Archive for July, 2019

Arturia KeyLab 88 MKII MIDI Controller

 

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. The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII could be the ultimate MIDI controller keyboard for producers who play.

Novation SUMMIT Polyphonic Synthesizer

 

Novation Summit Two-Part 16-Voice 61-Key Polyphonic Synthesizer

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 is now available.