Frap Tools has announced that the Magnolia – an eight-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer with through-zero linear FM – is now available.
The Magnolia goes beyond classic analog sounds, with a “West Coast” influenced synthesis engine. It also offers an expressive Fatar keyboard, with polyphonic aftertouch, and lots of front panel hands-on control.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
“We made Magnolia because we wanted to offer our iconic modular analog sound in a more straightforward instrument that could play chords and other 12-note music right away. Inside, we put all of our signature sound tools: analog triangle-core oscillators, thru-zero FM, wavefolders, analog distortion, and wild, resonant filter.
It is a powerful instrument, capable of a wide gamut of sounds that range from soft, glass-like pads to earth-shattering distorted leads.
A hands-on modulation matrix allows you to connect 16 modulation sources to 32 modulation destinations by just pushing a button and twisting a knob.”
Features:
8-voice polyphony.
All-analog signal path.
Analog thru-zero frequency modulation.
5-octave, velocity-sensitive keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and adjustable curves.
Bi-timbral programs with Morph, Dual, and Split capabilities.
Two oscillators per voice: an “east coast” one with PWM and a “west coast” one with linear TZFM, wavefolder, and flip sync.
Continuously variable wave form selector.
18 dB/oct high-pass and 24 dB/oct low-pass resonant filters with linear FM.
Analog pre-filter saturation.
Three loopable DAHDSR digital envelopes.
Three digital LFOs with continuously variable wave forms.
Per-part arpeggiator.
Per-part 16-step sequencer.
200 memory slots for presets.
Analog global distortion.
Two global digital effect slots with choruses and delays.
Hands-on modulation matrix with explicit visual cue.
Velocity-off modulation source.
“Polymove,” an expanded polyphonic randomization source.
A Macro knob assignable to every parameter.
16 modulation sources.
38 modulation destinations.
64 modulation slots per part.
Independent midi channels.
Frap Tools Magnolia Audio Demos:
The Frap Tools Magnolia is available now, with a street price of about $4,830 USD.
Steinberg has introduced WaveLab 13 today, a major update to its audio mastering software.
New features in WaveLab 13 include Dolby Atmos music mastering, workflow enhancements, multicore rendering and streamlined editing features. Steinberg shared an overview video, embedded above, that covers what’s new.
“WaveLab 13 is an exciting step forward for Dolby Atmos mastering workflows,” says Dolby’s David Gould. “As immersive audio continues to grow across the industry, WaveLab brings comprehensive Dolby Atmos capabilities to a broader range of audio professionals. The intuitive workflow combined with advanced processing tools gives mastering engineers the control and flexibility they need for their Dolby Atmos projects.”
Here are highlights of what’s new in Steinberg WaveLab 13:
Improvements to the Audio Montage for faster, more efficient workflows
Enhanced envelope functions.
Wider VST 3 compatibility.
Range selection via the marker ruler.
Open or paste files from text-based file paths.
Improved waveform outlines on HDPI screens.
Audio processing load bar.
Plug-in interface scaling.
More new plug-ins, including Pitch Shifter and the legendary Underwater effect.
Click-and-drag removal of plug-ins.
WaveLab 13 is available now, with the following pricing:
Developer Andrew John March – who last year ran a crowd-funding campaign for his MOSS-101 synthesizer – has announced that he plans to introduce three new synthesizers in his M0SS line of compact synths:
The M0SS-201 is a ‘West Coast’ synth, which takes some inspiration from the Buchla Easel. March says that the monosynth is “packed with features that will inspire experimentation into advanced synthesis”. It includes a custom generative random sequencer, a complex oscillator, and an eight-stage wavefolder.
The M0SS-309 is a hybrid of some classic polysynths from the 70s and 80s. It features 9 voices of polyphony, with 2 oscillators, a resonant filter and 2 envelopes per voice. Advanced features like FM and hard sync open up a huge pallet of textures. It also offers a suite of master FX, including chorus, reverb and delay.
The M0SS-416 is a 6 operator FM synth, based on the Yamaha DX7. Unlike the DX7, the M0SS-416 has a labeled physical interface for each parameter, so you can design or modify sounds in real time without ever looking at a screen or diving through a menu system. It is fully compatible with DX7 .sys files, so you can load any DX7 patch you might have in your collection using the included internal SD card, or over MIDI SYSEX.
The line of instruments is designed to pack the power of an advanced synth into a tiny, rugged enclosure, while maintaining immediacy and ease of programming.
March plans to fund production of the new synths via a Kickstarter project, which will be launching ‘soon’. Details are still to come.
