A company called CreamWare has unveiled Noah, a Mac compatible hardware synthesizer, at this week’s Musikmesse music-technology show in Frankfurt, Germany.
Sound production, effects, step sequencing and arpeggiation are entirely realized in software and processed by DSPs. Noah offers all popular synthesis technologies: analog (subtractive), FM, vector and wavetable synthesis, according CreamWare managing director Frank Hund. It also features a completely new physical modeling technology for guitar and bass sounds with added realism, he said. An expansion for sampling and PCM sound is available as an option.
For the first time, Noah offers 1:1 modeling of existing instruments, even as new synthesis techniques can be realized as well. Designed for flexibility, Noah can be equipped with additional instruments and synthesis technologies through software plug-ins. So, Noah is constantly re-inventing itself and will always remain up-to-date.
The basic package supplied with Noah has nine instruments, all of which are polyphonic, and equipped with sounds created by well-known sound designers, Hund said. Even in its basic version, Noah already offers over 1000 sounds. They can be edited directly on the instrument itself, or with the included graphical software on a Mac or Wintel system.
More than 30 32-bit algorithms are available in Noah, including a high-quality reverb, modulation and dynamic effects. If that’s not enough, a live programmable step sequencer and arpeggiator extend the performance capabilities even further.
Noah doesn’t require a computer, but does offers extensive integration with external sequencers and the Internet over its USB interface. Noah instruments can be treated in Mac applications like plug-ins. Individual Noah configurations can be created on screen and uploaded into the synthesizer. New instruments and sounds can be accessed through a computer directly from the Internet and then loaded and played on Noah.
Noah is available in both rackmount and keyboard versions. The keyboard offers two 2×40 indicator displays (the rack module has one) and 16 combined infinite control/push buttons for performance control (the rack version has four). Both versions are equipped with stereo analog inputs and outputs, eight individual outputs in ADAT format, MIDI In/Out/Thru, a USB port, and a slot for Compact Flash data storage.
Noah is hardware expandable via two options: the Noah Performance Option, which doubles the power of the synthesis engine; and the “Transporter” Sampling Option, which implements a 64MB sample player for the use of “virtual expanders.” By assembling Akai and Soundfont compatible samples, you can also create their own virtual expanders — and access your personal sounds directly from Noah. Virtual expanders can be stored on Compact Flash and reloaded into the keyboard’s Sample Player.
Noah will be available this summer. Although the list prices have not yet been established, the keyboard version is expected to retail for under US$2,000.