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

 

 

Ahead of Superbooth 2022, Cre8audio today announced East Beast, a new semi-modular desktop synthesizer and Eurorack module, created in collaboration with Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers.

 

East Beast is a powerful monophonic full voice with many unique sound-shaping tools and deep performance capabilities.

 

The design is heavily influenced by Pittsburgh’s SV-1 and SV-1b synthesizers. At its core, you’ll find its 100% analog, Pittsburgh-designed oscillator. The oscillator features sine, saw, triangle, and square waveforms that can also be used in combinations. Rounding out its sonic core is FM and pulse width modulation (PWM).

 

To shape the sound, East Beast includes an analog envelope generator, VCA, LFOs, and a Pittsburgh “Zero Dead Spot” multi-mode filter. The “Zero Dead Spot” filter is the product of years of research into analog filter design by Pittsburgh’s founder Richard Nicol, and Chief of R&D Michael Johnsen. Unlike more traditional ladder filters, the PGH “Zero Dead Spot” filter does not distort as readily and features no “sonic dead spots”. The result is a fully sweepable frequency range that produces a “rich velvety sound”, throughout each of its lowpass, high-pass, and bandpass modes.

 

In addition to the analog sound-shaping tools mentioned previously, East Beast also includes a deep new digital multi-mod /multi-function tool concept to add more options. The multi-mod lets the user select between an additional envelope, clock synced LFO, MIDI CC control, and random voltage generator modes.

 

 

A semi-modular synthesizer, East Beast has basically 9 different patchable modules (Oscillator, filter, envelope, VCA, LFO, multi-mod tool, sequencer, MIDI to CV converter, and button keyboard) with 18 Eurorack compatible patch points to plug into itself and your other gear.

 

As a starting point, East Beast comes intuitively patched internally to create a bold and flexible full synth voice. Using the patch points enables the users to reroute internal signal flow as well as use with external eurorack format modules and synthesizers. To help facilitate experimentation, Cre8audio has included a set of premium Nazca Noodles patch cables.

 

East Beast’s playing and performance capabilities are as strong as its powerful sonic core. East Beast can be controlled via MIDI, control voltage (CV/Gate), and its function keys double as a keyboard controller. Additionally, included is an integrated sequencer & arpeggiator that can also be controlled via MIDI and is externally clockable.

 

Features:

 

• East coast style subtractive monophonic synthesize
• Controllable via MIDI, CV, and integrated button keyboard
• Fully patchable – use East Beast’s components as separate modules with external devices or reroute its internal patching. It’s like having 9 individual modules (Oscillator, filter, envelope, VCA, LFO, multi-mod tool, sequencer, MIDI to CV converter, and button keyboard).
• 32 step sequencer with up to 13 presets
• Generative sequencing mode
• Clock-synced arpeggiator
• Step sequencer can be manipulated & transposed via MIDI and the integrated button keyboard
• Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer developed 100% analog oscillator
• Oscillator waveforms – sine, triangle, saw, square, and pitched noise – Waveforms can be combined
• Oscillator includes pulse-width modulation (PWM) and frequency modulation (FM)
• Variable state, multi-mode PGH “No-Dead-Spots” filter (lowpass, bandpass, highpass, modes can be combined)
• Analog envelope generator
• Integrated VCA
• Dual-range analog LFO with triangle wave output
• Digital multi-mod tool – modulation control via CV, random generator, and extra LFO and envelope generator
• Internal clock with tap tempo and can be clocked via an external source.
• Built-in clock divider
• Can be used standalone in its included case or removed and used as a eurorack format module
• Specifications for when used as a eurorack module
• Width when used as a module = 40hp
• Depth when used as a module = 25mm
• 213mA power draw when running +12V rail
• 151mA power draw when running -12V
• Input voltage range of oscillator = 0-10V

 

Included in the box – 1x East Beast, 1x East Beast wall-wart power supply, 5x Amazing Nazca Noodles Patch Cables, 2x 3.5mm to 5 pin MIDI Din pigtails, and love (love’s presence likely, but not guaranteed)

 

East Beast is available now, price at $249.99 / €249.99.

 

 

 

 

Ahead of Superbooth 2022, Bitwig has announced Bitwig Studio 4.3, with a convolution device for real and imagined spaces, a new delay and more.

 

New in Bitwig Studio 4.3:

 

A new device, Convolution, can take any sound anywhere. All convolutions imprint your sound with an “impulse,” and Bitwig’s comes ready-made with 270 of them, ranging from 12th-century cathedrals and legendary studio effects to more abstract “environments.”

 

Delay+ is Bitwig’s latest boutique audio effect. By balancing familiar controls along with a few thoughtful new ones, Delay+ can either add a little character or fully transform your sound as it ping-pongs along. Set the delay in seconds or beats, then nudge each channel a few milliseconds for instant stereo. Pick from five Blur options to go from a lightly animated feedback to a full, blown-out reverb. A Ducking control keeps things under control by quieting your delay cloud when strong signals arrive.

 

Two modules are new. Union is an oscillator that plays it straight, blending three waveshapes into one pleasant, drifting output. And for filtering, Low-pass MG honors Mister Moog by imitating both his classic filter and mix buss.

 

In addition, many other features have also arrived. Low-pass SK filter is now Sallen-Key, with 16 modes on tap. Our Comb filter gained a Damping control for a touch of finesse. ADSR and two other envelopes now have added modes for Digital precision, or Analog simplicity and feel. Plus all filters get a Q Limit to rein in their resonance, and all oscillators have more phase mod range for more brittle, digital sounds. So whether starting a sound in Polymer or growing a world in The Grid, new sounds are at hand.

 

As always, a few more new features came along for the ride, like FX tracks now have sends of their own. And yes, direct feedback routings are available — and clearly labeled (Achtung!). And the ADSR module gets a lot of use, so why not add a “bias” out port for a bipolar signal that centers around sustain? Good for pitch or anything that might want a little drift.”

 

Availability

 

Bitwig Studio 4.3 is now in beta and can be tested by anyone with a Bitwig Studio license and an active Upgrade Plan.

 

 

 

Good news from Erica Synths, as it’ll be heading to Superbooth 2022 with two new products and a positive update on one of its previously announced ones.

 

The biggest ‘unveil’ is the Syntrx II, a spruced-up version of the original Syntrx that landed in 2020. This takes inspiration from the classic Synthi AKS synth, but is a “reminagination” rather than a direct clone. It features stable oscillators, new synthesis options, a digital patch matrix, patch recall, a built-in sequencer, effects and more.

 

The original Syntrx was good enough to get the thumbs-up from Synthi’s Peter Zinovieff, who demised last year, but its successor promises to be even better. Based on lessons learned during development of the first version, Syntrx II is said to represent “the culmination of Erica Synths’ analogue sound design circuits”, and features two main oscillators with waveshapers, a multimode filter, external instrument inputs with an envelope follower, a ring modulator, a recordable joystick, and a built-in piano roll sequencer.

 

What they say about it:

 

“Based on lessons learned from the SYNTRX, we decided to create an instrument which would integrate even deeper into contemporary electronic and experimental music setups and cover sonic territory from daunting drones to powerful basslines and glitched noisescapes.

 

The SYNTRX II is the culmination of our analogue sound design circuits – two perfectly stable main oscillators with waveshapers, a versatile multimode filter, supercharged external instrument inputs with an envelope follower, a unique, great sounding ringmodulator, a recordable joystick and built in piano roll sequencer, all arranged around our signature matrix mixer and topped off with powerful FX on our new DSP platform. Introducing The SYNTRX II – a new dark horse for experimental sonic rides.”

 

 

 

Features:

 

• Two stable main oscillators with CV controlled waveforms
• Modulation oscillator with variable waveforms
• Highpass and Lowpass filters in series
• Free running or gate synced sample and hold circuit
• Multi-colour noise generator
• DC coupled instrument inputs with signal inversion and envelope follower
• Ringmodulator of unique design
• Looping trapezoid envelope generator and VCA
• Two output VCAs
• Signal meter with a dedicated audio/CV output
• FX section with great sounding Delay and Reverb
• Recordable Joystick Analogue patch matrix with 3 attenuation levels in each patch point
• 254 patch memory
• Piano roll sequencer
• Two CV inputs
• Gate input
• DIN5 MIDI Input (CV and Gate) and MIDI Thru
• Two assignable outputs
• Headphone output

 

There’s the obligatory matrix mixer, along with an FX section that’s running on a new DSP platform.

 

The Erica Synths Syntrx II will be available in the summer priced at €1,800 (VAT excl.) /$2,719.

 

 

The next new product of the Erica Synths rank is the LXR-02 Eurorack module – a digital drum box that can also be a source of bass sounds with an integrated sequencer by Sonic Potions and Erica Synths. It’s based on the sound engine from the LXR-02 drum machine, but adds assignable CV control over parameters.

 

You get a total of six drum/percussion voices, three of which can be used as basslines. Each voice has more than 30 adjustable parameters, and there’s an insert effects section.

 

Features:

 

• 6 drum/percussion voices
• 3 voices can be used as basslines
• Powerful sound design engine
• Over 30 adjustable parameters per voice
• 5 assignable CV inputs with 1V/Oct tracking
• Insert FX section
• 4 assignable outputs
• Kit memory
• SD card for Kit exchange and easy FW updates
• Kits compatible with the LXR-02
• Module width – 28 HP

 

The LXR-02 Eurorack Module will be available in the summer, priced €410 plus VAT/$499.

 

 

Lastly, we are pleased to be able to report that the delayed Perkons HD-01 drum machine is finally available for pre-order. Announced last year , but put on ice due to component shortages this eagerly anticipated device will ship in July priced at €1,650 (plus VAT)/$1,999.

 

You can find out more about all three products on the Erica Synths website.