Vekte Beta 1.2.1: Introducing ARP, Drumkit, and more modulations!

video upload by Våld Labs

"Every channel is now a SEQ, a KIT or an ARP, and slots can drive each other. 1.2.1 rewrites the ARP transport so a running clock tracks the host 1:1.

1.2.0
Slot modes: SEQ (generative sequencer), KIT (fixed 12-note kit map), ARP (input-driven, from external MIDI or another slot)
Slot bus: DEST routes one slot into another. A SEQ conducts an ARP, ARPs chain, no host MIDI routing
RTRG restarts the pattern on a press, LATCH keeps the playhead running silently on release
APPROACH and FILL: deterministic in-scale passing notes, drawn on the piano roll
Ratchet rate system, six interpolation laws

CLICK FOR MORE »

Korg USA Mobilizes Workforce for Long Island Cares Volunteer Initiative

Press release follows.

Korg USA Mobilizes Workforce for Long Island Cares Volunteer Initiative Supporting Regional Food Security Efforts

MELVILLE, N.Y. — Korg USA Inc. expanded its ongoing community involvement last week through a dedicated employee volunteer day at Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank. The initiative directly supports regional efforts to address food insecurity across Long Island by providing critical operational help to the non-profit organization. The collaborative effort highlights Korg USA’s active corporate citizenship and aligns with a shared strategic vision to mobilize localized resources for neighbors facing humanitarian challenges.

The relationship between the two entities is further strengthened by leadership integration, as Korg USA CFO Diana Cecchini serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Long Island Cares. This organizational connection facilitates direct alignment between Korg USA’s corporate community engagement initiatives and the strategic goals of the food bank. By advancing leadership and active collaboration, the volunteer initiative directly supports Long Island Cares in its core mission to improve food security for families, sponsor programs focused on achieving self-sufficiency and educate the public on the root causes and consequences of hunger.

Long Island Cares formally acknowledged the impact of Korg USA’s workforce following the volunteer day, recognizing the musical instrument company’s ongoing dedication to the organization's regional humanitarian goals. In an official social media statement, Long Island Cares noted that the time, enthusiasm, and dedication of the Korg USA team help make their mission possible, expressing gratitude for the continued partnership and its role in making a difference in the lives of local neighbors.

For more information about Korg USA, please visit www.KorgUSA.com
For more information on Long Island Cares, please visit www.licares.org

Echolocator: How to patch generative darkness

video upload by Richard DeHove

"The recent 1.04 firmware update with the new frequency shifter has made creating genertive soundtrack-style material reasonably straightforward. In short you put the delay into feedback, dial in some delay time fluctuations via the modulation controls and orbit, adjust the frequency shifter pitch to taste, then let it run.

It helps of course to have a little more processing downstream which is where the Zen delay comes in (it's even on the noisy and hated 'vintage' mode). But for a very close and dry feel the Echolocator by itself can still do a good job. Interesting and sometimes wild things also happen around the "0" value of the pitch shift knob.

For extended twiddlings it's all about modifying the root pitch. There's lots of places this can happen: the frequency shifter and delay time, and likewise delay time on the Zen. Then there's all the little flavorings which comes from the filters, feedback amount, modulation amount, reverb and Zen drive. Plenty of things to tweak if you prefer to ride the controls rather than let it run.

Warning: There are some big pitch variations here including sub-bass.

0:00 Setup and settings
1:28 Controls
3:15 Low and lower
4:42 Enter the Zen
10:25 Low drone

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

KiCad in 5 minutes: Designing an SMD PCB for my $30 chord sequencer + firmware updates

video upload by Floyd Steinberg

"I finally learned KiCad and with the help of PCB Way https://www.pcbway.com/activity/anniv... or https://pcbway.com/g/4nkLCf , I created an SMD PCB for my $30 chord sequencer, and I added all the features you asked for after the last video on this project. Table of contents:

00:00 short demo
00:07 hello, what's this?
00:58 KiCad design quick walkthough
05:04 a parcel from PCB Way!
06:36 creating some JST adapter cables
07:04 my thoughts on the whole process, and some advice (read those spec sheets!)
08:36 Quick overview: Analyzing chords and using suggested chords
09:43 chord complexity selection
10:05 passing chords
10:43 santanic chords
11:34 rolling chords
12:07 reacting to velocity
12:29 bass: root note
12:44 bass: key root note
13:04 swipe menus
13:23 sending CC data with the ring
14:04 arpeggiator
14:48 user arpeggiator patterns
16:08 chord sequencer + auto chord progression
17:07 multitimbral multitrack demo (Montage M)
17:57 conclusion and where to get

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


Previously:

This $30 chord sequencer adds more Gospel to your music #synth #midicontroller

video upload by Floyd Steinberg

"I built a nifty little MIDI device that might help you find some interesting new chord progressions. This runs on a 1.28" CrowPanel by ELECROW ( https://tidd.ly/49pImPW , or the new 1.46" version https://tidd.ly/4u51ZEi ) for roughly $30. Table of contents:

00:00 hi, what's this? + quick demo
00:40 sponsored by ELECROW
01:05 hardware needed
02:01 Yes, I came up with the firmware, but that's not important here
02:44 you'll need an external sound source #synthesizer and set it to local mode
03:15 you can play on the device itself or on a midi keyboard
03:28 basic usage
03:49 emotional chords!
04:41 ... or not
05:05 chord analyzer
05:52 passing chords
06:33 bass (chord root + key root)
07:23 this channel needs you support
07:48 trigger key changes (some music theory)
09:15 functional chords, related keys and chromatic/altered chords
09:53 chord sequencer
10:44 flip the screen
11:13 disarm the passing chord function
11:19 some interesting details (automatic voicing, slightly random velocity and more)
12:19 playing "chord melodies" and throwing some "emotional chords" in (proof of practicability)
12:45 using the device to create chord progressions in other sequencers
13:02 a short improvisation (left hand: chord machine, right hand: keyboard)
14:16 conclusion, and some more ideas (and why I need your help)"

Plinky 12 Blocks - Full Walkthrough

video upload by Nathan Plante Synths, Alex Evans (mmalex), Making Sound Machines

"At long last, I have made the Plinky 12 Blocks walkthrough! This panel is so jam-packed with features it was hard to fit it all in to one video (and I did leave out a few things). Blocks can do it all - sequencing, live play, loop recording, chords.... an EVERYTHING machine! I can't wait to see what great music people are going to make with this synth. Enjoy!"

00:00 Intro
01:24 Play Surfaces
03:33 Piano Roll
05:55 Velocity, Gate Length, Ratchets
06:42 Alternate (Sparkly) Notes
09:30 Mute
09:54 Fancy Randomization
11:58 Live Loop Recording
13:00 Clip Launcher (Launch Mode)
16:22 Preset Banks
18:01 Synth Settings (Mutate Mode)
22:58 XY Pad (Modulation)
24:47 Saving Presets
25:11 The LFOs
27:37 The Mix Page
28:57 Arp Settings
30:10 Performance FX
33:40 Changing Root and Scale (Chord Mode)
36:23 Outro & Jam

Erica Synths Razornator 5 Tuned Stereo Delays - Sonic DEMO

video upload by sonicstate

"​@matthsmatthsmatths takes a look the @EricaSynths. Erica Synths Razornator, developed with 112dB, its an effects unit built around five stereo, chromatically tuned resonating delay lines.

We look at how the Razornator turns rhythmic, unpitched drums into pitched, harmonic textures. A resonant filter shapes the input, while decay, damping and an envelope follower control the length and tone of the resonance.

A shift control can move the pitch by up to two octaves, a central dial sets the root note, with four further pitches set by hand or via MIDI for chords and sequencing.
Razornator shares its form factor with the Echo Locator and Nightverb, offering stereo I/O, MIDI, USB, up to 25dB gain and extensive MIDI CC control.
Matt runs presets on drums, synths, arpeggios and vocals.

Priced at around 490 euros, expect firmware updates to follow."

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:41 What the Razornator does
00:01:00 Five resonating delay lines
00:02:55 Compared to Echolocator and Nightverb
00:04:22 Signal path and filter
00:06:05 Envelope follower
00:08:55 Pitch control and MIDI chords
00:12:30 Menu, presets and morphing
00:20:29 Arpeggiator and synth patches
00:32:18 Vocals
00:36:28 Wrap up and price

Erica Synths Introduces x 112db RAZORNATOR Stereo Effects Unit

video upload by Erica Synths

"Razornator is a unique stereo effects unit developed in collaboration with 112dB, featuring five chromatically tuned resonating delay lines that emulate the resonance of physical objects, spaces, and instruments.

Timeline:
00:02 - Take 1 / Bassline DB-01 through the Razornator with root note transposed via MIDI
00:50 - Take 2 / Error Instruments Ritual processed with Razornator
01:55 - Take 3 / TR-707 through the Razornator with root note transposed via MIDI
03:09 - Take 4 / Lapsteel processed with the Razornator
04:16 - Take 5 / Monotribe through the Razornator with MIDI set to Chord mode
05:27 - Take 6 / Pocket Operator processes with the Razornator with extreme envelope follower settings
06:24 - Take 7 / Sound FX toy making beautiful sounds with Razornator
07:38 - Take 8 / Jam with Razornator ar TR-909"

Erica Synths Razornator: Review and Demo

video upload by Starsky Carr

"Erica Synths Razornator is the 4th 112dB collaboration FX unit and it's a resonator like no other. In this hands-on walkthrough I build an entire track (strings, dubby stabs and thunderous bass) from nothing but short pulses of noise fed into its Karplus-Strong like resonators. If you want to know what the Razornator actually sounds like before you buy, this deep-dive demo is for you.

The Razornator packs 10 resonators (five stereo pairs), a resonant low-pass filter, +24dB of input gain, a built-in compressor and an envelope follower — all fully MIDI controllable. Originally a 1983 Karplus & Strong algorithm for plucked-string and percussive tones, Erica Synths and 112dB have turned it into a wildly flexible tone-generation and sound-mangling machine. I run through the signal path, the root/offset tuning, the gorgeous presets by Eraldo Bernocchi, and push it hard with synths, hi-hats and kicks. Resonator, but not as we know it."

⏱ CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro — all synths made with the Razornator
1:14 How it works: Karplus-Strong resonators explained
2:36 Playing the resonator via MIDI
5:01 Recreating the intro tones — dubby stab & octave bass
9:10 Eraldo Bernocchi presets — the range of sounds
12:35 Percussion: enhancing hi-hats
16:45 Putting kicks through the resonator
19:39 Synth tones, shimmer & spring-reverb textures
23:00 Final Thoughts



"A unique stereo FX unit with an algorithm developed by Dutch company 112dB, the Razornator features 5 chromatically tuned resonating delay lines that can emulate the resonance of physical objects - bodies of instruments, rooms, structures. Chromatic tuning of the resonating delay lines makes the effect particularly musical, because it allows for aligning them in chord-like intervals, while the built-in envelope follower adds dynamics to the processed signal. Featuring 12 parameters for detailed sound design, save/recall functions for all parameters, MIDI control over all parameters and a sleek aluminium case to match our lineup of compact desktop units, the Razornator will let your setup take flight in any live show, studio or sonic experiment.

The Razornator combines several well considered and tuned “modules” for stereo audio processing with the aim of altering the harmonic content of the incoming signal. The signal path starts with an audio GAIN STAGE that boosts signals up to +24dB (it can effectively act as an analogue overdrive), then the signal is fed through the lowpass FILTER with a RESONANCE control and after filter treatment it passes through five chromatically tuned DELAY-BASED RESONATORS that can be manually tuned or controlled by the ENVELOPE FOLLOWER. After the resonators, the signal is summed and limited by the COMPRESSOR, then mixed with the dry signal and passed through the EQUALIZER and finally is sent to BALANCED OUTPUT stage.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
Product Features
5 chromatically tuned resonating delay lines
Chromatic tuning
Built-in envelope follower
Save/recall functions for all 12 parameters
Preset morphing
Resonators tunings playable via MIDI
Configurable footswitch input
True stereo signal path
Premium aluminum enclosure"

Wildwood Lightning by Wildwood Soundworks

video uploads by Wildwood Soundworks


"Wildwood Lightning is a handmade digital sampler, sequencer and synthesizer designed and produced by Wildwood Soundworks in Penn Valley, California. It provides the following features:

Sampler - record your own samples or use standard WAVE files.

Sequencer - compose on up to 16 channels with channel mute and solo.

Synthesizer - produce polyphonic audio with a sample based synthesizer.

Touch Pads - play notes, select chord and drum patterns and strum with touch sensitive pads.

Display - view notes and channels or navigate menus to select from numerous features.

Multiple Views - create and update your songs using piano roll, song or step views.

Multiple Menus - discover features and create or edit your song with 14 menus.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Wildwood Express by Wildwood Soundworks

video uploads by Wildwood Soundworks

Note the Wildwood Express is now on v3 with v3.2 coming. The videos above are from 2 years ago, but have not been featured on the site before now.

"Wildwood Express is a handmade digital sequencer and synthesizer designed and produced in Penn Valley, California.

It features:

Color LCD Display
1 Octave Keyboard
8 Octave Range
24 Touch Pads
12 Function Keys
16 Channels (w/Mute + Solo)
128 Instruments
18 Full Color LEDs
Rotary Encoder
USB MIDI Input + Output
Pattern Generator
Strum / Autochord
Song Editing + Overdub
microSD Card Storage
USB Storage"

Playlist:

1. Express v02 MIDI File 01

This video shows you how to open and play a MIDI file:

1. Navigate menus
2. Select a MIDI file
3. Play the MIDI file
4. Select note view (piano roll)
5. Select song view (all channels)
6. Select step view
7. Navigate through song a note (MIDI message) at a time
8. Use Channel Display setting to control which channels are displayed

CLICK FOR MORE »

BASTL INSTRUMENTS KASTLE ARP DESKTOP MELODY SYNTH

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

via this listing

Additional Signal Sounds listings

"We say...
A pre-owned Bastl Instruments Kastle ARP in excellent condition. It comes with original packaging and accessories.

Manufacturer's description
Kastle ARP is a unique modular melody generator based on a quantized sine wave oscillator with a digital waveshaper.

The pitch selection employs straightforward concepts to unleash surprising intricacy. The quantized oscillator ensures it is always in tune, and its pitch can be selected using the NOTE and CHORD inputs. The decay envelope adds variation by occasionally skipping pitches before retriggering. The timbre control allows you to blend between noble sine waves and 8-bit chip-tunes.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Joranalogue and Friends / ODESSA chords / DISCRETE MAP sequence / CYCLE 5 bass

video upload by BRiES

"Apart from the bass (CYCLE 5) I'm not using any Joranalogue modules for sound generation... but all of the modulation, a lot of the sequencing and triggers are made with, processed by or routed through the Joranalogue modules. They truly are kings of utility (and more). I think it's fair to mention that I used quite a bunch of Schlappi modules for the transposition of the chords as well as Discrete Map by New Systems Instruments for the sequencing of the root of the chord as well as the main clock of the patch."

Dreadbox Polyend Medusa

video upload by ollilaboratories

"I have always wanted a Medusa ever since i tried it at Superbooth (i think?) many years ago, i found it very intriguing, both layout / workflow with the grid and the very special sound engine. For some reason i never got to the point actually buying one until the other day when i stumbled over one used for a very reasonable price. I mean, i dont even really have the space for it.. i just knew this was the time to get one. :)

What you see and hear in this video is me taking it for a quick testrun, i love its quirkiness, how one can assign the voices are being played which creates some really fun happy accidents all over the place. The grid is quantized into Dorian scale, root in D.

FX from the Vongon Ultrasheer Reverb and Red Panda Particle, EHX 720 Stereo Looper from for the intro loop recording. All is recorded live straight on 2 track with some minor touch up post, e.g limiter and little bit of EQ at the top.

Cheers and Enjoy!"

HARMONICONSTELLATION - OVERVIEW

video upload by A Magic Pulsewave

"MIDI EXPANDER, HARMONY COMPUTER, AND PRESET SYNTH FOR AMP DEVICES. www.melodyoracle.com

HARMONICONSTELLATION is a 3 channel AMP LINK to MIDI expander and harmony computer, with built-in three channel preset synthesizer. Converts AMP Obliquencer, Melody Oracle, Touch Tones, and Star Song to 3 channels (or up to three voices on one channel) of MIDI control signal.

Master settings control root note and mode, to format the incoming AMP control stream to a set of MIDI note values within a specified scale (9 harmonic modes over the full chromatic range). Each channel has Octave and Harmony Offset settings, creating spontaneous harmony to the incoming note stream, within the scale set by the master settings. CV inputs (0-3.3v, diode protected) for Octave and Harmony Offset on each channel allow modulation from Obliquencer CV outputs or other CV sources. Octave and Harmony Offset selectors become CV attenuators when jacks have been patched.

HARMONICONSTELLATION outputs MIDI master clock if connected to Obliquencer or Melody Oracle, allowing MIDI sequencers and drum machines to sync.

Each TRS MIDI output carries all three internal channels over MIDI, and each channel can be routed to any of the 16 MIDI channels using the recessed touch controls.

Built-in polyphonic, multi-timbral synthesizer output creates an audio preview of your sequences without needing to connect an external MIDI synthesizer. 16 preset sounds, with a variety of waveform and envelope profiles, correspond to the MIDI channel settings.

Multiple HARMONICONSTELLATIONs can be chained to control additional synthesizers. Can also be chained with AMP Expandoor and Wave Expander.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Connection: Shielded connector RJ45, ethernet cable.
Dimensions: 8.66” x 5.25” x 3”
Power: Bus power, no additional power supply required
MIDI Output 3.5” TRS Type A
CV inputs: 3.5mm 0-3.3V unipolar diode protected."

Puremagnetik Etches | Getting Started

video uploads by Puremagnetik

"Etches Tutorial Series — Playlist Summary

A six-part walkthrough of Etches, covering every control on the instrument and how the sections work together. Watch in order if you're starting out, or jump to a specific video to reference a particular feature.

Etches is a touch-controlled synthesizer with FM oscillator, tape-style delay, stereo reverb, and an 160-second recorder. The series moves from setup through performance: power and calibration first, then articulation, sound design, effects, tuning, and finally the recorder.

**What's covered across the series:**

1. **Getting Started** — Power, stereo output, how the touch-resistive pads respond, SWELL as volume control, and calibrating SENS to your environment.

2. **The Articulation Pads** — STAC for plucked envelopes, DRIVE as combined overdrive and FM intensifier, INVERSE for parameter drift across seven destinations.

3. **The Oscillator** — FM synthesis basics, EDGE waveshape morphing, CYCLE for pluck character, and the FLUX/ORBIT pair that controls FM depth and rate.

4. **Effects** — Tape-style delay with self-oscillation, stereo reverb (SUSTAIN, FORM, WALLS), and the default signal flow through the instrument.

5. **Tuning** — ROOT for tonic, SCALE for quantization across twelve built-in scales, INDEX/SHIFT for ±4 octaves of transposition.

6. **The Recorder** — Splices vs. loops, REC and OVERDUB, the START/END loop window, TRAVEL as LFO modulation of loop points, SCROLL between splices, BLEND and SPEED, and the two routing modes.

By the end of the series, you'll have a working understanding of every knob and pad on Etches and how to combine them into musical gestures and full pieces.

#etches #synthesizer #ambientmusic #fmsynthesis #tutorial"

Tasty Chips GR-2 Incoming

via Tasty Chips:

"There was the GR-1, then there was the bigger brother to extend the family, the GR-MEGA, and now there’s the GR-2.

The GR-2 is the direct successor of the GR-1. Similar size, similar price, but with a large touch screen, and many of the GR-MEGA’s abilities. As loyal readers of our mailing list, you are the first to know. We offer a limited amount of early bird units at 100 euro discount. We chose Kickstarter to reach a large audience and gauge interest, and you guys are the first the learn about it.

Visit us at Superbooth this weekend for a GR-2 demo, and of course you can also play around with all our other synths and effects.

For GR-MEGA owners: the GR-2 is like a little brother of the GR-MEGA. Both can run the same patches, and have largely the same abilities. The GR-2 has somewhat lower polyphony, lacks the amount of function-specific knobs and buttons, and lacks luxury interfaces like HDMI and balanced audio. The GR-2 firmware has the same “root” as the GR-MEGA’s. This means the GR-2 hitches a piggyback ride on the mature GR-MEGA for a great start.. and after a while the GR-MEGA will benefit from large amounts of sold GR-2’s: more user feedback, leading to more features, higher quality, and a large patch library.

If you want the best granular synthesizer and sound design tool out there, please support us.. and yourself. 🙂 Thank you! 🙏"

Additional details via Kickstarter.

The GR-2 is a granular synth, transformative sampler, and a portable sound design tool. It's ideally suited to stand-alone use. It can drone, you can use the touchscreen to play it like a live instrument. Attach MIDI gear or computer to use it like a traditional synth. Samples Samples want to be heard, but also seen, touched, and transformed. That's what the GR-2 delivers. Triggers, and manipulation are immediate. There's no setup, and there's visual feedback for everything.

Easy to use

The 7" touch screen, and high contrast GUI make life easy. There are spatially associated encoders along the the edges of the display. The most important settings are always visible, and they're big.

The most important settings are available from Quick Access (QA) menu buttons at the top. Using a touch gesture you can make them full screen. Deeper menus are accessible via the menu button. And rest assured, you're never more than 1 level deep + all GUI widgets are big and high contrast.

Power

The GR-2 is compact, no more than 25x19x7 cm, but it's powerful. While the touchscreen plays a large role, the knobs and fader are essential to the tactile, immediate, and precise nature of this synth.

Transformation is key. Load or record a sample, then mangle it through one of the many engines and effects. Long field recordings, transients, tonal material, the GR-2 eats them all. Make them unrecognizable, emphasize their inherent character, or add your own accents. Make them scatter in the granular engine, add subtle stutters, let it smoothly sustain forever, or make it whistle and bubble in the spectral engine. Using the many knobs and up-front menus, this quickly becomes like a second nature.

Polyphonic, multi-timbral, multi-engine, MPE capable, a dozen high quality effects, macros, and a deep polyphonic modulation matrix with over 120 destinations and 24 sources. Of course touch X,Y are mod sources. Our granular engine is the best you'll find in any hardware synth. A claim we dare make with ease. You can leverage the power of a touch screen, and play multiple notes and chords, along with gestural modulation accross 4 timbres. You can even record and transform touch gestures for modulation."

PolyFreq Introduces Phonon Plug-In Debut as Precision Granular Laboratory for Sonic Alchemy

video upload by PolyFreq

Press release follows:

PolyFreq pitches availability of Phonon plug-in debut as precision granular laboratory for sonic alchemy

BRISTOL, UK: boutique musical tools-maker PolyFreq is proud to announce availability of Phonon as its debut plug-in — pitched as a precision laboratory for sonic alchemy, built around a high-quality sample granulation engine with root note detection, four keyboard follow modes, and legato giving it real versatility as a playable instrument — as of May 5…

Acting as a musical synthesiser first and foremost, Phonon is designed for very intentional, controllable reconstruction of one source, leaning into synchronous granular or ‘graintable’ synthesis. Sub-sample grain scheduling and separate grain rate and density controls open new vistas of repeatable, controllable timbre and tempo across macro and micro parameter ranges. Reality dictates that where other granular synths default to randomisation or multiple sources, Phonon provides users with complete control over every grain — from classic textural clouds to malleable ‘grainwave’ synthesis. Indeed, it is equal parts laboratory and playground.

“Phonon’s development was inspired by the great creativity of early granular work from composers such as Wishart and Roads, and the deep listening of Oliveros, with a desire to make this wild, creative territory more accessible to electronic music production and sound design, without stripping away what makes it strange and inspirational.” So says PolyFreq founder Nick Mariette by way of an illuminating introduction. It aims for ease of use, with a simple drag-and-drop workflow for modulation, and most features are immediately visible, with minimal menus or hidden options. And a flexible array of audio-rate modulation sources provide huge scope for patches that respond and evolve, including LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators), envelopes, sample metadata, sequencers, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) control data, and various noise flavours.

Features additionally worthy of the edited highlights treatment here include Phonon’s granular engine — eight voices of polyphony with up to 256 grains per voice and sub-sample precision that bridges the gap between classic textures and sharp ‘graintable’ synthesis; effects — shape sounds with a character-driven signal chain, from saturating drive to resonant filtering, as well as a utility reverb for glue or depth; presets — easily capture, export, evolve, and share sonic creations with sample embedding and eight-way snapshots; and drag-and-drop workflow in a resizeable interface for easy enjoyment as a standalone instrument or for plug-in-based DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) production.

Phonon’s uses are almost endless — think time stretching; pitch shifting; sample mangling; sound design; classic textural, granular clouds; synchronous, tuned granular tone creation; creating a synth from any sample; rhythmic grain generation, synced to host; beat retiming and timbre distortion; and more besides. Back to Nick Mariette: “Phonon is intended for reshaping beats and designing synth leads as much as for losing time in ethereal granular atmospheres; I hope it will connect people to listening differently, discovering the sounds within sounds.”

Anyone attending SUPERBOOTH26, May 7-9, FEZ-Berlin, Germany is hereby encouraged to swing by Booth H116 there, where PolyFreq will be showcasing Phonon to the musical masses assembled and Nick Mariette himself will be on hand to personally provide a warm welcome with an open invitation to discover those sounds within sounds. Spanning chaotic clouds to precise synthesis, controllable sonic alchemy is there for the taking so why not take this hands-on opportunity to discover and delight in vibrating matter differently with Phonon!

Phonon is available to buy as a standalone or VST3 plug-in for macOS (10.13 or later) and Windows (10 or later) at a 33% launch discount — duly rising thereafter to its full price of $89.00 USD (excluding tax)/€76.00 EUR (including tax)/£68.00 GBP (including tax) — directly from PolyFreq here: https://www.polyfreq.com/products

For more in-depth information, please visit the PolyFreq products webpage here: https://www.polyfreq.com/products

ETCHES | Soundscape Palette by Puremagnetik

video upload by Puremagnetik


via Puremagnetik

"Etches is a layered soundscape synthesizer. It's a palette for playing with sound, sketching melodic sections and building evolving tapestries. It moves between cinematic washes, percussive pizzicatos, and atmospheres worn smooth through ambient processing.

Inspired by live modular techniques, Etches is built upon classic synthesis and tape music traditions. Etches’s main engine includes a complex oscillator, a splice recorder and built in space processing.

We designed Etches to be performed. Every control is on the surface, and every gesture is audible the moment you make it. There are no traditional envelopes or filters here. You shape the timbre as you play.

Pick a root note and choose from twelve scales and modes and the pads stay locked to that key while you move. It's hard to play a wrong note, which means you can focus on phrasing instead of finger positions.

At the center is a monophonic voice generator and a splice recorder with overdub, so you can layer sounds into something bigger than individual patches. An internal LFO moves against each splice, modulating where the recording starts and ends. It's a behavior we first used in our LAPS and JOTS pedals. Around all of that: a tape-style delay, and a stereo space processor you can get lost in.

Etches Features:
• Four articulation pads that control contour, timbre-shaping and animation
• Musical overdrive with soft clipping
• 80-second multi-splice recorder for capturing ideas and layering sounds
• Stereo space processor with tape-style delay and a pristine reverb.
• Stereo output
• Runs on a standard Boss-style 9V power supply"

You can find a link to the manual and addtional details at Puremagnetik

Arplus: Max Pluck for your Buck - Quantised Arpeggiated Karplus Strong Eurorack Module

video upload by Kronofonika

"Introducing Arplus, a six voice Karplus-Strong Synth with a quite advanced Quantised Arpeggiator built in. A lot of Pluck for your Buck.

Thanks Zlosynth Instruments for letting me do a synth demo wearing chainmail."

00:00 - Intro
02:15 - Karplus-Strong History and What is it?
03:28 - Polyphonic Spree
04:03 - Sound Parameters
07:16 - External Input
09:25 - Pure Ambient Bliss
09:56 - Quantiser
12:52 - Arpeggiator
16:04 - Swap 2 Infomercial
16:33 - Spicing things up

via Perfect Circuit

The Arplus module from Zlosynth Instruments is a robust Karplus-Strong 6-voice resonator that gives you a bevy of musical scales at your fingertips. The Arplus works by selecting a particular chord based on the scale you select, stepping through the notes of that chord via the Trigger input and button. Use the Tone control to set the root note, and use the Chord control to select the particular chord. Both controls have corresponding CV inputs that let you create intricate sequences or melodic randomness. Choose from 31 different types of scales that include Western, Arabic, Indian, Japanese, and even quarter tones.

Internally, a burst of noise gets generated to create the sound, however, if you want more control over your noise bursts, an external input is available for you to patch in whatever you'd like. Use the String control to adjust how many virtual strings remain resonant after the trigger—up to 6 strings can resonate at a time allowing for soaring expanses of ambience and gorgeous clusters of notes. Sculpt the sound right on the module with a built-in filter, including resonance and cutoff, along with a Contour control that moves from short percussive bursts to long swells of washed texture.

Of course, no resonator would be complete without a stereo output, and the Arplus doesn't disappoint. Choose from three different stereo spreads: Ping Pong, which alternates voices between left and right, Root, which sends the Root to the Left and everything else to the Right, and Haas, which creates a stereo spread using the psychoacoustic Haas effect. The Arplus from Zlosynth is more than just your typical resonator, with an easy-to-read scale selector and a lovely sound that's sure to win over your heart and ears.

ARPLUS FEATURES

6 Voice Karplus-Strong resonator
External audio input for custom excitation sources
31 Different scales
Customizable chords up to 8 notes
CV-Controllable arpeggiator patterns
Quantized 1V/Out output
3 Stereo output modes
Built-in filter

Eurorack Jam - Head Bobbing Into Spring 🌸

video upload by lucafrancinimusic

"A 10 minutes jam with a few modules.
Mother-32, Manis Iteritas, Anti-Oscillator and Modbase 09 Mk2 are the main voices.
Metropolix clocks everything and sequences the bassline (Manis Iteritas). I've used its Mod Lane to change the root of the scale and go beyond the limited steps.
Mother-32 sequences itself; O_c sequences Anti-Oscillator.
Nautilus is the Send delay via Cosmix Pro mixer and Beads provides the reverb and a few high pitched grains."

Birds by Aylesim -- Generative Melody Sequencer for Ableton Live (MaxforLive Demo)

video upload by Isotonik Studios

"Birds by Aylesim is a MaxforLive instrument that generates and evolves 16-step melodic sequences in real time -- no note programming required.

Get Birds here: https://isotonikstudios.com/product/b...

In this demo we walk through everything Birds offers: four generative styles (Stormo, Ostinato, Cantabile, and Puntillista), eight pitch mutation algorithms, and independent gate evolution controls that keep both the melody and the rhythm moving as the sequence plays.

The core idea is straightforward. Generate a sequence, set your Difference Limit, and Birds will drift away from that original reference and back toward it -- creating variation that stays musical. The bird-on-wire interface shows you exactly which notes are original, which have evolved, and which are inactive, so you always know where the sequence stands.

Whether you're building evolving loop beds, generating melodic material for a live set, or just breaking out of patterns you've played a hundred times, Birds gives you a sequence that works with you rather than sitting still.

Birds reads Ableton Live's scale and root key directly. Use it diatonic for in-key lines or switch scale mode off for chromatic and atonal results. Drive it from Ableton's transport or use MIDI Trigger mode to sync it to external hardware."



BIRDS BY ALESSANDRO AYLESIM MIRACAPILLO

WHAT IF YOUR MELODY COULD WRITE ITSELF?
MAKE YOUR OWN TRIPLE PACK: Buy any three or more Aylesim products at the same time and get a 20% Discount (automatically applied at checkout)

Static sequences repeat. Birds evolves. This MaxforLive instrument generates 16-step melodic sequences and mutates them in real time -- drifting away from the original idea and back again, creating melodies that breathe, shift, and surprise without losing their thread.

Inside you'll find:

Four generative styles -- Stormo, Ostinato, Cantabile, and Puntillista -- each producing distinct melodic character

Eight pitch evolution algorithms including Chromatic, Gravity, Smooth, Drift, Interval, and Rotate

Difference Limit control to set how far the sequence drifts from the original reference

Independent gate evolution with Shuffle, Density, and Chaos controls for rhythmic mutation

Generation tab with full control over density, note range, velocity range, and motif length

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