New complimentary Community Table program will give selected synth and electronic-music communities and educational programs expo-floor space alongside manufacturers, independent builders, and software developers at NAESE 2027.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Sept. 22, 2026 — When the inaugural North American Electronic Sound Expo opens in Cleveland next April, some of the tables on its show floor won't belong to companies at all.
NAESE announced today that it will reserve a limited number of complimentary Community Tables for established synth and electronic-music communities and educational programs, giving selected groups a physical home inside the expo alongside hardware manufacturers, independent builders, software developers, performers, and educators.
Each participating group will receive a complimentary six-foot table on the NAESE show floor, plus two representative badges for the price of one. NAESE is setting aside a portion of its expo floor for community use free of charge.
"Modular Town — a synthesizer town, drawn by hand.
Modular Town is a single Amorph instrument: a hand-drawn village you scroll through, where every knob, step-sequencer and jack is mounted on a building facade wired by hand, just like real hardware.
🏭 Filter (Cutoff/Resonance) on the factoryVCO1 / VCO2 on the vending machinesDetune and Attack/Decay/Release tucked into the houses🥁 A 16-step drum machine (Drums Volume, Accent, Drive) running through its own sequencer🍜 Ramen Bass Shop, a mono bass synth with its own 16-step piano roll, playable live or sequenced. A day/night cycle you flip from a shop sign. Delay (Time/Feedback/Mix) on a canal-side wall. A full patch panel route LFO, ENV and random modulation across the whole village with real cables✨ Reverb, aged-paper texture and film grain for a sketchbook feel"
"oh dear, what do we have here? an @illuminationent minion on the hunt for the perfect instrument? oh wow, our minion found the @roland_aus Go Keys 3 Minion Edition! what a happy day :)
this special minion edition wonder machine/Roland Go Keys 3 is perfect for beginner piano players and beyond! it is loaded with a number of special sounds beyond normal piano's/strings/synths/drums etc. and we have one in-store ready for you to try today! pre-order your's now as there is very limited stock incoming to @turramurramusic
our minions x Brtiney collab was performed by our very own James Rika-Heke and he even brought in his own Minions Suit, ready for Halloween!"
"Andrew from 20CC takes us on a tour of the TXX-1 Spectron, a dual-voice module based on samples from classic recording-based instruments like the Mellotron and Optigan.
'The 20CC TXX-1 Spectron is a Eurorack format dual oscillator inspired by vintage analog multisampling instruments such as the Mellotron, Chamberlin, and Optigan. Spectron uses a unique combination of synthesis and sampling techniques to bring the rich, warbly sounds of these classic instruments into Eurorack for the first time, while also offering new possibilities to manipulate, warp, and mangle them.'"
Patreon: / catsynth | https://shop.catsynth.com | https://ko-fi.com/catsynth
0:00 Introduction
0:15 Spectron
1:49 Availability
2:08 How sounds are added to Spectron
"The 20CC TXX-1 Spectron is a Eurorack format dual oscillator inspired by vintage analog multisampling instruments such as the Mellotron, Chamberlin, and Optigan. Spectron uses a unique combination of synthesis and sampling techniques to bring the rich, warbly sounds of these classic instruments into Eurorack for the first time, while also offering new possibilities to manipulate, warp, and mangle them.
Analog multisampled instruments had their hey-day in the 1950's through the 1970's. They used analog recording technology - tape recording in the case of the Mellotron and Chamberlin, and optical sound printing on analog photographic film in the case of the Optigan. Each key corresponded to a recording of a note played on another instrument, often orchestral sounds like strings, woodwinds or choirs, which would play back when the key was pressed. All of Spectron’s sounds are based around full, per-key recordings of vintage multisampled instruments.
Rather than simply triggering discrete samples, Spectron organizes many samples to create the illusion of a continuous voltage-controlled oscillator. As pitch changes, playback seamlessly transitions between recordings, preserving the character of each original tape while allowing smooth, continuous frequency control.
There are two assignable timbre shaping sections not normally found on sample-based instruments: FM and Sync. These are tuned to range from subtle modulations that recontextualize familiar sounds, through radical transformations that are barely recognizable, and all the way to harsh and clangorous, with continuous CV control of all points between."
"A three-day expo for hardware synths, modular gear, software, controllers, accessories, and the people who make them. Built community-first, in the heart of Cleveland."
North American Electronic Sound Expo to Hold Its Exhibitor Welcome Reception at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The inaugural NAESE opens Year 1 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on Thursday, April 8, 2027, the evening before its public expo floor opens.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, August 26, 2026. The North American Electronic Sound Expo (NAESE), a new three-day expo for electronic-sound instruments and the people who make and play them, will hold its inaugural Exhibitor Welcome Reception at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 8, 2027, the evening before its public expo opens April 9-11 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
Built community-first, NAESE is for the makers who build the instruments, the developers who code them, the artists who perform on them, and the people who love them. It spans four pillars: TOUCH (the expo floor), SHARE (sessions, panels, and workshops), HEAR (performances), and PLAY (open jam spaces).
The Exhibitor Welcome Reception gathers the makers, developers, and manufacturers exhibiting at NAESE for a chance to meet and network the evening before the public floor opens, on The Bridge, the museum’s Level 3 event space overlooking the Cleveland skyline. Exhibitors have complimentary access to the museum’s exhibits that evening, before and after the reception.
For NAESE’s founder, who now lives in New York, Cleveland is a homecoming.
“Honestly, I still can’t quite believe we get to do this,” said Greg Kefalas, NAESE’s founder and executive producer. “I’m from Canton, so Cleveland is where my first big live music gigs were, and now Year 1 opens at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the night before the floor does. The people who solder this gear, code it, and play it are doing some of the most exciting work in music right now. Bringing NAESE to Cleveland and opening the weekend by welcoming them to the Hall felt exactly right.”
“Every one of these makers, from the biggest names to the one-person shops, is building something worth celebrating,” said co-founder Mike Weakley. “Kicking NAESE’s first year off with them at the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is exactly how it should be. At NAESE the makers come first, and this is us proving it.”
The Exhibitor Welcome Reception is for NAESE exhibitors and is not a public event. All NAESE badge holders receive $5 off adult Rock & Roll Hall of Fame admission from two days before the expo through two days after. The public expo runs April 9-11, 2027 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, and badges are on sale now at naese.co.
About NAESE The North American Electronic Sound Expo (NAESE) is a three-day expo for hardware synthesizers, modular gear, software, controllers, accessories, and the people who make and play them. Built community-first, NAESE brings makers, performers, educators, and enthusiasts into one building across four pillars: TOUCH (the expo floor), SHARE (sessions, panels, workshops, and demos), HEAR (performances), and PLAY (open jam spaces), with software as a full citizen alongside hardware. Its inaugural edition, Year 1: First Signal, runs April 9-11, 2027 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, with an exhibitor welcome on Thursday, April 8. NAESE is produced by Million Sides, Inc.
EDINBURGH, UK: readily representing its first ‘big’ release in over a year (when the temporarily out-of-circulation GLASS STRINGS was effectively re-released with a totally redesigned GUI and added features as the Edinburgh-based enterprise’s workhorse string library for a new era in more human-sounding music and scores, coinciding with rebranding itself with an aesthetic that truly realised company co-founder and composer Christian Henson’s heartfelt dream of encouraging people to make music and help them on their journey, regardless of whatever point they were at and wherever their journey began), The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce availability of ARCANE STRINGS — taking the sampling rule book and ripping it up, ultimately resulting in a string library featuring amateur players in order to achieve an arcane, primitive, dislocated, microtonal, loose, and sometimes savage sound duly designed for media composers wanting to leave a truly characterful imprint on their next drama score, or, indeed, composers who want to gain extra devilish bite out of their existing string collections — as of August 14…
The Best Strings Plugin Money CAN'T Buy??? video upload by CROW HILL
Press release follows:
The Crow Hill Company announces availability of popular POCKET STRINGS plug-in for free, bringing broadcast-grade string possibilities to everyone
EDINBURGH, UK: around a year after its initial launch, not long after the Edinburgh-based enterprise effectively rebranded itself with an aesthetic that truly realises company co-founder and composer Christian Henson’s heartfelt dream of encouraging people to make music and help them on their journey, regardless of whatever point they were at and wherever their journey began, The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce that it has made its popular POCKET STRINGS — styled as a never-tried-before strings plug-in that aims to bring broadcast-grade string possibilities to everyone by combining live cinematic orchestral recordings of some of the best musicians working in the UK with some rarefied vintage synth classics made to measure for added body, depth, and character — available for free with no strings attached (but pun intended), as of August 6…
• 5mm black and silver anodised brushed steel panels made in Germany • Custom fader dust-covers • Improved fader stability and durability. • Much more stable on the desk. • Feels incredibly solid and responsive in your hands while you’re using the accelerometer. • 4 flavours to choose from • Massive V2.0 firmware update • All Rev 1 PlayFader owners can upgrade to Rev 2 hardware • Completely revised mega-Manual
Firmware v2.0
• Accelerometer activated - Control notes, chords, modulation, FX, ratchets and transpose. • 9 user scale slots - assignable per-channel • Scale Library featuring 13 of the best! • Brand new Generative FUN FX • Auto Latch - no more holding down button combos! • No Dotted or Triplets options • Improved Clear and Live Mute • Behind the scenes refinements
Manual v2.0
• Fully updated for the new V2 firmware • Now includes first patch walkthroughs • Completely new Quick Reference Guide now included in the same document • Scan the QR code on the back of your PlayFader for instant access
We focused on improving the playability of the hardware with
the addition of new professional 5mm black and silver anodised brushed steel
panels and fader enhancements to the already super-tough recycled ABS plastic
PlayCase enclosure.
We also wanted to make sure all our V1 owners can
upgrade their PlayFaders. Making sustainable products and looking after all our
existing users is extremely important for us.
Important!
From 8th August, we’re simplifying our webstore prices by including
all taxes in our pricing, and increasing the price a little too. We wish we
didn’t have to, but the world got a whole lot more expensive since we shipped
our first PlayFader over two years ago.
PlayFader: Current price
is €299 plus vat. From 8th August the new price will be €399 including vat
for EU and US customers! (€339 ex vat price for rest of the world)
Now’s
the best time to pick up a PlayFader… literally and figuratively…
PlayFader Rev2 is now in stock and ships in 72 hours
"The Roland SH-5 is possibly the most feature rich vintage mono synth ever made by the legendary Japanese company. With 2 LFO's, 2 VCO's, 1 variable state VCF, 1 bandpass filter, 2 Envelopes, 1 VCA, S&H, Ring Mod and a simple but powerful switch matrix for routing modulation this synth is more than capable of making some of the most incredible tones and textures you can imagine!
Made in the late 1970's 'green face' Roland era, when their synths had a certain magic sound that is hard to describe. Fizzling and alive with electricity!
A handful of patch points on the back give you access to all the essential controls via CV so that this can play along nicely with a modern set-up.
This particular SH-5 has just been fully serviced in our Synthesizer Rejuvenation and Wellness Centre and comes with a 90 day warranty of good health. Original lid included."
Playlist:
1. Bastl Kalimba: An Expressive Instrument for Intuitive Electronic Music Exploration
2. Bastl Kalimba - Demo Overview
3. Bastl Kalimba is such a fever dream - HAINBACH
4. WTF did they make? Bastl Kalimba! - ANDREW HUANG
Press release follows:
Bastl Instruments are very proud to announce the release of their new instrument - Bastl Kalimba, a unique desktop instrument that combines microphones, touch sensors, and an accelerometer, with a user interface inspired by the traditional kalimba and its main interaction element: the tines.
We believe that this combination of features and physical interface leads to intuitive creativity and easy musical expression.
1. Introducing Osmose CE — Trailer
2. Osmose CE - The New Generation Of MIDI Controllers
3. Osmose CE — Overview
4. Osmose CE — DAW Control with Ableton Live
5. Osmose CE — DAW Control with Cubase
6. Osmose CE — DAW Control with Logic Pro
Osmose CE // A MIDI Keyboard That Feels Alive // Review & Tutorial
"The Roland SH-5 is possibly the most feature rich vintage mono synth ever made by the legendary Japanese company. With 2 LFO's, 2 VCO's, 1 variable state VCF, 1 bandpass filter, 2 Envelopes, 1 VCA, S&H, Ring Mod and a simple but powerful switch matrix for routing modulation this synth is more than capable of making some of the most incredible tones and textures you can imagine!
Made in the late 1970's 'green face' Roland era, when their synths had a certain magic sound that is hard to describe. Fizzling and alive with electricity!
A handful of patch points on the back give you access to all the essential controls via CV so that this can play along nicely with a modern set-up.
This particular SH-5 has just been fully serviced in our Synthesizer Rejuvenation and Wellness Centre and comes with a 90 day warranty of good health. Original lid included."
"This vintage ARP Odyssey has been fully serviced and overhauled by our synthesizer rejuvenation and wellness centre. A set of brand new Bourns faders (using a special fader adapter kit) and full key assembly overhaul, including all new key bushings makes this Odyssey a dream to play. This particular unit has factory CV/gate installed as well as the PPC bender.
It comes with our 90 day warranty of good health. It also includes a hard shell case."
Check with dealers on the right for price and availability.
"Magnolia is an eight-voice analog through-zero linear FM synthesizer. Besides the classic analog polysynth sounds, its design allows programming some less conventional timbres closer to the world of modular synthesizers, and especially of the so-called “complex oscillators.”
Magnolia allows to bring modular synthesis techniques in the world of analog polysynths, with all the known advantages of the latter: polyphony, immediacy of use, powerful sound, and those little unpredictable details generally known as “analog warmth.”
Magnolia is a highly playable instrument thanks to its expressive Fatar keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and encourages sound exploration through its large and relaxing front panel.
"Sorry, we had some issues with free shipping not being applied to orders on our webstore over the weekend. We also had a local postal system outage at the end of last week 🙄
But we’re up-to-date with orders today and free shipping is now automatically applied at checkout. Thanks to everyone for the amazing response!!!
Save 30% on PlayFader
Ends 31st January
Plus free worldwide shipping! Guaranteed!
"Watch him first add some random fills with the Random Fun FX. Then he gets really i to it with the Roll Fun Fx to mash up the beat beyond recognition 😎
Is PlayFader the best jungle breaks mash-up sequencer? OK, big claim, and we’re not that bigheaded, but we definitely think PlayFader is one of the most expressive and versatile sequencers out there.
Don’t program your music… play it!
Patch notes: Playfader controls the first channel of Digitakt in slice mode, with the Think break loaded. Moving the fader enables us to play different slices of the break, and the second channel plays a chord stab sample (but PF can also play lush chords over MIDI). We add a sprinkle of Random Fun FX at the end of each bar to create some dynamic fills, then we switch to the Roll Fun FX and catch little loops at each press of Play, setting and changing the time division on the fly to mash up the beat pattern and bring the heat 🔥
He’s also using our unique Window Latch function to free up more fingers for playing. With Window Latch you don’t need to keep hold any button combos down along the top row. It’s a powerful performance feature!
PlayFader includes 7 FUN FX modes which allow you to take your patterns to extreme new places and back again at the push of a button… the FUN button!
"I was skeptical when @melbourneinstruments sent me Roto-Control for Logic Pro. I've owned plenty of MIDI controllers that ended up collecting dust. But after using this for the past month, I actually reach for it.
What makes it different? Eight fully motorized control knobs with haptic feedback that adapt to whatever you're focused on in Logic Pro. You don't just see parameters change on screen - you FEEL them. End stops on a filter cutoff, notches on discrete values, center indents for faders, pans, and more.
In this review, I walk through the Logic Pro integration, the haptic feedback system, and what it's actually like to use day-to-day. I also cover the real limitations - manual plugin mapping and limited storage - that you need to know before buying."
Press release follows:
Melbourne Instruments announces advanced Logic Pro integration for ROTO-CONTROL motorised software and hardware MIDI controller
MELBOURNE, VIC, AUSTRALIA: Melbourne Instruments is proud to announce availability of advanced Logic Pro integration for its ROTO-CONTROL motorised software and hardware MIDI controller — creatively expanding upon its successful integration with Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio, demand for integration with Apple’s popular professional DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for Mac having been strong since said controller launched to widespread critical acclaim a year ago — as of January 15, 2026…
ROTO-CONTROL readily packs eight touch-sensitive motorised knobs — brushless drone motors with Melbourne Instruments’ patented ultra-high-resolution contactless optical sensors offering a lifetime rating in excess of 50 million cycles that equates to 500 times more than conventional pots, precisely — alongside nine high-resolution IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) and 16 backlit RGB (Red, Green, Blue) LED (Light-Emitting Diode) buttons into its classy, compact — 341mm/13.4” (W) x 112mm/4.4” (D) x 44mm/1.7” (H) — form factor to duly deliver haptic feedback and instant parameter recall, communicating with the outside world via MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) over USB (Universal Serial Bus) and 5-pin MIDI DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) IN/OUT/THRU connections. Constructed out of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and metal, it robustly weighs in at only 715g/1.58lb, making it the perfect portable production partner for encouraging artists to use sound and music in new and exciting ways — wherever their journey might end up taking them, both creatively and geographically. Get this, though: ROTO-CONTROL now introduces a fully-tactile, motorised workflow to Logic Pro, delivering fast, hands-on control of tracks, plug-ins, Smart Controls, and automation — all thanks to a new firmware update.
MIX mode mirrors Logic Pro’s session track names, colours, and order automatically, while providing high-resolution control of volume, pan, sends, and automation alongside instant access to track selection, paging, mute/solo/arm switching, and dedicated TRACK FOCUS.
Fast, powerful plug-in control comes courtesy of PLUGIN mode, allowing users to browse and select Logic Pro instrument and effect plug-ins instantly from ROTO-CONTROL using simple touch-and-learn mapping for any parameter, with up to eight pages of controls per plug-in stored directly on the device ready for any projects, plus bypass/select controls — all mappings being saved on ROTO-CONTROL and usable across all Logic Pro projects on any computer.
Cutting-edge control continues with Logic Pro’s Smart Controls being automatically mapped to ROTO-CONTROL, controlling up to 16 Smart Control parameters instantly — perfect for working with instruments, macros, and MIDI effects, available in both PLUGIN mode and the dedicated SMART mode itself.
And as if all that was not enough to be getting on with, ROTO-CONTROL can be used to customise labels, colours, haptics, and steps for each control, while integrated transport — play, stop, record, cycle, auto-punch, and playhead — controls are all accessible from any mode.
It is fair to say, then, that Logic Pro users owe it to themselves — and, ultimately, their sound and music — to consider making some space in their creative and physical world for ROTO-CONTROL. After all, motorised and morphing controls, instant recall, and intuitive hardware are only the beginning of their journeying.
ROTO-CONTROL is available to buy at its new North American price of $399.00 USD (excluding tax) in the USA and Canada, while its RRP (Recommended Retail Price) in Australia of $619.00 AU (including GST) and MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) in the EU of €372.35 EUR (excluding VAT), MSRP in Japan/Asia of $469.00 USD, and MSRP in the UK of £389.00 GBP remains unchanged — all via Melbourne Instruments’ growing global network of dealers here: https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/dealers [check with dealers on the right here on MATRIXSYNTH]
A modular synthesiser performance recorded on my terrace in Porto, built around the 4MS Spectral Multiband Resonator and the Serge Random Source Triple Waveshaper [with Play all Day's PlayFader].
This patch became something to play rather than explain, with dense cross modulation and unstable feedback paths.
Watch the companion video looking at the underlying patch structure here:"
Patch Memory #3 | Chaotic cross modulation with 4MS SMR and R*S Triple Waveshaper
"Another patch exploration video, this time focusing on chaotic cross modulation between the 4MS Spectral Multiband Resonator and the Serge Random Source Triple Waveshaper.
This is a short overview of the patch logic rather than a full performance or a repeatable recipe. The sounds are unstable by design and difficult to reproduce exactly.
Performance audio available on Bandcamp, alongside an additional piece here:
"Mint condition...... And heck if a lot of fun and sounds awesome.
comes with all accessories (matrix pins/cables/power)
In perfect condition, everything works like it should. 2 to3 day shipping...
Ample combines the best elements of several of our recent products.
The sound elements of Fusebox
Jack patch points of Concussor Eurorack
Patch pin matrix of Vostok
Echo from Dr Strangelove
Sequencer and CV touch pads of Generator
It shares all this yet still has its own sound!"
Ample can be as complex or as simple as you want it to be
We have given this synth a large and diverse number of controls, that along side the patch sockets, will give even the best and experienced synthesist endless possibilities.
We have presented the controls in a user friendly and familiar synth layout that, together with this manual and other resources, enable even the new guy to get great sounds.
SYNTH – PERCUSSION – AUDIO PROCESSOR
Ample is a compact analogue synthesizer. Analogue - as in really analogue. Aside from the MIDI chip (which has to be digital), everything else is totally analogue using real transistors and op-amps. There are no CPU stabilised and quantised circuits, no DCOs, no digital LFOs and no digital EGs, as found on other so called analogue synths. The circuitry is based on designs dating back to the mid-1970s. So Ample has a genuine old sound.
"The second generation of our flagship 104HP x 7U Performance Case.
Upgrades and new features:
• Upgraded Power Supply with 34 x Headers and lower noise
• 8 x 1/4" TRS jack sockets for inputs and outputs
• Complete MIDI I/O with USB-C
• New Locking Cover design
• New Built-in Stand design
• VESA Mount Compatible
• Joiner Plate Compatible - stack your cases!
Available in both Silver and Black."
"Have modular. Will travel.
Studio, cafe, stage, floor, coffee table—the 7U Performance case doesn't care where you play with it. Two 3U rows house and power all the modules you love (or one day hope to love), while the additional 1U row accommodates an extensive selection of specialized utility modules. Power, audio and MIDI/USB jacks on the back handle all the necessary inputs and outputs, ensuring all that rack space remains free for the "fun" modules. The lid has enough clearance to keep your system patched in transit, and two cases can be stacked with a set of joiners."
