ambient talkie: ep 57 - BLUKAČ ENDLESS PROCESSOR

video upload by tworoundrobins

"since I got this wonderful module I never really took the time and appreciate how such a simple module can create such beautiful textures. in this episode I give a quick rundown of the module and have fun resythesizing some material.

do excuse the dirty finger, have been doing some soldering beforehand and am blind as a bat

enjoy!

#blukac #eurorack #endlessprocessor #ambient

contents
00:00 - intro & what is EP
02:04 - basic controls (channels, levels, layers, memory)
07:12 - sample: piano
09:16 - sample: full songs
12:09 - sample: trumpet
13:55 - sample: choir
17:04 - sample: drums
18:10 - sample: field recordings
23:52 - conclusion"

Vlad Suppish UkRack The Electric Executioner v1 0 [All Ukranian Eurorack System]

video upload by MachineRoom

"Track by ‪@vlad_suppish‬ for @UkrRack project by ‪@MachineRoom‬

Only Ukrainian Eurorack modules were used for this track

Module list and short patch notes:

Drone - MachineRoom Trilobite with MachineRoom Filth

Effects for drone - ‪@happynerding4369‬ FX Aid

Clock - Ableton, synced via MIDI with ‪@SitkaInstruments‬ Gravity
It's a multitrack recording, hence all must be synced perfectly)

Kick drum - ‪@crazychickenmod‬ Avocado Toast

Envelopes - ‪@Endorphines‬ Airstreamer

Hats - noise from Trilobite processed thru Filth + FX send thru knob.farm Ferry ‪@Vaxoid‬
Endorphines Ghost as return FX

Rhythm sequencer - Crazy Chicken Matrix with Sitka Gravity

Atmosperic voices - my voice, captured and repitched with ‪@blukac-instruments‬ Endless Processor + Ex

CV modulation (controlled random) - Crazy Chicken Dance LFO + ‪@dnipromodular1184‬ Krait
No conventional sequencers were used this time)

Mastering - Endorphines Golden Master

Track named after a short story with a same name by H.P. Lovecraft

http://machineroom.com.ua/"

CS-80 in Sen in E + SSB SUPERNOVA FX + SYSTEM FLOW Performance

video upload by Synthesizer Studio Berlin

"SUPERNOVA is a morphing FX processor for evolving soundscapes with a reverb at its heart.

Get it here for 29,99€:
https://www.synthesizerstudioberlin.c...

We took the Reverb Diffusion Network from our well received SYSTEM FLOW Drone Synth and brought it to the next level with a modulated feedback drive + Notch filter.
We also added a grain cloud, 6 LFOs and two Bit crushers. And a lot of presets

You can use it as a simple Grain Cloud/Reverb/Pitch Shifter/Bit-Crusher or make huge transitions by morphing between two presets.

The combination of all these FX modules and the possibility to randomize/morph all parameters gives you endless combinations for lush to freaky sounds.

Use the 'BIG' MORPH knob to make HUGE transitions.
Feedback Drive is gain compensated so you don’t blow your speakers but you can still go berserk on your sound.

For lots of modulation and evolving sounds:

Draw your own waveforms for 6 different LFOs and use them to:.
1. Automate your Sample Rate / Mix of the Bit-crushers
2. Automate Feedback Distortion
3. Automate the Notch Filter in the Feedback path.

Full REAKTOR 6.5 required.

You get:
2 Ensembles:
SSB SUPERNOVA FX.ens
SSB SUPERNOVA FX Soltau Edition.ens (less randomization/morphing) Manual
145 Presets"

MonoPolyphony | Modular Composing | Episode 10 | Feat. Endless Processor

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"Polyphony in eurorack isn't always easy. It can be, if you'd use midi capable modules like Poly Cinematic or BitBox (just to name two I own). A modular purist would pick multiple VCOs, VCA's, envelopes and VCFs, and wise modular purists would use Quad designs. I don't consider myself a purist, I can't handle rules very well and I won't deny myself the easy way of midi and working with the DAW. I can also confirm it's amazing to patch a 'quad full voice' setup every once in a while and explore multi-timbral polyphony. However, most of the time I'd use a single full voice and experiment with freezes and sustain FX. Great modules for this are Clouds, Endless Processor, the Mimeophon, Morphagene, StarDust, Arbhar, etc. Anything that can freeze, remember, loop and repitch.

In this episode, I'll use Blukac Endless Processor and its expander to turn a mono voice into a polyphonic experience. I called it 'monopolyphony' and I think it's an excellent compromise.

This is one of the first videos where I'l start using patch notes and diagrams. I never realized my patches aren't obvious, easy and straigtforward at all. If my goal is to teach you something, I'll need to make diagrams too. I also know I love to make powerpoints."

Trying Erica Synths Graphic Resonant FB

video uploads by Dave 33543

Playlist:
1. Trying Erica Synths Graphic Resonant FB/ Deep/Chill House Eurorack Modular 29
2. Trying Erica Synths Graphic Resonant FB Part 2/ Deep/Chill House Eurorack Modular 30
3. Trying Erica Synths Graphic Resonant FB Part 3/ Deep/Chill House Eurorack Modular 31

"Chord By Intellijel Shapeshifter+Erica Synths Graphic Resonant FB+Blukač - Endless Processor +Xaoc Kamieniec+Qubit-Data Bender+ Mutable Instruments Clouds+G-storm JP6+

Bass Line By SoundForce DCO+Filtered in Cwejman VM-1+Intellijel Metropolix

Lead By Erica Black wavetable VCO+Sequenced in Intellijel Metropolix+Filtered in Mutable instruments Blades

Perc -Hihat By TipTop Audio 808+Erica Sample Drum+ +Bia +Mutable Instruments Warps

Gate-Trigger Sequencer Pamela's PRO Workout + Malekko Varigate 8+4MS QCD+RCD+ADDAC 402+

Envelope and Modualtion By +Malekko Varigate 8+Mutable Instruments Tides 2+Verbos Electronics Multi-Envelope+Intellijel Dual ADSR+Doepfer A-145 LFO

Master Transpose by ACL Sinfonion"

Machina Bristronica 2024

video uploads by sonicstate

Playlist:

1. Bristronica 24: MyVolts The Silent Alchemist Nears Shipping

We caught up with Caroline who gave us the latest update to the *Silent Alchemist*, a versatile power hub designed for musicians. Featuring five isolated USB-C outputs and a high-wattage sixth output capable of delivering 100 watts, the device can power a Mac with the remaining outputs providing 20 watts each. Its independent circuits ensure noise-free operation, catering to a variety of devices including the Dreadbox module and Sysmo slope generator.

The Silent Alchemist uses innovative step-up power tips to convert USB-C input to the correct voltage for various devices. There's also new feature: an uninterruptible power supply allowing seamless transition between wall and power bank sources. Also introduced were updated cables, such as silver candy cords and floating ring TRS to TS cables, expanding connection flexibility. The Silent Alchemist is expected to be available in December with a competitive pricing strategy.

More Info:
https://myvolts.com/

2. Bristronica 24: Circuit Happy ML2M Clock Sync module updates

At Bristronica 2024, we caught up with the creator of the *ML2M*, who introduced us to the latest version. The ML2M is a compact Eurorack module with Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing seamless synchronization with Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, and iOS music apps using Ableton Link without the need for cables. It either connects to an existing network or creates its own, ensuring robust sync even in environments with unreliable Wi-Fi. The module, which retains its 2HP size, now features MIDI integration through TRS jacks. Users can access a web interface to configure each output for different clock divisions and reset triggers, making setup straightforward and flexible.

Alongside the ML2M, there's also the Missing Link Junior. This desktop version offers the same functionality but in a box format, complete with MIDI and CV clock outputs. Both products are now accessible, with a starting price of $250.

3. Bristronica 24: Archaea Exchange Patching Module

At Machina Bristronica 2024, we caught up with Arran from ‪@archaea_modular_synthesis‬ who presented the *Exchange Module*. This programmable patcher, a year in the making, evolved from its early prototype stage to a fully functional module. Arran explained how the Exchange can route synth voices via a beam controller and three exchange modules installed within the skiff, allowing for versatile patching. Operating like a matrix patchbay, it enables users to select inputs and outputs with the push of a button, create presets, and chain multiple modules for synchronized patching.

Communication between the modules occurs over the Eurorack power bus as well as over MIDI via the USB-C connection. The Exchange maintains analog integrity, ensuring there’s no conversion latency. The forthcoming release expected in late November 2024, includes a USB-driven editor for enhanced control capabilities.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Red Ekkko. The Ugliest Vintage Echo Modeller is the Most Beautiful

video uploads by Element433 (a.k.a. Pere Villez)

Playlist:

01. The Ugliest Most Beautiful Free Stereo Delay Modeller Ever.

Red Ekkko is an echo emulator laboratory that models a variety of historic echo types. Wire, tape, BBD and even early grainy digital delays. It is pure stereo with a huge warm enveloping sound that closely captures the perceptual characteristics of each type, rather than a precise mathematical model. You can dial in every defect, degradation and add buckets of warmth and charm but with a deep stereo field. The system is operated using standard cheap MIDI controllers.

Not only is it a studio audio processor but it can also be played like an instrument so that those endless classic BBD feedback tails can be tuned to a MIDI keyboard.

The best part. It will be free.

This demo shows how it can use Karplus strong delay times with random cross delayed feedback to emulator chaotic resonators. In essence a stereo flanger with chaotic behaviour. Inspired by the SOST Studio flanger made by Van Daal Electronics cs

Stay tuned for more demos and release date.

02. The Ugliest Most Beautiful Delay Modeller Ever. Saturation Test. Drums

Second of the test demos of Red Ekkko. I'm using a very short delay and pushing the pregain of the saturation. The cross feedback gives it lots of space and syrupee crunch.

03. The Ugliest Most Beautiful Delay Modeller Ever. Warm and Singing Delay

Third of the demos of Red Ekkko. This time, sweet, spacious echoes and playing the echo time with a MIDI keyboard.

I seem to have broken a couple of minor things, whilst repairing others, so there is a bit of crackle on the feedback now and again and the µdropout circuit seems to be clicking into the main signal, even when off, so need to fix that next. It's an endless rabbit hole but I think I can see the light.

04. The Ugliest Most Beautiful Delay Modeller Ever. Tape Drop-Out. Bags of Age.

In this demo I show the micro and macro dropout and how they are used to create a sense of age in the sound. It also demonstrates how you can use the µDropout to create subtle Ring Modulation and macro dropout to create vintage harmonic tremolo.

Sonicware LIVEN Texture Lab - "Cinematica" 40 Presets

video upload by LFOstore

"We are proudly presenting wrolds first soundset for Japanese hit - Texture Lab!

Buy: https://lfostore.sellfy.store/p/sonic...

This very affordable sampler/synthesizer/fx processor having wide range of possibilities & very inspirative flow imidietly became a pearl for synth enthusiasts.

We made 40 organic presets & sequences with patchlist & full instructions for loading.

Due its midi core techonlogy - uploading patterns & samples are veeeeery slow.
In fact - it is transmitting wav format into sysex which is like a magic!

So be patient with this instrument & you will be rewarded with its trully organic & magical sound!

"Cinematica" soundset contains full set of samples (32) - factory ones are not rewrited - they are there.
Also factory patterns are also there.

We made great sampleset recorded from vintage FM synths from our collection.

Massive Strings
Endless Organic Pads
Granular Poly's
Keys & Plucks
Sequences & Arps
Textures & Drones

All in cinematic spirit in mind.

By Nick Klimenko aka Chronos, a creator of “Organica” for Waldorf Blofeld & “WS Universe” for Korg Wavestation & Anton Sacral Reason author of series of presets for Korg Wavestate and all the synths from the Behringer.

Fire up your Texture Lab synthesizer & explore new creative generative patterns with our soundset.

Enjoy and may music be with you!"

CS-80 + SSB SUPERNOVA FX

video upload by Synthesizer Studio Berlin

"SSB SUPERNOVA FX

Sale Price:€19.99 until 1. February Original Price:€29.99
get it here:
www.synthesizerstudioberlin.com/store/p/supernova-fx

SUPERNOVA is a morphing FX processor for evolving soundscapes with a reverb at its heart.

We took the Reverb Diffusion Network from our well received SYSTEM FLOW Drone Synth and brought it to the next level with a modulated feedback drive + Notch filter. We also added a grain cloud, 6 LFOs and two Bit crushers. And a lot of presets

You can use it as a simple Grain Cloud/Reverb/Pitch Shifter/Bit-Crusher or make huge transitions by morphing between two presets.

The combination of all these FX modules and the possibility to randomize/morph all parameters gives you endless combinations for lush to freaky sounds.

Use the “BIG” MORPH knob to make HUGE transitions.
Feedback Drive is gain compensated so you don’t blow your speakers but you can still go berserk on your sound.

For lots of modulation and evolving sounds:

Draw your own waveforms for 6 different LFOs and use them to:.
1. Automate your Sample Rate / Mix of the Bit-crushers
2. Automate Feedback Distortion
3. Automate the Notch Filter in the Feedback path.

Full REAKTOR 6.5 required.

You get:
2 Ensembles:
SSB SUPERNOVA FX.ens
SSB SUPERNOVA FX Soltau Edition.ens (less randomization/morphing)
Manual
145 Presets

563 MB (590.587.914 Bytes) unpacked
30 MB Download packed with RAR"

The last Eurorack sequencer you might ever buy: DROID Moto Kit Demo

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Imagine you could buy an uber-hands-on 4-track performance sequencer with haptic motorised faders, but you could modify or totally redesign how it works - as your interests change? The "DROID Moto Kit" (running the included Motor Fader Performer Sequencer patch) is that thing. It's 'done', and powerful...AND it can be changed. In this video I'll introduce the DROID system, explain basic track creation 5:41, and then jam from 14:57 onwards.

Thanks for Der Mann mit Der Maschine for hiring me to demo the Moto Kit. Given that this was designed by someone who actually plays live, you might expect that my next step is to try this as my live case sequencer."

00:00 What is Droid & The Moto Kit?!
03:12 Sequencer Intro/Overview
05:41 Let's Make a Track!
14:57 Jams: Meet the Quartet
18:27 Electro Aceed O'Clock
20:41 Electro Variation
23:26 Forlorn Acid
26:49 Stinson Acid
33:54 Endless Noodles
35:02 AFX Bass
36:17 Accumulator Jam
39:33 Arpeggiator Explained
43:06 Compose Mode Jam
45:30 Octave Shifting Melodies
49:04 Divided and Multiplied Melodies
51:33 Reprise Funk
53:36 Kosmiche Arpeggiator Jam

Update: press release and pics follow.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Tips & Tricks: Elektron Analog Heat +FX with a MIDI Sequencer For More Creative Control

video upload by Group Technologies

"We are all aware of how versatile the Analog Heat+FX dynamic sound processor from Elektron is at processing, manipulating, enhancing, and twisting sounds. The Analog Heat+FX is truly a mighty palette for processing sound; either as an end of chain mastering tool or spicing up your drum machine, synth, vocals and anything else you can throw at it. In this video we look at how to use MIDI CC via the MIDI track(s) on the Syntakt to control various effect parameters on the Heat+FX. Effectively we sequence the different type of effects and parameters, going a little nuts in the process. Whilst this is great fun, it’s also a great way of experimenting with sound design and creating new sounds!

The heart of the Heat+FX is a stereo distortion unit with 8 fully analog circuits that offers everything from clean boost to total annihilation. The additional digital effects; delay, reverb, warble, bits, chorus, compressor and bass focus offers endless possibilities to sculpt your sound even further. There are over 100 effect parameters that can be controlled via MIDI CC on the Heat+FX, and pairing it with an external MIDI sequencer opens up a huge range of creative possibilities. Any Elektron MIDI sequencer, as found on the Syntakt, Digitakt or Octatrack are all great at complimenting the Heat+FX. MIDI tracks on any Elektron sequencer can control up to 4x MIDI CC parameters per track. In this video we use 2x MIDI tracks, controlling 8 parameters across reverb, delay and chorus effects, although the potential to mangle and twist your sound is almost limitless making the Heat+FX a fantastic sound processor!"

Randomwaves Introduces Drumboy & Synthgirl

video uploads by Randomwaves

Update: Launching on Kickstarter 20/09/2024.

"Unleash your creativity and explore the world of sound with Randomwaves. Our new handheld instruments, Drumboy and Synthgirl, put the power of music-making in the palm of your hand.

www.randomwaves.io"

Drumboy packs a powerful punch in a compact design. Featuring an ARM processor and intuitive controls, you can create dynamic beats and percussion patterns with ease.

10 Instrument Layers

Mix and match to build unique rhythmic textures

Parametric EQ

Sculp your sound with precision for perfect beats

2 Effect Channels

Add depth, texture, and character to your grooves

Reverb Engine

Create immersive and atmospheric soundscapes

---

Synthgirl is a powerful wavetable synthesizer that empowers you to craft a vast sonic palette. With 2 versatile oscillators, you can explore a world of evolving sounds and textures with just your fingertips.

2 Wavetable OSCs

Craft unique and evolving sonic creations

4 LFOs

Explore endless modulation possibilities

2 Effect Channels

Add depth, texture, and character to your sounds

Reverb Engine

Create immersive and atmospheric soundscapes

Endless Woodland

video upload by Uncertain Music Corps

"Created as a response to a question about how the Endless Processor worked with field recordings. Using recordings made in woodlands local to me as the only audio source.
I'm using an (offscreen) touchpad to trigger the sampling on the EP because I found it quicker and simpler than using the on panel button when trying to capture short bursts of birdsong. Around the 4 minute mark I introduce an LFO to control the amplitude of channel 2.
Recorded direct to the camera. The Disting is used to bring the line level audio feed up to modular levels."

The Crow Hill Company Announces Availability of SMALL STRING GESTURES

The best string sound I have ever heard!! video upload by The Crow Hill Company

Press release follows:

TCHC announces availability of SMALL STRING GESTURES as toolkit to dial up musical personality with intimate interpretative band behind each key

EDINBURGH, UK: having ‘softly’ set out its software stall late last year with a low-key launch of STRING MURMURATIONS that saw decades of award-winning experience in the music tech sector and at the composing coalface distilled into an easy- to-use, intuitive, and comprehensive sample-based virtual instrument plug-in and GUI (Graphical User Interface) introducing the cutting-edge concept of Gestures (whereby an orchestra interpreting its user’s composition and making it into music and art lies behind every key played), music-making community tools-maker The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce availability of SMALL STRING GESTURES as the latest incarnation of that concept — creating a set of tools where individual instruments and the playing style, strengths, and frailties of the intimate interpretative (3, 3, 3, 3) band behind each key are available for the user to dial up the personality of their composition, created from a collection of master recordings that have been mixed and edited into a sample-based virtual instrument plug-in with a GUI and preset browser that are as easy on the eye as they are in use — as of January 26…

An armada of strings can create awe — an epic tidal wave of human emotion, of scale, of wonder. While STRING MURMURATIONS makes it easy and intuitive to make music that sounds human thanks to three distinct palettes of expressions, each designed to feel like the user is collaborating with an orchestra of real musicians, creating endless harmonic possibilities that inspire from the moment a key is touched, sometimes music-makers need it to be intimate, truthful, personal, human — hence The Crow Hill Company creating SMALL STRING GESTURES as a set of tools where individual instruments and the playing style, strengths, and frailties of the instrumentalists involved are available for the user to dial up the personality of their composition. Cue humanity, in other words.

With this in mind, The Crow Hill Company specifically selected a 3, 3, 3, 3 — three Violin 1, three Violin 2, three Violas, and three Cellos — band size that ensured its sampling style brought every individual within that ensemble into beautifully detailed and intimate focus for SMALL STRING GESTURES. This toolset is provided with a different lens and aperture to play through.

The Crow Hill Company collectively likes to keep things moving, so while this latest incarnation of its Gestures concept is very much related to one of those distinct palettes of expression available in STRING MURMURATIONS, it is worth highlighting hysteresis — dictionary-defined as the phenomenon in which the value of a physical property lags behind changes in the effect causing it, such as when magnetic induction lags behind the magnetising force, for instance — in relation to SMALL STRING GESTURES. Getting in on the act of creating sample libraries involves always asking the instrumentalists involved to perform musical material that is incredibly easy to play in order for the end result to always be ‘together’. That is fine for programming or composing simple stuff since that would sound true to real life, but it becomes harder, however, for players to remain totally locked to each other’s tuning or timekeeping when playing more difficult passages. Pure sound becomes more problematic as a result — reduced fundamental meaning more character, which is why a lot of sample-based music used in films, games, and TV sounds ‘characterless’. Clearly the samples involved therein lack hysteresis as they were easy to play, yet playing something difficult with them does not sound natural, real, or human. Indeed, it is fair to say that what makes musicians ‘hysterical’ is speed — faster playing means looser playing that is less in time and also less in tune; reach — the wider the gap between the notes, the further they have to reach, resulting in less perfectly in tune playing; and pitch — the higher a player plays, the harder it becomes as it involves more intense accuracy from string players performing on fretless instruments.

It is for this reason that The Crow Hill Company decided to get its players to perform the hard stuff — not compositions, but mere fragments, which is why anyone working with SMALL STRING GESTURES will not feel like they are playing phrases; instead it is rather like having a string band under their fingertips. For Gestures are the very real sound of reach and performance. But by not giving the musicians behind SMALL STRING GESTURES simple stuff to play prevented them from getting bored. Better still, SMALL STRING GESTURES users are accessing the sound that musicians make when they are smiling... hysterically!

It is also fair to say, therefore, that the effect of hysteresis on a large string section — including that which was involved in the creation of STRING MURMURATIONS, for instance — is a silky, blurry sound. An audible example of this might be the fast string runs in John Williams’ ‘Hedwig’s Theme’ from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — ditto the closing bars of ‘Mars, the Bringer of War’ from Holst’s The Planets suite. Saying that, though, there are times when music-makers do not need awe, epic, and huge scale in pursuit of their compositional craft, but instead seek something more intimate, more personal, more human. The theory that led to SMALL STRING GESTURES revolved around if The Crow Hill Company could get a string band small enough then the impact of hysteresis would not be a musical blurring, but rather an exposure of each player involved in its creation — their own style of bowing and vibrato, their own fragilities to help the user’s audience connect more with the human nature of their music.

Making that happen meant designing SMALL STRING GESTURES to make its users approach composing and making music from a totally new angle, one where it feels like there are musicians at their fingertips — not samples. SMALL STRING GESTURES is a collection of master recordings — made by world-class producers and engineers at Glasgow’s Clockwork Studios, a new custom-designed scoring stage for the UK comprising of a large hall for full orchestra (up to 80 players) with a balanced and focused sound ideal for modern orchestral recording, as well as a smaller dry space in Studio B (up to 15 players), with the world-class Scottish Session Orchestra playing some of the finest instruments through the finest microphones and mic pre-amps — that have been mixed and edited into a sample-based virtual instrument plug-in with a GUI and a preset browser that are as easy on the eye as they are in use. Ultimately, it works within anyone’s favourite DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) with 25 presets — presented as six Gestures, four Longs, 10 Presets, and five Bonus — and additional hand-crafted Selects designed by The Crow Hill Company team. There are three mix-ready stereo signals — namely, CLOSE, WIDE, and AMBIENT, as well as unique REVERB controls and a granular effects processor.

Duly designed by professional composers with the sonic connoisseur in mind, The Crow Hill Company’s collective conclusion certainly rings true, stating, “We’re a small team and have worked hard to make everything as intuitive as possible.” Put it this way: with SMALL STRING GESTURES it is perfectly possible to make music that sounds intimate, truthful, personal, human! Hysteresis, of course, comes into play here, albeit with the desired effect — exposure of each player involved in its creation.

Clearly, then, big messages come in small packages when it comes to working with the diminutive-sized SMALL STRING GESTURES as another easy-to-use and intuitive virtual instrument plug-in from The Crow Hill Company, one which is also easy on the wallet for those wishing to step into this new world of gesture-based sampling.


SMALL STRING GESTURES is available to purchase — as an AAX-, AU-, VST-, and VST3-format-compatible sample-based virtual instrument plug-in comprising 8 GB of uncompressed material (compressed losslessly to 4.4 GB) that loads directly into a DAW — for £49.00 GBP (including VAT) directly from The Crow Hill Company here: https://thecrowhillcompany.com/small-string-gestures

SMALL STRING GESTURES is available for free until February 29, 2024 when purchasing STRING MURMURATIONS for £199.00 GBP (including VAT) directly from The Crow Hill Company here: https://thecrowhillcompany.com/string-murmurations/ (Note that SMALL STRING GESTURES is also available for free to existing owners of STRING MURMURATIONS until February 29, 2024.)

Watch The Crow Hill Company founder and composer Christian Henson’s must-see SMALL STRING GESTURES walkthrough video here: [video up top]

Free sounds for all are available by simply signing up to become a Crow Hill member here: https://thecrowhillcompany.com/join-crow-hill/

---
Video side note: Analogue Solutions Colossus in the background.

Introducing Supercritical Redshift 6 - Six voice analog Variable Character Synthesizer

video upload by Supercritical Synthesizers

"Supermassively dense analog oscillator combined with a chameleon analog filter with versatile gain staging. Now sixfold.

Redshift 6 combines technology from the company’s previous products, the Demon Core Oscillator and the Neutron Flux Filter. Each of the six voices features a DCO with analog waveforms generated under digital control. The filter core is an analog 4-pole state variable filter also digitally controlled to act like almost any classic vintage synthesizer filter and more. In addition to the oscillators and filters, Redshift 6 has all the features expected of a modern synth - plenty of modulators, flexible voice routing, multitimbrality, MPE, and DSP effects.

Redshift 6’s idea is something that is wrapped in the moniker “Variable Character Synthesizer”. Each voice’s analog path regarding tuning, gain staging, filter, and more is under strict digital control. Redshift 6 has as lush and warm sweet spot inspired by the analog polysynth tradition, but it can also cover the full range from almost digitally sterile and clean to distorted misbehavior and beyond. No modeling here - it’s all analog until the bypassable stereo DSP effects processor.

The oscillator, already road-tested in the Demon Core Oscillator eurorack module, is featured in each of the six voices. The oscillator has multiple tricks up its sleeve, each one wrapped as an Engine for the user to choose between. Traditional twin oscillator engines, supersaw engines, flanging phase sync engines, and transistor organ engines are all powerful modes in user-friendly ways that are easily controllable and modulatable.

Redshift 6’s six voices can be configured in plenty of ways. Choose between true six-voice polyphony, classic vintage poly dual layer mode with 3+3 voices, six individual voices each with their own patch and physical output, or any combination of the above. Each of the six voices can also operate as a paraphonic voice with up to 16 note paraphony. Additionally, multiple filters can be chained by routing audio from one voice to another.

The form factor of Redshift 6 is a modern, compact desktop device with a 2.7-inch color screen. Menu diving is reduced to a minimum, with quick navigation via the shortcut button grid. A selection of familiar synth controls are featured on the front panel. A macro mode is included with six user-assignable controls. The back panel features main audio outputs with a DSP effects processor and four auxiliary voice outputs.

One of the major design principles of Redshift 6 is to have a versatile and capable analog platform and a flexible UI for new Engines, easily updateable via software updates.

Supercritical Redshift 6 Desktop synthesizer module - Technical specifications
● Six voices each featuring:
● Full analog signal chain
● Digitally controlled analog Supercritical Demon Core Oscillator
● Analog four pole Variable Character Filter
● Flexible gain staging with an analog boost circuit
● Physical audio output per voice (2 main outputs and 4 aux outputs)
● Optional voice chaining
● Bypassable digital effects in main outputs 1-2
● 2.7" TFT IPS color screen with a bank of 8 endless clickable potentiometers and quick navigation via button grid
● Quick powerful controls for oscillators and filters.
● Six user-assignable macro controls
● Six parts multitimbral
● Modern MIDI implementation with USB-B connection and DIN IN/OUT
● MPE
● 12V power supply
● Physical dimensions: 378 mm x 254 mm x 63 mm

The Supercritical Redshift 6 will be available in summer 2024 with an MSRP of 1259€" Preorders starting now at https://supercriticalsynthesizers.com

Click the pics for the full size shots.

CLICK FOR MORE »

KORG Introduces The New microKORG - A New Origin

video upload by Korg

The microKORG 2, 8 voice synth and vocoder engine. 4 voice in dual/layered mode.

"The microKORG, one of the most iconic and recognizable synths in the history of music, revolutionized the music world with its unique form factor and unmistakable sounds, making it an industry standard for musicians everywhere. Renowned and loved by musicians, sound engineers, producers and gadget buffs everywhere, the microKORG has now evolved to a more powerful, more flexible and richer level - the new microKORG.

While retaining some of the iconic aspects of the original , including the convenient portable size, easy to play mini keybed, the large dial for selecting program genres or the vocoder with dedicated mic, the new microKORG offers a completely new, powerful sound engine, many more useable programs, a visually astounding user interface, and so much more."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Alfaro pair

video upload by Uncertain Music Corps

"Revisiting one of my favourite Norns scripts - Sines - supported by the Endless Processor and EnOsc for some lush orchestral drones.

Recorded direct to camera."

Creative modular sampling patches | SebSongs Sampler

video upload by Tom Churchill

"This video is about the SebSongs Modular Sampler. It’s a new DIY kit available from Thonk, who kindly sent one over for me to check out. It’s a simple 12-bit mono sampler with about three and a half seconds of memory and a beautifully crunchy, lo-fi sound inspired by vintage machines like the Akai S612.

In this video, I’ve put together a small case with a few of my other favourite modules - the Blukac Endless Processor, the Serge VCFQ and Resonant EQ, the Pladask Dradd effects unit and the Xaoc Devices Sarajewo BBD delay - and I've built a few simple patches that explore some creative uses of sampling."

Perfect Circuit Artist Picks: Best Music Gear of 2023 Part 1

video upload by Perfect Circuit

Part 2 here

"2023 is soon drawing to a close—so, we're taking a look back at the year, and taking account of all of the weird and wonderful instruments that gave us some inspiration this year. Synthesizers, drum machines, and Eurorack modules to samplers and effects, this year had no shortage of inspiring instruments.

So, we reached out to some of our friends and content creators to fill us in on their year, asking one simple question: what was the coolest piece of gear you got this year? For some, that meant brand new releases, but for others, it meant sitting down and digging into classic instruments.

In this video, we hear from:
0:00 Mylarmelodies on the Nord Micro Modular
4:14 Sarah Belle Reid on the Fairfield Circuitry Roger That
8:07 Molten Music Tech on the Blukać Endless Processor
14:04 Liam Killen on the OXI One
17:24 Oora on the Meris MercuryX

Read more about all of this gear on our blog, Signal: https://bit.ly/3MEhpfE"

Roland Announces FANTOM EX Upgrade

video uploads by RolandChannel

"Major Upgrade Package for the Flagship FANTOM Synthesizers Adds ACB Modeling, New V-Piano and ZEN-Core Model Expansions, and More"
Full press release further below.

Playlist:
Roland FANTOM EX Upgrade Josh Blair Interview
Roland FANTOM EX Upgrade Sound Demos
Roland FANTOM EX Upgrade Install Guide

User demo video from Gattobus:

FANTOM EX - ACB JUPITER-8 Tone Programming Experience

video upload by gattobus

"In this video I wanted to make you feel the Analog Circuit Behavior of the JP-8 on the new FANTOM-EX update. A hands on programming experience starting from scratch!

WARNING:
Mind your volume levels, there are some serious filter sweeping frequencies that may caught you unprepared!!! :D

Enjoy!"

Press release follows:

"Major Upgrade Package for the Flagship FANTOM Synthesizers Adds ACB Modeling, New V-Piano and ZEN-Core Model Expansions, and More

Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 7, 2023 — Roland announces the FANTOM EX Upgrade, a powerful new system expansion for the company’s FANTOM 6, 7, and 8 synthesizer models. Bounding with exciting new features and workflow enhancements, the user-installable FANTOM EX Upgrade supercharges Roland’s premier synthesizer series with even more creative firepower. The most significant update in FANTOM’s history expands and enriches the core platform with powerful Analog Circuit Behavior technology, two new grand pianos, JD-800 and n/zyme Model Expansions, studio-grade reverb effects, and more. Available for purchase on Roland Cloud, this value-packed upgrade is a must-have for current and future FANTOM owners.

Introduced in 2019, FANTOM was designed as an evolving creative hub that continually grows through sound expansion, software integration, and user-requested features. The FANTOM EX Upgrade integrates a host of sound engine and system enhancements, launching the FANTOM platform far beyond the impressive capabilities of previous versions. In development for many months, this important upgrade embodies Roland’s ongoing dedication to its flagship synth and the worldwide FANTOM community.

JUPITER-8 and SH-101 ACB Expansions
Roland’s acclaimed Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) is the core technology behind AIRA products such as the TR-8S and SYSTEM-8, as well as the extensive Legendary series of software instruments on Roland Cloud. ACB brings an authentic analog sound experience to life in the digital realm, faithfully recreating analog circuitry and all their interactive behaviors at a deep component level.

Realized through new engineering breakthroughs, the processor-intensive ACB architecture is now available to FANTOM owners with the JUPITER-8 ACB and SH-101 ACB Expansions in the FANTOM EX Upgrade. These circuit-level recreations of influential Roland synths offer all the latest ACB advancements, including Circuit Mod and Condition functions for dialing in varying degrees of vintage character.

Two Concert-Class Acoustic Pianos
The FANTOM EX Upgrade features two deeply expressive grands primed to elevate stage and studio endeavors with Roland’s renowned piano performance. Additionally, FANTOM’s V-Piano interface has been refreshed with an attractive new graphical design.

Originally developed for the flagship RD-2000 stage piano, the German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01 is a versatile and inspiring instrument with a rich, powerful, and detailed voice. The SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3 Expansion offers 15 distinctive sounds, from bright, dynamic tones for stage playing to dark, moody variations for ambient explorations.

JD-800 and n/zyme Model Expansions
The FANTOM EX Upgrade also includes two of Roland’s most recent Model Expansion titles, driven by the ZEN-Core engine for advanced sonic range and performance versatility.
Combining the original JD-800 waveforms with advanced modeling techniques, the JD-800 Model Expansion puts the gleaming tone and monster sound-shaping potential of this vintage digital icon inside FANTOM.

The n/zyme Model Expansion is a thoroughly modern instrument with an all-new synth engine developed for the FANTOM environment. Combining wavetable oscillator layers, phase and shape modulation, resonant filters, and two powerful Step LFOs, n/zyme is a highly interactive music tool that sparks endless creative explorations.

Effect and Workflow Enhancements
The FANTOM EX Upgrade further enhances the synthesizer’s smooth workflow and deep feature set. New Shimmer Reverb and Modulation Reverb algorithms instantly infuse any sound with spaciousness and intense harmonic color. FANTOM’s DAW control has been expanded with profiles for Steinberg Cubase and PreSonus Studio One. Additionally, the Master FX processor includes new preset templates for faster workflow and refreshed graphical interfaces for the Mastering Comp and Mastering EQ sections.

Availability & Pricing
The Roland FANTOM series, including the FANTOM 6, FANTOM 7, and FANTOM 8, are available in the U.S. for: $3,499, $3,899, and $4,199, respectively. The Roland FANTOM EX Upgrade is now available for $199."