Teenage Engineering has announced the launch of its EP-133 KO II sampler, based on the PO-33 KO but with more power, more sampling capabilities, a fully reworked sequencer and brand new punch-in effects. It has a price that actually seems attainable (the kind of price you’d think you might be […]
Andy
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With Yamaha announcing the launch of the Genos2 it’s clearly a step up from the Genos but also is pitted alongside Yamaha’s other high-end arranger workstations, the PSR-SX900 and PSR-SX700. We have already compared the PSR-S and PSR-SX models but now we provide a summary and spec sheet for the […]
Polyend has announced an upgrade to its Play unit in the shape of the Play+, a 16-track sample and synth-based groovebox with an enhanced internal architecture which enables a host of new features such as richer stereo sounds, multitimbral polyphonic synthesis and seamless audio over USB. There are many different […]
Our weekly roundup of things which don’t fit into full-blown articles or features but are cool and should be shared. Hardware Love Hultén Ferrofluid Synthesizer Synthesizer craftsperson Love Hultén has created a wonderful new synthesizer/ferrofluid music visualizer: Software Oxid Oxid is a software instrument for Microsoft Windows (VST2/VST3/CLAP) and Apple macOS […]
Behringer has announced its UB-Xa, a classic analog 16-voice polyphonic synth with eight voltage modes, dual VCFs and a 61key polyphonic aftertouch keyboard. Channeling classic Oberheim synths of very similar names, Behringer claims it is more than simply a recreation of a classic synth, but rather has all the “bells, […]
Steinway has announced another collaboration to produce a strictly limited edition grand piano in three different colours. Designed by French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, already acclaimed for his furniture and interior designs, this is a departure into the world of fine musical instruments. The Noé Limited Edition Steinway grand pianos are […]
In the past week Apple has updated Logic Pro to version 10.8, adding in a number of interesting new features including the obligatory AI-powered functions. It’s taken us until now to realise the release had happened because of a rant point which we’ll save for the end of the article. […]
Six years since the launch of the original Genos arranger workstation, which superseded the Tyros line, Yamaha has announced the Genos2, headlined “From Tribute to Timeless”. The phrase “game changer” is rolled out once again, but let’s take a look at what Yamaha has squeezed into its latest premium instrument […]
There’s no doubt Roland holds a significant place in the history of synths and other electronic instruments for the past half century and more, and now it has launched an ambitious “Super Instrument” which anyone can use to harness the power of some iconic Roland instruments. GALAXIAS is a single […]
Ableton has announced a major upgrade to its Live DAW will be coming in early 2024, with an emphasis on discovery, playfulness, and some AI goodness sprinkled on top. Although we are not personally Live users, it’s always appeared to us that the DAW is a boon for experimenting and […]
Arturia has announced the launch of its Black Friday deals. New users can get 50% off V Collection 9, Pigments, Analog Lab Pro and FX Collection 4, with existing registered users being eligible for even higher savings. The promotions will run until 5th December. V Collection 9 An inspiring suite […]
Introduction In the 1980s Casio produced a number of small, budget keyboards capable of recording sound samples and allowing the user limited manipulation over those sounds, as well as providing other basic functionality we had come to expect from digital musical instruments of the decade. Here we take a nostalgic […]
Native Instruments has announced the launch of their Session Percussionist library which works with their free KONTAKT 7 PLAYER or KONTAKT 7. Session Percussionist allows the crafting of detailed and authentic performances with up to five players, with the ability to browse over 2000 drum patterns from renowned session musicians […]
Universal Audio has announced that its LUNA DAW, which used to be available free but only if you bought an Apollo interface, is now available gratis with no restrictions to all Mac users. Simply download it and go. Designed to “just sound better”, LUNA is supposed to be easier to […]
Elektron has announced its celebration of 25 years with the release of limited e25 Remix Editions of three of their units, the Digitakt, Digitone and Syntakt. Hand-built in stainless steel, individually numbered and with laser-etched logos, they come in a unique box design/build, and also come with e25 poster versions […]
KORG announces its flagship KAOSS Replay, a self-contained performance tool serving as a combined solution for musicians, performers and producers. It features unparalleled KAOSS Pad and Effects, expanded sample playback and sampling capabilities, plus intuitive and precise DJ controls. It’s designed as a standalone unit which can be used without […]
KORG has announced the launch of its MPS-10 drum, percussion and sampler pad, claiming it to be the “next step in the constant evolution of drum performance and musical expression.” The unit features ten pads, high quality sound source, versatile sampler, four CC pads, and a four-track looper, plus external […]
Roland has announced a major update for its FANTOM 6/7/8 users, with the release of a software update that can be downloaded and installed on the flagship synthesisers. Rather than launching a whole new physical keyboard, Roland has taken the much friendlier and cost-effective step of letting users purchase and […]
Most of the time when we talk about new musical instruments we are primarily concerned with how they sound, but for a significant proportion of the population, this isn’t the primary concern. People with partial or complete hearing loss will be far less interested in the sounds something makes, but […]
Hit’n’Mix has announced the latest version of its RipX software is now a fully-fledged DAW with AI built right in to the workflow to aid in creating human-friendly results from automatically machine-generated content. Claiming to be the first of its kind to provide “a truly holistic approach to cutting-edge AI […]
In the mid-70s, when Moog was in the ascendancy, composer Mort Garson created an album for plant life and its owners (or caretakers). Mother Earth’s Plantasia had the tagline “warm earth music for plants… and the people who love them.” The history suggests it was never going to be a […]
