"An analog drum machine clone of the famous CR78, coming with a lot of new features and improvements, from the sound point of view as well as the ergonomics of the machine and the sequencer.
The design of the analog circuit and the sequencer gives it a warm and groovy sound as its elder with much more varied sound possibilities.
The very intuitive sequencer takes on the original spirit while bringing new and unique features and allows you to quickly create complex patterns and grooves while offering great flexibility for live jam and more sound variations.
Among the highlight and new features we find:
- A new, ergonomic design that is very elegant and modern.
- New pots / knobs, bigger, more flexible and very pleasant.
- Carrying bag and decksaver (dust cover) included.
- Numerous possibilities for customizing the LEDs colors to better identify your patterns and more.
"DII·ONE is a compact MIDI controller and routing hub designed for modern hybrid music setups. It combines USB MIDI, hardware MIDI, and a CV clock output in a single device, allowing all functions to operate simultaneously without compromises.
For more information please visit st-modular.de!
00:00 Functions & Features
01:17 Midi Learn with Elektron Model:Samples
04:35 Controlling Torso S-4
05:36 Ableton Live Setup and Control
07:06 Controlling Waldorf Iridium with a single USB cable
07:47 DII ONE Configurator"
key features
Compact USB MIDI controller with hardware MIDI I/O and CV clock output
4 programmable buttons (CC or Note, momentary or latching)
4 programmable knobs (assignable to any MIDI CC)
USB MIDI to and from computer
TRS MIDI In and Out (5-pin DIN compatible via adapter cable Type-A)
CV Clock output for modular synthesizers (0–5 V)
Hardware-based MIDI Learn
Clock division directly from the device
All functions usable at the same time
"knob.monster is a modern, zero-driver web application designed to backup, edit, and organize patches on vintage hardware synthesizers directly from a web browser. Leveraging the Web MIDI API, the platform eliminates the need for legacy desktop software, custom USB-MIDI drivers, or manual command-line SysEx utilities.
Key Features:
Zero Installation: Runs directly in any Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Opera).
Instant Cloud Backup: Safely store your custom patch banks in a secure cloud vault.
Automatic Parsing: Upload SysEx files to instantly view, rename, and sort individual patches inside the bank.
Supported Hardware: Launching with full support for the Yamaha DX7, Roland Juno-106, and Korg M1, with Casio CZ, Prophet-5, and Matrix-1000 in active beta."
"In near mint condition, with factory MIDI. Voice boards and PSU recapped, calibrated. The autotune function has been deactivated because we have calibrated the filters to be able to self-oscillate and apparently that is incompatible with the autotune check on startup, but the synth is fully tuned. Copy of user manual (in german), schematics and docs included. 220V version.
The Banana is a 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer that, in terms of design, strongly resembles the famous Oberheim OB-Xa, but it is not an OB-Xa clone. It features an OB-Xa-like voice architecture with two CEM3340 VCOs, a switchable 24dB lowpass/highpass filter based on the SSM2044 chip, and CEM3360 VCAs and CEM3310 Envelope Generators for the six voices. This provides a rich, warm analog sound that is still relevant in modern music productions. The Banana allows for sound editing with the versatile 2 ENVs (envelopes), similar to those found in the OB-Xa, making it a powerful instrument for both complex soundscapes and powerful leads and basslines.
The Banana was produced in West Germany by Electronic Engineering Hoffmann (EEH), in collaboration with Synthesizer Studio Bonn (SSB), and it is the only synthesizer ever released by EEH and distributed by SSB. In 1983, Electronic Engineering Hoffmann (EEH) completed the development of the Banana in collaboration with Synthesizer Studio Bonn (SSB), the world’s first specialized synthesizer store, located in West Germany. SSB had already made a name for itself by creating custom sequencers, including the Synthorama, which was used by Kraftwerk to control their Minimoogs on the legendary Trans-Europe Express.
Production of the Banana ran from 1983 to approximately 1985, after which the synth was discontinued. Only 100 to 300 units were made. This makes it a particularly rare model for collectors or musicians looking for a unique synth.
This model offers a unique opportunity for the serious synthesizer enthusiast or collector who is searching for a rare instrument with historical value.
Don’t miss out on the chance to own a piece of synthesizer history!"
"More expressive performance can be achieved through various technologies and techniques such as velocity, channel aftertouch (pressure), polyphonic aftertouch, and MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). These features allow compatible synthesizer instruments and controllers to mimic the subtle dynamics of acoustic instruments.
In this video, musician, producer, and sound designer @AndrewLonghurst demonstrates his approach to expressive sound design, showcased through his collection of presets for Ensoniq ESQ-1 by Cherry Audio. He provides demonstrations of each technique using the new Expressive E Osmose CE MIDI controller and discusses his choices for setting up these advanced modulations in a preset.
These techniques can be widely applied to other Cherry Audio virtual instruments. Be sure to check the product feature listings and documentation to determine which instruments specifically support some or all of these methods. Additionally, consult your MIDI controller documentation, as compatibility for channel aftertouch, polyphonic aftertouch, and especially MPE can vary significantly in this evolving market.
"Annulus is a six-mode resonator instrument for the modern music producer who treats sound like material. Modal, FM, string, and sympathetic voices feed directly into tape delay, shimmer reverb, and analog drive — a full sounddesign chain in one plugin, shaped by four expressive macros. At home in any musictech setup: fast to sketch a melody, deep enough to lose hours in texture.
The engine
Annulus routes your signal through four linked processors:
Rings: a MIDI-driven polyphonic resonator based on Mutable Instruments' Rings, running six distinct physical modeling algorithms. Eight voices spread across the stereo field with velocity and position randomization for organic variation on every hit.
Spiral: a stereo tape delay with tempo sync, ping-pong routing, wobble modulation, and saturated feedback.
Velvet: an algorithmic reverb with shimmer, diffusion, ducking, and a four-second tail.
Distortion: twelve waveshaping models at 2× oversampling, from soft tube warmth to asymmetric fuzz.
Four macro knobs: Morphe, Aigle, Nothros, Topos. Reach across the entire chain simultaneously. One gesture shapes the resonator, the delay, the reverb, and the drive at once. Topos also integrates into the visualizer's rotation, tying the image to the physics of the sound."
OB-6 Unofficial Editor - VST3 Demo video upload by Voidcontrol MIDI
"Voidcontrol MIDI has released the OB-6 Unofficial Editor, a Windows VST3 plugin that lets you control and automate the Oberheim OB-6 from within a DAW, just like a software instrument.
The OB-6 is a beloved analog polysynth, and the Unofficial Editor makes it straightforward to integrate into a modern DAW session. Every parameter is on screen, organized by section, with real DAW automation on every control rather than just MIDI learn. A standalone version is also included.
Features include:
Full parameter control, organized by section
Real DAW automation lanes for every parameter (VST3 version)
A patch library with naming, categories, search, and sharing
A polyphonic sequencer that plays back on the OB-6 itself
A/B snapshots with an automatable morph slider
Editing of the OB-6's global settings
A resizable interface (50% to 300%)
The editor has been tested in Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cubase, Reaper, Studio One, and Waveform, and works in the Windows 11 MIDI 2.0 environment.
'I built it because I wanted my OB-6 to fit into my DAW the way my soft synths do, and I designed it to be something I'd want to use myself every day,' said Dave of Voidcontrol MIDI.
Voidcontrol MIDI is a small US-based developer making editors for boutique and classic hardware synths. The OB-6 Unofficial Editor is its second release.
The OB-6 Unofficial Editor is available now at voidcontrolmidi.com for an introductory $30 USD through June 16, 2026, after which it returns to its regular price of $40 USD.
The OB-6 Unofficial Editor is a third-party tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sequential or Oberheim. 'OB-6' is a trademark of its respective owner."
Freshwater writes a new chapter for the legendary Fairlight CMI
Today Freshwater announces a milestone event with the release of the FI50A card for existing Fairlight CMIs series I, II and IIx. We’ve spent over a year perfecting this project and now offer CMI users a unique opportunity to extend, preserve and enhance these remarkable and era-defining machines.
Installed in an original Fairlight CMI, the FI50A makes the instrument faster, more reliable and more convenient to operate whilst bringing the legendary CMI sound into the 21st century music production environment. We are currently focused on getting these cards into the hands of users and continuing to optimise the enhanced software bundled with them.
What is the FI50A?
The Freshwater FI50A is a complete modern replacement for the original CMI computer section, including CPU, graphics display, memory and library storage. It is compatible with Fairlight CMI Series I, II and IIx systems.
The FI50A preserves the character, workflow and hardware experience of the original instrument while dramatically improving speed, reliability, storage and usability. It runs enhanced software derived from the original source code keeping the instrument recognisably and operationally a Fairlight CMI.
The card arrives pre-installed with a fully licensed original CMI sound library and adds practical modern ways to expand it, including enhanced 10-bit sampling, waveform upload over Wi-Fi, SD card and USB memory support. It also adds DisplayPort output, USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi while retaining support for legacy CMI keyboards, CRT/light pen operation, floppy disks, MIDI interfaces and Series I/II channel cards.
Installation is straightforward and fully reversible. Using the supplied user manual and online video guide, the original CPU and peripheral cards can be removed and preserved, the FI50A installed in their place, and the original peripherals reconnected.
For owners familiar with the CMI, the result is not a different instrument, but a transformed one: faster, easier to maintain and ready for contemporary studio use while remaining true to the original machine.
For more information, please follow the link below:
“I once said ‘one day the whole CMI will fit on one chip’. We all had a laugh at that. Fast forward 40 years and that’s the reality. By making this new board compatible with the original CMI channel cards, the bits that make the CMI sound so unique are still there, while the digital part is a zillion times more powerful, smaller,
cheaper and reliable.”
—Peter Vogel
"This week I've made this tune, which I'm very happy with. Rather than just post the music I thought I'd break it down and explain this particular technique for creating this kind of music using my DAW. The music is rendered using two modern replacement SIDs in my MIDISID."
DIY USB MIDI adaptor solves dropped note problems:
• DIY USB MIDI adaptor solves dropped note p... [posted here]
0:00 teaser
0:13 intro
1:07 using 'external MIDI' tracks
2:32 drums
3:42 bass
6:13 arpeggiation
6:38 embedding MIDI control messages
6:57 pad
7:52 the lead and pitch bend
9:32 the tune
A new 10-voice analog-style synth for iPhone and iPad. Inspired by a legendary Poly Synthesizer.
PRO-A5 captures the warm and organic sound of the most iconic analog poly synth ever made. From lush brass, silky pads, screaming resonance and punchy basses to soaring leads, this is the sound that defined MUSIC ICONS from the ’80s to today. Be inspired by the same synth sounds used on thousands of records you already love.
JAM PACKED
Features 400+ Presets by Moby Pixel, Analog Matthew, Doug Woods (The Sound Test Room), Bri Kup, DMT Cymatics, Red Sky Lullaby, Joe Zeno, and more!
FEATURES:
New Sound Engine with advanced DSP
Professionally Modeled Filter, with Self Oscillation
2 Filters: Classic “REV 3” with Stepping & Modern Smooth
10 voices! Each note can have 5 unison voices. Almost a P-50?!
500+ Exclusive Handmade Presets!
Vintage Poly Mod with per-voice modulation
Raw, gritty Oscillator Sync
Magic “Tune Rez” button to instantly tune the self-oscillation!
Bonus Filter panel with Filter Slopes, Env Inversions, and other goodies
Per-Voice Analog Panning
Single Note Polyphony for mono & poly
Accurate PWM engine, with the Hardware’s unique Poly-Mod behavior
2x oversampling for more analog-style lows and highs
NEW Reverb, cascading and beautiful
FX: NEW Rage Limiter, Analog Tape Delay, Chorus, Crush, and more.
3 LFOs, over 60+ possible destinations, almost everything can be modulated! LFOs can even modify other LFOs
Aftertouch! Control any of the Parameters
Dual Assignable Touch Pads, manipulate FX in real time!
You can find posts on MATRIXSYNTH featuring Jack Hotop here for a look back on his influence in the synthesizer community. The first post was a simple pic back in 2006.
Press release from Korg follows:
Over a 40-Year Career, the Influential Synthesist and Accomplished Touring Keyboardist Shaped the Sonic Architecture of More Than 100 Landmark Instruments, Including the Historic M1 Workstation
MELVILLE, N.Y. - Korg USA announces with deep sadness the passing of longtime employee, celebrated sound designer, and musical instrument industry icon Jack Hotop. Joining Korg USA (then Unicord) in 1983, Hotop started as Senior Voicing Manager and spent over four decades driving the development, sound design, programming, voicing, and product demonstrations for more than 100 Korg products. As a pioneering engineer and exceptionally skilled performer, his extensive contributions helped guide the evolution of synthesizers and digital workstations from the early 1980s through the modern era, leaving an indelible imprint on instruments used by musicians around the world and for generations to come.
Hotop’s foundational expertise was anchored in a rigorous musical and technical background. Raised in a musical family, he began piano lessons at age seven, inspired by his father, a musician featured on several Broadway cast recordings, and numerous pianists on his mother’s side. By age 14, he was actively performing in local bands on a Gibson 101 organ. He pursued formal training at the Berklee College of Music, majoring in arranging, composition, and accompaniment, before expanding into emerging music technology at the Boston School of Electronic Music under Roger Powell. It was there that Hotop established his core synthesis fundamentals using early hardware including the ARP Odyssey, 2600, 2500, and EMS Synthi, building a deep understanding of waveforms, envelopes, low-frequency oscillators, and modulators.
I am Thierry Gerardeaux from 16 Music Lab, and I want to announce that my custom MIDI interfaces for the Yamaha CS series (covering everything from the CS-15 up to the legendary CS-80) are currently available.
To maintain the highest standard of quality and ensure these kits end up in the right hands (rather than with speculators), I operate strictly on a small-batch, built-to-order basis. I limit production to a maximum of 5 units per CS model at any given time. This is true boutique hardware designed for purists and demanding technicians.
The CS-80 Flagship Interface & MIDI OUT Capabilities
While I proudly cater to the entire CS line, I want to specifically highlight the interface designed for the Yamaha CS-80. Given the immense complexity and uncompromising architecture of this legendary synthesizer, retrofitting it requires absolute precision.
Crucially, this specific MIDI kit goes beyond basic connectivity by featuring a comprehensive and highly responsive MIDI OUT. It flawlessly transmits all 8 voices of polyphony, including velocity and the CS-80's signature polyphonic aftertouch, alongside real-time data from the iconic ribbon controller. This allows you to harness the CS-80's legendary expressive keyboard to control your modern DAW or other hardware seamlessly.
How it works:
Technical Validation: Before any transaction, I require a few macro photos of your synthesizer’s internals (connectors, board revisions). I personally evaluate these remotely to guarantee 100% compatibility with your specific machine.
Shipping / DIY Install: If you or your trusted local tech are handling the installation, a dedicated and highly trusted partner of mine takes care of the ultra-secure packing and worldwide shipping.
Custom Installation: For those who want absolute peace of mind, I also offer a complete, personalized installation service myself (for an additional fee).
These kits are built with uncompromising attention to detail to respect the original circuitry of these vintage masterpieces.
If you are looking to bring your Yamaha CS into the modern studio environment with a reliable, high-end MIDI retrofit, please feel free to reach out to me directly at: 16musiclab@gmail.com or visit www.16musiclab.fr
"The Antonus 2600 O.S. is a full-scale semi-modular synthesizer, a faithful replica of the classic ARP 2600, updated with modern features including MIDI. At Superbooth 2026, I had the chance to get hands-on with this outstanding 2600 clone and catch up with CEO Tony to talk about his vision for the Antonus 2600.
1. 00:00 - Sound Sample Antonus ARP 2600 Synth
2. 00:49 - Interview with Tony from Antonus Synths
3. 16:30 - Sound Samples of various patches on the Antonus ARP 2600
4. 29:23 - Final words about Superbooth 2026
"The Erica Synths Syntrx II is one of the most talked-about synthesizers of recent years — but three years on from its release, is it still worth your money? In this in-depth review and demo, I finally get hands-on with this modern spiritual successor to the legendary EMS VCS3 and EMS Synthi, and I want to bust two big myths: it's NOT as complicated as it looks, and it's NOT just a crazy sci-fi sound effects machine. 🎹 What's covered in this video:
-Syntrx II vs the original EMS VCS3 / EMS Synthi — key similarities and differences -Syntrx II vs Syntrx I — what changed and why -The 16x16 digital pin matrix explained simply -Using the Syntrx II as a standard 3-oscillator monosynth -The trapezoid (looping) envelope in practice -All-analog signal path walkthrough -Onboard 3-channel sequencer, DSP reverb and delay, envelope follower FM, self-oscillation, noise modulation, and filter techniques -Sample & hold circuit — how to set it up -The joystick as an LFO / recording modulation source -MIDI setup tips (offset fix, CC assignments for X and Y axes) -Patch saving — what it DOES and DOESN'T save, and why it matters -Honest pros and cons
🎵 Extended drone demo — 5 minutes of the Syntrx II running a single live patch with the trapezoid looping envelope, FM, noise, filter modulation via joystick, and DSP effects. The full version was over 10 minutes — it really is that good.
💷 Price context: Original EMS Synthis now sell for £24,000+. The Syntrx II comes in under £2,000. If you've ever wanted that Synthi sound without selling a kidney, this might be your answer."
"Buchla’s Ziggy monosynth aims to bring the brand’s singular style of West Coast synthesis to a wider audience, both by dropping the price – at $999, Ziggy is a fifth of the price of the company’s Music Easel – and repackaging the sound engine in a non-modular, self-contained desktop instrument that’s intended to be more modern and accessible than its previous designs.
The format may have changed, but Ziggy still has the digitally-controlled analogue architecture of a classic Buchla: a complex oscillator with wavefolding, a modulation oscillator for FM and AM, and a low-pass gate in place of a conventional filter and VCA, inviting the kind of unconventional sound design that has earned the brand a place in the hearts of those looking for an experimental alternative to the traditional East Coast approach. What makes Ziggy different, though, are additions like browser-managed patch storage, digital effects, and extensive connectivity: alongside CV inputs for pitch, gate and modulation, you get an external audio input and 5-pin MIDI and USB-C connections, which allow for the kind of external control via the KeyStep that you can see here.
It’s fair to say that most music-makers won’t have had the chance to experiment with a Buchla before, and with Ziggy, the company is hoping to change that. While it’s clearly more approachable than a Music Easel or a Skylab, designing sounds with Ziggy will still take some getting used to, as we found out over at Buchla’s booth – but cycling through the instrument’s presets, which showcase the unique, often chaotic timbres that West Coast synthesis is known for, left us eager to dive deeper into the Buchla universe. Mission accomplished."
Manfred from Miltone treats us to a demo of the 4EXP, an impressive and meticulous re-creation of the legendary Oberheim Four Voice. Like the original, there are four SEM models, build from discrete components and circuit boards the accurately match the original - they even have potentiometers with ball bearings. It does of course include modern features like MIDI as well.
"We are treated to a demo of Big Time, a beautiful-sounding new stereo delay pedal from Chase Bliss. Big Time recreates the vintage sound of early 80s echoes and delays, including both the warm sounds and the crunchier flaws that make effects units of that era distinctive. Big Time also includes modern features like motorized, MIDI-controllable faders."
"Drums is an analog and digital drum machine built for immediacy, depth, and performance."
Features.
Analog voices. Four analog voices built on modern SSI chips create a dense, classic tone with modern flexibility. Each stacks dual analog VCOs, a dedicated noise source, and additional digital oscillator for hybrid layering or precise FM modulation. Each shaped through a multimode analog filter and VCA, giving you everything from tight percussion to evolving synth textures.
Instruments. Multiple analog and digital synthesis methods, sample-based instruments, and eight independent LFOs give you the core tools for creating and modulating drum sounds. With over forty instruments, each containing its own sub-mode mutations, you get hundreds of options to choose from.
Live performance. Drums is designed for real-time control. Use the X0Y fader to morph kits, trigger fills instantly, and switch between patterns or sound kits without stopping playback. Key parameters stay close, so changes can be made while the pattern is running.
Effects. Drums includes three dedicated effects groups. Send effects for shared processing. Insert effects for individual tracks. A master chain for the final mix. Inserts can be sequenced per track, so effects become part of the rhythm rather than something added at the end.
Power The device runs on a dual-core main CPU, with auxiliary processors handling peripherals and analog control. Internal audio processing is done in 32-bit floating point at 96kHz, with 24-bit/96 kHz DAC and ADC conversion for audio input and output.
Ins & Outs. 2 × 1/4” audio out jacks 8 × 1/4” individual track output jacks 1 × 1/4” stereo headphone jack 2 × 1/4” audio in jacks
1 x 1/8” MIDI In jack 1 x 1/8” MIDI Out jack 1 x 1/8” MIDI Thru jack
