Vongon Replay is a new Roland Juno-style 6-voice polyphonic Synthesizer with an original design that has simplicity and playability in mind.
The US-based company Vongon is known to many guitarists for its original pedal designs. The Polyphrase stereo effect pedal is particularly popular and is loved by many synthesizer players for its ambient sounds.
Big surprise today. Vongon goes into the Synthesizer world with the new Replay.
Vongon Replay
Replay’s design and concept are strikingly different. First, it looks like it was made from one piece. This also applies to the keybed. Instead of classic white and black keys, it is plain, uses Cherry MX keys, and is beautifully placed in the housing.
The lack of traditional pitch and mod wheels reinforces Vongon’s unique design decision. Yes, it looks exceptional. However, a major flaw of the design is the choice of the labeling color. White on white doesn’t fit here at all.
On the engine side, the choice is just as intriguing. Fans of trillions of features will miss a lot here. Replay is a 6-voice Synthesizer powered by a virtual analog engine and a multimode arpeggiator.
According to Vongon, it is inspired by beloved keyboard synths of the early 80s like the Roland Juno and Korg Polysix.
At the heart of Replay’s sound engine is a primary oscillator with multiple selectable waveforms (square, triangle, sine, and ramp modes). Additionally, you can mix a noise generator in the signal and work with pulse-width and LFO pitch modulation.
The signal then goes into a 4-pole lowpass filter with a high resonant and warm character. The filter includes modulation depth controls from the primary envelope, keyboard tracking, and the LFO.
On the modulation side, it offers an organic ADSR envelope generator with exponential release and a single multi-wave, clockable LFO. There is also a VCA with various features, including an option for maximum amplitude and modulation source.
Arpeggios On The Fly
This very Juno-like engine is supported by a clockable arpeggiator, with its engaging, fun feature set, says Vongon. It offers various polyphonic latched and keyed modes, including up/down, order, random, and more.
Further, you can save up to 31 presets in the unit. This is not done with a menu with a display but via the keyboard keys. Here, each key hosts a preset slot. Additional alternative options are available via a secret menu system,
On the back side, you get a 1/4″ TRS line-level input and output, a 3.5mm TRS MIDI in/out, compatible with type A or B adapters, and a micro USB port – ouch. The latter handles MIDI data as a bridge to the web interface and as an alternative power supply.
First Impression
From the hard facts, it is a digital Juno-60/Polysix with a feature-rich arpeggiator—nothing fancy new in terms of features. You can also take a Dreadbox Nymphes or a Roland JU-06 with a Keystep 37. You end up with significantly cheaper. And Nymphes is full analog. So, at first glance, it is more of a redesigned Juno/Polysix with a different user interface.
But I find the idea of how the whole thing is implemented interesting. They transferred their pedals’ concepts to the synth world, making it as simple and playable as possible. Thus, there is no annoying menu diving, feature walls hidden under three menu button combinations, etc. This is an intriguing idea for designing a Synthesizer. From the synthesis side, it’s a bit weak to my taste.
Vongon Replay is available now for $899.
More information here: Vongon
Available at my partner
Kind of cool, but ridiculously overpriced for what you’re getting.
The whole orchestrated influencer review thing feels a bit stale by now. I wish companies would explore more creative ways to promote their releases.
Insanely overpriced and underdesigned. A single digital oscillator, single envelope, no chorus. The keys? And all. For 900usd,is this some lifestyle product for rich, out of touch people? Good luck to them, honestly.
This front panel gives me an understanding of what it must feel like to be losing your eyesight. It’s arty and all, but I’d prefer something I can actually read.
Spend a little more and get a synth from UDO, you don’t even have to thank me later.
In this case, a little more is much more 😉
This is absolutely ridiculous and expensive. I can’t understand why musicians criticize the Korg Prologue… since these instruments are useless.
Hipster synth for hipsters
Just a clarification, the unit unfortunately has a micro usb port, not usb-c.
One can admire the different and design language being employed here, however the extremes of form over function makes this simultaneously a bit over simplified and complicated. A screen with an equally unique ui could have made this far more usable and viable.
The Queen is not amused…..
Off with his he…..