I’d expect it to be more like 500 usd. We are still talking about a very small company here. Plus, I’ve read that it won’t have the CV connection but perhaps as someone here has speculated MIDI over TRS or even DIN. If we’re lucky it will also have USB-C rather than the more exotic mini USB A that comes with the Continuumini.
PS: Warbl comes with a USB-C connector, BLE MIDI and it offers battery power. Under these circumstances, a USB-C connector on the Micro seems highly likely. And in that case, I think it might theoretically offer enough power to act as a host device. That would be great for the Linnstrument, too!
If have killed for the micro a few years back… as it is I’ve now the mini and full size and still haven’t cracked the matrix… Need to put some more time in.
Price wise can’t see it being under 300 but hope I’m wrong!
Nope, the DSP is still required for now. With the exception of Kyma, there is nothing like it on the market, especially considering the many expressive presets and multiple synth algos that ship with the EM.
As for the mini USB, it seems a bit of a letdown in 2025, yes, but I guess that’s got to do with the fact that the EM micro’s design is derived from the Continuumini. We are talking about a mini company here.
It’s very tempting, at the same time I wonder if a port to say macOS would make more sense, the new machines have probably enough power to run Egan’s code
the DSP is implemented for SHARC processors (possibly a ADSP-21364 ?)
so code would need to (basically) be re-written to work on a ‘conventional’ cpu. - that seems unlikely to be economic or in the interests of haken.
the only approach I could see working would be something like an emulator, as was done for the Virus DSP, but Im not sure if an emulator exists for the DSP used - and it would still be large amount of development. also emulators have a significant performance overhead.
again, doesn’t really seem viable/economic.
also, as much as I love the EM, in the software world, theres a lot of competition in all the areas it covers, including physical modelling.
and I dont see the EM editor fairing well against such competition due to ‘ease of use’.
arguably, the best use of a software version of the EM, would be for Haken/EE users, to be able to create patches whilst away from the instrument…and its a lot of (dev) work for that ‘convenience’
yeah, also I think the general feeling is, this is still very much about (hardware) instruments.
the existence of the Micro is largely due to the Warbl, and perhaps, by extension the idea of using the EM for other DIY/niche/boutique controllers.
its certainly a softening of Haken’s position, when the Mini came out, I asked Leepold for exactly this (even talked to them about cutting it out of the mini ).
at that point the mantra was…
The Eagan Matrix is tightly coupled to the surface, the presets are important, and don’t mean anything when not used with that particular surface.
Which I have a lot of sympathy for for, even though I was desperate to use with my Eigenharps
but yeah, Osmose, Eagan Matrix Module and Warbl have led to a change in thinking.
(also possibly to help cover cost of the redesign of the board used)
I think the new EM firmware is a bit of an extension of all this…
undoubtedly the idea of the Overlays has been developed alongside EE for Osmose.
it feels inevitable (planned?!) , we will see overlays on the Osmose screen, to allows users more control on the synth, and so help broaden its appeal to include those desiring more sound design on it.
perhaps one day even the Continuum will get a screen, though, I know it was a deliberate decision NOT to have screen !
but times / opinions change
Have to say I’ve been very surprised how responsive the presents are to other surfaces - I had the same conversation btw, and while I totally appreciate the stance they’re far less tied to that specific surface. Far from it I would say.
I think the continuum will continue to evolve - obvious choice might be a greater number of front panel knobs, though obviously a standalone box might be better for those who already own… and that might already exist.
While I can’t see them wanting this, I’m actually pretty curious how hard virtualizing the DSP hardware would be on a modem CPU. Like, yes, they’re specialized and fairly heavyweight, but how much CPU would you need to throw at it? This is more of a technical curiosity, though; I think there’s as much of a business decision there as a purely technical one, in that they want to be a hardware-only company.
Yup but not directly, you’ll need midi usb hub that provides a consistent output of 5v and 300mA for the micro. I use a CME’s uhost and a WIDI Master to connect them, with requires two power plugs, one for the LS and another for the usb midi host.
Raspi will do it too if you can make it - a friend of mine wrote or modified a script and it works great with my mini: power to raspi, which powers both linnstrument and continuumini.
The Kenton solution does not consistently work because, as of mk2, Kenton’s MIDI USB hub no longer reliably provides the required 5V. The most portable solution is the third one and cost wise it is equivalent with the first. So far it has always worked for me.
For sale of info you can work around this by using a powered usb hub alongside the Kenton, or at least I could with the mini. Not ideal, but doable for those who have one already.
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