It’s an audio engine, that performs simple audio playback units, has an audio interface, with an opensource program that users can customize to their feel and functionalities.

Pipes features 48KHz 24bit stereo sample playback and is WAV, AIF and MDA compatible, with up to 20,000 samples always loaded and ready to be triggered.

Synthesthesia Pipes Features:

• 5”full-color touchscreen
• 64 max stereo voice polyphony
• 4-millisecond latency from MIDI trigger input to analog audio output
• Massive onboard instrument and sound library
• Multiple USB MIDI inputs
• Multiple assignable internal stereo channels (which are called “pipes”)
• Introducing ‘Tweakers’: onboard Pure Data patches for MIDI manipulation, User patches welcome!
• Effects per stereo channel: Slicer, Panner, Pitch, Compressor, Equalizer (4 bands), Reverse, Delay, Flanger, Reverb, Filters, Distortions
• Master Effects: Stereo Compressor, Equalizer (4 bands), Reverb
• Effect and Tweaker parameters controllable in real time
• Introducing MDA instrument files, including position, velocity, and round robin samples with associated trigger data
• MIDI signal input record and playback capability
• Analog audio output x 2: L(mono) + R
• Stereo headphone output
• Stereo digital audio output: S/PDIF optical TOSLINK
• USB memory port (recognizes thumb drive for file transfers and firmware updates)
• Open Source User Interface/Front-End allow full customization

Technical Specifications:

• 48KHz 24bit stereo sample playback, WAV, AIF, MDA compatible
• Up to 20,000 samples always loaded and ready
• 5”full-color touchscreen
• Enclosure dimensions 5.72″ x 4.77″ x 2.06
• Multiple USB MIDI inputs
• Analog audio output x 2: L(mono) + R
• Stereo digital audio output: S/PDIF optical TOSLINK
• Stereo headphone output
• USB memory Port (recognizes thumb drive for file transfers and updates)

Synthesthesia Pipes demo video.

Pricing and Availability

Synesthesia expects Pipes to be available in mid-2018, priced at US $399.

Elektron’s vision has been to have a platform where FM synthesis can be revitalized and modernized. Now they have digitone, a single unique box that combines FM sound generation with a classic subtractive synthesis signal flow. From jagged chaos to mellow soundscapes in less than a second.

This is why Digitone is Ultra digital

Here is a simple way to get started with the Digitone; choose from multiple FM algorithms featuring carefully selected parameters. Shape the tones with powerful filters. Arrange them with the intuitive Elektron sequencer. Round off with the stellar effects. Now enjoy the most spectacular sounds, seemingly emanating from some parallel universe.

Digitone Synth voice features

• 8 voice polyphony (multitimbral)
• Multiple FM algorithms
• 1 × multimode filter per voice
• 1 × base-width filter per voice
• 1 × overdrive per voice
• 2 × assignable LFO per voice

Digitone Factory Presets

Digitone comes packed with grade-A factory content, designed to be the perfect starting block for your explorations of the FM universe.

512 Sounds ranging from the FM classics to wild and extraordinary out-of-this-world soundscapes created by Blush Response, DivKid, Hizmi, Mark Fell, Zabutom, the Elektron staff and many more

The Nord Electro 6 features automatically seamless transitions when changing sounds or programs while playing. Also, it has 6 Split Points and the new Split Point Crossfade functionality introduced with the Stage 3 for smooth transitions between two split zones. Choose from 3 different crossfade widths (Small, Large or Off) as indicated by different LED colors.

Other interesting features include:

• OLED Display for excellent overview
• Organize Mode for quickly rearranging programs, sounds and pages
• 1 GB memory for Nord Piano Library
• Piano Filters NEW
• Extended Voice Polyphony NEW
• Sympathetic String Resonance
• 4 Dynamic Curves
• Expanded memory (512 MB) for Nord Sample Library NEW
• Extended Voice Polyphony NEW
• Dedicated Sample Synth section with Attack, Decay/Release and dynamic controls
• B3 Tonewheel, B3 Bass, Vox and Farfisa simulations
• 2 Pipe Organ models NEW
• Dual Organ Mode NEW
• Model 122 Vintage Rotary Speaker
• Physical Drawbars on 6D 61 and 6D 73 models
• Mount for Half-Moon Switch for Rotary Speaker control (6D 61/73)
• A wide range of instantly tweakable high quality stereo effects modelled after classic stomp boxes
• Reverb with Bright Mode NEW

The Nord Electro 6 will be sold in three versions: the 6D 61 and 6D 73 have 61-note and 73-note semi-weighted waterfall keyboards and come with physical drawbars, while the 6 HP includes a 73-note hammer action keyboard with LED drawbars. The prices will be announced later

Source: Nordkeyboards

The 95000 Performance Loop Laboratory is a 6-track looping station which functions almost as mini on-the-fly studio. Each track features a separate volume slider and panning knob for live mixing and manipulation.

A single loop offers six mono tracks and one stereo mixdown track. This device produces up to 100 loops for a 3 hours continuous recording. The included 16GB external storage is enough to save the records.

95000 Performance Loop Laboratory Features

• 6 tracks / 1 mixdown track per loop, up to 100 loops per Micro SD card
• 16 GB Micro SD card included providing up to 375 minutes of recording time
• Optimized design: the control surface is presented at a 10-degree angle while the footswitches are set at a steeper 25-degree angle so the user’s foot will not hit the controls.
• Records high-quality 44.1kHz audio directly to Micro SD cards
• MIDI In, MIDI Out, MIDI clock sync capability as master and slave
• Nearly all functions can be controlled via MIDI CC (Control Change) messages.
• Import / export .WAV files to MAC or PC via the built-in USB port
• TAP Button allows you to set loop BPM
• Quantize or non-quantize (free running) recording modes
• Speed adjust over a 2-octave range
• Overdub or punch in/out recording
• Reverse playback and recording
• Loop progress may be displayed in Bar/Beat format
• Expression pedal control over loop volume
• Left/right outputs, Monitor Out, Headphone Output

The EHX 95000 street price is about US $550.

Discover what is happening behind the scenes in the development process of this new synth. You will get an idea of the design decisions that they are considering in the process.

The KORG SQ-1 step sequencer is included in the package as well. Other goodies included are, a limited-edition ARP color version with orange silk-screening on a black panel, and 2 mini-patch cables.

Find out more on Korg.com

“Ever since I got the Seaboard Block a while back I wanted a companion “synth block” for it. Since one didn’t exist, I decided to make my own with an Axoloti board. I wanted it to serve both as a host for the Roli blocks and as an MPE synth. The video below should give a general idea of the result and what it can do.” – Kai Drange

The ROLI blocks is designed to communicate while connected via “DNA connectors” spread out along the sides of the blocks.

However, the blocks use Bluetooth or a USB cable to link-up to a host. This means the user is not limited to one way to host on the Axoloti. I guess many will opt for the wireless method.

Kai has ensured that the blocks and Axoloti work harmoniously by introducing a simple object for the Axoloti patching software that sends and receives midi CC values and then companion Littlefoot scripts for the blocks doing the same.

Source: ticticelectro.com

The Mindphaser is an all-analog precision triangle core complex oscillator with thru-zero phase modulation.

This sneak Mindphaser is said to be coming soon.

Audio Demos:

The JM4 Bass offers a 34” scale length, 10” radius fretboard and early-’60s C-shape neck.

Fano’s own FanoBird bass pickups make an appearance, as does a HiMax bridge, which allows for top-load and string-through-body options.

The Standard Series JM4-TB Bass is available from February/March in Medium Distress and NOS finishes in eight different colors for $1,999. Check Fano Guitars  for details

Other interesting features include?

• FM synthesizers make sounds with Frequency Modulation.
• FM brings rich and brilliant sounds which are impossible to create with analog one.
• It makes very complex waves with simple modulations.
• The same method is used for a radio.
• The synthesizer gained much popularity in the 1980s.

This app lets you make sounds freely with 156 voice parameters.

Almost all parameters are compatible with Yamaha DX7.

You can get KQ Dixie here at the App Store at $3.99