The Division Department 01/IV ANALOG DRUM SYNTH

The first batch of the new 01/IV ANALOG DRUM SYNTH will be limited to a run of 50.

"01/IV by The Division Department is a 4-channel analog drum synthesizer capable of synthesizing a wide palette of sounds. From usual drum hits like kicks, toms, snares, claps, hi-hats and cymbals to unusual and complex sounds like drones and weird modulated creations. The provided MIDI implementation lets the 01/IV be triggered via MIDI, which makes it a powerful piece of equipment in a setup.
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The concept of 01/IV is unique as it has four identical voice channels with all the power of synthesizing various type of drum sounds. Any channel can play a kick, a cymbal, toms and congas, or even a bassline. Channels can even be combined, can modulate each others in pairs (FM) or can be layered to form complex sounds. All these achieved with a flexible routing system composed of slide switches and carefully calibrated synthesizer elements.
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01/IV inherited genes from legendary drum machines and drum synthesizers like the Pollard Syndrum, the Roland 808 & 909, and Pearl Syncussion SY-1. It has a true analog audio path, but also added a very flexible digital modulation system of a multi-function LFO, ramp and retrigger generator.
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Key Features:

60 panel controls: Knobs - Switches - Triggers Buttons
4 Voices - Chromatic via midi
Drone Mode
Midi note triggers and partial Midi CC controls
Mix / Individual outputs
Compact size / Light weight

Some details captured from The Division Department website for the archives follow. See The Division Dapartment label for additional posts.

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MIND Music Labs ‘Powered by ELK’ Retrologue 2 Desktop Synth

Note the VST logo on the bottom left, to the right of the ELK logo. This is VST powered. Curious if it will be able to run different synth engines. Press release follows.

MIND Music Labs lets ‘Powered by ELK’ Retrologue 2 desktop synth prototype fly for Steinberg at SUPERBOOTH19

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Mind Music Labs is proud to announce a continuation of its official partnership with music and media production products provider Steinberg — initially resulting in the German giant’s VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plug-in format natively supporting the integration of the Swedish startup’s ELK MusicOS, allowing VST- based plug-ins to run seamlessly in ‘Powered by ELK’ musical instruments and audio processors — by bringing a brand-new, co-developed desktop synth prototype with full MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) support to SUPERBOOTH19 in Berlin, May 9-11…

“Plug-ins and software synths have brought amazing power and flexibility to computer-based recording, but now musicians want to harness all that power without the computer; there are times when you want to twist real knobs, rather than wiggle a mouse.” So says MIND Music Labs CEO Michele Benincaso, before adding: “It’s really exciting to be empowering those users with ELK MusicOS.”

This sentiment is clearly shared by Florian Haack, Senior Marketing Manager at Steinberg: “We immediately saw the potential of ELK MusicOS, and that’s why we added it to the official VST SDK [Software Development Kit]. The development of the ‘Powered by ELK’ Retrologue 2 hardware prototype has further strengthened our belief that, with the help of ELK MusicOS, VST can become a standard for not only software, as it is today, but also for hardware.”

Having said that, then, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. The proof-of-concept ‘Powered by ELK’ Retrologue 2 desktop synth prototype — running Steinberg’s Retrologue 2 VST Virtual Analog Synthesizer, successfully emulating the warmth and fatness of classic analog synthesizers — will be being showcased for all to see and hear on Steinberg-owner Yamaha’s booth (H310) at SUPERBOOTH19 in Berlin, May 9-11.

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New Novation Summit 16-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer Revealed in German Magazine Beat

Coming Fall 2019
2200 Euro which comes to $2458 at today's exchange rate.

The description in the second image is in German.

It's pictured with the Bass Station II, but it looks more like the Peak which is 8-Voice polyphonic with digital oscillators and analog filters. The Summit will likely be a 16-Voice Peak with keyboard and expanded control panel. And of course the name - Summit ~ Peak.

Update: new pic below sent my way via Soviet Space Child below.

Click on the image for full size.

New Behringer DS-80 - Yamaha CS-80 is Coming - First Renders

The Behringer CS80 is real. Click on the images to zoom in. You'll find some pics of the inside below.

Update: PDF scans added below, in via Soviet Space Child.  The DS-80 is being developed in their new Italian studio.

Update2: here's an interview with the head of the Italian division, Luigi Scarano of Fingersonic.

Follow-up to this post. No levers in the bottom section. Looks like they are replaced with sliders. Levers do make a difference in the feel of the instrument. It's almost like replacing the warp drive level on the millenium falcon with a slider. :) Regardless, that is impressive. The 4 preset slots on the left implies this will be fully analog with basic midi.

Some notes from Behringer:

"As promised here is our DS-80 design draft;

Multi-Timbral 8-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer with Dual Channels per Voice, Polyphonic Aftertouch, Ribbon Controller and Patch Memory

We want to be absolutely clear that this a very complex synthesizer project and it is at a very early stage. It will take us a long time to complete, however we are committed to deliver.

Why are we showing you this project at such an early stage? We believe that including you in the design process from the very beginning while help us and the synthesizer community to create a better product – and that’s all that matters to us."

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MIDERA | The Seiche

Published on May 6, 2019 MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX

"My camera stopped recording - I had recorded about 20 takes, I gave up. Sorry."

Update: Re-Published on May 7, 2019

"had to reupload because the video and audio weren't synced properly"

Elektron Octatrack MkII - Loaded + Lid + Wooden ends

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

via this auction

"64GB flash card loaded with 15GB of paid sample sets from Electron, Loopmasters and others.

Elektron accessories: USB cable, factory power adapter, Plexi lid

Plus custom wooden ends to raise it up

Original OT Manual + OT2 printed manual and power user guides and tips as shown."

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Korg R3 Fantastic Bass Digital VA Synthesizer Radias Rik Marston

Published on May 6, 2019 Rik Marston Official

"Korg R3 'Fantastic Bass' Digital VA Synthesizer Radias
Synthesizer Demo by Rik Marston
**Watch in HD!!** **Turn it UP!!**

Ahhh a day off.. torn jeans, white socks & slippers... LOL
The Korg R3 is EXCELLENT for Dance music for sure!!
A good alternative to the regular Korg microKORG,
the R3 has bigger keys and way more for just
about the same used price! It just sounds great!
And it makes a nice compact midi controller, too!!
Super sweet for the money!!!

Thank you for watching!"

The Division Department : 01/IV Drum Synth Demo

Published on May 6, 2019 The Division Department

See this post for some pics and another video.

The will be at SUPERBOOTH, Booth H251.

Blue Lantern Poly Phobos VCO with True Analog FM

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via this auction

4 VCO outputs

Demos in the archives here.

Hydronium + Guitar Pedal = Awesome Acid Distortion

Published on May 6, 2019 Olivier Ozoux

"The Rare Waves Hydronium has an effect send/return between the filter and the VCA, perfect for pluging in a dirty, grungy guitar pedal without drowning in noise. I didn't think I had a distortion pedal until I remembered about my old ZOOM G1Xn guitar effect.

As before the Deluge sequences the Hydronium, and plays all the drums and percussions. "