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Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Bastl Instruments has introduced Pizza Crust, a Eurorack drum voice, and THYME+, a delay box.

Pizza Crust is a Eurorack drum voice module that they say “goes way beyond the drum territory”.

It consists of two layers – the NOISE source and dual oscillator TONE generator. You can tune your drum sound in using a pitch envelope, layer mixing, FM envelope, and transient shaper with hard-clipping.

Features:

• Complex drum voice
• Dual oscillator TONE layer with pitch settings
• OCTAVE, DETUNE, pitch SWEEP, SEMI and FINE tune
• 4 TONE shaping algorithms: FM, FM2, RING and DUAL
• NOISE layer with filter and 4 algorithms: WHITE, BIT, CLAP and METALMETALIC
• LAYER fader macro for balancing the TONE and NOISE layer by envelope settings and volume
• ENV knob to lengthed decay to the right (CW of 12 o’clock) and both attack and decay to the left (CCW of 12 o’clock)
• Dedicated CV input for LAYER and ENV
• ENV output
• V/OCT input with calibration to tune the TONE layer
• TIMBRE section with 3 parameters: FILTER, CLIP and SHAPE and a dedicated CV input
• FILTER is lowpass/highpass filter of the NOISE layer
• CLIP is a clipper with transient focus (hard clip) or body bass boost focus (soft clip)
• SHAPE settings for the TONE layer with BODY focus or TRANSIENT focus
• Trigger input
• Manual triggers
• Velocity input – when trigger not connected it acts as input for external envelope
• Assignable CTRL knob and CTRL CV option
• Firmware updates via micro USB
• Interchangeable HW with the Pizza Oscillator (just a different panel)

THYME+ is a digital tape machine that they say “transcends typical delay effects and spans across various multi-effect categories.”

THYME+ operates with the metaphor of an analog tape delay machine, offering adjustable tape speed and positions of the read heads. Multiple read heads (multi-tap) enhance density and complexity, while feedback and filters govern the richness or darkness of the echo tails.

THYME+ is an updated version of the original THYME, released in 2017. Alongside improved connectivity, a better audio codec, and a few firmware tweaks and refinements, the new version’s hardware is enhanced with a compact metal enclosure, larger, more spaced-out knobs, and a sleeker faceplate.

Features:

• Hi-fi audio quality
• Analog Input Gain knob up to +20dB
• Multiple tape read heads
• 9 adjustable parameters with LED signalization
• Each parameter has a dedicated modulation source – a Robot
• Each Robot is a powerful modulation source: LFO, envelope follower, ext. CV
• Options for stereo Robot modulation, phase shifting, and more
• Randomization of parameters
• Rhythmical quantization of Delay time and Robots
• Low-pass & high-pass filter
• FREEZE button for creating Tape Loops
• LINK button compensates for the change in Delay time caused by adjusting the Tape Speed
• Tap tempo
• Internal or external clock for synchronizing Delay, Robot, or Sequencer
• Internal memory for 8 presets organized in 8 banks (64 presets)
• Copy & paste presets even between banks
• 32-step sequencer with 4 patterns for sequencing presets
• 2 sequencer modes: Live & Write
• Karplus-Strong synthesis method
• Stereo/mono input and output
• MIDI input
• Analog clock input
• CV input 0–5V (volt per octave for Tape Speed and Delay Time)
• Footswitch jack for BYPASS

Ahead of Superbooth 24, Icelandic synth maker Love Synthesizers has announced the First Love synthesizer, a portable synth that they say makes FM synthesis user-friendly.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

 “The FIRST LOVE synthesizer has an engaging interactive interface on a 7” touchscreen with real-time graphics as well as hardware controls that shape the output of its sound generating module.

It gives unprecedented real-time control over the intricate variables of an FM synthesizer in a fast-flowing user-friendly manner.”

Details are to come at SuperBooth 2024, being held in Berlin, May 16-18

Arturia Augmented Yangtze puts a contemporary spin on 6 classic instruments – Bass Dizi, Xiao, Pipa, Guqin, Yangqin and Erhu multisamples meet multiple synth engines

For its latest ‘Augmented’ instrument, Arturia is looking to China – specifically its ‘rich musical heritage’.

Augmented Yangtze brings you the sounds of instruments such as the Bass Dizi, Xiao, Pipa, Guqin, Yangqin and Erhu. These can be played using 38 articulations and 30 processed and multisamples articulations, while the four built-in synth engines – virtual analogue, granular, wavetable harmonic and ‘simpler’ – enable you to create hitherto unheard ambiences and indulge in some more experimental processing.

As is typical of the Augmented series, the front page is kept simple, but you can also dive behind the scenes and tweak your sample and synth layers if you wish. It’s possible to set up custom modulation, arpeggiation, effects and macros here, as well.

Augmented Yangtze comes with 200 presets and can be purchased now at a special introductory price (regular price is €99). Simply log in to your account on the Arturia website to find out what your deal is.

There’s also a demo version which, like the full version, runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats.