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

Oberheim returns with TVS Pro Special Edition.

The Tom Oberheim new website has an announcement of a new Oberheim-branded version of the classic Two-Voice Synthesizer.

Tom Oberheim lost control of his brand after the initial explosion of interest in synthesizers led to extremely rapid changes in the industry, including Bob Moog and Dave Smith. By 1988, Gibson owned the Oberheim brand, and controlled it for decades.

Back in 2009, Oberheim began reissuing some of his favorite synth designs under the ‘Tom Oberheim’s brand, with the Synthesizer Expander Module. And in 2016, he introduced an updated version of his favorite synth design, the Two Voice, as the TVS Pro. The TVS Pro is an updated take on the original Two Voice design, which packaged two of the SEM all-in-one synth voice modules, together with a step sequencer, in a flexible keyboard design. Additionally, the TVS Pro retained the same synth voice as the original, but added an advanced step sequencer, an improved keyboard and more.

In 2019, Gibson granted possession of the Oberheim brand and intellectual property back to its original owner and founder, Tom Oberheim.

With the new TVS Pro Special Edition, Oberheim is bringing back the TVS-Pro as a Special Edition, with each unit now having the original Oberheim logo badge, plus Tom Oberheim personal signature.

However, we are unable to find any additional details regarding the specifications or pricing on the site, but there is a contact form on the site which enable you to request additional information.

Nevertheless, the Oberheim TVS Pro Special Edition is available for pre-order, with information on delivery scheduling to be announced later this year.

The Roland JD-800 Model Expansion for Zenology and Zenology Pro Software instruments.

The Roland JD-800 synth is back from the 90s as a Zen-Core Model Expansion. The stuning digital instrument offered analogue-style control. The Roland JD-800 synthesizer was released in 1991 was, in several ways, ahead of its time. Like many synths of that era, it was digital, but with its massive panel of controls, it harked back to the analogue beasts of yesteryear.

However, this was way back before the analogue revival had us in its warm, comforting grip. Today, I still reckon that the JD-800 is one of the greatest synths of all time, and its time might just have come again thanks to a new Roland ZEN-Core Model Expansion. This software reboot combines the original JD-800 waveforms with advanced modelling techniques, and promises 100 per cent authenticity. Additionally, you will get all of the original sound-shaping potential.

The JD-800 Model Expansion works with Roland Zenology and Zenology Pro software instruments, and the Jupiter-X and Jupiter-Xm hardware instruments. It is included with the Pro and Ultimate membership levels of Roland Cloud and any Roland Cloud member can also purchase a Lifetime Key for this or any other Model Expansion title – you are eligible for a 30-day trial of Ultimate with any paid-for plan.

The JD-800 released is to mark the 30th anniversary of the JD-800 birth, and is available via the Roland Cloud. Find out more on the Roland Cloud website.

Sequential has released a free OS update for the Prophet-6 and the OB-6 that adds MPE support, Vintage Mode and more.

Sequential says that the updates ‘significantly enhance the expressivity of both instruments’.

Here’s what is new;

• Support for MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). This enable the Prophet-6 and OB-6 respond to MPE-driven controllers, including the LinnStrument, Expressive E Osmose, Roli Seaboard series and others.
• Improved aftertouch curves for enhanced expressiveness, when using the Prophet-6 and OB-6’s own keyboard.
• Prophet-5 Rev 4-style “vintage” mode. This gives the Prophet-6 and OB-6 a ‘looser, more organic sound’ that emulates the behavior of vintage synthesizers, where the behavior of individual oscillators, filters, and envelopes vary from voice to voice.

Find out more on the Sequential website.

GForce OB-E synth plugin brings back the Oberheim 8-Voice. 8 SMEs in one massive instrument.

GForce Software has unveiled its magnum opus, the OB-E. A plugin recreation of Oberheim legendary 8-Voice synthesizer, this packs eight of Oberheim classic SEMs into a single unit, giving users a monstrous polyphonic instrument. Each monophonic SEM offers two ADS envelope generators, two VCOs with pulse and sawtooth waveforms, one LFO, and a multimode filter. Bring these together and you have a massive 8-voice polysynth. The OB-E offers complete per-voice control – though you can edit all SEMS at once – and programming is much easier than on the original hardware. GForce has also added an 8-step sequencer and a routable stereo delay. The UI is fully scalable.

Used in Mono mode, OB-E gives you just one Synthesizer Expanded Module (SME) to work with, a good place to start if you want to learn the programming ropes. Switch to Poly mode, and all eight SEMs become visible. Used in Unison mode, and each SEM can be set to different tunings.

The OB-E ships with 600 factory patches, the majority of which have been designed to fit in your mix – though there are a few showstoppers to demonstrate the instrument’s standalone capabilities as well. These have been categorized and tagged to enable you to find the sound you are looking for easier.

The OB-E supports polyphonic aftertouch and is MPE ready. You can also split the upper and lower SEMs across the keyboard. And is offered as a Mac VST/AU/AAX plugin – which will gauge interest in a PC version.

OB-E is available now for the introductory price of £130 plus tax, rising to £150 plus tax on 8 March.

Find out more on the GForce Software website.

Roland might not be too keen on releasing direct hardware reboots of its classic analogue synths, but it is certainly got no problem doing it in software. Roland has introduced the JUNO-60 software synthesizer, the latest software instrument available through Roland Cloud.

Manufactured between 1982 and 1984, and one of the defining synths of that decade, the Juno-60 is a much-loved polysynth with a single DCO, sub-oscillator and VCF. In addition, there is also that famous Juno chorus effect.

The software synth is powered by its ACB (Analog Circuit Behaviour) modelling technology and promises to recreate the original synth’s “odd quirks and charming limitations”. Additionally, there are some new features ; – example, you can choose between the standard Juno-60 filter and the high-pass filter circuit from the Juno-106. Other enhancements include an extended oscillator range and a second envelope. As on the original, you get two chorus modes plus a third ‘secret’ one that’s accessed by pressing both chorus select buttons at the same time, and there is now an extra chorus option based on the sound of the BOSS CE-1 pedal, along with Reverb, delay, flanger and overdrive effects as well.

The JUNO-60 Software Synthesizer can operate as a VST/AU/AAX plugin on PC and Mac. The Juno-60 also supports Roland’s Plug-Out format, meaning that it enable you to use it in the company’s System-8 hardware synth. In addition, you can also use the System-8 or Roland Boutique JU-06/JU-06A to provide hardware control of the plugin.

The JUNO-60 is part of the Roland Cloud Legendary series, which is available on the Ultimate subscription tier of the service. Anyone with a Roland account can also purchase the plugin outright via the Lifetime Keys option for $149.