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Groove Synthesis, an electronic musical instrument startup founded by music industry veterans from Avid/Digidesign and Sequential, has officially introduced its first synthesizer, the 3rd Wave Advanced Wavetable Synth, at the 2022 NAMM Show today – being held June 3-5 in Anaheim, California.

The 3rd Wave is a 24-voice, 4-part multi-timbral wavetable synth, with 3 oscillators per voice, analog low-pass filters, a state-variable filter, 6-stage wave envelopes per oscillator, and an industry-first Wavemaker tool that allows users to create custom wavetables in a single step, through proprietary sample-to-wave technology.

Each of its three oscillators can generate a classic PPG-era wavetable, a modern high-resolution wavetable, or an analog-modeled waveform.

Though the 3rd Wave has roots in the classic digital wavetable synths of the past, it takes the concept into the 21st century with a lush, expansive sound that’s a product of its expanded wavetables and analog filters. It features a Dave Rossum-designed 2140 analog low-pass filter with variable saturation and resonance compensation, and a second, SEM-style state-variable filter (low-pass, high-pass, notch, and band-pass) for additional tone-sculpting. Both can be used in series for harmonically complex textures.

In addition to its factory wavetables (32 classic PPG-lineage waves plus 48 high-resolution custom waves), users can create custom wavetables of their own using the built-in Wavemaker tool and fill any of the 64 available high-resolution slots. The Wavemaker tool’s sample-to-wavetable capability allows users to connect an audio source to the synthesizer’s rear-panel audio input and generate a 64-wave wavetable at the touch of a button. Alternatively, users can import a 96kHZ wav file into the synth using USB.

With 24-voices, the 3rd Wave can handle note-intensive performances, layer up to 4 parts or create 4 independent split zones — each with a completely different sound, sequence, and dual effect. Each part has independent panning, volume, effects, and a dedicated stereo physical output.

Each of its 3 wavetable oscillators per part/voice has its own 6-stage, loopable wave envelope, which can create complex, evolving soundscapes.

Its pattern-based sequencer can sequence notes, songs, and parameters. Because the synth is multi-timbral, each of its 4 parts/layers has its own sequencer track. Sequences can be up to 24 patterns of up to 32 measures in length. Users can perform in real-time on the keyboard while a sequence or song plays. Users can also perform looped overdubbing of notes or parameter changes to build complex patterns interactively.

Other features include two digital effects per part, four ADSR envelopes (filter, amp, and two auxiliary) per part, four LFOs per part, and a 28-slot mod matrix per part. The synth is housed in a robust, all-metal chassis with a premium 5-octave, semi-weighted Fatar keyboard.

The 3rd Wave is slated for release in August of 2022, with an introductory price of $3795

Find out more info from the Groove Synthesis website.

At the 2022 NAMM Show, MIDI Association announced the addition of MIDI 2.0 capabilities to the Automotive Audio Bus (A2B) from Analog Devices, Inc. – being held June 3-5, 2022 in Anaheim, California

A2B is a high bandwidth, bidirectional, digital audio bus capable of distributing 32 channels of audio and MIDI control data, together with clock and power over a single, unshielded twisted-pair wire.

The technology is designed for advanced audio and MIDI LAN systems for automobiles, smart homes and pro audio applications.

A2B will support both MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 devices and provide backward compatibility/translation, where necessary.

“We see many opportunities for the extension of Analog Device’s A2B into musical instrument and pro audio applications, particularly for guitar effects, electronic drums, digital keyboards and small format audio mixers,” said David Dashefsky, Director for Strategic Marketing and Systems in the Consumer Business Unit at Analog Devices. “MIDI 2.0 and ADI’s A2B digital audio bus now allow your whole band to connect together with multi-channel digital audio over low-cost cables, or inexpensively connect modular systems like guitar pedals or electronic drum kits”

“Combining the multi-channel audio networking capabilities of the Analog Devices A2B with MIDI’s expressive musical control creates a brand-new technology platform for the musical instrument and pro audio industry,” said Athan Billias, President of the MIDI Association. “This inexpensive platform to connect multiple digital instruments together is a big boon to designers of musical instrument and pro audio applications.”

A2B is a high bandwidth, bidirectional, digital audio bus capable of distributing 32 channels of audio and MIDI control data, together with clock and power over a single, unshielded twisted-pair wire.

The technology is designed for advanced audio and MIDI LAN systems for automobiles, smart homes and pro audio applications.

A2B will support both MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 devices and provide backward compatibility/translation, where necessary.

“We see many opportunities for the extension of Analog Device’s A2B into musical instrument and pro audio applications, particularly for guitar effects, electronic drums, digital keyboards and small format audio mixers,” said David Dashefsky, Director for Strategic Marketing and Systems in the Consumer Business Unit at Analog Devices. “MIDI 2.0 and ADI’s A2B digital audio bus now allow your whole band to connect together with multi-channel digital audio over low-cost cables, or inexpensively connect modular systems like guitar pedals or electronic drum kits”

“Combining the multi-channel audio networking capabilities of the Analog Devices A2B with MIDI’s expressive musical control creates a brand-new technology platform for the musical instrument and pro audio industry,” said Athan Billias, President of the MIDI Association. “This inexpensive platform to connect multiple digital instruments together is a big boon to designers of musical instrument and pro audio applications.”

PTZOptics, a manufacturer of broadcast-quality robotic cameras, and the MIDI Association, have announced a joint project to bring fully configurable MIDI control to the PTZOptics line of robotic cameras.

Which means that you will be able to control video cameras from your keyboard, sequencer, MIDI controller or other MIDI device.

Starting with the PTZOptics 12X-NDI and SDI cameras, PTZOptics will roll out direct MIDI control to their current generation camera line via a free firmware update. Users will be able to map camera commands including setting presets, call, pan, tilt and zoom.

“Live streaming has become extremely important to musicians and creatives, from performers and worship leaders to bloggers and DJs,” says Geoff Robinson, Product Manager at PTZOptics. “With this new feature set, users can control a live video production, without any additional dedicated hardware – just the devices or even instruments they already have.”

“The MIDI Association is very excited to have PTZOptics as a member, because we have already been working on remote collaboration using Web MIDI for our MIDI In Music Education and MIDI In Music Therapy Initiatives,” says Billias. “The ability to remotely control PTZ cameras over Web MIDI shrinks the world in a very significant way.”

Owners of current generation PTZ 12X cameras will be able to unlock MIDI control by downloading and installing the latest camera firmware from the PTZOptics website in early June 2022.

MIDI control will roll out to all current-generation PTZOptics PTZ cameras by the end of 2022.