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

Developer Cem Olcay has introduced Speaking of Witch, a new speech synthesis app for iOS.

Speaking of Witch uses Apple’s speech synthesizer engine and creates speech samples from your text input, across 16 pads. You can set different voices and languages per pad. Also you can apply pitch and amplitude envelopes.

With the AUv3 multi-out, you can also apply different FX chains on your pads.

Features:

• Professional Speech Synthesis Engine
  • Powered by Apple’s AVSpeechSynthesizer for high-quality, on-device speech generation from text.
  • Support for dozens of languages and voices with no text length limitations.
  • Instant text-to-audio conversion captures speech directly into playable sample buffers.
  • Multiple takes system: each pad stores up to 16 buffer slots for variations and iterations.
  • Background synthesis keeps the interface responsive while rendering speech samples
• 16-Pad Sampler with MIDI Channel Routing
  • 16 independent pads, each triggering on its assigned MIDI channel for precise control.
  • Monophonic playback: each pad plays one note at a time with instant triggering.
  • MIDI note pitch mapping: play samples melodically across the keyboard with automatic pitch shifting.
  • MIDI output option for recording your performances directly into your DAW.
  • Layer multiple pads on the same MIDI channel or sequence them independently across channels 1-16.
• Advanced Dual Envelope System
  • Independent amplitude and pitch envelopes per pad with unlimited breakpoint editing.
  • Touch-based envelope editor: tap to add, drag to adjust, long-press to delete breakpoints.
  • Amplitude envelope shapes volume curves for fades, gates, and tremolo effects.
  • Pitch envelope enables pitch dives, rises, vibrato, and glitchy modulation effects.
  • Real-time envelope application with smooth interpolation for expressive performances.
• 8-Bus Multi-Output Audio Routing
  • Professional 8-bus architecture (16 channels) for advanced mixing and processing workflows.
  • Assign each pad to any output bus for individual DAW tracks and effect chains.
  • Create submix groups: route pads by character, role, or processing needs.
  • Full AUv3 multi-output support in Logic Pro, AUM, Cubasis, and other iOS DAWs.
  • Apply different effects to each bus: reverb on Bus 1, delay on Bus 2, distortion on Bus 3, etc.
• Flexible Creative Workflow
  • Per-pad controls: gain, pan, speed, MIDI channel, and output bus assignment.
  • Voice selection with dozens of languages, accents, and character types.
  • Waveform display shows loaded samples with real-time visual feedback.
  • Preset system with factory presets and user preset management via iCloud.
  • Split long phrases across multiple pads for faster synthesis and creative sequencing possibilities.

Speaking of Witch is available now for $5.99

Excite Audio has introduced Evolve Elastic, a sample-based synthesizer that they say “morphs sound into unexpected forms, inspired by the playful, artificial and unpredictable character of elastic.”

The instrument is available in VST, AU and AAX formats for PC and Mac.

Here’s what they have to say about Evolve Elastic:

“Inspired by experimental electronic artists like Flume, SOPHIE and Aphex Twin – Evolve Elastic delivers cutting-edge presets that spark creativity, making you ask: “How did they make that sound?”

Evolve Elastic combines over 250 sound sources ranging from squelching acid basslines and elastic plucks to bouncing rhythms, futuristic textures, and glossy pads. Shaped with extreme and evolving modulation, Elastic is designed to twist, stretch, and mutate sound into something entirely new.

Build your sound from four layers, blend between them with the XY pad, and then shape the output using four elastic-inspired macro effects: Melt, Bounce, Stretch and Gloss.

Evolve Elastic offers dual filters, endless modulation potential and 16 effects modules to power its 250 presets crafted by Excite Audio’s team of professional sound designers.”

Features:

• Blend four layers of samples or synths using the powerful quad-engine.
• Morph sounds in real time with the XY Pad.
• One-click randomisation.
• Import your own samples and build custom patches.
• Modulate anything with drag-and-drop envelopes, LFOs, and XY controls.
• Shape and polish your sound with elastic-inspired macro effects.
• Tweak your tone with dual filters and a rearrangeable 3-slot FX chain.
• Explore 250 presets or create from scratch.

Evolve Elastic is available now, with an intro price of £19 / $19 through Dec 31st.

Arturia has announced the release of AstroLab 37, a new portable version that they say condenses the power of the AstroLab range into a more compact, affordable format.

It’s equipped with 11 sound engines, spanning virtual analogue, wavetable, FM, granular, physical modelling and sample-based synthesis, offering a grand total of 44 instruments and 1800+ presets from Arturia’s highly-rated V Collection 11 and Pigments software.

AstroLab 37’s 37-key semi-weighted slim keyboard is capable of channel aftertouch, and is joined by the same combined colour screen/navigation encoder interface that you’ll find on the larger models. This is flanked by two banks of four rotaries, one of which operates Macro controls for each instrument selected, and the other controls AstroLab 37’s selection of 12 insert effects, with dedicated knobs for delay and reverb.

The keyboard is kitted out with an arpeggiator, chord and scale modes and a 32-bar looper, in addition to a vocoder engine that can be used with an external microphone. AstroLab’s 1800+ sounds can be split across the keyboard or layered together in bitimbral patches.

In addition to AstroLab Connect, a mobile app for browsing presets and purchasing new sounds, AstroLab comes bundled with Arturia’s Analog Lab Pro software which can be used to access more sounds, customize the keyboard’s sound library and assign custom macros. Owners of Arturia’s software instruments can also go beyond Analog Lab’s four macro controls to design customized patches that can be be loaded on to the hardware.

As for connectivity, AstroLab is equipped with both WiFi and Bluetooth for hooking up with its companion apps, USB-C and USB-A ports, MIDI In/Out, a stereo line output and a headphone output. You also get a stereo combo input for running a microphone into the keyboard, along with a sustain pedal jack.

Features:

• Over 2.000 presets and 40+ instruments
• 37 slim keys with aftertouch
• 10 preset buttons for quick access and live usability
• 8 macro knobs with visual LED feedback
• Built-in Insert FX, Delay & Reverb
• Vocoder-ready with mono input

AstroLab 37 is available now for $799.