NAMM2017: Introducing Make Noise System Cartesian in Black and Gold

Published on Jan 19, 2017 Analogue Zone Showroom / Synths and Studio

http://www.analoguezone.com/

Elektron Introduces Digitakt Eight Voice Digital Drum Computer & Sampler

Elektron has a new hardware box coming this Spring. Rumored price will be €650 / $699.

The scoop:

"Beat making powerhouse

Compact, rugged and to the point. Digitakt is a formidable drum machine. With an astounding feature set and an exquisite digital sound engine, the stage is set for a striking encounter.

Rhythm is a fundamental part of music. Off-kilter beats, four on the floor workouts, polyrhythmic excursions all serve the same purpose. They provide musical structure and sometimes they even make us dance.

Digitakt is a new compact drum machine from Elektron. It contains all the necessary tools to make people move to the beat. A digital and highly flexible sound engine, sampling capability, a live-friendly sequencer, the means to control external MIDI gear. Round it off with a super crisp OLED screen and wonderfully tactile back-lit buttons. Done deal.

Drum machines are something of an Elektron speciality. With the Digitakt we show why.

Digitakt highlights
8 internal audio tracks
8 dedicated MIDI tracks
1 × Multi-mode filter per audio track
1 × Assignable LFO per track
Delay and Reverb send FX
Sampling capability
64 MB sample memory
1 GB +Drive storage
2 × ¼” input & 2 × ¼” balanced output
1 × High Speed USB 2.0 port
MIDI IN, OUT and THRU ports
Overbridge support"

Hartmann Neuron Synthesizer Keyboard

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Published on Jan 19, 2017 Tank J

via this auction

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Soulsby Synthesizers Launches The Oscitron at NAMM 2017

The official press release follows. See here for previous posts w/ demos.

"Anaheim, USA - 19/1/17.

Soulsby Synths have launched their first Eurorack module, The Oscitron, on the first day of this year's NAMM show. It is available from their website and will soon be available from retailers (see website for list). It comes bundled with the Uni-Five utility module for £260. The modules are also available separately.

The Oscitron is an 8-bit wavetable oscillator. The audio engine is based on the Atmegatron desktop synth module but has many differences too. These include an audio input that can sample wavetables and an adjustable audio engine resolution.

Other features include pitch quantizer, 15 filter algorithms, wave-crusher pulse width and phaser effects. There are 5 CV inputs, a clock input which can be routed to many parameters and an audio input and output.

As with the Atmegatron, there will be numerous software versions released for the Oscitron. A port of the the Odytron analogue modelling software will be released soon after launch.

The Uni-Five is the companion module to the Oscitron and converts bipolar LFOs and 8V envelopes to 0-5V control voltages suitable for the Oscitron inputs.

There are 2 other exciting announcements at NAMM this year. First a new limited edition Atmegatron designed by Pete Fowler (Super Furry Animals / Monsterism). Only 30 have been made, each signed and numbered. The design features a bright pink glossy finish with monsterism screen print patterning.

Finally, the initial prototype of the Atmultitron is on demonstration. It is a 6 voice polyphonic 8-bit synthesizer with 3 octave keyboard. The final specification will feature Eurorack connectivity and wavetable sampling from the Oscitron, along with sequencing and versatile modulation routing. The Atmultitron is aimed to be released in mid-2018.

'The initial prototype of the Oscitron was premiered at NAMM 2016', said Paul Soulsby CEO of Soulsby Synthesizers. 'One year on we are delighted to launch the finished product and premiere the next big project, the Atmultitron.'"


Note the knob area is clear/see-through.

Pretty cool!

Like a little space station in there.

Applied Acoustics Systems and Intellijel Partner for New PLONK Eurorack Module

via Intellijel

"New partnership between Applied Acoustics Systems and Intellijel results in PLONK module

Intellijel and Applied Acoustics Systems ( A|A|S ) have teamed up to create Plonk; a Eurorack format module capable of creating a wide variety of complex and acoustically realistic percussive sounds.

For more than a decade A|A|S have been a world leader in the development and application of physical modeling synthesis. This has resulted in the creation of award winning software products such as Tassman and Chromaphone. Now for the first time their powerful physical modeling algorithms are available in hardware form!


Plonk features:

■ Resonator section models strings, beams, marimbas, drumheads, membranes, and plates.

■ Exciter section comprises a realistic mallet model and flexible noise source.

■ Two Voice Polyphonic at full resolution (24-bit 44.1Khz).

■ Pseudo multitimbrality via CV selectable presets recalled on each new trigger/gate.

■ Full parameter randomization possible.

■ All synthesis parameters can be assigned to the X and Y controls.

■ 128 presets that can be imported and exported via USB

■ 12 HP

■ MSRP $309

■ Release date Q2 2017"

KORG Gadget for Mac | MUSIC PRODUCTION SOFTWARE

Published on Jan 19, 2017 Korg

"KORG Gadget is a completely new type of music production software that provides more than 30 small synthesizers and drum machines called "gadgets," and lets you freely combine these to produce anything from powerful electronic music to rock music. Following the worldwide success of the award-winning Gadget for iPad/iPhone we now announce the new Gadget for Mac. Building on the smooth operability and intuitive user interface of the iOS version, "KORG Gadget for Mac” provides a new dimension of inspiration for every creative artist. The Mac version also comes with the "Gadget Plug-In Collection," a magnificent collection of plug-ins that support AU, VST, AAX, and NKS. With KORG Gadget, you can use the Mac version at home and the iOS version when you are mobile, letting you enjoy a seamless workflow and ideal music production experience."

Details here.

5U // Corsynth - C104 Odyssey of Sound VCO

Published on Jan 19, 2017 DiscoverNoise

Playlist:
5U // Corsynth - C104 Odyssey of Sound VCO - Part 1 - Waveforms & frequency range
5U // Corsynth - C104 Odyssey of Sound VCO - Part2 - Function overview

Dave Smith Instruments Introduces the REV2 16-voice Analog Poly Synth

Published on Jan 19, 2017 Dave Smith Instruments

"All sounds created on the REV2. Introducing the all new 16-voice analog REV2 poly synth!"



Update: audio demos added above. Hi-res pics added below. Click each for the supersize shot.

And the official press release follows. Ships April 2017 with a MAP of $1499.

"Prophet ’08 Successor Boasts Expanded Polyphony, Digital Effects, Waveshaping Capabilities

Anaheim, CA—January 19, 2017—Dave Smith today announced the REV2, a new 16-voice analog synthesizer designed to be a successor to their popular Prophet ’08 poly synth. Like its predecessor, the REV2 features two DCOs per voice, and Curtis filters at the heart of its sound engine, but boasts a number of significant enhancements designed to make it more powerful.
As Dave Smith puts it, “The Prophet ’08 has been a real road warrior for 10 years now and people still love it. But we felt it was time to update it with new technology and new features and, at the same time, lower its cost.” Smith continued: “The REV2 is essentially the result of our effort to enhance and improve everything we could about the original Prophet ’08 and, in many cases, double its power.”

The most obvious difference between the REV2 and its predecessor is polyphony. The REV2 has 16-voices as its standard configuration — twice the polyphony of the Prophet ’08 (though an 8-voice option is also available). Since the synth features bi-timbral operation, two completely independent sounds can be stacked or split — layered together or assigned to two different zones on the keyboard.

The essence of its sound comes from two DCOs (plus a sub-octave generator on oscillator 1) per voice, with 4 waveshapes (sawtooth, triangle, sawtooth + triangle, and pulse) and a 2/4 pole low-pass, resonant Curtis filter per voice. These are the same filters used not only in the Prophet ’08, but also in many classic instruments of the ’70s and ’80s. A new feature unique to the REV2 is waveshape modulation. You can vary the “pulse width” of any of the four waveforms by manually dialing in a desired waveshape width or by using an LFO or other modulation source for continuously shifting timbre.

An effects section provides reverb, delays (standard and BBD), chorus, phase shifter, ring modulation, and distortion. In stacked or split voice mode, you can apply a different effect to each layer. Effects parameters can be modulated through the mod matrix, which is twice as extensive as its predecessor, with 8 individual slots and many more sources/destinations.

A new polyphonic step sequencer allows up to 64 steps and up to 6 notes per step. A different sequence can be created for each layer when working in stacked or split voice mode. A separate gated sequencer functions as a modulation source, allowing you to create up to 4 different 16-step sequences for complex modulation. Sequences allow ties and rests, and can sync to an external MIDI clock. The arpeggiator features note repeats, re-latching, and can be synced to external MIDI clock, as well. Other improvements include a premium-quality, five-octave, semi-weighted keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch, an integrated power supply, USB support, and a crisp OLED display.

'We’ve created a monster,' joked Smith, 'and I mean that in the best possible way.'

The REV2 has a projected ship date of April 2017 with a MAP of $1499 for the 8-voice version and $1999 for the 16-voice version."

https://www.davesmithinstruments.com/product/rev2/

Click each image for the supersize shot.

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Dave Smith Instruments & Pioneer DJ TORAIZ AS-1 Official Introduction

Published on Jan 18, 2017 Pioneer DJ

"More than ever, producers are making tracks using electronic instruments such as synthesizers and drum machines. And now, in collaboration with Dave Smith Instruments, we’ve created a new monophonic synthesizer for music production and live performances: the TORAIZ AS-1. The synth is the second musical instrument in our TORAIZ series that brings new creative possibilities to the studio and stage, and its release follows the launch of our popular TORAIZ SP-16 live sampler in August 2016.

The TORAIZ AS-1 is driven by a fully programmable, true analog synthesis engine based on the discrete analog circuitry in Dave Smith Instruments’ Prophet-6 synthesizer – a modern reboot of his classic Prophet-5. Working closely with Dave Smith himself, we’ve created a synth that produces powerful analog sound and makes an ideal addition to the set-ups of professional and aspiring producers.

Our experience in making DJ equipment and production gear has been poured into the development of the new synth’s user interface and performance features. The intuitive controls include parameter knobs that let you make both subtle and dramatic changes to the tone of your music to create your own personalised sound. You can use the touchpad-style keyboard and slider to manipulate sounds during performances. And it’s easy to manipulate the seven on-board effects, which – with the addition of a brand-new digital distortion – come from the Prophet-6 synth.

You can connect the TORAIZ AS-1 synth to the TORAIZ SP-16 live sampler via MIDI and use the sampler’s sophisticated sequencer to create even more complex patterns with the powerful analog sounds you’ve created in the synthesizer. Together, the two TORAIZ instruments can be connected to your DJM mixer via Pro DJ Link and MIDI, creating a set-up where the CDJs play the track, the TORAIZ SP-16 adds loops and one-shots, and the TORAIZ AS-1 generates unique analog leads in sync with the BPM of the music.

The TORAIZ AS-1 will be available from March"

Additional details:

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Lightfinger's Circuit Patches Volume 1

Published on Jan 18, 2017 Lightfinger

"This video showcases 18 of the 41 patches in Lightfinger's Novation Circuit Patch Collection Volume 1.
These patches are available for purchase at http://novationcircuitpatches.com
Science is real."