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Sonicsmith Pitch Tacking Analog Synths (Converter and Squaver P1)

#22
No one has mentioned it yet. I think Sonic Smith is still ironing out the final product. So far they have not demoed quality bass tone IMO. I am still hopeful though!


Edit: I got to back track a bit, the tracking in their latest bass demo did sound good. Tone wise, I think the smaller pedal into one of my filters may yield better tone than what I have heard so far. It is hard to judge tone through demos though, every player has different tone goals.
 
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#30
Adamixoye said:
I don't know if we're on TRACK for that. #sorrynotsorry
Click to expand...
AF8572A8-4498-4239-9781-CFA8F20F9D47.jpeg
 
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#35
Hello All,

This is Brian Kaczynski of Sonicsmith. It's high time for an update from us.

We introduced a clearance sale of 40% off our existing inventory of ConVertors and Squaver P1s and we are about to release improved versions of both, the ConVertor+ and Squaver P1+, which solve virtually all of the problems that had been reported with the original units. In particular, these units have much better noise and tracking performance than the original designs we released last year.

Expect to see more demo videos and reviews of the new units in the coming weeks. Thank you for keeping this topic going and thank you for your continued interest in our innovative products.

-Brian
 
#36
Brian Kaczynski said:
Hello All,

This is Brian Kaczynski of Sonicsmith. It's high time for an update from us.

We introduced a clearance sale of 40% off our existing inventory of ConVertors and Squaver P1s and we are about to release improved versions of both, the ConVertor+ and Squaver P1+, which solve virtually all of the problems that had been reported with the original units. In particular, these units have much better noise and tracking performance than the original designs we released last year.

Expect to see more demo videos and reviews of the new units in the coming weeks. Thank you for keeping this topic going and thank you for your continued interest in our innovative products.

-Brian
Click to expand...

Say your damn good with an iron and reflow station, are the new mods possible to do on the old units?

$500 for a noisy sub par tracking synth is a tough sell for bassists require at least the new standard of tracking (Future Impact).
 
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#38
It's hard to find a demo that sounds good. Easy to find them recorded lo-fi, not great tone and tracking glitches though.

I'm still hopeful, maybe the demoers aren't experienced programing or playing synths. The demo with the Minitaur didn't sound great and I know my Minitaur sounds awesome.

Maybe you can minimize tracking glitches by rolling back you tone knob to cut higher harmonics that confuse the chips...

At the new price I might give the converter a try and post hifi demos if I could find a place that sells one with 30day satisfaction guarantee.

This one has some nice sounds:

 
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#39
OhulahanBass said:
Say your damn good with an iron and reflow station, are the new mods possible to do on the old units?

$500 for a noisy sub par tracking synth is a tough sell for bassists require at least the new standard of tracking (Future Impact).
Click to expand...

The + versions use a new PCB and re-purpose one knob and one switch for new functions -- so, it's impossible to duplicate those with even a good soldering station and parts.

The original versions that we were selling throughout 2017 can however be improved with a simple PCB mod, rotating one SMT resistor 90 degrees. This is a more subtle but significant improvement, basically increasing the signal detection threshold and eliminating virtually all of the frequency blips that we observed while playing.

To bassists who haven't purchased one of our synths yet we recommend waiting for the + versions to come out soon. We will publish bass demos with these new versions as soon as humanly possible so bass (and guitar) players can make the most informed decision about their purchase.
 
#40
OhulahanBass said:
It's hard to find a demo that sounds good. Easy to find them recorded lo-fi, not great tone and tracking glitches though.

I'm still hopeful, maybe the demoers aren't experienced programing or playing synths. The demo with the Minitaur didn't sound great and I know my Minitaur sounds awesome.

Maybe you can minimize tracking glitches by rolling back you tone knob to cut higher harmonics that confuse the chips...

At the new price I might give the converter a try and post hifi demos if I could find a place that sells one with 30day satisfaction guarantee.

This one has some nice sounds:

Click to expand...


That was some of the fixing they did, added a low pass filter to the input. Originally this was fixed, but they likely used an output on the chip to help pitch control the lowpass as a fixed ratio the the played note, not the pot.

Experienced player \ programmer or not, the tracking warbles when the note is sustained using a stringed instrument. Lots of pedals can track a sustained note with little pitch influence or instability.

String pitch to CV is something that would be fun, but the more I heard these demos, the more I realized that a bass is a bass, and it should stay that way as far as expectations go. With the right equipment you can make some new sounds, but it will never be a synth because it doesn't play like a synth. There are many subtleties that each instrument have that can't be translated.
 

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