French synth maker Cyma Forma has announced the ALT, an ‘analog soundscape synthesizer’ that they plan to release via a Kickstarter project starting May 22, 2024. The ALT features five analog voices, a stereo filter inspired by the Korg MS-20, patch-matrix editing, 4 modulation sources and more.
Features:
ALT offers five voices, each with different waveform shaping possibilities, each offering stereo panning, enabling a rich, spatial audio experience.
A harmonic quantizer lets you chose scales, and play beautiful melodies, either with the faders, or with quantized pitch modulation.
Alter – sound alteration can be achieved with a stereo filter, inspired by the Korg MS-20, and a “wild stereo delay” with infinite feedback.
Movement – the matrix has 4 adjustable modulation sources: 2 LFO, 1 random step generator, 1 envelope follower; and 17 destinations.
Light and sound sensors make it react and evolve with environmental stimuli.
Pre-orders for the ALT synthesizer will be available on Kickstarter starting May 22nd, 2024.
Today, Arturia introduced AstroLab, a new stage keyboard that brings the company’s massive line of virtual instruments to standalone hardware.
The Arturia AstroLab features 10 sound engines, 34 instruments and over 1300 presets, letting you cover a huge range of sounds using a single instrument.
If you want to know more about the AstroLab, here’s a couple of in-depth reviews.
The first video, embedded above, is a Sonic Lab review from host Nick Batt. Batt likes the AstroLab, calling it ‘a lovely piece of hardware’ and praising the keyboard, but also noting that he’d like to see deeper patch editing be possible directly on the instrument.
Host Ziv Eliraz – in his latest loopop video – offers an overview and in-depth review of the Arturia AstroLab.
Eliraz says that the AstroLab offers the largest timbral range possible in a standalone keyboard instrument, adding that “nothing comes close” to its range. Like Batt, Eliraz highlights the lack of deep editing control on the keyboard itself as the instrument’s biggest downside.
Topics covered:
0:00 Intro
1:15 Overview
7:05 Keybed
8:00 Build
8:45 Encoder
10:00 Browsing
10:45 I/O
11:45 Phone app
13:05 Macros
14:40 Effects
15:40 Insert FX
16:40 Send FX
18:20 Master EQ
18:50 Arp
19:35 Chords
20:00 Scales
20:20 Looper
21:25 Split, layer
22:30 Analog lab
24:55 Get sneaky
25:55 User macro
26:40 V Collection X?
27:35 SFZ?
27:55 Pros, cons
30:55 Outro
What do you think of the new Arturia AstroLab keyboard? Watch the videos, and then share your thoughts in the comments!
Playtime Engineering has launched a Kickstarter project to fund production of the Blipblox myTRACKS, a music production workstation that’s designed to be kid-friendly.
In addition to being a drum machine and basic sampler, the Blipblox myTRACKS is a complete music production studio. The instrument features a built-in microphone for sampling, two FX processors, five tracks, and 25 play pads that trigger over 50 acoustic, electronic, and percussive instrument sounds.
The myTRACKS user can explore the wide variety of built-in instruments and drum kits across 5 tracks, adding effects and modulating them using the two purple levers. Sample any sound with the built-in microphone, then build a song around samples.
The instrument is instantly also upgradable with sound packs and sets online and available for download.
“Creating music with synthesizers and modern music tech has always felt like play to me,” says Troy Sheets, Co-founder of Playtime Engineering. “By merging the portability, durability, and safety of toys with high-quality and advanced functionality of a legitimate instrument, we’ve created a fun and accessible music-making machine that anyone can play.”
Production of the Blipblox myTRACKS groovebox is being funded via a Kickstarter campaign. Backers can get one starting at $249, with delivery expected for November 2024.
*Note: Crowdfunded projects can involve risk. Find out details on the project website.
