A New World in Synthesis

YouTube via Pic2008Lex

Note the above video does not feature any synths. It is a concept video for a tablet UI. The hardware looks like the majority of artist renders for the upcoming Apple iPad/iSlate. If you haven't heard, tomorrow, Apple will announce their new tablet device. Rumor is it will essentially be an iTouch with a 10" screen, more power, memory and may have the ability to run multiple apps at the same time. [Update: it most likely will]

Why is this a new world in synthesis? In short this is a new hardware platform for synthesis. Yes it is an extension of the iTouch platform, but the obvious key difference and game changer in my opinion will be the size of the screen. For example, imagine controlling all of your synths running Numerology on the device in that video. Imagine interfacing with your modular with a UI optimized version of VOLTA or Expert Sleepers. Imagine running Way Out Ware's iSample, or how about an ARP2600 emulation with sliders. Imagine running Audio Damage's tattoo on one, etc. And don't forget the accelorometer. Processing power, additional memory, and potentially running multiple apps at once will only add to the advantage the slate will have over the iTouch.

When I talk to people about the impact I think it will have, most people seem to be luke warm. They don't get it. A little to my surprise, the many times critical Chris Randall of Analog Industries gets it:

"We don't get to witness many major sea changes in the computer business (which is, for all intents and purposes, the music business these days)... we're going to see some exciting shit in the next year, as all the tech companies take advantage of this new form factor. I predict that Jazz Mutant needs to port their shit promptly or they're gonna go out of business. I also predict that we'll see the mid-size music software companies taking the most advantage of this new form factor. But what I hope to see are some really intriguing new ways to make music on what is, for all intents and purposes, a new instrument that nobody knows how to play yet."

Be sure to read his full post.

The one caveat? MIDI Integration with other hardware. With the iPhone/iTouch there is no way to hook MIDI directly to the device. Because of this you can't sync beats and sequences with your other gear. For example, this weekend I had Funk Box running on my iPhone while playing my synths along to it. It would have been great if I could have slaved my other devices to it. Note you can use TouchOSC to remotely control a Mac running all your MIDI integration. James Husted of Synthwerks brought up the obvious advantage of this though, you can also go completely wireless. Have your Mac do the work and use the slate to control it all. But then you don't get all the cool synths designed specifically for the device unless they can sync via OSC.
Update 1/31/10: Wireless MIDI on the iPhone / iPad 2/2/10: Akai SynthStation25 3/4/10: iConnectMIDI 3/17/10: Line 6 MIDI Interface
Regardless, I can't wait. I think it might be slow to take off in our world, but when it does this is going to be huge. I can't wait to use it in the studio. I can't wait to use it while kicking back on the couch. This is the PPG Realizer on steroids. A true open platform hardware synth with a multi-touch interface. I can't wait to see what software on the synth front comes out for it and I can't wait to post it all. This means you can expect to see more posts on synth centric software for the device over time. [ Update 3/18/10: Think of the physical device as a software based modular hardware synth.]

Note this post primarily focuses on the upcoming Apple slate because I believe it will be the game changer. There are other tablets coming based on Windows, Android and proprietary Linux based OSes, but Apple has a way of making the hardware and software feel completely integrated. On the iPhone/iTouch when you load the software it feels like hardware. [Update 3/18/10: Apps are specifically designed for the hardware, where apps that run on full blown OSes are designed for the mouse.] This is a new world in synthesis and music creation.

Update: I wanted to point out the following from Chris Randall: "But what I hope to see are some really intriguing new ways to make music on what is, for all intents and purposes, a new instrument that nobody knows how to play yet."

Think about that for a bit. Software can be limiting compared to hardware when it comes to how you interface with the instrument (think mouse and monitor). Now think about the slate device as hardware. It will not be limited by traditional physical hardware. Think about that statement. Static predefined hardware may now be limiting compared to the slate because the slate is customizable hardware. The Jazz Mutant Lemur was first, but out of many people's price range. If they come out with their software suite for the new slate, I will buy it.

Update2: I just watched the video above again and something else came to mind. Something potentially big. What this device might do that no hardware or software synth prior to maybe the iPhone/iTouch has, is bring synthesis to the masses. Most will buy the device for other reasons. Most would probably never buy a synthesizer, software or hardware. But... I'm guessing a few people not into synthesis have bought some of the iPhone synth apps for gaming/entertainment purposes. Brian Eno's Bloom, and Zach Gage's synthPond immediately come to mind. I can see similar apps that are affordable and simple to use on the surface but deep in synthesis if you choose it to be. I can see this device opening the world of synthesis to people who might otherwise never even discover it.

For fun I put a few polls up:







Update: It's official. It's the iPad. Images and info are coming in on Gizmodo and Engadget for those interested.

I picked the bottom shot on purpose. It's JJ Abrams Star Trek, and JJ Abrams is into synths. Rumor is it he's been to MATRIXSYNTH. :)

Update: prices start at $499 for an 8G model with wi-fi and no 3G. No multi-tasking. So a chameleon hardware synth it will be. Only one synth/controller at a time. And it has begun. I will definitely be getting one.

Update: All existing iPhone apps will work with the iPad. :) All existing software synths, TouchOSC, etc.. You can run them original size or full size. The resolution won't change of course, but apps should be easier to use. There will be a USB extension but it sounds like it will be for images/data uploads. We'll see. There is a qwerty keyboard dock for the iPad. If Akai's iPK25 was real maybe we'll see something similar for the iPad.



Update: what TouchOSC running on the iPad might look like via ISO50.

Update 1/31/10: Wireless MIDI for the iPhone and iPad

Update 4/3/12: also see Thoughts on the iPad as a Synth and Controller