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The latest video from Cinematic Laboratory asks the question, “Do we need a Buchla Music Easel in Eurorack format?”

In the last few years, Tiptop Audio has released a complete series of Buchla modules, essentially reissuing the Buchla 200 Series in Eurorack format. The line has been a big hit, with each new addition tending to sell out for months. This has left synthesists wanting more.

Cinematic Laboratory’s video looks at the Buchla Music Easel’s capabiities, and shows how many of the Easel’s components are already available in the current 200T lineup. The biggest gap is probably wavefolding.

But many would argue that the Music Easel is a more than the some of its parts, offering a complete Buchla synth in a compact all-in-one solution.

The video suggests that a big part of the musicality of Music Easel performances is its capacitive touch keyboard.

Should Tiptop bring the Buchla 218 to Eurorack format? And what about the Music Easel? Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

At 2024 NAMM Show, Baby Audio debuts their latest creation Atoms – a synth plugin splits physical modeling into six simple parameters.

Set to be released in 7 February, Sonic State caught up with Michael from Baby Audio at NAMM. Michael explains that Atoms distills a complex underlying model into six simple parameters, and an internal automation system for adding motion, and once you get your head around what these six controls are doing, there’s lots of sound design potential here.

Each control adjusts a different type of behaviour within the model, and you can see how your tweaks are affecting the sound with a central visualiser. Atoms offers a unique take on physical modelling, with an internal network made up of interconnected masses and springs.

This is ‘excited’ by a virtual bow that causes the model to vibrate and produce sound. You can dictate the way that the bow ‘plays’ the model using the Force control.

Handily, there’s also MPE support, which should provide you with some intriguing creative options if you have a compatible controller.

Atoms will be available on Feb 7th 2024 , introductory price $59.

The last product that Behringer has (so far) announced this NAMM is the UB-Xa Mini.

Today, Behringer shared this sneak preview of their upcoming UB-Xa mini analog synthesizer,  a minisynth that they say offers “the authentic sound” of the Oberheim OB-Xa.

Details are still to be announced, but Behringer says that the UB-Xa mini offers three voices. It’s not clear if that is three paraphonic voices or if three polyphonic OB-Xa style voices.

Like the CZ-1, this is another $99 budget synth.

That said, of course it is probably a cut-down version, although Behringer doesn’t give any info on just how cut down it is, saying, “we now have a more affordable option, the UB-Xa Mini, available for only 99 USD for those who want the authentic sound of the OB-Xa. The synth is currently in beta testing and we are looking forward to shipping it soon.”

Finally, the company gave a more general update on how its various projects have been affected by chip shortages, and it looks like that situation is improving.

“As we near the resolution of the chip crisis, we are intensifying our efforts to deliver all our pending products,” it said, concluding with the rather up beat,”synths for all!”

And get more info (possibly) from Behringer website.