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Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 12:00 am
by sal paradise
Have you seen the video? Millions of views, and product designers are hailing it as some kind of synth UX revolution.
It looks and sounds cool. But hardly simpler to use than plenty of other instruments out there. As much as I’d buy one for its looks (like the teenage engineering microphone), I fear this would lead to every song you write being a rip-off of PPP by Beach House.
Nopia prototype video
Re: Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 12:56 am
by Zork
Not my cup of tea. It looks nice from a product design point of view but I neither have the feeling it's going to be fun to play, nor to program sounds. I also don't see anything particular revolutionary about the UX. It seems just very limited and the overall concept reminds me of the Korg Monotribe: a box with minimal controls to noodle around with...
Re: Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 10:13 am
by DrQuasar
It looks cool but isnt' something I'd use. It struck me as a more advanced chord organ. It seems cool but at the end of the day it's just easier to play chords on the piano. It also reminded me of that "midi chord pack" commercial that maybe you've seen on YouTube too.
Both seem to try to be selling a shortcut to learning chord progressions, chord extension, and harmony generally. Maybe there is a shortcut to that stuff but I'm not convinced.
Maybe if I wanted to pump out generic chilled-cow style lofi hip hop to read/study to as fast as possible it'd be useful.
I do like the look of it though. It looks cool.
Re: Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 10:22 am
by Zork
DrQuasar wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:13 am
Both seem to try to be selling a shortcut to learning chord progressions, chord extension, and harmony generally. Maybe there is a shortcut to that stuff but I'm not convinced.
All the grid controllers from Novation or Polyend or the Linnstrument go in the same direction, too.
Re: Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 5:05 pm
by Embenny
DrQuasar wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:13 am
Maybe if I wanted to pump out generic chilled-cow style lofi hip hop to read/study to as fast as possible it'd be useful.
That's exactly what it's designed for. Frankly, I can't imagine any other use for it.
Re: Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 5:36 pm
by marqueemoon
That’s gonna be a nopia from me.
Re: Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 10:04 am
by cbrown
Why no labels? I know it's a prototype but the build quality looks a bit school project rather than consumer product. Someone needs to focus on the sounds and usability rather than what they think looks cool.
Top comment: "As a graphic designer..."
Re: Nopia synth prototype
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 11:21 am
by marqueemoon
Honestly the MIDI capabilities of this look quite cool, and this is as valid way of making music as any other. Just not my thing.