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

Developer Romain Dereu from Romagnetics let us know that he’s released a major update for the Romagnetics FS-404, a MIDI companion to the Roland SP-404 MK2 that adds new capabilities and performance options.

New in the Romagnetics FS-404 v2.0:

• Toggle mode: Based on the value of the last note sent (or the base note), toggle between Previous, Next, Repeat, Reset, and Kill Switch in either MIDI Mode A or B with or without looping.
• Base note: Adding a base note so you can assign all three commands as toggles.

Romagnetics FS-404 v2.0 Video Demo:

Video overview of the FS-404 and the new firmware:

The Romagnetics FS-404 is available now for $150 USD. Version 2.0 is a free update.

Dereu notes that all his projects are also open source hardware and firmware. The source for the FS-404 is available in Github.

Marco Medica, left, and Fabio De Fazio, right, are bringing back Generalmusic and GEM synthesizers.

At the 2026 NAMM Show, Italian keyboard and synth maker Generalmusic announced that it’s back in business.

The brand’s relaunch will mark the return of two historic brands:

• GEM, dedicated to keyboards and digital pianos;and
• LEM, focused on professional audio, installation, and broadcast.

Nostalgia for vintage keyboards and synthesizers has resulted in the renaissance of many brands in recent years, like Rhodes and Oberheim – along with companies like Moog and Sequential releasing new versions of some of their classic instruments.

Generalmusic is being reincarnated by Italian music industry veterans Fabio De Fazio, co-founder of the retailer StrumentiMusicali.net and Marco Medica, CEO of Audio Effetti, an Italian distributor of entertainment technology.

The company is not making any official gear introductions at this time, but they say that they expect new products to be introduced as early as later this year.

Details are to come at the Generalmusic site.

At the 2026 NAMM Show, Behringer was offering a sneak preview of their BMX Hybrid 8/12-Bit Sampling Drum Machine, a new design, inspired by the Oberheim DMX.

Like last year, the company isn’t announcing new gear at the show, but is showing several works-in-progress, including the BMX, the JN-80, and the JT-2. No new details are being announced at this time.

Specifications (Unofficial):

*Note: The following specs were shared by Behringer back in 2023, and may be updated with the production release.

• Recreation of one of earliest and most influential digital drum machines
• 25 sounds: 3 Kicks, 3 Snares, 3 Hats, 6 Toms, 2 Rides, 2 Shakers, 2 Tambs, Rimshot, Handclap, Crash & Click
• 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

Details on pricing and availability for the Behringer BMX drum machine are still to be announced.