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Knobcon Workshops

 

INFORMATIVE WORKSHOPS & PAID PROGRAMMING

Schedule subject to change.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

The Basics of Synthesis   10:30am (Copper/Maize)

Drew Schlesinger @drewschlesinger, synthesist, composer and sound designer, provides as comprehensive a primer about synthesis which could be reasonably expected to fit in ninety minutes.

 

Control at Your Fingertips: Novation’s New Launch Control XL 3   12:30pm (Copper/Maize)

Get ready to elevate your studio sessions and live sets with Novation Product Specialist Evan Weiss, and the brand-new Launch Control XL, Novation’s latest hands-on controller. Join us as we dive into seamlessly integrating the Launch Control XL with synths and drum machines, enhancing tactile creative freedom, and streamlining your workflow for both studio production and live performance.

 

Tempo Sync - The Studio's Missing Link  2:00pm (Copper/Maize)

Jon Sonnenberg returns to discuss traditional and creative ways to get all of your equipment playing in perfect time.

 

Creating Acoustic Space for Electronic Music  4:00pm (Copper/Maize)

Bill Beith explains the finer details of using reverberation, delay, and echo as an element of the composition and producing a final mix. He is Chicagoland's very own plate reverb craftsman, having built plates for many facilities including Van Halen's 5150 Studios.

 

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Centennial of an Inventor: Alan R. Pearlman, Futurist, Musician, Inventor & Mentor   11:00am (Copper/Maize)

ARP instruments helped form the sounds of the 1970s. But who was the inventor and the man behind the company of such iconic instruments like the 2600 and Odyssey? Dina Pearlman-Ifill (d’ARP) presents a multimedia story about her father, Alan R. Pearlman, his influence and importance to the industry, and why his story is so relevant a hundred years after his birth.

 

Limitation Inspiration - Composing for Retro Game Cartridges 12:30pm (Copper/Maize)

James Vance (JGVEX, Kudante), composer and sound designer of ZPF, explores how the intricacies and limits of retro hardware can push your creativity further than endless options ever could.

Take a listen to the soundtrack and bring your questions!

 

Live AMA with Cameron Jones 2:00pm (Copper/Maize)

Get answers to all those burning questions you have about the Synclavier, it's legacy and it's future directly from the man responsible for it's creation and preservation. Moderated by Suit & Tie Guy.

 

 

BUILD WORKSHOPS - Saturday and Sunday

Click images to learn more about each workshop and how to reserve your participation.

Saturday 11am

1-2 Hours (beginner)

Żłob Modular will teach you basic soldering skills during the building of this attenuverting mixer module. This build is for both adults and kids who can safely wield a soldering iron.

 

Saturday 2pm

1-2 Hours (intermediate)

Juanito from Modular for the Masses will guide you through the process of building a voltage-controlled slope generator module.

 

Sunday 11am

1-2 Hours (intermediate)

Build the BadSidechain Eurorack module with step-by-step instruction from Juanito of Modular for the Masses.

 

Sunday 2pm

1-2 Hours (beginner)

Keven Kalay from Żłob Modular hosts the building of this unique 3 band EQ Eurorack module.

 

Join us for Great Build Workshops

Learn the basics of soldering, or take your hobby to the next level!

KNOBCON HIGHLIGHTS

Synthesizers, Workshops, Synthesizers, Performances and more Synthesizers!


Friday night is a party!

Hang out with other knobcon attendees, have a drink and catch gear-centric performances.


Gear, Gear, Gear!

Get your hands on amazing vintage pieces and the latest and greatest boxes. Monosynths, polysynths, modular and more will all be there.


Meet The Makers

Many boutique manufacturers will be on hand demonstrating and even selling the gear they produce.   

Feedback from previous Knobcons

As expected, a spectacular event

Learned a lot, laughed a ton, listened to good music, met great people and bought too much new gear. I have no complaints at all!

 

The whole thing was extremely enjoyable

I made more friends last weekend than I have in years that are in to the same stuff as me. Cheers to everyone involved in planning it!

 

Had a great time!

Even though I did not know anyone there, I was made to feel welcome and part of the gang.

 

Thanks for the awesome time everyone!

I saw tons of amazing things for the first time and met tons of cool people, not a bad one in the bunch!

 

Had a great time!

Learned a lot about modular synths and other gear. Enjoyed the "low-key" relaxed environment and the Knobcon staffers were helpful and very professional. Hope to make it back next year.

 

Knobcon was amazing!

Loved getting to try out the new and old gear. Everyone there was super cool, and I will definitely be back next year.

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