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

Suzuki is marking its 70th anniversary by releasing a new version of the Omnichord.

The Suzuki Omnichord was already having a moment, and it’s now been confirmed that this quirky electronic instrument is coming back.

To celebrate the Suzuki’s 70th anniversary, the company has announced that a reissue of the Omnichord is coming in the fall of 2023:

“In the 1980s, the electronic musical instrument ‘Omnichord’ gained tremendous popularity among gadget-loving music lovers for its quirky look and tone.

We have been receiving requests to resurrect the Omnichord for a long time. And this year, 2023, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Suzuki Musical Instruments Manufacturing, we will reproduce the Omnichord!

It is scheduled to be released around the fall of 2023.”

Between 1981 and 1999 there were multiple iterations of the Omnichord, starting with the OM-27, so Suzuki has plenty of inspiration to draw on. Whether its reboot will be a faithful emulation of a specific model, a ‘greatest hits’ package that includes the best bits of various models or a completely new design remains to be seen.

That’s all we know at this stage – we are still waiting on specs and a potential price.

It was originally intended to be a folk instrument – an electronic take on the auto-harp. It’s been used notably by musicians ranging from Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois to Damon Albarn of Gorillaz.

The Omnichord was thrust back into the spotlight last month when Gorillaz’ Damon Albarn revealed that the beat for Clint Eastwood, one of the band’s biggest hits, is powered by one the machine’s its auto-accompaniment presets.

Now a new generation of musicians will get the chance to experience the Omnichord, which is played using a combination of chord buttons and a touch-sensitive strum plate that you can edit her tap or slide across. It was originally designed for musical novices and people who struggled with traditional instruments, but has become a cult favourite.

Details on the Suzuki Omnichord anniversary reissue are to come. Suzuki says that it will periodically add more information to its Omnichord page in due course.
#ad

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases”

Preparations are well underway for ContinuuCon 2023, the fifth international Haken Continuum conference, being held May 17–19 in Palmela, Portugal.

Anyone who plays, aspires to play, or wants to learn more about the Haken Continuum Fingerboard, ContinuuMini, or EaganMatrix Eurorack module—as well as the Expressive E Osmose synthesizer, which also incorporates the EaganMatrix sound engine—is invited to attend.

Featured presenters this year will include University of Illinois Professor Lippold Haken and Canadian composer Edmund Eagan, who co-developed the Continuum Fingerboard, the ContinuuMini, and the EaganMatrix. They will discuss the future of specialized DSP, EaganMatrix sound design, and the relationship between the Continuum and the Osmose.

Additional speakers include Expressive E’s Guillaume Bonneau on learning the EaganMatrix, master player Rob Schwimmer sharing his performance tips, Haken Audio and La Voix du Luthier’s Christophe Duquesne on the EaganMatrix’s new additive synthesis, and PolyChromatic composer Dolores Catherino on synesthesia and the Continuum.

Deep Forest’s Eric Mouquet, Benedict Slotte, Daniel Grabois, Julia Ann Scott, and Russell Hoffman will also give presentations.

The conference will begin on Wednesday evening with a reception and dinner, followed by a jam session for all willing participants. To close out the conference, Friday night’s ContinuuConcert will be open to the public.

Purchasing a ticket before April 17 entitles you to a €50 early-bird discount, with conference tickets priced at €250 until that date and €300 after. Check the ContinuuCon website for details.

You can no longer buy Waves plugins individually, as the company goes 100% subscription. If you want any new Waves releases, a Creative Access membership is now your only option.

Waves is one of the most prolific plugin developers in the industry, releasing new effects and – occasionally – instruments at a staggering rate. Recently, the company’s strategy has been to introduce these plugins at rock-bottom prices, and sitewide sales have also been commonplace. However, as of now, that’s all changed.

Reason being Waves is now fully embracing the subscription model. So you can no longer buy the company’s plugins individually. Obviously, any that you already own will continue to work, but if you want any more Waves releases going forward, a Waves Creative Access membership is your only option.

So what does this contain? If you subscribe for the Ultimate subscription ($25/month), every plugin that Waves makes. And if you continue to subscribe, you will get all the new releases, as well.

There is also a cheaper Essential membership tier ($15/month) that gives you 110 plugins at launch and will get “select new plugins” in the future.

Regardless which subscription you choose, you will also get ongoing support, all updates and two free months of Splice Sounds+. You can cancel at any time, but if you do, you will lose access to your plugins. If you sign up for a year, you will get 12 months for the price of 10.

All subscribers to both membership tiers also get access to StudioVerse, a new collection of artist-designed, mix-ready plugin chains. AI recommends chains based on your sound, and there are easy-to-use macros for fast adjustments. This is also an open platform, so everyone who uses it can add more chains.

“Since we started Waves, our goal has been to give all music and audio creators full, affordable access to the largest, most diverse set of top-quality audio tools,” the company told its customers in an email.

“Today, we take the next step. Whatever you are inspired to create, we want you to have everything you need – instantly at your fingertips, always.”

Waves Creative Access is available now, and you can try it free for seven days, fully-functional. You can also use it in demo mode for all as long as you like. Find out more on the Waves website.

Update: Waves has reversed direction and brought back ‘Perpetural Plugin’ Licenses.