Behringer Kobol Keyboard Spotted in the Wild, nozoïd Kagouyar Digital Synth, Sound Workshop Quord: Synth Journal
The best of the rest of this week's synthesizer news.
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A very unique engineer sample Behringer Kobol keyboard on eBay and more in this week’s Synth Journal.
Synth Journal
Behringer Kobol Keyboard Engineer Sample
Back in 2021, Behringer posted a photo of a prototype for its RSF Kobol recreation. The RSF Kobol was, of course, France’s answer to the Moog Minimoog and is often lauded as one of the best analog synthesizers ever made. The Behringer Kobol Keyboard never came out, being replaced by the keyless Kobol Expander.
So what ever happened to the Behringer Kobol Keyboard? I couldn’t say – but one of them ended up on eBay.
Listed under the title “Unique Behringer Kobol Synthesizer Keyboard aka French MiniMoog Rare Opportunit,” this Behringer Kobol Keyboard features a label indicating that it’s an engineer sample, a prototype unit not meant for general sale. “Not in production. Not available anywhere. Perfect for your Youtube video or synth channel,” the listing crows. I’m not sure if a synthfluencer bought it, but someone sure did – for the sum of $1350.
Given that the Kobol Expander has been out for a while and we haven’t heard anything more about the Behringer Kobol Keyboard, it’s quite possible that this is the extent of the release. The keyboard version is pretty similar to the Expander, at least in terms of synthesis, although the Behringer Kobol Keyboard does have a sequencer, as did the original French version.
What do you think? Would you like to see the Behringer Kobol Keyboard make it to market or is the Kobol Expander good enough? Let us know in the comments.
- Behringer Kobol Expander product page
nozoïd Kagouyar
French boutique synth developer nozoïd this week announced its latest creation, Kagouyar. A digital synth, Kagouyar is a fully featured semi-modular, polyphonic, and virtual analog desktop instrument with a “huge range of sonic possibilities,” according to the manufacturer.
nozoïd is billing this as a sound exploration unit, with drone, ambient, and hardcore techno producers the target audience. It has four voices of polyphony, three oscillators per voice with both typical and atypical waveforms, a multimode filter, seven(!) LFOs, a mod matrix, and two audio effects.
Manufacturing run is limited to 70 units due to its use of discontinued vintage components so act fast if you want one. Normally sells for €1199 but is currently on sale for €1099.
- nozoïd Kagouyar product page
Sound Stone The String Armonica mkII
I love stuff like this. The String Armonica from Sound Stone is an electromagnetic synthesizer that uses chromatically tuned strings instead of electronic waveforms as its sound source. Inside the custom-made wooden housing is a synth with 48 voices and on the outside are the 12 strings, which vibrate and resonate. You play it with MIDI and there’s a felt damping bar to control sustain.
Sound Stone has now released The String Armonica mkII, which adds a staccato mode for short, sharp sounds, a harp sweeping function, an arpeggiator, and an envelope mode for slow attacks.
The String Armonica mkII has a wonderful sound. It costs $1600.
- Sound Stone The String Armonica mkII product page
Applied Acoustics Systems Multiphonics CV-3
Applied Acoustics Systems may be best known for its physical modeling software but the Montreal-based company also makes a great software modular environment, Multiphonics. The company has now announced Multiphonics CV-3, the latest version of the instrument and effects ecosystem.
The big selling point for Multiphonics CV-3 is the introduction of polyphony. The latest version will also feature MPE compatibility, a three-operator FM oscillator module, an acoustic objects oscillator, comb and tube filters, an oscilloscope module, CV generators, and new patches.
AAS will release Multiphonics CV-3 in Q1 of this year. Until its release, all purchases of the current Multiphonics CV-2 include a free upgrade to Multiphonics CV-3 and are available at a 33% discount. See the promo page (linked below) for more.
- Applied Acoustics Systems Multiphonics CV-3 promo page
Sound Workshop Quord
And the winner of the cutest drone synth of the week award goes to Sound Workshop for its Quord. Hey, I’m a sucker for primary colors.
So what is it? Sound Workshop says Quord is a “soundbath synthesizer and harmony exploration machine.” All analog, the slim and keyless synth features four sawtooth oscillators, each with its own pitch slider. You “play” it by adjusting the pitches of the droning oscillators into various chord shapes. The mixer section gives you control over the volume of each oscillator. It also has a filter with resonance that can act as a fifth oscillator, distortion and an LFO with sawtooth and sine waves that can affect the filter or bias the audio mix.
Sound Workshop Quord costs $399. The first batch of Quords sold out last month. If you’re interested in getting one for yourself, head over to the site and get on the waiting list.
- Sound Workshop Quord product page
Synthesizer Museum Berlin Opens
One last bit of news! There’s a new synthesizer museum in the world, this time in Berlin. Fittingly called Synthesizer Museum Berlin, the museum has announced its first exhibition with more than 50 “legendary and rare synthesizers” along with related electronic devices. Ooh nice.
“Berlin is the perfect place to celebrate the history of the synthesizer and to make its cultural influence accessible to a wide audience,” said Michael Soltau, film composer and creator of the museum. “From the ‘Berlin School’ with Tangerine Dream, to David Bowie’s ‘Berlin Trilogy,’ and the city’s vibrant techno scene, Berlin has played a key role in electronic music history.”
Along with the items on view, the museum will offer guided tours conducted by audio experts and musicians like Thorsten Quaeschning of Tangerine Dream. There will also be music events and workshops to complement the exhibits.
The museum will open on February 12 at Exhibition@schneidersräume in Berlin-Kreuzberg. There will be an opening night party on February 11 with a live performance by Thorsten Quaeschning. For tickets and more information, visit the link below.
- Synthesizer Museum Berlin home page
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