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Focusrite has added three new models to its 4th Gen Scarlett range of audio interfaces. The Scarlett 16i16, 18i16, and 18i20 sit at the top end of the range, adding additional analogue and digital ins and outs while retaining updated features previously added to the 4th gen Solo, 2i2 and 4i4 devices.

Feature highlights include a promised 122dB dynamic range courtesy of Focusrite’s RedNet converters, an Air function with both Presence and vintage-inspired Harmonic Drive modes, and newly remote-controlled preamps with 69db of gain.

Auto Gain and Clip Safe functions are designed to simplify setup by analysing incoming audio and setting levels accordingly. All three interfaces are also compatible with Focusrite’s Control 2 app, for desktop or mobile, which allows users to control the inputs and monitoring.

The 16i16 has a total of 16 inputs with two preamps and the 18i16 has 18 ins, four of which are equipped with preamps. Both have 16 outputs. The rack mountable 18i20, meanwhile, ups the outputs to 20 and adds a talkback mic and A/B speaker switching.

Focusrite describes its 4th Gen upgrades as “a giant leap for the world’s most popular audio interface range.” “Although they look similar, the new Scarletts are slicker audio interfaces with better specs and more options. All three are worthy upgrades and highly recommended.”

All Scarlett interfaces come with Ableton Live Lite, three months of Pro Tools Artist subscription, and six months of FL Studio Producer Edition, as well as a selection of software from Focusrite, Softube, Native Instruments, Antares, and others. Users also get five free masters from AI-based service Landr, plus a two-month subscription to Landr Studio, offering music distribution on streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.

All three interfaces available to pre-order now, will be available from mid-October. The Scarlett 16i16 is priced at $369.99, the 18i16 is $499.99 and the 18i20 is $749.99 on Amazon site. Find out more at the Focusrite site.

Ableton has posted an image on its website appearing to tease the forthcoming arrival of something called Move.

The image in question – posted on a new section of the site labelled ‘Move’ – is captioned ‘Ableton Move is coming soon’ and shows posters being pasted onto a wall displaying the date 8 Oct. Below, under the heading ‘Want to know more?’, Ableton invites users to sign up to its newsletter.

Whatever, that’s the sum total of information on offer right now. It’s safe to assume that the Berlin brand is planning on announcing or releasing something called Move next month, but what that will be remains a mystery.

Ableton is best known for its DAW, Live, which recently received an update to version 12.1, adding a new Drum Sampler device, Auto Shift effect and various other enhancements. It’s worth remembering, however, that the company also has various other stings to its bow.

Push is Ableton’s official Live controller device, which was updated to version 3 last year. That launch saw the introduction of a standalone configuration that allows Push to run a version of Live on a built-in processor. Ableton also has an iOS app called Note, which acts as a sketchpad for ideas to be finished in Live.

Beyond that, Ableton has also developed a sync protocol, Link, widely used by iOS apps and hardware. The brand has also run several music making conferences under the name Loop. As for where Move might fit into that picture, it’s anybody’s guess.

Let’s find out what the company has in store on 8 October.

It has been a busy week for synth brand Soma Laboratory. Fresh off the back of releasing Messeiver, a soundscape device that promises to ‘change your perception of radio’, the company is now relaunching its Lyra-4 synthesizer, the ‘younger sister’ to their LYRA-8.

Lyra-4 is a more compact and affordable take on the Lyra-8, Soma’s original and best-known synthesizer. Like its big sibling, it’s described as an ‘organismic’ instrument, a term intended to denote the influence these designs take from living organisms.

In more concrete terms, the Lyra-4 is based around four voice generators, divided into two pairs, which can function either like an electric organ or in an FM synthesis arrangement. These can be triggered in a number of ways, including by the touch-sensitive pads along the lower edge of the unit, which contribute to its ‘organismic’ character. The synth also features something called a hyper LFO, which is a complex low-frequency oscillator created through the sum of two standard LFOs.

The Lyra synths also benefit from some very characterful effects. A Mod Delay unit has a feedback loop that can self modulate, and also features modulation of the delay sample rate. The Distortion is designed to add characterful grit at the end of the signal chain.

What they have to say about the LYRA-4:

“Organismic means that LYRA uses some principles that lie in the base of living organisms. The way how LYRA’s modules interacting between each other and the behaviour of the instrument resembles a live conversation.

It’s smaller and weighs less, but is equally rugged in design, and still packs a lot of punch. This makes it easy to fit in a backpack and perfect for taking the LYRA sound on the road.”

Lyra-4 is available in both black and white colourways, and Soma is suggesting that users might want to consider ordering one of each.

“Playing two Lyra-4s can actually sound very different than just one Lyra-8,” Soma claims. “A set of two Lyra-4s creates a stereo image, with each channel having its own effects! We really want people to experience the magic of stereo Lyra.”

The SOMA Laboratory LYRA-4 is available now for €360, or €580 for 2 instruments.