Waldorf KYRA: virtual analog FPGA powered hardware synthesizer we’ve seen before

Waldorf have picked up the Exodus Valkyrie, the only interesting thing at Musikmesse this year, and turned it into a potentially awesome virtual analog hardware synthesizer called Kyra.

Drops: physics-based percussion instrument realised in virtual reality

Grab your Oculus Rift and immerse yourself in a garden of shapes and falling marbles. Drops is a gravity-based musical instrument set in a serene environment for immersive mindfulness and virtual music making.

Waves intros FLEX subscription/rent-to-own plan for its plug-ins

Following in the steps of Slate Digital, Eventide, SSL, and many others, Waves debuted an interesting subscription system that also incorporates a rent-to-own option. The plan is called Wave FLEX.

SSL unveils the compact L100 console for small and mid-sized venues

Solid State Logic unveiled a new console designed for live applications in space-restricted environments - the L100. SSL also recommends it for sub-mixing and corporate production use cases.

That Gibson rescue package is taking longer to sort out than hoped

After Gibson's application for Chapter 11 last month, it looks like it is slowly moving forward but not as smoothly as hoped: There's a rather large loan, plus some conditions on the table.

Beetronics’ Royal Jelly and Buzzter pedals swarm out in time for summer

These two new boutique bee-themed drive/fuzz and boost pedals from Beetronics are landing now, but will they make you rush to your dealer to collect some of their tone honey?

LunaStone Boost 18: Punching above its weight?

Designed and built in Denmark, this boost pedal offers a whopping 18db of clean gain, even topping their previous gain pedal. But will the LunaStone Boost 18 be enough to push past the competition?

Townsend Labs adds 9 new mic models to its Sphere modeling system

A free update for all new and upcoming owners of the Sphere L22 modeling microphone, version 1.2 adds nine new virtual microphone models, bringing the total number of mic emulations to 20.

StepPolyArp Unit: a step sequencing polyphonic arpeggiator for iOS

The clue is in the name - StepPolyArp Unit is a step sequencing polyphonic and polyrhythmic arpeggiator for iOS that'll run internally, externally, via plug-in or Audiobus to generate melodies all over the ...

Grayscale Permutation: Turing Machine based random sequencer taking preorders

Grayscale has taken the Turing Machine and given it a jolly good upgrade. Individual step outputs and CV inputs take it in all sorts of interesting directions and there are three sizes to choose from.

Modular Synthesis School idea floated on Kickstarter

Modular Moon wants to open a Modular Synthesis School in Amsterdam to teach synthesis, sound and DIY modular to new generations of modular fiddlers. Is Kickstarter the best way to raise funds?

Fender Parallel Universe Jazz-Tele: Love it or hate it?

The Fender Parallel Universe has a lot to answer for and this latest model in the series will undoubtedly start many an argument amongst fans of the brand. So is it an ugly duckling or the perfect storm?

Output are teasing a musical revolution that will change the way you make music

If you dig around in Output's Instagram Story you'll perhaps catch a glimpse of what could be some kind of controller or hardware synthesizer - or it could just be another bit of furniture.

ZOOM F8n fields some serious recording tech with 360 audio support

ZOOM has a new flagship portable field recorder, the F8n, with lots of interesting technology. We can see this one being a market success - it has everything but the kitchen sink!

Pittsburgh Modular Microvolt 3900 desktop semi-modular ready to ship

The Microvolt 3900 was one of the stars of this years NAMM show. A perfectly formed semi-modular with 39 patch points and a creative approach to synthesis with wavefolding, filtering and a dynamic VCA.

Ableton outs 8 free Creative Extensions for Live 10 Suite & Standard with M4L

Ableton has added to Live 10 with a selection of eight sound design tools developed in collaboration with Amazing Noises. And they're free, too. Live users should spin these up and dive in.

Mooer SilverEye: A hi-fi music player or a guitar amp?

The Mooer SilverEye is a new small desktop amp and a power supply with Macro Power S12 with 12 outputs are expected to be released later this month. The power adapter is more expensive than the amp!

Grab three fabulous plug-ins for free: LABS, Lazerwave, and DLYM

Diligently keeping you up to speed on free plug-ins that pop up on the Internet, we present to you three tools with plenty of potential. There are romplers, a synth, and a chorus/flanger.

Novation NovaX VST Editor and Librarian for Nova and Nova II synthesizers

Do you have a Nova or Nova II? Then you're going to enjoy the NovaX VST Editor and Librarian which will expose all the parameters, manage your patches and give you automation ecstasy.

What do you get if you cross a Volca with a Shruthi synthesizer? Shrolca.

The Shrolca takes the Mutable Instruments Shruthi mono MIDI synthesizer and puts it in a Volca sized box and adds a touch keyboard for good measure. It's not exactly innovative but it looks cool.

UK Guitar Show 2018: A new two-day event for Brits mad about guitars

This new show is aimed at those that play or love the electric and acoustic guitar, so if you are in or near London at the end of September, this could be one to put in your diary.

Steinberg Dorico scoring suite reaches version 2, available in two versions

The new version of Steinberg's scoring software Dorico is now offered in two versions, Pro and Elements, the latter being priced for the amateur and entry-level market.

Spitfire Audio LABS free library kicks off with Soft Piano and Strings

LABS is a new range of free curated library from sample library crafters Spitfire Audio. You can download the blissfully simple plug-in free today along with a Soft Piano and a 14 piece Strings ensemble.

Out now: Accusonus Beatformer, an user-friendly drum mixing tool

Aiming for fast, simple workflow, Beatformer has only four knobs named Boom, Punch, Squash, and Air. Each knob triggers a set of pre-defined algorithms that do something to your drum mix.