"And here’s the bombshell: Akai taken the APC workflow and even cloned elements of Ableton Live. But this is basically a Live knockoff – not the real thing. Hence the manual refers to “Matrix View,” not Session View, and so on. So even though Ableton could have – arguably even should have – done something like this already, they didn’t. We’ll see if workflow alone is enough but to sway users or whether this will just be a shadow off of the original.
Think MPC Live with clip launching and APC control, not Ableton Live a box. Whether that’s good news to disappointment depends on what you want.
Standalone hardware that does what software does – it’s a funny thing."
Polymorph Analog Synthesizer from Nave, Promo Video
Published on Oct 31, 2018 Nave Electronics
"We are glad to present our new analog synthesizer called Polymorph!
Polymorph is a analog synthesizer which is based on original circuit ideas of famous Polyvox synthesizer. It has the same sound character, and also it has a lot of interesting extra features."
Presentation. February 2019. Polymorph - analog synthesizer.
Published on Dec 31, 2018 Nave Electronics
"Hey Guys!
In February 2019, our product will be presented.
Have a good sound for everyone and Happy New Year! :)"
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Wonder if they know about the Quasimidi Polymorph. How many synths out there have the exact same name?
"Time Effects Processor with 3 Independent Effects :
Analog Spring Reverb with a 3-Spring Tank and a Unique Pitch Modulation Circuit
Stereo Analog BBD Chorus-Flanger with 3 LFO Waves
Stereo Digital Delay with 3 Delay Types and Freeze Function
Variable Input and Output Gain Controls (from MIC to Eurorack Levels)
Saves up to 49 Presets
"The Hydronium DIY acid synth kit from Rare Waves is coming soon! Available in tabletop or Eurorack format. This video takes a closer look at its fun features and explains the CV patch options.
Hydronium can be controlled by either MIDI or CV-Gate. Its VCO has sawtooth, square wave, and PWM waveforms. Pitch slide (legato glide) effect works with both MIDI and CV-Gate control, and it has a handy post-glide v/oct CV output for slaving a second VCO. Glide time can be voltage-controlled. The decay envelope is velocity sensitive, and its bipolar dynamics knob gives unique control over accented notes. Decay time can be controlled by the MIDI mod wheel, as well as a Decay CV input. The filter is a 2-pole state-variable filter. By the term “acid synth” we don’t mean it is a Roland clone, but it does include many 303-inspired playability features... Hydronium DIY kits will be available soon through rarewaves.net."
"Modal Electronics are proud to announce the next generation of the successful CRAFTsynth - the Modal CRAFTsynth v2.0.
Monophonic wavetable synthesiser
8 oscillators in total with 2 selectable waveforms and mixer stage
40 unique waveforms available split into 8 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets
VA, digital and generative waves are available along with selections from the Modal 002
Process and cross modulate waveforms with 1 of 16 oscillator modifiers including Frequency / Phase Modulation, Hard / Window Sync, Ring / Amp Modulation, Derez / Bitshift, Wavefolders and Waveshapers
Multi option Unison / spread to detune the 8 oscillators for a huge sound
3 x envelope generators for Filter, Amplitude and Modulation
2 x audio rate LFOs
8 slot modulation matrix with 8 sources, each source can have 1 destination. (LFO1, LFO2 and MOD-EG assignable from CRAFTsynth, Velo, Note, ModW, AftT and Expression assignable from MODALapp)
Program and transpose patterns with the built in sequenced arpeggiator
2-pole resonant filter that can be morphed from low pass, through band pass, to high pass
Delay and distortion (waveshaping overdrive, not bitcrushing) effects
Optional MIDI clock sync for LFOs and Delay
64 preset storage locations
8 key touch MIDI keyboard with 8 custom scales and root note selection
MIDI DIN in and out
Analogue clock sync in and out (configured to the KORG / Teenage Engineering specification)
Class compliant MIDI provided over USB connection to host computer or tablet
Headphone and line output
Powered by USB or 3 x AA batteries
Optional software editor available for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
"Since ancient times music has been part of human life, being a method of self expression and communication. Rooted in instincts, music allows people to forget about their daily routine and connect themselves with the spiritual and the subconscious.
How many times has it happened to you to have a melody in your head without being able to get rid of it or... to express it somehow?
Our team has been seeking to develop a portable device that doesn’t need heavy machinery and long cables, easy to wear, user friendly and at the same time professional, ready to be used outdoors or inside a pro studio.
Why not a wristwatch? That's how the Synthwatch® idea was born.
But not just an idea.
Two years of development can be transformed in reality with your help. The Synthwatch® is a portable synthesizer that allows you to express yourself in every moment of your life. Its main function is real-time play that makes you able to create music, to record it and to add effects synthesized through the app (designed for iOS and Android users).
The solid Titanium Grade 5 watch case is extremely lightweight and is designed to hold perfectly such a piece of technology.
The Synthwatch keys are meant to be pressed by every kind of finger size. Moreover, the usb cable is equipped with a three and a half millimetres female jack which can be used to connect your Synthwatch to every kind of sound speaker or amplifier.
With the help of the app you can select the sequencer function and make your own music from A to Z! No time anymore? No worries! You can save both recordings and sequencer and come back to it when you have time!
Professional watchmakers family - since the '70s we are pioneers of horological innovation since the days of the first American diapason clock.
With a team of sound engineers, designers, electronic engineers, musical producers we created the first musical wrist watch - or better, the world's smallest synthesizer: the Synthwatch®.
If you are looking for a normal smartwatch with a step-counter and a heart-rate meter you should look elsewhere. Our idea can only be realised with your help! We invite you to help us and to make the story of the wrist watch .
By buying this piece of art and technology you are not just keeping it for yourself – you are making the history of watchmaking.
"Sequential Commemorates Final Production Run of Prophet 12 Synth with Custom White, Numbered, Limited Edition of 100
San Francisco, CA—November 15, 2018—Sequential today announced a special numbered, limited edition of its acclaimed Prophet 12 Analog/Digital Hybrid synthesizer. Dubbed the Prophet 12 LE, it features a custom, arctic white finish with maple end caps, making it a visually striking contrast to the standard Prophet 12, which has been a significant part of the Sequential product line since its introduction in 2013.
The Prophet 12 LE will be strictly limited to 100 instruments worldwide and will commemorate the last of these synthesizers that Sequential will create. After that, the Prophet 12 will no longer be available.
Dave Smith had this to say about the Prophet 12 LE: “It’s nice to give the Prophet 12 a proper send-off with this special edition. The P12 was a real milestone for us in terms of pushing the synth envelope. As a hybrid instrument, it gave us a chance to explore the interaction of digital oscillators and analog filters and see how far we could take that idea. It’s still a great instrument and has found its way onto a lot of stages and studios, and into a lot of music.”
Sequential product designer Andrew McGowan recalled the genesis of the Prophet 12: “We’d just released the Tempest analog drum machine after several years of development, and we were turning our attention back to synths for the first time in a while. It gave us the opportunity to look at things with a fresh eye. Interestingly, when Dave and I sat down to draw up a spec, it was immediately apparent that we’d each been sort of designing the same instrument in our minds during our ‘time away’ — a hybrid synth with digital oscillators, dual analog filters, and new modulation possibilities. The Prophet 12 came together quickly after that and turned out really well for us.”
The Prophet 12 LE has the same combination of features as the original Prophet 12 — a bi-timbral, 12-voice architecture, with each voice boasting four high-resolution, multi-waveform digital oscillators, a sub-oscillator, analog low-pass and high-pass filters, analog VCAs, four envelopes and four LFOs, and a set of unique Character Effects for sound shaping. Linear FM capability was later added to the Prophet 12 as a software enhancement, giving the instrument even greater depth and making it one of Sequential’s most versatile poly synths.
The Prophet 12 LE will be available in December of 2018 with a US MAP of $2,999. A limited number of standard-finish black Prophet 12s are also available while stock lasts."
"Coming soon from Rare Waves, a great DIY acid synth kit with MIDI control + CV ins and outs. Tabletop or Eurorack. We're taking a poll... which color would you take? Blue, black, or yellow?"
Published on Nov 8, 2018 Carlos Alberto Gutiérrez Vera
InsWorks usually makes eurorack sized, but not eurorack powered, modules. This one appears to be a stand alone unit. See the InsWorks label below for more.
"The GS Apollo I is an analog synthesizer, monophonic, of subtractive synthesis. The generation of the sound is done in an entirely analogical way, with two oscillators controlled by voltage (VCO), a mixer (mixer), a voltage controlled filter (VCF) and a voltage controlled amplifier (VCA). The control signals are digitally generated by a microcontroller, which is capable of processing three low frequency oscillators (LFO) and two envelopes (EG) of the ADSR type.
The Gs Apollo I interface was designed to be simple and intuitive. It has 18 knobs and 3 buttons. It allows to generate a great variety of sounds.
"Dark Arcade is a $120 paraphonic synthesizer with digital oscillators and an analog filter, amplifier, envelope generator, and LFO.
What is Dark Arcade?
Dark Arcade is intended to be an entry level hardware synthesizer for musicians looking to branch out from software synthesizer based workflows, as well as a distinctive addition to any hardware synthesizer collection. Its hardware features microcontroller-produced digital oscillators, an analog OTA band-pass and low-pass filter, an analog OTA amplifier, an analog ADSR envelope generator, an analog LFO, and MIDI input and output. External audio can be processed by the filter and amplifier section and external CV signals can be used to control the filter cutoff and amplifier gain. In addition to the hardware features, the software extends the feature list to include 4 voices of paraphony, 8-bit Karplus Strong synthesis, waveform blending, and many more. Below is a song produced with Dark Arcade in which all sounds (minus drums) are generated by Dark Arcade and then mixed with some basic effects (delay, reverb, and compression).
"Introducing AnalogFusion, a top notch instrument boasting 2 separated Analog and Digital Synthesizer engines. You decide wether creating warm analog sounds, pure digital or layer them to create unique fat sounds. Massive features unlocking access to a new world of synthesis possibilities.
Demo by Italian Keyboardist Giuseppe Di Capua"
"Analog polyphonic synthesizer
AnalogFusion is a top notch, no compromise instrument with 2 completely separated Analog and digital synthesizer engines. You decide wether creating warm analog sounds or pure digital or layer them. Massive features unlocking access to a new world of synthesis possibilities.
Discrete analog circuitry
The polyphonic analog synthesizer engine (6 voices) was developped to provide all the features you can dream off and usually find on prestigious vintage synthesizers. Each voice is composed with 2 oscillators (3 waveforms: Saw, Pulse, Triangle) with Pwm, 3 lfos, hard sync, ring modulation, multimode filter, white and pink noise generators. The Oscillators are detunable. All the analog circuitry is made with discrete components, no FPGA or ASIC.
Analog or digital question is over, Get both!
Additionally to its pure analog synthesis section, AnalogFusion also offers a complete digital synthesis engine capable of doing Virtual Analog (2 oscillators, multimode filter, 2 enveloppes, 3 LFO), FM (6 operators with multimode filter for each voice) or wavetable synthesis. A dedicated drum section is also present with 10 instruments.
Analog/digital layer mode
A layer mode allows to stack the analog and digital synthesizers, a perfect fusion to create incredibly fat sounds!
The new Mute / Dirty Electronics MUTE 4.0 SYNTH is a synth with inputs, a digital wavetable synthesiser, an analogue noise circuit, and programmable sequencer. These features can all be combined in an environment to experiment with sound. Being hand-held, battery-powered and with headphone and line out, the synth is ideal for music making on the move as well as in the studio. At a turn of a knob and press of a button, sequences, control voltages, and cut-up loops can be programmed; or listen to the Voltage Collection by Dirty Electronics.
The MUTE 4.0 POCKET SYNTH is the on-going research by Dirty Electronics into making music with wires and code, objects and materials; and an artwork printed circuit board collaboration with Adrian Shaughnessy and Regular Practice. Printed circuit board meets album cover.
It doesn’t stop there. Expand the Pocket Synth with a limited edition chip by Dirty Electronics and Max Wainwright with mangled waveforms and accompanying fold-out booklet on microcomputer music.
Synthfest 2018 - Future Sound Systems Brunswick DIY Synth
Published on Oct 9, 2018 sonicstate
"The Brunswick synthesizer from Future Sound Systems presents a single VCO, two-pole multi-mode VCF, dirty VCA and basic LFO and envelope sections. A 24-point patchbay allows for external voltage control over VCO pitch and envelope gate, as well as a slew of other inputs and outputs from 3.5mm mono jacks."
"The Brunswick synthesizer from Future Sound Systems was originally commissioned by BEEF in 2018 as a workshop kit synth. Whilst designed as an affordable, bare-bones synth voice, the Brunswick presents a single VCO, two-pole multi-mode VCF, dirty VCA and basic LFO and envelope sections. A 24-point patchbay allows for external voltage control over VCO pitch and envelope gate, as well as a slew of other inputs and outputs from 3.5mm mono jacks.
FSS is pleased to announce a wider release of the Brunswick kit through Thonk, where kits will be available at the price of £99 from 19th October 2018 onwards. Very limited stock of pre-built units can be ordered below, shipping direct from FSS HQ (batteries not included).
"At Zurich Modular, I met Marko from Elektro Kosmos and he showed me the KOSMONAUT, a new high-end handmade full analog Synthesizer from Switzerland! It can be described as Rolls-Royce /Bentley of the mono Synthesizers!"
"The SD1000 is the first hardware sound module at this price point that integrates both audio and MIDI sequences! Our advanced technology packs stunning sounds in a pocket-size unit.
The SD1000 is the studio artist’s dream come true. Now you can instantly access over 500 professional sounds — the same sounds in other Ketron products (the AUDYA and Midjay Pro.)
Audio Loops and New Sounds
In addition to standard General MIDI sounds, the SD1000 contains other sound banks with many conventional families such as Pianos, Strings, Sax, Brass, etc. The top feature of the SD1000 compared to other sound modules is the large number of audio loops and drum loops which can be downloaded free of charge at www.ketron.it.
I took a closer look at the video and the image to the left. It looks like the Orbit and Suborbit controls are for the vector portions of the synth engine. If you are not familiar with vector synthesis, it was introduced with the Sequential Circuits Prophet-VS. That tech made it to the Yamaha SY22 and TG-33, and finally the KORG Wavestation. In short, you have four oscillators that you can morph between with either a joystick or a modulation source. The Orbit and Suborbit controls appear to be the modulators as you can see on the screen. It's similar to being able to record and playing joystick movement on the SY22 and TG33. It's also similar to the paths in Moog's Animoog app.
Below is a list of controls I spotted in the video and the image. If I missed any, feel free to leave a comment. Note Vector synths typically have four oscillators. The screen in the video only shows two, so we will have to wait and see. You can see the synth features overdrive, reverb, delay, and chorus effects. There is also an arpeggiator and audio iput.
Update2: grabbed a screen of the quick front panel flash in the video. Click on it to zoom in a little. You should be able to read most of the controls.
"And here’s the bombshell: Akai taken the APC workflow and even cloned elements of Ableton Live. But this is basically a Live knockoff – not the real thing. Hence the manual refers to “Matrix View,” not Session View, and so on. So even though Ableton could have – arguably even should have – done something like this already, they didn’t. We’ll see if workflow alone is enough but to sway users or whether this will just be a shadow off of the original.
