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Hologram Electronics Microcosm: A cheat code for making ambient music
The Microcosm can be a rhythmic glitch machine, a top-notch loop pedal or a straightforward delay. It’s more than just a one-trick pony, which is important given the $449 price.
Vocal synth with teeth is equally hilarious and horrifying
Love Hulten has developed a vocal synth where each key plays notes through plastic teeth — it's just as strange as it sounds.
Artiphon Orba review: Much more than a musical fidget toy
Orba’s goal of lowering the barrier of entry to music creation is admirable. And it errs closer to a musical fidget toy than an intimidating and unusual instrument. But, those willing to push its limits will find surprising depth.
Arturia's flagship instrument bundle is getting a major upgrade...
In the world of softsynths Arturia’s V Collection and Analog Lab are two of the best bangs for your musical buck. Version seven which launched in mid 2019 included 23 instruments, many of them basically unobtainable in vintage physical form. Arturia V Collection 8 is somehow even more comprehensive.
Erica Synths SYNTRX review: A classic reimagined
This modern interpretation of the iconic EMS Synthi A is ripe for exploration and experimentation. It may be expensive but it’s incredibly satisfying and inspiring to play. Its target niche of experimental musicians and hardcore synth nerds will be enthralled.
Korg goes for the sequencing crown with the modular-friendly SQ-64
Korg’s SQ-1 is a bit under appreciated. The Korg SQ-64 Poly Sequencer is basically attempting to be the king of all the CV sequencers. It has four 64-step tracks. The SQ-64 also expands on the playback variation you got the SQ-1 and injects some controlled chaos.
Roland TR-6S review: An impressively small and powerful drum machine
Roland’s TR-6S includes digital emulations of classic drum machines like the 808, 909 and 606, as well as a quirky FM percussion engine and sample playback. It’s perhaps the most versatile portable drum machine out there. But be prepared to do a lot of menu diving.
Equator2 is the next step in Roli's vision for expressive digital music
Roli is best known as the creator of the Seaboard, an exceptionally expressive (and very mushy) take on the classic keyboard synth. "We're realizing the world's first true flagship MPE synth engine: Equator2," said Roli CEO Roland Lamb in a statement. For the uninitiated, "MPE" refers to "MIDI Polyphonic Expression" a specification jointly developed by a handful of companies including Roli, Apple, MOOG and more that allow for certain synths and instruments to send more detailed note data to sound generators like, well, Equator2.
Korg's Opsix is an approachable, hands-on FM synth
It feels like FM synthesis is having something of a renaissance recently. Elektron has the Digitone and launched the beginner friendly Model:Cyles earlier this year. Now Korg has something at least approaching a flagship level FM machine in the Opsix.
Moog's Werkstatt-01 synth is back and it's more affordable than ever
The easy-to-assemble kit costs $199, but it's only available for a limited time.
Teenage Engineering is making Capcom-themed pocket synths
The Mega Man and Street Fighter-themed pocket samplers cost $89.
Moog celebrates 100 years of Theremin with the Claravox Centennial
It was way back in 1920 that Lev Sergeyevich Termen, better known as Leon Theremin in the west, first demonstrated one of the most important electronic musical instruments ever. The instrument is very much ingrained in the DNA of Moog.
Novation and Aphex Twin's limited-edition Bass Station II embraces the weird
Novation’s Bass Station II is considered a modern classic in the synth world. In fact, even though the core three-oscillator analog sound engine is unchanged, the 2020 version of the Bass Station II feels like a completely different instrument from the one launched in 2013. One of the biggest additions came last year in AFX Mode (we’ll get to the details later), which was created in collaboration with Aphex Twin himself, Mr Richard D. James.
Elektron's Analog Four and Rytm get both design and software upgrades
Elektron's Analog Four MKII and Analog Rytm MKII are both serious high-end instruments. They're $1,399 and $1,699 respectively. But, despite being at the top of the Elektron heap, they've been missing some of the big features that make its more affordable Digi- and Model: lines so exciting.
Moog Matriarch and Grandmother synths get retro 'Dark' makeovers
The Grandmother and Matriarch quickly became staples of the modern Moog era when they were released. The Moog Dark Series replaces the bright green, yellow of the original models with serious looking black panels. There’s no gaming changing features being added, but there’s improved sync and an envelope multi-trig mode for the Grandmother and a few additional enhancements and bug fixes.
Jamstik Studio is the MIDI guitar you might actually want to use
Guitar MIDI controllers are usually giant disappointments. But Jamstik seems to have broken the code. The Studio MIDI Guitar has fast and accurate pitch detection, and even does an impressive job of recreating bends, hammer-ons and to a lesser degree slides. MIDI wasn’t designed with stringed instruments in mind, so it’s never going to be perfect, and the $800 asking price is steep. But, this is probably the best guitar-style MIDI controller on the market right now. Plus, it’s actually a guitar.
Arturia's PolyBrute is a beastly analog synth with infinite control
The PolyBrute is a six-voice analog beast that combines Arturia’s signature mod matrix with its digital effects expertise and a some innovative controls in a true polyphonic instrument.
Moog's new coffee table book is filled with tips for synth nerds
'Patch and Tweak with Moog' is a book dedicated to tips, tricks and ideas for the semi-modular Mother family — including the Mother 32, DFAM, Subharmonicon, Grandmother and Matriarch. It's filled with synth history, an inside look at the Moog factory plus interviews with synth icons, musicians and Moog employees.
Native Instruments crams its powerful music-making software in a standalone groovebox
Maschine+ brings the Maschine workflow and Komplete instruments to a standalone groovebox.
Arturia's KeyStep Pro is a near-perfect MIDI controller for hardware synths
Arturia’s KeyStep Pro successfully marries most of what makes the KeyStep so ubiquitous with the sequencing power of the BeatStep Pro. It’s not perfect, especially if you’re hoping to use it as the core of a hybrid setup that combines hardware synths with the power of a DAW. But there are few controllers out there with this breadth of connectivity options, especially at the price point.