Superbooth 2024 roundup part 1: the best new synths
The 2024 edition of Superbooth was one of the busiest in recent memory for new product launches. The three-day extravaganza was packed with exhibitors showing off everything from Eurorack utilities to flagship polysynths under the (mostly) blue Berlin skies.
Now that the dust has settled, we’re taking a look at some of the most exciting releases - and because there was so much going on, we’re going to spread it across two blog posts. This first part focuses on standalone keyboard synths and desktop instruments, while part two will look at Eurorack.
Polysynths
It was a good year for ‘traditional’ keyboard synths, with four notable releases. First up, Oberheim were showing off the small but mighty TEO-5, which brings the classic Oberheim sound to a previously unheard-of price point. Five voices, the legendary SEM filter and through-zero FM make this a real sonic powerhouse, as you can hear in this demo we got at the show…
Elsewhere, UDO Audio unveiled the Super 8, which bridges the gap between their hit Super 6 and ultra-premium Super Gemini. Arturia made quite a splash with the stunning PolyBrute 12, which evolves their flagship PolyBrute with more voices and an incredibly expressive new ‘Full Touch’ keyboard design. And new kids on the block Melbourne Instruments turned a lot of heads with the Delia. These four are all available for pre-order now and will start shipping over the summer.
Desktop instruments
One of the most eye-catching devices at a show full of eye-catching devices was the Analog Sweden Crum2 - a ‘generative percussive harmonic voice’ with a stunning retrofuturist design from Love Hulten. We can’t wait to get our hands on this one!
There was a good bit of buzz about the Timeless Garden Horizon - a collaboration between Trent from Whimsical Raps and Meng Qi, two of the most idiosyncratic designers around. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to Totoro and described as an ‘analog ecosystem for sound and gesture’, it’s a real experimental playground.
The Body Synths Metal Fetishist was another Superbooth standout - we’ll be getting some of this amazing-sounding percussion synth in next month and you can pre-order it now. It features a loopable randomness sequencer and a CV interface.
Other stuff that caught our attention included the Synthux Touch 2 - an expandable synth with swappable faceplates; Love Synthesizers’ super-cute touchscreen-based First Love Synthesizer; Cyma Forma’s slider-tastic and much-hyped Alt; the Jolin Avalith, a drone synth with 100 (yes, 100!) oscillators; and the Sound Workshop Wiggler, a super-expressive monosynth (which Mylar Melodies is checking out in the pic below).
Effects and controllers
ALM Busy Circuits were showing off the sleek new MFX Pedal - a black stompbox version of their popular Eurorack multi-effects module that’s great for processing synths and drum machines (or guitars, obviously - not that we’d know much about them!). And talking of pedals, hipsters’ favourite Chase Bliss were showing off Onward, a kind of sampling effect that as usual, looks and sounds fantastic.
There were plenty of cool new performance interfaces dotted around Superbooth, like Intuitive instruments’ innovative hex-button touch controller Exquis; and the Landscape Ferrous, which uses a spinning magnetic disc to resonate stringed instruments.
Finally, although it’s still at the prototype stage, we have to mention Korg Berlin’s Phase8, the latest incarnation of the electroacoustic technology they presented last year. Sounding somewhere between a kalimba and a prepared piano, it uses resonators and capacitive pickups and invites hands-on play. Looking forward to this being available to buy, but we’ll probably have to wait until 2025 for that...
ALM Busy Circuits MFX Standalone Stereo Multi Effects Processor Pedal
£319.00
ALM Busy Circuits are pleased to announce the 'MFX Pedal’, a new standalone stereo multi effects processor for guitar and synths. The ‘MFX Pedal’ brings...… read more
Oberheim TEO-5 Polyphonic Analogue Synthesiser Keyboard
£1499.00
We say... Your chance to own a genuine Oberheim at a previously unheard-of price point! A brilliant compact polysynth that combines classic analogue sounds, including...… read more
UDO Audio Super 8 Hybrid Analogue Polyphonic Synthesiser - Keyboard
£3095.00
The Super 8 is a 16-voice polyphonic, bi-timbral analog-hybrid performance synthesizer. Employing superior hands-on controls, an expressive 61-note weighted keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and all...… read more
Melbourne Instruments Delia Motorised Morphing Polyphonic Synthesiser
£2295.00
We say... Arguably the coolest-looking polysynth around, the Delia boasts motorised knobs and a Kraftwerk-esque red and black colour scheme. None of that would matter,...… read more
Arturia PolyBrute 12 Polyphonic Analogue Synthesiser
£3429.00
We say... One of the most hotly anticipated synths of 2024 is finally here. This is a real monster of an instrument, building on the...… read more
Body Synths Metal Fetishist Desktop Drum Synth
£369.00
We say... Super-fun, awesome sounding desktop drum synth that can get seriously filthy. Beautiful build quality too - this is built like a tank! Manufacturer's...… read more
