Superbooth 2023: Elektron - Analog Heat + FX

video upload by sonicstate

"Jean Michel and Christian from Elektron met us at Super Booth 2023 to talk about their latest release, the Analog Heat Plus Effects. The device adds chorus, delay, reverb, bit crushing, sample rate reduction, compression, and a bass focus feature to the original Analog Heat Mark II. The bass focus feature enables users to sum up the frequencies they want in mono, which tightens up the bass. The device's flow page allows users to rearrange the effects' order as they wish, similar to a pedal board, and save up to 512 presets.
Analog Heat+FX Price 999 USD"

Superbooth 2023: Pittsburgh Modular - Taiga

video upload by sonicstate

"We spoke to Richard Nicol, CEO of Pittsburgh Modular at Superbooth 2023. While they are not presenting anything new, they are proud to show Taiga, which is only a few months old. The three-oscillator monosynth with dedicated wave folders and unique waveforms. They call the initial wave shape seeds, and their wave folder allows them to hit it in fascinating ways and create unique sounds that are not found elsewhere. They aim to innovate at the same pace as digital synthesis, adding unique features to analog synthesis. Richard also talked about their dynamics controller, which is similar to a low-pass gate, providing organic plucky sounds that decay naturally.

Pittsburgh Modular is sneaking in a few new things, including their local parks oscillator and the toad phase shifter, which is a 12-stage analog phase shifter. Richard's favorite panel is the toad, which has a red toad with the LFO as the eye. They also have the Narwhal module, which is their take on analog physical modeling, using analog resistors and capacitors to create something that sounds real. The cymbals produced by the Narwhal sound authentic, but they can be tweaked to fall apart and become very digital and synthetic. We also got a look at some experiments including the Local Parks Oscillator and the Toad 12 stage analogue phase shifter, and Richard hinted there may be a drum machine on the horizon.

Taiga Price: 799 USD"

Superbooth 2023: Retrokits - RK-8

video upload by sonicstate

"We spoke to Gerrit from Retrokits, makers of some of the finest and niftiest midi utilities and hardware. He gave us an update on their latest product, the RK8, a MIDI sequencer/recorder. Initially designed as a modern replacement of the MMT8, they have added a load of new features, including the much-requested multi-track length. You have eight tracks that can each hold 16 MIDI channels, and you can apply transformations to each channel individually. They have also added real-time MIDI recording, meaning that pitch bend and mod wheel changes can be recorded in addition to steps. The firmware has been updated to version 2.0, which now includes Bluetooth support, allowing the use of wireless devices.

Gerrit also demonstrated how the RK8 can be used as a master brain, as you can have up to 100 parts, each with different beat lengths, which can be changed seamlessly. You can mute and unmute parts, play with build-ups, and transpositions while playing parts. Gerrit showed us how it can be used in a performance and even connected it to an OP-Z, which received MIDI signals from the RK8. The RK8 can also send out DIN sync signals, allowing it to sync with older devices.

RK-8 Price: 359 Euros. RK-8 with wood panels price: 409 Euros"

Superbooth 2023: Cong Burn - Strokes

video upload by sonicstate

"At Superbooth 2023, Sonicstate spoke to John from Cong Burn about their latest product releases. The first is Strokes, an all-in-one sequencing workstation groovebox that features an eight-part, multi-timbral synth and sampler engine with eight voices, each of which can be a sampler or one of the 16 built-in synth engines imported from Mutable Instruments Plus. Strokes encourages exploring rhythm and modulation, and the sequencer sends out rhythmic data and modulation data that can be connected to any sound design parameter. It is available as a VST3 and an audio unit on Windows and Mac, and on iOS it runs as a standalone application or as an AUV3 inside a host like AUM.

The other product from Cong Burn is Dispatch, a modulation matrix for Ableton Live. It solves the problem of having LFOs scattered around a project by bringing all modulation into one place. It can stack modulators on top of each other and map them to any parameter in Live, and it features a Ring configuration, a Pulse on and off generator, a Slope triangle generator, Signal input, Euclidean Rhythm Generator, audio input, CV input, quadrature LFO, MIDI generator, function generators, and a modulation mixer. Dispatch is a Max for Live device that is available on Windows and Mac.

Strokes iOS/AUv3/Standalone Price: 19.99 GBP. VST3/AU Price: 35 GBP

Strokes cross platform bundle price: 45 GBP

Dispatch price: 25 GBP

https://www.congburn.co.uk/strokes"

Superbooth 2023: Morph Modular - Sputnik Folding Modular Case

video upload by sonicstate

"We met Federico from Morph Modular who introduced their first foldable modular case, Sputnik. Designed to make traveling with your modular synth easy, Sputnik is foldable and compatible with all standards of Eurorack cables, as well as Tip Top stackable cables. The case is made up of two units, one 6u and another 6u, that can be linked together with a cable inspired by Serge systems.

The Sputnik case comes with a filtered busboard so analog modules can avoid interference from digital modules. The case also includes four USB ports, two on the bottom case and two on the upside case, and has a tilting angle of 104 degrees for maximum comfort. The Sputnik case will be available soon and the bottom part will also be available for purchase separately, and you can upgrade later to build the entire unit.

Sputnik Available: Summer 2023

Complete price: 1,500 Euros

https://www.morphmodular.com/sputnik/"

Superbooth 2023: ALM Busy Circuits - TAZM-O - AXON-2

video upload by sonicstate

"We spoke to Zach from ALM Busy Circuits at Superbooth 2023 about their latest release, the TASM-O. This analog through zero oscillator is small but packs features such as an output VCA, through zero FM with a manual control and mod index VCA, two sub oscillators, and a unique octave CV input. It also includes CV inputs with attenuation and offset, making it a versatile and complex oscillator that can create arpeggiator type effects.

Zach also introduced the Axon 2, which is an expander for the PAMs Pro Workout, Squid Sample, and MFX. This expander allows for hands-on controls and assignable buttons that can be used to quickly switch between parameters, mute, tap tempo, and load next or previous banks."

Superbooth 2023: Buchla - Limited Edition Music Easel

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"Nick from Buchla showed us their limited edition 50th Anniversary Music Easel. This special edition includes classic 208 voices and original old-school knobs and meter from the 70s. It comes with a gold keyboard and will be sold with its original Halliburton metal briefcase. The Music Easel has the same patching and control interface as the original, and the new edition even has some added extras like patch points and midi over USB-C.

Nick also demonstrated Buchla's Program Manager Card, which allows users to scroll through and select sounds. The card can be embedded below the surface of the module using the embedding kit offered by Buchla, perfect for those who are always using it and don't want it sticking out, or cards be inserted into the edge connector as usual. The new Music Easel is expected to ship in the fall alongside the special edition, which is available for order in June only.

Special Edition Music Easel Price: 8,000 - 10,000 USD"

Superbooth 2023: Crosspatch - TriggerPad

video upload by sonicstate

"We spoke to Mitja from CrossPatch at Superbooth 2023 about their new TriggerPad module. The module is designed for sequencing dynamic triggers and uses an 8x8 grid sequencer, such as LaunchPad, to create sequences. The workflow is tailored to live performances, with no deep menu diving required. The 8 channels can be selected on the top row, and the length of the pattern can be quickly changed. With the ability to save 64 patterns and chain them together, the TriggerPad offers a lot of flexibility in one module. It will be available for shipping at the end of the summer with a price point of around 250 plus VAT.

The TriggerPad has eight trigger outputs with eight levels of velocity, making it perfect for use with drum modules that can take dynamic trigger inputs. Other features include the ability to shuffle patterns, and retrigger at fast rates. Additionally, the TriggerPad has a session mode for recording patterns by playing them. Longer pulses can also be used to create step modulations, making it a versatile tool for modulating other parameters in a Eurorack setup.

TriggerPad Shipping: End of summer 2023

TriggerPad Price: 250 Euros plus VAT

https://crosspatch.eu/"

Superbooth 2023: Befaco - FXBOY

video upload by sonicstate

"At Superbooth 2023, we spoke to Diego from Befaco about their new FX module, FXBoy. This module allows users to change effects via cartridges, which are designed by different manufacturers. These cartridges can be easily swapped out to change the effect on the fly. The distortions are analog, but some digital options are available as well. Effects Boy will come with a bundle of cartridges, but more may be released in the future.

Befaco is also presenting their new case, a 7U case with multiple connections, including USB hosts, USB devices, and MIDI. The inputs and outputs are color-coded, and the case features a web editor to customize outputs to be gates, oscillators, envelopes, and more. Befaco is preparing a 1U version without a display and the cases will come with a lid cover and are expected to be available at the end of June.

Befaco hopes to have FXBoy available in a couple of months for under $400."

Superbooth 2023: Tiptop Audio - 296 Spectral Processing Module & Cables

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"We spoke to Gur Milstein from Tiptop Audio at Superbooth 2023, where he showed us their recreation of the Buchla 296 spectral processor module. The 296 has 16 bands, each of which have three bandpass filters, which are extremely narrow and amplified so it's not your typical EQ, but rather a sound design machine with all those inputs and outputs and its internal cross modulation for vocoding and beyond.

296 Spectral Processing Module Available: Summer 2023

Price: TBC"

Superbooth 2023: Tiptop Audio - Art - Polytip Cables


"We met with Gur from Tiptop Audio to find out about their latest project called Art. Art produces a signal they’ve been working on for over a decade that fixes the tuning problems of Eurorack systems. With Art, they can link multiple modules together and play polyphonically. This led them to develop discrete polyphonic synthesizers that can be built from separate oscillators and filters, and they also revived the Vortex 6, a fully polyphonic module which is a clone of the PPG wave 2.0 with 8-bit converters from the '80s and has six built-in oscillators. Vortex 6 can use their newly developed cable, the Polytip cable, to patch the audio out from the Vortex 6 into the audio in of the octopus filter.

With the Polytip cable, they can patch up to eight signals that carry all the signals, such as the eight filters, eight envelopes, and six VCAs of the modules. This opens up a whole new world of sonic possibilities and Tiptop are continuously working on this project and plan to release more modules that use Art in the future."