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Eventide says that its new SplitEQ plugin operates in a “fundamentally different” way to traditional equalizers.

Eight-band processor and split audio into transient and tonal streams.

At first glance, it might look like a standard eight-band parametric EQ, but then you have to take the Structural Split engine into consideration. This promises to divide incoming audio into two streams – Transient and Tonal – so that they can be processed separately.

Eventide claims that this approach mimics the way that humans can separate tonal and transient streams, and can help to make typical EQ problems easier to solve while opening up new creating options.

As well as being able to cut or boost tonal and transient elements individually, you can also use SplitEQ more creatively, thanks to the independent left/right mid/side panning options.

There is a strong visual element to the workflow, with a real-time spectrum analyzer enabling you to see what is going on with your sound. You can solo streams or bands, enabling you to focus on problem areas and sort out problematic resonances or transients.

“We’re incredibly proud of what our developers have accomplished,” says Eventide’s founder, Richard Factor. “They’ve built on the Structural Split technology at the heart of our earlier plug-in, Physion, to do something truly groundbreaking: SplitEQ is a fundamentally new type of musical tool.”

Find out more on the Eventide website.

SplitEQ is available now priced at $99 (regular price will be $179) and runs in VST/AU/AAX formats on PC and Mac. You can also download a 30-day demo.

Dreadbox drops Dysphonia, a full synthesizer voice with open architecture, a single-run desktop and Eurorack synth that you can build it yourself and promises to take you to “patching heaven”

Available via an early-bird sale, only a single run of kits will be available, so the company encourages you to “buy now or cry later”.

The analogue oscillator offers a choice of four waves, and you get three VCAs. There’s an analogue LFO, low-pass and multimode filters and the hybrid echo that you will find on the Erebus synthesizer.

All of Dysphonia’s components are included in the box, and it’s said to be an ideal project for inexperienced DIYers.

Features:

• Full Voice Modular Synthesizer with Open Architecture
• Powerful Sound Designing machine
• It can be used as a Desktop or a Eurorack synthesizer
• It comes along with a dedicated USB to Eurorack power converter
• It is consisted of 13 individual sections
• Ideal for inexperienced DIYers
• Analog Oscillator with 4 waves
• 3x Analog VCA
• Passive Signal Multiplier
• CV and Audio 3-to-1 Mixer
• High precision MIDI to CV/ Gate converter
• 1ms/stage Snappy AD Envelope
• Wide range Analog LFO
• 24dB 4-pole Analog Self-Oscillating Low Pass Filter
• 12dB 2-pole Analog Multi mode Filter
• Hybrid Echo (as found on the Erebus synthesizer)
• Sophisticated digital Modulator with 4 different modes:
• LFO – Wide range, 4 waveforms and delay function
• RANDOM – Classic Sample & Hold or Key triggered with lag Filter
• ENVELOPE – Snappy 1ms/stage, Attack – Decay or Attack – Release
• CC – Modulation Wheel, Velocity, Aftertouch, Unipolar or Bipolar

Find out more and order your kit on the Dreadbox website.

The Dysphonia is available for pre-order for €185 plus VAT (regular price €230).

Roland has introduced the JX-08 and JD-08 Sound Module.

The Analogue and digital classics from the ‘80s and ‘90s get downsized and upgraded.

Roland is exploring both its analogue and digital heritage with its latest pair of Boutique synths – the JX-08 and JD-08 – which emulate the JX-8P and JD-800 respectively.

Released in 1985, the JX-8P was one of Roland’s latest ‘80s analogue synths, and was famed for its warm pads, shimmering chorus and bright textures. The JX-08 gives you all of this and more – new effects and a polyphonic sequencer for starters.

The new JX-08 other additions include extended polyphony, two-part multitimbrality and dual/split modes. You get 32 presets from the original synth plus 100 new ones that are designed for contemporary styles.

Designing your own sounds should be made easier by the inclusion of all the controls from the PG-800 programmer unit, which was released to complement the original JX-8P. You have 256 slots in which to store these.

Features:

• 32 original presets, plus over 100 new presets
• 17 new effect types including JUNO-106 chorus, LO-FI Comp, and Pitch Shifter
• 64-step, two-part polyphonic sequencer with random pattern generator
• Onboard arpeggiator
• Two-part multitimbral for playing multiple patches with dual and split capabilities
• Expanded polyphony compared to the original hardware
• EXT CLOCK IN to drive the internal sequencer and arpeggiator

The new JD-08 is based on Roland mighty JD-800, a beast of a digital synth from 1991. As it turns 30, the JD-800 is having a bit of a moment: Roland has already emulated it as a Zen-Core Expansion and plugin this year.

The JD-08 is not a 1:1 recreation, but it does take the JD-800’s four-tone structure, 108 waveforms and two-part multieffects and plonk them in a much smaller instrument. You even get a miniature version of the synth’s huge control panel, with plenty of sliders, buttons and knobs for hands-on tweaking.

Features:

• Four-part tone structure, multi-phase time variant envelopes, and palette sliders
• Includes the original 64 presets plus 21 new presets
• Detailed recreation of the JD-800’s unique two-stage multi-effects section
• Editable distortion, phaser, spectrum, enhancer, delay, chorus, and reverb
• 64-step, two-part polyphonic sequencer with random pattern generator
• Onboard arpeggiator
• Two-part multitimbral with expanded polyphony
• EXT CLOCK IN to drive the internal sequencer and arpeggiator

Both the Roland JX-08 and JD-08 can serve as USB-C audio/MIDI interfaces, with full-size MIDI ports enabling easy connection to other hardware. There’s also an external clock input. Other enhancements include – expanded polyphony, a two-part polyphonic sequencer and other modern niceties.

As with previous Boutiques, these new models can be bus- or battery-powered and have a built-in speaker. They are also compatible with the optional K-25m 25-note keyboard unit.

Find out more on the Roland website.

The Roland JX-08 and JD-08 will be available in the US in January 2022 priced at $400 each.