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Meet Paradigm

Paradigm is the product of five years of research and development resulting in the first commercially available synthesizer based on dynamically programmable analog signal processing technology.

Unlike conventional analog synthesizers, Paradigm is uniquely capable of dynamically restructuring its own circuitry in real-time, thereby enabling a degree of flexibility and control that has not been previously possible in the analog domain.

This is made possible by an array of four “Apex” programmable analog chips, the third generation of such devices developed by Anadigm Corporation.

Analog Circuit Configurations

Analog Monophonic Synthesizer

3x Voltage Controlled Oscillators with PWM, Oscillator Sync (1->2) and Frequency Modulation

1x Multimode filter, 12db or 24db rolloff, Hi-Pass, Lo-Pass, Band-Pass, and Bandstop

Noise Generator (Pink or White)

Polyphonic Hybrid Synthesizer

2x Digital Wavetable Oscillators per note

1x Multimode filter per note, 12db or 24db rolloff, Hi-Pass, Lo-Pass, Band-Pass, and Bandstop

Stereo Analog Multimode Filter + Overdrive Amp

Specifications

Microcontroller / FPU: 216MHz Renesas SH726B RISC Processor

Analog Signal Processors: Anadigm Apex AN231E04 x 4

MIDI: In / Out / Thru

CV:

Digital Effects: Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, Reverb, Delay

Keyboard: Full size semi-weighted three octaves (37 Keys)

Bluetooth

USB: Type B for MIDI-over-USB and Firmware Updates

Optical S/Pdif (In and Out)

Power: 18 VAC / 2A

 

 

7 thoughts on “Meet Paradigm

  1. Poly rhythmic control via LFO would be interesting. I want to be able to assign an LFO to ANY parameter within whatever unit I am using, and I am consistently disappointed when certain parameters cannot be controlled by an LFO. I’m very tired and frustrated of built in limitations that have purposefully been designed to serve the market and not the user.

    I think that a random function would be very interesting on a unit like this. To be able to use a button combination to completely randomize a circuit setup would be very cool and could produce some very interesting results.

    I will be investing in your kickstarter. From what I have seen from Namm… no one is doing anything “new”. I think there’s something to be said for the fact that you showed up with a non functioning unit and demonstrated that you are working on a completely new concept. This machine is the future. I could imagine that you know this. Walking around Namm must have been a good feeling… knowing that, even your broken unit was more impressive and future driven than anything else on that floor. I think the potential for your idea is staggering.

    I can imagine a unit that can literally be any analog synth you want it to be. Oberheim… MOOG… not only any vintage synth you want it to be… but anything new someone could imagine.

    I’m curious how difficult it would be to not have limitations like voice architecture standing in the way? Like if the user had a GUI on their iPad or something like that… where they could drag and drop what they need in their kit for your unit… what are the limitations? Say for example… I take the paradigm… and I want an 8 voice, 3 DCO, synth with Oberheim filter, 3 lfos, and an 8 slot mod matrix… etc. I go into the GUI via blue tooth and essentially drag and drop what I want setup in each category…OSC… VCA… FILT… VCF… the potential here is huge. Have presets… ARP.. MS-20 etc that literally use your machine to create an ACTUAL analog circuit path that faithfully recreated these different synths in the analog domain and beyond. I see an instrument that can create instruments. Amazing. Fabulous idea.

    Add me to your email list. Please.

    1. Hey Aaron,

      I no longer need to drink coffee in the morning to get rev’d up for another day of development. I just need to read your post 🙂

      I agree that a randomization function would be neat… both for patch and sequence creation. Probably with some intelligence built in though… e.g. pitches in octaves and fifths with some detune, etc… as there are a million ways to make a synth sound bad.

      8 voices will be a little hard to pull off, as Paradigm will really be limited to 4 due to a couple of reasons (both in terms of resources in the processor as well as the analog array). And just so it’s not ambiguous, Paradigm’s oscillators are digitally generated when the 4 voice polyphonic circuit is used. Filtering, summing, and amping however is still analog. Paradigm’s fully analog circuit is monophonic, and is 3 VCOs + filtering.

      Regarding the emulation of other synthesizers, the number of circuit types will continue to grow over time, and some of them will undoubtedly be inspired by the classic analog synths that we all know and love.

      With that said however, I’ve made a conscious choice to not release any circuits specifically identified as being derived from other manufacturers designs. This is for two reasons… Firstly, I’ve been collecting synthesizers (mostly analog) for most of my life, and believe that each synth has it’s own personality, it’s own sound, and it’s own subtle intricacies that make it different from any other. Loosly speaking for example… to my ear, Rolands synths tend to sound bright, Oberheims sound silky, Sequential and Moog sound “ballsy”, and each in their own unique way. As such, a true JP8 will always be the best version of a JP8, and a true Minimoog will always be the best version of a Minimoog, and for me that could never change, and would be hard to truly rise to the level of expectation that some might have.

      Secondly, my hope is that Paradigm will really be a step in a new direction with respect to what we can do in the analog domain, and have it’s own unique and qualitative distinctiveness. And beyond the technical capabilities, I truly am hoping that it can simply be a new tool to inspire musicians with new ways to create sounds and make music.

      Thanks again for your enthusiasm and your support. I undoubtedly welcome your ideas and thoughts as things move forward.

      -Bryan

  2. I am also waiting on the very soon video and audio. This is one of the only synths I really desired to listen to at Namm and unfortunately wasn’t working. Geez, Stevie Wonder was there, he could of fell in love with it, bummer!

  3. I’d like to bring up a suggestion in regards to the design of the Paradigm–making it more aerodynamic and rounded/curvy instead of the boxy shape, giving it a more sexier and polished look. Would it also be possible to introduce other colors in the future besides black (i.e.: Navy, Gun Metal Grey, Dark Purple, etc.)?

    In regards to the Paradigm’s sound–how many waveforms in the oscillator sections would it have besides the basic Sawtooth, Square and Triangle? I’d like to hear other different waveforms in it like Pulse, Super Saw, etc. I would also like to hear the different waveforms “morph” (or in case, BLEND together) while mixing 1 or more oscillators with one another, kinda like the RSF Poly Kobol.

    Finally, in regards to the sequencer, would it be possible to add an additional 16 steps to it, and would the tempo changes be smoother in it to ensure quantize/sync capabilities?

    Thanks for reading, and looking forward to hearing from you and the finalized results soon!

    –Keven Johnson II
    Dallas, Texas

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