New keyboard instrument from Melbourne Instruments, maker of the NINA synth with the motorized control knobs.
Forty nine keys, nice and compact, interesting design choice.
Still awaiting more details, as it gets unveiled at Superbooth 2024.
EDIT : 49 not 37.
Nice design!
I’d assume not. They’d called it the NINA Keys in that case, right ?
Maybe though, in which case, shoot me at dawn for starting a new thread.
So i’m imagining the name is tribute to Delia Derbyshire.
Or is it Shane Delia of Melbourne ? Some sort of Spice Journey ? No, probably not.
Looks to be a different thing than the Nina, they post a picture on their Instagram of the filter section, HP and lp filters with selectable slope, Nina was just low pass ladder (24db I believe)
What looks to be macro button on bottom right is also not on the Nina
Extra filter but only 20 knobs instead of 32 on the Nina. That’s a lot of hands-on parameters removed.
I would assume the 4 octave keyboard has polyat, but one of the things I love most about the Nina is to have it in MPE mode driven by the Osmose. I don’t think I would give that up for a “regular” keyboard, even if the extra filtering options would be great.
Good that its not just a Nina with a keyboard slapped on. Less motorized knobs and different filter. If its 8-12 voice and closer to OB-6 price than Moog One price, it would shoot to the top of my list.
More info on new Melbourne Instruments Delia, from the @tonelab ig page:
6 voice (12 voice options via filters?), 4 osc per voice, 3 envelopes, 3 lfos, stereo vcas. No specific mentions of mpe or poly at.
Product details
Description
Motorized polyphonic synthesizer with morphing
Classic style - futuristic control
DELIA is a bi-timbral polysynth inspired by the motorized control surface and voice architecture of Melbourne Instruments’ original Nina. Delia features a 49-key velocity-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch, new analog multimode filters, high and low pass resonance controls, 3-stage overdrive and even more modulation options. Paired with our Rotary Recall° technology, Delia opens the door to the sounds and direction of tomorrow.
Analog soul with a computerized brain
With a combination of real analog filters and virtual analog modeling, DELIA retains the vital sound of massively overdrivable analog ladder filters while using a digital front end to drive modeled VCOs, wavetables, high-pass filters and more. The powerful combination of analog and digital is harnessed by Delia’s unique 12-note mode, which deploys 12 complete oscillator banks in the 6 filters, limiting note stealing without compromising the sound and fully unleashing Delia’s bi-timbral operation.
Discrete multi-mode filter
Delia’s true analog low-pass filter is the heart and soul of the sound machine - warm, full and sweet or terribly aggressive. It is complemented by a modeled high-pass ladder filter that can be linked for bandpass and notch operation. With a slope of 12 and 24 dB and a separate high/low pass resonance control, there is a huge amount of scope for shaping sounds, from the most delicate plucks and pads to the wildest overdriven bass and lead sounds imaginable. Delia is an inspiring creative companion and a reliable instrument for musicians and composers, whatever their level.
Total recall. This is not a dream!
At first glance, Delia has fewer buttons than its predecessor Nina, but that in no way limits its control. With our Rotary Recall system, Delia fulfills the demand for “buttons per function” without an overwhelming number of buttons and menus. The player can effortlessly switch between four oscillators, three LFOs, multimode filters, envelope generators and effects, pushing the boundaries of performance and sound design.
Morph any parameter, then mod it
Delia’s A/B Morph feature lets you explore and sweep through timbres like no other. The A/B Morph sound is an actively calculated change of parameters between patches A and B, including the entire modulation matrix. This allows for the instant creation of a new preset based on the Morph position that is neither the A or B patch, but a completely new sound. Morph is also a “mod destination”, giving you even more creative control over aftertouch, mod wheel and expression.
Step into an infinite matrix of sounds
The motorized journey doesn’t end at Recall and Morph; Delia’s “Mod Mode” automates the adjustment of the modulation matrix. As you move between the 20 modulation sources, each knob changes position to indicate the level of modulation. You don’t have to switch the control panel every time you change sources or destinations, no matter how many modulations or slots are active. Delia offers you a fluid sound design workflow that combines the flexibility of a soft synthesizer with the tactile experience of a classic hardware synthesizer.
Building on innovation
Delia has inherited many of Nina’s highly acclaimed features, including analog 4-quadrant VCAs, morphing, digital effects and a digital wavetable oscillator. There’s also sequencer phrase looping and overdubbing, as well as the ability to assign your favorite effects parameters to the macro effects knob.
Under the hood, Delia is a beast! The virtual analog oscillators model Nina’s discrete circuitry but add cross-modulation. With 20 modulation sources and more than 40 modulation destinations with unlimited slots, Delia offers sound designers an almost endless spectrum of sounds. Two digital effect processors paired with classic effect presets and the ability to connect them in series or parallel offer creative freedom. And with the ability to store more than 16,000 presets, inspiration and artistry are never limited by available memory or slots.
The Delia’s high-resolution LCD display also provides useful waveform and envelope visualizers, as well as instant feedback and indication for almost any function as you interact with the control panel.
Main features
Motorized control panel
6-voice polyphony
12-voice mode via 6 analog filter circuits
Bi-timbral - layers/splits/stacks
Analog multi-mode filters and VCAs
4 oscillators per voice: 2 x modeled VCOs, wavetable, noise/XOR/Aux
A/B patch morphing
49 keys with semi-weighted keyboard incl. velocity and aftertouch
Pitch bend and modwheel.
Voice architecture
Real analog filters and stereo VCAs
4 oscillators per voice: VA-modeled VCOs, wavetable, noise/XOR/Aux
6 analog voice circuits with 12-note mode that retains 4 oscillators/voice.
Unlimited modulation matrix - 20 sources x 40 destinations
3 x LFOs with variable shapes: Sine, Triangle, Square, Ramp up, Ramp down, Random)
3 x envelopes: VCA, VCF, Aux
Motorization
Automation and interactivity of the control panel
Instant preset recall - each control moves to its position
Interactive morphing with parameter isolation
Interactive mod matrix setting
Instant layer recall - the control panel switches to the active patch
Recall multiple LFO, envelope and filter settings
Recall effect levels and macro parameters
Immediate reset of the ‘INIT’ control panel
Interactive multi-mode filter
Analog low-pass ladder filter
3-stage analog overdrive
Virtual analog high-pass ladder filter
Separate high-pass and low-pass resonance control
HP/LP filter ‘LINK’ mode for band pass/notch control
Selectable 12dB and 24dB slope for LP filter
Effects
2 x effects processors with parallel or serial configuration
Stereo digital effects: Delay, chorus, reverb with classic preset algorithms
Step sequencer + phrase looper
16-step programmable polyphonic sequencer
Phrase looper with overdub/layering
Sequences and loops are saved with presets and can be recalled
Additional functions
Stereo 4-quadrant VCAs with infinitely variable panning
Arpeggiator
Connection options: 2 x USB-A host ports / 1 x USB-C device for DAW / 2 x aux or CV input / MIDI input/output/pass-through / stereo output (L+R)
More than 400 factory presets
Virtually unlimited preset memory (16,000+)
Customizable high-resolution LCD
Open source
£2200 plus TAX UK
$2399 Plus TAX US
I would like to know the dimensions of the free spaces. Digis don’t seem to fit but something like OTO Machines Bim, Bam or Boum should do it.
By looking at it from the video, the space can certainly fit a Tangerine, an Rk008 (on the right side maybe even both next to each other), a Golden Reverberator, a Strymon Deco, or perhaps a 1010music Blackbox. OTO Bim is only slightly bigger than Blackbox, so it might fit.
Available in stores, now (thought it would be more expensive, tbh)
… and shipping. People who pre-ordered will ( or should ) receive them soon or have one already. Check Melbourne Instruments list of dealers.
Loopop
This thing looks more interesting than I expected it to be (to me).
This video doesn’t do it justice, though.
