In Memoriam of Kevin Kelley of The Audio Playground

Amy Kelly, wife of Kevin Kelley, wrote in to let me know of her husband Kevin Kelley's passing in 2024. You might remember Kevin Kelley mentioned directly in numerous posts here on MATRIXSYNTH going all the way back to 2007. Kevin ran the Audio Playground aka keyboardmuseum.org which was created back in 2000. (Note keyboardmuseum.org is no longer active, the link takes you to posts referencing the site).

The Audio Playground was a synth museum in Winter Park, Florida. One of the great things I loved about the site was that Kevin hosted samples of the synths featured, including virtual sound sheets, so you could get an idea of what they sounded like. Back then that was actually quite rare.

Kevin was also an owner of the uber rare Technos Acxel synthesizer. You can see it pictured below as well as in previous posts featuring Kevin.

Included below are some pics of Kevin with his daughters and his cats sent in by his wife Amy.


"He was a wonderful and brilliant man as well as a great dad and husband. His three daughters and I miss him tremendously." - Amy

Amy still has his Technos Acxel and is working on bringing it back to life. I've sent her a few leads, but if anyone out there can help with the following, please feel free to reach out (matrixsynth@gmail.com).

"The system successfully powers on and initializes the Grapher console, but it is currently hanging at the initial splash screen ('Forget Technology, think music'). I suspect the data sectors on the original 3.5" boot floppy have degraded over time. I am looking to write a fresh sector-by-sector image to a healthy 720KB DD disk to isolate the issue.

My hope is that someone out there might have a raw disk image (.img or .hfe format) compatible with this era of the hardware."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Hope - Circuit3 & Vince Clarke [excerpt] from Metanoia: Music From Therapy

video upload by Circuit 3

"Circuit3 announces Metanoia: Music From Therapy, an instrumental album of analogue synthesis, personal reckoning, and a collaboration with Vince Clarke that reshaped the project.

The album closes with ‘The Hope’, the collaboration with Vince Clarke. Across 11 minutes, it builds a melodic drone landscape that holds both hopelessness and hope at the same time. The piece suggests that neither feeling disappears; they sit beside each other, always present, always waiting to be recognised.

Limited CD / LP editions released August 14 2026 through circuit3.bandcamp.com
Unlimited digital edition released August 14 2026 through mortalitytables.bandcamp.com

Not available on streaming services

Circuit3, the retro-futurist project of Dublin-based Peter Fitzpatrick, steps away from his melodic synthpop background on Metanoia. The album moves into spacious, quietly expressive instrumentals. The sound is minimal and tactile, shaped by the classic late‑70s and early‑80s electronic vocabulary without being locked inside it."

A Quantizer packed with Creativity!! // Ziggurat from Acid Rain Technology

video upload by DivKid

"Here's an absolutely MEGA guide to creative and musical uses of quantizers in Eurorack which is our demo of Ziggurat from Acid Rain Technology. Ziggurat is packed full of smart and easy to use features across its 4 channels of quantizing, some features I've not seen on anything else before (hats off to Acid Rain!) but there's lots of patches widely applicable to any quantizer options you may have. I also hope to instill the message that quantizers are super fun even when you have already quantized sources."

via Acid Rain Technology

A melodic playground for your eurorack system

Ziggurat is a 4 channel quantizer designed to turn any combination of control voltage and gate signals into inspiring and unexpected melodies. Ziggurat provides a fresh way to explore harmonic relationships - wandering through different combinations of note masks, input signals, ranges and offsets until the music catches your ear - at which point all settings on the module can be easily saved for later reference

Synthesizers.com Introduces Q210 Complex Noise

video uploads by synthesizersdotcom

Update: videos just released and added above. Note the playlist is in the order released by Synthesizers.com.

Playlist:
1. Meet the Q210 Complex Noise | Synthesizers.com Newest Module
2. A Quick Overview of the Q210 Complex Noise
3. Using Q210 Complex Noise To Clock Q173 Gate Math
4. Q210 Complex Noise Random Gate Discussion
5. A quick Q210 Complex Noise Patch
6. Another Q210 Complex Noise Patch
7. Changing speed of Random Gates on Q210 Complex Noise
8. CHAOS OUTPUT on the Q210 COMPLEX NOISE

via Synthesizers.com

"This is Synthesizers.com's first new module in two years, and we're excited to share it with you: the Q210 Complex Noise.

The Q210 Complex Noise is noisemaker's playground. Though capable of standard white noise fare, the Q210 can help provide you with decidedly boundary pushing timbres, not usually found in your typical 5U module.

Beyond noise, the Q210 is also comfortable generating random gates, which when routed to VCAS or drum sounds, can help launch your next ambient composition into science fiction territory.

Depending on how you approach the module, the Q210 can be a tame texture ready to mix in with a completed track. However if you push it, the Q210 can become the basis of an entire soundscape, especially when paired with filters, VCAS, and envelopes. Sounds both dramatic and explosive are quite easy to conjure."

Korg USA Mobilizes Workforce for Long Island Cares Volunteer Initiative

Press release follows.

Korg USA Mobilizes Workforce for Long Island Cares Volunteer Initiative Supporting Regional Food Security Efforts

MELVILLE, N.Y. — Korg USA Inc. expanded its ongoing community involvement last week through a dedicated employee volunteer day at Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank. The initiative directly supports regional efforts to address food insecurity across Long Island by providing critical operational help to the non-profit organization. The collaborative effort highlights Korg USA’s active corporate citizenship and aligns with a shared strategic vision to mobilize localized resources for neighbors facing humanitarian challenges.

The relationship between the two entities is further strengthened by leadership integration, as Korg USA CFO Diana Cecchini serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Long Island Cares. This organizational connection facilitates direct alignment between Korg USA’s corporate community engagement initiatives and the strategic goals of the food bank. By advancing leadership and active collaboration, the volunteer initiative directly supports Long Island Cares in its core mission to improve food security for families, sponsor programs focused on achieving self-sufficiency and educate the public on the root causes and consequences of hunger.

Long Island Cares formally acknowledged the impact of Korg USA’s workforce following the volunteer day, recognizing the musical instrument company’s ongoing dedication to the organization's regional humanitarian goals. In an official social media statement, Long Island Cares noted that the time, enthusiasm, and dedication of the Korg USA team help make their mission possible, expressing gratitude for the continued partnership and its role in making a difference in the lives of local neighbors.

For more information about Korg USA, please visit www.KorgUSA.com
For more information on Long Island Cares, please visit www.licares.org

Drone 3 Raw Sound Demo

video upload by Ghost In Translation

"The audio is recorded straight from Drone to my output module. The audio out of Drone is stereo so I’m using a stereo splitter cable.

I go through the 16 algorithms to showcase how Drone sound.
Then I take another Drone and connect its MIDI out to the MIDI in of the first one, and I demonstrate that Drone can be MIDI controlled.

Drone is going to be released very soon and for sale on https://www.ghostintranslation.com."

Expressive E Introduces Noisy 2.6

Hear it in action video upload by Expressive E

Noisy 2.6 - Overview

video upload by Expressive E

"🎁 Noisy 2.6 is available now with a limited-time introductory offer. Existing Noisy 2 users receive the update for free.

Noisy 2 just got bigger.

Discover Noisy 2.6, a highly versatile synthesizer built around expressive sounds you can shape, play and automate.

In this overview, Chris explores what makes Noisy unique, from its expressive workflow to the new sonic possibilities introduced in version 2.6.

With five new resonators, new effects, new noise types and 1,400 presets, Noisy now spans acoustic, analog, FM, harmonic and wavetable synthesis while staying true to its unique philosophy: play sounds that react to you.

⏱ Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Sounds That Respond to You
1:24 Your Gestures, Your Way
2:01 Broaden the Synth's Range
2:20 New Analog Resonator
2:35 New FM Resonators
3:04 New Harmonic & Wavetable Resonators
3:37 New Noise Types
3:41 New Fluid Effects
4:49 Ready to Play Away
5:07 Conclusion

🎁 Get Noisy 2.6: https://www.expressivee.com/88-noisy-two"

Carousel: Five-Voice Round-Robin Polyphonic Synthesizer (VST3 / AU)

video upload by Laboratory 0

"Carousel is a five-voice round-robin polyphonic synthesizer built around a simple idea: a circle. Its five voices sit like seats on a carousel, and every note you play is assigned to a different one - in sequence, random, or all at once.

Each voice is a complete synth with its own oscillator, filter, and envelopes. Differences in tuning and timbre drift across the stereo field, creating a sound that is organic and quietly imperfect - like an old carousel left in the sun.

Carousel is designed to be simple. No LFOs, no presets, no complex synthesis - just pure play. A childhood that exists only in memory.

---

Designed by Laboratory 0
Download Carousel for free: https://laboratory0.gumroad.com"

SINTH 2 - Polska Myśl Techniczna

video upload by muzykujkropkacom

Click CC in the player once it starts for subtitles. Some initial specs and pics follow. Note it appears a desktop version is in the works as well based on the last image below.

Specs:

60 voice polyphony
5 sample oscillators
3GB of waveforms
Noise oscillator
4 Lfo generators
2 Envelopes
18db LPF, BPF, HPF
Motion recording for all the knobs!
FX Dsp
4 oled displays
16 steps polyphonic sequencer
120 potentiometers
9 encoders
36 butons
1920 cells for presets
XLR Symmetrical audio output
Stereo audio input to FX Processor
Solid wood casing
Fatar dynamic keyboard..

https://sinth2.com

CLICK FOR MORE »

SUPERBOOTH 27 Set for May 6 - 8, 2027 at FEZ Berlin

Press release follows:

Berlin, the 21st of July 2026

The SUPERBOOTH BERLIN — the world’s biggest trade fair and festival for electronic musical instruments — is excited to announce the date for next year’s SUPERBOOTH27 along with a look back at this year’s SB26, featuring this year’s visitor numbers and more.

SUPERBOOTH27 DATE
The SB27 will be happening from the 6th to the 8th of May 2027 at the FEZ Berlin.

More information about the start of ticket pre-order sales and other details related to next year’s SuperBooth will follow later in the year.

SB26: NUMBERS & STATS

The SUPERBOOTH saw a total of 9600 visitors (excluding staff and exhibitors) at the FEZ across all three days of the event.

The total number of brands and manufacturers exhibiting their newest developments was 320, with those exhibitors coming from 35 different countries across the globe.

The SB26’s stages featured performances from over 50 international artists, with an outstanding closing b2b performance from Tunegirl and Colin Benders.

Covering the event were over 230 members of the press, including dozens of well-known YouTubers and content creators.

SB26: HIGHLIGHTS & ADDITIONS
Overall, the SB26 was another successful edition of the SuperBooth, with all involved parties coming together to channel the event’s unique mix of tradeshow passion and relaxed festival vibes across the exhibition areas, concerts and sold-out workshops.

A very positively received new addition this year were two headphone-only areas in half of area W and two tents in outside area Z.

The new FLINTA* area for female, non-binary, transgender and gender-diverse people was received very well by those attending it.

There was a new talks stage in the Bungalowdorf area, the Stromkult stage that featured live conversations with artists like Polygonia and Anna Z and brands like Verbos and Doepfer.

At the Strandbühne stage, there was a new product presentation format with Korg Berlin and Schwarzmann (Henrik Schwarz and Frank Wiedemann).

There were also new installation projects, including installations in the circus tent and foyer entry area. There are already plans for more installations next year.

For more information, please visit www.Superbooth.com

See the SUPERBOOTH label below for coverage of previous events.

Meet ARGISH - A Synth That Plays Itself w/o AI

Via the creator of ARGISH:

"I make instruments at Tunary Instruments, and I built ARGISH — a synth that scores itself.

The part I care about most: there's no AI in it. No trained models, no 'make me a track' button. It's real synthesis and real music theory — you pick a few chords and draw the shape of the piece, and ARGISH does the craft: voicing the pads, weaving the arpeggios, laying bass and a real sampled guitar, building and resolving like an actual score. You stay the author — it just takes the grind off your hands. In a world flooding with AI-generated music, this one stays organic: human-directed, made by ear.

Easiest to feel the difference in your browser — no download, no signup: tunaryinstruments.com/play"

It's also available as an AU/VST3/Standalone for Mac & Windows

Meet YPC - An Online MPC Like YouTube Slice and Trigger Player

This one is in via Ivan Trajkovic aka deejayiwan.

You can find it at https://ypc2000.fun

It's pretty self explanatory. Just give it the ID of any YouTube video in the top YouTube URL field and trigger the pads for different clips, then explore the rest of the controls. Essentially you can sample splice any YouTube video and audio. I'm not seeing the ability to loop samples or the ability to set the length individually - the sample length appears to be global for all pads.

Sinevibes Shift frequency shifter

Playlist:

1. Sinevibes Shift frequency shifter – with KORG NTS-1 mkII
2. Sinevibes Shift frequency shifter – with Elektron model:cycles and KORG NTS-1 mkII

https://www.sinevibes.com/korgshift/

"Shift is a frequency shifter for KORG prologue, minilogue xd, NTS-1, NTS-1 mkII, NTS-3 and microKORG2. It features two distinct models: a frequency shifter and a ring modulator. The frequency shifter model shifts each frequency partial in the input signal’s spectrum upwards or downwards by an equal amount in Hz, changing the original ratios between all frequency partials; this makes the sound more and more atonal, un-pitched. The ring modulator model uses a 2× oversampled sine oscillator as a multiplier of the input signal, producing a new spectrum with all frequency partials shifted both upwards and downwards; this algorithm makes the sound even more atonal and metallic, bell-like.

HIGHLIGHTS

Studio-grade DSP algorithms, calibrated specifically for KORG’s hardware platform.

Individually chosen mapping for every plugin parameter, providing a very natural feel.

Built-in lag filters for noise-free, ultra-smooth parameter adjustment.

Tested and optimized for maximum performance and stability on each individual device type."

AudioMap MINI

video upload by DATABROTH

"Read my full review here: www.databroth.com/blog/audiomap-mini-review"

Introducing Mini

video upload by AudioMap

"Map your library by sound, turn it into an instrument."

FEATURES

2D scatter plot with configurable XY axes

Handles tens of thousands of samples

Hover to preview, click to trigger, drag to DAW

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sinevibes Eternal v2 barber-pole flanger – with microKORG2

video upload by Sinevibes

"Eternal v2 is a barber-pole flanger effect, designed and developed by Sinevibes. Available as a plugin for a variety of KORG synthesizers: https://www.sinevibes.com/korgeternal/"

DESTINY PLUS DOUBLE Q EURORACK LIMITED REVIEW

video upload by Blush Response

A. G. Cook presents SuperStarSaw | Native Instruments

video upload by Native Instruments

"Presented by A. G. Cook, SuperStarSaw pushes stacked saw synthesis to its extremes. Create huge supersaws, impossible glides, blissed-out harmonies, and controlled chaos from a single playable instrument – without the need for endless layering and automation."

Playlist:

1. A. G. Cook presents SuperStarSaw | Native Instruments
2. Discover SuperStarSaw with A. G. Cook | Native Instruments
3. SuperStarSaw synth walkthrough | Native Instruments



Native Instruments and A. G. Cook turn his signature supersaw into a custom instrument you can play

The PC Music founder and 2025 BRIT Producer of the Year brings the stacked saw sound known for Charli xcx, and Caroline Polachek to a single synthesizer — built from his own patches

Berlin, July 16, 2026: Native Instruments has today launched SuperStarSaw, a synthesizer co-created with GRAMMY-winning A. G. Cook, British producer, PC Music founder, and one of the key architects of contemporary pop's defining sonic palette.

Supersaws, multiple sawtooth waves layered and slightly detuned against each other, are responsible for some of modern pop's most immediately recognisable textures: the wide, lush, harmonically dense quality running through Cook's work with Charli xcx, Beyoncé, Caroline Polachek, and Oklou. Building them has always meant painstaking multi-instance layering, a process Cook had refined over years of his own production work, and which became the starting point for what followed. The instrument grew out of a two-year collaboration with Native Instruments' design team, who worked directly from Cook's patches and production sessions to turn one of modern pop's most coveted sounds into something you can actually play.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Meet LOON — A New Software Instrument by Jamstik

video upload by Jamstik

"Meet LOON, a new software instrument from Jamstik built for musicians, producers, composers, and sound designers.

LOON combines multiple sound sources—including oscillators, sampled instruments, FM synthesis, and more—into a single expressive instrument. Layer sounds, shape them with powerful effects, and assign macros to create dynamic presets that are as simple or as deep as you want them to be.

Whether you're starting from scratch or exploring the included factory library, LOON is designed to make inspiring sounds quickly without sacrificing flexibility.

Features
• Layer multiple sound engines in a single preset
• Powerful macro controls with flexible modulation
• Built-in effects and creative sound design tools
• 200+ factory presets
• Standalone application plus VST3, AU, and AAX plugin support

Compatible with macOS and Windows.

Learn more about LOON and download it at: https://jamstik.com/loon"

Arturia Introduces AstroLab 61 Silver

"AstroLab 61 Silver is the same avant-garde stage keyboard in a premium silver finish. Perfect for musicians who want AstroLab’s powerful sounds, expressive controls and seamless studio-to-stage ecosystem with a distinctive, performance-ready look."

CLICK FOR MORE »

LF-AMP introduction

video upload by Kanawha Music

Well, that's refreshing.

"A tongue in cheek introduction to what's otherwise a rather boring module."

via Kanawha Music

"The LF-AMP module combines two modules in one chassis:

First, on the left, is a precision triangle wave LFO, featuring:

Two pairs of outputs, each with its own amplitude control ('amount' as most would call it);
Direct and Inverted outputs in each pair;
A precision BIAS control for each output which determines the center of the voltage swing;
HI/LO range for rate, for a total range of about 20Hz down to about 1 cycle every minute.
Easy to see rate indicator LEDs showing the positive or negative swing of the output.

Second, on the right, is a high gain utility amplifier for headphones or line level sources, featuring:
Stereo inputs and outputs, with Normalled output for two individual outputs, or signals combined into one stereo jack ('2/MIX')

A bit more about the rationale...this module was designed for use with our Stereo Ensemble instruments. We needed a specialized LFO for our phaser modules, and an amp for final output, so they were combined into single unit. It's the peanut butter and anchovies of the modular world! The LFO output can be reduced down to a very tiny voltage swing, and then precisely located to work with devices needing those conditions...but it can also be used to give an exact range to a VCO, or an exact amount of depth to a VCA, etc. And since there's an inverted version of each output, two of something can work inthe exact opposite direction if desired. There isn't much to say about the amp; it's just a high quality amp for headphones which works to drive line level sources as well, using the LM4580 amplifier chip."