This is a demo video for the modern mini-synth classic, the Korg microKorg synthesizer.

Description:

State-of-the-art analog modeling and multi-band vocoding are available in a compact, portable instrument. With 37 keys and 128 user-rewritable programs, the microKORG Synthesizer/Vocoder is designed for the performer, producer, computer musician or beginner looking for an affordable synthesizer.

Korg microKORG Synthesizer/Vocoder Features:

• 128 user-rewritable programs
• 37-key mini keyboard
• Powerful synthesis
• Classic vocoding
• A full range of effects
• Great sounds and expression
• Flexible arpeggiator (6 types)
• Clear control and classic looks
• Can serve as a compact MIDI controller

EM’s David Battino had this to say about the Korg microKorg:

It’s easy to slip into critic mode and forget that making music is supposed to be fun. The MicroKorg is frustrating if you expect to play and program it like a full-size keyboard synthesizer, but as a portable, creative gadget, it stands alone. If you can justify spending $500 on a terrific-sounding musical toy (and I use that word in a very positive sense), you won’t go wrong with the MicroKorg.

The Korg microKorg retails for $399.

If you’ve used the Korg microKorg – leave a comment with your thoughts!

Specifications:

Sound Generation Method:
Analog Modeling Synthesis System

Synthesizer Program:
Multi Timbral:
2 (max, Normal/Dual Mode)

Voices:
4 voices

Sound Source:
2 Oscillator + Noise Generator
Multi Mode Filter (-24dB/oct LPF, -12dB/oct LPF/BPF/HPF)
EG x2, LFO x2, Virtual Patch x4

Vocoder Program:
Voices:
4 voices

Sound Source:
1 Oscillator + Noise Generator
EG x1
LFO x2
8 Channels vocoder
Level and pan of each channel can be edited
Formant Shift function

General Specifications:
Programs:
128 programs

Effects:
Modulation effects (3 types)
Delay (3 types)
Equalizer

Arpeggiator:
6 types

Keyboard:
37 Keys (mini-keyboard, velocity sensitive)

Inputs:
AUDIO IN 1, and 2

Level switch:
LINE/MIC
[AUDIO IN 1, 2 (LINE)]
[AUDIO IN 2 (MIC)]

Outputs:
L/MONO, R and Headphones

MIDI:
IN, OUT and THRU

Display:
3 characters x1 line with 8 segment LED

Power Supply:
DC 9 V (AC adapter), or six AA alkaline batteries (sold separately)

Power Consumption:
6.4 Watt maximum

Dimensions:
20.63″(W) x 9.13″(D) x 2.76″(H) 524mm(W) x 232mm(D) x 70mm(H)

Weight:
4.85 lbs. 2.2 kg

Accessories:
AC adapter (DC 9 V, 600 mA)
Condenser Microphone

Korg microKorg Resources:

• Official info page
• EM review

The Yamaha CS-50, a vintage synthesizer from 1976,  is a scaled down version of the classic Yamaha CS-80 and CS-60 synths.

It offers 4-voice polyphony, with 1 oscillator per voice.

While it has a much simpler architecture, it offers a relatively inexpensive option for getting the classic Yamaha CS sounds.

If you’ve used the Yamaha CS-50, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Resources:

• Yamaha CS-50 at VSE
• Old Crow’s Synth Shop
• Video via lovesvintagesynth

Imageline’s new video for FL Studio 9 is more style than substance – but it’s still kinda sexy.

Details on the new features are listed below.

If you’ve used FL Studio 9, leave a comment with your thought on it!

Here’s what’s new in FL Studio 9:

• Sidechaining – The FL Studio Mixer ‘Track Send’ now has an additional ‘Sidechain’ mode to support multiple-input mixer plugins.
• Multi-core CPU (Hyperthreading) – Improved multithreaded generator & added multithreaded effects processing.
• Multiple controllers – Can now control multiple independent instrument channels, assigned by MIDI number.
• Revised Playlist
• Playlist track naming & icon – Tools for better song organization.
• Riff machine – Automatic sequence generator tool.
• Mixer now has 99 Insert tracks (up from 64).
• Multi-core CPU support – Added ‘multithreaded mixer’ tracks processing for improved multi-core performance

New Plugins:

• Autogun (free) – Sonic adventure, Based on Ogun.
• Sakura (demo)- String physical modelling instrument
• Ogun (demo)- Additive metal simulation synthesizer
• Gross Beat (demo) – Real-time, audio-stream playback, pitch, position and volume manipulation effect
• Stereo Shaper (free) – Mid / Side stereo processing
• Vocodex – The last word in vocoders (free with Producer Edition).

Sony

Update features include event-based editing, the élastique time stretch and pitch shift plug-in, interactive tutorials and a mastering effects bundle.

Details below.

If you’ve used Sony Sound Forge Pro 10, leave a comment with your thoughts!

New Features:

• Event-based editing is ideal for precise audio mastering, assembling project sketches, or laying out tracks for authoring disc-at-once CDs. In Sound Forge 10, users can quickly move, split, slip, and trim events, create fades, apply ASR envelopes and crossfades within in a single data window for more precise audio control.
• Integrated disc-at-once CD burning results in time savings and provides a more efficient workflow when generating Red Book compliant disc-at-once premasters of music suitable for professional replication. Perform full PQ code editing, create live-style CDs, add CD text and metadata, and use high-resolution source audio with precise conversion to Red Book audio.
• The élastique time stretch and pitch shift plug-in provides better sounding audio when processing audio files. Users can also monitor and adjust settings while previewing in real-time, and select from various stretching methods that are tailored to their source audio including Pro, Soloist, and Efficient modes.
• The iZotope 64-bit SRC utilizes a hybrid low pass filter design, resulting in pristine audio with less aliasing converting material from one sampling rate to another. The iZotope MBIT+ dither employs psychoacoustic methods to distribute noise into less audible ranges, resulting in improved audio and smoother fades when converting the bit rates of audio files.
• Musical instrument file processing (.DLS, .SF2, .GIG) – Sound Forge Pro 10 software opens, processes, and saves DLS, GigaStudio/GigaSampler, and SoundFont 2.0 musical instrument files. Users can view bank, instrument, note range, and sample information. Effects and processes can easily be added directly to samples.
• Customizable window layouts are designed to maximize productivity by allowing users to create and save multiple unique interface layout configurations for single and dual monitor systems, and recall a window layout for specific editing tasks such as audio editing, CD layout, and multichannel file editing.
• Mastering Effects Bundle 2 powered by iZotope – The powerful bundle of audio mastering tools included with Sound Forge 10 is valued at over $200 and includes six professional plug-ins to expertly master and enhance audio production: Mastering EQ, Mastering Reverb, Multiband Compressor, Mastering Limiter, Stereo Imager, and Harmonic Exciter.
• Interactive tutorials – Sony Creative Software’s unique interactive tutorials provide walkthrough demonstrations of common features and functionality, including DAO CD burning, vinyl recording and restoration in order to help users spend less time learning and more time editing and mastering audio projects.

Price and Availability

The Sound Forge Pro 10 digital audio production software is now available in English and Japanese. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for Sound Forge Pro 10 software is U.S. $499.

B. Serrano has released Anubis, a free polyphonic software synthesizer for Windows.

Features:

• 16-notes polyphony
• 2 oscillators with X-Mod and Sync
• Randomizable ADSR
• Graphical modulation envelopes up to 32 stages
• 2 LFOs; host BPM syncable
• 1 multi-mode filter (same as Adonis 2); Randomizable
• 7×7 modulation-matrix
• Vibrato
• Tremolo; host BPM syncable
• Delay
• Chorus
• MIDI learn
• CPU friendly

If you’ve used Anubis, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Akai Professional has announced that the Akai Miniak is now available.

The Miniak combines Akai’s control surface with Alesis’ synth engine.

The Miniak lets you create programs with up to eight multi-timbral voices, each with three oscillators. You can create complex sounds using the Miniak’s two multimode filters, three envelope generators, two LFOs, stereo effects and 40-band vocoder with gooseneck microphone. The MINIAK also has a comprehensive sequencer with step and dynamic real time phrase sequencing, a drum machine/rhythm sequencer and an arpeggiator.

The MINIAK is available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers and has a U.S. Retail Price of $699.00 with an estimated street price of $499.00.

Details below.

If you’ve used the Akai Professional Miniak synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts.

Specifications:

Akai MINIAK Features

• 37 key synth-action keyboard with velocity sensitivity
• 8 voices, each with 3 oscillators
• Up to 8 multi-timbral parts with stereo effects and 40-band vocoder
• 2 multi-mode filters, 3 envelope generators, 2 LFOs, sample and hold, tracking generator
• Dynamic real-time and step sequencers, arpeggiator, and drum machine/rhythm sequencer
• Stereo bus effects including reverbs and delays
• 24-bit 1/4 inch balanced stereo analog outputs and inputs
• More than 600 preset sounds
• Sound banks: bass, lead, pad, string, brass, keys, comp, drum, SFX

Under the Hood

A Miniak program is a sound built from the Miniak’s internal oscillators, filters, and envelope generators. The Miniak’s more than 600 preset programs span the range of classic analog synthesis sounds. If you’ve heard it before, you will probably find it in the Miniak’s presets. In a synth, oscillators generate raw sound. Their output is fed into the filters, whose output is fed into the amplifiers. As the signal moves along that path, you can manipulate the mix at several points and apply modulations, envelopes, and effects to create a custom palette of sounds.

Sound Generation

The oscillators can produce different waveform types and shapes to create various harmonic structures, which our ears perceive as different timbres. Here are some of the waveforms you can create with the Miniak’s oscillators:

• Sine: Smooth, pure sound
• Triangle: Fuller than a sine wave
• Sawtooth: Harsh sonic character
• Pulse: Harmonically rich, ranging from full-sounding square wave to a sharp impulse wave

The Miniak’s oscillators can produce continuously variable waveforms, so it can can hit any point between these examples.

You can connect external audio sources, other synthesizers, mixers, guitars, and more, using the 1/4 inch inputs. The jacks accept either balanced or unbalanced cables. You can mix in the external audio sources with the Miniak’s oscillators. The resulting combination is then sent through the Miniak’s filters and effects. A special group of programs including vocoder programs exists just for use with the external inputs.

The outputs of the oscillators, the noise generator, the ring modulator, and the external inputs are fed into a virtual mixing board called the pre-filter mix. From here, the signal hits the filters. For each source, you can specify its level and its balance: how much is sent to Filter 1 and how much is sent to Filter 2.

Filtering
The oscillators produce very raw sounds. To shape and fine-tune the sound, filters give you tools for dampening certain harmonics and boosting others. Filters alter the frequency content of the signal and can have a drastic effect on the sound. Each of the Miniak’s voices contains two filters, and each filter can be one of the following different types, each with its own character and sonic flavor.

They are:

• Bypass, Low Pass: ob 2-pole, tb 3-pole, mg 4-pole, rp 4-pole, jp 4-pole, al 8-pole
• Band Pass: ob 2-pole, al 6-pole, octave dual, band limit
• High Pass: ob 2-pole, op 4-pole
• Three Vocal Formants, Four Comb Filters, Phase Warp, Frequency, Resonance, Key Tracking, Envelope Amount, Offset, and Absolute

After filtering, the signal is fed to the post-filter mix. For each filter output, as well as a pre-filter signal of your choice, you can specify a level and a pan.

Output Processing
In the output stage, the Miniak allows you to apply a drive effect and add some compression, distortion, or other amplification effects. The Miniak allows you to set up twelve modulation routes. Each of these is a virtual connection between some physical or internally generated source and some program parameter. Basically, a mod route tells the synth to automatically grab a knob and tweak it while a note is playing. Although there are quite a few sources that you can use for your mods, the most common ones involve the LFOs and the envelopes.

LFOs
LFO stands for low-frequency oscillator. LFOs are not designed to produce sound, but instead to tweak a program parameter according to a looping pattern. For example, if you are looking to add vibrato, you need the pitch to continuously waver up and down. Each of the Miniak’s voices contains two LFOs, each of which offers rate, depth, shape, and tempo sync. The Miniak’s LFO can sync to the internal clock or any external source via MIDI.

Envelopes

If you hit a note on a piano, you hear a burst of sound energy as the hammer strikes the string, followed by lower level of loudness as you hold down the note and let the string ring out, which fades quickly as soon as you release the note and the damper is applied. Synthesizers model this behavior using ADSR Envelopes. ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release, and represents the different stages that the sound goes through over the life of the note. The Miniak also has an envelope that is specifically designed for loudness, called the Amp Envelope. Envelopes are useful in all sorts of mod routes, which is why you can hook up any of the Miniak’s envelopes to any modulatable program parameter. Each of the Miniak’s voices contains three envelopes: Amp Envelope, Filter Envelope, and Pitch/Modulation Envelope.

Sequencing

The Miniak has extensive sequencing and arpeggiation performance capabilities. Arpeggios and sequences both respond to a key-press by playing a series of notes over a programmed rhythmic pattern. An arpeggio loops over whatever notes you are holding down on the keyboard. If you hold down a chord, the Miniak will generate a melody by playing each note of your chord individually. A sequence has a melody line built in so you can hold down a single key and the Miniak will play back that melody relative to that key. Pressing another key will transpose the sequence. The Miniak has MPC-style step sequencing and recorder-style dynamic real time phrase sequencing. There’s also a drum machine/rhythm sequencer for the built-in drum sounds.

Effects

The Miniak has a full compliment of stereo effects including Chorus, Feedback, Theta Flanger (Phaser + Flanger), Thru Zero Flanger, Super Phaser, Notch Frequency, String Phaser, 40-Band Vocoder, Analysis Gain, Sibilance Boost, Band Shift, Synthesis Input, Analysis Signal In, Analysis Mix, six types of Delay, and three types of Reverbs.

With the extensive sound generating and manipulating power of the Miniak, the sounds you dream up are as easy to create as twisting a few knobs. And creating complete soundscapes with the sequencer and arpeggiator couldn’t be easier. Create your unique sound with the Akai Miniak.

Remember those classic electronic drum sounds of the 80s?

There’s a good chance that what you remember is the sound of the the Simmons drum synthesizer.

The video above captures some manual tweaking of a Simmons SDS 8 Drum Synthesizer.

If you’ve used the Simmons drum synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts!

via DX5:

Just showing what does it can do.

All the channels have the same VCO, so they are basically the same. In preset mode, each channel have different settings for each drum sound. You can put it in manual mode, then you can edit all the parameters. It is what I did.

Apple

Like the new version of Logic Pro Studio, Logic Express 9 adds a variety of features for guitarists and flex time, Apple’s tools for editing the timing and tempo of recorded audio.

Features include:

• More than 70 studio-quality effect plug-ins, including vintage and modern compressors, delays, reverbs, and more;
• New Amp Designer plug-in to help you re-create the sound of 25 legendary amps and 25 speaker cabinets;
• New Pedalboard plug-in with an assortment of 30 virtual stompbox pedals inspired by the classics;
• 36 software instrument plug-ins, including the Ultrabeat drum synth and beatbox, ES2 synth, and EXS24 sampler.

At$199.99, and featuring most of the power of the very competitively priced Logic Pro, Logic Express 9 may be the best deal in entry-level DAWs.

If you’ve used Logic Express 9, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Meatscience

Library Features:

• Free for users of ANY convolution reverb.
• Easy to upload.
• Supports WAVE/AIFF/SDII/FLAC (libsndfile).
• Clean, attractive user interface.
• Onsite playback of convolved IRs.
• Coming soon : Batch upload / 4 Channel Support.

If you’re a convolution reverb users, check it out and leave a comment here on your impressions.

via Rekkerd

DJ Magazine took the Akai Pro MPD32 for a spin.

The MPD32 is a MIDI-over-USB performance pad controller for DJs, programmers, producers, and others musicians.

If you’ve used the Akai Pro MPD32, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Akai Pro MPd32 Features:

• MIDI controller for production and performance
• MPC pads: bank of 16, velocity and pressure-sensitive
• Four selectable pad banks for a total of 64 sounds accessible from the pads
• Eight assignable Q-Link faders, eight assignable Q-Link 360° knobs, and eight assignable Q-Link buttons, all three banks
• MIDI-synced MPC Note Repeat and MPC Swing
• Two assignable footswitch inputs and expression-pedal input
• Dedicated transport controls
• Backlit, easy-to-read display
• MIDI-over-USB or MIDI operation
• USB powered or powered via optional AC adapter
• MPC 16-Level and Full Level
• Comes with custom versions of Ableton Live Lite, FXpansion BFD Lite, and Vyzor Editor Librarian software
• 30 user-definable presets for DAW applications

via AkaiProVideo

IK Multimedia has introduced GrooveMaker for iPhone/iPod Touch, a new loop-based audio sequencer.

Everything in GrooveMaker is done in real-time. You can add, remove, and replace single or multiple loops as you listen.

If you’ve used Groovemaker, leave a comment with your thoughts!

GrooveMaker Features:

• Instantaneous control over 8 stereo loop tracks.\
• Massive loop library of drums, bass, bass-drums, lines, pads, percussion, effects included.
• Play, Mix and Randomize loops on the fly.
• Combine studio-quality loops to produce a million possible grooves.
• Manipulate loops in real time (pan, volume, mute, solo, group, tempo).
• Arrange grooves easily with drag and drop to create full-length tracks.
• Save, preview and recall your mixed tracks.
• Upload your tracks as hi-quality WAV file to your Mac/PC (Wi-Fi network required).
• Interactive Help feature allows for quick learning, simply follow the indicated steps.

There are 4 GrooveMaker applications currently available:

• GrooveMaker FREE, House and Hip-Hop styles, 125 loops included (78-125 BPM)
• GrooveMaker Club, 189 loops included (130-135-145 BPM), $4.99/€3.99
• GrooveMaker Hip-Hop, 315 loops included (80-85-90-100 BPM), $9.99/€7.99
• GrooveMaker House, 315 loops included (120-123-125-127 BPM) $9.99/€7.99

GrooveMaker apps are available at the IK Multimedia section in the Apple iTunes App Store.

More information is available at the Groovemaker site.

bleep!BOX (App Store link) is a combination drum machine and synthesizer for your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Description:

bleep!BOX has no samples, because everything is generated in realtime, meaning you can tweak to your heart’s content. It also means you won’t get stuck reusing the same sounds over and over.

bleep!BOX is not a simple toy – you can make real music. It’s great for house, hip-hop, R&B, electronica, drum ‘n’ bass, techno, trance and more.

Features:

• 10 Synth / Drum parts
• 50+ Parameters
• Save patches and presets
• Live performance modes
• Step sequencing + recording modes
• Parameter automation
• Realtime processing
• No samples

If you’ve used bleep!BOX, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Check out this official demo video of the Boss SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer.

Description:

The SYB-5 reproduces the fat and sharp sound characteristic of classic analog synthesizers.

The 11 internal synth sounds are based on combinations of three oscillator waves (Saw, Square, Pulse) and filters that fluctuate according to the envelope and LFO changes. The external pedal input means that bassists can put their foot into the performance by connecting an EV-5 Expression Pedal to control the filter and LFO rate.

If you’ve used the Boss SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts/ratings!

U&I Software has released MetaSynth 5, an electronic music studio for Mac OS X.

MetaSynth is not intended to be a soft-synth or plug-in. It is a complete sound design and electronic music composition environment with six “rooms “that you can use to create and process sounds in a variety of paradigm-smashing ways.

MetaSynth 5 Features:

• MetaSynth 5 is universal binary, multi-threaded and fully Leopard-compatible.
• Recording available in both Sample Editor and Montage Room.
• 32-bit floating point sound buffers and 64-bit floating point math for all audio operations.
• Full support for .caf and .wav files. – MetaSynth 5 can read and write .aif, .sd2, .caf and .wav files in all rooms.
• Add output device selection to Preferences. – MetaSynth no longer uses the default output device chosen in Audio MIDI Setup. MetaSynth now allows the selection of any available output device.
• Files can be saved at up to 32-bit resolution.
• Much longer sounds can be loaded and created than previously.

MetaSynth retails for $599.

If you’ve used MetaSynth, leave a comment with your thoughts!

This is a video overview and demo, via Matthew Davidson, of the new Tiptop Audio Z2040 4-pole low-pass filter, which is designed to sound similar to the Prophet 5 Rev 2 synthesizer.

Not only does the video do a great job of showcasing the Tiptop Audio Z2040, but it’s a great example of what gear manufacturers can do to educate people about their products.

If you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on modular synth gear, you’d like to see it and hear it before you shell out your money. Unless you live in a few places, like LA and Berlin, this probably isn’t going to happen.

Davidson’s video offers a bit of synth porn – giving you the sense of the tactile qualities of the filter, it highlights functional features of the module and it offers audiovideo demos, ranging from basic to advanced musical patches.

Davidson notes:

Demonstration videos are important for things like Euro modules because you usually can’t try one out in person before buying it. So, I made a video that somewhat replicates the experience of holding and using the product. It seems strange but you sort of want to see it up close, turn it around in your hand. I hope you find it helpful.

If you’ve used the Tiptop Audio Z2040 4-pole low-pass filter, leave a comment with your thoughts!

This is a video demo of Crystal Semi Modular Synth, a free software synth for Mac and PC.

Crystal is a semi-modular software synthesizer featuring both subtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offers abundant modulation control with over 90 parameters which may be modulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in effects for chorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band. Crystal also has wave sequencing, granular synthesis, program morphing, MIDI learn, and imports soundfonts.

Crystal is a plugin, which means it runs within a host, such as Cubase, Orion, Logic, Fruity Loops, etc.

If you’ve used Crystal, leave a comment with your thoughts!

NESynth is a virtual synthesizer designed to capture the 8-bit glory of old-shchool video game sounds.

Details on NESynth are available at the Newforestar site.

Now available in the App Store.

If you’ve used NESynth, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Dave Smith Instruments has introduced a new multitimbral synthesizer, the DSI Tetra.

Tetra’s four voices feature a 100% analog signal path and four-part multitimbral operation with individual outputs per voice.

Tetra takes the sound and features of the DSI Mopho, multiplies them by four, and packs them in a box less than half an inch larger.

“We’ve been getting the message loud and clear from our customers that ‘smaller is better,’” said company founder Dave Smith. “All our recent products pack a lot of power and functionality into a small package—even the Prophet ’08, which is relatively small for a full-sized keyboard. We’d also gotten a lot of requests for a poly version of Mopho, our analog mono synth, which has been very successful. By following Mopho’s lead and paring the interface down to the essentials, we can keep the price low and provide excellent value. Everybody wins.”

The DSI Tetra retails for $799.

If you’ve used the Dave Smith Instruments Tetra, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Dave Smith Tetra Synthesizer Details

Tetra is fully programmable via the front panel or with a free downloadable editor for Mac OS and Windows.

Tetra is basically four Mophos in a very compact (7.9″ L x 5″ W) enclosure, a sort of mini Prophet with a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve: specifically, a sub-octave generator for each oscillator and feedback. With a street price of approximately $799, that’s like four Mophos for the price of two. And it’s expandable. Tetra can be poly chained with additional Tetras or a Prophet ’08 for up to sixteen-voice polyphony.

Other features include Combo Mode, used to combine four programs into unison or poly “super patches.” Combos can also play four 16 x 4 step sequences—one per voice/program—
simultaneously. In Multi Mode, each of Tetra’s voices responds to a different MIDI channel, making it ideal for complex arrangements and sequencing analog drum sounds. Tetra is the first DSI product to feature USB.

USB is one of the most requested features across our entire product line,” said DSI’s Tracy Wadley, “so it’s great to be able to offer it.”

Features:

• Affordable, fully programmable poly synth with a 100% analog signal path.
• Classic, real analog sound—including legendary Curtis analog low-pass filter.
• Four-part multitimbral capability with four separate outputs.
• Combo Mode for huge unison patches, stacked sequences, and “modular-style” poly sounds.
• Expandable: poly chain with other Tetras, Prophet ‘08, and Mopho for expanded polyphony
• Just 7.9″ x 5″ (20.07 cm x 12.7 cm).
• Free editor for Mac OS and Windows.

Specifications:

• Multitimbral four-voice analog synthesizer
• 100% analog signal path
• Two oscillators per voice (sawtooth, triangle, saw/triangle, square with variable pulse width) with hard sync
• White noise generator
• One classic Curtis low-pass filter (switchable 2- or 4-pole) per voice, self-oscillating in 4-pole mode
• Analog VCAs
• Three envelope generators (ADSR plus delay) per voice
• Four LFOs per voice
• Two sub-octave generators (one octave down and two octaves down) per voice
• Feedback loop per voice with programmable level and gain
• Four assignable performance controls per program
• Gated 16 x 4 step sequencer (one sequence per program)
• Arpeggiator
• Fully programmable (free downloadable software editor for Mac OS and Windows)
• 512 programs organized into four banks of 128; 128 combos
• I/O: USB 2.0 (type B receptacle), MIDI In, MIDI Out/Thru, Poly Chain Out, Audio Outs 1/Left, 2/Right, 3, and 4 (1/4″ unbalanced), 1/4″ Headphone Out
• 7.9” L x 5” W x 2.7” H (20.07 cm x 12.7 cm x 6.86 cm)
• 1.8 lb. (0.81 kg)

A collection of short science fiction and surreal stories by Matt Howarth, based on the compositions of ambient pioneer Robert Rich.

Embark on a series of fantastic voyages, where you’ll encounter:

• the link between a massive brushfire and aboriginal cave art,
• a mathematician’s quest into the desert,
• giant lizards orbiting the Earth,
• an old man captivated by dancing moss in a park,
• a kidnapping in the new Ice Age,
• the music a lonely lighthouse keeper uses to while away the nights,
• the fate of the last Martians
• the unnatural hunger of Dame Procol’s new lifeforms,
• a man in search of amnesia,
• an antique dealer specializing in artifacts from the 21st Century’s texplosion era,
• an alien spire that reaches beyond the sky, and more.

This book also features story notes in which Howarth and Rich discuss the connections between the stories and the source music.”

Enriched Visions is available for $17.50.

If you’ve read Enriched Visions, leave a comment with your thoughts!

The Korg DW-8000 synthesizer was released in 1985, along with its cheaper stable mate, the Korg DW-6000 synthesizer.

The DW-8000 is an eight note polyphonic hybrid digital-analog synthesizer instrument. By the time of its launch Korg had already begun a common trend in 80s synthesizer design of using numerical parameter access as with the Korg Poly-800 eschewing the heavily laden control panels of earlier designs. A more unusual feature of the instrument for the time was the use of sampled waveforms as the basic building block of sounds, and the inclusion of a digital delay effect.

This latter feature was one significant factor in the relative success of the DW-8000 compared DW-6000 released the same year.

The DW-8000 has been used by Juno Reactor, Depeche Mode, Dream Theater, Joe Zawinul, and Keith Emerson.

If you’ve used the Korg DW-8000, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Resources:

• Korg DW-8000 on Wikipedia
• Korg DW-8000 FAQ
• Korg DW-8000.com
• VintageSynth entry
• Video via thegarranimal: