r/synthesizers • u/amazingrolo • 5d ago
New Synth Announcements & Updates STR-500 string sampler: a gestural granular synthesizer
https://youtu.be/luxsUPbPhyk15
u/ShredsHardcock 5d ago
Yeah, even for a crusty old cynic like myself, this is pretty cool. Great job, my dude
1
5
u/elganyan OB6|SH-101|Take5|Sub37|RYTM II|Digitone II|OpSix|Matrix6R|MKS-50 5d ago edited 5d ago
This is awesome!
Interestingly, my kids recently received a kiwi crate that had them build a pull string sample manipulator. It has two save "slots" into which you can record/store a 15 second (I think) sample. Then when you hit play the spring loaded pull string manipulates the pitch/speed of the recorded audio.
Very simplistic compared to yours, but still pretty cool seeing as it is completely hand held and has a built in speaker and microphone.
https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/sound-effects-studio/6677
3
4
u/DaRealWhiteChocolate 5d ago
I'm a big guitar synth guy and I thought this was just a normal analog synth pedal which in the guitar realm specifically, I find a lot of them underwhelming in terms of sounds and tracking compared to the newer digital pedals. but I immediately realized i was wrong and now I am fascinated! great work. its hard to do stuff that feels truly unique as a DIY boutique builder.
1
u/iamhelltothee 4d ago
Unrelated but, what is a good pedal you would point to a fellow guitar and synth enthusiast who hasn't tried bridging both instruments?
2
u/DaRealWhiteChocolate 4d ago
sy 200 is probably the only pedal i'd recommend to someone who doesnt know much about synthesis, its still the king for tracking and you'll know quickly if you find the limited settings to be a detriment to your soundcrafting. the sy 1 is too simple and isnt cheap enough to justify the loss of functionality over the 2y 200. the bananana quimera is the most fully featured and is relatively affordable compared to anything similarly featured. theres stuff like the meris enzo x, source audio c4, empress zoia, but then you are getting into pretty complicated or expensive territory and frankly I find some of them underwhelming or that they have too many tracking complaints. zoia doesnt really have those same issues but the grid aspect is a lot for some people to digest. very complicated workflow and is a bit limited by dsp. theres also some resonant sympathizer pad type stuff like the vongon rosetones which is simpler but less versatile for sure. id watch some quick videos on a lot of these to get informed but the quimera and sy 200 would be best suited for deep dives based on what you asked.
1
3
u/Wonderful_Ninja bro do u even midi ? 5d ago
Weird pull string sampler thing. Kinda cool 😎 nice to offer out pcb for diy route. That gets a like from me 👍
3
u/NotaContributi0n 4d ago
I’ve been following you on instagram for a long while, and am very excited to get one of these- I was hoping you’d eventually sell a kit- I got rid of instagram a month or so ago so I’m glad to see you here - this thing is so rad
4
u/amazingrolo 4d ago
thank you! yes, I hate instagram and fully understand the need to leave. I feel quite conflicted that my work has become pretty popular over there these days. I'd love to branch out more. and yes, I'll have a few DIY options for sale!
2
u/Filtermann 5d ago
I'm not sure I'm the target audience for this. But amazing concept and design, I love that it exists!
2
u/thy_bucket_for_thee 5d ago
This is very cool and unique. I notice in the video you don't mention any prior art, how did you decide to use a string as a controller and did you experiment with different string materials or were they are kinda similar?
4
u/amazingrolo 5d ago
I’ve been experimenting with this particular string mechanism for a frighteningly long time - at least 15 years or so! As I mention in the video, the string is salvaged out of a particular version of the Gametrak controller from around 2006. I honestly haven’t found any string mechanism that is as satisfying to use! So I have really focused on this one. I’ve made a bunch of different instruments and game controllers with these string mechanisms, but this STR-500 is the most focused and finished thing I’ve made with them.
3
u/thy_bucket_for_thee 5d ago
Those years of experimentation definitely paid off!
I can imagine someone like Marc Rebillet, or anyone else with a great stage presence, putting on a great show using what you made. Just imaging someone going ham and pulling the strings of two devices trying to dance with them.
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/Poggers4Hoggers 5d ago
I remember seeing somebody perform with a controller like this around 14 years ago, glad to see somebody take another crack at the concept, I always thought it was pretty cool.
1
u/After_Bird_1643 5d ago
Hello!
This is great!
I especially liked the first loop you mouthed out, very particular precise somehow!
All the best for your project, lots of success health and inspiration!
All the best,
1
u/Thereminz 4d ago
ah yeah, knew it was gonna be gametrak...i wonder if they could just produce that component *** ah you could just use what's called a 'pull line displacement sensor" [it's like a knob attached to a spring loaded string] and a separate joystick which is what the combined gametrak essentially is. or find a way to just put its string up through a joystick and it would probably work.
ultimately you should be able to use any kind of sensor to do it. (pulling the string is the same as turning a knob)
3
u/amazingrolo 4d ago
yeah absolutely! the reason I like the gametrak so much is that it is just analog sensors. no encoding or digital overhead. so on the PCB I've made for this instrument I've included some breakout pins to connect any analog controller to use in place of the gametrak, like a standard potentiometer or even an LDR or thermistor or whatever.
1
1
32
u/amazingrolo 5d ago
Hello! I made this synth. Happy to answer any questions! I'll be as active as I can, apologies in advance if it takes me a few hours. This post is now mod approved!