Best of Superbooth 2023!
The best releases of this year’s Superbooth!
Superbooth is the event of the year for all of us synth nerds! Synthesizers, effects, modules, and everything around electronic music instruments are there and, most of the time, companies wait for Superbooth to make exciting new announcements for their new releases!
The 2023 event in Berlin was one of the most exciting ones with a ton of new releases so today we decided to gather the ones that drew our attention the most!
1. Teenage Engineering CM-15 & TP-7
Teenage Engineering announced two new products in the past few days and completed its field lineup! After last year’s release of the OP-1 field and the TX-6, they revealed a new large-diaphragm microphone, the CM-15, and a portable tape-style recorder, the TP-7.
Both devices are in the same form factor as the TX-6, meaning they fit perfectly in your palm while carefully crafted to provide the best possible quality. The CM-15 has a 1-inch diaphragm capsule, a 10-hour rechargeable battery, and a preamp, and it can also be used as an audio interface. The TP-7 is a portable recorder with 3 stereo mini-jack inputs, a built-in mic & speaker, a 7-hour battery, and can even transform audio into text using the companion app.
The moment that it all clicked for me was when Tobias from TE showed us the field bag that’s a small cube-like bag that has slots for the TX-6, CM-15, and TP-7. The ability to carry in one hand all the essentials for a music studio is mindblowing and it looks like Teenage Engineering is investing in this portable studio future. As expected both devices are expensive (very expensive) but as Teenage Engineering stated they don’t want to limit their vision to have lower prices. They are trying to build the best devices they can possibly make, and that comes with a price.
2. UDO Super Gemini
We have a first-look post about this one. UDO, after the success of the Super 6, decided to create something even more ambitious and that’s where the Super Gemini comes into play. A flagship synth that focuses on its playability & hands-on control, and takes multitimbrality to the next level.
Looks majestic and sounds even better, the Super Gemini has 20 voices and its dual-layer architecture lets you treat each layer separately and have two completely different sounds on its 61-key semi-weighted keyboard.
I think that UDO is on its way to creating amazing synthesizers that have their eyes on the future and the Super Gemini is their boldest statement piece!
3. Erica Synths Steampipe
Erica Synths are known for their modular synthesizers and aggressive-sounding synths. But the Steampipe is an instrument that sounds mellow and soft since it’s trying to emulate the sound of a flute! It mimics the characteristics of a wind instrument and it’s possibly one of the first instruments that has gone to that territory.
From the first demos, it sounds amazing and it has a lot of control over the sound. It also has a reverb section to glue everything and create ethereal pads.
4. Dreadbox Telepathy
Dreadbox had only one module release on this year’s Superbooth but it was an impressive one! Telepathy is a complete synth voice module based on the amazing Typhon oscillator that’s made to be chained with other Telepathy modules and played as a polyphonic synth!
It’s crazy when you realize that Telepathy has an analog VCO, a sub -1 octave control, noise, a VCA, a VCF, two envelopes, and an LFO all in one 10HP module. And the innovation is that you can chain up to 8 modules together and play them as an 8-voice poly synth without the need for other modules. Mindblowing.
Polyphony in the modular world is something that’s slowly evolving, and Dreadbox took a decisive step to make it a reality in the easiest way possible. We’ll have to get our hands on it and see if it’s as good as it seems but considering Dreadbox’s history, it’s going to be a great addition to our rack.
Telepathy can be sold as a standalone module but there will be also an option of a bundle consisting of 6 Telepathy modules and a utility module so that you can get a 6-voice modular system at once!
5. Elektron Analog Heat + FX
The Analog Heat by Elektron is a great desktop overdrive & distortion unit and now it became even better. Elektron decided to make the Heat + FX so that you can have a complete effects unit in one package. It still has all the 8 analog distortion circuits that can go from subtle to the extreme just like the previous model but after these, they decided to include a ton of digital effects like tape wobble, reverb, delay, chorus and more!
The coolest thing though, is that you can create your own custom effects chains and save them. You can use the effects in any order you like making the Analog Heat + FX into a complete pedalboard that you can shape and tweak to your preferences.
And since it will cost just 100€ more that the previous model, it’s a no-brainer if you’re considering to get one in the first place!
6. Befaco 7U case
A case? Well, Befaco’s brand new eurorack case is too cool not to include it in our list. It has two 104HP rows and a very practical 1U row that’s compatible with Intellijel’s 1U modules and Befaco’s new 1U modules that compliment the case.
On the top, it has MIDI & Audio/CV inputs that’s very handy and the coolest thing is that it can be mounted to a Vesa arm freeing up space on your already full of gear desk. The size of this case is probably the ideal size for any modular system since it’s big enough for everything, but not huge and unmanageable. And the addition of the 1U is something must be a standard in all cases from now on.
Lastly, the cost of 650€ for a case of that size and features is amazing so I’m expecting to see tons of them out there!
7. Make Noise Spectraphon
Make Noise, in collaboration with Tom Erbe of Soundhack, announced their new spectral oscillator called the Spectraphon. It’s a dual oscillator that uses real-time spectral analysis and resynthesis to create new sounds from those that already exist. Inspired by Buchla’s 296, the Spectraphon is a digital module that uses additive synthesis and resonators to produce sounds that are unique and cannot be replicated with a typical oscillator.
It’s definitely an exciting new way to create music and as with everything Make Noise does, it will be a very deep module that you will explore for months before you can experience its full potential!
8. Bastl Basil
Basil is a digital stereo delay module that’s very compact but flexible! It can go from super lofi delays to expanding reverbs and, since it’s a delay, it can also be used as a chorus, flanger, vibrato, and all those effects that can be re-created with a delay.
The Space slider on the module can be used to diffuse it and create reverbs, but also can do multi-tap delays. There is also a half-speed setting that can be quite handy and that can be used to create drone layers that will accompany your sounds!
Plus, the coolest thing about this module is that it’s based on the same circuit board as the Pizza Oscillator by Bastl. That means everyone with a Pizza module can update its firmware and use it as the Basil delay. That’s a too thoughtful and generous move by Bastl, giving its customers two modules in one without the need of buying them separately.
