WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Information and updates on the latest and popular Portable Keyboards

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In the early ‘80s, Casio released the Casiotone range of portable keyboards. Now after almost 40 years later, Casio is introducing a revamped line-up of Casiotone models for the new generation of music players.

The Casiotone CT-S200, CT-S300 and LK-S250 are similar to their predecessors, with each offering a wide range- 400 of built-in sounds and 122 rhythms. plus 50 patterns of Dance Music Mode. In addition, you will also get USB MIDI and a rechargeable battery, and portability is aided by the inclusion of a carry handle. Weighing in at just six pounds, thanks to the slim chassis which has kept the weight down and make it more portable then ever, and there are 61 full-size keys.

Expect to see the new Casiotone CT-S200, CT-S300, LK-S250 in stores later this year.

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The Yamaha PSR-SX series is the new generation digital arranger workstation keyboards replacing the popular Yamaha PSR-S range. The two new models in the PSR-SX range are the SX700 and SX900, both equipped with more Voices, more Styles and a new Design.

Besides getting a completely redesigned user interface with an integrated 7” touch screen, new assignable buttons, joystick expression and live controllers, all taking their cues from the flagship Genos range.

In addition, the new SXs are packed with a vast range of expressive sounds and voices than ever before, makes the PSR-SXs your ultimate musical partner.

The PSR-SX900 features:

• 1337 Voices, including 252 Super Articulation Voices, 24 Organ Flutes! Voices. 56 Drum/SFX kits
• 525 Styles, including 463 Pro Styles, 46 Session Styles, 10 DJ Styles and 6 Freeplay Styles
• Pre-installed Expansion content
• Real Distortion and Real Reverb, with an intuitive effects interface
• 1GB on-board memory for expansion data
• 4GB internal memory
• MIDI song file capacity: 3MB per file
• Joystick, FSB keyboard, Sub output, and Expansive Soundfield Speakers for powerful live performance
• Intuitive and fast control with 7″ colour touch screen and Assignable function
• Chord Looper function
• Mic/Guitar input for use when singing or collaborating with other performers
• Playlist and Registration for quick and easy setup
• Vocal Harmony and Synth Vocoder functions
• Audio Recording (WAV/MP3)
• Voice and Style expandability with the Yamaha Expansion Manager
• 2 USB TO DEVICE terminals
• External display capability
• Bluetooth Audio *may not have this functionality depending on the country.

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Arturia has introduced the KeyLab 88 MkII, a major update to its KeyLab MkII MIDI controller range- an 88-note model that is designed for serious producers and players.

The Arturia Keylab 88 MkII featuring 88 note, velocity sensitive Fatar TP/100LR piano weighted keybed with aftertouch, 4 CV/gate connections: pitch, gate, mod and input, 16 pads, 9 faders, 9 rotary encoders, 10 assignable buttons for parameters. Arturia’s Analog Lab software, Ableton Live Lite, multiple DAWs and Piano V, Wurli V and Vox Continental V plugins are also included.

The Keylab 88 MkII is a powerful keyboard and controller. With its four CV/gate connections, the KeyLab 88 MkII gives you control over vintage synths and modular rigs. It also doubles up as a Mackle/HUI – compliant DAW command centre – you can hit record, mute and directly from the device and it is not just DAWs that this controller can command. Arturia has also branded this instrument as a “universal MIDI controller”, which means that it should be able to control a breadth of MIDI-compatible hardware and software.

This keyboard is portable, weighing approximately 32.4 lbs. and available at zZounds as well The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII could be the ultimate MIDI controller keyboard for producers who play.
zZounds

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Novation have recently launched the Novation Summit, a 16 voice poly-synth. The Summit is basically a two Peaks in one box, which you can use as a single synth engine or split the keys, or pick two separate patches that can be layered, blended. The Novation Summit features 5 octaves, 61-note semi-weighted, velocity sensitive aftertouch keyboard.

The Novation Summit is a combination of digital and analogue technology, using Novation’s New Ox-ford Oscillators to provide a high-resolution digital sound source that is then processed through a stereo analogue signal path. Signal path incorporates dual multimode filters and an analogue VCA per-voice. In addition, are three stages of analogue distortion – pre- and post-filter, and post-VCA. The Oxford oscillators are capable of classic waveforms, FM synthesis and wavetable synthesis.

Besides the Novation Summit packs an onboard arpeggiator that allows you to arpeggiate some of your favorite patches, this instrument also has two stereo outputs, a headphone out and a stereo input, which allows external signals to be processed via the onboard effects using one of the synth’s two multitimbral parts. There is a signal CV modulation input, too. This synth can also run as a MIDI controller.

Key Features:

• Polyphony – 16 Voice polyphony
• Voice Modes – 5 : Mono, MonoLG, Mono2, Poly, Poly2
• Oscillators – 48 (3 per voice)
• Modes: Layered, Split, Bi-timbral
• LFO – 2
• Ring Modulator: 1
• Noise Generator: 1
• Waveforms: Triangle, Saw, Square, Pulse
• Pre and Post Filter Distortion
• 16 Modulation Slots Per Patch
• Aftertouch
• Software Included: Ableton Live Lite

I believe this is a truly impressive synthesizer, especially for those who favor poly-synths. The Novation Summit would be available in September.

Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer

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The new Arturia MicroFreak is one of the star synth. A dramatically different synth from Arturia. This monophonic and 4-voice paraphonic instrument boasts a rather unusual feature set including a multi-mode digital oscillator, an Oberheim SEM-inspired analogue filter. Other features include a pressure-sensitive PCB keyboard, a multi-point modulation matrix, a sequencer-arpeggiator with controlled randomness Spice and Dice parameters, a cycling envelope, 128 factory presets, and space for 64 user sounds, OLED display lets you keep track of what is going on.

The Arturia MicroFreak powerful digital oscillator features a palette of unique modes such as Texturer, KarplusStrong, Harmonic OSC, and Superwave, enabling everyone from adventurous newbies to experienced synthesists to explore new sonic frontiers. The Arturia  MicroFreak is an extremely versatile little instrument that can sound sweet, deep, hypnotic, chaotic or volcanic, and whatever sounds you can dream up, MicroFreak is up to the task. MicroFreak also enables you to work fast too with advanced features like real-time sequence creation and randomization. Any pros will find it useful as an experimental sound design tool, much in the same way Eurorack modules are used. With less voltage required than a typical analogue, the Arturia MicroFreak can run from USB power.

The Arturia MicroFreak represents very good value for money, providing basic synthesis possibilities alongside more complicated and highly inspiring digitised formats. “There’s no way a budget synth can do all that!”  The Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer is here to break the rules.