Robin Vincent, Author at gearnews.com

Novation Peak gets new features with firmware update 1.2

05 Dec 2018 in Synths

How about a fist full of new wavetables, microtuning, double the LFOs, effects modulation, pitch bend mapping and useful initialisation options? Not bad for an update to the Novation Peak.

Korg MS-X: an extreme Korg Monotron makeover

05 Dec 2018 in Synths

Got a Korg Monotron knocking around? Why not turn it into a fully fledge Korg analogue synth with the Soul Machine Korg MS-X extreme modification guide. Be warned - this will invalidate your warranty.

Terrify small children with Mr Typo wall mounted speech synthesizer

04 Dec 2018 in Synths

Take the soul of Stephen Hawking, place it inside a bizarre baby sized monster, nail it to the wall and torture it. Meet Mr Typo and prepare to have nightmares.

PulseCode drum machine pays tribute to late 80’s sampled drum sounds

04 Dec 2018 in Synths

PulseCode is all about those drum sounds that we didn't know we still needed. But if you kick off the demo video you'll soon remember why you love them so much. PulseCode It was all a bit gritty and lo-fi ...

Modal CRAFTsynth 2.0 futuristic monophonic wavetable synth that’s not a kit

03 Dec 2018 in Synths

Wait a minute this bears absolutely no resemblance to the original CRAFTsynth! CRAFTsynth 2.0 is not a fun little DIY synth it's a serious box of monophonic wavetable goodness so what's with the name?

Chronoblob 2: the return of the blob delay

29 Nov 2018 in Synths

Chronoblob 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to the best digital delay Eurorack module in anyone's rack. It's now in stereo with infinite looping, tape pitch shifting and feedback that goes up to 11.

Markus 88: a spectral modelled Stage 88 electric piano

28 Nov 2018 in Synths

Sampleson has taken their Rhodes samples apart and found that they only need to tune sine waves to accurately recreate the entire spectrum of sound. Markus 88 is only 25MB and sounds like a 2GB instrument.

Uli Behringer updates us on the UB-Xa Oberheim OB-Xa clone

28 Nov 2018 in Synths

This particular labour of love is still some way off as Behringer engineers knuckle down to try to make some money to fund synthesizer passion projects such as the UB-Xa.

Synthwatch: A synth you wear on your wrist

28 Nov 2018 in Synths

New on Kickstarter is the chunkiest, ugliest, most expensive and barely-functional musical wristwatch you could possibly imagine. Synthwatch - what are you all about?

Flow Motion FM Synth combines FM and subtractive synthesis in a very cool GUI

27 Nov 2018 in Synths

Waves have a go at making FM synthesis free flowing and easy with Flow Motion FM Synth and bolt in some analog style filtering for good measure. Does it sound as fabulous as it looks?

Alesis Strike Multipad: hit it, beat it, sample it, loop it

26 Nov 2018 in Studio

The performance pad controller is back with a sampling audio engine, on-screen editing, triggers, 9 velocity sensitive pads and audio looping in a device that you beat with sticks.

WaslioFM: easy FM synthesis with neon highlights make for an 80s-tastic plugin

26 Nov 2018 in Synths

With its arcade style interface and retro 80's vibe WaslioFM ticks the right nostalgia boxes. But with multiple unison modes and detuning of 8 voices per operator it's futuristic enough to make it fresh and ...

VCV Rack can now host and CV control VST Plugins

25 Nov 2018 in Synths

With version 0.6.2 of VCV Rack you can now load up all your VST plugins and virtual instruments as virtual Eurorack modules and control them with CV - genius!

Percussa mSSP: a Super Signal Processor in a sensibly sized Eurorack module

23 Nov 2018 in Synths

Percussa has made a much smaller and cheaper version of their Super Signal Processor module. The mSSP has the same engine and the same awesome versatility as a multi-function sound source and processor.

GRANULIZER 2: More grains, more granular, more spectral widening and chaos

23 Nov 2018 in Synths

Inertia Sound Systems has redesigned GRANULIZER 2 from the ground up to offer a deeper and yet more accessible granular synthesis experience. With a fresh front end and interactive waveform it's very playable.

Strata: next generation control system for Ableton Live

22 Nov 2018 in Studio

Strata is a prototype advanced controller for Ableton Live from Envision Sound that claims to take control, performance and workflow to the next level. They are looking for Live users to get involved.

TUNNELS: duplicate and route your Eurorack signals to infinite destinations

21 Nov 2018 in Synths

Tunnel In your signals through a 3 channel 1 into 2 buffered mult and Tunnel Out of 9 outputs anywhere else in your rack. Tunnels is a beautifully designed smart way to duplicate CV and organise your rack.

Synthmulator: a playable and patchable Eurorack modular in a virtual world

21 Nov 2018 in Synths

Dive into a simulated virtual 3D environment pick up some virtual cables and start virtually patching your virtual Eurorack and make some surprisingly good virtual sounds. Enter the Synthmulator.

Haken Audio ContinuuMini Electronic Instrument now on Kickstarter

21 Nov 2018 in Synths

A smaller, more portable and perhaps soloist inspired expressive instrument from Haken Audio. The ContinuuMini contains a powerfully dynamic and multi-dimensional sound engine - now on Kickstarter.

Kenton give us more CV with the Pro Solo Mk3 MIDI to CV converter

20 Nov 2018 in Synths

If you need to plug a MIDI controller into an analogue synthesizer then Kenton have you covered. The Pro Solo Mk3 in a stunningly similar silver box with more CV outputs, envelope and drum triggering.

Behringer both disappoint and thrill us with an update the on RD-909

20 Nov 2018 in Synths

Uli Behringer takes to the internet to tell us that the RD-909 is not coming as soon as we'd like but if we're patient then we're going to love the price.

Excel MIDI: This spreadsheet sequencer will make music from your tax returns

20 Nov 2018 in Studio

Someone has created a sequencer and compositional tool out of a spreadsheet. It's rough, raw and ready but if you're into Excel then this could brighten up your work time.

Dtronics DT-RDX adds knobs to your Yamaha Reface DX

19 Nov 2018 in Synths, Studio

FM is notoriously annoying to program. Dtronics DT-RDX pulls out 50 FM parameters from the Yamaha Reface DX and puts them under your fingers for immediate, tactile and intuitive knob fiddling.

Prophet 12 LE: Limited Edition is the last of Sequential’s analog/digital hybrid

16 Nov 2018 in Synths

This is the last run of 100 Prophet 12s ever to be made. The Prophet 12 LE comes in icy arctic white and a maple body and is a superb hybrid synthesizer - get one while you can.