"ARP Quadra in great working condition. Serviced regularly by Custom Vintage Keyboards in Los Angeles, this synth has been upgraded with wooden end cheeks to replace the original leather ones, a brand new aftertouch system, as well as fully recapped, and calibrated. There are a few areas with paint chips pictured, but for its age, it is in remarkable shape. Power cord included.
Due to its size/shape and fragile nature, local pickup in Brooklyn only, or can arrange hand delivery within a few hours drive for an additional cost."
"It’s always great to hear that a software company has released an emulator of one of our most beloved vintage synthesizers, the Yamaha SY77 (and, of course, the TG77).
It means that the legacy of these incredible instruments will live on, allowing more people to discover and enjoy the unique sound and character of these machines. And, even better, it means our sound banks are becoming increasingly compatible with contemporary studio setups, keeping these classic sounds alive and accessible to a new generation of musicians.
This soundset is made up of 64 custom voices, spanning from classic keyboards sounds, synths (both vintage and contemporary), useful combinations and even a small number of templates aimed at speeding up your own programming work.
It's available in two separate versions, one for the SY99 and one for the SY&TG77, with different Effects and AWM/RCM programming. Swayed reads the SY&TG77 format.
There's a handful of patches sounding a little different, so those are demoed separately in the video.
The soundset can be purchased through the following link:
"The Snare Trap is a drum machine you play guitar or synth/keyboards through! It’s designed to be used either on the desktop – by hand – or on the floor – by foot. The drum sounds are bass drum, snare, and hi-hat, and these can be individually triggered externally by a CV – so it’s very useful for modular synthesists.
"Presented by A. G. Cook, SuperStarSaw pushes stacked saw synthesis to its extremes. Create huge supersaws, impossible glides, blissed-out harmonies, and controlled chaos from a single playable instrument – without the need for endless layering and automation."
Playlist:
1. A. G. Cook presents SuperStarSaw | Native Instruments
2. Discover SuperStarSaw with A. G. Cook | Native Instruments
3. SuperStarSaw synth walkthrough | Native Instruments
Native Instruments and A. G. Cook turn his signature supersaw into a custom instrument you can play
The PC Music founder and 2025 BRIT Producer of the Year brings the stacked saw sound known for Charli xcx, and Caroline Polachek to a single synthesizer — built from his own patches
Berlin, July 16, 2026: Native Instruments has today launched SuperStarSaw, a synthesizer co-created with GRAMMY-winning A. G. Cook, British producer, PC Music founder, and one of the key architects of contemporary pop's defining sonic palette.
Supersaws, multiple sawtooth waves layered and slightly detuned against each other, are responsible for some of modern pop's most immediately recognisable textures: the wide, lush, harmonically dense quality running through Cook's work with Charli xcx, Beyoncé, Caroline Polachek, and Oklou. Building them has always meant painstaking multi-instance layering, a process Cook had refined over years of his own production work, and which became the starting point for what followed. The instrument grew out of a two-year collaboration with Native Instruments' design team, who worked directly from Cook's patches and production sessions to turn one of modern pop's most coveted sounds into something you can actually play.
"The folks at @synidotech asked me to help launch their latest MIDI controller, the TempoKey K32. It's unique in that it's not just a MIDI controller but also includes a synth engine. In this video, I take a look at a pre-release model."
Intro - 0:00
Unboxing & Overview - 1:26
Internal Synth Engine - 3:31
Using the Editor - 5:24
Direct Audio - 6:47
Using with Soft Synth - 8:15
Using the Arpeggiator - 10:08
Additional Features - 11:30
Using with Hardware Synth - 12:45
Final Thoughts - 14:24
And one from 2-Minute Warning:
The Key - 4-Minute Jam (TempoKEY K32 Play + Taiga + DFAM)
"This video is a little different for two reasons!
First, it's the first time I'm featuring an instrument kindly provided by a manufacturer. Synido sent me the TempoKEY K32 Play to explore in my own workflow and share my honest impressions.
They didn't ask for a scripted review, so I simply approached it the same way I approach every other instrument on this channel: by making music with it.
Secondly... this is exceptionally a 4-minute jam!
Think of it as two consecutive 2-minute performances before I take a short summer break. 😊
Rather than trying to showcase every feature of the K32 as a MIDI controller (Bluetooth MIDI, battery power, USB/MIDI connectivity, pads, knobs, etc.), I wanted to focus on what intrigued me the most: its built-in General MIDI sound engine.
For this performance, the Hapax sequences the entire setup. The Taiga handles the bass, the DFAM takes care of the analog drums (synchronized by the Hapax), while the K32 Play provides everything else: guitars, strings, bells, plucks, additional drum sounds… and occasionally runs through the Eventide H90 for a bit of extra space and texture.
As always, the musical performance itself was recorded in a single take. Mixing/mastering was done afterwards in Ableton Live, but the performance you hear is exactly as it happened.
A sincere thank you to Synido. Without their message, this musical experiment probably wouldn't have happened."
✅ PLAY THE MOMENT INSPIRATION HITS
Most MIDI keyboards need a computer and software to make a sound. K32 doesn't. Built-in sounds and speakers let you play instantly--couch,classroom, anywhere.
✅ 32 KEYS, MORE ROOM
25 keys feel cramped for chords and melody together. The K32's 32-key layout gives your hands space to play naturally.
✅ WIRELESS, GO ANYWHERE
BLE MIDI + Battery. Create from the couch, backstage, in class, or on a plane.
✅ GROWS WITH YOU
Connect another MIDI controller and use the K32 as a standalone sound module. Compact setup, maximum flexibility.
✅ INSTANT SOUND SWITCHING
Save favorite instruments to the KEY Sound buttons. Jump from piano to synth to bass with one press. No menu-diving.
✅ HANDS-ON CONTROL
8 assignable knobs, 8 drum pads, and a clear OLED display. Adjust, beat, and perform in real time—no mouse needed.
✅ FOR EVERY STAGE OF YOUR JOURNEY
From first beat to live performance, K32 adapts to your workflow. Start simple. Grow into it. Create without limits.
Quite possibly, the closest thing to having a 'Moog Plugin' inside your MPC4000, Z4 or Z8. Rather than settle for a traditional 'multi-sampled' Instrument, having only a few or a dozen (at most) Samples onboard, and declaring it a 'MiniMoog'. I wondered, 'why not capture EVERY KEY from the original Model D MiniMoog?' ..and give one of the most celebrated Synthesizers of all time the closest possible incarnation on Akai's most revered Samplers of all time?!
Furthermore, the MPC4000 is quite a beast, in that, it can Sample at 24-bit / 48kHz, which is perfect to capture such a prized vintage Synth that's revered for it's thick, rich tonality. From that point, I wanted it for myself.
And so, with the labor done, we now have, what I consider, the most ambitious MPC of all-time loaded with arguably, the most celebrated Synth of all time.. and well, here's the result.
A first look at this labor of love, and I can't tell you how good it felt to finally play chords with sounds from a vintage Model D! ..evidently, I overloaded the MPCs internal Mixer, but, knowing full well I did overload the MPCs output, I didn't think it was necessary to sugar-coat the 'first look', and thought, this 'overloading' was just as important to include as the rest of it. As one could expect, if you played 5 MiniMoogs side-by-side.. you too, would probably overload what ever Mixer they're running into, too.
A simple reduction in resonance and/or Program volume, and there's more headroom to reach with those 'wider' chords.
Anyway, warts n' all, here it is, just as I was discovering in real-time. The nature of all of 88 individually cut and looped Samples playing alongside each other. Something the original MiniMoog simply can not do.
Here's hoping you enjoy this fascinating discovery of how the MPC4000 'sounds' when faithfully loaded up with 88 Samples from an original 1976 MiniMoog Model D's Ramp Oscillator! (Actually the MiniMoog offered 96, but as most MIDI Keyboards offer up to 88 keys, I stuck with 88.
The ellitone tap-ki is a ‘percussive note’ midi-controller that features 12 highly-sensitive “tap touch” wooden bars. Formally known as the KeyControl 2, the ellitone tap-ki found its true name and brings back all of the same functionality in a solid oak hardwood body.
tap-ki features 16 selectable musical scales from around the world. Inspired by hand-pan drums, these 16 musical scales each offer a different mood for your playing and exploration. The best thing about these selected musical scales is that it is impossible to hit a “wrong note”, No musical theory or piano playing ability is required to successfully enjoy this device. As seen in the demo video, the tap-ki can be played like a piano using single finger taps, or like a drum using both hands to trigger groups of multiple notes at once. The excellent velocity-tracking system allows the tap-ki to be played like a digital hand drum that responds to the smallest change in play pressure.
"Review of the NEO VENTILATOR 2 from the perspective of players of the NORD STAGE and NORD ELECTRO keyboards, and even the NORD ORGAN. This pedal emulates the sound of the LESLIE 122 Rotary Speaker Cabinet, but is it worth the extra money and hassle over the built-in Nord rotary speaker sim?"
"Step inside the Nord factory and discover the story behind the original red keyboards. This unique short documentary offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship, innovation and people who bring Nord instruments to life.
A documentary by Jonas Embring Executive Producer at Nord: David Sjöqvist Sound Design: Martin Stenberg Narrated by John Russell
"David Haberfeld — better known as Honeysmack — is a live techno improviser. That means the tracks in his sets are built and arranged in real time in front of an audience rather than pre-sequenced in a DAW. In this studio tour he walks through the hardware he performs with and puts a track together from scratch on the spot.
The rig spans vintage and modern boxes: the Roland TB-303 (the synth-with-a-sequencer that anchors a lot of his sound), Roland's TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines, a Mackie 16-channel mixer, a DJ mixer he's come to use as a performance instrument, Behringer's RD-8 MKII and RD-9 (clones of the 808 and 909, both of which he beta tested), the Behringer Syncussion SY1, a Pro-1 synth and a modular system. Along the way he gets into why the 808 and 909 ended up defining whole genres — and argues it had less to do with how they sounded and more to do with what was simply available at the time.
Honeysmack has a new Live Techno Masterclass coming up on Sunday 26 July at Collingwood Yards, Melbourne:
CHAPTERS
0:00 live techno improvisation
0:36 studio reveal
0:59 Roland TB-303
1:42 building a track from scratch
3:47 808/909
5:43 Performance
7:08 Synths, modular & sequencers
8:45 jam
GEAR FEATURED
Roland TB-303 · Roland TR-808 · Roland TR-909 · Behringer RD-8 MKII · Behringer RD-9 · Behringer Syncussion SY1 · Pro-1 · Mackie 16-channel mixer · DJ mixer · modular synthesizer
Noisegate is an Australian based collective of working musicians, producers, DJs, and live audio professionals dedicated to bringing you the latest music gear news, tutorials, interviews and more. We cover a range of categories including guitars, bass, synths, keyboards, pro-audio, DJ gear, live audio, industry news and all the ways we make and interact with music and sound."
"B67 ZEN FM" synthesis engine (4 operators with linear FM + 4 wave shapes) for all Roland instruments that support the ZEN-Core standard: new editor and sound collection.
The new ZEN-Core Editor Librarian V2.0 (PC and MAC) is now available for Roland synthesizers from the Fantom, AX-Edge, and Jupiter-X/Xm.
Among many new features, it allows editing of a new synthesis engine, fully compatible with the ZEN-Core standard, which uses linear FM synthesis (4 operators) and 4 modulable operator waveshapes
The "B67 ZEN FM" synthesis engine is achieved through a special implementation of a ZEN-Core tone that allows access to only a limited number of synthesis parameters, leaving the others predefined and inaccessible (e.g., Structure 1-2/3-4 = XMOD2, Osc Type = VA).
Specifically, the modulation matrix is "locked" with predefined Source and Destination parameters to ensure correct modulations that operate on the main FM synthesis parameters.
Real-time editing is performed on a new page containing all the synthesis parameters, the operator frequencies settable via the freq. ratio parameter (0.25, 0.5, 0.78, 1, 1.5, 1.57, 1.78, 2, 3, 3.5, 4.5, etc.), the waveforms (SIN, SIN2, TRI, TRI2, TRI3, SAW, SQR, RAMP, JUNO), the graphic display of the 8 envelopes (4 for FM and 4 for shapes), a dedicated librarian (2048 sounds), 20 tone presets, 8 ENV presets, a clipboard, and the ability to copy and paste synthesis parameters.
Each sound is associated with one of the 93 MFX multi-effects, which can be edited in the dedicated section.
By applying waveshaping to the 4 operators' waveforms (via the FAT and PW parameters) and modulating them with 4 dedicated ENVs, the synthesis engine can replicate the phase distortion (PD) synthesis famous in Casio CZ synths.
When using sine wave oscillators and modulating their PW with the dedicated ADSR ENVs, the overall synthesis structure becomes similar to that of an 8-operator FM algorithm, as shown in the image: 4 operators (1, 2, 3, and 4) can have their frequencies freely configured, while the other 4 modulate the corresponding carriers and modulators with a 1:1 ratio.
Polyphony is 22 voices for all synthesizers, pianos, keyboards, wind instruments, guitar synths, and virtual instruments compatible with the ZEN-Core standard. This is reduced to 11 voices for the MC-101, MC-707, and VERSELAB MV-1 grooveboxes.
Simplified graphical editing of all parameters, sound management via the librarian, and parameter recall for subsequent editing is only possible with the ZEN-Core Editor Librarian V2.0.
The new B67 ZEN-Core Collection 3 (197 ZEN-Core tones in total) is also available, including 112 tones created with the "B67 ZEN-FM" synthesis engine.
Thanks to full compatibility with the ZEN-Core standard, these sounds can be used on all compatible instruments and virtual instruments: Zenology Pro, Zenbeats (ZC-1), FP-E50, RD-88, RD-08, Juno-D, Juno-X, V-Stage, MC-101, MC-707, Verselab MV-1, GM-800, Aerophone AE-20 Pro AE-30, GO:KEYS 5, GO:KEYS 3.
Along with the collection, the sounds with the B67 ZEN-FM synthesis engine also come with a proprietary file format that can be edited and managed within the Editor/Librarian V2.0 section, available for Fantom, AX-Edge, and Jupiter-X/Xm.
Among the various sounds in the collection, created with this synthesis, are emulations of some "classic" Yamaha DX7 sounds (Marimba, Vibe, Celesta, Bakket, Jazz Guitar, Tubular Bell, EPiano, Bowed Strings, Brass, Synth Bass, Metal, etc.) and original sounds that use FM and Wave Shape synthesis for new sounds with complex and evolving harmonic spectra.
The upgrade to version 2.0 of the ZEN-Core Editor Librarian for Fantom, AX-Edge, and Jupiter-X is free (it can be found in the Gumroad repository or through the paywall of those who purchased it).
Collection 3 (197 ZEN-Core tones, including 112 created with the B67 ZEN-FM synthesis engine) is available individually, in the "best of" version, and bundled with other collections and editors.
"The Chroma Polaris was the predecessor to the classic Rhodes Chroma. Even with its heritage, the Chroma series of keyboards has seemed to resist the inflation that vintage analog synths often have. This synth gives massive sounds with the added benefit of having midi I/O. A hi-fi synth with 6 voices of analog polyphony. Creamy sounds, very lush with tons of character. Total sleeper! Wow."
This one is in via Paulina Salmas from Tropical Fish who had the following to say;
"I am working on a project that I thought you might be interested in.
I am a keyboard tech, and in 2022 I visited a warehouse packed to the ceiling with Wurlitzer organ parts. The warehouse had been owned by a former Wurlitzer employee, but it had recently been sold, and the new owners intended to destroy everything inside on the following Monday. There, I purchased around 100,000 Wurlitzer Co. engineering drawings that would have otherwise been incinerated.
The drawings include dimensions, material specs, and associated paperwork for parts in every Wurlitzer organ, electronic piano, and accessory, including the Sideman drum machine. I am scanning the pages so that the information can be made available to other techs and musicians, to help them repair vintage Wurlitzer keyboards and keep them alive.
"A walk around the Museo del Synth Marchigiano - the biggest and most complete collection of Italian synthesizers, keyboards, and rhythm machines in the world!"
Freshwater writes a new chapter for the legendary Fairlight CMI
Today Freshwater announces a milestone event with the release of the FI50A card for existing Fairlight CMIs series I, II and IIx. We’ve spent over a year perfecting this project and now offer CMI users a unique opportunity to extend, preserve and enhance these remarkable and era-defining machines.
Installed in an original Fairlight CMI, the FI50A makes the instrument faster, more reliable and more convenient to operate whilst bringing the legendary CMI sound into the 21st century music production environment. We are currently focused on getting these cards into the hands of users and continuing to optimise the enhanced software bundled with them.
What is the FI50A?
The Freshwater FI50A is a complete modern replacement for the original CMI computer section, including CPU, graphics display, memory and library storage. It is compatible with Fairlight CMI Series I, II and IIx systems.
The FI50A preserves the character, workflow and hardware experience of the original instrument while dramatically improving speed, reliability, storage and usability. It runs enhanced software derived from the original source code keeping the instrument recognisably and operationally a Fairlight CMI.
The card arrives pre-installed with a fully licensed original CMI sound library and adds practical modern ways to expand it, including enhanced 10-bit sampling, waveform upload over Wi-Fi, SD card and USB memory support. It also adds DisplayPort output, USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi while retaining support for legacy CMI keyboards, CRT/light pen operation, floppy disks, MIDI interfaces and Series I/II channel cards.
Installation is straightforward and fully reversible. Using the supplied user manual and online video guide, the original CPU and peripheral cards can be removed and preserved, the FI50A installed in their place, and the original peripherals reconnected.
For owners familiar with the CMI, the result is not a different instrument, but a transformed one: faster, easier to maintain and ready for contemporary studio use while remaining true to the original machine.
For more information, please follow the link below:
“I once said ‘one day the whole CMI will fit on one chip’. We all had a laugh at that. Fast forward 40 years and that’s the reality. By making this new board compatible with the original CMI channel cards, the bits that make the CMI sound so unique are still there, while the digital part is a zillion times more powerful, smaller,
cheaper and reliable.”
—Peter Vogel
"Today we talk to modular synth pioneer Suzanne Ciani and MIT Spatial Sound Lab researcher Kamran V. Suzanne and Kamran both love quadraphonic sound, and they have a new quad release coming out on June 4th called Ciani/Orkest. They are on a mission to make quadraphonic music accessible to both musicians and to listeners, and in this interview, Kamran will explain how, you, with no special equipment, can listen to their new album in quad. We'll also get into how analog synthesizers actually work, the early history of Buchla synths versus Moog synths, why Suzanne thinks keyboards diminish the potential of synths, and how Suzanne designed some of the most recognizable sounds of the 1980s. Suzanne Ciani is a Grammy Award nominated composer, electronic musician, and neoclassical recording artist who has released over 20 solo albums, including Seven Waves and The Velocity of Love. Her work has been featured in Hollywood films, video games, and countless commercials. She was inducted into the first class of keyboard magazine's Hall of Fame, alongside Bob Moog, Don Buchla, and Dave Smith. And she was the subject of the feature documentary, A Life in Waves. Kamran V is an arts technologist and MIT Spatial Sound Lab researcher, and he's a National Endowment for the Arts grant recipient. He's worked at Interscope Records, produced immersive music releases for Nine Inch Nails, Sting, and Beck, and he ran the music tech fest, Moogfest. He's also on the board of Dub Lab.
Cited Media:
Music & Albums: Suzanne Ciani - Ciani/Orkest (2025)Suzanne Ciani - Live Quadraphonic (2016)Suzanne Ciani - The Velocity of Love (1986)Suzanne Ciani - Seven Waves (1982)Wendy Carlos - Switched-On Bach (1968)Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (1972)The Rentals Film & TV: 3-2-1 Contact, PBS (1980–1988)Brett Whitcomb - A Life in Waves (2017)Suzanne Ciani on David Letterman (1980) Events & Festivals: MoogfestAES ConventionAmsterdam Dance EventNAMM Tools & Plugins: Kamran V - QUARK Plugin (free) Record Labels & Archives: Finders Keepers Records
Chapters:
0:00 Intro 5:45 Meet the Guests 6:28 Sound Design & Commercials 13:45 High Art vs Low Culture 19:03 Ciani Orkest 24:42 Moog vs Buchla 26:36 How Modular Synths Work 36:15 Quadrophonic Sound 45:13 The QUARK Plugin 50:24 Seven Waves"
" the Roland CA30 Arranger is a forgotten piece of midi technology. It was created around 1989 with the launch of the first Roland E series keyboards it in fact uses the exact same arrangements as the E 30. Let’s look at it and see if there’s any value to it today and also play with some of the arrangement cards that these keyboards were built to have."
"Introducing the new FLkey, the go-to controller for FL Studio. This video gives you a quick glimpse of what our new FLkey can do and how it integrates with FL Studio.
The next generation of FLkey is here, and this new iteration has been upgraded and refined to offer an even more seamless connection to your essential beatmaking workflows.
The new hardware introduces an array of upgrades including better-feeling keys and pads, continuous encoders, and a crisp OLED display that shows essential information about your project. In addition, FLkey now features inspiring built-in creative tools in the form of Scale and Chord Modes and a powerful arpeggiator.
We’ve also deepened FLkey’s connection to many of the most important FL Studio tools, including the Channel Rack, Mixer, and plugins. We’ve also added useful new workflow shortcuts and upgraded the pads’ sequencing capabilities.
From bedroom to studio, there’s an FLkey for every setup with four sizes to choose from:
FLkey Mini 25
FLkey 37
FLkey 49
FLkey 61"
New FL Studio Keyboards - Novation FL KEY MK2 First Look and Review
"Today, Novation have released the FLkey 2 MIDI keyboards for FL Studio. It's a brilliant update to the incredibly popular FLkey range released in 2022. These new keyboards have now taken the top spot as the best MIDI device for FL Studio.
In this video, I share the important updates and give you a feel for the workflow and build quality of the new FLkey 2 in all sizes.
This video is supported by Novation. I want to be transparent about this but I am genuinely glad to be showcasing the update to these keyboards. These MIDI keyboards are a brilliant pairing with FL Studio and are a joy to use.
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - 60 Second overview
1:45 - Build Quality
3:00 - Channel Rack Control
4:30 - Faders Controlling the Mixer
6:18 - My favourite features
9:40 - Don't make this mistake!
Prices (Rest of world excluding tax. Prices vary by location):
I don't mention the price during the video because it varies so much by location and I don't like to mislead anyone who expects a simple dollar conversion to their own currency!"
Novation's new FL KEY MK2 for FL Studio // Pros, cons & full tutorial for FLkey 2
