Analog Cases has announced the XTS Stands, a new, neat, resizable desktop stand lineup for synths, drum machines, and pedals.
In an update, I reported that a reader contacted me about a similar product by Chicago-based company KVgear. To be honest, it was the first time I heard of this series. I can’t know everything that’s on the market, sorry I’m not an AI.
The company saw the release of Analog Cases and responded to it with an official statement. In this, KVgear describes the Analog Cases XTS Stands as “unauthorized knockoffs of the less expensive, more adaptable, and more expandable KVgear Utility M1 and Utility L1 stands”.
In detail:
Analog Cases XTS Stands are unauthorized knockoffs of the less expensive, more adaptable, and more expandable KVgear Utility M1 and Utility L1 stands. The same is mostly true for Innox and Headliner 2-Tier and 3-Tier desktop synth stands which are slightly enlarged knockoffs of KVgear Utility M2 and Utility M3 stands.
It appears that all of these knockoffs might be manufactured by the same company in China. KVgear stands are superior due to larger diameter telescoping tubes for greater stability, higher quality connecting knobs, higher quality rubber trim, plus mounting points for our optional EDS-UX upper tier and Adapt Wings which provide unparalleled stability.
Both products have a very similar sheet metal design and can be enlarged with a telescopic rod. So, the same concept. There are small differences in the dimensions; otherwise, I don’t see much difference. Ok, the XTS has a logo on it.
To my article: some readers misunderstood my exaggerated description of “next level”. I mean it with a funny note as it should be reminiscent of the recurring marketing phrases in press releases. But I’m now passing the “next level” on to the KVgear crew, who first had the idea.
Let’s see where this all ends. But I’m for KVgear and their original idea. And since I’m playing fair, I’m also reporting on KVgear’s statement.
The full statement is available here.
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Article Nov 13, 2023
Buying new synths, drum machines, grooveboxes, or effect pedals is easy. It’s often just a few clicks. Especially now in the Black Friday weeks. However, it is more difficult to position them in the studio so that you can work comfortably and efficiently with them. The simplest way is to place the gear on your table.
Alternatively, there are gear stands that you can find on Amazon, Etsy… or other sales platforms for cheap money. I like using this. These angle the devices so that you can play it ergonomically and have an eye on the interface with a detour.
Analog Cases has something new if you prefer something less DIY but more rock solid.
Analog Cases XTS
So far, the company has focused on bags for instruments. These are very popular. With the new XTS product series, Analog Cases opens up a new field, that of desktop stands.
Many on Etsy and other platforms already offer these kinds of desktop stands, mostly DIY, made from 3D printers or wood. Different Analog Cases from the US. They turn the idea into a solid mass product.
According to the developers, they are crafted from 100% solid sheet metal. No plastic parts are involved, and no assembly tools are required. Devices weighing up to 25 lbs/11.3 kg can be placed on the surface.
The new XTS desktop stands are available in two sizes: small (6.6″) and large (10.5″). A big highlight of this compared to the others is the expandability. So you can extend the length of the small XTS (“Xtendable”) from 6.6″ – 10.4″ and the large from 10.5″ – 18.25″.
This also allows you to place larger instruments on it, like a Korg minilogue XD,
Extra Space
If you want to use several pedals or small synths on one stand, Analog Cases offers the Flex Trails for the large XTS stands. These are boards that you can put on the large XTS, giving you space for pedals, etc. They are available in two lengths (13.3″ and 17.7″)
A Digitakt and Digitone, two SP-404 MKII, or two medium-sized pedals can be placed next to each other beautifully.
First Impression
The idea of desktop stands is not a groundbreaking one. See Etsy, etc. But Analog Cases took it to “the next level”, to describe in marketing-style slang, often found in press release. Bye-bye “DIY charm”, towards solid sheet metal and “industry-quality”. Plus, they can be expanded in just a few seconds. I really like them and am thinking about getting some for myself.
Update: A reader pointed out to me that Chicago-based company KVgear has very similar desktop stands with the Adapt L1 series. They can also be expanded using a telescopic rod. Mmm, where did Analog Cases get inspiration from? KVgear Statement
The new Analog Cases desktop stands start at $42 for the small, the large is $49, and the 13.3”/33.8 cm Flex Tray & 17.7”/44.9 cm Flex Tray (for large-sized XTS Stands) respectively retail for $29.00 and $34.00.
More information here: Analog Cases
You feature a company that seems to have directly copied from another’s design, just like another controversial big name company is doing at the moment, whilst describing their product as “next level”. Then there’s a suggestion that small companies on Etsy aren’t recognized for producing solid, high-quality products.
Maybe it would be better to feature some of the small companies that create original designs rather than companies that just copycat and pay for promotion?
1) Analog Cases doesn’t pay for promotion! It’s based on their press release
2) The information about KVgear I got after I published the article. I didn’t know that they exist. That why I say “Update”
3) I mean “next level” in a sarcasm way because you read it often in “marketing phrases ”
4) I didn’t written that the products from small developers on Etsy or so have bad quality. Many of these have a “DIY charm” as they are made in tiny badges often by one person as a side project. DIY has nothing to with bad quality.
The business world is brutal. Practical IP protection is often limited, especially for small players, and “cheap knock-off” could be used to describe 95% of everything sold at the average WalMart. KVGear is a great little company, making quality products – based on original designs – in North America. They continually improve on their models, offer flexible options and customization for rolling your own stands, support the community, participate in trade shows like KnobCon, and offer excellent service. Call me a fan.
I own a few KV Gear stands, top notch and they’re super nice. Great customer support too.
These Analog Cases stands do look like they’re a copy of the KV Gear ones. Very strange that Analog Cases would make stands (copies), they make great synth bags (I own a couple of those too)… If they’d venture into a new product line one would think that they’d want to come out with their own design…
Wow, it’s almost like a company or fanbase would try to profit off of self-interest controversy…
There is no IP to protect here. So many people are so easily confused on this topic. Nothing showcased here by either company is in any way unique or protectable. I have a big problem with everyone lately thinking that they come up with an idea and therefore, are entitled to its exclusivity. Not every idea is protectable as unique – and that is a good thing. Otherwise, we would have 1 company making bags, and 1 company making sandwiches and so on. I hold several patents and trademarks – sorry, to say, these are just rack/stands. Sure, the design may be a bit different than others, but hardly something that one can protect under law. Calling something unauthorized implies ownership. There is nothing that is remotely protectable in this case – for either company to claim. What can be said is “Hey, some other company also makes stands – and they look like the ones that we sell…”
Weren’t the Analog Cases stands just announced today? This seems sort of like a rush to judgment before anyone has even actually gotten their stands and tested them. The article says that the Analog Cases stands are made of sheet metal. The other stands I’ve seen around are all plastic, so that sounds like a nice feature and something a bit different.
They look nice indeed but they pretty similar to those from KVgear: design, concept.
Ikea used to make non adaptable laptop stands for a low price (around 10 EUR). Very useful to put small music gear on, and because of their shape easily stackable. Brada and Isberget they were called. You find them here and there still but at double or triple prices. A current one that might be useful is the Vivalla tablet stand. Around 10 EUR as well. Certainly not a knock-off, but an alternative.
Hey, this article just turned me on to KVGear! I never knew about them, have been looking for this kind of stuff, but been turned off by a lot of the DIY stuff on Etsy & Reverb. Ive bought a few of those 3D printed stands and I just dont get on with them well for long. I have 3 and dont use them at all anymore. Anyhow, looks like KVGear is pretty darn affordable as well! So all in all a solid post! Thanks !
This is Mike from KVgear. There are good 3D printed stands and bad 3D printed stands.
I once had an irate customer on ebay telling me how crappy our stands were and how upset he was that we ripped him off. Rather than argue, I gave him a full refund and asked him to ship the stand back using a prepaid mailing label I sent him. Once the package arrived I ripped it open to find a pile unfamiliar junk. I eventually realized it was several 3D printed panels and a bunch of bits from a hardware store. It looked like something cobbled together in a high school shop class. Unfortunately, someone was making money selling this junk on ebay and Mr. Irate Customer imagined that he bought it from us.
On the other end of the spectrum, 3DWaves makes excellent 3D printed stands. And, strangely enough, they’ve gotten caught up in the Analog Cases debacle. It’s not my story to tell, so you’ll have to check their IG story if you want details.
You cannot patent or claim ownership of the design for an angled shelf held together by a dowel; it’s an obvious design that a reasonably intelligent person could come up with after a few experiments. Online marketplaces are filled with various metal, wooden and plastic designs. Some feature a single horizontal dowel, some have several. Some use a dowel and shelf for rigidity and others have custom steel backplates that shelves hook into.
Personally, I use adjustable laptop stands from Amazon to hold desktop modules. They cost under $10.
I think knockoff-gate has definitely gone on too long if people are getting precious about this. It’s just some bits from a music stand.
Yeah, this is ridiculous.
I almost had sympathy for KVgear, but then I read their statement “Beware of Knockoffs”.
It sounded so arrogant and privileged.
This funniest thing though is the “timeline” that KVgear provides to “prove” Analog Cases have knocked them off actually proves KVgear started out by making Korg Volca power supplies! So a knockoff of the Korg ones then! Then Volca daisy chain cables and Volca stands. Things that other manufacturers were also making at the time.
Absolutely ridiculous!
KVgear, you’ve just definitively lost a potential customer with that statement.
Arrogant? Maybe, although that wasn’t my intention. I was going for a mocking tone. Analog Cases was so clumsy in jumping the shark that the shark jumped them back.
Privileged? Never. I expect no special treatment. It would be nice if people support us, but I won’t skip a beat if they don’t.
There is no univerally accepted definition of a knockoff. As such, the concept can’t be reduced to only deep black versus blazing white. There’s a huge grey zone. AC/DC power supplies have been mass manufactured for decades and are now a commodity, with almost every cheap consumer model having essentially the same design. For most situations, designing a power supply today is nothing more than running through a checklist of features. In the early 21st century, I see zero possibility of any consumer-grade AC/DC power supply being a knockoff of another.
I’m glad you brought up Volca daisy chain cables and Volca stands. We were the first company to produce either of those. Seriously. No other manufaturers were making either item when we released ours. I built and exhibited our first Volca case at Knobcon 2013 before Volcas were even available for purchase. When I designed our first Volca daisy chain cable I was watching the marketplace like a hawk to see if any competitors were around. They weren’t.
Agree. I own several Analog Cases, they’re a cool company and have been making some great stuff for a while now. IMO, the KV statement just seems over the top and comes across as mean-spirited and petty.
Well all this says to me is that don’t get your goods manufactured in China because they will sell your idea, manufacture a cheaper version to someone else.
This is Mike from KVgear. I want to thank Synth Anatomy for publicizing our statement on this matter without us even requesting it. Classy move!
I’ve been overwhelmed by the supportive comments here on Synth Anatomy, plus supportive messages sent directly to us by customers, synth reviewers, synth media organizations, and even one of our competitors.
I find the ethical issues related to knockoffs fascinating. Although I care deeply about ethical behavior, my focus in this situation isn’t on that. It’s on the false claims made by Analog Cases in their XTS stand description, their bizzare choice to charge more for their knockoff than the original, and their decision to release a knockoff that is less adaptable and less extendable that the original.
The marketing department at Analog Cases is pushing hard to spread the word about their knockoff XTS stands. I’m spreading the word about the even better original stands made by KVgear.
Update: Check out our video where we compare the Analog Cases XTS stand to our Utility M1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIXOodgmRio SPOILERS: 1) the stands are almost identical except Analog Cases XTS stands have slippery plastic edge trim instead of the extra grippy rubber edge trim on the Utility M1, 2) XTS stand side panels easily become wobbly because the knobs don’t stay tight, and 3) the CEO of Analog Cases bought a bunch of KVgear Utility M1 stands and Expansion Shelves several months ago and a few months later they launched the nearly-identical XTS stands.