Yamaha today announced a new, budget version of it’s innovative Tenori On music synthesizer – the Tenori On Orange, TRN-O.

The TRN-O is an entry-level version of the Tenori On, offering the same basic musical functionality, but using orange LEDs, stripping away the backlighting LEDs and using a basic white plastic case.

Surprisingly for a budget item, Yamaha did not announce the pricing for the new Tenori On Orange. The TRN-O is expected to be available in December.

Yamaha also confirmed a free forthcoming firmware update for Tenori-On customers, expected to be available in January. The update will address the syncing of Tenori-On to external DAW applications and offer an improved MIDI sync implementation.

According to Yamaha, the new Tenori-On ‘Orange’ offers the same levels of creative power as the original but has been made significantly more affordable. Yamaha has replaced the magnesium casing of the original with a heavy duty and durable plastic casing.

“We know everyone loves the concept and fresh approach of Tenori-On, however, as you’d expect we have received thousands of requests for a more affordable version,” Yamaha’s Peter Peck explains. “We therefore looked at many ways of reducing the price without compromising the all-important product concept or creative operating system. By removing the battery option and the back panel LED’s and changing the chassis construction from the magnesium found on the original to a more affordable material we have achieved our goal of creating the more affordable Tenori-On ‘Orange’, bringing the full creative capability of Tenori-On to a much wider audience.”

Details at the Yamaha site.

Mochika + Abyssal recording session

via atomolab:

Recording session for the AtomoSynth Proyect album, Mochika processed by the Abyssal filter. Abyssal with delay added.

This video captures the Bratigel Rotary Analog Step Sequencer in action. 

via heidibeerbel:

Bratigel – Germany ,Rotary Modular Step Sequencer with 2 x 12 Steps , forward/backward Counter, CV Clock Many Controls, Precis.

CV Scaling and switchable Glide, very nice Trigger Divider with many LEDs…

There’s not much more information on the web on this beyond what’s on YouTube. If you know anything more, please leave a comment!

This video demos MIDI clock control of Synthesizers.com Q960 analog sequencer.

via davidryle:

To control the clock timing for synchronizing to Cubase, this patch was created on my Synthesizers.com modular.

Future Retro has introduced a sextacular new MIDI/analog sequencer, the Future Retro Orb Sequencer.

It’s an evolution of the Roland TB-303 inspired sequencer that’s the heart of the company’s Mobius Sequencer, Future Retro 777 bassline synth and Revolution synth, but redesigned as part of FR’s XS analog synth line.

While the Orb offers a fraction of the connectivity options of Future Retro’s earlier Mobius sequencer, it has a much more elegant design and some unique sequencing options.

The Future Retro Orb Sequencer retails for $550.

Details below.

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

Description:

The Orb is a single track, step-based digital sequencer, designed to be ideal for controlling Future Retro’s XS semi-modular synthesizer, as well as other analog CV/Gate or MIDI synthesizers. The Orb is also a perfect solution for controlling 303 clones which often lack the essential sequencer.

According to Future Retro’s Jared Flickinger:

The Orb provides an intuitive interface that we feel most accurately represents the principles of time and music. From ancient sundials to modern day analog clocks, time has been represented as the circle, a cycle which never ends. For time itself is nothing more than our perception of the revolution of planets as they journey through their celestial orbit. It is this motion that we call time that can be measured, divided, and arranged to provide the foundation of music. This circular cyclic theme can furthermore be found throughout music in everything from song structure and repeating rhythms to the fundamentals of sound itself, being the sine wave. With this understanding we must conclude that music is cyclic and should so be represented in its natural form.

The Orb sequencer is housed in a rugged aluminum chassis with a high contrast white on gun metal grey finish for easy viewing of controls in dark environments, and bright blue LEDs all around. New spherical switches allow quick selection of multiple steps by sweeping through the surface of step keys.

The Sequencer

The sequencer’s interface is circular, which provides several benefits over the traditional linear-style step sequencers. Visually, it is easier to divide a measure of music into equal parts. The circular interface also provides a more intuitive way of displaying patterns playing as cyclic loops, either forwards or reverse, and will help you better understand the underlying geometric symmetries used throughout the remixing process. This design also allows the user to carry out all sequencing functions with a single hand.

There are 256 recordable patterns available, each recording note duration, pitch, accent , glide, loop point, time signature, and swing amount. Pattern editing features include copy/paste, pattern shifting, pattern transposing, multiple pattern cueing for chaining patterns together live, and LED chase. In addition, all pattern editing and recording can be done while the sequencer is running, and it will automatically save all your edits so you don’t have to stop creating.

The Orb also provides the ability to play patterns forwards or backwards, as well as remotely select patterns to play using MIDI program change messages.

There are 16 songs to arrange the patterns in, each recording its tempo, the bank/pattern for each step, the transposition of each step, and the song’s loop point. Each of the 16 songs can contain up to 3,580 measures, and multiple songs may be chained together so they play sequentially.

In addition, the Orb provides a Remix feature, which gives 256 variations for every pattern and song, for more than 65,000 possible patterns right out of the box.

Patterns and songs can be backed up via SysEx dumps to other Orb units, Revolution units, or your computer. In addition, all patterns and songs created in the Orb can be played in the Revolution units, just as all Revolution patterns and songs can be played in the Orb.

Interfacing

The Orb provides separate 1/4″ jacks for the CV out (1V/oct standard) with adjustable Glide Time control, Gate out (positive polarity type, 0 to +12V), and Accent out (positive polarity type gate, 0 to +10v) for playing most analog synthesizers. Or if you prefer, the Orb can act as a MIDI to CV converter allowing any MIDI keyboard/controller, or sequencer to contol an analog synthesizer. It’s also possible to sync most pre-MIDI analog sequencers and arpeggiators to MIDI clock by using the Gate out signal as a programmable clock source.

MIDI In/Thru/Out are all provided for syncing playback with external sequencers, playing MIDI sound modules, or using the Orb as a MIDI to CV converter.

Specifications:

• Number of Patterns: 256 patterns (16 banks x 16 patterns each)
• Recorded Pattern Content: note duration, pitch, accent, glide, loop point, time signature, swing amount
• Number of Steps Per Pattern: 3/4 time = 12 steps, 4/4 time = 16 steps max
• Note Pitch Range: C1 – D#6 (internal), C2 – D#7 (MIDI)
• Loop Point: 1 to 16 notes per pattern to loop
• Pattern Transpose: from -36 to +36 semitones
• Other Pattern Features: pattern remixing, play patterns forwards or backwards, copy and paste patterns, pattern shifting, permanent pattern transposing, multiple pattern cueing (for chaining patterns together live), LED chase, real-time editing of pattern information while the sequencer is playing or stopped, sequencer automatically saves all editing
• Remix: 256 instant variations for playing each pattern and song
• Number of Songs: 16
• Number of Steps Per Song: up to 3,580 measures each
• Recorded Song Content: tempo, bank/pattern for each step, transpose value for each step, song loop point
• Song Pattern Transpose: from -36 to +36 semitones for each song step
• Tempo Range: from 20 to 250 beats per minute
• MIDI Functions: on/off, channel selectable from 1-16, Program Change messages for selecting patterns remotely
• MIDI Sync: internal or external
• MIDI Sysex: for backing up patterns and songs (sysex dumps compatible with the Revolution synthesizer)
• MIDI Data: note on/off, pitch, velocity (transmitted and received)
• MIDI to CV Converter: Converts internal patterns or external MIDI note data into control voltage, gate, and accent signals for controlling other analog synthesizers
• MIDI: in, thru, out
• 1/4″ Jacks: v/oct CV out, +12v gate out (positive polarity), +10v accent out (positive polarity)12 volt AC input, current rating of 1 amp or 1,000 mA7″ length, 6″ width, 2.75″ height
• 1.75 lbs.

Warranty

• The Orb comes with a 1 year limited warranty covering any failure of components being electric or mechanical.
• For your warranty to be effective, you must register your unit within 30 days of purchase.
• Any modifications done to the Orb automatically void the warranty!

Demonstration of an early alpha version of the upcoming MIDIbox SEQ V4.

Many planned features are not available yet. However, most functions of MBSEQ V3 have already been re-implemented in C for the new MBHP_CORE_STM32 module and for an accurate PC/Mac based emulation. I also started to add new functions which were too complex for the old PIC based core.

Here are the video details:

[0:00] new frontpanel designed by Wilba (but the firmware will also support the frontpanel of MBSEQ V2 and V3)
[0:02] a drum track can play up to 16 instruments
[0:10] patterns are stored on a SD card now, and can be loaded (and stored) w/o sequencer hickups
[0:18] zoomed step view (shows 64, 128, 256 steps on a single page)
[0:10] snare is triggered with the overworked (more flexible) roll function at 384ppqn resolution
[0:20] new pattern selection page with pattern labels and categories
[0:23] MIDIbox SID V2 in bassline mode
[0:30] Roll function used on the bassline
[0:38] a loopback track controls the transposer, it doesn’t matter anymore at which position this track is located
[0:53] Piano controlled from a track in chord mode
[1:13] some randomly selected chords
[1:24] simple synth line
[1:45] now with MIDI echo in Force-to-Scale mode (synth is in mono mode, therefore only one sound will be played – it sounds like an arpeggio)
[2:14] a second MIDIbox SID bassline is played
[2:43] slowly muting the tracks
[3:00] thanks for listening!

Here’s a demo video for the Sherman Rodec Restyler, via BigCityMusic:

Here’s a little modular noodle being processed by the Sherman Rodec Restyler. The Sherman is an incredible sounding multimode filter with some fun Sherman quirks thrown in.

The knob on the bottom-left determines at what frequency the modulation kicks in. The big knob on the right is the overall frequency cutoff. The switch at the top-right engages the Sherman in the upper position, bypasses in the center, and acts as a momentary switch in the bottom position.

We’re using the Jomox XBase 999 drum machine for the backing beat and to clock our sequence. This thing is fun!

Here’s something that we didn’t see at NAMM – the limited edition Posse Crew Ensemble AS-606 Ambient Sequencer  - a hardware sequencer specifically designed for drones and long, evolving ambient pads. 

Features:

• One-channel one-step sequencer
• Unlimited note duration
• 20-voice polyphony
• Compatible with all digital and analog keyboards
• Real-time control for all parameters
• “To Infinity And Beyond™” infinite control resolution
• Contains no small parts
• No choking hazard
• Suitable for children less than three years old

It’s compatible with both CV and MIDI synths, as this action shot demonstrates:

Pricing and availability are TBA. 

Details at the Posse Crew Ensemble site.  

via CrateKings

Nemo builds on the tradition of real-time MIDI sequencing of GenoQs’ Octopus.

Features:

• 90+ Tactile switches and 9 endless encoders for interactive access
• 93 LEDs (tri-color) used to display both numeric and quantitative data
• 64 pages (i.e. “patterns”)
• 4 tracks per page, 16 steps each
• 4 concurrent pages, i.e. 16 concurrent tracks
• Page tracks freely chain-able to structures of up to 64 steps
• Per track velocity, pitch, length and start factors, MIDI channel and CC
• Individual clock multiplier/divisor per track
• Individual and editable runtime directions per track
• Polyphonic steps, of up to 7 notes (chords or multi-trigger)
• Track self modulation, via step events
• Cross modulation of tracks (via the Effector)
• MIDI note and CC recording and playback per track
• 32 MIDI channels via 2 dedicated MIDI ports

Nemo is available now for €1399.

This video, by Oliver Chesler of Wire to the Ear, demos the Voice of Saturn synth DIY synthesizer & sequencer kits. 

Infection Music has announced that the pilot build of its unique Zeit desktop sequencer has been completed.

They call the Zeit the world’s best hardware sequencer and at £1199, it’s certainly one of the most expensive. You can preview a demo of the Zeit in action, below.

Here are the specs:

Specifications: as Zeit 19″ version but with some clock rates (3x, 1/3) and some directional settings..

• Eight concurrent sequences
• Three channels per sequence (Pitch, Controller One, Controller Two)
• Each channel has independant :
  • Master On/Off switch
  • Start Step
  • End Step
  • Active Steps pattern
  • Skipped Steps pattern
  • Direction
• Directions available :
  • Forward
  • Reverse
  • Pendulum
  • Random
  • Once
  • Drone
  • Diffusion
  • plus four cyclic modes…
  • plus four algorithmic modes…
• Each sequence has independant :
  • LFO (6 waveforms, rate, master depth, time offset, depth offset, sync to tempo)
  • Sweep Generator (Start, Target and End Levels with Transit time)
  • Clock Source (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, Normal, 2x, 3x, 4x, 8x)
  • Master on/off enable
  • Effects Send (currently pitch channel only)
  • Force-to-Scale send
  • Real-time transpose from keyboard
• LFO/Sweep Generator can be routed to :
  • Note Pitch
  • Note Velocity
  • Controller One
  • Controller Two
• Effects Processor :
  • Repeat Count (1..16 repeats)
  • Echo time (milliseconds and MIDI clocks)
  • Sync Delay to Tempo
  • Note Shift (+/- 24 semitones)
  • Velocity Shift
  • MIDI Channel
  • Master on/off switch
• Force-to-Scale :
  • 16 factory defined scales (Major, Minor, Japanese, Turkish, Blues etc)
  • 16 user defined scales
• Internal memory :
  • 64 Sequence memories
  • 64 Patch memories
• Additional features
  • Step time input
  • Tap Tempo input
  • 16 Quick Select memory locations (Sequence, Patch, Controller, Scale)
  • Internal/External sync (with MIDI clock forwarding)
  • Edit Hold
  • Tape transport style controls
  • 24 x 2 character VFD display
  • MIDI software updates
  • External Control (Sys-ex, MIDI CC)
  • Tape transport style controls
  • Available in Standard and Retro finishes.