2024 NAMM Show: Suzuki has introduced the Omnichord OM-108, the return of their classic strummable electronic instrument.
Originally introduced in 1981, the Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument with an automatic accompaniment function (auto bass/chord) and equipped with a harp sensor. By pressing a chord button and sliding your finger on the harp sensor (strumplate), an arpeggio corresponding to the chord is heard.
While they were originally designed for novices, Omnichords been used creatively by musicians for decades, and now have a cult status.
Features:
The sound of the classic OM-84 is reproduced with analog circuits.
Equipped with both retro and new tones.
Layer function that creates expression of sound.
Updated rhythm selection with popular drum beats.
Adding sus4 and add9 allows OM-108 to play 108 chords
Sensitive strumplate that fully expresses light touch playing.
Possible to play a melody using the chord buttons.
Drum pad on both chord buttons and strumplate.
Expand sound with MIDI OUT
Can be switched to OM-84 drum kit.
Battery-power and built-in speaker make it portable, but you can connect it to an external amplifier or headphones.
Omnichord OM-108 is available now at Amazon site. Find out more on the Suzuki website.
Behringer announces an update to its most hotly-awaited clone of the Roland Jupiter-8, ‘We assure you that this beauty will come to fruition’.
Today, Behringer shared the first official look at their planned JT-16 synthesizer, a polyphonic analog instrument that’s based on the Roland Jupiter-8.
Behringer might not be at the NAMM show in full force, but the company has chosen the opening day of the gear-fest to announce an update to its JT-16, a synth that looks like being a a 16-voice analogue machine not a million miles away from a Roland Jupiter-8 in concept.
Details are to be announced, but based on what they’ve said, it appears that the Behringer JT-16 is designed to copy the look and sound of the original Jupiter-8, but double the polyphony, MIDI and other basic enhancements. The company says that it will have “exact same analog circuitry” as the original.
The company’s latest update confirms that the synth will be a 16-voice version of the analogue synth – which is good news – and that it will be called JT-16.
The rest of the Facebook post states that the synth is being tested and that someone called Gilles can’t keep his hands off it because it’s that good.
This is certainly one Behringer synth to look out for, as is the company’s Eurorack version of the Jupiter-8, which it last updated us on a year ago.
The JT-2 is a more affordable version of the full-sized Jupiter clone and is expected to sell for just $99, but could – given its name – have only two voices of polyphony. Or indeed one. Behringer said last February…
“While we’re currently working on a full key version of the Jupiter, here is a new prototype in a smaller and more affordable Eurorack package. It features an authentic Jupiter voice based on the same VCOs and VCFs, plus an autotune and arpeggiator function.”
The photos are of the company’s first JT-16 prototype. Behringer says that “the synth is in its very early stages, and we are now focusing on debugging and implementing the necessary software.”
The Behringer JT-16 synthesizer is currently in development, so it will probably be a year or two before the instrument is officially released and pricing is announced.
“A truly authentic playing experience” – Casio brings an immersive spatial sound system to its new Celviano digital piano range, and an automatic recorder means you’ll never lose your best performance.
2024 NAMM Show: If you want to buy a digital piano that looks like it belongs as much in your living room as it does your studio, one of Casio’s new Celviano models might well fit the bill. These three ‘furniture pianos’ – the AP-750, AP-550 and AP-S450 – prioritise both style and sound, and come with redesigned speaker systems and a visual information bar that promises to aid your learning.
The sonic highlight here could be the new Hamburg Piano Tone, which Casio has created to “faithfully capture the natural bloom of one of the world’s most coveted and majestic pianos”. This has been matched to the new Celviano speaker system, which is designed to emulate the sound of a grand piano by creating a 3D effect that feels like it’s coming from both above and below the soundboard.
Both the AP-750 and AP-550 have a top lid that can be physically opened in order to project sound forward.
The new Visual Information Bar, can either display a pulsing metronome that will help to keep you in time, or provide feedback on your playing strength and pedal depth, giving teachers additional insight into students’ finger and pedal technique.
The Instant RePlayer feature also sounds handy – use it to return in time to a recent performance or a moment of inspiration that you might otherwise have lost. This might also help you to avoid the stress that comes with pressing the red button and knowing that you’re recording, which can hinder performance.
The AP-750 is the flagship model here, offering a Grandphonic 8 spatial sound system and 39 built-in tones. Nine of these are grand pianos; as well as the Hamburg tone, you also get a Berlin Grand that was developed in collaboration with Bechstein, and the Vienna Grand, another tone that’s based on “one of the world’s finest pianos”.
In the middle of the range, the AP-550 has a 2-channel/4-speaker system and 26 tones, six of which are grand pianos. Here, the Hamburg tone is joined by the New York Grand.
The AP-S450 is similar but more compact, and like the AP-550 is available in black, white and brown colour options. You can have the AP-750 in any colour as long as it’s black.
All three models include the Celviano edition of Casio’s Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard, a refinement of the action found in the most recent Privia models, and come with the WU-BT10 Bluetooth adapter, which supports wireless MIDI and audio. One of the many apps you can connect to is Casio’s own Music Space; available for iOS and Android, this enables you to adjust the piano’s settings, view and annotate sheet music, engage with interactive game-like lessons, work with audio files and more.
The AP-750, AP-550 and AP-S450 priced at $3,399.99/£1,999, $2,999.99/£1,749 and $1,999.99/£1,549 respectively. Find out more on the Casio website.
