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

Ableton is running a rare sale on Live, its flagship digital audio workstation, today through May 20th, 2025.

During this time, you can save up to 25% off Ableton Live, with the following pricing:

Live 12 Intro
Essentials – 16 tracks and 5+ GB of sounds
$99

Live 12 Standard
Full features – 38+ GB of sounds and more instruments and effects
Now $373 (Original price $439)

Live 12 Suite
Complete studio – 71+ GB of sounds, Max for Live and all instruments and effects
Now $562 (Original price $749)

Ableton Live 12 features new MIDI tools, support for alternate tuning system, new modulation options, workflow improvements, better accessibility and more.

See the Ableton site for full details. If you already own Live but haven’t upgraded, upgrade pricing is available if you log in at the Ableton site.

At Superbooth 2025, held May 8-10 at the FEZ-Berlin, Flame Instruments introduced the Maeander-M, a wavetable synthesizer with analog filterbank and sequencer in 56HP.

This video, via Sonic State, captures an overview an demo of the Maeander-M from the Superbooth floor.

Here’s what Flame has to say about the Maeander-M:

“The Flame MAEANDER-M is a compact reimagining of a well-regarded classic from the Flame lineup – now more affordable and streamlined, but still packed with the same sonic depth. At its core is a wavetable synth engine, fed into the 12-channel analog bandpass filter bank, controlled by the internal pattern sequencer.

Sound sources include a polyphonic wavetable and FM oscillator, an analog white noise generator and an external audio input. The internal sequencer offers one polyphonic note track (up to 4-voice chords) and 14 mono tracks. The latter are dedicated to the filter channels, the audio input, and the noise source. Each track has its own VCA with individual envelope control and is accessible via MIDI notes.

Patterns can be created and saved as patches, and played live with ease. The built-in arpeggiator and keyboard scaler make the MAEANDER a powerful tool for live jamming and generative sequencing. Updates, patch management, and wavetable loading are handled conveniently via MIDI SysEx.

New in this version: direct oscillator output, stereo noise output, and stereo audio input. MAEANDER comes fully mounted in a powered 56HP wooden skiff to get started right away and is software compatible with the older desktop version.”

The Maeander-M is expected to be available in September 2025, priced around €900.

At Superbooth 2025, held May 8-10 at the FEZ-Berlin, Morphor previewed the Echon 6, a new 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer based on physical modeling synthesis.

The Morphor Echon 6 uses Karplus–Strong synthesis, a type of physical modeling based on passing an impulse through a short delay, and then using feedback to create a sustained signal. The approach can be used for string synthesis, hammered percussive sounds and more.

The Echon 6 voice is implemented using an analog signal path, based on an analog Bucket Brigade Device (BBD).

Features:

• Positive Feedback System
• 6 Part Multitimbral
• Full Analogue Audio Path
• Extensive Modulation Matrix (9 sources × 32 destinations)
• Custom Voice Grouping (up to 6 voice groups with individual settings, modulations and/or MIDI)
• Comprehensive Unison Control
• Global Modulation Attenuverters
• Table Top, 19″ Rack Compatible + VESA Mount
• Individual Outputs per Voice
• Stereo Output
• Headphones Output
• External Input
• USB and DIN MIDI Ports
• 72 Factory / 144 User Presets
• No Display – 100% tactile, no menu diving
• Exciter Section
  • Analogue VCO / External Input
  • Analogue S&H Noise Circuit
  • Crossfader
  • Envelope Generator 0–25s (ADSR with onset delay)
  • Exciter Level
• BBD Resonator Section
  • 12 dB/oct Input LPF
  • 6 dB/oct Feedback LPF
  • 1024 Stage BBD
  • High-End BBD Control Circuitry
  • Fine Feedback Control
  • Panning
  • Dry/Wet Mix
  • Voice Level
• Modulation Sources
  • Envelope
  • Quad LFO with Cross-Modulation
  • MPE/Polyphonic Aftertouch
  • Modwheel
  • Velocity
  • Keyfollow

Details on pricing and availability are to be announced.