Roland Introduces Mood Pan Electronic Hand Pan Percussion Instrument and Speaker System

video uploads by Roland ｜ ローランド

Press release follows:

Electronic Hand Percussion Instrument and Speaker System for Musical Exploration, Relaxation, and Meditation

Los Angeles, CA, June 24, 2025 — Roland introduces Mood Pan, a unique electronic hand percussion instrument that encourages anyone to discover the restorative power of music. Inspired by acoustic handpans, Mood Pan features tranquil tones and a simple design requiring no previous musical skills. Along with providing immersive audio for the onboard sounds, its built-in 2.1 speaker system can also play soothing background music and stream Bluetooth audio from mobile devices.

Mood Pan is made for mindful people and modern musicians seeking a versatile and expressive new instrument. It blends the soulful resonance of acoustic handpans with multiple sound variations and other flexible features made possible with Roland’s advanced percussion technology. While many musical instruments require learning and skill development, Mood Pan can be enjoyed by everyone, with no experience or special technique necessary.

The electronic design of Mood Pan offers many benefits over traditional handpans. Users can explore different instruments and tunings, enhance sounds with onboard effects, and silence the onboard speaker by plugging in headphones for quiet solo sessions.

Mood Pan can be placed on the user’s lap or a tabletop. The instrument is played with finger taps, and its nine pads can be assigned to different musical scales, making it impossible to hit a wrong note. It’s also possible to tap the sides with the palms to create percussive sounds and resonant tonalities, mute sounds with a touch, and use a special control pad to add expressive colors to certain tones.

Selectable sounds include handpan and other acoustic percussion such as tongue drum, gamelan, crystal bowl, and singing bowl. There’s also a sitar voice, orchestral strings, synth pad tones, and four user locations with selectable sound variations.

Mood Pan offers environmental music and nature sounds, along with four modes to play soft soundtracks for mornings, evenings, relaxing, and yoga sessions. It also doubles as a high-quality Bluetooth speaker for streaming music from a smartphone or tablet.

The Mood Pan Plus app is the perfect partner to extend the Mood Pan experience. Users can adjust the onboard sounds, choose different environmental sounds and effects, and fine-tune the pad sensitivity. The app also includes additional sounds for loading into Mood Pan’s four onboard user locations.

Availability & Pricing

The Mood Pan is available for USD $659.99.

To learn more about Mood Pan, visit Roland.com.

---

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

Dual mono recording and using stackables featuring Strega and 0-Coast.

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"New modules are cool, but old modules are cool too.
Strega Unleashed is not the most descriptive title, but hey, I suck at making my videos easier to find by a wider audience. This is for everyone who wants to get more stereo from a mono semi-modular synth.

My increasing love and diminishing hate relationship with Strega is still going strong. I was under the impression I heard most of what it can do, but I was wrong. This whole idea started when I wondered about the Buchla TTA 264 'polyphonic adapter' which could round robin notes to various destinations. I am not using it in this video, this is more like a proof of concept. Strega is obviously a mono voice, but the delay accepts 'pitch cv'. The same applies to the 'Agitation' LFO. It gets even cooler when you also have a O-Coast because it provides another VCO and the 'Slope' LFO which can run audio rate too. The 264 could send pitch CV to four destinations like a rotating sequential switch and this will probably also work with the WMD sequential switch matrix.

However, in this proof of concept I'll just use stackables to honor the 'dark easel' as it comes, so without any fancy modules you don't own, and only using free VST's from Native Instruments (Replika, Raum). So there are two main takeaways in this video, regardless of owning a Strega or not. Stackables can make your old synth sound brand new, and recording your outputs on as many mono channels in the DAW as you can - so you can mix, pan and add FX later."

Mors aliquid novi | A Prophet VS and acoustic 12-string guitar ambient improvisation soundscape

video upload by MIDERA

"Earlier this month I managed to replace the bone saddle in my 12 string guitar. I guess years of messing with the saddle (as well as expansion contraction in the basement gloom) caused it to deteriorate to a point where the strings wouldn't touch it and it sounded horrible. I've had this guitar since 2001, so somewhere around 14 years. It's felt nice to bring it back to that feeling of new, even though it was never well cared for. I just love the feel and sound of it. These videos where I even mention a guitar usually do distinctly awful. I guess the idea of mixing guitar with synths just rubs people the wrong way. But I liked it.

Sequential Prophet VS #sequentialprophetvs
Alvarez 12-string acoustic guitar
Fractal Audio FM3 #fractalaudiofm3
Native Instruments Raum #nativeinstrumentsraum"

Elka Wilgamat: all patterns and variations and some tips

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

00:00 intro
01:10 all patterns and variations demos
06:17 instruments played as solo"



"UNIT IS FOR SALE:
https://reverb.com/item/89181075
https://www.ebay.com/itm/306255320490

I've serviced several Wilgamat and I noticed that sometimes you can miss some minor issues in an otherwise working unit, mainly in the bass accompaniement arpeggios: missing notes, wrong pitched notes, double trigger notes... These issues (as most of the issues in this instruments) are caused by faulty CMOS chipsets. These are cheap and easy to replace. Issue can however be in the AY-1-1313 chipsets (Priority Latching Network chipset) and these are harder to find.

Here you can listen to a fullly working and proper sounding unit and compare it to yours. Pay particular attention to the bass part, especially in "walking bass" mode. If one or more patterns do not sound like these then you have some faulty chipsets somewhere.

There is a non intended use of these unit I like: when playing in "key" start mode with lowest tempo, you can use this unit as a simple bass or synth keyboard.

Depending on the pattern selected you don't get the same result. With a little pratice it can turn as a nice simple bass keyboard.

Also note the bass section only spans over 1 octave whereas the accompanient sections spans over 2."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Noise Engineering Batverb - Experimental Reverb, Delay, and Infinite-Tail Generator

Sound Study // Noise Engineering - Batverb video upload by collector//emitter

Listen to Batverb stereo reverb pedal with modular and hardware synths
video upload by Noise Engineering

0:00 Intro
0:21 Doom and Shimmer
1:04 General Reverb
1:59 Ducking (with Arturia MicroFreak)
2:57 Focus and Ducking switches (with Tasty Chips GR-1)
3:53 Grit switch
4:40 Desmodus Versio and Batverb

Get your Batverb here: https://noiseengineering.us/products/...

Batverb is the stereo reverb that dreams are made of: less of a room simulator and more of a tail generating pedal, Batverb is an instrument in its own right.

Taking inspiration from our popular tail-generating modules, Batverb brings reverberation and delay to a whole new level with extensive control of timbre, echoes, and dynamics.

Start by setting a predelay time and adjusting Regen to set the length of the tail, from a short slapback-style echo to an infinite wall of reverberation. A variety of unique controls make Batverb sing in any signal chain:

Doom adds in chaotic suboctaves, and Shimmer brings in haunting overtones. With each on its own control, go wild and have both at the same time!

Low and high damping settings for the reverb tank

Add filtering and harmonics to reverb tails

Built-in saturation can apply to only the wet signal or the whole output
Includes onboard dry/wet Blend control and input- and output-gain parameters

Unique Duck switch controls the reverb’s behavior: duck out of the way of an input signal, or match the dynamics of your playing, similar to a gated reverb

Create instant atmospheres with reverb-freezing Hold footswitch
Route the expression input can to any parameter on the pedal

Store and recall 16 different presets and recall them in response to MIDI program-change messages.

.-- .... .- - - .... . ..-. ..- .-. -. .. ... .. - . .-. .. - .- ...

Exploring and sharing engaging ideas in sound, music, and synthesis
• Eurorack, 5U
• Guitar Pedals
• VST, AU, AAX plugins
• Reason Rack Extensions"

Press release follows:


Noise Engineering announces Batverb, an experimental reverb, delay, and infinite-tail generator

Los Angeles, CA — Noise Engineering, known for their expansive selection of synthesizer effects and sound sources, announces Batverb, a distinctive stereo reverb with a twist.

Noise Engineering’s take on reverb has always been innovative, creating effects that are as much instruments as they are processors. Batverb is no exception: parameters allow the resulting effects to morph organically from slapback delays to infinite reverb tails.

“Batverb was inspired by our Desmodus Versio module, but when we tried to bring the Desmodus experience to guitar, we realized quickly that we would need to rethink the approach. Batverb shares concepts with Desmodus but shares zero code: the entire thing was redesigned from the ground up, with the dynamics and tonality of guitar at the forefront,” said Stephen McCaul, Chief Noisemaker at Noise Engineering. Kris Kaiser who is the Doer of Many Things at the small company added, “Working with guitar was key, but what sounds great on guitar also works really well for loads of other instruments.” Indeed, Batverb’s stereo I/O and MIDI integration make it a perfect choice for a multitude of instruments.

Kaiser continued, “I like to say Batverb isn’t your father’s reverb because it has such unique features.” She’s not wrong. Along with predelay/delay Time and Regen controls, Batverb includes a number of parameters for shaping the tone of the reverb itself. The Grit switch adds a unique harmonic distortion to the tail or the whole mix, and the Doom and Shimmer controls add in subharmonics and overtones. Batverb also has onboard adjustable highpass and lowpass filters to shape the tone to taste.

Batverb’s configurable Bypass footswitch can cut the reverb tail immediately, or simply mute the input to the reverb processor, allowing the tail to ring out while you play. The Infinite footswitch mutes the input to the reverb tank while maximizing the feedback for an infinite atmosphere.

The innovative Duck switch uses the dynamics of your playing to shape the reverb tail. Use the right setting to duck the reverb out of the way of your guitar’s tone, or the left setting to make the reverb’s dynamics match your guitar’s.

Batverb also stores/recalls up to 16 presets with MIDI Program Change messages. Batverb features a convenient MIDI thru jack, so it’s easy to patch into your MIDI control chain. In addition, all parameters can also be controlled via MIDI for automation and remote control from a DAW or configurable controllers.

Noise Engineering is a member of 1% for the Planet and has been donating a percentage of all sales to environmental conservation. Proceeds from Batverb will benefit the organization Bat Conservation International.

Batverb is available for preorder with MSRP of $499. It starts shipping March 13 from noiseengineering.us and retailers worldwide.

Batverb was designed and built in sunny Southern California.

CLICK FOR MORE »

HAPAX 2.10 – NEW FEATURES

video upload by Squarp instruments

"In this video, we dive into the key features introduced in the latest 2.10 update of Hapax OS.

HapaxOS 2.10
January 23, 2025

Features
Fine-tune note length (hold a step with a note inside, click encoder, then rotate to edit the length)
Pitch of drum events can be transposed (hold a drum event, and transpose it)
Mono editing mode (in a POLY track, press 2ND+TRACK and enable MONO)
REC hard quantize (in REC settings, enable the quantize and hold+rotate this encoder to select if you want to keep the note OFF position, or keep the note original width)
STEP-INPUT REC mode (SH101 style) (press LIVE+STEP to enter this mode)
New ALGO: Shuffle (randomly rearrange notes in several ways)
FX Arpeggiator : new hard-sync mode
FX Randomizer : new parameter "base chance on note velocity"
Looper: auto-length can be set to 1 step (in addition to 1 bar)
Autom mode: when holding a step to edit its value, you can now reset the value to default by holding the encoder
Chord Mode: modifiers saved per track
Chord Mode: pressing a modifier retriggers the chord
Chord Mode: Relatch mode added
New SETTING : pedal = BPM
New SETTING : cv out type = HZ/V
New SETTING : default PATTERN TRIG mode (FREE or RESTART)

CLICK FOR MORE »

New 3rd Party Hidden Sysex Based ZEN-Core Editor-librarian for MC-101 and MC-707

video upload by Benedetto Schiavone

"ZEN-Core Sound Banks (222 tones) for all Roland Synthesizers, Piano, Groovebox, Wind-Instruments, Guitar Synth compatible with the ZEN-Core standard"

Available at: http://www.benis.it/cm/ZC_Editor/ben6...

Addtiional details in via Benedetto Schiavone:


"As is known, the two Roland grooveboxes do not officially support MIDI SysEX messages and there is no documentation relating to their implementation which is hidden

In reality, the MC-101/707 are able to receive and send such messages: they respond with a completely wrong addressing, with duplicate and incorrect data which however can be corrected and used by the software.

The editor-librarian, like the analogous versions for Fantom/0, AX-Edge and Jupiter-X/Xm, communicates in real-time and bidirectionally with the groovebox, using MIDI SysEx messages."

CLICK FOR MORE »

MIDI Messenger by Wrong Instruments

video uploads by Wrong Instruments

MIDI Messenger is free, but they do accept donations. Details follow:

"This plugin came to life as an answer to the lack of utilitarian MIDI processors and DAW functionality on iOS/iPadOS. Not being able to easily send Program Changes (even that!) didn't feel right when I was trying to prepare my new live set with my iPad being the control center of the rig.

It allows creating lists of ‘messages’ that will be sent after being triggered by incoming MIDI messages or system events.

In the newest version we added expression and advanced trigger filtering, so now you can do some really crazy, almost generative stuff."

You can find the latest version here: https://go.wrong.band/dl-mm-appstore

The playlist above covers the following three versions:

1. MIDI Messenger v1 basics tutorial

"In this tutorial we cover some basic stuff sending Program Changes from MIDI Messenger loaded in AUM to Empress ZOIA and Red Panda Particle via CME WIDI module as an example."

2. MIDI Messenger — v2 overview

Here's new MIDI Messenger v2!

00:00 Intro
00:05 Big thing #1: values from triggers
00:19 Note On/Off example
00:31 CC example
00:47 Big thing #2: exporting/importing presets
01:00 Minor updates
01:04 New trigger: Program Change
01:08 Passthrough for Transport triggers
01:11 Manual 'Send' trigger/button
01:21 New events at the top of the Log
01:23 Log 'Clear' button
01:27 Responsive UI
01:32 Highlighted selection in long menus
01:39 Outro

3. MIDI Messenger — v3 overview

"The main two new features are expressions and multiple messages per single trigger. Generative workflows FTW! Improved triggers: you can select multiple channels, and values with the support for ranges and single values. Small neat things: bypassing messages, humanised log with hex/dec modes, and... in-app donations — no need for Patreon account if you want to support us!"

Ellitone KeyControl MIDI/CV Keyboard Controller and Sequencer

video upload by ellitone instruments

00:00 Wooden Touch Keys
01:22 Selectable Musical Scales
01:51 Mode 2 'Ambient Poly Sequencer'
02:37 Transposing a Sequence
04:19 Control Voltage Outputs"



via Ellitone

"The Ellitone KeyControl is a MIDI/CV Keyboard Controller featuring 12 velocity-sensitive wooden Touch Bars and a built-in ‘ambient poly sequencer’ mode.

This device comes in two versions, with or without AAA portable battery power. The version without AAA battery power is 25% slimmer and is powered via the USB-C connection.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Introducing the Hexajam! - 3-in-1 Musical Instrument

video upload by Kyle Fakhoury

via Hexajam

"The Hexajam is a musical instrument design for maximizing improvisation and collaboration. It is simple, yet endless fun for musicians of all ages and skill levels. Learn more about it at: Hexajam.org"

KEYBOARD, BASS, DRUMS
The Hexajam is perfect for beginners of any age. ​

Each instrument is intuitive and requires no prior knowledge or technical skill to start making music. ​

Three instruments in one unit creates an instantly fun and collaborative musical experience.

EXPLORE SCALES AND TONES
Each instrument module has 6 unique tone settings so players can explore and combine different sounds.

There is a universal switch to select a scale such as major, minor, lydian, and blues. Within the selected scale, there are no "wrong notes," and the keyboard and bass are always synced.

INDIVIDUAL HEADPHONES + AUX Three headphone outputs allow multiple Hexajams to be in the same room.

This feature is ideal for an education environment because it allows different groups of students to simultaneously explore their own musical worlds.

The Hexajam can also be played from an amp or PA system."

CLICK FOR MORE »

VEKT - Portable Drum Computer V.4

video upload by uszymyszy

"Hi! Here is v.4, I redesigned the enclosure to be more rugged, we have also a battery and speaker. Most of the errors are solved, the UI is quite cluttered yet and I make a lot of missclicks/wrong shortcuts but after some tweaks everything should go fluent.

The idea is to have a pocket version of Ableton workflow, simplified but easy enough to create sketches for further polishing in DAW. I plan to build several units for testers but is still a lot of work to do and I cannot guarantee anything at the moment. I will try to progress as much as possible to finish this in this year."

And from one year ago:

Vekt - Portable Drum Computer

video upload by uszymyszy

"I built a Pocket Operator alternative. It can now record and play internal synths. There are 4 engines:
- Bass (Roland TB-303 mod),
- Lead (8bit style),
- Braids (implementation of Mutable Instruments eurorack module),
- Wavetable (several waves mixed by knobs)

I hope the UI is self explanatory, it is focused on simplicity and uses Ableton-like mini session view to launch clips"

The first prototype was shown 3 years ago on reddit.

It looks like a Dirtywave M8 tracker, but is different in both build layout and function. From the creator:

"M8 is a stunnig device for complex projects, I plan to keep my Vekt operator more like pocket op where you can quickly create sketches/ideas and polish them later on DAW. And the main idea for me personally was to quickly create rhythmic sequences which I can use with my visualization app instead making them in DAW, this will speed up the process."

Qu-Bit Mojave | Live Granular Sandstorm

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"It's not easy to make a Mojave video after doing one about Arbhar V2. First, let me clearify that Mojave is an effect that needs a source, and Arbhar is more like a granular synth that can run completely by itself. I will clear this up in the forthcoming Grainstation 2 video with a big compare of synths vs effects. I am not sponsored so I can share my personal thoughts on this.

Mojave is great for processing rhythmic atonal sounds like percussion or found sounds. It's not ideal for processing melodic phrases because it's hard to keep in tune. There's no typical harmonic spread but somekind of random sequence generator that follows a scale. So it can suddendly behave like a granular engine with a built in 'Marbles' and you have no control over what's going on except shutting it up. If you're in the wrong scale, it can go major in a minor patch. It's designed for live, but it can easily trash your gig too.

But don't get me wrong, Mojave is definitely a keeper. This video is a journey where I slowly learn to understand and deeply appreciate the module.

If you already own Beads, you may want to skip Mojave because they're roughly on the same functional and sonic level. If you're completely new to granular, you need to figure out if you want an effect or a synth. Mojave has no storage, it doesn't remember anything when the power goes down. And if you're serious about live graining (and sustaining) real acoustic instruments, forget about the built-in mic and get a decent stereo field recorder with audio out. However, since Mojave has no storage, I'd recommend having a sample player nearby and store your field recordings there."

You can find additional Qu-Bit Mojave posts here.

A short Artiphon Orba 2 hacking guide

video upload by Floyd Steinberg

"Artiphone's Orba Synth gadget is more versatile than you might think, but it could be even more so if the accompanying software came with more functions. In this video, I take a short look at Orba's config files, where to find them and how to edit them. WARNING: On the Orba forums, users warned that getting some of the pitch values in the chords template wrong might brick your Orba. I can't confirm this, for me, all that happened was a hard reset. But proceed with caution. Table of contents:

00:00 intro
00:25 hello
00:59 hardware overview
01:17 how to get the synth editor
01:26 editor overview
02:40 file locations, file transfer
03:27 your own chord progressions / keyboard shortcuts
05:36 drum patch setup
06:29 sampled instruments
07:33 conclusion
07:58 important things to consider
08:27 short demo using my own patches
09:30 what's wrong with my orba 2?
10:24 bye-bye

Links:
Orbasynth Editor https://artiphon.com/pages/orbasynth-...
Orba 2 hacking forum https://artiphon.freshdesk.com/suppor...
Orba 1 hacking forum https://artiphon.freshdesk.com/suppor...
Orba 1 chord editor: https://github.com/subskybox/Orba


HÄLP ZIS CHANNEL
https://www.patreon.com/floyd_steinberg
https://floydsteinberg.gumroad.com/
https://floydsteinberg.bandcamp.com/"

Another wrong path | Roland System 8 JX3P Plug-out ambient pads

video upload by MIDERA

"Why is it another wrong path? Well, I obviously have too much stuff. Every time I think 'I should sell XYZ...' I play it and really enjoy it. I bet I've written this a couple of times elsewhere. I've thought about selling the System 8. It just doesn't feel or look very nice and I have other instruments that do similar sounds better. Then I sit down and just play it and it has its own thing going on. So much that I can't say I'm even bothered by the green lights when I'm playing it. I forget about how ugly it is and just have fun.

So I'm left thinking... I can't sell any of it. If only I had a solution I liked for storing a lot of these synths. I rearranged my whole studio in hopes that I could set things up nicer. That was a failure.

No added FX except internal from the System 8.

#Roland #ambientmusic #JX3P"

FM60P & ODT3 by NYZ

Two new releases from NYZ - FM60P composed w/ Kodamo's essenceFM, and ODT3 below, composed with GForce Software's Oddity3.

https://noyzelab.bandcamp.com/album/fm60p

"Appropriately, FM60P is the sixth NYZ release to focus directly on FM synthesis, and the first six-operator variant of the FMX0P releases (which was incidentally also the first conceptual iteration of the sub-series of FM synth works, despite being released this far down the line). Given this provenance, those familiar with FM synthesis might assume Burraston would begin a six-operator exploration with the ubiquitous Yamaha DX7 - perhaps the most iconic FM synthesizer of all time - but instead, he's taken a different tack entirely, and opted to use a modern machine - the Kodamo EssenceFM, a megalith of FM processing power with a mind-numbing 300 operators available within its outwardly unassuming racked interface - albeit acting in an ascetic sense by limiting himself deliberately to only six operators. Longtime Psoma listeners will also note a referential connection with PMFM, a prior release that also utilized the EssenceFM in its construction.

On a technical level, FM60P manifests itself through the arcane pathways of Burraston's cellular automata research, which informs both the sequencing information sent into the synthesizer, and the microtuning of the voices also. Beyond this initial working ethos, the designs and numerical relationships of the operators' ratios have been arranged with the use of three different sets of Fibonacci number sequences, as well as tuning dispositions referencing Alain Daniélou's Harmonic Division of the Octave. Fibonacci freaks will be pleased to know that this arrangement of operators will form intricate setups of Golden Ratio based FM timbres.

For many listening and reading, these points of reference may have no meaning whatsoever, and we here at Psoma would like to offer the consolation that there is no right or wrong way to listen to or interact with any sound matter found in our catalog, or anywhere else for that matter. It could even be said that part of our initiative in publishing works such as these is defined by a desire to simply introduce more challenging and concept-driven music into the world, in order to bring new and stimulating experiences to people who are both familiar and unfamiliar with the deeper details of sound itself.

So what does that leave us with then? The sound of FM60P could be described as a chiming din of glassy tones playing in serpentine unison with sub-bass hum - but this is only a small prologue of two minutes, quickly pulling back the curtain to reveal a massive hour-long drone wall, presented in Burraston's characteristic style of rippling heavily modulated swaths of energy, underpinned by a more midrange foundation of a pulsing alien plinth. Filter sweeps reveal many more dimensions to the layers that are not initially obvious, bringing incessant bass tones and arpeggiator-like sections into focus before the wavering sea reclaims them.

Burraston's music is unlike anything else in the space it is able to inhabit, simultaneously sounding artificial and unnatural to an almost impossible degree, while also functionally conveying itself in elemental and naturalistic ways. Everything is an object, an outline, a weather system or a color, each possessing a specific set of attributes that communicate synaesthetically with the listener, as temperatures and spatial indicators, rather than confining themselves to much more arbitrary traditional sensations.

NOTE: After some confusion from listeners, we'd like to make clear the fact that all NYZ/Noyzelab catalog releases at Psoma are available ONLY as abridged digital versions for name-your-price/free download, and in their full unabridged editions as physical CD-Rs. There is not an unabridged digital version of anything from NYZ at Psoma, and the physical editions do not ship with unabridged digital versions either (that is, if you do not count the digital music present on the compact discs). For listeners only interested in unabridged digital versions, we encourage you to visit noyzelab.bandcamp.com to purchase those directly from NYZ, or even better, subscribe to his Bandcamp output and just get everything."

https://noyzelab.bandcamp.com/album/odt3

"Continuing from SEM with his exploration of GForce software instruments, Burraston builds a wall with the Oddity3, an expansive modern iteration of the ARP Odyssey that includes several new additions and functions. ODT3 consists of two such instances of the Oddity3 to accomplish the wide stereo image, both focusing on the 4035 ladder filter from the short-lived Odyssey mark II (only one of three filter types present within the softsynth). Landing somewhere on the map between the Cell Meditations and the subharmonic hums of TESCO SYNFETIX, ODT3 pulses in shallow waves that betray the depth beneath their softened surfaces. Close listening yields wondrous results, especially in headphones, as the swirling mass of the frequency spectrum slowly rises like a shipwreck called back to shore. Almost imperceptibly, the true substance of this piece is revealed in microscopic increments, until it overtakes the senses and surrounds everything, filling the air with vibrating particulate and soporific electricity, glimmering like a portal to an adjacent dimension."

Lo-Fi Debussy Clar De Lune with Tascam Portastudio 424 and Make Noise Strega

video upload by riotbell

"This is just a simple short piece using the Strega to process Debussy on incoming tape from the Tascam Portastudio 424.

Recorded the Debussy on an old Hammond piano from the mid 1950s that's partially out of tune and has some serious key bed issues (built in lo-fi character I suppose).

When the Strega was first released I was really interested at how it would function as a processor of other instruments. It's surprisingly good at processing a variety of incoming signals. The filter and the delay can add a lot of character, though I wish there was some way to trigger the oscillator.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings on the Strega as a whole. It does some things incredibly well, but lacks a couple of basic features (like Midi) that would really open up the possibilities. Meanwhile, as much as I want to like the touch plates, they feel a bit like gimmicky overkill considering all the patch points (hope I'm wrong about this).

I might do a spoken review if folks are interested. I'm kicking around the idea of making spoken reviews and tutorials a bigger part of this channel, but haven't had as much free time as earlier in the year.

Thanks for listening."

Hardcore techno's alternative history - Case: Dance of the Anthropoids - Electric Byway

video upload by Electric Byway

"Was the first released prototype of hardcore techno actually released in 1968 in Finland? In this video we take a look at the history of hardcore techno and speedcore, and a particular 1960's experiment of high tempo rhythmic electronic music and its creator.

EDIT: A little correction: 'We Have Arrived' from the 'Reflections Of 2017' 12" was on white label in 1990, but officially came out in 1991 on Planet Core Productions and Industrial Strength. Thanks to Spastmatiker for pointing it out.

INTRO MUSIC BY:
https://soundcloud.com/dc_fields

MUSIC BY:
Leo Anibald - Ritmicida
Delia Derbyshire - Dance from Noah
Erkki Kurenniemi - Antropoidien tanssi
Erkki Kurenniemi - Sähkösoittimen ääniä #1
Amalgam 5 - Amalgam V
Low Entropy - Futuristic"

Erkki Kurenniemi - Antropoidien tanssi (Love Records, 1968)

video upload by pottue

"Vinyl rip from: VA - Perspectives '68 - Music In Finland (wrong cover picture in the video)
Love Records (4) ‎– LRLP 4
Country: Finland
Released: November 1968
Discogs info: http://www.discogs.com/Various-Perspe... [cover & record lables below]

All rights belong to the artist.

Erkki Juhani Kurenniemi (10 July 1941, Hämeenlinna, Finland – 1 May 2017, Helsinki) was a Finnish designer, philosopher and artist, best known for his electronic music compositions and the electronic instruments he has designed. He is considered to have been one of the leading early pioneers of electronic music in Finland. Kurenniemi was also a science populariser, a futurologist, a pioneer of media culture, and an experimental film-maker."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Littoral Myth: Is there any validity to the East Coast / West Coast Synthesis paradigm?

video uploads by AutomaticGainsay

"In the past ten years, the notion that there is a coastal divide in synthesis style, usage, and music has become common.
But are the typical supportive assertions accurate?

The Littoral Myth is a series that explores the fallacies that lie at the foundation of the "East Coast" / "West Coast" synthesis paradigm.

The music was composed entirely on Buchla instruments.

This video was funded by the Patreon supporters of Automatic Gainsay. Support the creation of this video and all of the Automatic Gainsay videos that have helped you by becoming an Automatic Gainsay supporter on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/automaticgainsay"

Playlist:
01- The Littoral Myth- Part 1: Introduction
02- The Littoral Myth- Why Moog and Buchla did what they did
03- The Littoral Myth- How Moog and Buchla are really alike
04- The Littoral Myth- Explanation of this mad errand
05- The Littoral Myth- Is it wrong to describe Moog synthesizers as "subtractive?"
06- The Littoral Myth- Does Buchla really focus on Additive Synthesis?
07- The Littoral Myth- Buchla is actually quite subtractive!
08- The Littoral Myth- Moogs can only do simple waveforms?
09- The Littoral Myth- The most bafflingly wrong assertion about Buchla instruments
10- The Littoral Myth- Bob Moog did NOT choose the keyboard for traditional music
11- The Littoral Myth- Moogs were not created for traditional music.
12- The Littoral Myth- Buchlas can ONLY be used for non-traditional music?
13- The Littoral Myth- You can't compare 1970s Don to 1960s Bob!
14- The Littoral Myth- The real reason Moog and Buchla are responsible for modern synthesizers
15 The Littoral Myth- Conclusion: Why the Littoral Myth is useful

Yamaha Introduces the MODX+

video upload by Yamaha Synths Official

It looks like the rumors were wrong on this one - no AN-X engine. Instead we get the AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) sample and synthesis engine, and a pure FM-X (Frequency Modulation) engine.

"Check out the compact, lightweight MODX+ synthesizers, designed to help you take control of your sound and stand out on every stage, studio or stream.

MODX+ is powered by the same innovative technologies found in our flagship MONTAGE synthesizer including the AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) sample and synthesis engine and a pure FM-X (Frequency Modulation) synth engine for amazing sound playback and complex sound design.

MODX+ Motion Control brings the sophisticated automation of music production to live performances by giving you simultaneous control of up to 128 parameters. So you can shape live sound like a conductor commands an orchestra."

SOUND

The most important element of any instrument is the sound. MODX+ makes all elements of your music sound amazing. MODX+ uses the same technology that powers the flagship MONTAGE: 128 notes of AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) sample and synthesis polyphony for stunning emulative acoustic instruments, synth sounds and drums. MODX+ also features 128 notes of FM-X (Frequency Modulation) polyphony - a unique, expressive, highly-programmable synthesis technology for dynamic, electro-modern music creation.

The AWM2 engine is exclusive to Yamaha synthesizers and offers much more than just sample playback. Each of the 16 AWM2 Parts feature eight programmable synthesizers with 18 different filter types, amplitude, pitch and filter envelope generators, nine LFOs, 3-band EQ and a dedicated dual insert effect with Virtual Circuitry Modeling.

The FM-X engine: Everything you love about the iconic DX7 meets the latest Yamaha innovations. FM-X produces classic ‘80s or cutting-edge EDM synthesizer sound with incredible dynamic range, power and fidelity. MODX+ goes well beyond the capabilities of the original DX7 with an 8-operator FM architecture, 128-note polyphony, many filter types and more. All with Motion Control for ever-evolving and changing textures to create sounds no one has ever heard before.

256-NOTE TOTAL POLYPHONY
MODX+ features 128-note stereo AWM2 polyphony and 128-notes of FM-X polyphony. Due to the unique architecture of MODX+ and MONTAGE, this polyphony is always available without latency or compromising other features.

Smart Morph enables morphing between FM-X sounds. Its sophisticated A.I. algorithm creates an interactive morphing map from up to eight FM-X sounds. You can “play” this map from the touchscreen or use the Super Knob to move between two points. The result is a staggering number of interesting and interactive new sounds.

You can find additional info at: www.yamaha.com/2/modxplus

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Introducing Polyend Play

video upload by Polyend

Priced at $799. See the dealers on the right for availability.

"We are proud to present to you our new instrument,
Polyend Play - Sample and MIDI-based Groovebox.

Play is incredibly powerful yet easy to learn. It’s designed to let you create and perform music while having fun. It’s a groovebox that comes loaded with sample packs that makes it ready to play right out of the box. The Play offers an inspiring workflow for both seasoned and novice musicians.

It allows music makers to create and interact with musical patterns in a number of exciting and creative ways. Free, regular software updates will make it even better in the future. And if you already have other MIDI devices, Play can become the centerpiece of your setup."

Polyend Play - Hip Hop (Demo Project)

video upload by Polyend

"Polyend Play is possibly the most flexible and inspirational groovebox ever created. Loaded with tons of samples, 8 tracks of audio, and 8 MIDI tracks for sequencing, you can create beats straight out of the box and truly make them your own with a wide variety of playback tools and effects.

The audio was recorded directly from Polyend Play's output without any further processing."

POLYEND PLAY Review // How it raises the groovebox bar // Top pros, cons, 16 factory songs, tutorial

video upload by loopop

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:35 Overview
6:20 Connectivity
7:45 Project scope
8:15 Song mode
8:55 Variations
9:55 Sample pool
11:25 Sequencing
11:55 Pick & place
13:55 Keyboard view
14:15 Select & adjust
16:35 “Control all”
17:15 Session save
18:15 Live rec
19:15 Automation
21:00 Sample packs
23:00 Fill
26:00 Chance
28:40 Randomize
31:45 Repeats
33:15 Play modes
34:00 Speed/Pause
35:40 Perform
38:50 Scenes
39:30 MIDI tracks
43:30 Master FX
46:10 Sound design
47:50 Misc settings
49:05 Pros & cons
53:25 Factory songs



Details:

With a workflow that is both inspiring and simple, Polyend Play is far from your average sample-based groovebox. Endless possibilities for your beats are at your fingertips with over 30 sample kits to play with straight out of the box.

Polyend Play takes an open sandbox approach for creating and performing grooves, with the freedom to instantly mix things up with tons of different playback functions.

Flexible sequencing with 8 audio tracks and 8 polyphonic MIDI tracks for controlling your outboard gear – Polyend Play really wants to be at the center of your studio. This is quite possibly the most fun groovebox ever created.

Play

Pick & Place. Find your sound among over 3000 included samples and place it anywhere on the grid to start building your tracks.

Select & Adjust. Easily adjust step parameters independently with familiar sample-based controls at your disposal. Make each track your own with 35 different play modes, Chance and Action Combo, Randomizer and Step Repeater functions. Stuck for inspiration? Utilize the Smart Fill option to automatically fill any area you choose with an entire beat, a random placement of steps, or even a Euclidean spread.

Quickly move data around, such as Steps, Tracks, Track Pages, Variations, and Patterns, with simple selection and copy/paste controls.

Keep it musical with scale filtering, allowing only notes within the selected scale to be outputted by the entire sequence.

Perform

Perform mode allows you to make non-destructive changes to your tracks, via performance effects including Tune, Filter, Overdrive, Rearranger, Space and much more.

Live record automation or change individual step values on the fly and even record mono or polyphonic MIDI from an external controller or onboard keyboard.

Customizable pattern chaining allows you to map out entire sequences anywhere on the grid and perform them live. Reverb, Delay, Sound Enhancer, Limiter, and Saturator master effects are included to spice up your entire mix. Instantly Save and Recall patterns. Perfect for when things go wrong during a live performance.

Sequence

8 internal audio tracks and 8 individual polyphonic MIDI tracks combine for powerful integration with your existing instruments.

Full MIDI capabilities with flexible MIDI CC mapping per track for the individual rotary knobs and you can connect an external controller for MIDI note input. Plus, you can output chords, arpeggios, program and bank changes, pitch bend, clock and much more.

Over 30,000 track variations are available! That’s 128 Patterns holding 16 tracks, with each individual track holding up to 16 variations.

Control your synths and drum machines on individual tracks with the ability to output a separate set of MIDI values per track.

Each track can benefit from independent lengths (1 to 64 steps), different BPM-related speeds, playback modes and even swing values. Perfect for polymetric and polyrhythmic sequences.

Hardware

Split-screen display with 15 touch-capacitive knobs that can be tapped once to select and preview a parameter or twice to switch between upper and lower screen values.

16×8 step sequencing grid complemented with a 4×8 control grid for Mute, Solo, Variation, Select and Keyboard note input.

MIDI ins and outs via 3.5mm jacks
(MIDI DIN adapter included).
MicroSD card slot (16GB card included)
Runs on 5V/1A via USB-C and can be powered from a power bank for getting out and about.
Free, regular firmware updates.

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