GoFundMe for Keyboard Magazine's Former Editor Stephen Fortner

It has come to my attention that Keyboard Magazine's former editor-in-chief (2009 through September 2015), Stephen Fortner has suffered a stroke. His wife has set up a GoFundMe to help with his recovery (click through for details). She also has a YouTube channel with progress updates here.

I grew up reading Keyboard Magazine and still have my original collection. Keyboard Magazine is what many of us grew up with before the age of the Internet.

Stephen has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH countless times.

We send him and his wife our best wishes to a full and speedy recovery.

Nine Inch Nails "Closer" bassline on Novation Peak synthesizer

Published on May 18, 2017 Synth Expert

"We'll have much more about Peak soon, but for now editor Stephen Fortner stumbled on a near-perfect duplicate of the signature "Closer" bass sound by Nine Inch Nails while fiddling with the controls. Much more to come!"

Stephen Fortner of Keyboard Magazine.

Keyz 'n Beats 2010 - Richard Devine & Jordan Rudess on the Roland Gaia

YouTube via rolandmedia | October 05, 2010

"Keyboard Magazine's Stephen Fortner interviews keyboardist, composer and sound designer Richard Devine at the 2010 Roland Keyz 'n Beats Summit."

Keyz 'n Beats 2010 Jordan Rudess Interview

rolandmedia | October 05, 2010

"Keyboard Magazine's Stephen Fortner interviews synthesizer prodigy Jordan Rudess at the 2010 Roland Keyz 'n Beats Summit."

Jordan also discusses the Zen Riffer, Haken Continuum, Roland V-Synth and VP-550.

Executive Roundtable: Keyboards and Virtual Instruments at NAMM

Single shot sent my way via effegee.

You should recognize a few faces including Dave Smith, Jordan Rudess, Mike Martin of Casio, Roger Linn, and Stephen Fortner of Keyboard Magazine on the far right. I recognize some of the others, but can't recall their names. If you know please comment and I'll update the post.

Update: Info and panel list via Music Starts Here:

"Where are keyboard instruments going? Is hardware in its twilight, or is it having a renaissance for live performance? Is the analog revival here to stay, or a passing fashion? What will keyboards do in the virtual world of the future? Are mobile apps and touchscreens viable for serious music production? In this panel moderated by legendary music technology thought leader Craig Anderton, top experts in keyboard and software design, product management, and media will discuss the future of the electronic musical instrument industry. Panelists include:

Craig Anderton (moderator), Executive Vice President, Gibson Brands and Editorial Director, Harmony Central.

Athan Billias, Director of Strategic Product Development, Yamaha and advisory board member, MIDI Association.

Stephen Fortner, Editor at Large, Keyboard Magazine.

Ralph Goldheim, President of U.S. Operations, Arturia.

Jimmy Landry, Head of PR and Artist Relations, Cakewalk.

Roger Linn, CEO, Roger Linn Design and inventor of the modern drum machine.

Mike Martin, General Manager of Marketing, Casio.

Jordan Rudess, Keyboardist in Dream Theater and Founder, Wizdom Music.

Dave Smith, President and Founder, Dave Smith Instruments and co-inventor of MIDI.

Topics covered will include virtual instruments, analog synths, traditional keyboards versus alternative controllers, and more. If you’re attending NAMM and into keyboards or synths, don’t miss what is sure to be one of the most thought-provoking discussions at the show.

When: Thursday, January 21, 2016, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Room 203 A/B (“The Forum”), Anaheim Convention Center

For more info visit https://www.namm.org/nammu/exec-roundtable-keyboards-and-virtual-instruments"

Synthplex 2019: IK Multimedia UNO Analog Synth

Published on Apr 11, 2019 KeyboardMagazine

"Erik Norlander gives KEYBOARD a look at IK Multimedia's affordable analog monosynth, UNO, at the inaugural Synthplex music and instrument conference. Video by Stephen Fortner of Fortner Media."

Hands-On: Roland JUPITER-50 (JP-50) synth

YouTube Uploaded by MusicPlayerNetwork on Mar 26, 2012

"Keyboard editor Stephen Fortner get an exclusive first-hand look at the new Roland Jupiter-50 synth. See a further look into the JP-50 at... http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/roland-jupiter-50-hands-on/148040"

Keyboard magazine hands-on with the new Prophet 12 by Dave Smith at NAMM 2013

Published on Jan 24, 2013 keyboardmag1·219 videos

"The Prophet-12 is a hybrid synth: four digital oscillators (that are capable of analog modeling as well as wavetable and vector-appropriate digital waveforms), but analog filters and envelope section. In Dave Smith's own words, it's the best synth he's ever designed. Find out why he thinks so as editor Stephen Fortner goes hands on."

Korg Prologue Mini-Review

Published on Feb 7, 2018 Synth Expert

"Editor Stephen Fortner gives his first impressions of the new Korg Prologue analog polysynth, to be released at NAMM 2018."

VIDEO - Synclavier Digital at Synthplex

Published on Apr 22, 2019 KeyboardMagazine

"Stephen Fortner checks out the latest from Synclavier Digital at Synthplex 2019."

Arturia MiniLab Hands-On

Published on Jul 2, 2013 keyboardmag1·279 videos

"Editor Stephen Fortner demos the MiniLab, a library of virtual analog soft synths from Arturia's V-Collection. It's bundled with a custom controller that pre-maps all knob assignments. All for $99."

Arturia MiniLabs on eBay

Keyboard NAMM 2013 Wrap Day 2 - Kurzweil PC3K, Studio Logic Sledge & More

Published on Jan 27, 2013 keyboardmag1·219 videos

"Editor Stephen Fortner sums up the most exciting gear he encountered on the second day of the 2013 winter NAMM show."

Synthplex 2019 - Introducing the Panoptigon

Published on Apr 22, 2019 KeyboardMagazine

"Stephen Fortner checks out the new Optigan/Orchestron disc-playing hardware at Synthplex 2019."

NAMM 2013: The Minimoog Couch at the BMF Booth

Top via The Bob Moog Foundation on Facebook

"BMF synth guru Marc Doty at our NAMM booth enjoying our brand new Mini couch, donated to us by our friends at Woouf Barcelona. If you're at NAMM this weekend, come strike a pose on this very cool analog couch. We're in booth 5307B."

Bottom via Stephen Fortner of Keyboard Magazine: "Already NAMMing at The Bob Moog Foundation booth. Sitting on the Woouf Minimoog sofa with Erik Norlander's wall of doom synth behind me."

NAMM: Keyboard Magazine Flickr Shots

flickr set by keyboardmag
(click for more)

Pitcured here:
New Moog Taurus Pedals
Infinite Response VAX77 Red and Yellow folded
"Ernie Rideout and Stephen Fortner pal around with Alicia Keys at a Yamaha event."

Also see http://keyboardmag.com/

Yamaha MODX Launch Videos

Published on Sep 15, 2018 sonicstate

"We caught up with Blake Angelo from the MODX launch in New York at the Yamaha Artist Centre. The MODX is a new range of performance synthesisers based on the Montage but with a more affordable and more portable approach"

Update:

KEYBOARD Previews the New Yamaha MODX Synthesizer

Published on Sep 14, 2018 KeyboardMagazine

"Dom Sigalas gives Keyboard Magazine an exclusive look at the new Yamaha MODX Synthesizer.

Video by Stephen Fortner"

Search for MODX directly below for more.

October Moog Issue of Keyboard Magazine

You might recall from this post, the cover and feature of October's issue of Keyboard Magazine is "The Minimoog at 40." It's worth noting there are a couple of other articles featured and currently online including "Bob Moog Lives" by Bob Moog's daughter, founder, and Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation; and "Beyond And Because of the MiniMoog" by Eric Norlander and Stephen Fortner. The latter features a number of synths "that shared similar design aspects, or whose makers got into the solo synth game after the market proved that Bob Moog was onto something." Below is one such synth.


Note this is not a Voyager, but the HELMTRONIC CHALLENGER
"Shown at this year’s Frankfurt Musikmesse, this aptly-named German boutique synth boasts four oscillators, two filters, and of course, a flip-up control panel."

Maximize Your Moogfest Experience

"GET THE MAXIMUM MOOG AT MOOGFEST 2010 HALLOWEEN WEEKEND – 10/29-10/31 IN ASHEVILLE, NC

Going to Moogfest 2010? Be sure to get the most out of your festival experience. You’ll enjoy the music even more if you take advantage of these unique opportunities to immerse yourself in the world of Moog:

PROJEK MOOG
Saturday, 6:00pm – 6:50pm at The Orange Peel

A stellar lineup of some of today’s most proficient multi-instrumentalists (including Moog Chief Engineer, Cyril Lance), Projek Moog has composed a specific piece of music for Moogfest, one that highlights the various instruments for which Moog Music is renowned. Joining the group will be Brian Kehew, a close friend of Bob Moog’s and best known for his work in the Moog Cookbook as well as being the historian for the Moog Foundation. If you want to see the many facets of Moog Music at work, this has to be on your must-see list.

The inspiration in creating this show was to feature new instruments and the artists whose valuable input helped perfect them. Both Brian Kehew and fellow Projek Moog musician Billy Cardine have been involved in helping create instruments that are truly inspirational. Brian has been associated with Moog for years and Billy recently helped with a brand new stringed instrument which will make its debut at Moogfest.

Having these great musicians involved in product development is emblematic of what Bob was all about and the legacy of Moog Music. Instruments are collaborative - they need to be intuitive and soulful. Brian and Billy's involvement have kept this spirit alive and Projek Moog is about celebrating that legacy.

CLICK FOR MORE »

NAMM & NOT NAMM - New Products on the Synth Front

Well, it's that time of year again. Keep an eye out on the NAMM label (added to top right menu) for everything NAMM and more. More in that anything new will get the label whether it's shown at NAMM or not. It's about new gear. Updates in this post will be preceded in red. Some already in below. See "The NAMM List!" link under the Twitter, Facebook, and RSS labels on top of the right to get back to this post later.

(A note on the top site menus: I removed the iPhone and iPad labels as they go up in posts every day now so you can find them there. eBay links are on the right, so I removed it as well.)

That said, the following are some of the things to look out for. If you have any NAMM info feel free to comment and/or send it in. If I missed anything, let me know! If you are going to NAMM, feel free to send pics and video in.

On the list:

CLICK FOR MORE »