Tape Loops, Feedback and Regulation Woes: Synth Journal
5,0 / 5,0 | 
Meet tape! – a fascinating virtual tape recorder and looper that’s all about “happy accidents”! Also in this week’s edition of Synth Journal: AMSynths suspends EU sales, Synthux Academy turns feedback into a synth, and KORG has a new tuner specifically for synths.
Synth Journal
Meet tape! – a Pocket Audio Sketchbook
Imagine a portable cassette recorder with four asynchronous tape heads, instant looping, pitch control, and built-in effects. In a nutshell, that’s what tape! is – except it doesn’t use real tape. Instead, this pocket-sized gadget by Bedtime Company is based on a virtual emulation of cassette and reel-to-reel machines. If you’re into tape loops or experimental music in general, resistance is futile. You’re inevitably going to want one!
tape! lets you record audio via the line input or the built-in stereo microphone. You can then add overdubs, loop over any section of the virtual tape, and adjust the speed on the fly using the dial on the side.
It gets really wild when more than one tape head comes into play. You can configure up to four virtual playback heads that zip back and forth across your audio at different speeds and in different directions. Add to that a built-in effects and modulation engine with individual FX sends for each tape head, and you’ve got a device that’s pretty hard not to be intrigued by. I think the user interface is dope, too.
The developer says that an undo feature was deliberately omitted – tape! is all about “happy accidents”. Apparently, they had a hard time producing a demo video because every time they tried, they got carried away. I’m pretty sure that would happen to me, too!
tape! is about to launch on Kickstarter in December 2024. Keep an eye on the developer’s Instagram page for updates!
AMSynths to Suspend EU Sales Due to Safety Regulations – Will Others Follow?
In a recent post on Facebook, AMSynths said that it would suspend sales to the EU on 10 December because of the new EU Safety Regulations. The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) goes into effect on 13 December and requires all consumer products sold in the EU to comply with certain safety rules.
AMSynths said that while its products do meet these standards, having their compliance certified by an EU-based authorized representative is too costly and time-consuming. Sales to non-EU countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland will continue normally.
If you’re located in the EU and would like to purchase something from AMSynths, you have until midnight on 10 December 2024 to place your order. The manufacturer said that stocks are currently being refreshed to ensure availability.
AMSynths added that it hopes to resume EU sales in early 2025 through an EU-based authorized representative or distributor. Let’s hope they get this sorted out quickly!
Complying with complicated regulatory frameworks (and, as in this case, certifying that compliance) can be a real burden for small manufacturers such as AMSynths. While big companies have the in-house facilities and resources to ensure compliance, the cost and workload associated with this process can be too much to shoulder for smaller manufacturers, which are often run by a single person or a small group. Which begs the question: will other small synth manufacturers follow suit? Is it about to become really difficult to purchase modules from boutique manufacturers in the EU? I hope not!
Synthux Academy Audrey II is a Feedback-Based Synth
Here’s yet another new device you won’t want to miss if you’re always on the lookout for unique ways to create sound. Audrey II by Synthux Academy is a new digital desktop synth that uses feedback as a sound source. Dubbed a “horrorscape synthesizer”, it produces a wide spectrum of sustained, resonating tones and evolving soundscapes.
Feedback doesn’t have the best reputation in the world of audio. Anyone who’s ever had the pleasure of standing next to the speakers when the singer accidentally pointed the microphone at their monitors can testify. But when used in a (more or less) controlled manner, feedback becomes a fascinating sound source that delivers timbres not usually achievable by other means.
The heart of Audrey II is based on Karplus-Strong synthesis, i.e. bursts of noise fed into a delay line with feedback. A spacious reverb then allows the feedback to develop. Next is a pair of high-pass and low-pass filters with a body control. By adjusting the filters, you can bring out different harmonics in the sound. Furthermore, Audrey II also includes a tape delay emulation for additional movement and modulation. Check out the demo video – this thing sounds like you could score an entire sci-fi movie with it!
Audrey II is built on the Daisy Seed platform. The synth is now available fully assembled (€399 plus tax) or as a DIY kit (€299 plus tax).
The Korg ST1K Synth Tuner is now Available
If you own analog synths or a modular system, you know how much of a pain tuning can be. And standard guitar tuners don’t always get the job done, especially if you need to tune oscillators very precisely and across a wide range. That’s why KORG introduced the ST1K tuner back at Superbooth 24 – to my knowledge, it’s the first pocket tuner specifically developed for synths.
With ±0.1 cents of accuracy and a detection range of 27.5 Hz to 4186 Hz, the ST1K tuner can handle even the most demanding tuning jobs. The input is compatible with line and modular levels. An 1/8” adapter for your Eurorack system is included. The tuner runs on two AAA batteries that last for about 50 hours.
The KORG ST1K Synth Tuner is now available from Thomann* for $52 / £50 / €59.
*This post contains affiliate links and/or widgets. When you buy a product via our affiliate partner, we receive a small commission that helps support what we do. Don’t worry, you pay the same price. Thanks for your support!
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