MATRIXSYNTH

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Introducing Roland AIRA Compact | T-8 Beat Machine, J-6 Chord Synthesizer, E-4 Voice Tweaker


video upload by

$199.99 each. Additional videos below. Press release and pics below them.

"AIRA Compact puts Roland’s legendary creative magic in the palm of your hand. Easily play and perform with these highly jammable instruments—anywhere, anytime. Chain them together to catalyze your creativity or connect with MIDI gear, computers, and music apps to expand your setup. Just power on and go with the flow.

About the T-8 Beat Machine

The T-8 Beat Machine is a mini rhythm factory with six tracks of pristine TR drums plus a TB-303 bass track. Embodying decades of modern musical sound, the T-8 gives you the power to create infectious tracks in seconds flat. Craft on-the-fly acid jams or trap bangers with the intuitive 16-step sequencer, shape sounds with onboard controls, and flip and dice beats with simple, yet powerful tools.

About the J-6 Chord Synthesizer

The J-6 is a portable synth toolbox with all the building blocks you'll need to bring harmonic substance to your jams. Pairing a powerfully unique chord sequencer with lavish JUNO-60 synth tones, J-6 packs a versatile feature set into a highly jammable format. Generate soul-stirring song ideas with the turn of a knob and explore 100 chord sets over a variety of genres. Experiment with styles and variations to coax dancing lines and rhythmic patterns from your chords. Add lush chorus, reverb, or delay to frost your sound.

About the E-4 Voice Tweaker

Harmonize, auto-pitch, vocode, loop, and glitch your voice all from the portable E-4 Voice Tweaker. Want hands-on control? Connect a mic or input a feed and easily explore effects using the sliders, function buttons, and scatter knob. From looping live jams to livestreaming or tightening up and expanding performances, the E-4 will transform your voice into your new favorite instrument.

Chapter Breakdown
0:00 – Series Introduction
1:50 – T-8 Beat Machine
2:22 – T-8 Patterns, Sounds, and Tracks
3:22 – T-8 Hands-On Controls and Performance Tools
4:19 – T-8 Create a Drumbeat
4:41 – T-8 Create a Bassline
5:40 – T-8 Advance Programming and Effects
6:25 – J-6 Chord Synth
6:52 – J-6 Playback and Genres (Chord Sets)
7:13 – J-6 Sound
7:52 – J-6 Style and Variation
8:22 – J-6 Chord Sequencer
9:14 – J-6 Connect to DAW
9:39 – E-4 Voice Tweaker
10:14 – E-4 Hands-On Controls
10:29 – E-4 Auto Pitch, Harmony, Vocoder
11:09 – E-4 Looper
11:26 – E-4 Scatter
11:50 – Connectivity"

Roland AIRA Compact J-6 / T-8 / E-4 - DEMO by gattobus

video upload by gattobus

"Roland's birthday party it's not over!
A few days ago they sent me these little magic boxes to try them out and in less than an hour of tweaking, I came out with this song!!!
The song title "A Big Tiny World" is because they are BIG sounding TINY boxes indeed! :D
They are:

- J-6 Chord Synthesizer
- T-8 Beat Machine
- E-4 Voice Tweaker

Their sound quality is astonishing! It's amazing to have the power of ACB technology in such a small form factor...
Everything you hear in this video was played and recorded in real time, no post processing or FX was added.
I had so much fun, I hope you like it!"

Roland Aira Compact : T-8 / J-6 / E-4 : Portable Drum Machine, Polyphonic Synth, & Vocal Effects

video upload by Perfect Circuit

T-8 Drum Machine & Acid Style Bass Synth
J-6 Polyphonic Synth
E-4 Vocal Transformer

"Join our pal Dustin for the debut of the AIRA COMPACT line of synthesizers ! These three desktop style devices combine some of Roland's most recognizable and powerful sound palettes into a portable, affordable, and outrageously fun package!

Check out our in-depth Signal article for more details - https://bit.ly/3L08Msr

0:00 - Intro jam
1:07 - Overview of Aira Compact Line
2:54 - T-8 Drum Machine & Bass Synthesizer
5:50 - J-6 Four Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer
9:50 - E-4 Vocal Processor, Looper, & Effects
11:57 - Robot Acid BOPS !"

AIRA Compact- First Look at the new Range

video upload by sonicstate

Roland T-8 J-6 E-4 Compacts Review: Here's what makes them special // Full Tutorial

video upload by loopop

TIMELINE
0:00 Intro
1:05 Overview
2:05 Connectivity
5:15 T-8 OVERVIEW
8:30 Drum sounds
11:55 Bass synth
14:00 Sequencing
19:20 Effects
20:15 Drive
22:05 Sidechain
24:55 Performance
26:20 T-8 Pros, cons
28:10 J-6 OVERVIEW
29:20 Synth
31:15 Effects
32:55 Keys, chords
33:50 Phrases/arp
36:10 Sequencer
39:50 Step length
40:20 Menu misc
41:40 J-6 Pros & cons
45:10 E-4 OVERVIEW
46:00 Eight things it does
50:00 Interface
50:50 MIDI control
51:20 Vocoder
52:00 Looper
53:20 Scatter
56:25 E-4 Pros & cons
58:25 T-8 Patterns
1:07:10 J-6 Patterns

How fun is the Aira Compact series?

video upload by True Cuckoo

And the press release:



Fun, Pocket-Size Instruments with Innovative Creative Features, Authentic Roland Sounds, and Class-Leading Connectivity

Los Angeles, CA, May 10, 2022 — Roland announces AIRA Compact, an all-new series of ultra-portable instruments with free-flowing features for creative exploration and authentic Roland sounds. Fun, affordable, and easy to learn, the T-8 Beat Machine, J-6 Chord Synthesizer, and E-4 Voice Tweaker bring serious musical power to everyone from hobbyists and gadget collectors to tech-savvy pros.

AIRA Compact instruments let anyone jam, perform, and develop ideas on the go with friendly controls, inspiring sounds, and loads of intuitive music tools. Users can realize complete compositions with a single unit or expand their possibilities by connecting and synchronizing with other AIRA Compact models. From one master unit, multiple AIRA Compacts can be mixed and monitored with headphones or an external speaker system. It’s also possible to interface with computer DAWS, mobile music apps, and hardware instruments via USB-C or MIDI.

Driven by Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) and other advanced technologies found in top-line Roland instruments, AIRA Compact delivers the real-deal sounds behind decades of hit music. Users can create with the genuine voices of Roland icons, including TR rhythms, TB basses, JUNO synths, VT effects, and more.

Driven by Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) and other advanced technologies found in top-line Roland instruments, AIRA Compact delivers the real-deal sounds behind decades of hit music. Users can create with the genuine voices of Roland icons, including TR rhythms, TB basses, JUNO synths, VT effects, and more.

AIRA Compact strikes the perfect balance between portability and power. Each model is small enough to slip into a pocket and features an inviting panel to jump-start the creative flow for immediate results. Onboard lithium-ion batteries provide hours of continuous use per charge, while Roland’s famous build quality will support musical adventures for years to come.



T-8 Beat Machine
The T-8 Beat Machine combines iconic Roland drum and bass sounds in a go-everywhere rhythm factory. Beatmakers can build tracks with legendary sounds from the TR-808, TR-909, and TR-606 drum machines, paired with the shapeshifting low end of the dynamic TB-303 Bass Line. The six-track drum sequencer features the famous TR-REC workflow, enhanced with deep tools like step loop, pattern shift, probability, and others to generate dynamic performances with constantly evolving grooves. The T-8 also provides an authentic TB-303 bass experience, including the tactile power to squeeze, squelch, and mangle sounds in the moment.



J-6 Chord Synthesizer
The J-6 Chord Synthesizer is an endless well of musical inspiration, pairing a powerful chord sequencer with the lavish tones of the renowned JUNO-60 synth. Creators don’t need to know chords or theory to make music—they can simply call up one of 100 chords sets and build compelling chord progressions with one-touch presses on the built-in keyboard. Styles and variations are also available to coax dancing lines and rhythmic patterns from chords. Users can quickly string progressions together via step input, tweak the sound with dedicated filter and envelope controls, and add polish with customizable delay and reverb effects.



E-4 Voice Tweaker
The E-4 Voice Tweaker combines advanced voice transformer tools and standard vocal effects with a hands-on interface that’s meant to be played. Performers can go from traditional vocal enhancements to punchy beatboxed grooves to striking alien soundscapes—all in a single tune. Pitch and formant sliders are available to instantly change the vocal gender, create robot voices, and more. Auto Pitch, automatic harmony, and vocoder processors are included, along with reverb, delay, and other effects. There’s also a built-in 24-second looper for capturing performances on the fly, plus a unique Scatter function for slicing and dicing the sound via a dedicated panel knob.

Availability & Pricing

The Roland AIRA Compact series is now available in the U.S. for $199.99 each."

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

KORG NTS-2 Review // and 5 ways I use oscilloscopes & FFTs // NTS2 Tutorial


video upload by loopop

Announcement post here

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:15 Overview
1:55 Assembly
3:00 Connectivity
3:55 Oscilloscope
7:10 XY & scope art
9:00 FFT Spectrum
10:45 Tuner
11:30 Waves
15:45 Settings
16:00 SCOPE IDEAS
16:20 Nothing
17:20 Levels
17:50 Seeing sounds
19:30 Seeing CV
20:10 Signal chain
20:30 Pros & cons
22:15 More tips?

The Mystery of the East Beast Fully Analog East Coast-Style Semi-Modular Synthesizer by Cre8audio


video upload by Cre8audio


via Cre8audio

Superbooth, Berlin, May 10th, 2022, Cre8audio today announced East Beast, a new semi-modular desktop synthesizer.

Designed and developed in partnership with Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers, East Beast is a powerful monophonic full voice with many unique sound-shaping tools and deep performance capabilities.

Beware the beast!
East Beast’s massive sound has been heavily influenced by Pittsburgh’s highly successful SV-1 and SV-1b synthesizers.

At its core, you’ll find its 100% analog, Pittsburgh-designed oscillator. The oscillator features sine, saw, triangle, and square waveforms that can also be used in combinations. Rounding out its sonic core is FM and pulse width modulation (PWM).

To shape the sound, East Beast includes an analog envelope generator, VCA, LFOs, and a Pittsburgh “Zero Dead Spot” multi-mode filter. The “Zero Dead Spot” filter is the product of years of research into analog filter design by Pittsburgh’s founder Richard Nicol, and Chief of R&D Michael Johnsen. Unlike more traditional ladder filters, the PGH “Zero Dead Spot” filter does not distort as readily and features no sonic dead spots. The result is a fully sweepable frequency range that produces a rich velvety sound throughout each of its lowpass, high-pass, and bandpass modes.

In addition to the analog sound-shaping tools mentioned previously, East Beast also includes a deep new digital multi-mod /multi-function tool concept to add more options. The multi-mod lets the user select between an additional envelope, clock synced LFO, MIDI CC control, and random voltage generator modes.

A semi-modular synthesizer, East Beast has basically 9 different patchable modules (Oscillator, filter, envelope, VCA, LFO, multi-mod tool, sequencer, MIDI to CV converter, and button keyboard) with a whopping 18 Eurorack compatible patch points to plug into itself and your other gear. As a starting point, East Beast comes intuitively patched internally to create a bold and flexible full synth voice. Using the patch points enables the users to reroute internal signal flow as well as use with external eurorack format modules and synthesizers. To help facilitate experimentation, Cre8audio has included a set of premium Nazca Noodles patch cables.

East Beast’s playing and performance capabilities are as strong as its powerful sonic core. East Beast can be controlled via MIDI, control voltage (CV/Gate), and its function keys double as a keyboard controller. Additionally, included is an integrated sequencer & arpeggiator that can also be controlled via MIDI and is externally clockable.

New Erica Synths SYNTRX II



via Erica Synths

Peter Zinovieff himself approved our re-imagination of his legendary Synthi AKS in the form of the SYNTRX which was produced in a limited run of 1056 units. Based on lessons learned from the SYNTRX, we decided to create an instrument which would integrate even deeper into contemporary electronic and experimental music setups and cover sonic territory from daunting drones to powerful basslines and glitched noisescapes. The SYNTRX II is the culmination of our analogue sound design circuits – two perfectly stable main oscillators with waveshapers, a versatile multimode filter, supercharged external instrument inputs with an envelope follower, a unique, great sounding ringmodulator, a recordable joystick and built in piano roll sequencer, all arranged around our signature matrix mixer and topped off with powerful FX on our new DSP platform. Introducing The SYNTRX II - a new dark horse for experimental sonic rides.

Features:
Two perfectly stable main oscillators with CV controlled waveforms
Modulation oscillator with variable waveforms
Highpass and Lowpass filters in series
Free running or gate synced sample and hold circuit
Multi-colour noise generator
DC coupled instrument inputs with signal inversion and envelope follower
Ringmodulator of unique design
Looping trapezoid envelope generator and VCA
Two output VCAs
Signal meter with a dedicated audio/CV output
FX section with great sounding Delay and Reverb
Recordable Joystick Analogue patch matrix with 3 attenuation levels in each patch point
254 patch memory
Piano roll sequencer
Two CV inputs
Gate input
DIN5 MIDI Input (CV and Gate) and MIDI Thru
Two assignable outputs
Headphone output

RRP: 1800 EUR (VAT excl.)
MAP: 2179 USD
Available summer 22'


New Erica Synths LXR-02 Eurorack Module



via Erica Synths

The LXR-02, a fully-fledged digital drum machine with an integrated sequencer by Sonic Potions and Erica Synths, was launched less than a year ago and it quickly gained instant recognition among sound designers and preforming musicians. Due to the popularity of this design, we decided to create a a compact and great-sounding eurorack module based on the sound engine of the LXR-02. While retaining the core interface of the LXR-02, this module adds the essential eurorack ingredient - assignable CV control over parameters. Introducing the LXR eurorack module - a digital percussion and bassline powerhouse for your rack!

Features:
6 drum/percussion voices
3 voices can be used as basslines
Powerful sound design engine
Over 30 adjustable parameters per voice
5 assignable CV inputs with 1V/Oct tracking
Insert FX section
4 assignable outputs
Kit memory
SD card for Kit exchange and easy FW updates
Kits compatible with the LXR-02
Module width - 28 HP
RRP: 410 EUR (VAT excl.)
MAP: 499 USD
Available summer 22'

Monday, May 09, 2022

Soundfreak Modular 4U Buchla EMS Licensed by EMS



This one was spotted and sent in via Adam G.

via @soundfreak_modular

"Soundfreak expands the vocabulary of the 4U format through a high-quality modular translation of the VCS 3, officially licensed by EMS.

Saying this, will let you give a listen and a look to this preview of the prototypes and I’ll wait you at SuperBooth in Berlin from 12/14th of May, so you can try them !"

Boss dog gets the top pic. More below.


KORG NTS-2 Oscilloscope Kit w/ PATCH & TWEAK


NTS-2 + PATCH & TWEAK with KORG: A message from Kim Bjorn video upload by Korg

"KORG, in collaboration with noted publisher Bjooks, ('PUSH TURN MOVE', 'PATCH & TWEAK' series...) is proud to present a fascinating KORG and ARP synth exploration experience in the form of this special, limited edition Bundle.

This bundle combines the NTS-2, a powerful new tool optimized for a variety of studio tasks, and the “PATCH & TWEAK with KORG” book, a comprehensive look at semi-modular synthesis through the lens of KORG and ARP’s iconic synthesizers. Along with a multitude of artist interviews, patch tips, tutorials, historical explorations, and more, this book will teach you how to put the NTS-2’s power to work in your studio as a companion to your synthesizers and audio gear.

Synth beginners and seasoned musicians alike will find the journey not just educational, but also inspirational and full of new discoveries."

Nu:Tekt NTS-2 Oscilloscope Kit - Assembly Tutorial

video upload by Korg

"Easily build the NTS-2, analyze sounds, and create—it's fun, and functional!

The NTS-2 offers a four-channel input oscilloscope to monitor and analyze audio and CV signals, a flexible dual wave generator, an FFT spectrum analyzer, as well as a tuner.

*All parts and tools are included; no soldering.

More Information here:

https://www.korg.com/products/dj/nts_..."


Superbooth 22 Modular Performance Warm Up with MATTHS


video upload by MATTHS

"#MATTHS warms us up with a pre #superbooth22 #modular performance to warm us up for the delights ahead this week.

All tracks are available to buy/stream at https://matths.bandcamp.com/follow_me"

FOR KLAUS SCHULZE : DESERT WINDS (live Session)


video upload by KurtzMindfields

"I was wondering how to pay an ultimate homage to the great Klaus Schulze.
My greatest memory of this artist was from the beginning of his career his ability to go alone with his synths on stage and take us into his sonic, cosmic and fabulous universe.
So i plug my synths and recorded live this musical piece, for Klaus, with humility,, and start an improvisation in 3 parts around a sequence work under his influence.
Instruments : SynthR3 ARP 4012 & S.E.M : master stéréo sequencer (with TC M300 & SPX90 reverb/delay), Retro One NRSynth : Big Moog bass & Winds ( + Line 6 Chorus & DD2 Delay), Ancestor NRSynth (ARP 2600) : S&H rain (+ Midiverb reverb), Minimoog D (+ MXR Phaser & Delay), Waldorf Zarembourg : Phased Strings, Mister M Hansy : Mellotron Choir.
Recorded live at Nuage7 Studio, Domaine de Sourzy (06/05/2022)
Thanks to NRSynth (Stephen) & Rémy (SynthR).
https://kurtzmindfields.bandcamp.com/"

New 4ms Eurorack Modules Coming to SUPERBOOTH



via 4ms

"New module info! Come see us at @Superbooths this week - Booth 0405 #4msEnvVCA #4msMPEG #4msSCM"

Mini PEG
Shuffling Click Multiplier+
EnvVCA
Dual EnvVCA
Dual Shaped EnvVCA

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