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

Groovifi is a free app that promises a better way to create Spotify playlists by letting you decide the mood, BPM, key, rhythm and genre of your songs.

Spotify is known for its ability to generate personalised playlists based on what its algorithms perceive to be your musical taste.

If the algorithm isn’t cutting it – what if it doesn’t know you as well as it thinks it does? If your ‘made for you’ playlists sound like they’ve been ‘made for someone else’, maybe it’s time for you to take control. The makers of Groovifi think they have the answer.

This free app is designed to give you more control over playlist generation. First up, choose a song on Spotify that you like. Next, use any combination of Groovifi’s filters to fine-tune the playlist to your taste.

The parameters are divided into four categories: Mood, Sport, Music Pro and Other. The Mood section includes five sliders that you can move up or down (Acoustic, Mellow, Sad, Chill and Obscure) while the Sport section enables you to select a BPM range.

You can dive even deeper in the Music Pro category, filtering songs by key, mode and rhythm. You could choose to only find songs in 4/4 and D minor, for example.

Lastly, over in the Other section you can select your favourite genre and select how likely it is that you will be fed vocal/instrumental and live/studio recordings. It’s also possible to exclude explicit tracks.

The playlist you’re creating will refresh every time you make an adjustment to one of the filters, so you can just keep tweaking until you’re happy with the results. Playlists you want to keep can be saved and then shared with friends.

Groovifi can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS, with a $5 in-app purchase unlocking full functionality. Find out more on the Groovifi website.

Ashun Sound Machines (ASM) let us know that they have released a major firmware update for their Hydrasynth line.

The free version 2.0 update adds new synthesis capabilities, new performance options, expanded patch memory and more, and is compatible with the entire Hydrasynth line.

What’s new in Hydrasynth 2.0:

• ASM’s major (2.0) firmware update adds three more memory banks to the Hydrasynth keyboard, desktop, and Explorer models, matching the Deluxe’s existing eight banks for a total of 1,024 patches.
• Each Hydrasynth oscillator — OSC 1, OSC 2, and OSC 3 — now includes a new BitRedux (bit reduction) parameter that allows users to choose between OFF, 16, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 bits.
• More modulation options – a new modulation source called VoiceMod (voice modulator) allows users to offset values for each voice that can then be applied in the Mod Matrix to vary chosen parameters per voice. D
• All five envelopes — ENV 1 through to ENV 5 — and LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators) — LFO 1 through to LFO 5 — have new Quantize options, so users can quantize their outputs to achieve unique stepping effects. It is also now possible to choose to advance through the steps with each new note on with the LFOs in Step mode, meaning users can play through the steps one by one with each new note press.
• Bypass each of the (Pre-FX, Post-FX, Delay, and/or Reverb) effects globally in the system page — to record a dry signal without having to edit each patch.
• Choose how the sustain pedal operates. The three options available are: Sustain — traditional sustain (as it has always worked), Sostenuto — press and hold a single note while playing notes above it, and Mod Only — disables the sustain function, allowing users to then route it in the Mod Matrix.
• Other added features and functions, to include: Arp range expanded to six octaves; new Arp Step Offset parameter; Bank selection from browser window; ability to randomize all steps in LFO Step mode; new display Dim, On/Off options; Glissando mode added to Glide options; fine control for more subtle options offered by Vibrato; and Local On/Off status recalled (with in-screen reminder).

As ASM CEO Glen Darcey duly concludes:

“Hydrasynth firmware 2.0 is a huge update. ASM CEO Glen Darcey suggest downloading the manual update to find out more about the features, adding “There are some good tips and tricks on each of the new features and functions in there.”

Owners of any Hydrasynth can download the latest (2.0) firmware update for free, along with the Owner’s Manual addendum.
An introduction to Hydrasynth 2.0 from ASM CEO Glen Darcey:

Hydrasynth 2.0 VoiceMod (voice modulator) feature overview:

Hydrasynth 2.0 LFO Step advance mode, with Product Specialist Ken Pierce:

Hydrasynth 2.0 LFO/Envelope Quantize feature overview.
Performance demo, by ASM Senior Product & Design Manager Dominic Au, focusing on new features in 2.0:

You can learn more about the Hydrasynth line at the ASM website:
Hydrasynth keyboard
Hydrasynth desktop
Hydrasynth Deluxe
Hydrasynth Explorer

Yamaha’s CK61 and CK88 are not just stage pianos – they are portable keyboards that you can play anywhere.

The lightweight models inherit sounds from the CP and YC series.

Yamaha’s product roster is not exactly short on stage keyboards – it can already offer you the CP and YC models– but its new CK series sets itself apart by putting the focus on portability.

The 88-note CK88 and 61-key CK61 promise the sounds of the CP and YC keyboards in a more compact, lightweight form factor (13.1kg and 5.6kg respectively). Both models can be powered by eight AA batteries and have integrated loudspeakers, so the theory is that you can pitch up and play pretty much anywhere.

The soundset is as you would expect. Pianos, electric pianos, strings, brass, organs and “modern synths” are all present and correct, and you can spread these across three keyboard zones or layers to create more complex patches and increase your performance options.

Each part can be processed with the built-in effects – these include filters, envelopes, modulation processors, delay and reverb – and there’s also a final global effects section that features a master EQ.

In addition, Yamaha also promises intuitive control, with all important parameters right under your hands, and the three-part sound architecture is designed to make it easy to switch between sounds and combine them during a performance. The colour coding of the switches can be customised, so you can quickly see which parameters are active for each part.

There are dedicated organ drawbar controls, as well, and the aforementioned effects are said to be quick to adjust.

The CK61 (smaller version) features lightweight ‘Future System Basic’ (FSB) keys and has an action inspired by that of old Electone organs such as the FX-1. With a heavier initial key resistance and increased travel, Yamaha promised more expression and greater stability, and a feel that should be perfect for organs, electric pianos, strings, synths and more.

The CK-88 has ‘Graded Hammer Standard’ (GHS) keys for a more piano-like experience.

Other features include Bluetooth audio connectivity, mic/line-in, MIDI/DAW control and audio interfacing.

The CK88 and CK61 will be available in April priced at $1,899/£1,567 and $1,249/£1,008 respectively. Find out more on the Yamaha website.