In his latest Automatic Gainsay video, synthesist and synth historian Marc Doty takes a look at the Hammond Novachord.
The Novachord is considered by many to be the first commercial polyphonic synthesizer, predating the mass-market polysynths of the ’70s by thirty years.
The instrument was not commercially successful, in part because of its complexity and cost, and in part because of the timing of its introduction, in 1939, at the beginning of World War II.
In his video, Doty looks at the history of the Novachord, and shares his personal experience in acquiring and owning a Novachord, back in 2000.
Watch the video and share your thoughts on the Novachord in the comments!
Luftrum has announced Vangelis for Omnisphere 3, a new version of one of their most popular soundsets that has been updated for Omnisphere 3.
Originally released in 2022, it has now been enhanced for Omnisphere 3, with updated effects, new patches, handpicked Mutations, and custom Velvet Verb presets.
Audio Demos:
Vangelis For Omnisphere 3 is available now for $39. It’s a free update for existing owners.
Today, AIR Music Tech has introduced IONA, a new virtual instrument that they describe as “a faithful recreation of the legendary SH-101 synthesizer.”
They say that Iona preserves the unmistakable 101 character, while expanding on the original’s designe with a modern 128-step pattern sequencer, intuitive graphical editor, and seamless integration across standalone MPC, MPC Desktop, and DAW environments.
“Iona captures the classic 101 tone we all know and love, then opens it up with a deeper sequencer and workflow refinements that fit today’s production styles,” says AIR’s Neal Gustafson. “Whether you’re sketching on MPC or finishing a track in your DAW, it’s the same instrument—and the same sound—everywhere.”
Features:
Sound Engine –
“Authentic” 101 oscillator section with Pulse, Sawtooth, Sub, and Noise sources
VCO pitch range and modulation controls faithful to the original
Pulse-width modulation via LFO, Envelope, or manual slider
BPM-syncable LFO with 9 waveform shapes
Filter & Modulation
Classic resonant filter with cutoff and resonance controls
Filter envelope, LFO, and keyboard tracking
ADSR envelope assignable to VCA
Portamento and customizable pitch bender controls
Sequencing & Performance
128-step pattern sequencer with classic 101 workflow
Transpose/shift functions and graphical editor
Integrated arpeggiator for expanded creative possibilities
Seamless MPC and DAW integration
Effects & Presets
Onboard FX section: Lo-Fi, Delay, Reverb, and 3-Band EQ
100+ factory presets for instant inspiration
Five visual skins (grey, red, blue, white, yellow) saved per-preset
Iona is available now, with an intro price through November 22, 2025 of $59 (normally $149).
