just look at the past (Yamaha YM2151 + Yamaha YMZ280B)

video upload by Vivi The Pumpkin King

Fun video featuring the Yamaha YM2151 + Yamaha YMZ280B voice chips. Interstingly, you'll find previous posts mentioning the YM2151, but not the YMZ280B. This simply implies the YM2151 is more comonly used in DIY projects.

"The Yamaha YM2151, also known as OPM (FM Operator Type-M), is an 8-channel, 4-operator sound chip used for frequency modulation (FM) synthesis in 1980s arcade games, home computers, and synthesizers."

Key Features

Voices:

Plays up to 8 simultaneous sounds or channels.

Data Formats: Supports 4-bit ADPCM, 8-bit PCM, and 16-bit PCM waveform data.

Memory: Connects to up to 16 MB of external ROM or SRAM for storing sound data.

Output: Delivers stereo output with 4-bit/16-level panning for each individual voice.P

rocessors: Links with an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and can connect to a Yamaha YSS225 effects processor for extra channel processing."

"The Yamaha YMZ280B, also called PCMD8, is an 8-channel PCM and ADPCM sample-based sound chip made by Yamaha Corporation in the mid-to-late 1990s.

Key FeaturesChannels and Operators:

It supports 8 simultaneous channels of 8-note polyphony with 4 operators per channel.

Sound Generation: It includes built-in noise generators, LFOs for vibrato and amplitude modulation, and timer circuits.

Companion IC: It requires an external digital-to-analog converter (typically the Yamaha YM3012) to output stereo audio.

Common Uses

Arcade Machines: Atari's Marble Madness (1984) was the first arcade game to use the YM2151 for FM synthesis, leading to widespread adoption in arcade hardware.

Home Computers: It powered the sound boards in sharp computers like the Sharp X68000 and the Yamaha CX5M music computer.

Synthesizers: Yamaha utilized the chip in early budget keyboards and sound modules like the DX21, DX27, and DX100."

Simple Sequencing is Better! | Doepfer A-155-2

video upload by Braintree56

"The Doepfer A-155-2 is an eight-step analog sequencer stripped down to the essentials — eight knobs, four jacks, and an interface that encourages you to patch first and figure things out as you go.

In this video, I take a look at how the A-155-2 works and explore why I enjoy Doepfer's approach to modular synthesis so much. There's something about simple, immediate modules with no screens or deep menus that gets at what I love about modular: you learn the concept, patch it up, and start making music.

I go through the A-155-2's basic sequencing functions, CV ranges, step controls, ratcheting, sequence limits, direction and random modes, and preset system. I also try out one of the more unusual ideas from the manual — running the A-155-2 at audio rate and using it as a graphic VCO to shape a waveform.

Finally, I put it to work in a few different patches, including a rhythmic patch using the original A-155 alongside the A-155-2.

Doepfer provided the A-155-2 for this video. They did not pay me for the video or have any control over its content. I've been using and talking about Doepfer modules on this channel for years, and this is the first module they've sent me."

GlitchShredder for iPad — Glitch, Stutter & Reverse in AUM | AUv3 Demo, No Talking

video upload by Diego Capoccitti

[Desktop pictured]

"GlitchShredder is now available for iPhone and iPad — Standalone and AUv3.

No talking, no tutorial: just AUM, a drum loop, and GlitchShredder chewing through it. I load the effect, run through some presets, and play with the Chopper, Decimator and Stutter Sync controls to show what the engine does to a simple beat.

GlitchShredder is a zero-crossing chopper with a probabilistic glitch engine. It slices the incoming signal into segments and reassembles them in a different order, backwards, at the wrong speed, or completely at random — from subtle rhythmic artifacts to total deconstruction of the source.

▶ GET IT ON THE APP STORE — €5.99
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glitchs...

CLICK FOR MORE »

VAV X-Wave: Wave-Crosser

"X-Wave is a crossover-synched signal switcher for the Eurorack modular system. It's simple to use (no knobs in sight), but it's also very powerful!

X-Wave has two Signal Inputs (conveniently named SIGNAL 1 IN and SIGNAL 2 IN). It has only one OUT, though, so it is forced to choose between the two signals you give it. To do this, it listens to SIGNAL 1 and decides if SIGNAL 1 is positive (as indicated by the little +).

If SIGNAL 1 is positive, it sends only itself to the OUT jack.

However, if SIGNAL 1 is negative, only SIGNAL 2 is sent to the OUT jack (as indicated, again, by the little -).

So, if you feed two different waveforms from a VCO into SIGNAL 1 and 2 IN (pulse on 1 and saw on 2 work very well together, for example), the result will be a wave shape that cycles between half of each waveform you provided. If you use a pulse for SIGNAL 1, you can also create wavetable-like effects by varying the pulse width of your pulse wave on your VCO.

There are two other functions on the X-Wave that greatly expand its capabilities:
You can connect a third signal to the + DETECT IN jack as an external control of the switching action. This will make X-Wave stop listening to SIGNAL 1, and listen only to the 3rd signal This is very useful for using a pulse wave with PWM to "scroll" between two other waveforms from the same VCO, inserting sub oscillators to toggle between full cycles of SIGNALS 1 and 2, hocketing effects via use of a sequencer or gate divider, non-synched interleaving and switching effects, and voltage-controlled A/B switching or muting.

You can also invert the polarity of SIGNAL 2 using the provided toggle switch. This can be used to correct unfavorable polarity alignments between SIGNALS 1 and 2 or can also be used to turn X-Wave into a full wave rectifier or external-voltage-controlled inverter if you plug the same signal into both SIGNAL IN jacks.

X-Wave can pass signals down to 0hz (DC) so it can also be used to process LFOs, Envelopes, CV Sequences, and 1V/Octave signals. It probably has other uses I haven't thought of!

X-Wave is 4HP and uses Burr Brown op amps for the main signal path alongside other high quality Texas Instruments ICs for other duties. X-Wave is not a bi-directional switch, so please be aware that the IN and OUT jack labels should be followed when patching. X-Wave uses a high impedance of 1M (10x the typical 100k) for all inputs, so multiple units can be connected via stacking cables/passive splitters (up to 10 inputs can be paralleled while still maintaining traditional Eurorack input impedance standards)."

VAV N-Wave: Middle-Out Waveshaper

video upload by Magical Synth Adventure

"Join me as I take the @control_voltage VAV N-Wave Middle-Out Waveshaper for a spin!

The N-Wave is a really imaginative waveshaper. Some waveshapers might fold over the peaks of an incoming waveform, some might rectify them - squaring things off like a fuzz pedal. N-wave keeps the peaks of waveform - like the top and bottom of a saw wave - intact, and instead lets you shape and turn up on the volume on a section in the middle of the waveform - leading to unique tones. This is especially true, as you can vary the width of this middle section!"

video uploads by control_voltage

Playlist:

1. VAV N-Wave: Step Sequenced Threshold

One fun live performance (or studio) use for the N-Wave is to connect a Step Sequencer on the Threshold CV and generate different timbres for each step in a sequence. These act as accents and add a lot of life and feel to your sequences and the feel can easily be changed on the fly using something like a Joranalogue Step 8 as your source of steps.

2. VAV N-Wave: Threshold Ring Modulation

In Part 2 of the VAV N-Wave Video Manual, we look at using the threshold control and bipolar vca cv to create new waveforms that have a mixture of normal and ring modulated (quadrature) segments.

3. VAV N-Wave Mangles a Triangle

Here, the N-Wave does quite a number on an unsuspecting triangle wave with the help of some nearby modules. N-Wave is kind of like that one kid's house where everyone hung out and cooked up weird DnD campaigns or something. But for modular signals.

"N-Wave is a novel waveshaper for the Eurorack modular format. Unlike traditional wavefolders and clippers, which operate on the peaks of a waveform, N-Wave leaves peaks intact. All you need to expand your sound palette greatly is a VCO signal and a few twists of the knobs!

Using its internal bipolar VCA (aka four quadrant multiplier, aaka ring modulator) you can apply gain reduction and polarity inversion to an inner portion of the wave slope that you define with the THRESHOLD and OFFSET controls.

All functions can also be controlled via control voltage inputs. LFOs, Audio Rate VCOs, ADSR Envelopes, 1V/Oct signals, sequenced voltages, sample and hold signals, noise, and sub octave signals are all very good choices and can produce results ranging from very musical to very strange. An external detector signal can also be applied if you don't want to trigger the detector on the waveform you're modifying.

If you like, you can also use N-Wave as a high quality bipolar VCA, attenuverter, or ring modulator with the THRESHOLD set to maximum and dynamically mute the effect by applying 0V or a negative voltage to the threshold either using a sequencer or manual control, which allows for hocketing and rhythmic effects.

N-Wave can also operate all the way down to 0hz (DC), so, in addition to audio, it can process LFOs, envelopes, 1V/octave sequences, and any other signal that varies amplitude over time (Sorry, square waves and pulse waves. Your super-sonic rise times are hard to shape in an audible way, but you do work well as control signals).

N-Wave is 10HP and uses Burr Brown op amps for the primary signal path alongside high quality Texas Instruments ICs that are carefully chosen to best fit their roles in the circuit."

Nanobox Fireball - "Space Textures” 40 Presets

video upload by LFOstore

"40 new presets 46 new Samples for the 1010music Nanobox Fireball synthesizer, built on its powerful waveform architecture, deliver rich and evolving sounds.

BUY: https://kav-sound-explorer.sellfy.sto...

'40 Space Textures' 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.

includes:

40 Synth Presets files

46 new Samples

synth pads, bass, texture, effects and synths

For quick searching, new Synth Presets are marked with (TX) in front of the name.

Ready to use: All sounds are presented as demo versions (without adding external effects or post-processing to the demo tracks) with 1 Synth Preset, allowing users to evaluate their potential in the Nanobox Fireball effects section.

by: A.Kav"

Våld Labs KURARE | Every note is a crowd A swarm synthesizer by Våld Labs Open Beta

video upload by Våld Labs

"Two swarms of oscillators. Bring them together into a focused voice, or let them drift apart into beating textures, shifting harmonies and restless clouds of sound.

KURARE is a polyphonic synthesizer inspired by the Kuramoto model of collective synchronisation. Each oscillator responds to the others, creating sounds that gather, loosen and change as you play. The particles on screen follow the oscillators themselves, making that movement visible.

Four main controls shape the swarm:
• POPULATE adds oscillators, up to 32 per swarm.
• DECOUPLE moves from tightly synchronised tones to drifting clouds.
• DIVERGE spreads pitches into octave and overtone layers.
• EXCITE adds agitation and instability.

Explore five waveform collections, shape each swarm with SEM- or Polivoks-inspired filters, and add movement with three LFOs and two generative modulation lanes. The built-in sequencer brings seven VEKTE-derived algorithms, independent parts for each swarm and an arpeggiator.

16 voices. Two swarms per note. Plenty of room between order and chaos.

KURARE v0.5.0 is in public beta for macOS and Windows, free to download and use while the beta runs. #iOS soon.

Download and learn more:
https://valdlabs.com/kurare"

Ring Modulation Sound Examples | Quadrant Modulator on a Smooth Synth Pad

video upload by Unusable Engineering

"Almost 20 minutes of Quadrant Modulator sound examples using the same smooth additive synth pad throughout, going through all the factory presets and a selection of my own patches.

There is no talking or explanation in this one. The purpose is simply to hear how wide the range of the plugin can be on one familiar source, from fairly subtle amplitude and tonal movement to obvious ring modulation, rhythmic processing, pitch-following effects, sequenced modulation and much more aggressive transformations.

The source is Partials & Discrepancies (the unusable engineering additive synth) using the preset APD-Wavelength Luminous from the free All Partially Dirty patch bank available on the Partials & Discrepancies product page.

The processing chain is the same throughout:
Partials & Discrepancies
→ Quadrant Modulator
→ Geometry Delay
→ Geometry Reverb

CLICK FOR MORE »

Phaseburn One sound demo: everything you hear is one synth [Open Beta]

video upload by Phaseburn Music

"Phaseburn One is a synthesizer built around a phase-locked loop: the main oscillator tracks a reference signal, and whatever you patch into that reference becomes part of the sound. Everything you hear is the plugin on its own, nothing else added.

In the video: the PLL lab, the morphing oscillator and its fold, four step sequencers and four LFOs, the probability sequencer, the mixer and patchbay.

VST3, CLAP, AU and standalone, macOS and Windows, instrument or effect. Free open beta until 15 October 2026.

https://phaseburn.music"

The following is some additional info directly in via Phaseburn Music:

"I want to introduce Phaseburn One, a synthesizer we have been working on for several years, which is now in open beta and free for everyone until 15 October.

The sound is built on a phase-locked loop. One oscillator listens to another and keeps trying to match it, and the interesting part starts where it fails. When it tracks accurately the tone comes out clear and strangely alive, and when the loop is loosened you hear the chase itself: the oscillator catches up with the target, overshoots, breaks off, finds the frequency again, sometimes clinging to a harmonic instead of the note you played. PLLs are not new, they have appeared before as modules and effects, but as far as we can tell nobody has built a whole instrument around one. Four macro dials open the loop by ear, so none of the theory is needed to land somewhere usable.

Three more oscillators sit beside it: Morph, which sweeps between waveform families, a Vector shaping oscillator and a Sub. A transient module can add a click, noise or a metallic edge, or build a kick out of a sine. Around the loop there is a modular patchbay where you draw the cables yourself, a rack of seven effects and a mixer, and almost everything can be modulated from a dedicated section of LFOs and modulation sequencers.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Frap Tools Magnolia: From Lush Poly to Nasty Mono

video upload by Starsky Carr

"The Frap Tools Magnolia is an 8 voice analog polysynth with through zero FM, wavefolding and poly aftertouch — and it goes from lush Jupiter pads to full MS-20 scream in about two moves. Full review and demo.

I've never played a polysynth that turns into a monosynth this easily. Magnolia is what happens when Frap Tools take the Brenso oscillator and the Cunsa filter out of their Eurorack range, put them in a very sexy box with a poly aftertouch keyboard, 64 modulation slots and no menus at all — then add a load of things nobody else is doing.

Sync that flips the waveform instead of resetting it. FM smoothing, which I don't think I've seen on a poly before. A resonant high pass filter that squeals into MS-20 territory. Filter FM from either oscillator or the noise. And Poly Move, which throws a random value at every note you press so the whole thing breathes like a modular.

I've had a review unit here for a few weeks and it's going back this week, which is a genuine shame. In this video I go through every section, show how you interact with 64 modulation slots without a screen or a modulation matrix, and build a patch from one plain triangle wave into something enormous. There are two demo tracks in there too — it inspired me to write a track, which doesn't happen with everything that comes through the door.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT IT
• Two oscillator types
• A dedicated TZFM envelope,
• Sync that flips rather than restarts
• FM smoothing
• Resonant low pass AND high pass filters,
• Filter FM from OSC 1, OSC 2 or noise
• Poly Move
• Hertz detune
• 64 modulation slots, all assigned and toggled from the panel — no menus, no screen

Around £3,800 / $4,200 / €4,200. It's an expensive synth, and there's nothing wrong with that — my full thoughts on whether it's worth it are at 47:52"

The M8 Tracker Continues To Blow His Mind // OS 6.6 Release

video upload by EZBOT

"Today I wanted to take a bit of time to explain my deep love for the Dirtywave M8 Tracker while going over the patch notes for the new OS that was released last week. The new OS brings a slew of upgrades to the device in both sound and presentation. Let's check it out and make some tunes."

EZBOT resources: https://www.patreon.com/ezbot, https://ko-fi.com/ezbot/, https://www.modbang.com

M8 Changelog on github

Makes for an intersting look back on the development history of the M8:

CLICK FOR MORE »

OAM's Patience - A Eurorack LFO Module With a Cycle Rate That Can be Set for Decades

Folding & Unfolding Sine Waves w/ Patience and XPO video upload by Olivia Artz Modular



via Kickstarter

"Patience is an LFO that allows you to set the duration of a change in terms of seconds, minutes, hours, days, month, years, or decades.

Our thinking

Eurorack is widely considered to be an esoteric and expensive way to make music. That’s one framing. Another framing is that Eurorack is a mid-90s platform for modular electronic art that lasted. VRML came and went. RSS flourished and rescinded. Web pages don’t really use HTML anymore. But Eurorack is still. It is a time-tested and community-driven foundation for building conceptual art. For installation art. For slow art. In these contexts the modules that you already have can transform in meaning.

For instance, a clock divider may be used for tracking musical time and for building up musical rhythms. But if your clock divider has primes as an option and you trigger it once a day, the 7’s output will give you a pulse a week. Suddenly you’re patch-programming a calendar. You’re now keeping track of time on the scale of years. You’ve moved from the music of humans to the music of the seasons.

This is where Patience comes in. To help your patches operate at these time scales we made an LFO capable of making a single modulation over the course of hours, days, months, years, or even decades.

Why me
For more than twenty-five years I’ve been studying, designing, and programming systems for slow sound art. Under Pauline Oliveros I studied and practiced deep listening. I worked with Seth Cluett on glacial multi-channel performance systems. I’ve cared deeply about slow art my entire life. Patience is an expression of this and I will give it everything I have.

Why Kickstarter
If we know up front that we have guaranteed orders for Patience we can afford to dedicate the time that this idea deserves. Refining the design, circuitry, software, and assembly process. This is the only way we can foresee making the best possible version of Patience, so here we are.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Introducing TRAVELER: A Cinematic Hybrid Synthesizer

video uploads by KeySolutions Sounds

Playlist:

1. Introducing TRAVELER: A Cinematic Hybrid Synthesizer
2. TRAVELER: The Expressive Cinematic Hybrid Synth | Official Walkthrough
3. TRAVELER Track Walkthrough by Venus Theory

"Meet TRAVELER, the expressive cinematic hybrid synthesizer from KeySolutions Sounds.

Designed to move effortlessly from intimate detail to thunderous motion, TRAVELER combines the gravity and depth of classic hardware instruments with a flexible modern sound engine built for composers, producers, performers, and sound designers.

In this video Mike Martin provides a tour of TRAVELER’s features, sound, and expressive possibilities.

Explore TRAVELER download the free 14-day demo and take advantage of the limited time launch offer: https://www.keysolutionssounds.com/tr...

Traveler's preset library features sounds from Venus Theory, David Helpling, Scott McAuley, Drew Schlesinger, James Dyson, James Terris, Tom Hammer, Jerry Kovarsky, and Mike Martin."

ENDLESS DESTINATIONS

TRAVELER is an artist-built cinematic hybrid synthesizer with bold dreams and is centered around the one thing that sets us all on our way – Expression. From intimate to thunderous, it Instantly rewards dynamics and carries with it a promise of endless musical journeys.

Crafted with passion for composers, producers, and sound designers, TRAVELER brings together the unmistakable gravity and depth of classic hardware instruments with the flexibility to forge entirely new sonic territory. Its familiar, immediate interface and emotionally rewarding sound engine deliver a unique yet unmistakable character, strong sympathetic harmonics and expansive width and motion, inviting sonic exploration from the very first touch.

CLICK FOR MORE »

SynBe - Inspired by 1975 Japanese Synth Bass (demo)

video upload by Hügelton Instruments

"This series' first synthesizer simulation is of a rare Japanese-made bass synthesizer.
This synthesizer possesses features rarely seen in modern synthesizers, such as a unique traveler and simplified oscillator sources.
We has poured its passion for this hard-to-find synthesizer into this simulation software.

Features
・Monophonic synthesizer architecture
・Triangle, Square, Saw, Pulse and Phaser modes
・4’, 8’ and 16’ octave ranges
・Classic Traveler filter
・Twelve factory presets
・Full MIDI CC control
・Separate modern modification section

Available for macOS (AUv2 / VST3) and Windows (VST3).
https://hugelton.itch.io/synbe"



SynBe is a monophonic bass synthesizer inspired by a 1975 Japanese Synth Bass.

I had wanted one for a long time, but finding one is difficult. Rather than wait for the right unit to appear, I started with what was still available: surviving technical documentation, published circuit information, material from related instruments, and other technical references.

Some sections are well documented. Others are incomplete. Where the original circuit cannot be fully determined, SynBe uses the available evidence, related designs, conventional modelling techniques, and listening tests.

Features

Monophonic synthesizer architecture
Triangle, Square, Saw, Pulse and Phaser modes
4’, 8’ and 16’ octave ranges
Classic Traveler filter
Twelve factory presets
Full MIDI CC control
Separate modern modification section
2x internal oversampling
Versioned DSP kernel
Special nice & great graphics by ME!
Archaeology

Most of my previous reconstruction projects started with an instrument sitting in front of me.

SynBe did not.

The reconstruction began with surviving technical documentation and circuit information. I also studied material from contemporary and related instruments where the available information was incomplete.

The signal path was reconstructed section by section, from the oscillator and waveform circuitry through the Traveler filter and VCA.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha CS Series Chip Clones by Ando Pilve

This was shared by Ando Pilve on Facebook (Aug 22):

"If you know what this is, you know what these are. Coming soon!"

Note the PILVE iG00153AP and iG00156AP chips left.

Followed by (2nd board image with the the iG00158AP pictured in place from January 21):

"IG00158 waveshaper chip clones are now available on Reverb and eBay. They are drop-in replaceable into the original footprint or a DIP-16 socket."

and from March 2025:

"IG00151 VCA clones are now available on Reverb and eBay! They are drop-in replaceable and can coexist with original chips without modifications."

You can find them on Ando's Gear Shop on Reverb here, and eBay here.

You'll find additional details on each captured from the listings below.

Ando Pilve also brought us the Kijimi Stereo Output Mod as well as a few recordings featuring Black Corporation's Xerxes and Deckards Dream. Deckards Dream of course was based on the CS80.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Introducing Thorus XT

video uploads by UVI

Playlist:

1. Introducing Thorus XT - Video credits: Anthony H. | Music credits: Théo G.
2. UVI Thorus XT | Overview - Video credits: Venus Theory
3. UVI Thorus XT | Showcase - Video credits: Théo G.

"Thorus XT - Extended Chorus Designer
https://www.uvi.net/thorus-xt

Discover Thorus XT, a state-of-the-art chorus effect offering the best of both digital and analog circuit-modeled techniques with up to 8 variable, fully continuous voices, and deeply shapable extended analog controls.

Also included in SonicPass ➡️ https://www.uvi.net/sonicpass"

A deep, flexible, state-of-the-art digital chorus, Thorus has long been one of UVI's best-selling effects. Thorus XT offers a brand new take, driven by advanced DSP and joined by a second engine that faithfully models the analog bucket-brigade circuits that chorus was born on. Two worlds, one plugin, from brilliant shimmer to grainy vintage modulation, and everywhere in-between.

Your Sound, Your Way

Both digital and analog engines run on the same morphable 8-voice architecture and the same set of controls. Set your modulation once, switch engines, and hear the identical movement through two very different paths, keep whichever one best suits the material.

Two Engines, Unified Control

Cutting-edge DSP drives a variable chorus architecture with continuous and morphable voice control; sweeping voices results in the last voice fading in and out smoothly, with no stepping. Speed and Depth shape the modulation, Shape sets its waveform as sine or triangle, Edge dials feedback and color, and Stereo Mode places the image. Fewer voices give pronounced, identifiable modulation; more voices blur the line into a thick, immersive wash.

Digital - Clean, Precise, Transparent

The digital engine is the Thorus chorus you know and love, refined. Clean, precise, prized for its clarity, now with a continuously variable voice count. Every voice reads a single shared delay line at interpolated positions, for a crystalline, detailed sound. When clean isn't the objective, Quality becomes a band-limited sample-rate reducer delivering a downsampled, lo-fi edge that stays musical where it counts.

Analog - Warm, Colored, Alive

The analog engine is a faithful bucket-brigade chip emulation, found in classic hardware units like the Dimension D, and Juno-6. Where the digital engine is clean by design, Thorus XT’s analog engine gives you the natural imperfections of hardware: aliasing, resonance, pumping compression, hiss, per-voice variation—all fully shapable through an extended control set.

The Synth Yamaha Wants You to Forget | The V50

video upload by Espen Kraft

"My sound patches: https://espenkraft.com
In 1989, while Korg's M1 and the sampling boom were rewriting the charts, Yamaha reached into the parts bin and handed us the V50 — a 4-operator FM workstation synth almost nobody asked for.

The V50 wrapped Yamaha's 4-operator FM engine (the same one in the DX11 and TX81Z) in a full workstation shell: an 8-track sequencer, a PCM drum machine, dual digital effects and a built-in floppy drive. On paper, a tidy package. In practice, in a year that wanted fat organs, realistic pianos and new dance sounds, it landed as a warmed-over fossil. I disliked it then, and I dislike it now — but I'll show you what it can and can't do.

All effects in the video are from the V50 internally. No external processing.

Yamaha V50 — key specs:

Released 1989
4-operator, 8-algorithm, 8-waveform FM synthesis (DX11 / TX81Z engine)
16-note polyphony, 8-part multitimbral
100 preset + 100 user voices
Built-in 8-track sequencer — 8 songs, 16,000 notes
PCM drum machine with 61 sampled drum sounds
Dual digital effects (reverb, delay, distortion)
3.5" floppy disk drive
61-key keyboard with velocity + aftertouch
US list price when new: ~$1,895

00:00 M1 ruled the world
00:35 Yamaha's answer: the V50
01:23 What you got for your money
02:14 FM Pianos again
02:52 PCM drums
04:18 A flop
05:00 Various sounds from the V50"

Curves & Membranes 1.4.0 | Expressive MPE & Paraphonic Synth Sounds

video upload by Unusable Engineering

"Curves & Membranes 1.4.0 adds new MPE performance, 4-voice paraphonic synthesis, and velocity-controlled waveform morphing. This no-talking sound demo goes through 10 new presets using those features, from expressive pads and keyboard sounds to rhythmic and more experimental synth patches.

There are 20 new presets in the update in total. The ten in this video are played first dry and then with some Geometry Reverb added.

The three main new performance features are:

Expression / MPE Mode
MPE pressure controls the amplitude envelope and oscillator brightness, CC74 / Slide moves through the Oscillator Preset slots, and pitch bend is expanded to 48 semitones. Preset Slew controls how smoothly CC74 interpolates between waveform geometries.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Additive Synth Sound Design | 10 New Partials & Discrepancies Presets for the coming update

video upload by Unusable Engineering

"Ten new additive synth presets from the upcoming Partials & Discrepancies 1.3.2 update.

No talking in this one, just sound examples. The patches focus mainly on two new features: X-Voice FM and Velocity Position, with sounds ranging from restrained and cinematic pads to noisier textures, keyboard sounds, and a more percussive patch.

X-Voice FM lets each synth voice FM-modulate the next voice in a circular chain. It can use either the previous voice’s filtered signal or oscillator output as the modulation source, and the FM amount is stored independently in every oscillator slot.

That means the amount of FM can move and slew together with the rest of the patch.

Velocity Position lets note velocity select the position, or an interpolated position, between the active oscillator slots.

So playing dynamics can change much more than volume. Depending on the patch, velocity can move between different partial structures, harmonic relationships, X-Voice FM amounts, or combinations of all three.

The result can be quite expressive with surprisingly little movement from the player.

The update also adds Live View, which follows an active voice in the waveform editor and shows its slewed node geometry, partial settings, and slot position in real time.

There are also new waveform-editing shortcuts, multi-step undo/redo, slot copy/paste keyboard shortcuts, and a fairly substantial round of interface-performance and stability work. (But more on that on the website when the release is here)

Partials & Discrepancies 1.3.2 is expected to be available on September 1, 2026."

Korg DW-8000 Editor Librarian

video upload by Ian Dixon

"In this video I demonstrate my free Web MIDI editor and librarian for the Korg DW-8000, built to make it easier to manage patches, audition sounds, edit parameters in real time and keep a larger library of DW-8000 sounds ready to use.

The DW-8000 is a brilliant hybrid digital/analogue synth, but managing lots of patches from the front panel can be slow. This browser-based editor lets you enable MIDI, read the programs from the synth, load SysEx banks, remove duplicates, build a large patch library, send sounds to the DW-8000, tweak filters and waveforms, view envelopes visually and save your own libraries without installing anything.

https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

Chapters:
00:00 DW-8000 editor-librarian intro
00:13 Why I built the editor
00:42 Browser-based Web MIDI setup
00:53 Choosing MIDI ports
00:59 Reading programs from the DW-8000
01:12 Selecting patches and sending to the edit buffer
01:25 Real-time editing
01:38 Filter, waveform and envelope controls
02:02 Viewing real-time parameter changes
02:13 Loading SysEx banks
02:42 Auditioning imported sounds
02:52 Removing duplicates and building a library
03:16 Working like a modern patch browser
03:25 Saving and loading libraries
03:44 Free browser-based tool
04:05 More editors planned and feature requests"