Update: Kirikai's Website: link.
And we have an update on the SMS 2000. If you remember, the man in the second shot of this post donned a badge with the name, "Mr. Kirikax." The badge was obviously meant to lead the viewer into believing that this was Mr. Kirikax showing his new synth, the SMS 2000, a follow up to the Seekers SMS 1000, which was never released. What follows is an email exchange between Fredrik in Sweden and Mr. Kirikae (Kirikax).
Via Fredrik:
"in the middle of the sms 2000 hysteria I did some research on the web, and found mr Kirikax's email adress - or at least I assumed it was his. I sent a mail asking if there was any such thing as a sms 2000(check the forwarded mail) and didn't receive any respons - until today! Assuming the mail is real, which it certainly appears to be, we can draw the conclusion that the sms 2000 certainly is a hoax : )"
The following is the reply from Kirikax in the forwaded email:
"Dear Mr. Fredrik
I designed SMS-1000 mono synthesizer, but I don't know about SMS-2000. I am treating [illness] now, so I can't make SMS-1000. SMS-1000 's formal name is Elebus-1. I append the image of Elebus-1. Elebus-1 is RackMount type Synthesizer. The keyboard has not adhered. My sickness is a serious illness, and doesn't have the capital either. So I cannot sell Elebus-1. Elebus-1 might be produced and be sold when the capital can be procured by recovering from an illness in the future.
Regards,
Masamichi Kirikae. (Kirikax is nickname. this is My real name)"
If this is real, I send my condolences to Mr. Kirikae, and I hope he gets the help and support he needs, both with his illness and in getting the SMS 1000/Elebus-1 off the ground. He mentions lack of capital or monetary backing. What's interesting is that the Elebus-1 above is different than the other Seekers SMS 1000 shots out there. However, before you dismiss the new shot, note that the old shots of the SMS 1000 are old in synth years, and designs and names can easily change prior to release, and sometimes even after. Title link takes you the the new images sent by Mr. Kirikae.
Someone tell Elhardt the display should read: "MATRIXSYNTH"
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't explain, if the SMS 2000 is a hoax, and that has to be confirmed, the shot showing the SMS 2000 under a plastic pack. How such an image is possible if this picture is a pure creation ? And who made it, and why ? All this story remains quite unclear. And who designed that very unusual and genious left-hand thumb/fingers levers ? Unclear, unclear, unclear...
ReplyDeleteI grow weary.
ReplyDeletePlease no more.
The hoax could have been actual hardware. I said earlier that the only way someone could get us again would be to make the hoax hardware instead of a render. The hardware fools us, because if it's a real physical object we are left thinking it's a real synth. This actually explains why the wood was somewhat poorly done. Some of the first comments were on the poor woodwork. At first I thought it would be too difficult to make a hardware mockup like this, but then I realised it might not be. Just print out the control layout on a sticker type material, slap it on and pop the knobs on. Well, maybe not that easy, but you get the point.
ReplyDeleteWhoever did this, did a fantastic job. Definitely on par if now outdoing The Sage.
Elhardt, can you come out now? : )
It would probably take the same time and effort to make a hardware mock-up as it would to render something that good on a computer.
ReplyDeleteIf it was real, that would be a great way to generate hype about it. First post a pic that is real and then post obviously fake looking ones to generate buzz.
If we all will it enough, QuAnTuM FoRcEs will bring the SMS-2000 in phase with our reality. All we need is to hook up the Buchla source of uncertainty to a really, really hot cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteWe'll open up the case to peer inside, and Schrödinger's cat will pop out.
It'll be the ultimate Cat/Synth crossover!
What, better than the Octave Cat?!?
ReplyDeleteThese hoaxes, wonderful though they are, are final proof that some people really do have far too much time on their hands!
That said, if it is a hoax, they did an excellent job of making the throttle control on the mockup hardware!