Gospel Musicians has introduced Gospel Organ, a Hammond organ emulation designed to “capture the distinctive gospel organ sound heard in churches worldwide”.
What they have to say about it:
“The hybrid sample-based instrument uses synthesis to replicate harmonic fold-back and dynamic start positions, ensuring that no tones are phasing. It includes all essential organ features, such as percussion, noise, and vibrato, all emulated from hardware sources. Each tone, including drawbars, bass, and percussion, has dedicated synthesis controls (such as AMP, Filter, and LFO).
The effects section offers five insert effects per tone, two global effects racks, and a master effects section, each with up to five insert effects, providing extensive control. Additionally, it features an intuitive MIDI Learn function, allowing for seamless integration with your DAW.”
An in-depth technical preview:
Features:
A100 Advanced Sampled Model
FREE Gospel Rotary FX Included
Physical Modeled Rotary
25 Organ and 22 Rotary Presets
Multiple Mic Positions
Dedicated FX for Each Tone
Dedicated Synthesis for Each Tone
Easy Drawbar MIDI Learn/Save
Dedicated Click and Noise controls
Dedicated Horn and Drum EQ
Harmonic Foldback and De-Phasing
Gospel Organ is available now with an intro price of $49.99 until September 1st (normally $149.99).
Behringer shared this sneak preview of their upcoming BMX Hybrid 8/12-Bit Sampling Drum Machine.
The Behringer BMX isn’t a straight knockoff or clone of the original. While the BMX copies the look and layout of the original Oberheim DMX, and uses knockoff-style naming, it adds sampling support, which promises to make the drum machine more flexible than the original.
Tom Oberheim is not involved in the development of the BMX. In a statement shared earlier this year, Oberheim said “There is, of course, no collaboration between us and no discussions of their plans for synths or anything else.”
Behringer isn’t saying anything definite about the status of the BMX at this point, just that they’ve “achieved another major engineering milestone.” The photo they shared appears to show a prototype with working operating system.
The Behringer BMX was originally announced in 2017, along with the company’s take on the classic Roland TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines. At that point, it was called the ‘OBX’.
Tom Oberheim and the original Oberheim DMX drum machine. He is not involved in the development of the BMX or Behringer’s other Oberheim copies.
Here are the specifications that they shared at that time:
Recreation of one of earliest and most influential digital drum machines
8 voice architecture with independent level & pitch controls for each voice
High-resolution real-time sequencer with non-destructive quantization for capturing finger drumming performances
Additional step sequencer mode with 64 steps per pattern with storage of up to 64 patterns and 16 songs
Integrated Wave Designer with individual attack and sustain controls for studio quality drum sound
Integrated dual-mode filter with dedicated frequency and resonance controls for huge sound shaping options
8 independent analog outputs to record your patterns as multi-track audio
Easily readable 7-segment 4-character LED display for tempo with dedicated tap tempo button
24 velocity sensitive pads with bold, full-color LEDs
Up to 99 loop measures of each pattern change with 16 pattern changes per song
Songs can be chained together for expanded compositions
Unique Auto Scroll feature for extremely easy operation
Comprehensive Midi In/Out/Thru and USB implementation for synchronization and connection to external devices
Per-track Solo and Mute for enhanced realtime control
Sync options include USB, MIDI, clock and internal
Powerful headphone and L/R main outputs on 1/4” TRS connectors
3-Year Warranty Program
These specifications do mention audio input or sampling capabilities, so it’s clear that the design has evolved since the original announcement. Behringer BMX pricing, availability and official specs are still to be announced.
A new project promises to make modular synthesis more accessible, and to provide an inexpensive synthesis platform for integrating into custom DIY projects.
Developer Leonid Gomberg has launched a Kickstarter project to fund production of Microrack, a minimal, bread-board based modular synthesizer system that they say is designed to “make modular synthesis accessible to everyone and to lower the entry barrier, while maintaining rich variability and powerful sound.”
Microrack offers a complete platform for modular synthesis, but is also compatible with Eurorack and other analog gear.
Official intro video:
Features:
Highly accessible – Affordable kits and modules, and simple, easy to learn design.
Compact & Portable – With its compact modules design, and Type C power, you can take your modular setups anywhere.
‘Limitless variability’ – Use standalone, as an effects pedal, or even integrate with EuroRack.
All modular & analog
DIY & Open Source
Production of Microrack is being funded via a Kickstarter project, and project backers can get it starting at $39 for a minimal DIY starter kit.
*Note: Crowdfunded projects can involve risk. See the project website for details.
