The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music: Number Sixteen
Music festival delivers one of its best line-ups yet!
Edition 16 of an Electronic Music Festival established in 2016 takes place in Birmingham in October of this year.
In October 2025 the sixteenth ‘The Seventh Wave Festival of Electronic Music’ takes place across three days at The Castle and Falcon.
For a relatively small festival The Seventh Wave continues to get some of the biggest names in electronic and progressive music.
The stellar line-up for #16 includes Plaid, Ultramarine, Richard Norris (The Grid), Mark Van Hoen/Locust, White Noise (featuring the legendary David Vorhaus) & much more.
Tickets can be purchased for individual events at Skiddle and SEE tickets.
"Melbourne Instruments is excited to release Roto-Control Firmware 2.0 — the next evolution of their groundbreaking motorized MIDI controller. Following the success of their acclaimed motorized synths, NINA and DELIA, Roto-Control brings the same tactile precision to software and hardware control, redefining hands-on workflow for modern music creators.
New 2.0 firmware features include:
Send MIDI Notes via Roto-Control buttons in MIDI Mode.
Send Program Change with Bank Select via Roto-Control buttons in MIDI Mode.
Group tracks with fold/unfold actions via Roto-Control supported in Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio.
Manual mapping and customization of Ableton Live racks and macros now possible.
Roto-Control knobs now have a centre indent haptic option in MIDI Mode.
Roto-Control Setup App now compatible with both Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio.
Roto-Control now compatible with Linux for use with Bitwig Studio.
Please see release notes for more info.
Designed for a fast, intuitive workflow, Roto-Control features three powerful modes: MIX, PLUGIN, and MIDI with Motion Recorder.
In MIX Mode, Roto-Control syncs automatically with Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio, instantly displaying track names and colors pulled live from the session—no need to manually label anything. Track updates happen in real time with zero setup.
In PLUGIN Mode, parameters are learned once and saved locally, making recall instant across any system. One-touch setup and direct label mapping from Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio ensures a seamless experience every time.
With thousands of assignable parameters stored internally, Roto-Control is the only motorized MIDI controller that offers this level of portability, flexibility, and precision."
"Danny Bonnici - Liquid Mixes and NuBreed fame, channels his Drum 'n Bass roots, creating some harder edged multi-layered and multi-timbral presets for DELIA. In this video he runs through how he created one of his standout presets for DELIA.
ABOUT DANNY BONNICI:
Danny Bonnici is one of Australia’s most respected and dynamic electronic music producers and performers, renowned as a pioneer for his work. For over 20 years Danny has been making an indelible mark on dance music, starting with NuBreed in the late ‘90s. Danny's productions under Liquid Mixes, sees him working with many big-name producers from James Zabiela, Nick Warren, Patrice Bäumel, Hernan Cattaneo and Phil K to name a few.
"Who better to introduce a new set of DELIA Presets than the Sound Designer themselves! Here’s a short video demo of new presets from esteemed sound designer and composer, PROTOVOLT. For this demo Ryan has chosen 12 of his favourites from the new Protovolt Preset Pack.
PRESET DEMOS:
00:00:20 Replicant
00:01:04 Samus
00:01:29 Novachrome
00:01:59 Polystar
00:02:43 Dark Matter
00:03:03 Lost Signal
00:03:40 Exploration
00:04:46 Proxima
00:05:03 Nebulous
00:05:35 Old VCR
00:05:57 Alpha Syntauri
00:06:26 New Dawn
The new Preset Pack includes 32 Delia Synth Presets with that signature Protovolt sound. Dark, heavy, thick and evocative, with just the right amount of Eighties nostalgia combined with a healthy dose of 2000s synthwave. Every is preset carefully crafted with elegant use of effects and clever use of Delia's A/B Morph features. Leads, pads, basses and more.
ABOUT PROTOVOLT:
Protovolt is a synth lord, sound designer, and composer known for his high-energy videos showcasing his original music, spot-on classic covers, and meticulous sound design. As a child of the ’80s, his work draws heavily from the vibrant entertainment and pop culture of the time. His music and sound design bridges nostalgia and innovation, creating a sonic world that feels both timeless and futuristic.
00:00 Intro
01:35 Accessing Multi-Track Sequencer Mode
01:54 New Overlay and Button Function
02:09 Key Concepts and Overview
02:47 PATTERN Mode
04:20 TRACK Mode
06:11 Parameter Locking & Step Settings
09:03 Live Automation Recording
11:18 Copy/Paste Steps
11:57 Performing and Playing Front Panel
12:50 TRACK Mute
13:18 TRACK Select
13:55 Page Select (REC)
14:41 New NOISE Types
15:16 Parameter Locking Noise Types
16:36 Outro
Press release follows:
May 2, 2025, Superbooth Edition
Melbourne Instruments announce new firmware for ROTO-CONTROL and NINA
Visit Melbourne Instruments at Superbooth, May 8-10, FEZ-Berlin Germany, Booth H220
Melbourne Instruments announce BITWIG STUDIO integration for ROTO-CONTROL
MELBOURNE, Australia, May 2, 2025: Melbourne Instruments continue to build on the success of their motorized synths, NINA and DELIA, and MIDI controller ROTO-CONTROL launched in January this year. Melbourne Instruments is pleased to announce BITWIG STUDIO integration for Roto-Control is now available as a public beta. This adds to Roto-Control’s acclaimed Ableton Live integration, and now Bitwig Studio users can take full advantage of Roto-Control features with their Bitwig projects.
Melbourne Instruments bring their revolutionary touch sensitive, motorized knob technology along with high-res screens and haptic control to Bitwig Studio users.
Powerful, compact, and portable, Roto-Control features three main modes of operation: MIX, PLUGIN and MIDI with Motion Recorder. MIX Mode will automatically sync Bitwig with all track names and colors instantly appearing on Roto-Control displays. Roto-Control will update track names and colors when connected to an active Bitwig session. No need to save or edit labels – all data is taken directly from the active Bitwig session.
In PLUGIN Mode, plugin parameters and labels are taken directly from Bitwig with one touch, one-time, intuitive easy setup. Learn plugin parameters once and Roto-Control will remember learnt parameters anytime you use Bitwig. All learnt plugin parameters are stored locally on Roto-Control, making it quick and easy to use with any computer setup. Roto-Control is a truly unique motorized MIDI controller that is highly customizable with internal storage for thousands of assignments.
Bitwig Studio users can streamline their creative workflow and quickly evolve ideas with responsive physical control of Bitwig Studio through Roto-Control’s MIX and PLUGIN Modes. This new integration is a collaboration between Bitwig and Melbourne Instruments, responding to the overwhelming demand for Roto-Control support for Bitwig Studio.
Bitwig Studio integration marks the second DAW support for Roto-Control with additional DAW integration currently in the works.
Bitwig Studio integration for Roto-Control is a public beta, please see link for more info and to download the beta firmware. www.melbourneinstruments.com/roto
"What's the difference sonically? I've not heard these 2 demo'd side by side in depth. We know the specs - Melbourne Instruments Nina has 12 voices, each containing 2 VCOS plus a digital oscillator, and the Melbourne Instruments Delia uses virtual analog to do the same thing with 6 voices - with some 'Paraphonic PLUS' 12 voice modes.
There are other additions in the Delia, like FM, an extra LFO and envelope plus oyu can have dual effects in parallel or serial.
BUT.. what's the consequence of replacing the VCOs with the VA oscillators?"
0:00 Delia Panning Demo
0:31 An Intro to both synths
3:31 Quick Audio Comparison
5:48 Similarities and Differences
6:57 Lovely FM demo
10:46 Let's Go! Sound demos start with Oscillators
15:44 Comparing a Musical Patch
20:11 Delia's Vintage Mode
24:38 LP Analogue Filters
28:49 Delia's HP Sauce
30:20 OVERDRIVE!!
32:06 Rounding Up
"'The word "pioneer' gets thrown around too liberally these days. But in the case of Wendy Carlos, the glove fits. The face of electronic music would look immeasurably different in 2025 without the American trans composer's groundbreaking achievements. Before she came along, electronic music was barely considered music at all—just "funny sounds," as Bob Moog once said.
That all changed in 1968. Produced in collaboration with Rachel Elkind, Carlos's debut album, Switched-On Bach wielded machines to produce sounds that could compete with the symphonic pop and rock of the era. The landmark LP won multiple GRAMMYs, played a key role in popularising the use of synths and became only the second classical music record to sell a million copies.
In our latest video essay, written by Sasha Geffen, we trace Carlos's story from her early experiments with Moog through to her impact on key electronic acts of the past 50 years, including Brian Eno, DJ Sprinkles and Octo Octa.
00:00 - Intro 00:54 - Switched-on Bach 01:57 - Carlos and Bob Moog 03:07 Contribution to synth development 04:36 - A Clockwork Orange Score & The Vocoder 07:20 - Personal Life 08:20 - Musical Development
Producer - Sophie Misrahi Writer - Sasha Geffen Editors - Sergey Poltorakov, Guy Clarke Motion Graphics - Sergey Poltorakov, Dan Derham
Music in order of appearance:
1. Wendy Carlos - Toccata Fugue In D Minor - Switched-On Bach 2000 2. Wendy Carlos - Air On A G String - Switched-On Bach 3. Delia Derbyshire - Quest - Electrosonic 4. Wendy Carlos - Moog 900 series Demonstration 5. The RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer - The Well-Tempered Clavier Fugue No. 2 6. Wendy Carlos - Prelude And Fugue #2 In C Minor - Switched-On Bach 7. Wendy Carlos - Title Music From A Clockwork Orange (From Purcell's Music For The Funeral Of Queen Mary - A Clockwork Orange Complete Original Score 8. Wendy Carlos - Country Lane - A Clockwork Orange Complete Original Score 9. Cybotron - Clear 10. Wendy Carlos - Genesis - Digital Moonscapes
"Melbourne Instruments has announced ROTO Control, a new controller that utilises the company's groundbreaking motorised fader technology – as found on its Delia and Nina synths – to create a device that aims to revolutionise hardware or software control. We caught up with Melbourne Instruments at NAMM 2025 to see it in action."
Introducing ROTO-CONTROL, motorized MIDI controller for software and hardware
Following the debut success of their revolutionary analog synth NINA in 2023 and the hybrid polysynth DELIA in 2024, Melbourne Instruments announce ROTO-CONTROL, a motorized MIDI controller for software and hardware. Roto-Control brings Melbourne Instruments’ motorized knob technology to a MIDI controller in a powerful, portable, affordable tool for studio and live applications.
Roto-Control is now shipping. [check with dealers on the right for avialability]
Introducing a truly unique motorized MIDI controller, unlike anything seen before. Rethink software and hardware interactions via fully assignable motorized touch-sensitive knobs, user definable haptics for detailed control, high-res screens providing easy-to-read labels for every control, and internal memory with storage for over 8000 assignments. Powerful, compact, and portable, Roto-Control features three main modes of operation: MIX, PLUGIN and MIDI with Motion Recorder.
"The Melbourne Instruments Nina and Delia use their proprietary motorised potentiometers, which have created a lot of interest... and also a fair amount of intrigue... whats the downside? are they really that good?"
0:00 Motorized Faders?
3:11 Haptic Feedback
5:32 THE FORCE - reacting to MIDI CC
6:34 Reliability & Maintenance
8:16 Price & Power - What are the costs?
10:52 Gimmick or Gamechanger?
"2024 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:
0:05 Andrew Huang on the Elektron Digitakt II
1:36 Starsky Carr on the Pittsburgh Voltage Lab 2
6:30 Molten Music Tech on the Gamechanger Plasma Voice
11:36 Cyberattack on the Vongon Replay
13:48 The Unperson on the Melbourne Delia
Mark Johnston on the UA Apollo x8p Gen 2
"DELIA Delights are MX-style compatible keycaps designed for use with Melbourne Instruments' DELIA Synthesizer. Delights are available in replacement kits of 45 keycaps + keypuller. Choose from 5 colors: FRESH MINT (Green), VANILLA (off white), EARL GREY (Cool grey), LICORICE (Black) and SPARKLING (clear/frosted). DELIA Delights are now available from selected Melbourne Instruments Dealers.
❗️ PLEASE NOTE: DELIA Delights are NOT compatible with NINA❗️
⚠️ Take care and only use the keypuller provided when replacing your keycaps. DO NOT USE metal objects as you could damage your Delia.
Removing your existing keycaps: 1. Switch the power off. 2. Position the keypuller towards the lower half of the keycap. 3. Click the keypuller into one side of the keycap you want to remove, then the following side. Don't try to grab both sides at the same time! 4. Carefully lift one side followed by the opposite side.
Fitting your new keycaps: 1. Check the orientation of the keycap, the little window needs to be at the top. 2. Position and centre the keycap over the pin. 3. Gently push the keycap into place. 4. Power on your Delia and have fun — we've been told different coloured keycaps sound awesome too 😁
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ DO NOT EAT the keycaps, they might taste funny and will be hard to digest 🤢🤮🤮🤣"
"In this demo I'll explain & explore the Majella Implexus - a very jammable & carefully refined synth that straddles both coasts, with an added stereo delay. The western part of the video explains the synth (no filter used), the eastern part contains jams (with filter, and added drums). Let's play!"
"I have spent countless hours trying to figure out the perfect workflow.. does it even exist? Today we are going to discuss workflow, technique for sampling, effects processing, and trying to stick to our intuition. On the table we have a Digitakt II, M8 Tracker, Synthstrom Deluge, Melbourne Delia, and the Headrush Core for vocals and guitar."
1. Bristronica 24: MyVolts The Silent Alchemist Nears Shipping
We caught up with Caroline who gave us the latest update to the *Silent Alchemist*, a versatile power hub designed for musicians. Featuring five isolated USB-C outputs and a high-wattage sixth output capable of delivering 100 watts, the device can power a Mac with the remaining outputs providing 20 watts each. Its independent circuits ensure noise-free operation, catering to a variety of devices including the Dreadbox module and Sysmo slope generator.
The Silent Alchemist uses innovative step-up power tips to convert USB-C input to the correct voltage for various devices. There's also new feature: an uninterruptible power supply allowing seamless transition between wall and power bank sources. Also introduced were updated cables, such as silver candy cords and floating ring TRS to TS cables, expanding connection flexibility. The Silent Alchemist is expected to be available in December with a competitive pricing strategy.
At Bristronica 2024, we caught up with the creator of the *ML2M*, who introduced us to the latest version. The ML2M is a compact Eurorack module with Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing seamless synchronization with Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, and iOS music apps using Ableton Link without the need for cables. It either connects to an existing network or creates its own, ensuring robust sync even in environments with unreliable Wi-Fi. The module, which retains its 2HP size, now features MIDI integration through TRS jacks. Users can access a web interface to configure each output for different clock divisions and reset triggers, making setup straightforward and flexible.
Alongside the ML2M, there's also the Missing Link Junior. This desktop version offers the same functionality but in a box format, complete with MIDI and CV clock outputs. Both products are now accessible, with a starting price of $250.
At Machina Bristronica 2024, we caught up with Arran from @archaea_modular_synthesis who presented the *Exchange Module*. This programmable patcher, a year in the making, evolved from its early prototype stage to a fully functional module. Arran explained how the Exchange can route synth voices via a beam controller and three exchange modules installed within the skiff, allowing for versatile patching. Operating like a matrix patchbay, it enables users to select inputs and outputs with the push of a button, create presets, and chain multiple modules for synchronized patching.
Communication between the modules occurs over the Eurorack power bus as well as over MIDI via the USB-C connection. The Exchange maintains analog integrity, ensuring there’s no conversion latency. The forthcoming release expected in late November 2024, includes a USB-driven editor for enhanced control capabilities.
