"bC9 synthesizer –Based on the popular bC8 synthesiser/sequencer, the bC9 offers the same astonishing range of sounds with the ability to externally modulate any possible combination of the eight main control knobs, including the infamous ‘patch’ control; a ninth knob controls the depth of external modulation...
The semi-transparent frosted body diffuses the light from the ten LED’s that logically show various conditions and processes (warning: mesmerising).
Connections
CV input: 3.5mm jack socket (near yellow VCO knob): 0v to 5v Trig input: 3.5mm jack socket (centre): 2 to 10v Audio out: 3.5mm stereo jack socket (near grey volume knob), drives headphones.
Indicators
10 separate LED’s of various colours. Aside from showing the current status of the LFO, envelope generator, battery and external trigger. The LED’s also show the modulation destinations when the black push-button is pressed. External CV voltage shown by the ‘analog’ LED by the black push-button.
Knobs
1st knob, yellow - VCO frequency 2nd knob, yellow - VCO & LFO modulation depth control 3rd knob, blue - Waveshapes for VCO and LFO 4th knob, blue - LFO speed 5th knob, green - External CV modulation depth control 6th knob, red - Attack, envelope generator 7th knob, red - Release, envelope generator 8th knob, green - Patch control 9th knob, grey - Volume control
Controls
On-Off switch (right-hand toggle) Envelope mode (left-hand toggle) >up=auto-repeat, centre=single shot (no sustain), down=single shot (sustain allowed). Black push-button >press to see and modify the external modulation-destination. Red push-button >triggers envelope generator, effectively in parallel with external trigger
Battery
3x AAA cells, alkaline or rechargeable types. Supplied allen key loosens four screws to allow stainless steel base plate to be removed.
Unibody construction
CNC machined from a solid lump of transparent acrylic polymer, hand frosted with alumina. Stainless steel base plate/battery lid. Four rubber feet.
Chimera Synthesis Ltd
http://www.Chimera-Synthesis.com
E&OE 13 May 2010"
Update: see the comments of this post below if you are considering picking up a Chimera.
I would read through this entire thread at Muff Wiggler's before ordering from Chimera.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4972
Apparently, the guy has an absolutely atrocious record of shipping people the products they paid for in a timely manner, as well as censoring any negative comments that these people leave at his own forum.
I'm ashamed at Matrixsynth for posting this without a warning.
ReplyDeleteI can't warn if I don't know about it and if I'm not involved in it. I haven't dealt with Chimera myself. I post what's out there and readers are free to comment.
ReplyDeletewhile i'm sure there have been issues, i ordered a bc8 when they were available and received it w no issues. and i love it to death.
ReplyDeleteJust to tell you that i've ordered a bc9 yesterday and great news,it's on the way now,i've got a tracking number from Royalmail it's just perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteFor the little story i've wait 6 months for a BC16
I'm still waiting for a bc16 after paying for it up front two years ago despite being advertised as being ready for dispatch in 2 weeks.. and I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteIf the pattern stays the same some lucky folk will get their order generating positive reviews and coverage which in turn generates a lot more orders at which point everything slows down and the problems begin..
Then its time to bring out another product.. rinse & repeat..
Maybe its different this time though..I hope so.
Good luck!
even before Chimera delivered their first synth to anybody the scene already knew that he had been doing horrible business in the past (robotics or something, can't remember right now)
ReplyDeleteSaying that you can't report something because you're not involved in it is kind of missing the point of things - I mean, you're reporting the output people have even when you have no involvement, right?
This guy has conned people, a LOT of people, and he will do it again. He has lied on multiple occasions and attempted to remove all documentation of his wrong-doing.
- it's the humane thing to warn against the Chimeras, Synthcase.com and Plan B of this world.
Everyone should feel free to "order" from him, but for the love of God then you shouldn't get upset if you don't receive anything, because, basically, you will have known it is a risk you're taking.
"Caveat Emptor" is what I'm saying.
Machinate, it's not going to happen. I post, you comment, end of story.
ReplyDeleteBTW Machinate, see if you can figure out why.
ReplyDeleteMost people are never going to see these comments.
ReplyDeleteJust the original post, which is basically an ad.
Well I just now learned to beware of Chimera Synthesis, not that I'm buying anything.
ReplyDeleteRob, did you read the post? It was updated when I found out.
ReplyDeleteOK, I weeded through Muff's thread. The following is what I found. 3 currently undelivered orders, 23 RESOLVED. The biggest complaint was wait times. Some had issues others didn't. BTW, this was time consuming and will be the last time I do this. It's not my job to play big daddy. I post, you comment, end of story.
ReplyDeleteUnresolved in the thread:
memberlist - waiting for BC16 - posted Jul 2009 - waiting 13 months posted Jul 2009
transfixer - waiting for black BC16 unibody made in March 2009 - posted Feb 2010
Atticus waiting on SM16/BCX - posted Mar 2010
Resolved in the thread:
Umcorps - ordered Jun of 2008 - posted May of 2009 - asked for refund - posted 2009 - received refund - posted Sep 2009
mirri - ordered BC8 - posted May 2009 - received it in 3.5 weeks - posted Apr 2010
peh - waiting for BC8 for few months - posted Jun 2009 - received it in a few months - posted Sep 2009
mark_snipz asked for refund 3 weeks ago and nada - Jun 2009 - refund came in posted Jun 2009
xart - has a BC8 - posted May 2009
mmetlay has a BC8 - posted May 2009
gde - has a BC16 - waited 6 months - posted May 2009 - cancelled sequencer order
richard - has a BC8 and BC16 - posted May 2009
dubchild - has a BC16 and BC8 - posted Jun 2009
KNYST - has a BC8 - posted Jun 2009
sungja - waiting for BC16 over a year - posted Jun 2009 - got tracking number Jun 2009 - received BC16 - posted Jun 2009
science - BC8 arrived - posted Jun 2009 - received after two weeks of ordering - posted Jul 2009
parasitic - waiting for BC8 - posted Jul 2009 - shipped - posted Jul 2009
indexofmetals - received BC8 - posted Jul 1009
droolmaster0 - BC8 shipped after only 2-3 weeks with apology for the wait - posted Jul 15 - arrived 7/21 BC16 ordered June shipped - posted Aug 2009
hbc - received BC8 Jul 21 2009, ordered on 7/7 - posted Jul 2009
opsybug - received 3BC8s quickly, took a year for BC16 but did arrive - posted Aug 2009
Minimoog56 - waiting for BC16, received refund immediately after cancellation - posted Sep 2009
seth - ordered BC16 and SM16 in May 2008, received BC16 last week - posted Sep 2009
Mr. White - waiting for BC16 - offered refund - posted Jun 2009 - he does have a BC8 - posted June 15. Received email BC16 is on the way Jun 2009 - received tracking number - posted Sept 2009 - BC16 arrives - posted Sep 22 2009
Rogan - received refund - posted Dec 30, 2009 - BC16 arrived - posted Jan 26
Nuuj - received tracking number - posted Jan 18, 2010 but not happy - gave up on refund and ordered white BC16 - posted on Feb, 2010
dalasv - waiting since 2008 - posted Feb 2010 - BC16 in the mail - posted May 15 2010
The biggest complaint is actually that he is a liar and has proven himself to be untrustworthy. If it were not for the posts on Matrixsynth I never would have made the mistake of ordering a BC16. Read the Chimera forums at his site for many more tails of woe.
ReplyDelete23 with, 3 without. Where are you on the list Rob? Did you post on Muff's?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I should, but I'm going to stand up for the guy - I've ordered from him and received the goods. They're amazing, and well worth the money.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm less sure about is whether they're worth the stress and 1-2 year wait that's involved. Your call, but I believe he does normally deliver, eventually.
I'm on that Muffwiggler thread. I've received a BC-16 (took 8 months) and a BC-8 from him.
ReplyDeleteHowever I'm also waiting on a second BC-16, the BC-X, and the CSM sequencer (formerly the SM-16).
I'm sorta neutral on this, however I won't be getting a BC-9 until at least 2 out of the 3 outstanding things have shipped.
As for the real hard numbers as to how many of each device actually exist, I tend to fall on the 'not a lot' side of the line since there's a near lack of YouTube and other videos.
I am still waiting on my bCX, actually, so that's another "unresolved" one.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Ben is a con artist, he just has a very frustrating way of dealing with orders.
If you order from him, there is a high probability that you will experience some frustration and anger, due to him telling you something is shipping, then not shipping it, or suddenly starting to ship a brand new product when your order has been sitting unfulfilled for a year or more.
I have never seen a case where someone has been outright ripped off by Ben. Everyone either gets their synth or their refund. It's solely the customer service aspect that is lacking here.
If this company manages to grow and become better organized, it will be pumping out interesting gear for quite a while.
To add a further positive note, I ordered a bC9 on May 19, it shipped on May 21, and was in my hands on May 25. (I live in Tokyo, incidentally.) It may well be too early to extrapolate from that one example, but it certainly seems that this time Chimera have got everything right. (By the way, I own a bC16 and two bC8s that took varying amounts of time to show up, and I have had a bCX on order for a year, though it sounds like they're squashing firmware bugs with the latter and are almost done.)
ReplyDeleteFrom the front page of Chimera Synthesis Ltd:
ReplyDeleteSadly, due to a number of events over the last year, the Directors have decided that Chimera Synthesis Ltd will closedown.
Existing Orders:
By arrangement with Ben Fisher, outstanding existing orders will be fulfilled over the next short while. You will be written to about this very shortly if you have an outstanding order.
Refund/Cancelled Orders:
Chimera Synthesis Ltd will write to you in the near future regarding any refund/cancellation request.
Warranty:
By arrangement with Ben Fisher, existing warranties will be honoured. Please contact fisher.benc@gmail.com if you have a warranty issue.
The Future:
Please email Ben Fisher directly fisher.benc@gmail.com about the availability of bC/SM synthesizers and sequencers.
what a shame
ReplyDeletehe closeddown and im still waiting a synth, i ordered in July 2008 :(
Still waiting too - I ordered in 2008 too :-/ He keeps saying "soon".
ReplyDelete