My Striso (#42) arrived today. It was very well packed. I admit I was a bit anxious about what to do but there is a lot of information, a quick start guide, a nice chart with note layout and settings layout.
It is tiny, it is very cute. The USB cable seems solid and in the same color tones as the wood in the Striso. The bag is also a nice add. It seems hand made and I love it. It gives a feeling of luthier, handcraft. Wonderful!
With the settings chart by my side it is very easy to turn MPE on and off, adjust velocity sensitivity and other things. Even the tuning (different tunings are a button away) but I haven’t ventured into that realm yet.
I have tried stand alone. I guess I have to get used to the sound but I’m glad there is a built-in sound anyway. Then I tried with the iPad. No problem connecting it in AUM: Continua and DRC in MPE mode, Resonator (from the Spectrum bundle) in Mono MIDI. I was positively surprised to hear Animoog responding very well to the touches. I had kind of given up on it with my Linnstrument but I think I could try again with the Striso.
Then a quick preset surfing with Equator (1) on desktop. Funny to see how different sounds respond. Some are better suited than others, showing that every controller is different.
The layout is completely new for me, so that will take my learning time in the near future. The pads are very responsive, a bit sticky and “weird” in the beginning. Despite of being so soft they let themselves be hit and respond well to velocity. The glissando button is also something I have to practice but I don’t miss it badly.
I played with it on the table. Trying to hold it on my other hand didn’t work for me. I can both play with left and right hands (I play Linnstrument with the left) and chord shapes are almost easier for me with the left but I would like to learn to play with the right anyways.
I guess I’m going to venture on some easy melodies and interval routines to learn the layout of the notes and get used to the touch of the pads.
Something I’d like to see is a way to turn MPE messages on and off (pressure and timbre) independently. There are free pads for it in the settings.
I haven’t noticed the higher pitch that @rdjvonk mentions but again, I haven’t played “against” other instruments.
Anyway, I’m very happy with my first encounter with the Striso. It makes a good companion for the Linnstrument. The rest is practice.
Congratulations with the release, @pierstitus. Wishing for more children and grandchildren to leave the nest.