I think what's happened recently in the budget music production world through companies like Korg and Teenage Engineering perhaps shows an analogous way forward here.
Korg started making the $60 monotron analog synths, and then the hackable Monotribe, and then offered the Volca series. These are all portable, affordable, hackable, and have a cool, retro (analog) factor, and they've charmed and enticed both non-traditional and new producers as well as those who favor more pro-level instruments. They've generated new side avenues for the company, and continue to evolve from within those designs.
As as for Teenage Engineering, they have their flagship synth/sampler in the $850 OP-1, but they started producing the Pocket Operators series, which are way cheaper (under $100), even more portable (and quirky, with optional cases), and seemingly pretty popular.
Roland, Novation, Yamaha and others have similarly joined the fray, making budget miniature instruments that also harken back to their classic pieces.
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Re: Talking Point: Retro-Focused, Innovative and Inexpensive Portables Should Be Part of Nintendo's Future
I think what's happened recently in the budget music production world through companies like Korg and Teenage Engineering perhaps shows an analogous way forward here.
Korg started making the $60 monotron analog synths, and then the hackable Monotribe, and then offered the Volca series. These are all portable, affordable, hackable, and have a cool, retro (analog) factor, and they've charmed and enticed both non-traditional and new producers as well as those who favor more pro-level instruments. They've generated new side avenues for the company, and continue to evolve from within those designs.
As as for Teenage Engineering, they have their flagship synth/sampler in the $850 OP-1, but they started producing the Pocket Operators series, which are way cheaper (under $100), even more portable (and quirky, with optional cases), and seemingly pretty popular.
Roland, Novation, Yamaha and others have similarly joined the fray, making budget miniature instruments that also harken back to their classic pieces.