Robin Vincent, Author at gearnews.com

Transform the Microsoft Surface Dial into a MIDI controller with Elephant

17 Aug 2018 in Studio

The Surface Dial is a brilliantly engineering piece of hardware that sits around doing nothing all day. Not any more. With Elephant you can transform it into an awesome knob controller for your music software.

Unexpectedly tuneful Ellitone Multi-Synth from noise maker Ellistronics

17 Aug 2018 in Synths

Ellistronics have moved beyond noise and distortion into unexpected tones and melody for their latest handmade synthesizer the Ellitone Multi-Synth. They sell out really fast so get one while you can!

Get some guitar feel in your electronic music with the StrumPad MIDI Controller

16 Aug 2018 in Studio

A remarkable open source MIDI project that creates the feel of strumming a guitar. Feed chords from a keyboard into StrumPad and then strum away with your fingers to output a very expressive strummed ...

Crusher-X Granular Synthesizer gets overly familiar with MPE

16 Aug 2018 in Synths

Developed with ROLI, makers of the Seaboard MPE controllers, Crusher-X is embracing all 5 dimensions of this expressive technology so you can push your grains in many directions at once.

Fully fledged DAW Tracktion 7 is now free

15 Aug 2018 in Studio

Tracktion Corporation has announced that Tracktion 7 is now completely free. Unlimited tracks, VST support, vocal comping and step sequencing it has everything you need to produce music on MacOS, Windows or ...

Strange Science Instruments release their first modules and how they made them

15 Aug 2018 in Synths

Strange Science Instruments are all about stereo and have just released the M4 Stereo Mixer and F1 Stereo Filter Eurorack modules along with a fascinating video showing the process from idea to completion.

Apogee add their voice to growing concern about tariffs on US imports

10 Aug 2018 in Studio

Apogee has come out in support of Moog Music and against President Trump's 25% trade tariffs on Chinese electrical components. Is it political manoeuvring or are price hikes and outsourcing manufacturing ...

CYPHER2: An analogue-modelled sound design adventure into MPE from Fxpansion

09 Aug 2018 in Synths

The first synth to come out of Fxpansion since the ROLI merger and it's a doozy. CYPHER2 is a complex analogue modelled oscillating and modulating five-dimensional monster synth.

Behringer play the PCB synthesizer guessing game again

09 Aug 2018 in Synths

Another day another mystery synthesizer PCB from Behringer inviting us to "guess the product". A certain amount of cynicism appears to be creeping into the comments - are we getting bored with this game?

808 Day: Behringer drop an RD-808 jam video and tease a 909 day announcement

08 Aug 2018 in Synths

Not as much going on this 808 Day as we'd hoped but we do get a good sound demo of the forthcoming RD-808 with some hints at pricing and release date. Will we see an RD-909 on 909 Day?

808 Day: Roland release JX-3P Plug-Out for System 8 synthesizer

08 Aug 2018 in Synths

Roland celebrates 808 Day by releasing an update for the System-8 synthesizer that includes the JX-3P 6 voice polysynth. Add in a pair of trainers and some limited edition vinyl and is that our lot for this ...

808 Day: DSP Synthesizers R808 Eurorack drum module $80.8 for one day only

08 Aug 2018 in Synths

8 classic sampled 808 drum sounds packed into a compact R808 4HP Eurorack module at a spectacular price for one day only. Get some 808 into your rack this 808 Day.

Roland tease Plug-out Number 3 for System 8. Which synth are they emulating?

07 Aug 2018 in Synths

A video on Facebook suggests that Roland are about to announce their third virtual Plug-Out recreate of a classic synthesizer for the System-8 on 808 Day. Firm favourite is the JX3P - what do you think?

Ribn: Looping finger driven modulation of any MIDI parameter from an iOS device

07 Aug 2018 in Studio

New into the Apple App Store is Ribn, an organic repeating modulation generator that you can run into any MIDI device. Record looping oscillations or complex finger movements for fabulously spontaneous control.

Behringer suggests we fasten our seat belts for 808 Day – is their clone ready?

06 Aug 2018 in Synths

Other than a pair of trainers Roland is not sparking much anticipation for 808 Day on the 8th August. Behringer meanwhile is hinting that they are going to make it all about their RD-808 analogue drum machine.

Aeolian Meditation: a complex addictive additive synthesizer playground

06 Aug 2018 in Synths

Taking inspiration from ancient Greek instruments of nature Aeolian Meditation generates drones from layered and modulated harmonics coloured by noise and FM. It can create beautiful leads and basses too.

What’s the best way to get kids into Eurorack? Ask Divkid.

05 Aug 2018 in Synths

Would you let the sticky fingers of kids anyway near your Eurorack? DivKid does - in this new video he shows how a playful selection of modules and a CV controller can introduce kids to modular.

Root and Matter II: Two new modules from Folktek and more to come

03 Aug 2018 in Synths

Artisan synthesizer makers Folktek have had a busy 2018 so far. Two new modules: Matter II a drum-wave synth and Root a 1-4 splitter are the newest to emerge with a rumoured standalone synth to come.

IK Multimedia UNO Synth gets a free iPad patch editor

02 Aug 2018 in Synths

While we're waiting for IK to release the PC/Mac editor for UNO Jakob Haq has put together a full editor for iPad using MIDI Designer Pro 2 which reveals all sorts of hidden parameters.

RetroKits RK-005: USB MIDI Hub that hosts, merges and interconnects everything

01 Aug 2018 in Synths

Got a lot of USB MIDI gear knocking around? Well the RK-005 can host it and bring it all together into a single MIDI stream, clock to analog and then connect to a DAW or not. A super versatile MIDI interface.

Make Noise 10-Year anniversary Lightning Pack gets you a black Maths and more

01 Aug 2018 in Synths

For a limited time Make Noise is offering the Lightning Pack featuring a very cool black-fronted Maths, a weird Teleplexer thing and a T-Shirt for $310

Bring VST plugins into your Eurorack via the extraordinary Percussa SSP module

31 Jul 2018 in Synths

The latest update for the Percussa SSP Quad-Core ARM DSP processing module for Eurorack introduces the running of Linux compiled VST instruments and effects - golly!

ACL System 1 fully configured Eurorack Modular Synthesizer now available

30 Jul 2018 in Synths

System 1 is an elegantly crafted Eurorack modular synthesizer featuring all of Audiophile Circuits League stereo modules in a 6U, 84HP case with integrated power supply all configured and ready to go.

Top 5 software synthesizers 2018

29 Jul 2018 in Synths

Here are the Top 5 software synthesizers or virtual electronic instruments that your computer should be chewing on in 2018. Did your favourite get on the list?