Hi there!
OXI Instruments is launching their crowdfunding campaign for their OXI One Sequencer tomorrow and yours truly has been playing with the prototype for the past couple of weeks.
Bottom line? It needs some workflow refinements, but it's kind of like what would happen if NDLR and Deluge had a baby.
More in the video, and attached is the intro/outro track...
2021-05-03 18:40:45 +0000 UTC View PostHi there!
Thought I wouldn't send a book update for April? Well, technically, I didn't, but here goes anyway...
While I haven't really committed to making monthly updates to the book, I have so far, and April 2021 wasn't going to be any different.
I had finished writing the Additive Synthesis chapter, which was the main update planned for April, and just...
2021-05-02 19:09:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
It seems like IK Multimedia is out to prove a synth can be priced at "Behringer territory" and still pack a punch - the desktop UNO Synth Pro costs $400 and yet has three analog oscillators, two analog filters and an analog drive, alongside digital effects and digital control, including the ability to save presets (the keyboard version costs more but has the same exac...
2021-04-29 05:35:56 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
About a month ago a Patron asked me to add a description of how Tonewheel organs work to my book (spoiler: electromechanical additive synths...). Then a couple of weeks ago Arturia asked if I'd like to take a peek at a beta of Pigments 3, which has a new Additive synthesis engine. Those two were enough of a sign from the universe that it's time to tak...
2021-04-25 15:28:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
At first glance, Norand Mono looks like yet another TB-303 inspired mono synth, but a deeper look under the hood reveals a few interface ideas that are a clever use of space, and yes dare I say a breakthrough as far as hardware synths are concerned (software synths have been doing this for a while)
In particular, LEDs on the knobs reveal both knob values and mod...
2021-04-11 15:04:58 +0000 UTC View PostHi there!
If you're new to my Patreon, thanks for joining and you've got a lot of reading ahead of you!
If you've been around for a while - thanks even more, and you know the drill :) just search for the string MAR2021 to skip from update to update.
IMPORTANT! Many of this month's updates were inspired by reader requests - feel free to comment...
2021-03-31 15:06:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi there!
I just wanted to give you a heads up that my review of Ground Control - a new Eurorack Sequencer and Arpeggiator by Endorphines will be premiering in less than 4 hours - with all the clocks springing forward recently- just click the reminder button on youtube to set a reminder and things should work themselves out in your time zone.
In a n...
2021-03-29 12:16:41 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi there!
NOTE: If you've supported the channel in excess of $7 feel free to send me a personal message and I'll email you a download link for the album!
Mastering is an art - but can AI help? I decided to throw caution to the wind and master an album myself - "myself" being a slight exaggeration since I mostly used "artificial intelligence" based tools.
I've ...
2021-03-22 14:21:51 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
This review was fun to make!
Not just because Deckard's Dream MK2 is a great sounding synth, but more so because so much of it seems to have come from a parallel synth universe...
All of course inspired by the unique design decisions in Yamaha's CS-80, which include:
Hi!
A couple of months ago Julia Bondar uploaded a 90-minute live techno performance, and I was thoroughly impressed with how she pulled off a non-stop, multi-song set with a relatively compact Eurorack setup. I invited her to the "show" - and she agreed to walk us through her setup and process in detail, and thus we now have chapter 3 of the Synth Setup Tips series!
<... 2021-03-01 10:48:52 +0000 UTC View Post![February 2021 Book update + exclusive patch downloads [FEB2021]](https://img5.fansofall.com/storage/11/ze/hl/7f3446-019e87a1-99d1-79e7-bdc0-3c32642e3beb.jpg)
Hi there!
Even if you're not interested in modular synths, I highly recommend getting acquainted with VCV Rack. lt may help you get a new perspective on "regular" non-modular synths and music production, and even if you're solely working within a DAW, VCV Rack may inspire you to use native tools like Reaktor and Max for Live within your production.
In this book update, I wanted, amo...
2021-02-28 11:57:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi there!
A mini double-feature here for small updates - I didn't want to clog your inbox twice so here they are together:
1. One of the biggest flaws of the MV-1 from Roland is it's small screen. It's workable for the tone sound design parameters, but things get quite hard to control with the multi effects and master compressor/limiter/EQ parameters. I still manage...
2021-02-26 07:55:48 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey there!
If you joined the premiere - thanks - it was fun! The review is live so, everything you want to know is there, I've attached the outro track to this post for those interested.
Thanks!
Ziv / Loopop
2021-02-15 10:22:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
The first half of the leaked new Circuit duo is here: Circuit Tracks.
Unlike Circuit Rhythm, which from the leaks seems like a different instrument, Circuit Tracks is more like a "Circuit MK2" - it has the same internal engine, but a lot is new and improved. More details in my video.
Since Circuit Tracks (still!) doesn't let you play or sequence sampl...
2021-02-09 16:01:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
When I first saw the MV-1 Verselab from Roland, I was hesitant to review it - it's designed to produce vocals-based songs: I've heard myself sing, and I didn't like what I heard (though with auto tune I'm a darn good robot!).
MV-1 seems like a real attempt to create a DAWless-DAW. Maschine, Deluge and AKAI Force already have arranger based sequencing options ful...
2021-02-06 14:55:33 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello Dear WaveShapers!
The essence of a good "trick" or "tip" is to help you get more out of your instrument, or bring new inspiration to your music by doing things a little differently.
This months' stars are the pitch bend wheel that could do more, yet another cool use for an LFO as a generative tool and much more.
NO...
2021-01-31 11:08:29 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi there!
RYTM MK2 by Elektron - it's been around for a while, and I finally got around to exploring it.
The competition is stiff - not only has Elektron raised RYTM's price, but new entrants like the MPCs, MC707 and Maschine Plus are putting up a heck of a fight, despite not being analog.
Does it still have an edge? Spoiler: IMHO yes, I think its analog...
2021-01-26 22:07:58 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
Are you up for 3 minutes of pitch bend ideas? That and plenty more in this week's video.
The ideas are shown on the Subsequent 37, so you'll certainly benefit more if you have one, but many are applicable to other synths as well.
The outro track as well as the presets I use in the video are attached to this post (and a few more) in c...
2021-01-11 13:02:55 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
There are a few reasons to get a hardware synth: sound, hands-on control, getting away from a computer, avoiding CPU limitations.
Computer issues aside, from a sound perspective, software plug-ins are getting anywhere from pretty darn good to indistinguishable from their hardware counterparts, whether digital or analog.
SoundForce is a small company from t...
2021-01-03 11:46:54 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi there!
I try to keep my updates "bite size" but this one grew slightly more than the typical update.
As usual, you can skip around the document by searching for DEC2020
Hi!
One last video for the year! In light of popular demand since video #1 - here's another. My last video with BURG featured a mostly DAWless setup, so to shake things up a bit with a different perspective, I invited Martin Stürtzer to talk about his Ableton Live based setup.
Loads of helpful insights and tips in this one, and as you may have guessed, the book upd...
2020-12-27 17:36:32 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
UPDATE: A good excuse to wish you a happy holiday again... the kit prices bought from Midiphy don't include additional components you need to buy for about 50 to 100 euros (depending on where you buy them and whether you buy in bulk)
Before I start, the important stuff first - I just wanted to wish you a happy and safe holiday season! We're ...
2020-12-20 17:45:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
Super 6 by UDO doesn't have a screen, and that's both a pro and a con. There's no menu diving, but there are no menus packed with features. You can't see preset names or parameter values, settings are sometimes a pain to change, but I have to admit there's a certain freedom and immediacy to it that is liberating.
And, yes, it is "binaural" - mea...
2020-12-13 15:32:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
Learning one synth or groovebox can be hard enough on its own, syncing several together can be a totally different challenge.
Just like anything in music-making, there can be different approaches to a "perfect" setup and how to run it.
Jouni Ollila AKA BURG is a producer and performer whose music I appreciate as much as how easily he...
2020-12-03 12:03:49 +0000 UTC View Post!["Operator Synthesis" - November 2020 book update [NEW NOV2020]](https://img5.fansofall.com/storage/6/vw/cw/7f3446-019e87a1-9c6a-7648-b587-0ea346cd2470.jpg)
Hi there!
Ever wonder about how or when to use the different algorithms you see in various FM synths?
This month's book update focuses on Operator Synthesis. Yes, as if we don't have enough types of synthesis, here's a "new" one.
Well, obviously, not a new one, but I've not seen people call it that. "Operators" in synths that have them are mod...
2020-11-30 14:32:34 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
Quite a few people have been asking me for a Prophet 5 Rev 4 review, but frankly what's really interesting to me (and I think many others) is whether it's worth the extra cost (and fewer features) over the Prophet 6.
Now, I probably would have been trying to get my hands on both if it wasn't for Julian Pollack (J3PO) making such a fine compariso...
2020-11-29 17:40:52 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
I've been exploring the beta of Akai's DrumSynth for MPC/Force for a while, and now that the "embargo" has been lifted I can give it a brief public spin. In my opinion, it quite simply makes the MPC and Force one of the best sounding and fully featured hardware drum synths out there.
Of course, it wouldn't be all pros without some cons... the DrumSynth imp...
2020-11-24 15:04:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi,
Well, looks like it's sequencer week! I've had the pre-production Black Sequencer from Erica Synths for about a month, and it has come quite a long way in that time. It's still not fully baked, but there's enough where it's ready for a review.
I've reviewed quite a few Eurorack sequencers on the channel - Rene 2, USTA, Vector, Hermod and more, and the evolution ...
2020-11-21 17:25:25 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
The third Korg shoe has dropped (or, well, will drop early 2021 - this is a pre-production unit) - SQ-64 is a polyphonic desktop sequencer - 3 polyphonic tracks and one drum track - a similar arrangement to the KeyStep Pro - but in a much smaller desktop form, without keybed of course. Despite its size, it has plenty of connectivity options, with two ...
2020-11-18 05:24:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi!
Six operators in a digital synth - we've heard that story before... and yet thinking that of Korg's new opsix leaves out a large chunk of the story.
First, the big news here I think is the interface - six faders and knobs directly connected to operator level and frequency, makes playing operators as immediate and hands-on as a filter cutoff knob...
2020-11-11 05:26:54 +0000 UTC View Post