Gear and software reviews by Synthtopia readers.
NAMM Update: Roland announced what they call the most powerful and luxurious live workstation in Roland history. Luxuriate in the details: The Fantom-G offers an advanced sound engine, the ARX SuperNATURAL expansion bay, a large color LCD, a new audio/MIDI recorder, 88-note Ivory Feel weighted keys (Fantom-G8), 76-note keys (Fantom-G7), and 61-note keys (Fantom-G6). The… Read More Roland Fantom-G Workstations
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=11250783B00089E8 The Roland GR-20 Guitar Synthesizer is the latest guitar synth in a long line of guitar synths from Roland. The videos above offer Roland’s official introductions to the GR-20. To use the GR-20, you: Attach the included GK-3 Divided Pickup to your steel-stringed electric (no drilling necessary). Second, select the type of sound you… Read More The Roland GR-20 Guitar Synthesizer
Access has announced the Virus TI Snow, a desktop Virus with computer connectivity. The Virus TI Snow features 3 oscillators and one sub-oscillator per voice. The main oscillators can be classic analog-style oscillators (saw, square, sine waves, etc) hypersaw, wavetable, graintable, or formant oscillators. Two independent filters (lowpass, highpass, bandpass and bandstop) with an optional… Read More Access Virus TI Snow
Audio Simulation have announced the new DreamStation II sequencer and software synth host application for the Windows platform. In addition, they’ve made DreamStation I available as a free download. The sequencer interface has been completely reworked, the internal sound engine detached to allow industry standard plugins to be hosted, and the mixer has been improved… Read More DreamStation II Software Synthesizer
Chimera has introduced the bC16, a tiny modular synthesizer. The bC16 miniature patch synthesizer packs a fully featured analog VCO, LFO, ADSR envelope generator, VCA, VCF, noise source & ring modulator all in a CD sized case CNC machined from 10mm high-grade acrylic plastic. Sixteen color coded potentiometers control key functions, connections between synthesizer sections… Read More Chimera bC16 Modular Synthesizer
The Klee Sequencer is a DIY project that can be thought of as a combination of the idea behind (but not the implementation of) the Triadex Muse coupled to a step sequencer. It can be built in many configurations. The example above is by dr.photon. Klee Sequencing relies upon the composer’s innate ability to discern patterns… Read More The Klee Sequencer
Korg has added an new twist to its line of DJ tools. The Kaossilator (best new product name in a long time) is a new battery-powered pocket-sized instrument that combines the touch interface of the Kaoss Pad with Korg synth sounds. The Kaossilator is designed to be easy to use, even for untrained musicians, but… Read More Korg Kaossilator Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer
At the Summer NAMM Show, Open Labs introduced the sexy Timbaland Special Edition MiKo keyboard workcenter. Building on the standard features of the MiKo LX, an all-in-one portable studio powered by Windows XP, the Timbaland Special Edition takes the instrument to a new level. Timbaland Special Edition MiKo features an all-new Arctic White Chassis color… Read More Open Labs Timbaland MiKo
The Technos Acxel Resynthesizer is an additive synth developed in Quebec, Canada during the late 1980s. Its architecture is based on sine-wave oscillators that are each assigned amplitude and pitch envelopes to form the component harmonics of a sound. The major innovation of the Acxel was, according to Technos, resynthesis. The idea is to sample… Read More The Technos Acxel Resynthesizer
Adern has announced the release of FleXor 3, an add-on pack of modules designed to “take your Scope Modular system to the next level”. The thick sound of FleXor3 recreates the warmth of analog, as well as offering routes into uncharted digital territory. 150 new synthesis and processing components have been added since the original… Read More Adern Flexor 3 Modular Synth For Scope DSP System
