WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Teenage Engineering reveals a new hardware expansion module for the OP-Z synthesizer, Line, which might add the I/O that you have been wishing for.

You can use line in to add external audio signals to your mix and use line out as a second stereo output available within OP–Z.

You can route individual tracks to the module output instead of to the main mix to separate and process the individual tracks, or make effect loops with your favorite effect pedals. Depending on your needs, you can switch between mono and stereo signals.

The output can also be used for headphone cueing of your tracks before bringing them out to the main mix. There’s also MIDI, Trig and PO sync I/O.

The Line module join the previously released Rumble haptic subwoofer and Oplab CV add-on in the OP-Z accessories range.

The OP-Z has a built-in microphone, but the addition of a line-in means that you can add external audio signals to your mix and make more use of its sampling functionality.

You can route individual tracks to the module output instead of to the main mix to separate and process the individual tracks, or make effect loops with your favorite effect pedals. Depending on your needs, you can switch between mono and stereo signals.

The extra output can also be used for headphone cueing, which could be useful if you want to perform a live set on your OP-Z.

Teenage Engineering says that the Line module will be available in Spring 2022. Pricing is to be announced. Further information will be released on the Teenage Engineering website in due course.

Infinite Space Piano is a new free plugin that promises a widescreen piano tone full of textures and environmental sounds.

Created by Zak Sound, this enables you to adjust the output using three parameters. Tools at your disposal include a big room reverb, environmental textures, and an ‘inifinity pad’ that is designed to deliver an “endless bright tone”.

Each of these three elements has its own ADSR envelope, as does the base piano sound. Finally, there are four master controls: Lowcut, Width, Pan and Gain.

Infinite Space Piano runs on PC and Mac as a VST/AU plugin.

Download it now on the Zak Sound website.

New Yamaha PSR-E portable keyboards promise “pro-quality sound for the first time”

The Yamaha PSR-EW425 and PSR-E473 are said to be a step up from the previous generation.

Yamaha is promising more bang for your beginner keyboard buck with the PSR-EW425 and PSR-E473, which promise “pro-quality sound for the first time” at their price points. These are set to replace the ​​PSR-E463 and PSR-EW410 in the PSR range.

The PSR-EW425 and PSR-E473 features 76- and 61-note touch-sensitive keyboards respectively, and offer 820 voices apiece. In addition, they come with a Super Articulation Lite feature, with compatible voices promising to simulate the tone, resonance, and material characteristics of the instruments they are emulating.

Yamaha says that this kind of sound quality was only previously available in its higher-end keyboard models: both of the new PSRs offer “high resolution” voices, and are the only models in the PSR-E range to feature two channels for insert effects. Like the sounds, these effects are said to be “top-quality”.

Both keyboards have redesigned control panels and LCD displays for a better workflow, and the numeric keyboard has been replaced by direct category access. This should make it easier to get to the voices, styles and other features that you are looking for.

If you require more volume when you are playing, there is a Mega Boost button that gives you an additional +6dB. Yamaha says that, in some performance situations, this could mean that you can get away without hooking up to a PA system, but if you do need to do that, there are left and right audio outputs in addition to the headphones jack.

Other features include a mic input, so you can sing along to your playing, along with vocal effects, quick sampling and motion effects. The Rec’n’Share and MusicSoft Manager apps, meanwhile, enable you to share your music, exchange data and communicate.

The  PSR-EW425 and PSR-E473 are expected to be hitting stores in March or April. Prices are $489.99/£545 and $369.99/£412 respectively.