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

A mash-up of Roland SH-101, TB-303 and MC MicroComposers, the Roland MC-202 was a commercial failure when it was released in 1982, but history has been much kinder to it. Now the MC-202 story is being continued by Tubbutec, which has just released an upgrade kit that the company says turns the machine into a groovebox.

Out of the box, the MC-202 offers CV and gate jacks for sequencing your favourite analogue instruments. It also has a built-in synthesiser that bears more than a passing resemblance to the SH-101, both physically and sonically, and its form factor has strong echoes of the TB-303.

Tubbutec MC-2oh2 is apparently a significant upgrade that replaces the original CPU, keyboard PCB and display. However, the sound is said to remain the same.

New features include three independent synth control channels: the internal synth, the second CV/gate output and a third MIDI Out or drum channel. Each channel has its own clock divider and MIDI input and output.

Additionally, there’s a sequencer that offers 32 chainable, editable patterns. You can use these to create complete songs (like the patterns, these can be edited on the fly) and there are shortcuts for quick live arrangements. Seven sequencer play directions and an arpeggiator are also included.

Elsewhere, more modulation options have been added – accent, filter and PW envelopes – and there’s an additional noise sound with envelope. The 8-bit lo-fi drum sample output has various modifiers, and sample packs can be uploaded via MIDI.

Speaking of which, all additional parameters can be controlled by MIDI CC and MIDI velocity can be linked to some of these. If you go for the optional HiRes version of the MC-2oh2 you also get pitchbend control and microtonal tunings.

This is not mere firmware update, though you do get one of those as well, uploadable via MIDI SysEx. We suggest that the MC-2oh2 installation procedure probably should not be attempted by those of a nervous disposition, but if you are feeling brave, the upgrade can be purchased for €250 plus VAT and shipping.

Find out more on the Tubbutec website.

Enjoy Electronics – makers of The Godfather 60HP Eurorack modular effects processor – has introduced the N-Rack 5, a 5-tier rack that lets you go big with Moog-style Eurorack systems.

It appears to be a fairly close copy of Moog’s rack mounts, but redesigned to accommodate larger systems.

Features:

• 5-level support ideal for synthesizers and other 60Hp Eurorack-style equipment
• Robust steel structure for maximum stability
• Rubber feet provide solidity for a wide range of surfaces
• Elegant and refined design
• Dimensions: 18.8″ x 23.2″ x 13″ (478 x 590 x 330mm)
• Weight: 1.70 kg

The N-Rack 5 is available now for €160.00.

Behringer has shared teaser images of an entire line of hardware effects modules that appear to be fairly straight knockoffs of classic Big Briar/Moog Music Moogerfooger effects.

The images, above, show four ‘Boogerfooger’ effects:

• The Behringer BM-101 Low Pass Filter copies the Moog MF-101 Lowpass Filter.
• The Behringer BM-103 Phaser copies the Moog MF-103 12-Stage Phaser.
• The Behringer AD-104 Analog Delay copies the Moog MF-104M Analog Delay.
• The Behringer BM-107 Frequency Box copies the Moog MF-107 Freqbox.

The company originally announced its intentions to copy Moogerfooger effects about a year ago, with a preview of their AD104 Analog Delay. At that time, Behringer tagged the AD104 as #hardvaporware, indicating that they were not putting it into production yet, because of limited parts availability.

Behringer is not announcing pricing or availability for these effects yet, but says that their design is complete and that they are “now moving them all to beta testing.”

They have not said yet if they plan to make copies of the other members of the Moogerfooger line:

• MF-102S Ring Modulator
• MF-105S MuRF
• MF-108S Cluster Flux

The Original Moog Moogerfoogers

Moog retired the Moogerfooger line in 2018, after making Moogerfooger hardware effects for about 20 years. Since then, used prices for Moogerfooger have increased, because of the popularity of the line and their limited quantities.

Last year, they introduced a full line of Moogerfooger plugins.

What about the MF-106?

Some readers may have noticed a gap in the Moogerfooger numbering scheme between the MF-105S MuRF and the MF-107 Freqbox.

The Moog MF-106TC Analog Time Compressor, right, was announced April 1st, 2009, but has never been released. According to the company, the effect was the result of a happy accident:

“We accidentally reversed the clock phasing in the time generation on our MF-104Z Analog Delay, and discovered that it can actually work in reverse, compressing the time stream instead of expanding it. Much to our amazement and delight we began hearing sounds up to 1000 milliseconds before we played them,” said Amos Gaynes, Moog Temporal Engineer.

Gaynes said that the Analog Time Compressor circuit on the MF-106TC can eliminate digital latency in real time, or sound like you’re playing faster than you really are. The Analog Time Compressor’s unique Slap-Forward delay effect sounds even better than Slap-Back, according to Gaynes.

“The MF-106TC has hundreds of unique applications,” said Moog Marketing Manager Chris Stack. “Used on the Pitch Preview output of our new Etherwave Plus Theremin, you not only hear your note before the audience does; you actually hear it before you play it.”