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Synthstrom Audible has announced that – as of June 5th, 2023 – the Deluge firmware will be open source.

The Deluge is a grid-based instrument that’s a portable sequencer, synthesizer and sampler. It features 128 RGB pads, arranged in a 16 x 8 grid; a built-in synthesizer; up to 12 minutes of sample playback from SD card; and sequencing of up to thousands of notes.

What Synthstrom say about their plans to open source the Deluge firmware:

“At Synthstrom, we’re devoted to sustainability and want our Deluge to continue being the centre of our users’ musical excursions for many years to come. Late last year we started retrofitting older Deluge variations with the OLED screen featuring in our new units.

The next step we’re taking has been even longer in development – waiting until we knew we had a community full of talented coders who were as passionate about the Deluge as we are. We know now the time is right – it’s time to take software development into overdrive – we’re going open-source!

What is open-source? Open-source means we’re opening our software code to the community; our users who know how to write code can now develop their own Deluge features, make refinements to the existing code and contribute to a Community version for all users.”

They note that this decision is not because they are working on a new version of the Deluge, they say that “there are currently no plans for that”. The decision was driven more by a desire to focus their energies into ramping up the manufacturing of new OLED Deluges, speeding up the retrofitting and refurbishing off older units, and getting the Deluge into “limited retail”.

Synthstrom will continue to maintain and update the main “Official” repository, including all official Deluge Firmware releases going forward. Alongside there will also be a “Community” repository (for both the OLED & non-OLED versions), forked from the Official repository, as a central place for community code contributions. Forks can be used by Deluge owners, if they like, and new features will be evaluated and may be added to the Official branch.

They note that installing Community or other firmware builds is 100% compatible with your Deluge’s hardware warranty, but they won’t provide support for non-official community builds.

Deluge Firmware will be released under the GPLv3 license. There are no restrictions on personal use and this license allows for code to also be used in commercial projects. However, if even one line of code from this is used in a commercial project, the entire piece of code for that project must also be made open-source under this same license.

The newly open source Deluge Firmware source code will live in GitHub and be available in June 2023. There are also plans for a Patreon to help support ‘Community’ development.

Key dates and details:

• Monday, June 5, 7pm EDT – Codebase made available, documentation released and Patreon launched.
• Wednesday, June 7, 7pm EDT – Open Group video Q&A session with Rohan. Will be recorded and made available on GitHub following.
• Saturday, June 10, 11am, CEST – Open Group Zoom session with Rohan. Will be recorded and made available on the GitHub following.

Elektron turns up the Analog Heat with a new +FX model of the acclaimed stereo distortion processor.

Released in 2016, Elektron Analog Heat offered eight stereo analogue distortion circuits, and could be used for both “enhancing and destroying” your audio. A second-gen version in 2018 offered a few hardware improvements.

Swedish musical instrument company Elektron today introduced Analog Heat +FX, described as “a dynamic sound processor”.

The eight stereo distortion circuits are still here – as is the stereo multimode analogue filter and 2-band stereo analogue EQ Analog Heat +FX also offers digital effects: Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Warble, Bits Compressor and Bass focus.  You can also reorder effects to create custom signal paths and timbres, and your patches can be saved in the 512 preset slots.

It also includes a variety of modulation options, an assignable envelope generator/envelope follower with two destinations, and three assignable LFOs, each with two destinations.

Analog Heat +FX offers an OLED screen, MIDI In/Out/Thru, various audio output and two CV/Expression pedal input jacks. It’s Overbridge-enabled and runs as a class-compliant USB audio interface.

The Analog Heat +FX is an all-around sound coloring and manipulation box. It gives you a wide color palette of processing possibilities:

• Add warmth, depth and character with eight fully analog stereo distortion circuits – ranging from a subtle clean boost to complete annihilation.
• Shape and carve your material using the multi-mode filter. Select from 7 filter types, like classic lowpass and high pass, as well as a bandpass, notch or peak.
• Fine tune, add and subtract your lows and highs using a 2-band adaptable EQ.
• “Fracture” your sound using the noise gate.

Features:

• Sound processing
  • 8 stereo analog distortion circuits
  • Stereo analog multi-mode filter (7 filter types)
  • 2-band adaptable stereo analog EQ
  • Noise Gate
  • Reverb
  • Delay
  • Chorus
  • Warble
  • Bits
  • Compressor
  • Bass focus
• Modulation
  • 1 assignable envelope generator/envelope follower with two destinations
  • 3 assignable LFO (with two destinations per LFO)
• Storage
  • 512 user preset slots

Find out more on the Elektron website.

Analog Heat +FX is available to purchase from the Elektron website or from Amazon for $999.

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Limited-edition hardware for newbies and a free firmware update for existing users.

Arturia MicroFreak synth gets a Stellar update – new look, sampling capabilities and 3 granular engines.

Ahead of Superbooth 2023, being held in Berlin May 11-13, Arturia has unveiled the MicroFreak Stellar Experimental Hybrid Synth, a limited-edition variant of the popular MicroFreak, and a free firmware update for existing users.

MicroFreak Stellar is a limited edition that features a sleek black finish with ‘quirky’ space-age graphics. There are some exclusive new presets as well.

What they say about it:

“The Freak within. MicroFreak Stellar features the same inspiring, bonkers sound but embellished with a unique space-age design.

Beneath its space-age exterior, you’ll find sparkling digital and wavetable oscillators collide with a velvety analog filter. A unique poly-aftertouch PCB keyboard combines with a distinctly freaky arpeggiator & sequencer. Bathe your mix in sonic hysterics with the erratic mod matrix or the unique Spice & Dice randomizers. MicroFreak is out to break the rules. It’s an unpredictable instrument for the adventurous. An adrenaline rush for the thrill-seeking musician. A mind-bending tool that dares you to stray from the path and think differently. Freak out.”

Alongside this – Arturia has unveiled a V5 firmware update for all MicroFreak owners, including those who purchase the Stellar.

Arturia MicroFreak version 5 is a massive update that adds 4 new engines and allows users to load their own samples and use them with one of the four new sample/granular engines.

You can now import, play back and loop your own samples, and they can be manipulated using the three new granular engines. The MicroFreak’s keyboard can be transformed into a S&H modulation source, and the synth’s envelopes can now have even shorter attack values for a little extra snap.

Finally, you can now access 512 preset slots, and the factory preset count has risen to more than 300.

What’s new in MicroFreak v5.0:

• New sampling engine: Manipulate and trigger recorded audio using MicroFreak.
• 3 new granular engines: Scan, Cloud, and Hit modes for Freaky granular exploration.
• New Preset factory

Using MIDI Control Center, you can import your own samples, up to 24 seconds long. You can then send them to MicroFreak.

The new v5 Firmware will be available for download on May 30th, 2023. See the Arturia website for more info.

The MicroFreak Stellar is available now priced at $399/ €349. The Firmware V5 will be available for all MicroFreak owners May 30th, 2023.