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

Cre8audio has introduced NiftyKEYZ, a Eurorack keyboard controller case that they say is ‘epic AF’, with four channels of CV control, MIDI In/Out, Splits, and arpeggiator, built-in utilities, expressive control and more.

NiftyKEYZ combines a full-sized 49-key synth-action MIDI controller keyboard with 112hp of space for Eurorack modules, so you can house all-in-one synths like the Moog Mother-32 and use them as keyboards, or create a custom keyboard-controlled modular rig.

NiftyKEYZ offers keyboard & MIDI control over 4 CV + Gate outs. NiftyKEYZ’s MIDI implementation lets you use use each of its 4 CV + Gate outs as either a part of a fully patchable polyphonic instrument or to control four modular or analog instruments. Additionally, each voice can be split across multiple MIDI zones on the keyboard. This means you can create a 4-voice polyphonic instrument or a 3-voice instrument in part of the keyboard range, while splitting another voice into a monophonic instrument elsewhere.

NiftyKEYZ also features a wide range of built-in control features for expressive performance and to give you new options for controlling your modular gear. These include a multi-mode arpeggiator, multi-mode clock-synced LFO, aftertouch, velocity, sustain/latch mode, internal clock, expression out and more. All of these performance features are tied to CV outs, offering a wide variety of modulation and control possibilities.

In addition to the NiftyKEYZ’s CV & audio capabilities, it incorporates useful utility modules, like integrated 2x buffered multiples, 2x outputs and headphone out with dedicated controls.

NiftyKEYZ is also a very capable USB and 5 pin Din MIDI controller and device. It can not only take MIDI in from computers and external MIDI devices, but also send MIDI back out to control them. This means you can use NiftyKEYZ to control software-based instruments, other MIDI instruments, and/or let it be sequenced from DAWs, MIDI controllers, and sequencers.

Features:

• Full size 49 key synth-action keybed with aftertouch
• 4x CV + gate outs – can be split by keyboard zone and used polyphonic or monophonic modes
• CV out for Aftertouch, Velocity, Modwheel/LFO, Expression
• Clock – internal clock and externally clockable + clock divider
• 2x buffered mults
• Useable case area = 112hp for eurorack modules
• Power output for modules
• +12V – 1500mA
• -12V – 1000mA
• +5V – 1000mA
• Multi-mode arpeggiator
• Auto-chord function
• Transpose function
• Glide control
• Swing control
• Multi-mode clock synced LFO
• Sustain pedal input (controls MIDI and gates)
• Two volume controllable 1/4” ts mono outputs on its rear (mirrored 3.5mm outs on top)
• Dedicated control for headphone out with 1/4” headphone jack on its rear
• USB MIDI class-compliant – no drivers needed
• MIDI in via USB and 5 pin Din
• MIDI thru via 5 Pin Din and USB

The official user guide:

Cre8audio NiftyKEYZ is available now.

This 400-page guide from the publishers of Synth Gems and Patch & Tweak documents five decades of music tech innovation.

Bjooks, the publisher of hit books for electronic musicians, including Push Turn Move and Patch & Tweak, has announced a new book, created in collaboration with Roland, that celebrates the brand’s 50th anniversary.

Inspire The Music: 50 Years Of Roland History may be the ultimate book for Roland fans. It’s a 400-page, lavishly illustrated coffee table book that takes a deep dive into the some of the most important instruments of the last 50 years, and the people behind them.

“We’re extremely excited to launch Inspire The Music this summer, with the blessing and enthusiastic cooperation of Roland itself,” said Kim Bjørn, founder and CEO of Bjooks. “We’ve been privileged to gain access to the company’s vast archive of interviews and technical information, interview the quiet geniuses that design the musical future, and connect with the worldwide Roland community.”

“Roland is thrilled to collaborate with acclaimed music tech publisher Bjooks to create a special book that honors the culture, people, and technology of Roland, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year. It is exciting to see such a diverse group of artists share their experiences with our products,” said Gordon Raison, CEO and representative director of Roland Corporation.

The book features more than 70 interviews with artists and Roland designers, discussing not only making music with the instruments, but the stories of making the instruments themselves.

Artists featured include: Thomas Dolby, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Ali Stone, Omar Hakim, Sister Bliss, Howard Jones, Orbital, Richie Hawtin, Peaches, Culture Club producer Steve Levine, Guy Fletcher of Dire Straits, Clive Deamer of Radiohead, Gingger Shankar, Swizz Beatz, Rachel Z, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran, Nita Strauss, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Steve Stevens, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Buffy Sainte-Marie, electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, Yana Reznik, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of the Doobie Brothers, Rance Dopson, Bonnie McIntosh, Egyptian Lover and others.

The book also offers a behind-the-scenes look into Roland culture, and a timeline of Roland history. starting with its beginnings under founder Ikutaro Kakehashi.

And like all of Bjooks publications, Inspire The Music features gear galore, with illustrated stories about product lines, popular machines, quirky products and more. Beyond the obvious icons – like the Jupiter-8, the TR-808 and TB-303 – the book also digs into some of Roland’s quirkier creations, ranging from guitar synthesizers and electronic percussion to grooveboxes.

Inspire The Music will be available this summer, priced at $75 .

Pitch Innovations has introduced Fluid Chords, a MIDI-FX plugin for Mac and Windows that lets you polyphonically bend from any chord to any chord.

They ask:

“Why do the notes in our piano roll have to be so straight?

Why are we still using tools that were cutting-edge decades ago?

Why can’t we bend fluidly between many chords?

Our vision always starts with a simple ‘Why?’”

With Fluid Chords, you can create unique pitch FX, bend from a single note to a whole chord and more.

Official intro video:

Fluid Chords is available now for intro price $49, normally $79