Once again, Moogulator gets the scoop on Creamware's new Klangbox range, which are the essentially the ASB range of little hardware emulations of vintage synths (Pro 5, Arp 2600, MiniMoog, Hammond B3), in 1U boxes without any knobs. I'm not sure that doesn't completely defeat the object of these things (why not just use a VST?) but there's something imposing about those blank rack panels. Shame the typography on the front can't match up to the wonderful product name. Price should be €444.
9/19/2006
Creamware Klangbox: Old synths in 1U racks
Once again, Moogulator gets the scoop on Creamware's new Klangbox range, which are the essentially the ASB range of little hardware emulations of vintage synths (Pro 5, Arp 2600, MiniMoog, Hammond B3), in 1U boxes without any knobs. I'm not sure that doesn't completely defeat the object of these things (why not just use a VST?) but there's something imposing about those blank rack panels. Shame the typography on the front can't match up to the wonderful product name. Price should be €444.
fantastic. i love what a bad idea this is. it's like, they're all taking really crazy pills over there at Creamware.
ReplyDeleteThen again, one can never go broke underestimating the tastes of the American Public.
hardware assisted software always sounds better than current vsts. e.g kyma, uad1, ssl duende, tc boxes, etc. i have used all the items listed and they sound quite a bit better than most of the vsts in the same price range, although there really isnt anything to compare KYMA to.
ReplyDeleteYayz Kyma!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Creamware has to do with the American Public. It's a German company after all.
ReplyDeleteWhy not use a VST? Well, what if you have a sweet MIDI controller you use live but not a laptop? Ba-da-bing.
ReplyDeleteso what were you doing live with that sweet midi controller if you didn't have a laptop or anything to control in the first place? Boof.
ReplyDeleteKlangbox is a great f'ing name though...
ReplyDeleteCreamware is getting dangerously close to the level of absurd-itty that only Waldorf was ever able to reach... right before they went out of business...
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it until it's confirmed by Creamware. Seems a stupid idea. Given the pricetag of a used scope System, i don't really think there is a big market for this product. The product managment should really think it over.
ReplyDeleteWaldorfs latest idea of selling synthboards for Midicontrollers is much more clever (Waldorf Nano)and not too R&D intensive either.
But hey, maybe SLL will buy them afterwards like Soundscape and everything will turn out well ;-)
lol, gr8 comments :) Klangbox is a kewl name and it looks like a funky little unit although I probs won't buy it. I do agree with the guy who reckons that a bit of hardware thrown into the mix is beneficial. Doing everything on VST can make the whole experience kind of bland sometimes.
ReplyDelete"so what were you doing live with that sweet midi controller if you didn't have a laptop or anything to control in the first place?"
ReplyDeletePerhaps you were using it with a keyboard-less VA tone module? Like this one? Beep-ba-da-bloing!
Actually, I know nothing about Creamware and I’m imagining that this takes MIDI in. Really I just like to make funny noises. Buw-wub-wub-wub! BAM!
As a guitarist who has no idea what the knobs do anyway, I like it. Plus, rack gear is just plain cool. Now, if they couls only find a way to add some glowing tubes and perhaps even a bit of neon....
ReplyDeleteThis post brought to you by sarcasm, and the letter F.
I think the point of this is that it's significantly cheaper than the 'knobbed' version. I think there's always a market for cheap stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great idea. Obviously they think that you like to control everything via your midi keyboard, not with the laptop, which makes me a potential buyer.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea !!! Real Plug and Play and not Plug and Pray ! When the next generation of operating system and PC/Mac hardware is coming, the hardware will still work, VST´s or other special Hardware maybe won´t...
ReplyDeleteASB KLANGBOX
ReplyDeletemade in Germany
After releasing the ASB Desktop-Instruments Minimax, Pro-12, B4000 and Prodyssey CreamWare now releases these fine units as 19”-Rackmount units at unbelievable rate.
The core of every 19”-unit is the proven ASB Audio-Engine – remote controllable via MIDI- and USB – with sterophonic Ins- and Outs and effects processor for contemporary stereo effects such as Delay, Chorus and Flanger. The Editor-Software (PC and Mac) provides access to all parameters of the sound modelling and also serves as organizer tool for the 128 factory and 128 user-sounds.
All instruments of the KLANGBOX Series can immediately be played with every MIDI-Keyboard. Sound changes can be handled via the MIDI-Controllers of your keyboard, by external MIDI-controller boxes as well as with the Editor-Software. You can change existing sounds or even create your own sounds at a glimpse. Recording the MIDI-controller-data is simple with every Sequencer Software available. KLANG is the German word for a beautiful sound and that's what the KLANGBOX is all about – finest sounds for the best music.
Why to buy models of the KLANGBOX series
· most authentic modelling of the Synthesizer-Classis Minimoog, Prophet-5, Odyssey and the electro-magnetic Organ B3
· finest sound quality, high Polyphony
· exactly defined data
· no CPU-load
Where to use the KLANGBOX
· Live and in the Studio, simply play it via your MIDI-Keyboard, immediate sound control by Program-Change commands
· Spontaneous access to the KLANG via controllers of your keyboard
· Intense and creative “Sounddesign” via MIDI-Controllerboxes i.e. in Live-Situation within a Club
· Comprehensive sounddesign and sound exploitation via grafical Remote-Software Editor
· Recording in Sequencer software possible for complex sound characteristics for songs and Live-Situation
· Expansion for existing ASB-Instruments – just control the KLANGBOX via the front panel of the ASB Desktop-Unit
MINIMAX ASB KLANGBOX
Synthesizer-Legend DSP-based, 12-voices Minimoog Emulation, stereo In and Outs, MIDI in/out/thru, USB for MIDI data, contemporary Stereo effects (Delay, Chorus, Flanger), 19”-Rackmout unit, 1 RU, Editor-Software for PC and Mac
PRO-12 ASB KLANGBOX
Synthesizer-Legend DSP-based, 12-voices Prophet-5 Emulation, stereo In and Outs, MIDI in/out/thru, USB for MIDI data, contemporary Stereo effects (Delay, Chorus, Flanger), 19”-Rackmout unit, 1 RU, Editor-Software for PC and Mac
PRODYSSEY ASB KLANGBOX
Synthesizer-Legend DSP-based, 12-voices Odyssey Emulation, switchable ARP/Moog Filter, stereo In and Outs, MIDI in/out/thru, USB for MIDI data, contemporary Stereo effects (Delay, Chorus, Flanger), 19”-Rackmout unit, 1 RU, Editor-Software for PC and Mac
B4000 ASB KLANGBOX
Tonewheel-Organ-Legend DSP-Based, fully polyphonic Hammond B3 Emulation, authentic built-in Leslie-sound, stereo In and Outs, MIDI in/out/thru, USB for MIDI data, contemporary Stereo effects (Delay, Chorus, Flanger), 19”-Rackmout unit, 1 RU, Editor-Software for PC and Mac
German's cool for thinking that
ReplyDeletepeople with less than $1000 can enjoy there ASB instruments without
taxing there CPU, your just missing knobs get over it :)