Artist Picks: Best Music Gear of 2023 Part 2

video upload by Perfect Circuit

Part 1 here

"2023 is soon drawing to a close—so, we're taking a look back at the year, and taking account of all of the weird and wonderful instruments that gave us some inspiration this year. Synthesizers, drum machines, and Eurorack modules to samplers and effects, this year had no shortage of inspiring instruments.

So, we reached out to some of our friends and content creators to fill us in on their year, asking one simple question: what was the coolest piece of gear you got this year? For some, that meant brand new releases, but for others, it meant sitting down and digging into classic instruments.

In this video, we hear from:
00:00 Red Means Recording on the Elektron Syntakt
01:07 Midlife Synthesist on the Akai MPC X SE
03:20 DivKid on the Intellijel Cascadia
06:30 Jorb on the Roland S1
09:13 Bo Beats on the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field
12:45 Trovarsi on the Anti-Kulture Precision Disruptor

Read more about all of this gear on our blog, Signal: https://bit.ly/3MEhpfE"

🔥🎹 3 SIX of SEQUENTIAL (PROPHET-6, OB-6, TRIGON-6 - live clinic) 🎹🔥

video upload by FutureMusic.es

"Three BIG analog synths of SIX voices from the SEQUENTIAL brand are under our scope. And we receive our friend Chris Calcutt of Focusrite UK to solve this electronic maze. You can interact live with us, asking anything related you want. The session is translated both ways to and from english and spanish with Zígor López (Holmusic) and José Antonio Álvarez (Future Music Spain).

[ESP] Tres GRANDES sintetizadores analógicos de SEIS voces de la marca SEQUENTIAL están bajo nuestro foco. Y recibimos a nuestro amigo Chris Calcutt de Focusrite UK para resolver este laberinto electrónico. Puedes interactuar en vivo con nosotros, preguntando cualquier cosa relacionada que desees. La sesión está traducida en ambos sentidos entre inglés y español con Zígor López (Holmusic) y José Antonio Álvarez (Future Music España).

Prophet-6, a winner's heritage / la herencia de un ganador

In the purest style of Dave Smith, Prophet-6 is a tribute to the classic polysynth of the 80s, but elevated to the category of electronic instrument of the 21st century, "the result of our effort to build the modern analog polysynth with the most incredible sound", in the words of the great designer.

The Sequential Circuits Prophet-6 synthesizer retains the best details of the vintage Prophet-5 - truly analog VCOs, filters and VCAs - and enriches them with advanced effects, a polyphonic step sequencer and other goodies.

[ESP] Al más puro estilo de Dave Smith, Prophet-6 es un homenaje del clásico polisinte de los 80, pero elevado a la categoría de instrumento electrónico del siglo XXI, "el resultado de nuestro esfuerzo para construir el polisinte analógico moderno con el sonido más increíble", según las palabras del gran diseñador.

El sintetizador Sequential Circuits Prophet-6 conserva los mejores detalles del clásico añejo Prophet-5 -VCOs, filtros y VCAs auténticamente analógicos-, y los enriquece con efectos avanzados, un secuenciador polifónico por pasos y otras bondades.

Oberheim & Sequential OB-6: Analog power on every side / potencia analógica por los cuatro costados

Developed in direct collaboration with Tom Oberheim, OB-6 takes its inspiration from this master's original designs to deliver "authentic vintage SEM tones with the stability and flexibility of modern technology".

The OB-6 architecture integrates two oscillators per voice plus a sub-oscillator, with saw, variable pulse and triangular waveforms (this only in OSC-2) – all of them continuously variable for greater harmonic diversity. Each voice passes through a 12dB multimode filter (with low-pass, -high, -band, and band-reject responses), inspired by the original SEM circuits. And of course, the analog route is completed with Voltage Controlled Amplifiers (VCA).

[ESP] Desarrollado con la colaboración directa de Tom Oberheim, OB-6 toma su inspiración en los diseños originales de este maestro para ofrecer "auténticos tonos añejos SEM con la estabilidad y flexibilidad de la tecnología moderna".

La arquitectura de OB-6 integra dos osciladores por voz más un sub-oscilador, con formas de onda sierra, pulso variable y triangular (ésta sólo en OSC-2) –todas ellas continuamente variables para una mayor diversidad armónica. Cada voz atraviesa un filtro multimodo de 12dB (con respuestas paso-bajo, -alto, -banda y -banda eliminada), inspirado en los circuitos SEM originales. Y por descontado, la ruta analógica se completa con Amplificadores Controlados por Tensión (VCA).

Trigon-6, the analog polysynth with three VCOs and ladder filter that excited Dave Smith
Trigon-6, el polisinte analógico con tres VCO y filtro en escalera que entusiasmó a Dave Smith

Sequential Trigon-6 adds a unique stamp to the timeless sound of its family, with feedback, overdrive, and an innovative two-pole mode (12dB drop) over the ladder filter, "for greater versatility and width in your palette of tones". Its filter design is an evolution of the circuitry included in the successful Pro 3 synthesizer.

[ESP] Sequential Trigon-6 añade un sello único al sonido atemporal de su familia, con realimentación, saturación, y un innovador modo de dos polos (caída de 12dB) sobre el filtro en escalera, "para obtener una mayor versatilidad y amplitud en su paleta de tonos". Su diseño de filtro es una evolución de la circuitería incluida en el exitoso sintetizador Pro 3."

Pulses to 296

video upload by Todd Barton

"Today's 'what if' What if I take individual pulse outputs from the sequencer and send them to individual bands of the Spectral Processor to create a little percussive beat. Enjoy.
My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd"

Zoxnoxious Z5524 Dual VCO Voice Card Demo

video upload by Ultratroninator 3000

"Demo of the Zoxnoxious dual VCO voice card with its VCV Rack interface. This card incorporates a lot of features! And being under full control from VCV Rack opens up a lot of interesting options. This demo is intended to give a _very quick_ overview of the functions.

00:00 - Intro
00:33 - VCO Basics
01:20 - Pulse Width Modulation VCO1/VCO2
02:07 - Filter Modulation
03:18 - VCO Sync
04:21 - Waveselect Modulation
06:30 - Frequency Modulation (analog source)
09:25 - Frequency Modulation (digital source)
10:30 - Wrap up"

See the Zoxnoxious label below for more.

Full Bucket Music Introduces Oxid - Arp Based Paraphonic String Synthesizer Plugin

video upload by Björn Arlt

"Ambient stuff...
Created with 8 instances of my "Oxid" paraphonic string synthesizer plugin.
https://www.fullbucket.de/music/oxid....
Recorded and mastered with Reaper 64 using just LoudMax 64.
Video source: NASA Johnson Space Center https://archive.org/details/ISSVideoR..."

"Oxid is a software instrument for Microsoft Windows (VST2/VST3/CLAP) and Apple macOS (VST2/VST3/CLAP/AU) simulating the classic ARP Omni-2 Polyphonic Synthesizer from the 1970s. It is written in native C++ code for high performance and low CPU consumption. Main features are:

Close simulation of the original hardware
64 voices polyphony
String and Synthesizer sections
Paraphonic madness
Additional Phaser and Delay effects
Resizable user interface (not "N" version!)
MIDI Learn – all parameters can be controlled by MIDI CC
Plug-in supports Windows and macOS (32 bit and 64 bit)"

Torso Electronics Introduces S-4 Sculpting Sampler

video upload by torso electronics

via Torso Electronics

"Explore malleable sound. Mold, carve, bend.

The S-4 is a sculpting sampler designed to capture and transform sounds. Merging tape-era workflows with cutting-edge technology, the S-4 redefines sound mangling by providing a futuristic platform for crafting unique soundscapes and compositions, using samples and real-time audio processing.

S-4 is a tool made for sonic explorers. It has four parallel stereo tracks, each with an audio engine featuring a chain of audio devices including samplers, live granular processing, morphing resonators, and a range of audio effects. A novel modulation system allows anything and everything to be modulated with 4 modulators per track."

The S-4 is a versatile powerhouse, capable of serving as an effects processor, transformative sound designer, tape machine, live looper, classic sample player, or textural synthesizer.

Audio engine
Push the creative boundaries and transform audio into uncharted depths. S-4 has four parallel stereo tracks, each of which contains a chain of five audio devices tailored to cover specific sonic areas and applications. Create everything from glittering textures to broken soundscapes or evolving synth sounds.

Together, the devices form a playful toolbox for sculpting sample material and live audio.

Material
Stereo tape and sample players with live audio and looping capabilities.

Granular
Live granular processing with time-warping and pitch-shifting algorithms.

Filter
Morphing resonator: 48-band tuned filter bank with animation, tonal control, and classic filter functions.

Color
Collection of destructive effects including bit crushing, drive, and compression.

Space
Combined reverb and delay with pitch-shifting and shimmer.

Noise Engineering Introduces Nive Grad Level Shifter Eurorack Module

video upload by Noise Engineering

"Nive Grad is available now on our website or at your favorite retailer: https://bit.ly/47wxHiP

0:00 Overview
0:43 Panel review
1:37 Synthesizer to Eurorack
2:00 Euorack to pedal, back to Eurorack

Nive Grad is a high input impedance stereo or dual-mono level shifter in 4 HP. With a simple-to-patch interface and a compact size, Nive Grad is an easy and straightforward way to integrate Eurorack with the rest of your gear!

When we released our Xer Mixa in August, we got questions about using line-level instruments with it. We decided to make that easy with Nive Grad. Bring guitars, external effects, or line-level synths up to Eurorack levels, then bring the Eurorack signals back down to line and pedal levels. In just 4HP, it gets you two channels of step up and step down by 12 and 24 dB.

More on the Xer Mixa: https://bit.ly/3YZFvXx"

Press release follows:


Noise Engineering debuts Nive Grad, making it easier than ever to integrate a Eurorack system with the rest of your studio.

It’s easier than ever to integrate your Eurorack system with the rest of your gear.

Los Angeles, CA — Noise Engineering, known for their hybrid approach to modular synthesizer design, has announced Nive Grad, a compact and inexpensive level-shifting utility designed to integrate Eurorack systems with other gear.

Designed for simplicity and straightforward patching, Nive Grad has two sections, each with two channels, for stereo or dual-mono use. The top section is designed for amplification, adding +12dB or +24dB to a signal—values designed to take line-level or guitar-level signals up to Eurorack levels respectively. The input is high impedance, making it suitable for use with passive guitars. The bottom section attenuates signals by -12dB or -24dB to connect Eurorack sources to pedals, recorders, or line-level effects. According to Noise Engineering, these fixed gain adjustments work well for most external gear, which allowed them to keep the design simple—it’s just 4HP—and, in turn, the cost low.

The team says the inspiration for the module came from users, including themselves. Earlier this year, Noise Engineering released Xer Mixa, their take on a comprehensive system mixer. Nive Grad was designed to be the simple piece that would allow users to mix external synths and drum machines into Xer Mixa, as well as to integrate pedals into an FX send. Although designed with Xer Mixa in mind, Noise Engineering is quick to point out that it can be used with any Eurorack setup.

Nive Grad is available now at https://noiseengineering.us and at retailers globally.

Availability and pricing:
Nive Grad: In stock in black and silver. Shipping from Noise Engineering and retailers starting November 16th, 2023; MSRP US$160

Nive Grad: https://noiseengineering.us/products/nive-grad

Let's make a synth brass sound with our CUNSA filter in the style of Steve Porcaro

video upload by Frap Tools

"Let us take a step back with the CUNSA filter and try to create some classic sounds. Probably the most iconic is the synth brass, and since we don't like reinventing the wheel, we'll rely on the excellent instructions by Steve Porcaro."

00:00 Introduction
01:38 Getting two sawtooths out of BRENSO
03:34 Envelopes, VCF, VCA
08:34 Adding the "blip"
10:41 Filter tracking
11:09 Filter ping
12:33 Character "blip"
14:05 Input VCA
15:03 Final result and closing remarks.

Tech Thursday | Resetting Orbit 3

video upload by Joranalogue Audio Design

"It's Tech Thursday! In these concise videos, we bring up some overlooked and advanced features of our modules.

It's Thursday, which means that Joran is back with another easily overlooked feature on one of our modules. This week we take a closer look at the reset input on Orbit 3, which allows you to craft sounds you might not expect from a Chaos Oscillator!

The reset input also features Schmitt action, meaning it can be driven by just about any signal you can throw at it—there's no need to limit yourself to trigger pulses only.
Happy patching!"

Additional Details on Upcoming Synth East 2024 Event

You can find new details on the upcoming event added to this post.