Superbooth 24: German company ESI previewed the Xsynth, a new portable Synthesizer with polyphonic aftertouch keyboard.
The Superbooth 24 is officially finished. The follow-up reporting is in full swing. Overlooked in the flood of new products was that the German company ESI, known for audio and MIDI interfaces, also makes synthesizers.
At Superbooth 24, ESI showcased the prototype of the Xsynth Synthesizer.
ESI Xsynth
In the last minutes of SB 2024,I could talk to Lukas, the developer of the Xsynth. According to him, the Xsynth will have three oscillators based on sample-based content stored in the ROM. There will be classic waveforms but extraordinary oscillator samples from field recordings, such as nature.
Then, you will have a filter, three multi-wave LFOs, and three envelopes. In case you say from where you know Lukas. He was once part of the Waldorf development team. So, no unknown developer face. Also familiar are the case and keys of the Xsynth.
ESI uses the same super slim chassis and keybed of the Xkeys keyboards, which have polyphonic aftertouch. This is possible because ESI took over the Xkeys keyboard range from the Chinese company CME.
The synth will have six encoders and many buttons to navigate the menu and operate functions.
You can find a USB-C port for MIDI, TRS mini jacks for MIDI in and out, a phone socket, a Line out, and auxiliary input on the backside. According to Lukas of ESI, the Xsynth will be both an audio and MIDI interface.
First Impression
There is no sound demo yet, as the synth is fully developed. But I find the form factor and idea intriguing. Let’s see how it will sound.
All details are not yet public. ESI plans to release the Xsynth in October/November 2024 (estimated).
More information will follow here: ESI
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