Future Retro says that they’re putting manufacturing of new synths on hold because of current tariffs on imports.
The Trump administration recently raised tariffs on imports from most countries, including a 145% tax on Chinese imports. Tariffs are a tax paid by US citizens and companies that import items.
Trump’s tariff plans have been evolving for the last month, though. This is forcing some US companies to put manufacturing plans on hold, until the administration’s trade policy is stable enough for them to do long-term planning.
FR shared updates on three devices:
The Swynx sync box is sold out, so they are taking pre-orders through their online store.
No more new Vectra synths will be shipped to stores after this month. They say that they will be out of Vectra parts and do not plan on restocking the product, noting that “The build time and cost is too excessive for us to continue this unique product.”
Their planned reissue of the classic FR 777 synthesizer is still in development, but has been delayed by parts availability.
They add, “No new manufacturing can be put in place until tariff issues are worked out.”
GForce, in collaboration with Oberheim, has introduced Oberheim TVS Pro, a software emulation of the original Two Voice Synthesizer from 1975.
What they have to say about it:
“In 1975, Tom Oberheim revolutionised synthesizer design with the original TVS – Two Voice Synthesizer. By combining two SEMs and a keyboard, he introduced true duophony to the world—enabling musicians to play two independent voices simultaneously and explore harmonically rich, evolving soundscapes. It was a bold step forward, embraced by visionaries including Martin Gore, Adrian Utley, Peter Baumann, Lorn, The Prodigy, and Nils Frahm.
Decades later, the TVS Pro modernized that vision, adding a built-in sequencer, extended modulation, and refined controls—all while staying true to its unmistakable sonic DNA.
Now, with the GForce Oberheim TVS Pro plugin, this landmark instrument enters a new era. Developed in collaboration with Oberheim, this recreation captures not only the depth, warmth and character of the original, but also the spirit of innovation that made it extraordinary.”
Features:
Designed in collaboration with Oberheim
Now with an additional 3rd VCO
Over 635 patches, with 220+ new sounds and 400+ adapted SEM patches
Ahead of Superbooth 2025, scheduled for May 8-10 at the FEZ-Berlin, Neuzeit Instruments has introduced Drop, described as “a snapshot-based MIDI control center for live performance”.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
“With Drop, you can now map your MIDI equipment across devices and easily store different controller positions as snapshots. During performance, you can jump back to these snapshots at any time (JUMP mode) and trigger them. All of this can be quantized and with variable fade time, allowing you to use a snapshot for slowly building tension and automatically have multiple controllers move simultaneously.
A particularly useful feature, is firing snapshots in DROP mode at exactly the right moment, precisely at the end of a pattern of, for example, 8 bars. For this purpose, Drop features an integrated master clock that counts any number between 1 and 32 bars (= cycle). In DROP mode, you can schedule a snapshot to trigger at the end of a cycle, build tension and go crazy on effects until then, and lean back as the snapshot automatically turns the controllers at exactly the right moment, bringing your live set back to solid ground.
Saving and recalling snapshots is quick and simple even during live situations, allowing you to work spontaneously with new snapshots on-the-fly during your performance. The LED buttons always provide clear visual feedback about what’s happening.
If you want to plan further ahead, you can prepare sequences of DROP snapshots according to your song arrangement in the studio. Then use CHAIN mode to automatically trigger them sequentially on stage. Multiple chains and banks of snapshots are available, allowing you to configure your live set according to a song-by-song structure.”
Features:
Connect all your live performance gear to one master controller
20 banks with 20 snapshots to store and recall the state of all controls
32 push-encoders without detents, 8 mutes, 8 faders, duplicated on 2 layers A/B
2 x MIDI USB-C port, automatic device or host detection
4 x MIDI In and 4 x MIDI Out via TRS type A or B
2 x CV-In and 2 x CV-Out for clocks and 0-5V control signals
Macro mappings, up to 8 MIDI targets and individual curves per control
Merge incoming MIDI (e.g. from a sequencer) with Drop‘s MIDI out
MIDI clock in/out with individual millisec delays to perfectly sync all gear
