Twisted Electrons has announced its FLEXFM synth and sampler is now on preorder. FLEXFM features eight independent tracks, four operators per voice, over 30 operator engines, and three ways to morph sounds. Each voice has its own multimode analogue filter. Use it to warm digital sounds, open up a resonant […]
Max for Cats has launched the New Digital Frame (NDF) Synth eight-voice Max for Live instrument built on 16 sine partials stored across eight timbre frames. Each partial has its own amplitude, ratio, FM depth, pan, shape, detune, decay and onset delay, and a frame-morph envelope blends smoothly between the […]
It’s been nearly two years since Teenage Engineering’s OP-XY mini synthesiser launched, and today they’ve rolled out version 1.2.0 of the operating system, adding a number of features. Main upgrades include the addition of a drum synth, multichannel audio over USB-C, a new dynamic filter, expanded envelope controls, and a […]
Rob Papen has released the second version of the QUAD virtual synth that focuses on phase distortion and wave shaping. QUAD-2 sports a new interface and features such as the Ribbon Controller, Filter Types, FX and more. Sound sculpting tools — Phase Distortion and WaveShaper — begin in each oscillator […]
UJAM has announced the launch of two new plugins: Beatmaker BOUNCE (BB) and Usynth BOUNCE (UB), both inspired by the late-’90s and early-2000s R&B, hip-hop and club music. Designed to work together, BB provides drums and grooves, while UB offers up the basses, leads, keys and synth textures. BB takes […]
1. Stylophone S-1 ($30–$40) The modern version of the original 1968 pocket synthesizer remains one of the simplest ways into electronic sound. Its three-octave metal keyboard is played with a tethered stylus, with analogue synthesis, vibrato, built-in speaker and 3.5mm audio connections. It is deliberately limited, but that’s part of […]
Bigzun recently announced its Stochastic Scale CV/Gate sequencer, producing melodies that never plays the same twice. Stochastic means random, or involving a random probability variable and chance. That’s exactly what’s going on with the scale sequencer — sequences are reshaped before every step based on the set probability, but always […]
wozLOL has announced the launch of the Foxwizard pocket-sized MIDI multitool which can be used to route and remap MIDI data without the need for a computer. It works over USB-C, TRS types A and B, TS, and classic 5-pin DIN. It’s possibly the smallest complete USB MIDI adapter available […]
Trilling Synths has announced its DARP Dual Arpeggiator Eurorack module is now available. This powerful arpeggiator is built for precise pitch, flexible timing and hands-on modulation — twice. Both arpeggiators share the same scale or chord, while keeping independent control over mode, speed, floor note, octave range, gate length, glide […]
AudioThing has released its Materia additive re-synthesiser, allowing you to load in a sample, reshape its harmonic partials, and play it polyphonically. Check out pricing on Plugin Boutique After a lot of recent FM synth love, here we have some additive synthesis goodness. Most people probably have their favourite or […]
The latest version of AudioPrism has landed, a Windows app which not only offers stem separation of any audio file you give it, but can mix and add effects to those stems, and even offers KeyPrism, a piano mode built for learning. AudioPrism Give AudioPrism any complete music audio track […]
Yann Seznec (Impractical Devices) has shown off his new gestural granular synthesiser that uses nylon cable salvaged from a Gametrak controller to play and manipulate whatever audio is recorded into it. Simply push the record button and speak, sing, play anything into the device, then press the play button while […]
After six years of hardware and particularly Eurorack instruments, Modbap launches its oneTHING series of single-purpose plugins for DAW use, beginning with Fidelity Theory. Instead of merely treating sample rate and bit depth as good or bad, high or low quality, it turns them into a creative opportunity. A single […]
Våld Labs has launched a free public beta for its new Ravik generative drum synth app/plugin, featuring eight voices, 47 synth engines, nine generative algorithms, sound shaping, modulation and more. On board sounds include not only more traditional drums and percussion, but strings, metallic sounds, particles and fractured noise. Everything […]
No-one could suggest any of the current Stylophone lineup was anything but portable, but Dubreq has decided to miniaturise the iconic instrument even further with the launch of the Mini. Available in three colours — black (original), white and pink — it has the unmistakable Stylophone look, just in a […]
Update: It’s the Stylophone Mini. Stylophone has sent out a teaser email asking “What’s in the Tin?” with what looks rather like an Altoids tin but branded with the Stylophone logo and “Est. 1968”. A couple of months ago, manufacturer Dubreq had to send out a bit of an apology […]
Browsing around various MIDI innovation sites recently, I stumbled upon the Shaper MIDI/synth controller. Though it has familiar elements you may have seen elsewhere (not least the guitar) it is — probably — unique in how notes are played and manipulated. Most controllers are still keyboard based, even if they […]
Gabriel Prokofiev (yes, he is the grandson of Sergei) will have his Concerto for Minimoog Synthesizer and Orchestra performed as part of the Masterworks 3: Double Take event in Asheville, NC. This US premiere will take place on 14th November, 2pm and 8pm at First Baptist Church of Asheville, and […]
Just past the year since UDO launched the DMNO synth comes the DMNO ON, a compact sans-keyboard synth ideal for desktop use if you already have plenty of keyboards to control it. Like its bigger sibling, it’s an 8-voice, 2-part multitimbral synth built around two independent analog-hybrid synth engines. It […]
Arturia has launched firmware version 2 for the AstroLab range of keyboards, with two main enhancements leading the way — the Sound Edit feature and a range of new acoustic sounds. Sound Edit This is Arturia’s headline feature, allowing more control over voice and multi sound changes and development. Instead […]