COLUMN: Proving you can’t keep good analog down, venerable synth designer and “my name is my business” owner Dave Smith, has released a new one-voice analog sound box called “Mopho” (with emphasis on the Os). Basically it’s a single voice of the new generation DSI Prophet 08 synth keyboard, in a bright yellow “fun” package, complete with a single trigger “push it!’ button on the front. My first “brand new” synth I ever bought was the Sequential Circuits Pro One the week it first came out, so I always have a warm and fuzzy whenever I see something new from Dave. So, what the heck is the Mopho?

Overview from the DSI website:

“Mopho is a compact and affordable—but powerful—monophonic analog synthesizer. The voice architecture is identical to a single voice of the Prophet ‘08, but with a couple of unique twists to distinguish it from its award-winning sibling. We have added two sub-octave generators—one per oscillator—for additional girth and crushing basses. It also has an audio input that lets you process external audio and mix Mopho’s own audio output back in pre-filter for feedback effects that can range from subtle distortion to extreme skronk. The Push It button is a manual trigger that lets you play a specific note or latch notes and sequences on. It can also step through a sequence to play short melodic lines without a keyboard. Of course, Mopho can also be used with a MIDI controller or external sequencer.”

Mopho is fully programmable and all the parameters can be tweaked from the front panel. The four Assignable Parameters controls are assignable per program for optimum performance control. A free editor is available for Mac OS and Windows to facilitate programming. (And, if you already have a Prophet ‘08, most of Mopho’s parameters can be controlled from the Prophet’s front panel via MIDI!)

Mopho is perfect for people who want to learn the ins and outs of real analog synthesis without spending a bundle, DJs looking to add some old school sonic spice to their setups, and musicians who will appreciate a great-sounding, very portable mono synth.

Affordable, fully programmable mono synth with a 100% analog signal path.
Classic, real analog sound—including legendary Curtis analog low-pass filter.
Process external audio through the filter and envelopes.
Just 7.5″ x 5″ (19.05 cm x 12.7 cm).
Free editor for Mac OS and Windows.

Specifications

100% analog signal path
Two oscillators
One classic Curtis low-pass filter (switchable 2- or 4-pole)
Analog VCAs
Three envelope generators (ADSR plus delay)
Two sub-octave generators (one octave down and two octaves down)
External audio input with feedback
Four assignable performance controls per program
Gated 16 x 4 step sequencer (one sequence per program)
Arpeggiator
Fully programmable (includes free downloadable software editor for Mac OS and Windows)
384 programs
I/O: MIDI In, MIDI Out/Thru, Audio In, Left and Right Audio Out, Headphone Out
7.5” L x 5” W x 1.4” H (19.05 cm x 12.7 cm x 3.56 cm)
1.5 lb. (0.7 kg).

Get the fullo mopho info hereo:
davesmithinstruments.com/products/mopho/index.php .

Oh yeah… street price should be about US$399. and many shops have it in stock right now.

Technorati Tags: DSI monophonic synth, Dave Smith Mopho instrument, analog synthesizer

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Christopher Simmons has been writing about music since 1984 when he sold his first feature to Polyphony (now Electronic Musician) magazine. He has composed music for two TV cable shows, is a member of ASCAP and PRSA, and is the managing editor for Music Industry Newswire™, as well as the CEO of Neotrope® Entertainment. His music can be found on iTunes, CDBaby, and Napster, among others. © Christopher Laird Simmons.
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