Nonlinear Labs C15 Synthesizer Now Available For Preorder

Nonlinear Labs, music tech company founded by Native Instruments founder Stephan Shmitt, will be releasing the C15, a 61-key polyphonic hardware synthesizer with digital signal processing. Typically, the ways in which hardware synths distinguish themselves from the expanse of today’s soft synths is by providing an analog signal path. However, the creative use of DSP algorithms alongside a physical environment could really be cool.

Stephan Shmitt debuts the C15 at Superbooth 2016

Phase 22 Synthesis Engine

• 2 Oscillators (sine wave, phase modulation, frequency randomization)
• 2 Shapers (sine curve, adjustable foldback and asymmetry)
• Ring Modulator
• Comb Filter (tunable, with allpass and lowpass)
• State Variable Filter (multi-mode, 2-4 poles, FM)
• Feedback Mixer (4 input signals, shaper for the sum)
• Feedback bus with 4 destinations
• Output Mixer (stereo, 4 input signals, shaper for the sum)
• 5 Stereo Effects: Cabinet (amp simulation), 8-pole Gap/Band Filter, Phaser/Flanger/Chorus, Echo, Reverb
• 3 ADBDSR Envelopes, adjustable attack curve
• Velocity sensitivities for envelope levels, attack times, and release times
• 4 Macro Controls, assignable to up to 86 target parameters
• 8 Hardware Sources, mappable to the 4 Macro Controls
• Number of parameters: 317
• Resolution of the parameters: typically 1000 steps (250 … 15000 steps)
• Resolution of key velocity, ribbons, bender, aftertouch, pedals: 4000 steps
• 12-voice polyphony, variable Unison settings
• Scale parameters for micro-tuning the 12 steps of the octave

Play Interface

• 61-key (5 octave) Fatar keybed with semi-weighted long-arm keys
• Note-on and note-off velocity sensitivity
• Monophonic aftertouch
• Two 800 mm touch strips (ribbons), each with 33 LED dots
• Ribbon modes: absolute, relative, combinable with return-to-center
• Lever (magnetic force loaded) for pitchbending and similar applications
• Control panel with an OLED display (128 x 32 dots) and four buttons
• Output volume potentiometer (at the front)
• Headphone level potentiometer (at the front)

Parameter Editing

• 4 Selection panels, each with 24 buttons and LEDs
• Labeling by exchangeable magnetic overlays
• Edit panel with an OLED display (256 x 64 dots), an incremental encoder, and 18 buttons
• The ribbons are also assignable for parameter editing.
• User-definable Init preset and Default values
• Randomize function
• Graphical user interface on any WiFi-enabled device running a browser, unique zoom-and-pan navigation, enabled for touch

As of now, the C15 is available for pre-order at a price of €4000. Also, their website states that this price reflects the true value of the instrument, given that there are no middlemen distributors taking care of shipment. The C15 also has a rent-to-buy option at €80 per month.

Via Synthtopia