to save my pennies and get an x0x first
― white light/white btw (electricsound), Monday, 11 July 2011 01:55 (twelve years ago) link
they should make a 909 replica imo
― root 86 tram (haitch), Monday, 11 July 2011 03:35 (twelve years ago) link
jomox made one but it is not that much more to get an orig
― white light/white btw (electricsound), Monday, 11 July 2011 03:39 (twelve years ago) link
ridic
― root 86 tram (haitch), Monday, 11 July 2011 04:44 (twelve years ago) link
just got one of thesehttp://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/akai-professional-synthstation25-piano-keyboard-for-iphone-and-itouch/485429000000000?src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0&gclid=CKestO_X-akCFUvCKgodPGaUYw
― coffeetripperspillerslyricmakeruppers (Latham Green), Monday, 11 July 2011 16:15 (twelve years ago) link
made with the monotron
http://www.factmag.com/2011/08/08/touch-7-series-returns-with-wires-bruce-gilbert/
― socktake (electricsound), Tuesday, 16 August 2011 03:54 (twelve years ago) link
holy shitballs there's a bunch of the fuckers now
http://korg.com/monotrons
― love of gorillagrams (electricsound), Thursday, 3 November 2011 22:29 (twelve years ago) link
the more the merrier imo
― Hardy Rock Anthem (crüt), Thursday, 3 November 2011 22:39 (twelve years ago) link
omg could you run external sounds through the delay bit of that 'tron?
― Franz Kappa (S-), Thursday, 3 November 2011 23:16 (twelve years ago) link
Looks like you canhttp://www.synthtopia.com/content/2011/11/03/korg-intros-fun-sized-monotron-duo-synthesizer-monotron-delay/Monotron DELAY Features:
Space Delay with Rate and Intensity controls offers analog-style echoesNew Pitch LFO with selectable Waveshape and Intensity and shape controlsVCF with Cutoff ControlWide-range ribbon controller keyboardOriginal Analog (VCF) Filter taken from the MS-10 & MS-20Aux input jack lets you apply filter and delay to any audio sourceBuilt-in speaker and battery powerHeadphone jack for private use
― asked Dermot O'Leary, but he couldn't help me either. They call me the (snoball), Thursday, 3 November 2011 23:21 (twelve years ago) link
There's a Mk 2 version of the Gakken SX-150 out as wellhttp://m.matrixsynth.com/2011/10/gakken-sx-150-mark-ii.html(replaces the Res switch with a pot, adds an LFO depth control)
― asked Dermot O'Leary, but he couldn't help me either. They call me the (snoball), Thursday, 3 November 2011 23:24 (twelve years ago) link
Love my Monotron Mk1. May add the DeLay to the arsenal.
― Lawanda Pageboy (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 4 November 2011 00:08 (twelve years ago) link
anyone tried out the new monotribe firmware? or the new trons?
― woollen shits (electricsound), Wednesday, 4 January 2012 00:18 (twelve years ago) link
I'm currently fighting a bad case of GAS with these. Not helped by videos like this...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYA_2koNLNs
― insert 2012 appropriate display name here (snoball), Wednesday, 4 January 2012 00:29 (twelve years ago) link
i want all of the monotrons. do any of them have an infinite sustain setting where you could just set a chord and have it play on until you stop it?
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 16:42 (twelve years ago) link
can you play chords on any of the monotrons?
― 40oz of tears (Jordan), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 16:48 (twelve years ago) link
oh duh. i guess i could run it through a looper and build chords that way.
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
i have an o.g. monotron, i think it'll play for as long as you're touching the ribbon, but there's not a sustain setting (on that one at least).
― 40oz of tears (Jordan), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 16:56 (twelve years ago) link
oh cool, it looks like you can set the newer ones to lock to pitches (chromatic/major/minor) rather than having to get the intonation just right on the ribbon.
― 40oz of tears (Jordan), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 16:58 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JicPeSVO8Io
― 2017, how bad could it be? (snoball), Monday, 9 January 2017 19:22 (seven years ago) link
must say despite owning much more gear now that i still enjoy running a finger over the monotrons now and then. the dual-osc one into the delay one, or a Buddha machine into the delay one were particularly sweet.
― Executive Ball Clicker (euphemism) (haitch), Tuesday, 10 January 2017 07:19 (seven years ago) link
haven't touched the gakken in a while though!
― Executive Ball Clicker (euphemism) (haitch), Tuesday, 10 January 2017 07:21 (seven years ago) link
Seems like the Korg NTS-1 fits in this thread:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61PjqJ8cRecThere's a DIY element like the Gakken, in that you have to assemble it yourself. It's got a ribbon controller like the Monotrons. Also it's small (although it's powered over USB not batteries but you could use an external USB battery pack).
― just another country (snoball), Saturday, 18 May 2019 09:51 (four years ago) link
The big difference is that it has something like the digital oscillator engine from the Korg Prologue and Minilogue XD.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOJDTbJv9uM
― just another country (snoball), Saturday, 18 May 2019 10:14 (four years ago) link