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

Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Frap Tools has unveiled two new Eurorack modules: Bagài and 411.

Bagài is an analog sample and hold, bit crusher, and down sampler, also capable of generating fluctuating random voltages, colored noise, and clock bursts.

It consists of six highly intertwined sections:

• A clock with straight and random outputs (yellow)
• An analog noise generator with variable color (grey)
• A bipolar fluctuating random voltage generator (white) with variable rate
• A sample and hold the circuit (orange) with selectable time scale, slow for modulation, or fast for audio sampling up to 48 kHz.
• An 8-bit quantized version of the orange S&H circuit with variable bit depth (red)
• A clock burst section (green).

By default, it outputs bipolar random voltages and triggers. The voltages are fluctuating, stepped, and quantized with selectable bit depth. The clocks are straight,randomized, or “burst”. Once you start patching, you can use it as a S&H, audio downsampled, and bitcrusher, with a sample rate of 48 kHz.

All its major parameters are voltage controllable.

Size: 12 HP
MSRP: 250 EUR + VAT

The 411 is a quadruple linear VCA, mixer, and multiple for audio and CV. It consists of four linear vcas with semi-normalled inputs and CV inputs, -6 dB attenuation switches, a mixed output, and an unpatched output.

The 411’s architecture allows to use it in many ways, for example:

• processing four signals independently;
• modulating one signal with four CVS and send it to four different destinations;
• mixing up to four signals and modulate them with the same CV;
• mixing two audio signals and modulate them with a modulated CV.

Size: 6 HP
MSRP: 110 EUR + VAT

See the Frap Tools website for more information.

Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Polyend has introduced the Tracker+, a Stereo Sampler, 16-track Sequencer, Synthesizer and Drum Machine.

We were big fans of Polyend’s Tracker when it arrived in 2020. Although it draws its inspiration from the somewhat niche world of software trackers, beyond those retro leanings lies a well-equipped and surprisingly approachable sample-based sketchpad.

They say that the Tracker+ improves on the original Tracker in almost every way, adding USB audio, Stereo sampling and playback, Synthesizer and drum machine engines, 8 extra tracks of MIDI and synth engine sequencing, increased sample memory and more.

One of the most significant improvements here is fully stereo sampling and sample playback. On the synthesis, Tracker+ now comes with four different synthesis engines: ACD is a single oscillator virtual analogue monosynth, FAT is a three-oscillator virtual analogue with drift and detune controls, VAP is a virtual analogue polysynth with flexible modulation matrix, while WTFM combines wavetable and FM synthesis. Each Tracker project can be loaded with up-to three synth instances making use of a total of eight voices.

Alongside these synth engines, Tracker+ adds a new drum machine engine, named Perc. This uses up one of the eight available synth voices, but can produce five drum sounds simultaneously, including a range of kick, snare, hat, tom and perc tones.

The distinctive vertical tracker-style sequencer has been expanded here, for a total of 16 tracks. Of these, the first eight are universal and can sequence synths, stereo samples or MIDI, while the latter eight are restricted to sequencing external MIDI or the internal synths or drum machines. Tracker’s song mode has been updated and expanded as well.

The hardware also adds USB audio capabilities, making it easier to get your creations into a DAW environment. To cope with the new functionality, Tracker+ is upgraded with additional processing power and sampling memory.

Tracker+ is available to order now priced at $/€799.

Find out more on Polyend website.

Baloran has announced that a new batch of The Pool bi-timbral synthesizer is now available to pre-order.

The Pool is a unique synthesizer concept featuring a full bi-timbral panel, four bi-timbral voice cards and a two-bus effects unit. The control panel houses a large 7-inch color capacitive touch screen, 79 potentiometers, 34 encoders and no less than 169 illuminated pushbuttons.

Each bi-timbral voice card features:

• 2 analog VCOs (type CEM3340) with wave mixer by VCAs, magnificent “natural” saturation beyond the unit gain accessible via modulations and morphers, sync by VCO or digital generator.
• 2 complex digital generators with classical waves, wavetables, soundfont, additive synthesis, euclidean generator and VCO ADC for complex operations like RING, FM or multiband formants with vowel presets, mixing by VCAs always with this beautiful “natural” saturation beyond the unit gain. You can import your wavetables using the WaveEdit application (https://synthtech.com/waveedit). The import of your own soundfonts will be possible later.
• Hardware Sync from VCO or Digital generator to VCO.
• 1 input for insertion of an external signal before each filter group.
• 2 groups of 2 VCFs (type CEM3320 and CEM3350), Lowpass 12/24 db/Octave, FM via VCO or digital generator for the 3320, Bandpass/
• Highpass 12 db/Octave for the 3350, serial or parallel, mixes of the two filters and filter groups on each channel. Hardware FM from VCO or Digital generator to filter 3320.
• Two analog envelopes (type CEM3310 with VCA CEM3360) with ajustable/modulable offset (perfect for drone mode) and modulable pan.
• Two digital envelopes with adjustable exponentiality from ultra percussive to linear.
• Three digital LFOS integrating complex waveforms. You can build your own modulations using the WaveEdit application (https://synthtech.com/waveedit).
• For each timbre/channel, the envelope VCA incorporates panning and adjustable offset, ideal for drone modes among others.

Other features:

• The Pool incorporates optimized support for MPE devices.
• The Pool is also a sequencer making the most of the large screen: 16 sequences from 2 to 64 steps, 3 modulation tracks, touch or encoder editing of each step of notes, duration, velocity, ratchet and tempo as well as three tracks usable as modulation.
• The Pool features a unique arpeggiator making the most of the large screen: Numerous patterns, scroll orders, range, touch or encoder editing of each step of notes, durations, velocities, ratchets and tempo, as well as three tracks usable as modulation.
• The Pool also offers two buses and two digital effects units. The buses can be daisy-chained, parallel or independent (dedicated output for each). Each voice card can be addressed to one of the buses. Numerous effects are available and the list can easily evolve: reverb, shim, echo, chorus, phaser, flanger, etc… All routings (Wet, Dry, Feedback, Bus assignment) are done via VCAs and audio switches, there is no DSP routing in order to preserve a 100% analog signal path. The routing and some effect parameters are modulated by a dedicated LFO. The echo can be synchronized to the internal tempo of The Pool.
• The Pool saves sounds and settings on MICRO SD Card. Their number is therefore almost unlimited. The saving/loading operations can be limited to effects, sequences, settings of a card or encompass the whole configuration of The Pool: you can thus take back a sequence or an effect setting that was created for another sound.