Exploring the Chromaplane: Live Improv, Tuning Screws, & External Drones

video upload by Andre Bregegere

"A live, fully improvised performance exploring the unique architecture of the Koma Elektronik Chromaplane. This session is a deeper dive into the instrument's hands-on playability—including on-the-fly tuning—and external input processing.

On-screen captions are included in the first half to break down the basics of the instrument and explain exactly what is happening under the hood.

Performance Breakdown:
• The Core: Sound generation starts with the Chromaplane, interacting directly with its electromagnetic fields.
• On-The-Fly Tuning: Watch as I use the tuning screws mid-performance to shift pitches and reshape the harmonic foundation in real-time.
• The Expansion: In the final act, things get heavier as I introduce an external input—the gritty, texture-rich Triad drone/noise synth by DecadeBridge.
• The Space: The entire mix is processed through the Universal Audio UAFX Starlight Echo Station to pull the mono signal into an immersive, wide stereo space.

The performance was recorded live, then lightly mixed and mastered in Pro Tools.

--

0:00 - Intro

--
Signal Chain:
• Synthesizer: Koma Elektronik Chromaplane
• External Input: DecadeBridge Triad (Drone/Noise Synth)
• Delay/Modulation: UAFX Starlight Echo Station
• DAW: Avid Pro Tools (Mixing & Mastering)"

How EXTREME can the PWM MANTIS sound?

video upload by Tonepusher

"In this video, I’m asking a simple question: how extreme can the PWM MANTIS actually sound when you push it beyond its usual vintage-style sounds? We’ll explore its aggressive side using features like density, ring modulation, drive, and its OSCAR-style dual-filter architecture to see how far it can go into dark industrial and EBM territory. Then I put everything I designed to the test and push the MANTIS to its absolute limit.

How EXTREME can the PWM MANTIS sound?"

Presets►https://www.tonepusher.com/

UVI Introduces Rumble - The First Multiband Bass Synthesizer

Playlist:

1. UVI Rumble | Trailer
2. UVI Rumble | Showcase
3. UVI Rumble | Overview
4. UVI Rumble | Tips & Tricks

"Introducing Rumble, the first multiband bass synthesizer

Now available with intro offer at https://www.uvi.net/rumble

For the first time, discover a synth plugin that offers full control over the spectrum through three bands: Body, Character, and Air. With each band, a complete synthesis engine, achieving unmatched flexibility and precision in bass sound design."

"Rumble was designed to meet the needs of contemporary bass: the weight, punch, articulation, and movement that bass-led music demands. To deliver that, Rumble’s architecture treats each frequency band as a full synthesizer engine.

Body, Character, and Air each carry their own oscillator, wave-shaper, and effects, then converge through a shared filter stage, multiband compressor, and master EQ, to produce a powerful, unified voice.

The result is the first multiband synthesizer, built for bass from the ground-up. Layered sub-, mid-, and high-frequency content stays structurally separate, which means low-end weight, midrange definition, and top-end air can each be sculpted on their own terms.

The architecture itself goes deeper: vocal-formant synthesis, drone textures, percussive transients, cinematic motion, vintage analog warmth, all live within the same per-band approach.

The factory library is built by sound designers and genre-specialized producers, with a sprawling range of presets covering everything from 808s and wobbles to drones, motion sequences, and abstract textures.

Most synths give you one engine. Rumble gives you three."

DAVE SMITH MOPHO SE KEYBOARD SYNTH

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Signal Sounds listings

"We say...
A pre-owned Dave Smith Mopho SE in good condition. It has fairly yellowed keys and no original packaging but comes with a power supply

Manufacturer's description
It’s a Bigger Badder Mopho!
Mopho SE builds upon the same award-winning analog, subtractive synth voice architecture of the Mopho and packages it in an ideally sized, three-and-a-half-octave, portable package. Use it to create the same huge basses, creamy leads, and percolating sequences that made the original Mopho everyone’s favorite micro mono synth.

The Mopho Sings!
The Mopho SE voice is composed of two analog oscillators, two sub octave generators, selectable 2- or 4-pole famed Curtis low-pass filter, three 5-stage envelope generators, four LFOs, a re-latchable arpeggiator, and a 16 x 4 step sequencer. Its voice also comes packed with 20 modulation sources and almost 50 destinations!

CLICK FOR MORE »

ROLAND MKS-50 RACK MOUNT SYNTH

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Signal Sounds listings

"We say...
A pre-owned Roland MKS-50 in good condition. It has a few blemishes on the top and bottom as is typical for a rack mount unit.

Manufacturer's description

The MKS-50 is a rack-mount version of the Alpha Juno. It has the same synth engine and architecture, with some added features like 16 programmable chord memories, the ability to store velocity, volume, panning, de-tune, portamento and other similar parameters within each patch you create. The optional and highly recommended PG-300 will give you traditional slider type control of all editable tone parameters which include DCO (digitally controlled oscillators) LFO, bend, ENV, pulse, waveforms, noise, PW/PWM, high pass filter, VCF (filter) with freq/env/res/LFO/kybd, VCA envelope, chorus, and more."

Ableton Datashifter Max for Live Device

video upload by Akihiko Matsumoto

https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store...

"Most glitch processors treat rhythm as something to destroy. Datashifter takes a more controlled approach. It breaks the surface of percussion while preserving the force underneath.

Designed as an Ableton Max for Live device, Datashifter captures short fragments of incoming stereo audio into an internal memory system, then reads those fragments back through multiple voices. These voices can stutter, reverse, jump to earlier moments, or shift playback speed in octave based steps.

The result is not a simple repeat effect. It feels closer to a live editing system for drum time. The groove continues to move forward, while small pieces of its memory are rearranged, folded, interrupted, and returned to the beat.

A Beat Is Not Just a Grid

CLICK FOR MORE »

UDO DMNO was created to scream!

video upload by Music Journey with Paul

"At Superbooth 2026 in Berlin, I sat down with George Hearn, founder and lead engineer of UDO Audio, outside a beautifully designed glamping tent that reflected the same attention to detail found in UDO’s instruments.

We started talking about the new DOMINO synth… but very quickly the conversation became something much deeper.

Minimalism in synth design. Playing synths for pure enjoyment. The state of flow. And the mistakes we make when thinking about creativity.

Chapters
00:00 Great Moments
01:02 Intro
01:34 Why George Created the DMNO?
02:43 The Clever Design of DMNO!
04:03 Entering the Flow State
04:22 The market gap UDO is filling
06:04 Happy Accidents
06:48 A Deep Dive into Synth Architecture
08:35 Who is Buying UDO Audio Synths?
10:09 The Creative Barriers We Build
11:28 The Reality of Running a Boutique Synth Company
12:49 The Future of UDO Audio

Song used in the intro: YouTube Audio Library - Turn In The Sun - Simon Herody."

Redshift 6: Can This Analog Synth Replace Your VSTs?

video upload by Music Journey with Paul

"At Superbooth 2026, I spoke with Timo from Supercritical Synthesizers about one of the most ambitious analog polysynths on the market today - a unique 6-voice analog polysynth from Finland that takes a very different approach to synthesis.

With 96 analog oscillators, multi-timbral architecture, MPE support, evolving firmware updates and a variable character engine that can shift between different vintage-inspired flavors, Redshift 6 blurs the line between traditional analog hardware and modern software flexibility.

In this interview and sound demo we talk about who Redshift 6 is for, how its unusual interface works, the latest firmware innovations, and why some of its sounds might make you think you’re listening to a DX-style digital synth - even though the signal path remains analog.

Chapters:
00:00 Demo #1
00:13 What is Redshift 6?
00:55 Demo #2
02:14 More About Specs
02:43 Who Is It For?
03:48 The Unique User Interface
05:14 Firmware Updates & New Features
05:54 The New Delta Wave Oscillator Engine
06:28 Demo #3
08:24 The Best Of Both Worlds: Hardware & Software
09:15 Summary from Timo
03:33 Demo #4 - Starting with the Init patch"

GreyScale-KOSMOS2&KOSMOS-ONE

video upload by plantssystem

https://plantssystem.github.io/KOSMOS...

"KOSMOS2 & KOSMOS‑ONE — Generative Synth Engines by plantssystemplantssystem introduces two new generative sound engines — KOSMOS2 and KOSMOS‑ONE — both built on the PRA32‑U2/M architecture and designed for compact hardware instruments.

They share the same musical DNA but serve different creative roles:

KOSMOS2 is a 4‑part autonomous generative system, while KOSMOS‑ONE is a minimal, single‑part generative engine optimized for small builds and embedded devices.KOSMOS2 — Four‑Part Generative EcosystemKOSMOS2 is a multi‑layer generative engine running on Raspberry Pi Pico2 or RP2040 hardware. It features four independent musical agents — Melody, Bass, Chord, and Sequence — each following its own rules while interacting within a shared harmonic framework.Key features:4 autonomous generative parts with deterministic behaviorPRA32‑U2/M synth engine running on Core1 with stable 44.1kHz I2S outputReal‑time control via TouchOSC or external MIDI CCScale, chord, arpeggio, and pattern generation with per‑part randomizationOptimized for RP2350 with improved DSP headroomDesigned for live performance and installation useKOSMOS2 makes its public debut at Hamamatsu Micro Maker Faire 2026, exhibited at the ISGK Instruments booth.

KOSMOS‑ONE — Minimal Generative Engine for Small HardwareKOSMOS‑ONE is a compact, single‑part version of the KOSMOS engine.

It is designed for ultra‑small hardware builds, micro‑instruments, and installations where simplicity and stability matter more than multi‑part complexity.Key features:Single‑part generative engine based on the KOSMOS2 architectureExtremely lightweight DSP load suitable for tiny microcontroller buildsDeterministic melodic generation with scale and mode awarenessIdeal for standalone sound objects, embedded synths, and minimal interfacesKOSMOS‑ONE preserves the musical character of KOSMOS2 while reducing the system to its most essential generative core.

TogetherKOSMOS2 and KOSMOS‑ONE form a modular family of generative engines — from full multi‑part generative performance to tiny embedded musical objects — all powered by the PRA32‑U2/M synthesis architecture."

Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave — The COMPLETE Review (Every Feature Explored)

video upload by Scott's Synth Stuff

"The Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave is a 24-voice wavetable synthesizer with real analog filters, three oscillators per voice, and a 6-stage wave envelope that can independently sweep each oscillator through 64-position wavetables. It's built as a modern successor to the PPG Wave 2.2 and 2.3, carrying the original PPG wavetables alongside 56 high-resolution modern wavetables, analog-modeled waveforms, and — as of OS 1.8 — a built-in sampler. In this review, I go through every major feature of the 3rd Wave in detail: the four oscillator types (PPG legacy, modern user wavetables, analog-modeled, and samples), the dual filter architecture (4-pole analog low-pass plus 2-pole zero-delay state-variable), all four envelopes, the four LFOs, the 16-slot modulation matrix, 11 built-in effects, the arpeggiator, the pattern-based sequencer with parameter automation, 4-part multitimbral layering and splits, the Wave Maker custom wavetable tool (including Serum wavetable import), unison with chord memory, MPE support, and more.

Whether you're considering buying one, comparing it to other hardware wavetable synths like the Waldorf Iridium, Modal Cobalt, or ASM Hydrasynth, or just curious what a modern PPG-inspired instrument sounds like in 2025/2026, this is the full picture. I cover every section of the signal chain with sound demos, explain what makes the wave envelope system unique, show how to build patches from scratch, and give my honest take on where the 3rd Wave excels and where it falls short. Timestamps for every section are below — jump to whatever interests you."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Korg USA Mourns the Passing of Jack Hotop, Legendary Sound Designer and Innovator

Some sad news in via Korg.

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.

CLICK FOR MORE »

ARTURIA Introduces Memory V | Analog Ladder Titan

Playlist:

1. Memory V | Analog ladder titan | ARTURIA
2. Memory V | Overview Tutorial | ARTURIA
3. Arturia Memory V: The Infamous Memorymoog reborn! - CatSynth TV
4. Arturia MEMORY V - The Memorymoog is BACK! Factory Presets Demo (No Talking) - Davide Puxeddu
5. Arturia Memory V | No Talking | - DKS SYNTH LAB



"Wield phenomenal power with Memory V, Arturia’s definitive software reimagining of the legendary Memorymoog. A titanic, front-of-mix analog instrument built for commanding leads, bold brass, and true polyphonic depth — delivering unmistakable vintage weight with modern stability and control. Harness the raw, expressive character of a true analog classic, reborn for today’s production workflows.

Memory V captures the colossal analog character and triple-oscillator architecture of one of the rarest polyphonic synthesizers ever made, recreated with Arturia’s advanced TAE® technology and expanded with modern modulation, arpeggiation, effects and expressive workflow integration.

From towering brass and dense basses to evolving leads, cinematic pads and unstable analog textures, Memory V delivers the unmistakable weight of early-80s polyphonic synthesis in a reliable, production-ready instrument.

_A true Analog Titan

Memory V honors the architecture that defined an era of polyphonic synthesis, and adds the tools you need to push it further.

Best-in class recreation

Discover the weight, movement and edge of the original hardware, preserved through component-accurate TAE® modelling of its oscillators, filter, mixer, drive and analog non-linearities.

Triple-oscillator architecture

Three free-running oscillators per voice deliver the harmonic depth that set the Memorymoog apart. Stack Square, Ramp and Triangle waveforms, shape pulse width and sync oscillators for rich, animated sounds

Legendary ladder filter

Shape sound with a modelled low-pass ladder filter per voice, complete with 24 dB and 12 dB modes, self-oscillation and Bass Compensation to preserve low-end weight at higher resonance.

Authentic analog feel

Use Vintage and Dispersion controls to introduce continuous analog drift, then fine-tune variation across pitch, pulse width, levels, cutoff, emphasis, modulation and envelope times.

Modern modulation and FX

Drag-and-drop modulation, a four-layer Multi-Arp and a 4-slot FX rack with 17+ studio-grade effects bring contemporary sound design into the legendary Memorymoog architecture.

300+ mix-ready presets

Explore a curated library of dense, front-of-mix sounds spanning vintage brass, saturated basses, cinematic pads, evolving textures, expressive leads and modern electronic tones.

Memory V: introductory offer

To celebrate the launch, eligible Arturia users can unlock a limited-time introductory offer on Memory V and selected bundle options."

https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/memory-v/overview

Ellitone Fn_block01 & 02: Ambient Improv & Tech Demo

video upload by Andre Bregegere

"Exploring the unique sonic world of the Ellitone Fn_block series. In this video, I take an improvised dive into the Fn_block01 Polysynth and the Fn_block02 Notepad, running them through the lush, expansive algorithms of the UAFX Golden Reverberator.

The video begins with extensive annotations detailing the architecture of these two unique devices. The performance itself was recorded live as a single take to capture the raw, semi-modular character of the Ellitone hardware.

Recorded live from the Golden Reverberator output on one stereo track, then lightly mixed and mastered in Pro Tools.

GEAR:
• Ellitone Fn_block01 Polysynth: A mini, highly minimalist 8-bit digital synthesizer featuring 4-voice polyphony, 25 waveforms, and 6 preset amplitude envelopes. Instead of traditional knobs, it utilizes touch plates for control and features a unique semi-modular architecture that allows for physical patching using crocodile clips on its hardware spacers.
• Ellitone Fn_block02 Notepad: A compact, handheld MIDI controller designed to interact seamlessly with the Fn_block series. It features 12 touch-activated note keys, 12 selectable musical scales, a 5-octave range, and a built-in phrase looper that can record, loop, and layer up to 50 notes in real time.
• Universal Audio UAFX Golden Reverberator: a premium stereo reverb pedal featuring studio-grade emulations of classic hardware, including vintage spring, plate, and lush 1970s digital halls. Here I am using the Hall setting."

00:00 Introduction
00:35 Ellitone Notepad
02:01 Ellitone Polysynth
03:18 UAFX Golden Reverberator
03:47 Performance Continues

plantssystem to debut “KOSMOS2” at Hamamatsu Micro Maker Faire 2026

video upload by plantssystem

plantssystem will debut the new generative sound engine 'KOSMOS2' at Hamamatsu Micro Maker Faire 2026, exhibited at the ISGK Instruments booth.

KOSMOS2 is a multi‑layer generative audio engine running on the Raspberry Pi Pico2 and powered by the PRA32‑U2/M digital synth engine from ISGK Instruments.

This marks the first public appearance of the KOSMOS2 system.

Designed for smooth, continuously evolving musical structures, KOSMOS2 features:

- 4‑part generative architecture (Melody / Bass / Chord / Sequence)
- PRA32‑U2/M engine providing stable, high‑quality digital synthesis

- Deterministic yet evolving generative behavior
- Real‑time control via external UI and MIDI
- Fully embedded implementation on Pico2 hardware

Hamamatsu — the city of musical instruments — is the perfect place for this debut.
Visitors can experience KOSMOS2 directly at the ISGK Instruments booth."

https://plantssystem.github.io/KOSMOS2-SITE/

https://makezine.jp/event/makerfaire/hamamatsummf2026/

16 Music Lab Custom MIDI Interfaces for Yamaha CS Series

via 16 Music Lab:

Hello MatrixSynth readers,

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

Musically,

Thierry Gerardeaux 16 Music Lab

Waldorf Protein - "Prism" Soundset 40 Presets

video upload by LFOstore

"Buy: https://kav-sound-explorer.sellfy.sto...

40 new presets for the Waldorf Protein synthesizer, built around its powerful wavetable architecture to deliver rich, layered, and evolving sounds.

Protein's unique approach to wavetable synthesis opens up a vast sonic palette - and "Prism" explores that space with a focus on texture, movement, and atmosphere.

'Prism' is tailored for ambient, cinematic, electronic, and experimental music production.

Whether you're sculpting immersive soundscapes or adding subtle movement to your compositions, these sounds bring depth and emotional weight to your work.

Synth leads, Pad , Arp, evolving textures, and hybrid tones,FX.

Designed for cinematic, ambient, and experimental contexts

Works seamlessly in both professional and creative production workflows

What's included:

40 Presets with detailed loading instructions.

All sounds are presented as dry demos - no external effects or post-processing applied - so you can accurately evaluate each preset using Waldorf Protein's own effects section.

by A.Kav"

UDO Audio DMNO 8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer | Superbooth 2026

video upload by Milk Audio Store

"DMNO is an 8-voice, 2-part multitimbral powerhouse with a highly flexible and dynamic signal architecture. It features two independent 4-voice analog-hybrid synthesizers, each equipped with our new Dynamic Multi-Core Stereo VCF."

SUPERBOOTH 2026: Buchla Ziggy

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Buchla have introduced Ziggy, a new compact synthesizer built around the company’s complex oscillator architecture, combining analogue sound generation with digital control in a self-contained, patch-free design."

Apaeron Afour | Superbooth 2026 | Voltage Labs

video upload by Voltage Labs

"Apaeron’s AFOUR is one of the more intriguing new synth projects emerging around this year’s Superbooth 2026, combining a compact four-channel architecture with an unusually hands-on interface featuring 44 knobs, a built-in looper, arpeggiator and modulation matrix. Designed around immediacy rather than menu diving, the instrument positions itself as a performance-focused hybrid synth aimed at fast, tactile experimentation."

GreyScale - KOSMOS2

video uploads by plantssystem

https://github.com/plantssystem/KOSMOS2

"PlantsSystem has released 'KOSMOS2 – Pico2 Edition,' a new version featuring the PRA32-U2/M synth engine.

This version ports KOSMOS2's 4-part generative architecture to the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (RP2350), achieving stable real-time synthesis through a multi-core DSP, I2S audio, and independent sound engines for each part.

Key Features of KOSMOS2 Pico2 Edition:
- **4 independent generative parts** (Melody / Bass / Chords / Sequence)
- **PRA32-U2/M engine running on Core 1** with stable 44.1kHz I2S output
- **Real-time control via TouchOSC or external MIDI**
- **Automatic generation of scales, chords, arpeggios, and patterns**
- **Color-coded note visualization** integrated with the hardware UI
- **Fully deterministic generative behavior** with per-part randomization
- **Optimized for the RP2350**, delivering improved DSP headroom and stable multi-synth operation

This release marks the first fully stable port of KOSMOS2 to the Pico 2 platform, incorporating fixes for RP2350 DSP initialization behavior and optimizations for the PRA32-U2/M process loop timing.

KOSMOS2 Pico2 Edition is released for integration into custom hardware builds."

CLICK FOR MORE »