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Knobcon

Knobcon

Tickets available soon for Knobcon Number Eleven, September 8-10, 2023!

What is Knobcon?

Knobcon is a one-of-a-kind synthesizer convention now in its eleventh year. Complete with performances, workshops and vendors, Knobcon allows for a fully immersive experience. Attendees can get their hands on an incredible amount of equipment, learn from industry professionals and talk directly with designers of some of today's most innovative synthesizer products.

Held just outside Chicago, Ill., at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, the entire event takes place under one roof. Enthusiasts travel from all parts of the world to attend this yearly event. Direct access to all major forms of transportation make this an easy destination for those traveling.

Who should attend?

If you are interested in electronic-based or experimental music and the tools used to create it, this is the place for you. The diversity and passion of those at knobcon make it enjoyable for all experience levels.

 

Purchase Tickets

$60

Purchase Tickets

Purchase tickets before May 1, 2023 and save $15 off the regular admission price!
This ticket is good for the entire 3-day event - we do not offer tickets for individual days.

 

Hotel Rooms Available

book hotel

 

2022 Vendors and Exhibitors

  • 1010 Music
  • 4ms
  • ALM / Busy Circuits
  • Analogue Solutions
  • Artisan Electronic Instruments
  • Ashun Sound Machines
  • Bjooks
  • Black Corporation
  • Buchla USA
  • Catalyst Audio
  • Circuit Happy
  • Colebourne Development
  • Conductive Labs
  • Delptronics
  • Division 6
  • Dreadbox
  • Electronic Hardware Corp.
  • Elektron
  • Entropy & Sons
  • Five 12
  • Foxing Hour
  • FutureRetro
  • Golden Shrimp Guild
  • Grove Audio
  • Hammond USA
  • IK Multimedia
  • Industrial Music Electronics
  • Isla Instruments
  • JoMoX
  • Kanawha Music and Art
  • KVGear
  • Low-Gain Electronics
  • Madisynths
  • KVGear
  • Metalphoto of Cincinnati
  • Michigan Synth Works
  • Midiverse Modular / MOD-squad
  • Modal Electronics
  • Modbap Modular
  • Modular for the Masses
  • Moffenzeef Modular
  • Mordax Systems
  • Muse Electronic Instruments
  • Music Equipment Concepts
  • New Systems Instruments
  • Noise Engineering
  • Novation
  • Pluton Modular
  • Polyend
  • Precision Graphics
  • Prism Circuits
  • PWM
  • Real Fake Knobs
  • RezinCraft
  • Rides in the Storm
  • Rogan Corporation
  • Schlappi Engineering
  • SetonixSynth
  • Sequential/Oberheim
  • Sonocurrent
  • STG Soundlabs
  • Studio Electronics
  • Synth City
  • Synthstrom Audible
  • Tangible Waves
  • Therevox
  • this.is.NOISE inc
  • Tidbit Audio
  • Ultraviolet Music Synthesizers
  • Vondle Synths
  • Weston Precision Audio
  • Wildwood Soundworks
  • WMD
  • XOR Electronics
  • Zlob Modular

Interested in becoming a Knobcon exhibitor? Click Here

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Build an Attenumixer Module!

Hosted by Żłob Modular
Saturday, Sept 10 @ 11am
Difficulty: Beginner/Easy

MiniAtt Module Build

The Attenumixer is a 4hp 3 channel Passive Attenuator and Mixer for eurorack format modular synthesizers.

Each channel is normalled to the sum(VI) so it can be used as a 2 channel mixer and 1 channel attenuator, or a 3 channel mixer, or as 3 separate attenuators. Normalization to the sum is broken by inserting a jack into the outs of channels I-III. The Attenumixer works well with both cv and audio, although the potentiometers have a linear response. Since the module is passive there will be signal loss at the sum out.

The module comes with a double sided panel one side is classic with the traditional graphics and the reverse side is soulless with no graphics, only text(not pictured).

Learn to solder! Żłob Modular will teach you basic soldering techniques and lead you through building the Attenumixer module.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORKSHOP
You will need to purchase the $35 Attenumixer kit from Żłob Modular HERE. Please select the "Attenumix Knobcon DIY Workshop" option and the "DIY Workshop Pickup" option during checkout to avoid paying shipping.

Some kits may be available for purchase on-site, however, you can secure your place in the workshop by pre-ordering your kit.

Zlob Modular

Knobcon Workshops

 

INFORMATIVE WORKSHOPS & PAID PROGRAMMING

Schedule subject to change.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

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

Marc Doty, the undisputed king of YouTube synthesizer videos provides as comprehensive a primer about synthesis which could be reasonably expected to fit in ninety minutes.

 

Exploring Circuit Rhythm’s Live Sampling and Re-Sampling Capabilities   12:30pm (Copper/Maize/Sage)

Novation Technology Evangelist, Enrique Martinez, will demonstrate all the creative and expressive sampling features of the newest member of Novation’s groovebox family; Circuit Rhythm. By sampling vinyl records and real sounds, live and on the fly, he will show you how Circuit Rhythm can be the centerpiece of any creative session, live or in the studio, and a sampling powerhouse that can transform sounds into magic.

 

Studio Organization  2:00pm (Copper/Maize/Sage)

How to get the most out of your gear and space; Jon Sonnenberg presents ideas and tips on everything related to your workspace: from wiring and cabling to stands and ergonomics. If you want to better utilize your equipment, make room for gear that you have in storage, or simply have more time for music and experimentation and less setup time, then this presentation is one that you won’t want to miss!

 

Dr. Manny's Phase Time Playhouse  4:00pm (Copper/Maize/Sage)

You love it ! You hate it !! It has ‘that sound’. It’s a pain to program and you can’t figure out what’s going on. Well, maybe what you think you know about FM is wrong or wildly outdated? In this presentation, long time Yamaha FM programmer Manny Fernandez will show that once you disregard the stereotypes you’ll see FM synthesis is a near ideal blend of efficiency, versatility, complexity & control with a massive timbral palette. Manny will review the FM basics and share these advanced techniques with you to open up the sonic possibilities when rolling your own FM patches.

 

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

The Sound of Total Nuclear Annihilation (A Pinball Game) 10:30am (Copper/Maize/Sage)

Scott Danesi tells the adventure of building a production pinball machine which became a medium for sharing his love of electronic music with the ever-growing pinball community.

 

Chasing a Ghost: The Synth Secrets of The Ondes Martenot 12:30pm (Copper/Maize/Sage)

From 1928 until his death in 1980, Maurice Martenot designed and continually refined one of the most expressive electronic musical instruments. To this day, inner workings of the instrument remain shrouded in secrecy and lore. Mike Beauchamp from Therevox, will explore the history of this rare instrument, the DNA it reluctantly shares with contemporary synthesizers and what we can still learn from Martenot’s unique vision.

 

Drew Schlesinger: Ask Me Anything 2:00pm (Copper/Maize/Sage)

From designing presets for hundreds of synthesizers and effects processors back to David Torn’s first recorded collaborator, Knobcon guest of honor Drew Schlesinger answers your questions. Moderated by Suit & Tie Guy.

 

The History of Polyphony  3:30pm (Copper/Maize/Sage)

The history of synthesizers has been a wild blur of technological development, visionary composition, and manic entrepreneurial spirit and as a result, synthesizer terminology can be very confusing. Presented by Marc Doty.

 

 

BUILD WORKSHOPS - Saturday and Sunday

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

Build a Żłob Attenumix!

1-2 Hours (beginner)

Keven Kalay from Żłob Modular will host the building of his flexible utility module. This build is for both adults and kids who can safely wield a soldering iron.

 

Build a Distortion Module!

1-2 Hours (beginner)

Modular for the Masses will guide you through the process of building a Hungry Rat distortion module.

 

Build a Kick Drum Module!

1-2 Hours (beginner)

Modular for the Masses will guide you through the process of building a Double Pluss Bass drum module.

 

Build an Analog Filter Module!

1-2 Hours (beginner)

Modular for the Masses will guide you through the process of building a MantisLadder filter module.

 

 

 

Saturday Only

Andrew Zeuske (ZpaceTree) has curated a roster of talented visual artists to present a full day of educational content for budding VJ artists as well as professionals. Learn about a variety of software used for live visuals and content creation as well as the hardware and technology used in live shows.

This day of programming culminates in a visual extravaganza at The Big Room - a live electronic music event on Saturday beginning at 8pm.

Click here to download the flyer.

 

10am - 11am Andrew Zeuske - Birdsigh

Resolume Arena: Advanced output mapping, Spout, NDI - Intro to LED programming with Nova LCT

 

11am - 12pm Patrick Connely - Neocord

Using the free vj software Smode Studio to quickly visualize animated ideas

 

12pm - 2pm Jorge Hurtado - Uhnamoly

3D animation and rendering with Cinema4d and Octane

 

2pm - 4pm Breck Wood - Truffula

Generative art: Building real-time networks using audio-reactive and manual inputs in Touch Designer

 

4pm - 5pm Jonna Petrou - Jonnap Arts

Through the motions: Building a vj pack in Adobe After Effects 

 

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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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