Stylophone Releases On-The-Fly Performance Sequencer


Dubreq Stylophone has introduced Stylophone On-The-Fly (aka OTF), the latest addition to Stylophone Pro Range and Music Lab series.   It’s a hands-on performance sequencer designed to turn pattern programming into a real-time performance,

The On-The Fly strips things back to the fundamentals – no distracting screens or menu-diving required. Just adjust the pitch, alter the rhythm or switch up the playing style and explore the numerous performance-angled ways in which your musical ideas can be sculpted in a live context.

Encouraging experimentation is the central concept here. With OTF, you can program eight steps and the sequencer will open up multiple patterns of 16, 32 or 64 further steps, with eight pattern chains that can be changed live. You can then switch the sequence to one of either Forward, Reverse or a Bounce which can keep your tracks sounding dynamic in the midst of a live performance.

On-The-Fly features 24 sequence memories, with per-step pitch and gate duty cycle control. OTF also sports adjustment controls for the note scale and transposition, to take your ideas in new directions.

It can also be relied upon for all manner of rhythmic interest – you can add skips, rests, ties, slides, ratchets and controlled randomness to individual steps as the sequence plays. You can also set it to introduce variation as a pattern develops. The slides make transitions smooth between notes, while ratchets create repeated triggers within a step. Rests give – as the name implies – a bit of a space between note playback, and ties extend notes across steps, allowing you to alter the phrasing of a sequence as it runs.

On top of all that, tempo, swing, lead and lag timing, note length and gate length controls give complete mastery of the rhythmic qualities of a sequence. Swing moves the rhythm between straight and shuffled in real time. The in-built loop record function captures performances of up to 128 steps, with 24 dedicated memories for loops.

OTF’s CV and Gate inputs and outputs alongside MIDI and Sync connectivity are designed for a range of Eurorack, MIDI and hybrid systems. Eight separate gate outputs (one for each step) are placed alongside a summed gate output. With a lightweight footprint, the mobile-ready OTF can also be powered by six AA batteries or a 12V DC, centre-positive 1A supply.

The CEO of Stylophone, John Simpson, states; “OTF turns sequencing into an instrument. No screens. No menu diving. No clutter. Nothing in the way between your ideas and sound. That’s what Stylophone is all about.”

The On-The-Fly Performance Sequencer is on sale now priced at £149/€169/$199. Find out more and order here.

GForce Releases Official Oberheim Matrix-12 Software Synthesizer


GForce Software has introduced Oberheim Matrix-12, an officially licensed software instrument developed in collaboration with Oberheim and Marcus Ryle, one of the original synthesizer’s designers.

Introduced in 1985, the Matrix-12 synthesizer was known for its 12 voices, 15-mode filter and extensive modulation system.

The software recreates the original architecture, while adding a redesigned interface that makes its complex modulation capabilities easier to explore and edit. It also includes sounds from the original Matrix-12 and Xpander.

Features:

  • Each of the 12 voices features two modeled VCOs with triangle, sawtooth and pulse waveforms, with the second oscillator adding noise and hard sync, alongside FM capabilities.
  • The oscillator section feeds a 15-mode filter offering one- to four-pole low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, notch and phase modes, followed by two VCAs in series.
  • Each voice includes five envelopes, five LFOs, four ramps, three trackers and a lag processor, providing extensive modulation possibilities.
  • Drag-and-drop modulation allows users to connect any modulation source to a destination, with six bipolar modulation slots per parameter, quantization and visual indicators showing modulation activity.
  • Three interface views provide different approaches to programming: Flow displays the signal path and modulation connections, Mod Matrix organizes assignments in an editable grid, and Visualiser provides graphical displays of individual modules.
  • Single mode uses all 12 voices as one polyphonic instrument, with unison, detune and stereo spread controls.
  • Multi mode divides the instrument into six overlapping keyboard zones, each with independent voice allocation, MIDI channel and micro arpeggiator settings.
  • Per-voice editing tools include loading, copying, locking and soloing individual voices, while Relative Edit allows changes to be applied across an entire keyboard zone.
  • Additional features include full MPE support, velocity and release velocity, polyphonic pressure, four global Macros, stereo delay and matrix reverb.
  • The factory library contains more than 570 patches, including over 380 new sounds and more than 190 original Matrix-12 and Xpander patches.

GForce Oberheim Matrix-12 is available now for macOS and Windows as a standalone instrument and in AU, AAX, VST and VST3 formats. The regular price is $119.99, with an introductory price of $83.99 through December 5, 2026. A 14-day trial is also available.

First Love FM Synthesizer Now Available


LOVE Synthesizers has announced that FIRST LOVE, the company’s standalone ‘exploratory FM synthesizer’, is now shipping.

“Our goal in creating FIRST LOVE was to make creative synthesis more immediate, expressive and inspiring,” says Markús Bjarnason, Co-founder and Creative Director of LOVE Synthesizers. “This instrument is both approachable and deep, simple and sonically complex.”

FIRST LOVE offers multi-timbral and polyphonic voices, complex wave shaping, morphing envelopes, effects and extensive modulation. It features a four-part multitimbral engine with polyphonic and monophonic operation, and pressure-sensitive performance pads with velocity and aftertouch. Meanwhile, MIDI, sync and USB connectivity enable FIRST LOVE to exist in almost any synth or instrument ecosystem.

Features:

  • Four-part multitimbral sound engine with polyphonic and monophonic operation
  • FM synthesis with wave shaping, morphing envelopes, effects and extensive modulation
  • Standalone workflow with live looping, riff sequencing, scale creation and microtonal tuning
  • Pressure-sensitive performance pads with velocity and aftertouch
  • Battery option, built-in speakers, DIN5 MIDI, sync and USB connectivity for studio or mobile use, 2x stereo or 4x mono for versatile signal routing

FIRST LOVE is available now for $699 USD.