Robin Vincent, Author at gearnews.com

Elektron turns up the Analog Heat to MkII

05 Jul 2018 in Studio

Some tweaks, a new screen and it has an audio interface built in. Is the Analog Heat MkII a serious vindaloo of an upgrade or just a safe and reliable chicken korma with an onion salad and popadoms?

New synth from Modal Electronics poised for release

05 Jul 2018 in Synths

A teaser video from Modal Electronics appears to give us a blurred view and sonic potential of something called Skulpt. I'm hoping for a 70 quid CRAFTPoly to go with my CRAFTRhythm and CRAFTSynth.

Doepfer Dark Energy III monosynth throbs into availability

04 Jul 2018 in Synths

Like a power source forged in the heart of an exploding sun the new and improved Dark Energy III oozes with analogue synthesizer action and opens itself up to a cool bit of modding.

Worried about new US tariffs on synthesizer components? Read this.

03 Jul 2018 in Synths

Moog sent the synthesizer community into panic with warnings of 25% price hikes and moving manufacturing outside the US due to new tariffs. Now other synth makers are questioning those claims.

RolandCloud 5.5 brings AAX support for Pro Tools

03 Jul 2018 in Synths

Finally all you Pro Tools users can get access to the wealth of instruments and classic synthesizer emulations from the RolandCloud as they introduce support for AAX.

Tendrils are about to infest your Eurorack

02 Jul 2018 in Synths

Declutter your Eurorack with Tendrils that snake around your modular system. The right-angle plugs are great for semi-permanent connections and low clearance cases as well as bring some badly needed clarity.

Will new US import taxes push Moog manufacturing to leave USA?

30 Jun 2018 in Synths

President Trumps 25% import tax on circuit boards and components could seriously damage American synth manufacturing. Moog is suggesting they should move overseas. It's time to write to your congressman.

Roland System-8 gets new FM oscillators and filters in meaty 1.2 update

29 Jun 2018 in Synths

Roland has added two FM variations to the oscillators on the System-8 featuring 2 operator and 5 operator waveforms. It also gets filters from the Jupiter-8 and Juno-106 amongst other bits and bobs.

A briefcase full of Volcas? Squeeze up to 4 Korg Volcas in this hard-shell case

28 Jun 2018 in Synths

A very useful case that will protect up to 4 Korg Volca boxes plus their adapters and cables. The top comes all the way off so you could easily play with them inside the case. Might save them from beer spills.

Leak! Nektar to announce Panorama T4 and T6 MIDI controllers

28 Jun 2018 in Studio

New mid-range controller keyboards from Nektar get leaked on a French music store website. The Panorama T4 and T6 appear to have all the DAW integration facilities we like at an attractive price point.

Is Moog about to announce a polysynth called the Moog One?

27 Jun 2018 in Synths

An unsubstantiated email posted on a forum spills the beans on the spec of what could be a huge polyphonic synthesizer from Moog, probably called the Moog One. Is it real? Hopefully Moog can set us straight.

The Sleight of Hand is a magical CV signal footswitch for modular

26 Jun 2018 in Synths

When you've got your hands full of knobs how do you switch modulation or sequences without taking your fingers off the sweet spot? The Sleight of Hand is a passive CV signal footswitch that'll do the job ...

StarCruncher: Monophonic distorted realm explorer accidental minisynth

25 Jun 2018 in Synths

A new form of distorted synthesis discovered after a lab coding accident that has been likened to crashing data streams together is both painful and breathtaking. StarCruncher is somehow terrible and awesome.

Dreadbox splashes down with Drips V2 Eurorack drum synthesizer

25 Jun 2018 in Synths

Drips V2 is a cool drum and percussion synthesizer in a 21hp Eurorack module. "Drips" aptly describes the amount of development in this barely tweaked, hardly changed, module - oh look a grey front panel.

Malekko releases Quad LFO Generator with surpise built in 16-step sequencer

22 Jun 2018 in Synths

We first saw the Quad LFO at NAMM but didn't realise that you could record 16 steps of parameter automation. You can also distort the waveforms, change the phase and attenuate the output. It's full of ...

Arturia sex up controllers with sensitive, delicate and high impact KeyLab MkII

21 Jun 2018 in Studio

The Pro-Feel key-bed is robust and yet sensitive, delicate and nuanced for high-impact play - are Arturia describing the new KeyLab MkII controller keyboards or a new range of condoms?

Treadstone for Eurorack: a full analogue voice and modulation for your rack

20 Jun 2018 in Synths

Analogue Solutions small but epic Treadstone monosynth has been refitted into the Eurorack format. You get a proper synth voice with filter, envelope, LFO, sequencer and delay. Shame they didn't paint the ...

Behringer, Midifan and the MUSIC Tribe City factory strike: Uli takes to Facebook

20 Jun 2018 in Studio

Uli posts a response to the heat generated by recent reports of a strike at his MUSIC Tribe City factory and the legal action taken against a Chinese news site for using words like "shameless" and "copycat".

Mutable Instruments Clouds for Softube Modular

Softube Modular officially licenses Clouds from Mutable Instruments

19 Jun 2018 in Synths

This is not a DIY clone or approximation, Softube has an official Mutable Instruments Clouds module for their Modular virtual Eurorack virtual instrument.

Novation Circuit Mono Station 1.2 brings Patch Flip, CV sequencer & synth tweaks

16 Jun 2018 in Synths

Novation's commitment to developing products after release continues with the 1.2 update to Circuit Mono Station. You get a bunch of new features that feel like they should have always been there.

MPG-70 hardware programmer for Roland Super JX and MKS-70 synthesizers

15 Jun 2018 in Synths

Got a Roland Super JX synthesizer or rack-mounted MKS-70 knocking around that you've never been able to program? The MPG-70 can help you with that giving full hardware control over every parameter.

MOD Duo X a universe of effects in a box on your desktop

14 Jun 2018 in Studio

The MOD Duo guitar pedal gets upgraded to the MOD Duo X and placed on the desktop. Apparently, It contains an infinite amount of effects, instruments and MIDI utilities but details are still a bit sketchy.

Elettrorama MFOS Echo Rockit effect synthesizer ready to roll

14 Jun 2018 in Synths

Officially licensed from Music From Outer Space the MFOS Echo Rockit is a dub-infused, space delaying, noise generating synth box with a lot of fun to be found under its knobs and buttons.

Soma Pulsar-23 organismic drum machine review

14 Jun 2018 in Synths

An immense analogue drum machine is being cooked up in Soma Laboratories called the Pulsar-23. It's like plummeting through the beating heart of a planet, while on fire and having your soul modulated. I like ...