Gear and software reviews by Synthtopia readers.
NAMM: Roland is tipping its hat to the past with the new Juno-G. But while its looks may be retro, its synth architecture has little to do with classic Juno synths. Description: Sharing the same high-powered processor as Roland’s famous Fantom-X series, the JUNO-G puts a world of first-class sound and performance features under musicians’… Read More Roland Juno-G Synthesizer
Metasonix, creators of tube-based analog music gear, has introduced what they call “The Ultimate Tube Synthesizer,” the Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine. Pitch sources: 2 independent VCOs Made entirely of vacuum and gas-filled tubes Range >2 octaves using CV, octave switching allows range from 33 Hz (low C) to more than 2 kHz. 3 waveforms: thyratron… Read More Metasonix S-1000 Wretch Machine Tube-Based Synth
The Eowave Persephone is a ribbon-controlled analog instrument that recalls the first electric keyboards from the 1950s. Its ribbon virtual keyboard allows the kinds of glissando a Theremin or les Ondes Martenot would allow. The Persephone sound, created by a 100 % analog oscillator, is also inspired from these instruments and oscillates from human voices… Read More Eowave Persephone Ribbon-Controlled Electronic Instrument
Ray Wilson’s Music From Outer Space site has added a new synth DIY project, the Weird Sound Generator. As Wilson describes it, “Whether you need weird sounds for a movie, performance art, neighbor annoyance, or you just like making weird sounds in the woods this circuit is for you. You could put this on a… Read More Music From Outer Space Weird Sound Generator.
Cyndustries has announced a new type of modular synthesizer oscillator, the Zeroscillator, an all-analog through-zero FM oscillator. According to Cyndustries, the Zeroscillator will be “the first time traditional digital FM synthesis is possible in an all analog signal path.” The Zeroscillator “is an original design by Mark Barton,” explains Cyndustries Cynthia Webster. “Mark, and John… Read More Cyndustries Zeroscillator For Modular Synths
Moog has announced the CV Input Expander: VX-352 for the Voyager Rack Mount synthesizer. Similar in looks to the VX-351 Output Expander for the Voyager, the VX-352 gives you access to all 10 CV Inputs including 7 Control Inputs plus a Sample & Hold Input and Rate inputs for both the Envelope and LFO. The… Read More Voyager Rack Mount CV Input Expander
Blacet, a manufacturer of modular synthesizer equipment, has introduced the Improbabiliy Drive. The new noise module design provides a variety of noise and random outputs. Features: Analog White Noise Digital Noise with VC Level and Width (Window Comparator) VC BP or LP Filter Noise Mixer with Output VC Sample Hold Clock External S/H Clock Input… Read More Blacet Intros Improbability Drive for Modular Synths
Edirol has announced the CG-8 Visual Synthesizer. Just as synthesis in music prompted new waves of musical creativity so the CG-8 is set to do the same for the visual artist. In a musical context, a sampling synthesizer takes audio in or regenerates it from a wave generator and then modulates it with filters and… Read More Edirol CG-8 Visual Synthesizer
NAMM 2005: Moog has announced a rack version of the Minimoog Voyager, the Rack Mount Edition (RME). The package contains all the features of the Voyager plus switchable audio out (-2dBm unbalanced or +4dBm balanced 600 Ohms). It also includes the Electric Blue back lit panel introduced with the Anniversary Edition Voyager. Missing are the… Read More Moog Music Minimoog Voyager Rack Mount Edition
Future-Retro has announced that The Revolution, an innovative new analog synthesizer, is now in production. The Revolution is Future-Retro’s latest “concept synthesizer”. Future-Retro is best known for its killer 777 synthesizer. According to FR’s Jered Flickinger, The Revolution provides “an intuitive interface which we feel most accurately represents the principles of time and music. From… Read More Future Retro Revolution
