Novation has launched two grid controllers specifically made for use with FL Studio. A smaller FLpad Mini and the larger FLpad both offer deep integration with the DAW, though they can also be used with other software as a standard MIDI controller. Anyone familiar with grid controllers will already have […]
Audio Modeling has announced the imminent arrival of a polyphonic version of its SWAM (Synchronous Waves Acoustic Modeling) expressive plugin. SWAM, developed by the company, has always deliberately been monophonic, preferring realism and expressive control over attempting polyphony. PolySWAM is a completely rebuilt instrument — SWAM has not been changed […]
Lyon-based Parallel Minds has just dropped the Atavism spectral effect plugin which can be used to turn any track or complete project into its own pad, evolving as the underlying audio changes. Pretty simple to use, you just add the VST3 or AU audio effect plugin to any track, bus […]
Dehli Musikk (Benjamin Dehli) has developed the Overtonium 32-partial overtone soft synth, with the emphasis on every control being visible and available – using the layout structure of a mixing desk. This is an additive synth, which works on the principle of adding sine waves together — a stack of […]
Almost three years after OXI launched Coral, firmware 3 has been released, offering new synth engines and custom firmware ability. Highlights include six new engines: FMX7 (based on DX7), ACID 2, OB-VA, String 2 Machine, Pianoz engine, and Stitcher engine. There’s also a drone mode, wavetable selection, new engine memory, […]
Around about three years after a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, the quirky CHOMPI handheld synth is officially discontinued. Once any remaining stock is sold, it’s gone — remaining in the hands of the users who backed, bought and love it. Devs at Chase Bliss put out the video yesterday explaining […]
For just over three months during autumn and winter, visitors to the South Bank Centre in London can experience a virtual reality piano concert featuring an avatar of internationally-recognised pianist Yuja Wang. Playing with Fire: An Immersive Odyssey sees visitors wearing a VR headset for the 45-minute performance, where they […]
Gazillion Industries has announced the availability of its WINNETKA polysynth with vocoder plugin, also featuring 350 presets covering bass, lead, pads, FX, percussion, arpeggiator and vocoder. Sounds can be played singly or double layered, the vocoder does what you’d expect to your voice via mic input, or alternatively it will […]
Music Thing has announced the second version of its Radio Music 4HP Eurorack sample player module will be available towards the end of October this year, five years after the original Radio Music was retired due to a lack of chip availability. The module is something between a CV controllable […]
Spitfire Audio collaborated with technologist and composer BT to create the Phoenix hybrid synth designed for cinematic sound design. It features six synthesis engines — spectral wavetables, FM, sampler, 2OP FM transients, subharmonic generation, and complex noise oscillator — to provide sounds which evolve with movement even from single notes. […]
KORG has announced its Module mobile sound app for iPhone and iPad has expanded its library to include LA Studio Drums, built around a meticulously-recorded acoustic drum kit with a distinct jazzy character. LA Studio Drums was recorded in the studio of a top session drummer, with the kit built […]
AudioThing has announced the availability of the second version of its Orb formant filter plugin, which first launched several years ago, that simulates the characteristics of the human voice, notably vowel sounds. The Orb 2 can transform any sound into a vowel-like formant-filtered sound, using three band pass filters, three […]
Plogue has announced the full availability of its chipsynth OPMZ software emulator of some of Yamaha’s vintage chips, found in early arcade game hardware, home computers and Yamaha synths. Four of Yamaha’s OP* chips have been meticulously emulated, meaning you get as close to the hardware reproduction as possible without […]
This summer, NUX launched its portable digital piano, the NPK-200, offering a decent playing experience in a transportable form factor. A lot of portable pianos don’t put in full piano action keyboards, partly due to their weight, but the NPK-200 features the WKJ-03 triple-sensor scaled hammer action keyboard with escapement […]
Kaona has announced its B.A.C.H. melodic, harmonic and rhythmic generator Eurorack module, which can generate over four tracks and gain feedback from the pitch, duration and dynamics of the existing track activity, plus compositional rules and constraints defined by the musician. There are a dozen compositional languages (CL) which deliver […]
Shortly after Synido added to its TempoKEY range of MIDI controllers, it launches the Scale Pocket portable device, aimed primarily at older children and music students as a way to quickly and interactively learn music scales. In addition, it functions as a mini instrument and MIDI controller. It features (just […]
The M-VAVE FM-1 DX7ish pocket synth has caused quite a stir since it launched earlier this year, for its compact, feature-packed, retro-nodding goodness at a decently low price. Good though it is, there’s always room for improvement, and while M-VAVE has released official firmware updates, there was always the strong […]
In under a month since the Traveler cinematic hybrid synth launched it has already received its first update, based on the developers (KeySolutions Sounds) listening to feedback from its early adopter users. Improvements include the much requested additional modulation destinations, so Traveler 1.1 now has 50 more, bringing the total […]
Expressive E continues to develop the Osmose synth controller keyboard first shown off over three years ago, with the release of firmware version 2.3. This free update offers more extensive integration with leading DAWs, as well as general MIDI connectivity improvements, a new ‘action bar’ for accessing certain features more […]
Valentyn Danylchuk has created a virtual toy synth in code which can be installed on an ESP32-based device, or alternatively played with in a modern browser. Subtractive synthesis is a great place to start if you’re just wanting to get into synthesis and begin learning about what various parameters do, […]