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

Rhodes Stage 61, a compact 61-key electro-mechanical piano.

Rhodes Music has officially launched the Stage 61, a fully passive 61-key tine piano that captures the signature touch, feel, and sound of a Rhodes in a compact, gig-ready design.

Built for touring musicians yet equally suited for studio environments, the Stage 61 will be available for preorder starting March 25, including a special Launch Edition limited to 61 units.

Since the Rhodes brand resurfaced in 2020, the company has continued to build on its rich heritage while introducing modern innovations. The Stage 61 is the latest addition to Rhodes’ legacy of handcrafted instruments, following the flagship MK8 piano in 2021, which has since expanded to include MIDI functionality.

The Stage 61 simplifies the Rhodes experience, returning to a stripped-down, classic design inspired by the original Rhodes pianos of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and early ‘80s. With a focus on playability and portability, it offers musicians a pure, unprocessed Rhodes sound in a format that stays true to its roots while catering to contemporary players.

“The new Rhodes Stage-61 perfectly embodies the classic Rhodes Stage tone, now housed in a compact and portable retro-future shell designed by Axel Hartmann,” said Dan Goldman, Chief Product Officer at Rhodes Music. “Utilizing the exact same (Kluge) keyboard, precision components, and technology found in our flagship MK8 tine piano, it’s the ideal choice for both stage and studio performers alike.”

Limited Launch Edition. To mark the launch of the Stage 61, Rhodes is introducing a limited Launch Edition, with just 61 units available worldwide. Axel Hartmann, renowned for his decades of experience designing musical instruments and the creator behind the MK8’s exterior, crafted this edition, which features a khaki green ABS hood with a premium wear-resistant vinyl finish, a black front panel with orange accents, and exclusive design details.

The Launch Edition’s aesthetic draws inspiration from classic ‘60s and ‘70s racing decals, blending vintage influences with a modern design approach. Previous limited-edition Rhodes releases — such as the MK8/75AE, which sold out instantly, and the MK8 Earth Edition, which is also now completely sold out — have proven highly popular among collectors and musicians alike.

Rhodes Stage 61 Key Features:

• 61-Key Kluge Klaviaturen Keybed – Precision-crafted by Kluge Klaviaturen GmbH (Steinway Group) for an expressive, piano-like feel.
• Classic Passive Circuitry – No external power required; delivers a pure analog signal path with volume and tone controls. Designed to be used with an amplifier, DI box, or preamp
• Compact and Portable – At 59 lbs, the Stage 61 is the most compact and portable Rhodes model to date.
• Authentic Sound & Feel – Tines, pickups, hammer tips, and the cable-driven sustain pedal are taken directly from the MK8.
• Studio & Stage Ready – Single jack output for seamless connection to amplifiers, interfaces, or pedalboards.
• Durable Build – Tolexed wooden case with a protective ABS lid ensures resilience for touring and studio use.

Preorders for the Rhodes Stage 61 will open on Tuesday, March 25, exclusively through the Rhodes website.

The Rhodes Stage 61 sells for $6,495 / £4,995 / €5,995, and the special Stage 61 Launch Edition (Limited to 61 units) is $6,995 / £5,495 / €6,495.

Customers may place a 20 percent deposit or pay in full; those who pay in full will also receive a complimentary instrument stand (valued at $500). Orders are expected to ship approximately six months after purchase.

Paul Schreiber – founder of Synthesis Technology, creator of the MOTM synthesizer, and designer of the Moog/Realistic MG-1 synthesizer – has demised.

The news comes as a shock to his friends. Schreiber had been dealing with heart problems and was in the hospital waiting for surgery. But, as recently as yesterday, he shared an upbeat update via Facebook:

“Having one at least (perhaps 2) valves replaced in a few days. Probable pacemaker upgrade to new, better model with 64 cores, 128 threads, and Dolby ATMOS (whether I want it or not).

Will ping when back home, as snug as a bug in a rug, as Mom was fond of saying.

Thanks for all the attention, it’s comforting. I’m getting a LOT done, design-wise.”

Sharing the news of deaths in the synth community is one of the hardest parts. Sometimes it’s a personal hero. Sometimes it’s someone that we’ve gotten to know through events like NAMM, Superbooth and Knobcon. And sometimes it’s someone who became a friend. Paul Schreiber was all of these things.

Schreiber’s MOTM modules started in the late ’90s. Schreiber had created the MOTM (an abbreviation of the optimistic ‘Module Of The Month’) synthesizer. It was a line of synth modules, designed to the highest standard, that you could buy pre-assembled or as extremely well-documented kits.

I learned about MOTM from a magazine article written by ambient musician Robert Rich, purchased a few kits.

In those days, there were few options for modular synthesizers. There weren’t a lot of modular synths around, outside of Universities and the studios of a small number of musicians. And there weren’t a lot of options available to buy.

That started to change in the late ’90s, when Dieter Doepfer introduced his Eurorack modular synth line, Roger Arrick introduced the Moog format Synthesizers.com line, and Paul Schreiber introduced the Synthesis Technology MOTM line.

While some may think of MOTM as a Moog-style synth, because of visual similarities, it’s a distinct 5U format:

Schreiber wanted to improve on the Moog format, so everything in the MOTM line was engineered to the highest quality, built like a tank, and without many of the compromises and quirks of 60’s modular designs.

Synthesis Technology was also a side gig for Schreiber, though, so he introduced new modules slowly and methodically. This resulted in the MOTM modules having an almost legendary reputation for quality, but also led to many owners expanding their systems with compatible modules from other manufacturers or DIY designs. Ultimately, the premium cost of high-end designs and smaller range of modules were limiting factors on adoption of the MOTM format, resulting in Eurorack and Synthesizers.com becoming the dominant modern modular formats.

In the early 2000’s, while attending NAMM to report on new gear introductions relevant to electronic musicians, there, we met Schreiber, who initially displayed his latest MOTM modules, and then expanded his line to Eurorack modules:

Schreiber’s Eurorack modules found a much bigger audience, so he eventually phased out MOTM.

His Eurorack designs were designed to the same high standards as his MOTM modules, but arguably became more innovative. He introduced modules like the Cloud Generator, Morphing Terrarium, Cloud Terrarium, Quad Morphing VCO and Hyperion Processor, each of which expanded the possibilities of modular synthesis in the Euro format.

Many got to know Schreiber well over the years. He was brilliant, creative and funny, but he didn’t suffer fools gladly, rubbing some people the wrong way, as a result. He had great stories to tell about his days at Radio Shack, and about the creation of the quirky and wonderful MG-1 synthesizer. And he was always passionate about whatever he was working on.

In 2023, Schreiber retired from his day job, and closed up shop at Synth Tech. But, while his retirement from his day job stuck, synthesizers kept pulling him back in.

At Knobcon 2024, a synth convention held in the Chicagoland area, he announced the return of Synthesis Technology. He told us that Analogue Haven basically gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse, so he planned to release a series of limited edition modules, with AH handling sales and distribution.

Schreiber was also the guest of honor at last year’s Knobcon. At the event’s Golden Knob Banquet, he gave the keynote speech and was recognized for his contributions to synthesis and electronic music making. And Suit and Tie Guy, right in the photo below, presented him with the Golden Knob award:

Schreiber had lots of ideas that he still wanted to explore, and was actively developing new designs up to his death.

Korg shared this new interview with Fumio Mieda, creator of the original PS-3300 synthesizer, and technical supervisor for their updated take on the classic synthesizer.

The new Korg PS-3300 is a full-size reissue. Here’s what Korg has to say about it:

“While its electronics benefit from modern parts, the instrument stays remarkably faithful to the original. Every detail – from the case, panel, and knobs, to the wooden side panels – has been meticulously recreated, with manufacturing methods closely mirroring those used in the original production. Each unit is handcrafted to ensure exceptional quality and authenticity.

Due to the intricate hand-crafted nature of PS-3300, production capacity is naturally limited. The PS-3300 is therefore offered as a limited-edition instrument, ensuring it remains as rare and coveted as its predecessor.”

Features:

• 49 keys / 49 voice analog polyphony (the original model had 48 keys / voices)
• 3 Layers: The PS-3300 consists of three synthesizer units (PSU-3301) and a mixer & utility section (PSU-3302)
• Three independent oscillators, plus multiple filters, envelopes and amplifiers for every note on its keyboard, for a total of 147 synth voices of raw analog power
• Microtuning knob x12 on each PSU-3301 unit
• New panel memory function (16 programs per bank and 16 banks = 256 slots)
• Modernised for contemporary music use with the inclusion of USB / MIDI jacks, and a dedicated librarian app for easy preset management
• Semi-modular
• 3-Band Resonator: Three frequency bands can be emphasised, a feature unique to the PS-3300 (original was a Cadmium sulfide circuit, but it was replaced with modern components for safety and to comply with regulations)
• Keyboard unit (PS-3010) included

The new Korg PS-3000 expands on the original in several ways:

• Programmable memory—previously available on the PS-3200 but absent from the original PS-3300. With 16 banks of 16 slots each (256 program slots total), saving and recalling custom sounds is now easy, making both studio work and live performance more intuitive.
• Connectivity has been upgraded to meet modern production needs. The PS-3300 features a USB-B port and MIDI IN/OUT/THRU connectors for seamless integration with computers and external gear.
• The PS-3010 module, once an optional add-on, now comes included. The keyboard has been expanded from 48 keys (F to E) to 49 keys (C to C) for improved playability. Plus, the original 60-pin cable has been replaced with a more user-friendly 8-pin connection, simplifying setup without compromising functionality.
• The PS-3300’s dedicated librarian software is designed to let users manage programs and tunings.

Audio Demo:

Korg has not announced official pricing and availability information for the PS-3300. If you’re interested, you can register to get updates at the Korg US and Korg UK sites.